In the RhythmA drummer's ear turned to the page. Poems of music and beat, of letting the body play and the thinking fall away.May 29, 2026PoemI see no point in it,I see no point in it, Truth telling Is better for the soul There is no future in denial, Eventually the dog Will bite you in the arse. Lies slip off the tongue Too easily Freshly…May 18, 2026MissiveI use my half brainI use my half brain In concert With my slow hand Movements A pinch of salt A sprig of rosemary I am become A kitchen appliance The kettle boils The butter melts in the skillet I…May 6, 2026PoemTen years onTen years on Nothing has gone Too far Locked inside Trying to get out Unless it is lost Outside, trying to get in. Pass the jug I am punch drunk An excuse too often used But it is…May 6, 2026MissiveProgress is a juggernautProgress is a juggernaut Even in decay, Nothing stays its hand No matter the strength Of a conviction. There is no easy way To proceed Opting out Rarely lasts Longer than a cold…April 30, 2026PoemConscious soul.Conscious soul. Does it know Which way to go In the dark Is there a needle At my heart Pointing north A sharp stab of pain Now and again Would seem to say so Tearing at my soul…April 23, 2026PoemThere will alwaysThere will always Be drums Bongos, congas, Timpani Timbale Kettle Heavy as metal Give me that Big bass Drumbeat Backbeat Heartbeats Should be comforting Westerns With big skies…April 23, 2026PoemThere will alwaysThere will always Be drums Bongos, congas, Timpani Timbale Kettle Heavy as metal Give me that Big bass Drumbeat Backbeat Heartbeats Should be comforting Westerns With big skies…April 7, 2026MissiveHe wrote a letterHe wrote a letter Shoved it under the door More out than in Spidery handwriting A small, cramped script Almost a scrawl, He was born to be wild On a laptop, Written on a cheap,…April 1, 2026PoemWhen the heat isWhen the heat is Remorseless When the clocks stop And sand fills The view from Near to far, White light can Be distorted Through an old jam jar Standing On a windowsill In the…March 30, 2026PoemI take pleasureI take pleasure In little things With a big personality There is beauty In wild flowers They look good In a jam jar On the windowsill In the kitchen. To a child A dandelion clock…March 23, 2026PoemWhen the heat isWhen the heat is Remorseless When the clocks stop And sand fills The view from Near to far, White light can Be distorted Through an old jam jar Standing On a windowsill In the…March 20, 2026PoemI take pleasureI take pleasure In little things With a big personality There is beauty In wild flowers They look good In a jam jar On the windowsill In the kitchen. To a child A dandelion clock…February 7, 2026PoemThere is no sleeping.There is no sleeping. When I put my ear To the pillow I hear drummers Beating Millions of people Struggling to breathe Pressure building There will be thunder It is prescribed The…February 4, 2026PoemThere is a hushThere is a hush When breathing Is no more than a whisper, Outside The wind, rustling through The variegated ivy, So striking in its Multi coloured coat Of more than ever green,…January 3, 2026MissiveIt should be easy.It should be easy. The beginning taken care of. We are here, Another day dawns, And the year stands, Barely broken, Virgin territory, Awaiting the first steps, Like fresh snow. A…December 13, 2025PoemNobody knowsNobody knows What lies behind Facade and evasion Lipstick and paint Strip light Vegas Bigging it up Hiding the grime Keeping up appearances Building a defence Against the cut and…December 6, 2025PoemThe rain dampens expectations.The rain dampens expectations. Oily rainbows Slip into the gutter Everything is part of something Disconnection Is more than a rending Of one thing from another Washed away To be…November 27, 2025PoemDust my bluesDust my blues March me back From the edge Too far gone To be found Under the mountain Covered in dirt Hard-packed sorrow Full of rusted tears Iron shod. My back is broken By the…November 19, 2025PoemWhat do you expectWhat do you expect From a window box The geraniums are doing well Perched on the wall Head high People walk by Slinking through the undergrowth Lions and tigers Little old ladies…November 17, 2025PoemReality bitesReality bites Harder than vampires teeth, Bought over the counter For the price of a sweet, You might give as a treat, When they ring the bell, Dressed like demons from hell. Do…November 6, 2025PoemCan you see the demon,Can you see the demon, Knocking at your door. Looking through the window, Crawling on the floor. Sitting at the table, Spitting in your face. Wanting to take over, Even steal your…November 4, 2025PoemShe moves,She moves, With an easy grace, Every single movement, Unique in time and space. She smiles, And my heart beats, In time with the rhythm She has given me. She sings, And I sing…November 3, 2025MissiveTen years onTen years on Nothing has gone Very far Locked inside Trying to get out Unless I am lost Outside, trying to get in. Pass the jug I am punch drunk An excuse too often used But it is…October 31, 2025MissiveJust by touching it,Just by touching it, In a desire To deliver it unto safety, I doomed the moth. Its presence On the kitchen floor In front of the fridge Within a footstep Of the dry goods store…October 6, 2025PoemPush it backPush it back Push it back There is darkness Hidden in the shadows Of every story Stitched into every tight smile The politics of envy The breaking of vows Nothing is as it was…August 6, 2025PoemSliding downSliding down Snow-covered hills On the back of a dustpan Cartwheeling into a drift From an orange box. I’d never heard of Madeira Other than the cake It was a different world The…June 2, 2025PoemYou are more than a rose,You are more than a rose, The point of a thorn Piercing my heart The prickle of blood Upon my skin The burst of pain An explosion of despair The sweet smell Of Lillies Catching in…June 2, 2025PoemYou are more than a rose,You are more than a rose, The point of a thorn Piercing my heart The prickle of blood Upon my skin The burst of pain An explosion of despair The sweet smell Of Lillies Catching in…May 24, 2025PoemSuch good peopleSuch good people Are we There will be no killing No blood letting Not here, not now We sit around our campfires Wild colonials Singing throaty anthems Full of good cheer Getting…May 2, 2025MissiveThere is no record of itThere is no record of it Not in any linear way Nobody understands the process Of disintegration More than the disinterested Who had no hand in the proceedings But always smell of…May 2, 2025MissiveMy back is a little better, but it is marginal.My back is a little better, but it is marginal. There is no record of it Not in any linear way Nobody understands the process Of disintegration More than the disinterested Who had…April 14, 2025MissiveOn shoulders, we standOn shoulders, we stand There is a ceiling They beat against it Dash themselves against The smooth glass of it A wall of noise A demented wailing The sound of screaming A broken…March 22, 2025MissiveReally Peter?Really Peter? Reincarnated The fly on the wall Knew my name Lazarus, he said Before flying around in circles Trying to find a way To the other side Of the window He was…March 22, 2025MissiveReincarnatedReincarnated The fly on the wall Knew my name Lazarus, he said Before flying around in circles Trying to find a way To the other side Of the window He was headbutting. A female…February 26, 2025PoemThe mattress has mouldedThe mattress has moulded Into the contours Of your body A sweat-stained Feathered compact Recognising only one shape. You are a prisoner Until you die Or wake up Whichever comes…February 25, 2025PoemBittersweet musicBittersweet music It is easy to sing A love song To enjoy the rhythm of a rhyme Break into laughter At a bad joke Live in ignorance of the crime Draw the dagger From its scabbard…February 25, 2025PoemIt is easy to singIt is easy to sing A love song To enjoy the rhythm of a rhyme Break into laughter At a bad joke Live in ignorance of the crime Draw the dagger From its scabbard Drag the blade…January 5, 2025PoemPity thisPity this Despite ourselves We breathe It is easy to take it away Too easy, some might say Serpents With venom Constrictors who squeeze The blood Out of a stone Feed the bodies To…December 20, 2024MissiveIt was drummed inIt was drummed in Boxed into my ears Along with the inferiority complex Feelings of worthlessness Dirty unworthy thoughts Arse bright red The cheeks stinging. Unable to sit down…December 20, 2024MissiveWowser.Wowser. It was drummed in Boxed into my ears Along with the inferiority complex Feelings of worthlessness Dirty unworthy thoughts Arse bright red The cheeks stinging. Unable to…December 13, 2024MissiveRadiologyRadiology We chatted in the half-light. The screen flickering Like an old tv From the fifties Misty gunsmoke drifting across From the OK Corral But without Wyatt Earp Or the man…December 13, 2024MissiveRadiologyRadiology We chatted in the half-light. The screen flickering Like an old tv From the fifties Misty gunsmoke drifting across From the OK Corral But without Wyatt Earp Or the man…December 9, 2024MissiveWe sat in a circle on the floorWe sat in a circle on the floor Stone free Taj Mahal on guitar We were as one With heads in the clouds Full of dope and bad rhymes Making words up on the fly Jammin’ a good foot…December 2, 2024PoemSmokestack LightningSmokestack Lightning I heard him cry, I thought I did Perhaps it was a dream Mayhap it was real Sometimes there is no difference, Little is manufactured All is chaos. The drunken…December 2, 2024PoemI heard him cry,I heard him cry, I thought I did Perhaps it was a dream Mayhap it was real Sometimes there is no difference, Little is manufactured All is chaos. The drunken shadows play At…November 18, 2024PoemThe guy next to meThe guy next to me Whispered ‘The woman At the table in the corner is giving you the eye.’ She was visible through the mirror It was horrifying She was so old ‘Bout your age’ he…November 18, 2024PoemThe guy next to meThe guy next to me Whispered, ‘The woman At the table in the corner is giving you the eye.’ She was visible through the mirror It was horrifying She was so old ‘Bout your age’ he…November 2, 2024PoemThe short one.The short one. I am more than The breadth of a window Width of a street Spread of an Oak tree Depth of the sea The arc of a rainbow Peel of a bell Bloom of a Rosebud Destined for…November 2, 2024PoemI am more thanI am more than The breadth of a window Width of a street Spread of an Oak tree Depth of the sea The arc of a rainbow Peel of a bell Bloom of a Rosebud Destined for hell The sigh…September 25, 2024PoemConscious soul.Conscious soul. Does it know Which way to go In the dark Is there a needle At my heart Pointing north A sharp stab of pain Now and again Would seem to say so Tearing at my soul…August 26, 2024PoemGrandad sat,Grandad sat, Wreathed in smoke Tendrils writhing Serpents rising Regaling the assembled With stories of the front The face The pithead The mighty fall He smelled of Ogden’s Or St…August 7, 2024PoemThey are not ghostsThey are not ghosts But a trillion Hollowed shadows Running through my head They are inescapable A labyrinth Of impossible Improbabilities. Even on a good day With a favourable…July 8, 2024PoemWhat is it thatWhat is it that Stills the hand The knife is sharp It cuts the meat clean through Nothing is as easy As the presentiment Of danger makes it appear The deft movement Of slicing and…May 21, 2024PoemOh! why do they like it so?Oh! why do they like it so? The scarlet uniform The drumming The battle and the fray The clash of steel The crash of guns When heard from far away The scarlet of the uniforms To…May 2, 2024MissiveThe neighbourThe neighbour He wrote a letter Shoved it under the door More out than in Spidery handwriting A small, cramped script Almost a scrawl, He was born to be wild On a laptop, Written…April 19, 2024PoemSometimes the brainSometimes the brain Skitters with Cerebral diarrhoea In need of a spinal tap It can leak out of the ears. I feel it does. There is nothing to stop A deterioration In mindful…April 8, 2024PoemWith a nod to KerouacWith a nod to Kerouac And Charlie Parker. Somewhere Over there Behind the tree A window high up Tangled In branches Overlooking the canal A guy played a cool blue horn The music…March 28, 2024PoemWe are the sad faceWe are the sad face With a lowered gaze The mothballed suit The whistle and flute The old kitbag The folded flag Atop an armoire In a cold room A time capsule Old photographs…February 7, 2024PoemThe shadow falls before meThe shadow falls before me As it was meant to However deep the trough It falls first There is never a time When it is beaten To the punch Anticipating every move Bending in time…February 7, 2024PoemThe shadow falls before meThe shadow falls before me As it was meant to However deep the trough It falls first There is never a time When it is beaten To the punch Anticipating every move Bending in time…December 19, 2023PoemCome into my parlourCome into my parlour Said the housefly to the spider “Isn’t that my line?” The spider whispered “Yes, I guess it is.” Replied the fly, “But I thought I would subvert The…December 19, 2023PoemCome into my parlourCome into my parlour Said the housefly to the spider “Isn’t that my line?” The spider whispered “Yes, I guess it is.” Replied the fly, “But I thought I would subvert The…December 11, 2023MissiveChristmas CarolChristmas Carol Grandma whitewashed steps Took in sewing And dirty washing Anything to make ends meet, She often did. But it was hard To achieve when the holes in socks Were as…December 11, 2023MissiveGrandma whitewashed stepsGrandma whitewashed steps Took in sewing And dirty washing Anything to make ends meet, She often did. But it was hard To achieve when the holes in socks Were as big as potatoes…November 16, 2023MissiveHe barely movedHe barely moved Head bent low over the glass, Fingers wrapped around it Protectively. There was a bubble of foam on his lips As he turned to look at me and said “The other day, I…November 6, 2023PoemI rememberI remember So many things Some of them not worth Holding on to, They might hold on to me. For the most part, they were unpleasant Using a bathroom In a rooming house With clumps…October 23, 2023PoemLooking downLooking down From The Tate Modern Platform The steel edge of the Millenium Bridge Slicing through the falling dusk The Thames, lugubrious Heavy with mud from autumnal showers,…October 23, 2023PoemLooking downLooking down From The Tate Modern Platform The steel edge of the Millenium Bridge Slicing through the falling dusk The Thames, lugubrious Heavy with mud from autumnal showers,…October 17, 2023PoemWe wereWe were Children Rolling in dirt, There was a time when grass stains Were the end for a white shirt, Hiding in a briar patch Pretending to be dead, Was it all a game Or…September 9, 2023PoemThe Cable Factory.The Cable Factory. Just out of school Sixteen and as green as a summer lawn A bumfluff chin too sparse for shaving The braiding machines were noisier than was safe For uncovered…August 14, 2023PoemIt is good to pauseIt is good to pause But not to dwell. Today is when we live. The temptation To wander through The familiar byways So often travelled, The old road So well-trodden, Beaten with the…July 10, 2023PoemIn the wrong handsIn the wrong hands They are lethal weapons Too many people left for dead Struggling for breath In an enclosed space Going red in the face. On his own In a tin can After a row In…July 10, 2023PoemIn the wrong handsIn the wrong hands They are lethal weapons Too many people left for dead Struggling for breath In an enclosed space Going red in the face. On his own In a tin can After a row In…July 3, 2023PoemAt the end of an evening,At the end of an evening, When the road seems to rise Up too soon and feet come down Too early The blacktop is a sprung bed Many are caught out by its bounce Losing the rhythm Of…July 3, 2023PoemAt the end of an evening,At the end of an evening, When the road seems to rise Up too soon and feet come down Too early The blacktop is a sprung bed Many are caught out by its bounce Losing the rhythm Of…June 26, 2023PoemHe is quickHe is quick Leading with his head Leaning forward into the wind The skin hanging from his neck A billowing foresail. A woman runs with a baby chair Giving it a gentle push At…May 24, 2023PoemThere will always be heartsThere will always be hearts Some to be lifted Others to be broken So many lived their lives Swept along by the day Moving more or less in parallel Sometimes gathering In the lea…April 18, 2023MissiveA guy scanned the pageA guy scanned the page Over my shoulder He said that I didn’t write poetry I wrote prose I didn’t disagree But asked what he considered poetry to be If not an arrangement of words…March 22, 2023PoemOld soldier blues.Old soldier blues. They are all but lost, Reeking of boredom. Havoc haunts the shadows Scouring the dead Empty spaces Looking for life. Standing off, Forming ragged battle lines.…March 14, 2023PoemPicnic Sunday.Picnic Sunday. There is something quaintly English About a picnic on the verge, The car pulled in so very close The traffic still moving around it In free flow. The grass is…March 14, 2023PoemThe picnicThe picnic There is something quaintly English About a picnic on the verge, The car pulled in so very close The traffic still moving around it In free flow. The grass is always…February 25, 2023PoemI see him, a walking man,I see him, a walking man, Brown skin burned By salty sun Leaning into the morning Whitebeard flowing Into his matted thatch Silvery threads Beading in sunlight As dappled as the…February 25, 2023PoemI see him, a walking man,I see him, a walking man, Brown skin burned By salty sun Leaning into the morning Whitebeard flowing Into his matted thatch Silvery threads Beading in sunlight As dappled as the…February 17, 2023PoemThere is a reality in lifeThere is a reality in life As in dreaming Walking barefoot across the sand The moon peeking cheekily From behind an old Keep Which appears on a headland Bracketed by the tossed…January 24, 2023MissiveI have no time for mirrorsI have no time for mirrors They teach me nothing I didn’t know already. Hold them up and they do little But reflect an idea we have of ourselves The nature of the world Turned…December 30, 2022PoemEven the Lizard moves, eventually,Even the Lizard moves, eventually, Waiting until the last moment As my foot crunches into the dry earth Skittering, a few feet Keeping just out of reach As if I would even try To…December 22, 2022PoemI could sit on the grassI could sit on the grass The green of it Bruised in the heat Whitening in the drying Dying for lack of precipitation. I could linger In the hope of conjuring an image As the sea…December 22, 2022PoemI could sit on the grassI could sit on the grass The green of it Bruised in the heat Whitening in the drying Dying for lack of precipitation. I could linger In the hope of conjuring an image As the sea…December 7, 2022PoemThere is nothing to measureThere is nothing to measure But the uncertainty In every tentative step, The ragged edges of life Revealed in minute detail Between one heartbeat And the next. Waiting for…December 7, 2022PoemAn uncertainty principleAn uncertainty principle There is nothing to measure But the uncertainty In every tentative step, The ragged edges of life Revealed in minute detail Between one heartbeat And the…October 27, 2022MissiveDaily missive for Thursday the 27th of October.“There is something to it” Thought the night owl. “Staying awake all night Looking for mischief Can bring all kinds of surprises In daylight.” Struggling to keep himself awake…October 22, 2022MissiveIt is not a secretIt is not a secret People are contrary, We care about silly things As if they really do matter Who did win Britain’s Got Talent What do we do about sustainable rock concerts…October 1, 2022MissiveHe saw it,He saw it, On the dry side of the rain, Lying on its back Struggling to right itself, A wondrous-looking Dragonfly, At its most vulnerable With its upside down. A Magpie sat on…October 1, 2022MissiveHe saw it,He saw it, On the dry side of the rain, Lying on its back Struggling to right itself, A wondrous-looking Dragonfly, At its most vulnerable With its upside down. A Magpie sat on…September 22, 2022MissiveDaughter…Daughter… A father you say I am not sure if I grew into it The blood from the umbilical Splashed and I was smitten I told them all, everyone I passed That you were born But forgot…September 22, 2022MissiveDaughter…Daughter… A father you say I am not sure if I grew into it The blood from the umbilical Splashed and I was smitten I told them all, everyone I passed That you were born But forgot…September 3, 2022PoemThere is no romanceThere is no romance It is a thing of the past There is little beauty In the sound of an engine Burning fuel When there is no solution To its pollution The thrill of the chase The…August 6, 2022MissiveMagpieMagpie Why do you linger? What brings you here To sit by my side When we are both strangers So very different in outlook And expectation Even in proximity I wonder at your need…August 5, 2022PoemThe Artist.The Artist. There are few gifts Freely given Gazing up at the sky With wide, white-rimmed eyes, As a black snake uncurls Beneath a shadowed rock Releasing the evil Coiled around…May 3, 2022PoemSolipsisticSolipsistic He wheeled a shopping trolley It skittered constantly, crabwise, An ongoing battle To move in a straight line Only three wheels revolving Full to the brim, overflowing…May 3, 2022PoemSolipsisticSolipsistic He wheeled a shopping trolley It skittered constantly, crabwise, An ongoing battle To move in a straight line Only three wheels revolving Full to the brim, overflowing…January 22, 2022MissiveWe talked, you and IWe talked, you and I All through the night We knew nothing when we started But when we finished We did know something of each other The words came easily You asked if that was how…January 22, 2022MissiveWe talked, you and IWe talked, you and I All through the night We knew nothing when we started But when we finished We knew something of each other The words came easily You asked if that was how it…January 15, 2022PoemI am missing her a lot today.I am missing her a lot today. Is it any wonder When there are more stars Than grains of sand, How tightly packed they are, Shouldering in together, filing