on school

economics class
private education ends
fees don't cover costs

~

n.b. St John’s RC College, Southsea, “Permanently closed“. So much for educating the boys of the Portsmouth diocese.

Buildings established to ensure one group of children got a decent education in a densely populated port, now vacant, after it went private and educated fee-payers’ children from around the world.

Meanwhile, the need for school buildings and sports facilities in the city remains high, but these falling into disrepair.

CLP 18/11/2022

on time

evening out in town
better than television
even when we lose

~

n.b. It’s not possible to have a good time all the time, but one can have fun trying,

CLP 18/10/2022

on time

the congregation
depart bathed in victory
everyone happy

n.b. Not so great for the visiting opposition, admittedly.

CLP 17/07/2022

Last Chants Saloon

Here we go, here we go, here we go1
Danny’s at the wheel2
We’re here, we’re there… 3

Is this a library? 4
My garden shed is bigger than this
It’s got a door and a window
My garden shed it bigger than this 5

We forgot that you were here 6
It’s nice to know you’re here… 7
You must have come in a taxi 8

You don’t know what you’re doing 9

He fell over 10
You’re going home in a Pompey ambulance 11
It’s a miracle! It’s a miracle! 12

Is there a fire drill? 13
We can see you sneaking out 14
You’ll never make the station 15

Taxi for Carter 16
Bye-bye, bye-bye 18

Who ate all the pies? 19
You...! 20

n.b. NaPoWriMo April 2022 Day Thirty prompt: Lines from other poets. Well artistic licence applied here – feeling de-mob happy, tbh!

Sources: 1. Crewe Alexandra, Gresty Road, 2022 2. Fratton Park, 1980s 3. Various 4. Sheffield Wednesday, Hillsborough, 2022 5. Shrewsbury Town, The New Meadow, 2018 6. Plymouth Argyle, Fratton Park, 2016 7. Luton Town, Fratton Park, 2017 8. Accrington Stanley, Fratton Park, 2015 9. Cheltenham Town, Whaddon Road, 2022 10. Wycombe Wanderers, (Too many times to mention). 11. S*********n, Fratton Park, 1984 12. Most match days. 13. Tottenham Hotspurs, Wembley, 2010 14. Peterborough United, London Road, 2018 15. Brighton & Hove Albion, Fratton Park, 1976 16. Sunderland AFC, Roker Park, 1995 18. Tottenham Hotspurs, Wembley, 2010 19. S*********n, St Mary’s, 2010 20. For Graham Poll, Referee playing as the 12th man for Arsenal in his last match at Fratton Park, April 2007.

CLP 01/05/2022

on love

evening under lights
immaculate pitch gleams green
passing conversation

~

n.b. Stuff yer super league.

CLP 12/04/2022

About One in Two Hundred Thousands

Late evening, I walk past the guildhall
pride of place epitomised in stone
Victoria's solid figure set glum-faced
stares unseeing across the city square
Did imperial majesty not make you happy, ma'am?

Ahead a space, where a big block stood
reduced to its foundations with civic care
floor-by-floor removed
kitchens, bathrooms, lounges
down-to-earth homes now grounded

This rebuilt city shifts again
from its 1940s shattered remains
to quick-fix accommodation
to divided houses with doorbells arrayed
too many people in too little space

Concrete defences fight off the rapacious sea
While two hundred thousand people relax
By turning up the television volume
To hide a woman's screams
On screen that's entertainment
as for her, reality bites

I hesitate and turn
Which street? Which low-rise?
I cannot locate the source of pain
Someone surely must be closer
Police already called to intervene

I walk on clinging to my timely rediscovered belief
in love-thy-neighbour
myths of Blitz-spirit community
the local friendly British Bobby
under mocking seagull cries

~

n.b. NaPoWriMo 2022 Day Twelve prompt; something small. Here the possible odds of somebody doing the right thing in time.

CLP 12/04/2022

on the island

caught against a wall
colour diluted by headlights
fox trotting through town

~

n.b. Foxes in Portsmouth scavenge by night, gulls by day.

CLP 06/10/2021

August viii

crisp sun sharp blue heat

this southern sky long since missed

now untouchable

~

CLP 14/08/2021

On Water xx

sorting through shingle

picking out perfect pebbles

stones skimming off waves

.

CLP 28/04/2021

On Water xv

green brine of Pompey

no shallow mirror of sky

depth of character

~

CLP 24/04/2021