Frost - By Patricia Cantwell

Written By: Patricia Cantwell

Category: Poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Patricia Cantwell, writing under the name Frost, presents her evocative poem "Frost" as a part of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. This distinguished competition brings together voices from around the world to celebrate the power of words and imagination. "Frost" delicately captures the themes of memory, loss, and the passage of time, inviting readers to reflect on the beauty and fragility of life.

About the Work

"Frost" by Patricia Cantwell is a reflective piece that beautifully intertwines vivid imagery with emotional depth. The poem explores themes of nostalgia and the inevitable passage of time, using haunting yet tender imagery to evoke a sense of longing and remembrance. Cantwell's style is both lyrical and poignant, leaving a lasting impression of life's fleeting beauty and the memories that linger.

Frost

Original Submission by Patricia Cantwell

Line count 23

Frost

Amid the clatter of bedpans and trollies

I wait for you to go, as you once

waited for me to come.

Rice-paper skin, morphine drip

and no words between us now.

Your past an Italian opera-

the grief, the tragedy, the lost love,

the stabbed breast, the bitter cup.

A walk-on part in your own life.

And now the final curtain before

you’ve had a chance to sing.

Only your eyes hold that summer day

when an old suitor called and you laid

aside your disappointed heart and

became young again, with dancing

feet and hope and your head thrown

back in laughter as he twirled you

round my grandmother’s parlour to

Jimmy Shand’s ‘Bluebell Polka’.

You were beautiful then,

before the frost.

We were all beautiful then,

before the frost.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, hosted by Hashtag Kalakar, is a prestigious event dedicated to celebrating literary creativity and expression. It offers a platform for writers and poets worldwide to share their unique voices and perspectives, fostering a diverse and vibrant community of artists.

Thank you, Patricia Cantwell, for sharing your poignant poem "Frost" with us in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Your work elegantly captures the essence of memory and emotion, resonating deeply with readers. We appreciate your contribution to this celebration of literary art.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.