in the space Feeling the…January 15, 2022PoemIs it any wonderIs it any wonder When there are more stars Than grains of sand, How tightly packed they are, Shouldering in together, filling in the space Feeling the weight of a footfall The…January 7, 2022MissiveWere there ever any rivers?Were there ever any rivers? When the world was a Bunch of children Playing wargames in cornfields Making do with nothing Armies were a coming Charging through the tunnel Beneath…January 7, 2022MissiveWere there ever any rivers?Were there ever any rivers? When the world was a Bunch of children Playing wargames in cornfields Making do with nothing Armies were a coming Charging through the tunnel Beneath…December 2, 2021PoemWe took tea at KenwoodWe took tea at Kenwood Five tiers on the cake stand With the more healthy options At the bottom Smoked Salmon with cream cheese In a Bruschetta finger roll Cucumber sandwiches…October 27, 2021MissiveThere is a momentThere is a moment When the air conditioning unit next door Is louder Than the Cicadas The jackhammer from The building site A rhythmic punctuation The Crows spit feathers In…September 14, 2021MissiveThe day is mine now.The day is mine now. I enjoyed my drum practice...I will go back for seconds later. The water from the tap is cloudy It clears after It has stood for a while A dusty white powder…December 2, 2020MissiveWe took tea at KenwoodWe took tea at Kenwood Five tiers on the cake stand With the more healthy options At the bottom Smoked Salmon with cream cheese In a Bruschetta finger roll Cucumber sandwiches…October 27, 2020PoemThere is a momentThere is a moment When the air conditioning unit next door Is louder Than the Cicadas The jackhammer from The building site A rhythmic punctuation The Crows spit feathers In…October 5, 2020MissiveIf you were as congruentIf you were as congruent As you pretend There would be less need To hide the underlying Hysteria Every time you have to shine Staying alive needs a good script As well as gifted…August 25, 2020MissiveThere is little life hereThere is little life here Even with its variety The vibrancy of colour With which it seeks to tempt The wayfarer into making False assumptions. Lush flowers hang low Their heads…July 13, 2020PoemI could never write a songI could never write a song Blend the words into the music Pen a poem with subtle shifts In mood and metaphor Dispensing with rhyme In favour of rhythm I could never Dance a samba…June 10, 2020MissiveThere is celebrationThere is celebration For the many perhaps But not the few Or is it the other way around As we all are constructed From the same base materials With a propensity To find fault in…June 10, 2020MissiveThere is celebrationThere is celebration For the many perhaps But not the few Or is it the other way around As we all are constructed From the same base materials With a propensity To find fault in…May 14, 2020PoemTo sit as still as ageless stoneTo sit as still as ageless stone Unhewn by man To lie shaped by centuries Of patient waiting Perhaps in time A giant’s hand will move it Pick it up and bowl it Skittle down the…May 14, 2020PoemFirm but fair.Firm but fair. To sit as still as ageless stone Unhewn by man To lie shaped by centuries Of patient waiting Perhaps in time A giant’s hand will move it Pick it up and bowl it…May 3, 2020PoemI miss her...so much...more...every day.I miss her...so much...more...every day. There are no butterflies In the garden at midnight All that flutters Is my heart I can hear it beating In the silence As I stand waiting…May 3, 2020PoemThere are no butterfliesThere are no butterflies In the garden at midnight All that flutters Is my heart I can hear it beating In the silence As I stand waiting For the clouds to part. They say the sky…March 16, 2020MissiveI murdered a caterpillarI murdered a caterpillar It was no easy decision to make I thought long and hard Turned it over In my head This way and that... It might metamorphosise Into a beautiful butterfly…March 15, 2020PoemI murdered a caterpillarI murdered a caterpillar It was no easy decision to make I thought long and hard Turned it over In my head This way and that... It might metamorphosise Into a beautiful butterfly…March 1, 2020PoemRabbits…Rabbits… I love you Kora. We are broken Nothing remains Untouched by darkness Every night light fades Leaving only shadows There is no dancing Without feeling The rhythm in our…March 1, 2020MissiveWe are brokenWe are broken Nothing remains Untouched by darkness Every night light fades Leaving only shadows There is no dancing Without feeling The rhythm in our bones Where does it lie When…February 1, 2020PoemSo many birds sing out of tuneSo many birds sing out of tune The melody lost In a cacophony of calls I don’t know their names We have never been introduced Whilst often a little nervous In company I am not a…January 12, 2020PoemHow is it?How is it? You say We are in parallel Many times over How impossible you are The sofa is empty Here But not there Intemperate suggestions In duplicate Gossamer layers Are in…January 3, 2020PoemThe air is heavyThe air is heavy With the dust of summer Hung out to dry As thick as aspic Laden with sea salt Garnished with the aroma Of land-locked kelp Thrown up at high tide As the sea…December 9, 2019PoemHeavy are the eyesHeavy are the eyes So easily closed What holds them Is more than curiosity Does the world go on Or will it cease to be When I finally look away It is more than tiredness From lack…October 30, 2019PoemIt is what it is.It is what it is. The pitter patter of rainfall A soothing blend of Natural rhythms The hiss of water Adding A relaxing ambient Backdrop To solid air Heavy with migraine Inducing…October 30, 2019PoemThe pitter-patter of rainfallThe pitter-patter of rainfall A soothing blend of Natural rhythms The hiss of water Adding A relaxing ambient Backdrop To solid air Heavy with migraine Inducing humidity A sheer…October 23, 2019PoemHackney before gentrificationHackney before gentrification Kafka corridors With flickering lights Wire protected To prevent breakage It rarely worked Fire doors, unhinged Flats with security locks An…October 23, 2019PoemHackney before gentrificationHackney before gentrification Kafka corridors With flickering lights Wire protected To prevent breakage It rarely worked Fire doors, unhinged Flats with security locks An armour…September 16, 2019PoemIs it sentientIs it sentient Does it have intention Whistling as it blows A tuneless drone High pitched as it Dances in the belfry Orchestrating echoes Finding mischief In the cracks between…September 16, 2019PoemIs it sentientIs it sentient Does it have intention Whistling as it blows A tuneless drone High pitched as it Dances in the belfry Orchestrating echoes Finding mischief In the cracks between…September 10, 2019PoemDo trees look differentDo trees look different To you Do you see them As I do With their heads tossed back Pogo-ing Wildly in the ebb and flow Of the west wind Demented dancers At an eighties rave High…September 10, 2019PoemDo trees look differentDo trees look different To you Do you see them As I do With their heads tossed back Pogo-ing Wildly in the ebb and flow Of the west wind Demented dancers At an eighties rave High…August 19, 2019PoemTurn with meTurn with me Look at the sky Escape into its surprise Take me with you There is so much more to this Than a glass raised in farewell The further you look The less you see The…August 19, 2019PoemThe guide knew his stuff and was really interesting.The guide knew his stuff and was really interesting. Turn with me Look at the sky Escape into its surprise Take me with you There is so much more to this Than a glass raised in…August 7, 2019PoemWhat is it you doWhat is it you do When the lights dim Do your eyes open wide In the dark Do you ever walk alone In a park Or take shortcuts Through a cemetery If it is not the ghosts It is the…August 7, 2019PoemWhat is it you doWhat is it you do When the lights dim Do your eyes open wide In the dark Do you ever walk alone In a park Or take shortcuts Through a cemetery If it is not the ghosts It is the…August 2, 2019PoemGunner is at it again.Gunner is at it again. It’s a hard life. The hob has still not been cleaned… Some people would rather Turn away Than witness hardship At first or even second hand Writing reminder…August 2, 2019MissiveSome people would ratherSome people would rather Turn away Than witness hardship At first or even second hand Writing reminder notes In tablets About events which are to come Registering an interest In…July 28, 2019MissiveU2 can be Gr8tU2 can be Gr8t What do you know of people On the outside Beyond the realm Of your existence Among the open sores The infection of poverty The seepage of low life Rarely seen From…July 28, 2019MissiveWhat do you know of peopleWhat do you know of people On the outside Beyond the realm Of your existence Among the open sores The infection of poverty The seepage of low life Rarely seen From beneath a veil…July 13, 2019PoemFour, fat crowsFour, fat crows Splash together In treacherous overspill Mangrove coves Screaming obscenities In a tuneless caw A murderous racket Drumming claws On the roof of a dirty car…July 13, 2019PoemFour, fat crowsFour, fat crows Splash together In treacherous overspill Mangrove coves Screaming obscenities In a tuneless caw A murderous racket Drumming claws On the roof of a dirty car…July 9, 2019PoemNothing is completeNothing is complete There is always something Waiting to be broken What will become Of the pieces Do they disperse Nobody knows An outcome Before the closing When it is far too…July 7, 2019PoemI am an objectI am an object Of impermanence Invisible Hidden away Beneath lowered eyes When I can’t see you Then you can’t see me If I turn about Three times Perhaps the day will restart The…June 22, 2019PoemWild is the seaWild is the sea Every wave No matter how small In constancy Undermining the earth Beneath our feet Untameable It will turn Wax and wane In its own time There was no magic Canute…June 13, 2019PoemDance lightlyDance lightly Glide across the kitchen One two three Spin on the balls of your feet The stone floor Newly washed A ballroom The sheen of it catching The light from A solstice sun…June 8, 2019PoemAm I a devilAm I a devil By any other name But mine own Did I turn the screw Was I standing by the wayside As you shuffled by Did I fasten the shackles Clean the showers Tie the knot in a…June 8, 2019PoemAm I a devilAm I a devil By any other name But mine own Did I turn the screw Was I standing by the wayside As you shuffled by Did I fasten the shackles Clean the showers Tie the knot in a…May 14, 2019PoemWe ate chipsWe ate chips Out of newspaper They were covered in salt Soaked in vinegar Scraps were a prize For thrupence In old money Crumbs of batter, crispy offcuts Eaten from greaseproof…May 7, 2019PoemToo many stonesToo many stones Along the way Rolling beneath my toes Scuffed by shuffling feet Dust in my eyes Tears in my heart Broken fingers Play sad songs On slide trombones With honky tonk…May 7, 2019PoemThere are daysThere are days When valleys are mountains Rivers run upstream The tightest knots Become undone Unless you want them to Pictures never hang straight