Pareidolia by Jennie Farley

She sees faces in clouds, cushions, car wheels,

the froth on a cappuccino. She’s seen

the Virgin Mary’s frown in a cheese sandwich.

But never the face of God.

In Church she feels the glory all around her,

golden and sticky like brandy snaps,

the Saints are glaring, stern as glass.

But where is the face of God?

She searches town and country,

the patterns in pavements, grazed

walls, the tread of steps backs of buses,

rain-streaked windows, puddles.

In the woods one day she is caught by

a sudden storm. A hurtle of wind flings

her against a tree, eyes black and staring

from a Wanted poster nailed to the trunk.

---

Jennie Farley is a published poet, workshop leader and teacher. Her poetry has featured in many magazines including Under the Radar, New Welsh Review, The Interpreter’s House, and online journals. She has performed her work at Cheltenham Literature Festival, Cheltenham Poetry Festival, Swindon Poetry Festival, Cheltenham Everyman Theatre, Bristol Berkeley Square Review and other venues. She founded and runs NewBohemians@CharltonKings providing music, performance, poetry and workshops for a local arts club, and has held workshops at festivals and schools. Her first full collection My Grandmother Skating was published by Indigo Dreams Publishing 2016 followed by

Hex 2018.