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on Moscow
allegations thrownchild killer fears for his lifethreatens more killings ~ n.b. Moscow is run by a mass murderer, who throws a squinny when he claims, without independent verification, that drones were sent to Russia assassinate him. No comment about the hundreds of thousands of lives lost as a result of his orders. No words can →
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on time
carving into stonerequires concentrationaccurate spelling ~ n.b. Nottinghamshire County Gaol was opened in 1449. At some later point, this doorway was set into the building. If you look closely at the word ‘GAOL’ you will see the A was originally carved as an O, before the A was chiselled out in the right place. The →
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Camellias ii
Warmth of late AugustSoaked into patio pavingHeats our tanned feetYou take my handLead me backTo the shadowed lawnStill compressedWhere we had beenSculpting joyThe night beforeA blackbird(Hidden by heavy pink blooms)Sang to usOf eternal loveAs Venus piercedNight’s deepening blue ~ n.b. NaPoWriMo 2023. Day 30 prompt: a palinode. This poem, I hope, balances the sadness of →
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on Ukraine
attack on suburbsa three year old child victimwhere remains safe now? ~ n.b. The bereaved mother thought the war was “far away” from their home on the outskirts of Dnipro, but sadly not, The Guardian reports this morning. What, with killings like this and the forced deportation of children from occupied areas of Ukraine, the →
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on Ukraine
how could I complainof broken sleep caused by wine?you wake to sirens ~ n.b. Day 429. Cruise missiles launched at Ukraine’s cities before first light. Moscow’s unending terrorist attack on Ukraine persists. CLP 28/04/2023 →
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Naming
Let us not pretendNames are unimportantWords are deployed likeBooby-trapped IEDsIf you trip the wireIt cannot be defusedNor put backIn the groundShrapnelPiercing heartsFragmenting argumentsThrough misnomersCall this warOf words and mindsWhile children lieBrokenUnder collapsedApartment blocks ~ n.b. Day 427 (I think). CLP 26/04/2023 →
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Nominative Determinism
I knew a man called BlackUnlike his delightful sense of humourI knew a man called WhiteWith dreadful yellow teethI knew a man called Youngwho lived to ninety-fourI knew a man called Bullwho never would eat beefI knew a man called RichWho died from being poorI knew a woman surnamed Sleepwho would not come to bedI →
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Camellias
Winter brings weakMorning light lateAfternoons darkFrost-shivered limbsFirst sign of warmth(Rain on the west wind)Foliage thickensLeaf litter laps the fenceSticky buds unfoldSuper-slow-motionBurst of pinkPetals un-scrollSudden brightness soonBurnt by memories Casting shadowsAcross our lawnSpectacular displayedVibrancy lastingNo longerThan winter’s sun ~ n.b. NaPoWriMo 2023. Day 25 prompt. Love poem with flower, parenthesis and odd line breaks. CLP 25/04/2023 →
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By the Seaside
Wincing dull dawnColourfulIf grey’s your thingDoes the sky reflectthe sea or seathe sky?This performanceDoesn’t make it clearThe North-EasterlyPlays its part wellGets in the headWith a sinuous chillReminiscent of Atonal violinsThat bring tearsA bit-part freighterbound for HartlepoolSustains a rhythmic arcingOf symmetric bow-waves Silently pleasingMusical sensibilitiesAs it ploughs the lineWhere that greyMeets this greyToday the briny’sSalt-sharp scentFills →
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Upper Tier, Front Row
1.Kev looks acrossCalls me overThere’s a seatFreeBeside himIn the front rowGratefulA great view2.A playerJogs closerPauses preparationLooks up seekingFamilial facesPoints a fingerTo the rightBlows a kissTo someone3.Squeezed in tightBeside her mum, She sees the manIn the blue shirtWavingThen bursts outBrightly”That’sMy Daddy!”4.CuddlingHer daughterCloserNew baby boyOn her kneeShe’s touchedBy the joyOf her little girlWith arms fullshe can only →
Journey of Words 