Falling off walls Decorating…May 6, 2019PoemThere are daysThere are days When valleys are mountains Rivers run upstream The tightest knots Become undone Unless you want them to Pictures never hang straight Falling off walls Decorating…April 9, 2019PoemEasy down timeEasy down time Whispering trees Buttered down flowers With chain link posies Lazy bones Cradled in softness Sausage roll Picnic baskets With pink lemonade Complimentary breathing…April 9, 2019PoemEasy down timeEasy down time Whispering trees Buttered down flowers With chain link posies Lazy bones Cradled in softness Sausage roll Picnic baskets With pink lemonade Complimentary breathing…April 6, 2019PoemI miss her.I miss her. There are no pretty lies Little white ones Meant to convey What? Who gets hurt And who does not When the truth is told How much harder When you get old To pretend It…April 4, 2019PoemNo moreNo more Stolen kisses Hot blood Temples throbbing With the rhythm Of a lovers heart Soft lips Gently pouting The quiver Of excitement At the slightest touch Your voice Simple…April 4, 2019PoemNo moreNo more Stolen kisses Hot blood Temples throbbing With the rhythm Of a lovers heart Soft lips Gently pouting The quiver Of excitement At the slightest touch Your voice Simple…April 3, 2019PoemIt is in a wild rushIt is in a wild rush Through the trees Pulling, bending, snapping Finding the strength From within its own resources To continue Building again Battering the barn Frightening the…April 2, 2019PoemWith every tickleWith every tickle There is fear Each painful pang Every fresh bruise With no recollection Of its cause The racing heart’s Erratic arrhythmia Beats more forcefully Anxiously…April 1, 2019PoemThere are no pretty liesThere are no pretty lies Little white ones Meant to convey What? Who gets hurt And who does not When the truth is told How much harder When you get old To pretend It was better…February 14, 2019PoemDo you hear the musicDo you hear the music Does it still play Long after the song has gone Filtering through the empty room Absorbed into every wall Reflected in Flickering light From a glitterball…February 13, 2019PoemCloud hazeCloud haze Slowly billows The colour of smoke on a battlefield Heavy with sadness Rolling in filth and soot Muddy from the splash Of a wet wild wind An explosion of thunder A…November 17, 2018PoemI love them so much.I love them so much. It is easy to imagine That the worst Can happen It often does Whatever the affirmations say So little is Within control Demanding infinite energy To keep all…August 15, 2018PoemIt is the least I can do.It is the least I can do. Eyes open Wide is the distance Between us It is in the dreaming We are reunited If only for a moment Before the undercurrent Sweeps us apart We cling to…June 8, 2018PoemOr her mine.Or her mine. My gosh but I miss her. Just saying. It is the wind Blown from the Southland It is cold at heart Bitter with the chill Of ice flows Staggering through The tee tops An…February 23, 2018PoemWeird.Weird. I guess it will all be kicking off now. Splash it wide Let it fall across the wall Flicker in the sunlight Sway in the wind Stretching as the sun sets Fading into half…February 19, 2018PoemHe drummedHe drummed Was consumed by it Ears drummed by A drunken father For the sin of a Heart beating too loudly It had been Drumming in his ears Little children’s feet Always drumming…December 14, 2017PoemIt is a hot windIt is a hot wind Acrid with the scent Of desperation Carried in the dust Of the desert Dried from a carrion sun Old bones ground Into fine ash An unclaimed deposit leaves A bitter…November 30, 2017PoemBlush meBlush me Into your heart Capture my reverie Put it in a box And take it home Put it on the mantle Next to the carriage clock Underneath the photograph Perhaps the heat Will make…November 20, 2017PoemA strip of lightA strip of light Runs beneath the blind Clearly defined Sharply edged Free from the interference Of colour Decontextualized Remote from meaning Other than as a shape Barely…November 18, 2017PoemIt is easy to imagineIt is easy to imagine That the worst Can happen It often does Whatever the affirmations say So little is Within control Demanding infinite energy To keep all the balls In the air…November 1, 2017PoemA daughter’s smileA daughter’s smile Mirrored in her own child The shape of her head A wisp of hair Caught in the wind Flying a kite His wife An image in a photograph The way she looked On their…October 16, 2017PoemThe old man is bone tiredThe old man is bone tired His head nods Down onto his chest Before snapping back Eyelids heavy Another coffee please He does try to keep awake But these days Lethargy is his only…September 7, 2017PoemEyes tightly shutEyes tightly shut Mouth closed Ears protected from sound Nothing intrudes There is no right of reply If you are senseless Ambience is not Even in the background The milieu An…September 5, 2017PoemThe sun strikesThe sun strikes In gilded streamers Blinding, splintering Piercingly bright It skims off skipping stones Skitters through Glitterball grains of sand Shimmering golden Fields…August 30, 2017PoemTurn me offTurn me off For too long By the burning of the light Bathed in its glare Found little space To hide No shadow finds me there Under the halo It is the pursuit Of perfection For the…August 17, 2017PoemButton me upButton me up Keep me tightly bound Lest the skin be stripped Clean from my body It is a vicious wind To be locked out...in Nothing can prepare A simple man For the complexity Of…August 15, 2017PoemEyes openEyes open Wide is the distance Between us It is in the dreaming We are reunited If only for a moment Before the undercurrent Sweeps us apart We cling to different Liferafts…July 10, 2017PoemDo the birds singDo the birds sing The cock crow Who decides On the meaning Of a reason Or when to stop To listen To the music And bring An end to the beginning How do we stop moving When the…June 18, 2017PoemDissolvable stitchesDissolvable stitches Flesh wounds glued Held with butterfly stiristrips Burns tightly bound in Clear plastic masks to Minimise the damage Show me the scars Better by far Than the…June 8, 2017PoemIt is the windIt is the wind Blown from the Southland It is cold at heart Bitter with the chill Of ice flows Staggering through The tree tops An old drunk Pulling at the clouds Dragging a…May 24, 2017PoemA table for oneA table for one Out of the sun The pavement is too hot To go barefoot Even the sand is on fire Sit me away from the window In a cosy corner Far away from the restrooms Or the door…March 31, 2017PoemBlessed are the eloquentBlessed are the eloquent With questions As weapons Sharp as blades A cut above the bluff Of ignorance The bluster of knowledge Packaged as privilege Persuade me Without prejudice…February 23, 2017PoemSplash it wideSplash it wide Let it fall across the wall Flicker in the sunlight Sway in the wind Stretching as the sun sets Fading into half light As the Night Owl calls How long until It…February 19, 2017PoemHe drummedHe drummed Was consumed by it Ears drummed by A drunken father For the sin of a Heart beating too loudly It had been Drumming in his ears Little children’s feet Always drumming…February 13, 2017PoemEven as blood flowsEven as blood flows Freely in my veins There is a lack of syncopation No rhythmic pulse Just a steady beat No shuffle Swing Or easy sway No nimble flutter Like a butterfly What a…January 23, 2017PoemThe Lid Comes DownHow do you breath In close confines When the sides draw in The lid comes down How do you live When the lightness Of a song birds voice Rattles your chamber How do you determine…January 12, 2017PoemClean me upClean me up Put me back together Find the little pieces The extra ones With awkward corners That skitter away To gather dust Lost in shadow Until they are brushed Beneath the…December 12, 2016PoemHow do people copeHow do people cope When the wild wind blows, Sweeping all before it, Scouring the earth, Laying waste to man’s Carefully crafted plans. Dislodging The oldest stones, Uprooting The…September 27, 2016PoemIt is askedIt is asked With a certain discretion, But please tell me, What is soul When it is at home. Do you know If we all have one, And if we do Are some people born with it Firmly in…July 9, 2016PoemThick clouds roll over,Thick clouds roll over, A blanket, Pulled from the edge of the world To the furthest horizon. A shroud, beneath which Death becomes the living, As we walk in sleep, Talk without…June 12, 2016PoemYou kissed meYou kissed me The lightest touch A finely felt waft of air Across my lips Your sweet breath Exciting my skin Creating Goosebumps. I wake up to you Is this my life now? How will I…May 11, 2016PoemSimplicity is bestSimplicity is best Is what he said. Too many words Distract the mind From what is read. Random thoughts Spread like jam, Upon the page. When just a few Would be more sage. Just…April 28, 2016PoemIt isIt is So easy a question, The words not Too hard to find Can be said by anybody, To any one At any time. They may sit On the tip of a tongue Waiting for permission To tumble out…April 1, 2016PoemSometimes what we doSometimes what we do And how we feel Fits with how we see ourselves What we are is an extension of What we think. And where we wake up Is just where it ought to be. The right…March 21, 2016PoemEven in absenceEven in absence The fact of you Is overwhelming. As a presence You shape my life. Thoughts are weighed In your favour, Ideas become you. It is your voice I carry, As reassurance…May 30, 2015PoemHeart.Heart. It opened for you. Why you, I will never know. It rarely did Before. A closed book Is what I read. You prised it open, Broke your Finger nails. But never did quit, Just…May 22, 2015PoemImagineImagine If I could sing Or play the piano. Write songs And put words together, In a simple permutation, With a soulful beat, A syncopated rhythm, That makes you Want to tap your…May 21, 2015MissiveThoughts rarely comeThoughts rarely come Fully formed. They are a clutter Of competing words. A melange of prime And complimentary colours, Presented in a range Of shapes and sizes. Seldom are they…April 23, 2015PoemThings creep upThings creep up When least expected. The change in momentum A surprise, To a system Grown sluggish From lack of invention. A smile can turn A face into the gates Of paradise. A…March 30, 2015MissiveI have known sorrow,I have known sorrow, Would that I had not. Even though I have chanced to learn, Would this life Have been so much worse, Had those many lessons Not been meted out, With such…February 3, 2015MissiveDo not speak to meDo not speak to me Of poetry and beauty, In words I do not use. It does not matter About the syllables, The choice of phrase, Or the clever use Of metaphors, As if they were…January 22, 2015PoemSoft and gentle.Soft and gentle. The rain, A balm To soothe the savage Beating heart. Hot from the fire Of your kiss, Missed, On days When we misplace Synchronicity. Such a pity, As the touch Of…January 15, 2015PoemNo matter where it goesNo matter where it goes The wind blows for me. Within the eye Of a perfect storm The stillness Is toxic. The rain eats Into the beaten earth like acid. The faint touch Of a milky…
