I saved a baby who fell from a window

For a while
I found myself
looking upwards more –
scanning
for open windows.

And swishing my hand
past my ear, to try
to recreate
the sensation
of the baby’s fall.



Taken from the Guardian's 'Experience' feature, 19th January 2013. Submitted by Ailsa Holland.

This much I know

I remember running
across the sand at Seaforth beach
when I was three
chasing a red bouncing ball
and hearing my aunt scream
before picking me up
her stepping between silver studs
in the sand

I'd run into a minefield
There was no red ball
It was the family dog
that I had chased
It had been blown up



From Roger McGough: this much I know in The Observer magazine, 3 November 2012. Two 'and's omitted and punctuation left out. Submitted by Lisa Oliver.