• 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • on sleep

    with you beside memy heart settles, breathing steadiesbrain rests, but for dreamsand what dreams!and when I wakethe veil between night and daybecomes confusedare you really hereor am I still dreaming?~ CLP 18/01/2025

  • 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

  • on peace

    don’t say you’re surprisedhow many will be murderedcelebrating peace~ CLP 16/01/2025

  • on peace

    ceasefire brings weepingcould this be the end of it?four days to stay safe~ n.b. Let us pray that everyone can stay out of the line of fire until 19th January. As the ceasefire is agreed, why not stop the shooting and bombing immediately? CLP 15/01/2025

  • on Ukraine

    Which is the wayOut of this war?The politicians now askAt last admittingThe killing must stop~ CLP 13/01/2025

  • on the turn

    After the freezeDarkness comes laterThere’s softness to airBirdsong less harshA hazel with budsSome crocus leavesSnowdrops swing lightlyBesides daffodil shootsA string of molehillsFrom freshly turned earth~ CLP 13/01/2025

  • on ice

    Thin lightThrough thin treesGrown in thin soilCold handsIn thin glovesStones skimmedAcross thin ice~n.b. Chilly here at the moment. CLP. 12/01/2025