May 29, 2026PoemI see no point in it,I see no point in it, Truth telling Is better for the soul There is no future in denial, Eventually the dog Will bite you in the arse. Lies slip off the tongue Too easily Freshly…
May 18, 2026MissiveI use my half brainI use my half brain In concert With my slow hand Movements A pinch of salt A sprig of rosemary I am become A kitchen appliance The kettle boils The butter melts in the skillet I…
May 6, 2026PoemTen years onTen years on Nothing has gone Too far Locked inside Trying to get out Unless it is lost Outside, trying to get in. Pass the jug I am punch drunk An excuse too often used But it is…
May 6, 2026MissiveProgress is a juggernautProgress is a juggernaut Even in decay, Nothing stays its hand No matter the strength Of a conviction. There is no easy way To proceed Opting out Rarely lasts Longer than a cold…
April 30, 2026PoemConscious soul.Conscious soul. Does it know Which way to go In the dark Is there a needle At my heart Pointing north A sharp stab of pain Now and again Would seem to say so Tearing at my soul…
April 23, 2026PoemThere will alwaysThere will always Be drums Bongos, congas, Timpani Timbale Kettle Heavy as metal Give me that Big bass Drumbeat Backbeat Heartbeats Should be comforting Westerns With big skies…
April 23, 2026PoemThere will alwaysThere will always Be drums Bongos, congas, Timpani Timbale Kettle Heavy as metal Give me that Big bass Drumbeat Backbeat Heartbeats Should be comforting Westerns With big skies…
April 7, 2026MissiveHe wrote a letterHe wrote a letter Shoved it under the door More out than in Spidery handwriting A small, cramped script Almost a scrawl, He was born to be wild On a laptop, Written on a cheap,…
April 1, 2026PoemWhen the heat isWhen the heat is Remorseless When the clocks stop And sand fills The view from Near to far, White light can Be distorted Through an old jam jar Standing On a windowsill In the…
March 30, 2026PoemI take pleasureI take pleasure In little things With a big personality There is beauty In wild flowers They look good In a jam jar On the windowsill In the kitchen. To a child A dandelion clock…
March 23, 2026PoemWhen the heat isWhen the heat is Remorseless When the clocks stop And sand fills The view from Near to far, White light can Be distorted Through an old jam jar Standing On a windowsill In the…
March 20, 2026PoemI take pleasureI take pleasure In little things With a big personality There is beauty In wild flowers They look good In a jam jar On the windowsill In the kitchen. To a child A dandelion clock…
February 7, 2026PoemThere is no sleeping.There is no sleeping. When I put my ear To the pillow I hear drummers Beating Millions of people Struggling to breathe Pressure building There will be thunder It is prescribed The…
February 4, 2026PoemThere is a hushThere is a hush When breathing Is no more than a whisper, Outside The wind, rustling through The variegated ivy, So striking in its Multi coloured coat Of more than ever green,…
January 3, 2026MissiveIt should be easy.It should be easy. The beginning taken care of. We are here, Another day dawns, And the year stands, Barely broken, Virgin territory, Awaiting the first steps, Like fresh snow. A…
December 13, 2025PoemNobody knowsNobody knows What lies behind Facade and evasion Lipstick and paint Strip light Vegas Bigging it up Hiding the grime Keeping up appearances Building a defence Against the cut and…
December 6, 2025PoemThe rain dampens expectations.The rain dampens expectations. Oily rainbows Slip into the gutter Everything is part of something Disconnection Is more than a rending Of one thing from another Washed away To be…
November 27, 2025PoemDust my bluesDust my blues March me back From the edge Too far gone To be found Under the mountain Covered in dirt Hard-packed sorrow Full of rusted tears Iron shod. My back is broken By the…
November 19, 2025PoemWhat do you expectWhat do you expect From a window box The geraniums are doing well Perched on the wall Head high People walk by Slinking through the undergrowth Lions and tigers Little old ladies…
November 17, 2025PoemReality bitesReality bites Harder than vampires teeth, Bought over the counter For the price of a sweet, You might give as a treat, When they ring the bell, Dressed like demons from hell. Do…
November 6, 2025PoemCan you see the demon,Can you see the demon, Knocking at your door. Looking through the window, Crawling on the floor. Sitting at the table, Spitting in your face. Wanting to take over, Even steal your…
November 4, 2025PoemShe moves,She moves, With an easy grace, Every single movement, Unique in time and space. She smiles, And my heart beats, In time with the rhythm She has given me. She sings, And I sing…
November 3, 2025MissiveTen years onTen years on Nothing has gone Very far Locked inside Trying to get out Unless I am lost Outside, trying to get in. Pass the jug I am punch drunk An excuse too often used But it is…
October 31, 2025MissiveJust by touching it,Just by touching it, In a desire To deliver it unto safety, I doomed the moth. Its presence On the kitchen floor In front of the fridge Within a footstep Of the dry goods store…
October 6, 2025PoemPush it backPush it back Push it back There is darkness Hidden in the shadows Of every story Stitched into every tight smile The politics of envy The breaking of vows Nothing is as it was…
August 6, 2025PoemSliding downSliding down Snow-covered hills On the back of a dustpan Cartwheeling into a drift From an orange box. I’d never heard of Madeira Other than the cake It was a different world The…
June 2, 2025PoemYou are more than a rose,You are more than a rose, The point of a thorn Piercing my heart The prickle of blood Upon my skin The burst of pain An explosion of despair The sweet smell Of Lillies Catching in…
June 2, 2025PoemYou are more than a rose,You are more than a rose, The point of a thorn Piercing my heart The prickle of blood Upon my skin The burst of pain An explosion of despair The sweet smell Of Lillies Catching in…
May 24, 2025PoemSuch good peopleSuch good people Are we There will be no killing No blood letting Not here, not now We sit around our campfires Wild colonials Singing throaty anthems Full of good cheer Getting…
May 2, 2025MissiveThere is no record of itThere is no record of it Not in any linear way Nobody understands the process Of disintegration More than the disinterested Who had no hand in the proceedings But always smell of…
May 2, 2025MissiveMy back is a little better, but it is marginal.My back is a little better, but it is marginal. There is no record of it Not in any linear way Nobody understands the process Of disintegration More than the disinterested Who had…
April 14, 2025MissiveOn shoulders, we standOn shoulders, we stand There is a ceiling They beat against it Dash themselves against The smooth glass of it A wall of noise A demented wailing The sound of screaming A broken…
March 22, 2025MissiveReally Peter?Really Peter? Reincarnated The fly on the wall Knew my name Lazarus, he said Before flying around in circles Trying to find a way To the other side Of the window He was…
March 22, 2025MissiveReincarnatedReincarnated The fly on the wall Knew my name Lazarus, he said Before flying around in circles Trying to find a way To the other side Of the window He was headbutting. A female…
February 26, 2025PoemThe mattress has mouldedThe mattress has moulded Into the contours Of your body A sweat-stained Feathered compact Recognising only one shape. You are a prisoner Until you die Or wake up Whichever comes…
February 25, 2025PoemBittersweet musicBittersweet music It is easy to sing A love song To enjoy the rhythm of a rhyme Break into laughter At a bad joke Live in ignorance of the crime Draw the dagger From its scabbard…
February 25, 2025PoemIt is easy to singIt is easy to sing A love song To enjoy the rhythm of a rhyme Break into laughter At a bad joke Live in ignorance of the crime Draw the dagger From its scabbard Drag the blade…
January 5, 2025PoemPity thisPity this Despite ourselves We breathe It is easy to take it away Too easy, some might say Serpents With venom Constrictors who squeeze The blood Out of a stone Feed the bodies To…
December 20, 2024MissiveIt was drummed inIt was drummed in Boxed into my ears Along with the inferiority complex Feelings of worthlessness Dirty unworthy thoughts Arse bright red The cheeks stinging. Unable to sit down…
December 20, 2024MissiveWowser.Wowser. It was drummed in Boxed into my ears Along with the inferiority complex Feelings of worthlessness Dirty unworthy thoughts Arse bright red The cheeks stinging. Unable to…
December 13, 2024MissiveRadiologyRadiology We chatted in the half-light. The screen flickering Like an old tv From the fifties Misty gunsmoke drifting across From the OK Corral But without Wyatt Earp Or the man…
December 13, 2024MissiveRadiologyRadiology We chatted in the half-light. The screen flickering Like an old tv From the fifties Misty gunsmoke drifting across From the OK Corral But without Wyatt Earp Or the man…
December 9, 2024MissiveWe sat in a circle on the floorWe sat in a circle on the floor Stone free Taj Mahal on guitar We were as one With heads in the clouds Full of dope and bad rhymes Making words up on the fly Jammin’ a good foot…
December 2, 2024PoemSmokestack LightningSmokestack Lightning I heard him cry, I thought I did Perhaps it was a dream Mayhap it was real Sometimes there is no difference, Little is manufactured All is chaos. The drunken…
December 2, 2024PoemI heard him cry,I heard him cry, I thought I did Perhaps it was a dream Mayhap it was real Sometimes there is no difference, Little is manufactured All is chaos. The drunken shadows play At…
November 18, 2024PoemThe guy next to meThe guy next to me Whispered ‘The woman At the table in the corner is giving you the eye.’ She was visible through the mirror It was horrifying She was so old ‘Bout your age’ he…
November 18, 2024PoemThe guy next to meThe guy next to me Whispered, ‘The woman At the table in the corner is giving you the eye.’ She was visible through the mirror It was horrifying She was so old ‘Bout your age’ he…
November 2, 2024PoemThe short one.The short one. I am more than The breadth of a window Width of a street Spread of an Oak tree Depth of the sea The arc of a rainbow Peel of a bell Bloom of a Rosebud Destined for…
November 2, 2024PoemI am more thanI am more than The breadth of a window Width of a street Spread of an Oak tree Depth of the sea The arc of a rainbow Peel of a bell Bloom of a Rosebud Destined for hell The sigh…
September 25, 2024PoemConscious soul.Conscious soul. Does it know Which way to go In the dark Is there a needle At my heart Pointing north A sharp stab of pain Now and again Would seem to say so Tearing at my soul…
August 26, 2024PoemGrandad sat,Grandad sat, Wreathed in smoke Tendrils writhing Serpents rising Regaling the assembled With stories of the front The face The pithead The mighty fall He smelled of Ogden’s Or St…
August 7, 2024PoemThey are not ghostsThey are not ghosts But a trillion Hollowed shadows Running through my head They are inescapable A labyrinth Of impossible Improbabilities. Even on a good day With a favourable…
