Bathed, creamed and combed,
I choose my evening self
from the folded personae available.

A supporting role, perhaps.
Empathy in pink,
and understudied, comfortable shoes.

A mixed message may be conveyed
by separates.

The dress overstates things,
suggesting joined-up thinking,
all-of-a-piece
from head to hem.

I have emerged from muddy neutrals
and wish to discard
the comfort blanket.

But perhaps I’ll save the evening dress and diamonds
till Friday.

This new poem was written by Diana Harris at the Hurst - John Osborne’s former home which is now Arvon’s latest writing house where over a thousand writers every year spend a week of their lives devoted to their writerly craft.