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Grateful
Bluebells rang around the groundsDancing in the West WindWhile we sat insideListening in blackTo his grief-bent sonBoth arms locked stiffTight-knuckled at the lecternThat shookHe read as best he couldOf his dad, his friend Who had done his bestWhere demons huntThat broken voiceMatched his heartCaused him to pauseTo catch his breathHis daughter thanked usWho’d come this →
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Norwich to Horwich
Norwich to HorwichJoined by railway line and rhymeIt’s a path that’s rarely takenIf I’m not mistakenWhy venture there at allIf it wasn’t for football?Across the black soil of FenThrough Peak District and PenninesFor ninety minutes tensionHad I forgot to mentionThe reason for this journeyIs to simply follow PompeySeven years we’ve struggledThe tactics first quite muddledBut →
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From ashes
You’ll notice will o’ the wispsTwist up powdery flakesMaybe kindle a glowIgnite a flickerFrom frail charcoalUntil the rainPercolates the soilFrom where new life grows ~ CLP 12/04/2024 →
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Roundabout
We took one of our quirky circular walksAround one or two and a bit Norfolk villagesWhere ancient boundaries are marked by lanes, hedgerows, creeks and lokesA pair of magpies disabused their reputation as harbingers of joySitting as solemn sentries on opposite gate postsAs we took one of our quirky circular conversationsAround one or two and →
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Proximity
It was time for lunchAlmost too lateAt the junctionHesitating for passing trafficAn alternative caught his eyeNot Fate, but the waiterBrought them together(Or possibly the coupleWho cancelled after a tiffSteeped in wearinessThat left a vacancy)You know how the French loveCafé tables too close together?It’s to encourage conversationShe opened him upWith a simple Affaires ou loisirs?He confessed →
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Wish You Were Here
It’s April. Birdsong can be heard during air-raids. Bright flowers sprout through debris. Oh that the spring sunshine would revive the cold skin of our sons and daughters. ~ n.b. Conscription age has just been lowered in Ukraine to 25 years and disability waivers are under review. CLP 07/04/2024 →
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Postcard From Kyiv
Just a quick line thanking youfor not forgetting us.We have no choice but to stay.This is our home.Until the day comes when you can visit again!In peace, with love xxx ~ CLP 07/04/2024 →
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Deeply, Madly, Platonically
In truth, at firstYou were not the main attractionAlthough your bright green dressWith those sharp white seamsWas and always is immaculateRegardless of the time of dayOr eveningOr cast of weatherIt was that part of you that initially caught my eyeAnd breathIn wonder at the prospect of such magicYou might conjure upFrom that simple piece of →
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blossom
the ornamental garden heavy with bloomsperfume strong enough to holda presence in the easterlybumble bees’ wings silentthey drink from deep cherry wellsnubs of pollen caught on their thighspetals brighten, whiten in sunlightflashing through the broken cloudyou crane your neck nestle your nosein a garland of petalsfresh enough to hold firmto buds from whence they sproutedwe →
Journey of Words 