July 8, 2024PoemWhat is it thatWhat is it that Stills the hand The knife is sharp It cuts the meat clean through Nothing is as easy As the presentiment Of danger makes it appear The deft movement Of slicing and…
May 21, 2024PoemOh! why do they like it so?Oh! why do they like it so? The scarlet uniform The drumming The battle and the fray The clash of steel The crash of guns When heard from far away The scarlet of the uniforms To…
May 2, 2024MissiveThe neighbourThe neighbour He wrote a letter Shoved it under the door More out than in Spidery handwriting A small, cramped script Almost a scrawl, He was born to be wild On a laptop, Written…
April 19, 2024PoemSometimes the brainSometimes the brain Skitters with Cerebral diarrhoea In need of a spinal tap It can leak out of the ears. I feel it does. There is nothing to stop A deterioration In mindful…
April 8, 2024PoemWith a nod to KerouacWith a nod to Kerouac And Charlie Parker. Somewhere Over there Behind the tree A window high up Tangled In branches Overlooking the canal A guy played a cool blue horn The music…
March 28, 2024PoemWe are the sad faceWe are the sad face With a lowered gaze The mothballed suit The whistle and flute The old kitbag The folded flag Atop an armoire In a cold room A time capsule Old photographs…
February 7, 2024PoemThe shadow falls before meThe shadow falls before me As it was meant to However deep the trough It falls first There is never a time When it is beaten To the punch Anticipating every move Bending in time…
February 7, 2024PoemThe shadow falls before meThe shadow falls before me As it was meant to However deep the trough It falls first There is never a time When it is beaten To the punch Anticipating every move Bending in time…
December 19, 2023PoemCome into my parlourCome into my parlour Said the housefly to the spider “Isn’t that my line?” The spider whispered “Yes, I guess it is.” Replied the fly, “But I thought I would subvert The…
December 19, 2023PoemCome into my parlourCome into my parlour Said the housefly to the spider “Isn’t that my line?” The spider whispered “Yes, I guess it is.” Replied the fly, “But I thought I would subvert The…
December 11, 2023MissiveChristmas CarolChristmas Carol Grandma whitewashed steps Took in sewing And dirty washing Anything to make ends meet, She often did. But it was hard To achieve when the holes in socks Were as…
December 11, 2023MissiveGrandma whitewashed stepsGrandma whitewashed steps Took in sewing And dirty washing Anything to make ends meet, She often did. But it was hard To achieve when the holes in socks Were as big as potatoes…
November 16, 2023MissiveHe barely movedHe barely moved Head bent low over the glass, Fingers wrapped around it Protectively. There was a bubble of foam on his lips As he turned to look at me and said “The other day, I…
November 6, 2023PoemI rememberI remember So many things Some of them not worth Holding on to, They might hold on to me. For the most part, they were unpleasant Using a bathroom In a rooming house With clumps…
October 23, 2023PoemLooking downLooking down From The Tate Modern Platform The steel edge of the Millenium Bridge Slicing through the falling dusk The Thames, lugubrious Heavy with mud from autumnal showers,…
October 23, 2023PoemLooking downLooking down From The Tate Modern Platform The steel edge of the Millenium Bridge Slicing through the falling dusk The Thames, lugubrious Heavy with mud from autumnal showers,…
October 17, 2023PoemWe wereWe were Children Rolling in dirt, There was a time when grass stains Were the end for a white shirt, Hiding in a briar patch Pretending to be dead, Was it all a game Or…
September 9, 2023PoemThe Cable Factory.The Cable Factory. Just out of school Sixteen and as green as a summer lawn A bumfluff chin too sparse for shaving The braiding machines were noisier than was safe For uncovered…
August 14, 2023PoemIt is good to pauseIt is good to pause But not to dwell. Today is when we live. The temptation To wander through The familiar byways So often travelled, The old road So well-trodden, Beaten with the…
July 10, 2023PoemIn the wrong handsIn the wrong hands They are lethal weapons Too many people left for dead Struggling for breath In an enclosed space Going red in the face. On his own In a tin can After a row In…
July 10, 2023PoemIn the wrong handsIn the wrong hands They are lethal weapons Too many people left for dead Struggling for breath In an enclosed space Going red in the face. On his own In a tin can After a row In…
July 3, 2023PoemAt the end of an evening,At the end of an evening, When the road seems to rise Up too soon and feet come down Too early The blacktop is a sprung bed Many are caught out by its bounce Losing the rhythm Of…
July 3, 2023PoemAt the end of an evening,At the end of an evening, When the road seems to rise Up too soon and feet come down Too early The blacktop is a sprung bed Many are caught out by its bounce Losing the rhythm Of…
June 26, 2023PoemHe is quickHe is quick Leading with his head Leaning forward into the wind The skin hanging from his neck A billowing foresail. A woman runs with a baby chair Giving it a gentle push At…
May 24, 2023PoemThere will always be heartsThere will always be hearts Some to be lifted Others to be broken So many lived their lives Swept along by the day Moving more or less in parallel Sometimes gathering In the lea…
April 18, 2023MissiveA guy scanned the pageA guy scanned the page Over my shoulder He said that I didn’t write poetry I wrote prose I didn’t disagree But asked what he considered poetry to be If not an arrangement of words…
March 22, 2023PoemOld soldier blues.Old soldier blues. They are all but lost, Reeking of boredom. Havoc haunts the shadows Scouring the dead Empty spaces Looking for life. Standing off, Forming ragged battle lines.…
March 14, 2023PoemPicnic Sunday.Picnic Sunday. There is something quaintly English About a picnic on the verge, The car pulled in so very close The traffic still moving around it In free flow. The grass is…
March 14, 2023PoemThe picnicThe picnic There is something quaintly English About a picnic on the verge, The car pulled in so very close The traffic still moving around it In free flow. The grass is always…
February 25, 2023PoemI see him, a walking man,I see him, a walking man, Brown skin burned By salty sun Leaning into the morning Whitebeard flowing Into his matted thatch Silvery threads Beading in sunlight As dappled as the…
February 25, 2023PoemI see him, a walking man,I see him, a walking man, Brown skin burned By salty sun Leaning into the morning Whitebeard flowing Into his matted thatch Silvery threads Beading in sunlight As dappled as the…
February 17, 2023PoemThere is a reality in lifeThere is a reality in life As in dreaming Walking barefoot across the sand The moon peeking cheekily From behind an old Keep Which appears on a headland Bracketed by the tossed…
January 24, 2023MissiveI have no time for mirrorsI have no time for mirrors They teach me nothing I didn’t know already. Hold them up and they do little But reflect an idea we have of ourselves The nature of the world Turned…
December 30, 2022PoemEven the Lizard moves, eventually,Even the Lizard moves, eventually, Waiting until the last moment As my foot crunches into the dry earth Skittering, a few feet Keeping just out of reach As if I would even try To…
December 22, 2022PoemI could sit on the grassI could sit on the grass The green of it Bruised in the heat Whitening in the drying Dying for lack of precipitation. I could linger In the hope of conjuring an image As the sea…
December 22, 2022PoemI could sit on the grassI could sit on the grass The green of it Bruised in the heat Whitening in the drying Dying for lack of precipitation. I could linger In the hope of conjuring an image As the sea…
December 7, 2022PoemThere is nothing to measureThere is nothing to measure But the uncertainty In every tentative step, The ragged edges of life Revealed in minute detail Between one heartbeat And the next. Waiting for…
December 7, 2022PoemAn uncertainty principleAn uncertainty principle There is nothing to measure But the uncertainty In every tentative step, The ragged edges of life Revealed in minute detail Between one heartbeat And the…
October 27, 2022MissiveDaily missive for Thursday the 27th of October.“There is something to it” Thought the night owl. “Staying awake all night Looking for mischief Can bring all kinds of surprises In daylight.” Struggling to keep himself awake…
October 22, 2022MissiveIt is not a secretIt is not a secret People are contrary, We care about silly things As if they really do matter Who did win Britain’s Got Talent What do we do about sustainable rock concerts…
October 1, 2022MissiveHe saw it,He saw it, On the dry side of the rain, Lying on its back Struggling to right itself, A wondrous-looking Dragonfly, At its most vulnerable With its upside down. A Magpie sat on…
October 1, 2022MissiveHe saw it,He saw it, On the dry side of the rain, Lying on its back Struggling to right itself, A wondrous-looking Dragonfly, At its most vulnerable With its upside down. A Magpie sat on…
September 22, 2022MissiveDaughter…Daughter… A father you say I am not sure if I grew into it The blood from the umbilical Splashed and I was smitten I told them all, everyone I passed That you were born But forgot…
September 22, 2022MissiveDaughter…Daughter… A father you say I am not sure if I grew into it The blood from the umbilical Splashed and I was smitten I told them all, everyone I passed That you were born But forgot…
September 3, 2022PoemThere is no romanceThere is no romance It is a thing of the past There is little beauty In the sound of an engine Burning fuel When there is no solution To its pollution The thrill of the chase The…
August 6, 2022MissiveMagpieMagpie Why do you linger? What brings you here To sit by my side When we are both strangers So very different in outlook And expectation Even in proximity I wonder at your need…
August 5, 2022PoemThe Artist.The Artist. There are few gifts Freely given Gazing up at the sky With wide, white-rimmed eyes, As a black snake uncurls Beneath a shadowed rock Releasing the evil Coiled around…
May 3, 2022PoemSolipsisticSolipsistic He wheeled a shopping trolley It skittered constantly, crabwise, An ongoing battle To move in a straight line Only three wheels revolving Full to the brim, overflowing…
May 3, 2022PoemSolipsisticSolipsistic He wheeled a shopping trolley It skittered constantly, crabwise, An ongoing battle To move in a straight line Only three wheels revolving Full to the brim, overflowing…
January 22, 2022MissiveWe talked, you and IWe talked, you and I All through the night We knew nothing when we started But when we finished We did know something of each other The words came easily You asked if that was how…
January 22, 2022MissiveWe talked, you and IWe talked, you and I All through the night We knew nothing when we started But when we finished We knew something of each other The words came easily You asked if that was how it…
January 15, 2022PoemI am missing her a lot today.I am missing her a lot today. Is it any wonder When there are more stars Than grains of sand, How tightly packed they are, Shouldering in together, filing in the space Feeling the…
