• on the bridge

    Pollen from the rushesLies on the waterA layer of dust coating a mirroro becomes O grows into expanding ringsAnother o becomes O becomes expanding ringsAnother, another, a pauseAnotherslim shadows slip back from each splashmerge into the shade of riverbed reedsand anotherthe river becomes a pianola rollrandomly punctured by kisses from fishesa blackbird lays down a

  • on rain

    Cooler at dawnWet streetsExcept under the broad umbrellasOf blossoming chestnut treesA shower of goldfinchesDrop onto the vergePecking at the tiniest insectsActive in the damp grassThe earth has darkenedAt last it is soft enoughTo a sculpt a footprintBy noon the Sun appearsA buzzard fans out its primariesCatches a thermalCries as it spirals upSpirals up and drifts

  • on truth

    It is said The True will set you freeLove will set you freeSet yourself freeHow is that possibleWithout the key?These walls weren’t built by meI did not lock these steel doorsJustices blind to injusticeHeld the keyAs God is my witnessNo one tells youHow long it will beUntil the Truth sets you free~n.b. Another criminal waste

  • on absence

    nature fills space fastfurious competitionto share resources~n.b. Diversity enables many plants and creatures to thrive alongside each other, why does modern man feel the need to dominate? CLP 13/05/2025

  • on drought

    Rain gauge measures dustPlants dependent on dew dropsDesiccated pondsNeighbour jet washesPaved over garden and carArtificial grass~ CLP 13/05/2025

  • on love

    Your friend is my friendYour family is my familyYour choices affect my choicesYour health affects my healthYour battles I fight with youYour demons prey on meYour crisis becomes my crisisYour perspective is your ownMy perspective is how I cope~ CLP 12/05/2025

  • on time

    I only have the hours unspentPrecious hoursI will trade some with youFor what I decide sufficientCurrency to make the best useOf the remaining unspent hours~ CLP 10/05/2025

  • Junction

    Brakes squeakTyres squealWheels skidSirens scream~ CLP 09/05/2025

  • on volunteering

    that is to say choosingto participate freelywithout coercionnot without food or waterwhile in mortal fearnot while being terrorisedby dronesor aircraft attacksthis ‘voluntary transfer programme for Gaza residents’is a rounding upit is a deportationwithout railwaysit is a death marchin Paris, Lyon, Avignonsome schools have plaquesnaming the childrenfrom Jewish familiestaken from their classestheir playgroundstheir friendstheir teachersby naziswill

  • On the Pitch

    Serious stuff doneJust one more for charityFor the love of life~ n.b. 6,012 people came to support Alan Knight’s call for funds for three Portsmouth charities supporting cancer patients. ‘Knightsie’ played 801 matches for Pompey and is being treated for Stage 4 prostate cancer. It’s so sad to see him so ill, but uplifting to