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on cooking
cut the leeks down the middlebut not all the wayjust deep enoughto rinse out the earthsoften the onions in the panthen add some fine flourjust enoughto absorb the onion milksquash the garlic under the blade of a broad knifebefore removing the huskthen chop the crushed cloveto release the flavourchoose a single iron pantempered, oiledlarge enough →
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on Ukraine
it’s still a dreamof some young men to followto fight in a waron the side of rightto leave their homesetting off in hopethat they’ll add weightto counter evil’s mightI met one such young manseeking purposeful lifealthough he had a childwith his teenage wifeold England’s dulland work’s a borethere’s nothing on TVand the winter’s coldlong dark →
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on 80 years
My mother was not yet tenWhen she first heard the words “Never again”She’d heard them then and sinceAgain and againI went to Krakow to visit a friendSaw the Katyn memorial to 22,000 murdered menBut chose not to visit AuschwitzWhere tourists go to see the truthTo see the place where a million and more were slainAfter →
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on life
Met an old friendWho told me about an old friendYounger than either of usAnd not very wellNot very well at allSo I called my younger old friendSaid I’d seen our old friendWho’d told meYou’re feeling a bit under the weatherYes, he said, cheerfullyAll the world’s a stageAnd I’m on Stage 4Under the lightsUnder the doctorCurrent →
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on passing
Cars, buses, trucksthe wheels rock as I pushthe pedals hardermy shoulders stiffenarms firmhands grip tighton top of the handle barto counter the rockingI focus on regaining balanceto direct my powerthrough the chain wheelas I am passingcars, buses, trucksa kid in Chelsea Tractorstaresthinkingman on bike goes faston cycle pathpassing plane treepassing plane treepassing plane treeacross junctionacross →
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on Law
Only seen the man on tellyKnocking a ball into goalsHeaders, volleys, bicycle kicksA back-heelThe pitches were so poorSo much mudEven on a colour TVThe games from ManchesterAppeared to be played in black & whiteDenis Law, a slight, feisty ScotHeld his sleeve cuffs in his fistsStretched his shirt from wrist to collarKids copied that on winter →
Journey of Words 