January 15, 2022PoemIs it any wonderIs it any wonder When there are more stars Than grains of sand, How tightly packed they are, Shouldering in together, filling in the space Feeling the weight of a footfall The…
January 7, 2022MissiveWere there ever any rivers?Were there ever any rivers? When the world was a Bunch of children Playing wargames in cornfields Making do with nothing Armies were a coming Charging through the tunnel Beneath…
January 7, 2022MissiveWere there ever any rivers?Were there ever any rivers? When the world was a Bunch of children Playing wargames in cornfields Making do with nothing Armies were a coming Charging through the tunnel Beneath…
December 2, 2021PoemWe took tea at KenwoodWe took tea at Kenwood Five tiers on the cake stand With the more healthy options At the bottom Smoked Salmon with cream cheese In a Bruschetta finger roll Cucumber sandwiches…
October 27, 2021MissiveThere is a momentThere is a moment When the air conditioning unit next door Is louder Than the Cicadas The jackhammer from The building site A rhythmic punctuation The Crows spit feathers In…
September 14, 2021MissiveThe day is mine now.The day is mine now. I enjoyed my drum practice...I will go back for seconds later. The water from the tap is cloudy It clears after It has stood for a while A dusty white powder…
December 2, 2020MissiveWe took tea at KenwoodWe took tea at Kenwood Five tiers on the cake stand With the more healthy options At the bottom Smoked Salmon with cream cheese In a Bruschetta finger roll Cucumber sandwiches…
October 27, 2020PoemThere is a momentThere is a moment When the air conditioning unit next door Is louder Than the Cicadas The jackhammer from The building site A rhythmic punctuation The Crows spit feathers In…
October 5, 2020MissiveIf you were as congruentIf you were as congruent As you pretend There would be less need To hide the underlying Hysteria Every time you have to shine Staying alive needs a good script As well as gifted…
August 25, 2020MissiveThere is little life hereThere is little life here Even with its variety The vibrancy of colour With which it seeks to tempt The wayfarer into making False assumptions. Lush flowers hang low Their heads…
July 13, 2020PoemI could never write a songI could never write a song Blend the words into the music Pen a poem with subtle shifts In mood and metaphor Dispensing with rhyme In favour of rhythm I could never Dance a samba…
June 10, 2020MissiveThere is celebrationThere is celebration For the many perhaps But not the few Or is it the other way around As we all are constructed From the same base materials With a propensity To find fault in…
June 10, 2020MissiveThere is celebrationThere is celebration For the many perhaps But not the few Or is it the other way around As we all are constructed From the same base materials With a propensity To find fault in…
May 14, 2020PoemTo sit as still as ageless stoneTo sit as still as ageless stone Unhewn by man To lie shaped by centuries Of patient waiting Perhaps in time A giant’s hand will move it Pick it up and bowl it Skittle down the…
May 14, 2020PoemFirm but fair.Firm but fair. To sit as still as ageless stone Unhewn by man To lie shaped by centuries Of patient waiting Perhaps in time A giant’s hand will move it Pick it up and bowl it…
May 3, 2020PoemI miss her...so much...more...every day.I miss her...so much...more...every day. There are no butterflies In the garden at midnight All that flutters Is my heart I can hear it beating In the silence As I stand waiting…
May 3, 2020PoemThere are no butterfliesThere are no butterflies In the garden at midnight All that flutters Is my heart I can hear it beating In the silence As I stand waiting For the clouds to part. They say the sky…
March 16, 2020MissiveI murdered a caterpillarI murdered a caterpillar It was no easy decision to make I thought long and hard Turned it over In my head This way and that... It might metamorphosise Into a beautiful butterfly…
March 15, 2020PoemI murdered a caterpillarI murdered a caterpillar It was no easy decision to make I thought long and hard Turned it over In my head This way and that... It might metamorphosise Into a beautiful butterfly…
March 1, 2020PoemRabbits…Rabbits… I love you Kora. We are broken Nothing remains Untouched by darkness Every night light fades Leaving only shadows There is no dancing Without feeling The rhythm in our…
March 1, 2020MissiveWe are brokenWe are broken Nothing remains Untouched by darkness Every night light fades Leaving only shadows There is no dancing Without feeling The rhythm in our bones Where does it lie When…
February 1, 2020PoemSo many birds sing out of tuneSo many birds sing out of tune The melody lost In a cacophony of calls I don’t know their names We have never been introduced Whilst often a little nervous In company I am not a…
January 12, 2020PoemHow is it?How is it? You say We are in parallel Many times over How impossible you are The sofa is empty Here But not there Intemperate suggestions In duplicate Gossamer layers Are in…
January 3, 2020PoemThe air is heavyThe air is heavy With the dust of summer Hung out to dry As thick as aspic Laden with sea salt Garnished with the aroma Of land-locked kelp Thrown up at high tide As the sea…
December 9, 2019PoemHeavy are the eyesHeavy are the eyes So easily closed What holds them Is more than curiosity Does the world go on Or will it cease to be When I finally look away It is more than tiredness From lack…
October 30, 2019PoemIt is what it is.It is what it is. The pitter patter of rainfall A soothing blend of Natural rhythms The hiss of water Adding A relaxing ambient Backdrop To solid air Heavy with migraine Inducing…
October 30, 2019PoemThe pitter-patter of rainfallThe pitter-patter of rainfall A soothing blend of Natural rhythms The hiss of water Adding A relaxing ambient Backdrop To solid air Heavy with migraine Inducing humidity A sheer…
October 23, 2019PoemHackney before gentrificationHackney before gentrification Kafka corridors With flickering lights Wire protected To prevent breakage It rarely worked Fire doors, unhinged Flats with security locks An…
October 23, 2019PoemHackney before gentrificationHackney before gentrification Kafka corridors With flickering lights Wire protected To prevent breakage It rarely worked Fire doors, unhinged Flats with security locks An armour…
September 16, 2019PoemIs it sentientIs it sentient Does it have intention Whistling as it blows A tuneless drone High pitched as it Dances in the belfry Orchestrating echoes Finding mischief In the cracks between…
September 16, 2019PoemIs it sentientIs it sentient Does it have intention Whistling as it blows A tuneless drone High pitched as it Dances in the belfry Orchestrating echoes Finding mischief In the cracks between…
September 10, 2019PoemDo trees look differentDo trees look different To you Do you see them As I do With their heads tossed back Pogo-ing Wildly in the ebb and flow Of the west wind Demented dancers At an eighties rave High…
September 10, 2019PoemDo trees look differentDo trees look different To you Do you see them As I do With their heads tossed back Pogo-ing Wildly in the ebb and flow Of the west wind Demented dancers At an eighties rave High…
August 19, 2019PoemTurn with meTurn with me Look at the sky Escape into its surprise Take me with you There is so much more to this Than a glass raised in farewell The further you look The less you see The…
August 19, 2019PoemThe guide knew his stuff and was really interesting.The guide knew his stuff and was really interesting. Turn with me Look at the sky Escape into its surprise Take me with you There is so much more to this Than a glass raised in…
August 7, 2019PoemWhat is it you doWhat is it you do When the lights dim Do your eyes open wide In the dark Do you ever walk alone In a park Or take shortcuts Through a cemetery If it is not the ghosts It is the…
August 7, 2019PoemWhat is it you doWhat is it you do When the lights dim Do your eyes open wide In the dark Do you ever walk alone In a park Or take shortcuts Through a cemetery If it is not the ghosts It is the…
August 2, 2019PoemGunner is at it again.Gunner is at it again. It’s a hard life. The hob has still not been cleaned… Some people would rather Turn away Than witness hardship At first or even second hand Writing reminder…
August 2, 2019MissiveSome people would ratherSome people would rather Turn away Than witness hardship At first or even second hand Writing reminder notes In tablets About events which are to come Registering an interest In…
July 28, 2019MissiveU2 can be Gr8tU2 can be Gr8t What do you know of people On the outside Beyond the realm Of your existence Among the open sores The infection of poverty The seepage of low life Rarely seen From…
July 28, 2019MissiveWhat do you know of peopleWhat do you know of people On the outside Beyond the realm Of your existence Among the open sores The infection of poverty The seepage of low life Rarely seen From beneath a veil…
July 13, 2019PoemFour, fat crowsFour, fat crows Splash together In treacherous overspill Mangrove coves Screaming obscenities In a tuneless caw A murderous racket Drumming claws On the roof of a dirty car…
July 13, 2019PoemFour, fat crowsFour, fat crows Splash together In treacherous overspill Mangrove coves Screaming obscenities In a tuneless caw A murderous racket Drumming claws On the roof of a dirty car…
July 9, 2019PoemNothing is completeNothing is complete There is always something Waiting to be broken What will become Of the pieces Do they disperse Nobody knows An outcome Before the closing When it is far too…
July 7, 2019PoemI am an objectI am an object Of impermanence Invisible Hidden away Beneath lowered eyes When I can’t see you Then you can’t see me If I turn about Three times Perhaps the day will restart The…
June 22, 2019PoemWild is the seaWild is the sea Every wave No matter how small In constancy Undermining the earth Beneath our feet Untameable It will turn Wax and wane In its own time There was no magic Canute…
June 13, 2019PoemDance lightlyDance lightly Glide across the kitchen One two three Spin on the balls of your feet The stone floor Newly washed A ballroom The sheen of it catching The light from A solstice sun…
June 8, 2019PoemAm I a devilAm I a devil By any other name But mine own Did I turn the screw Was I standing by the wayside As you shuffled by Did I fasten the shackles Clean the showers Tie the knot in a…
June 8, 2019PoemAm I a devilAm I a devil By any other name But mine own Did I turn the screw Was I standing by the wayside As you shuffled by Did I fasten the shackles Clean the showers Tie the knot in a…
May 14, 2019PoemWe ate chipsWe ate chips Out of newspaper They were covered in salt Soaked in vinegar Scraps were a prize For thrupence In old money Crumbs of batter, crispy offcuts Eaten from greaseproof…
May 7, 2019PoemToo many stonesToo many stones Along the way Rolling beneath my toes Scuffed by shuffling feet Dust in my eyes Tears in my heart Broken fingers Play sad songs On slide trombones With honky tonk…
May 7, 2019PoemThere are daysThere are days When valleys are mountains Rivers run upstream The tightest knots Become undone Unless you want them to Pictures never hang straight Falling off walls Decorating…
May 6, 2019PoemThere are daysThere are days When valleys are mountains Rivers run upstream The tightest knots Become undone Unless you want them to Pictures never hang straight Falling off walls Decorating…
April 9, 2019PoemEasy down timeEasy down time Whispering trees Buttered down flowers With chain link posies Lazy bones Cradled in softness Sausage roll Picnic baskets With pink lemonade Complimentary breathing…
April 9, 2019PoemEasy down timeEasy down time Whispering trees Buttered down flowers With chain link posies Lazy bones Cradled in softness Sausage roll Picnic baskets With pink lemonade Complimentary breathing…
April 6, 2019PoemI miss her.I miss her. There are no pretty lies Little white ones Meant to convey What? Who gets hurt And who does not When the truth is told How much harder When you get old To pretend It…
April 4, 2019PoemNo moreNo more Stolen kisses Hot blood Temples throbbing With the rhythm Of a lovers heart Soft lips Gently pouting The quiver Of excitement At the slightest touch Your voice Simple…
April 4, 2019PoemNo moreNo more Stolen kisses Hot blood Temples throbbing With the rhythm Of a lovers heart Soft lips Gently pouting The quiver Of excitement At the slightest touch Your voice Simple…
April 3, 2019PoemIt is in a wild rushIt is in a wild rush Through the trees Pulling, bending, snapping Finding the strength From within its own resources To continue Building again Battering the barn Frightening the…
April 2, 2019PoemWith every tickleWith every tickle There is fear Each painful pang Every fresh bruise With no recollection Of its cause The racing heart’s Erratic arrhythmia Beats more forcefully Anxiously…
April 1, 2019PoemThere are no pretty liesThere are no pretty lies Little white ones Meant to convey What? Who gets hurt And who does not When the truth is told How much harder When you get old To pretend It was better…
February 14, 2019PoemDo you hear the musicDo you hear the music Does it still play Long after the song has gone Filtering through the empty room Absorbed into every wall Reflected in Flickering light From a glitterball…
February 13, 2019PoemCloud hazeCloud haze Slowly billows The colour of smoke on a battlefield Heavy with sadness Rolling in filth and soot Muddy from the splash Of a wet wild wind An explosion of thunder A…
November 17, 2018PoemI love them so much.I love them so much. It is easy to imagine That the worst Can happen It often does Whatever the affirmations say So little is Within control Demanding infinite energy To keep all…
August 15, 2018PoemIt is the least I can do.It is the least I can do. Eyes open Wide is the distance Between us It is in the dreaming We are reunited If only for a moment Before the undercurrent Sweeps us apart We cling to…
June 8, 2018PoemOr her mine.Or her mine. My gosh but I miss her. Just saying. It is the wind Blown from the Southland It is cold at heart Bitter with the chill Of ice flows Staggering through The tee tops An…
February 23, 2018PoemWeird.Weird. I guess it will all be kicking off now. Splash it wide Let it fall across the wall Flicker in the sunlight Sway in the wind Stretching as the sun sets Fading into half…
February 19, 2018PoemHe drummedHe drummed Was consumed by it Ears drummed by A drunken father For the sin of a Heart beating too loudly It had been Drumming in his ears Little children’s feet Always drumming…
December 14, 2017PoemIt is a hot windIt is a hot wind Acrid with the scent Of desperation Carried in the dust Of the desert Dried from a carrion sun Old bones ground Into fine ash An unclaimed deposit leaves A bitter…
November 30, 2017PoemBlush meBlush me Into your heart Capture my reverie Put it in a box And take it home Put it on the mantle Next to the carriage clock Underneath the photograph Perhaps the heat Will make…
November 20, 2017PoemA strip of lightA strip of light Runs beneath the blind Clearly defined Sharply edged Free from the interference Of colour Decontextualized Remote from meaning Other than as a shape Barely…
November 18, 2017PoemIt is easy to imagineIt is easy to imagine That the worst Can happen It often does Whatever the affirmations say So little is Within control Demanding infinite energy To keep all the balls In the air…
November 1, 2017PoemA daughter’s smileA daughter’s smile Mirrored in her own child The shape of her head A wisp of hair Caught in the wind Flying a kite His wife An image in a photograph The way she looked On their…
October 16, 2017PoemThe old man is bone tiredThe old man is bone tired His head nods Down onto his chest Before snapping back Eyelids heavy Another coffee please He does try to keep awake But these days Lethargy is his only…
September 7, 2017PoemEyes tightly shutEyes tightly shut Mouth closed Ears protected from sound Nothing intrudes There is no right of reply If you are senseless Ambience is not Even in the background The milieu An…
September 5, 2017PoemThe sun strikesThe sun strikes In gilded streamers Blinding, splintering Piercingly bright It skims off skipping stones Skitters through Glitterball grains of sand Shimmering golden Fields…
August 30, 2017PoemTurn me offTurn me off For too long By the burning of the light Bathed in its glare Found little space To hide No shadow finds me there Under the halo It is the pursuit Of perfection For the…
August 17, 2017PoemButton me upButton me up Keep me tightly bound Lest the skin be stripped Clean from my body It is a vicious wind To be locked out...in Nothing can prepare A simple man For the complexity Of…
August 15, 2017PoemEyes openEyes open Wide is the distance Between us It is in the dreaming We are reunited If only for a moment Before the undercurrent Sweeps us apart We cling to different Liferafts…
July 10, 2017PoemDo the birds singDo the birds sing The cock crow Who decides On the meaning Of a reason Or when to stop To listen To the music And bring An end to the beginning How do we stop moving When the…
June 18, 2017PoemDissolvable stitchesDissolvable stitches Flesh wounds glued Held with butterfly stiristrips Burns tightly bound in Clear plastic masks to Minimise the damage Show me the scars Better by far Than the…
June 8, 2017PoemIt is the windIt is the wind Blown from the Southland It is cold at heart Bitter with the chill Of ice flows Staggering through The tree tops An old drunk Pulling at the clouds Dragging a…
May 24, 2017PoemA table for oneA table for one Out of the sun The pavement is too hot To go barefoot Even the sand is on fire Sit me away from the window In a cosy corner Far away from the restrooms Or the door…
March 31, 2017PoemBlessed are the eloquentBlessed are the eloquent With questions As weapons Sharp as blades A cut above the bluff Of ignorance The bluster of knowledge Packaged as privilege Persuade me Without prejudice…
February 23, 2017PoemSplash it wideSplash it wide Let it fall across the wall Flicker in the sunlight Sway in the wind Stretching as the sun sets Fading into half light As the Night Owl calls How long until It…
February 19, 2017PoemHe drummedHe drummed Was consumed by it Ears drummed by A drunken father For the sin of a Heart beating too loudly It had been Drumming in his ears Little children’s feet Always drumming…
February 13, 2017PoemEven as blood flowsEven as blood flows Freely in my veins There is a lack of syncopation No rhythmic pulse Just a steady beat No shuffle Swing Or easy sway No nimble flutter Like a butterfly What a…
January 23, 2017PoemThe Lid Comes DownHow do you breath In close confines When the sides draw in The lid comes down How do you live When the lightness Of a song birds voice Rattles your chamber How do you determine…
January 12, 2017PoemClean me upClean me up Put me back together Find the little pieces The extra ones With awkward corners That skitter away To gather dust Lost in shadow Until they are brushed Beneath the…
December 12, 2016PoemHow do people copeHow do people cope When the wild wind blows, Sweeping all before it, Scouring the earth, Laying waste to man’s Carefully crafted plans. Dislodging The oldest stones, Uprooting The…
September 27, 2016PoemIt is askedIt is asked With a certain discretion, But please tell me, What is soul When it is at home. Do you know If we all have one, And if we do Are some people born with it Firmly in…
July 9, 2016PoemThick clouds roll over,Thick clouds roll over, A blanket, Pulled from the edge of the world To the furthest horizon. A shroud, beneath which Death becomes the living, As we walk in sleep, Talk without…
June 12, 2016PoemYou kissed meYou kissed me The lightest touch A finely felt waft of air Across my lips Your sweet breath Exciting my skin Creating Goosebumps. I wake up to you Is this my life now? How will I…
May 11, 2016PoemSimplicity is bestSimplicity is best Is what he said. Too many words Distract the mind From what is read. Random thoughts Spread like jam, Upon the page. When just a few Would be more sage. Just…
April 28, 2016PoemIt isIt is So easy a question, The words not Too hard to find Can be said by anybody, To any one At any time. They may sit On the tip of a tongue Waiting for permission To tumble out…
April 1, 2016PoemSometimes what we doSometimes what we do And how we feel Fits with how we see ourselves What we are is an extension of What we think. And where we wake up Is just where it ought to be. The right…
March 21, 2016PoemEven in absenceEven in absence The fact of you Is overwhelming. As a presence You shape my life. Thoughts are weighed In your favour, Ideas become you. It is your voice I carry, As reassurance…
May 30, 2015PoemHeart.Heart. It opened for you. Why you, I will never know. It rarely did Before. A closed book Is what I read. You prised it open, Broke your Finger nails. But never did quit, Just…
May 22, 2015PoemImagineImagine If I could sing Or play the piano. Write songs And put words together, In a simple permutation, With a soulful beat, A syncopated rhythm, That makes you Want to tap your…
May 21, 2015MissiveThoughts rarely comeThoughts rarely come Fully formed. They are a clutter Of competing words. A melange of prime And complimentary colours, Presented in a range Of shapes and sizes. Seldom are they…
April 23, 2015PoemThings creep upThings creep up When least expected. The change in momentum A surprise, To a system Grown sluggish From lack of invention. A smile can turn A face into the gates Of paradise. A…
March 30, 2015MissiveI have known sorrow,I have known sorrow, Would that I had not. Even though I have chanced to learn, Would this life Have been so much worse, Had those many lessons Not been meted out, With such…
February 3, 2015MissiveDo not speak to meDo not speak to me Of poetry and beauty, In words I do not use. It does not matter About the syllables, The choice of phrase, Or the clever use Of metaphors, As if they were…
January 22, 2015PoemSoft and gentle.Soft and gentle. The rain, A balm To soothe the savage Beating heart. Hot from the fire Of your kiss, Missed, On days When we misplace Synchronicity. Such a pity, As the touch Of…
January 15, 2015PoemNo matter where it goesNo matter where it goes The wind blows for me. Within the eye Of a perfect storm The stillness Is toxic. The rain eats Into the beaten earth like acid. The faint touch Of a milky…
