The City & the State

Dispatches from the street and the news. Crowds, rooftops, flags and grievances, written with one eye on the times we are living through.

June 4, 2026Missive

There was ever an excuse

There was ever an excuse, Poor representation Is more normal than not. Pour the concrete Plug the hole Let the devil worry about the detail As by the good grace Of a…

June 3, 2026Poem

I may be

I may be Down to my bare bones But you will have to take me Out of here In a body bag To get me gone. There might be Nothing much to do Out there Or in here For that matter But at…

June 2, 2026Missive

It is a life,

It is a life, Less demanding For the earnest schoolboy Too young for work, Discovering the country Following the tumble of a mountain stream Where it was still possible to jump…

June 2, 2026Missive

There is nothing

There is nothing To keep me From rolling Into a ball The night is nothing much I can tear it down Throw it away Peel back the layers Somewhere under there Is a meaning I cannot…

May 31, 2026Missive

Sometimes

Sometimes Of a morning After purging in the toilet Washing and shaving, If that’s what stokes you up, Looking in the mirror Has a way of grounding the best of intentions After a…

May 29, 2026Missive

There is much more

There is much more To delusion Than pretending you are free Nobody has a monopoly Everybody uses vision Differently Is more than a line from a song I don’t waste my time On a comb…

May 28, 2026Missive

A single rose

A single rose In a jar On the windowsill Goldfish floating In suspension A gift from the funfair An incentive from The rag’n’bone man (Any old iron Alive alive-o) With his horse…

May 27, 2026Missive

The tears come easily

The tears come easily He has begun to think of them As cleansing regret His eyes were sore From a lifetime Of having seen too much There would be no going back To make changes. He…

May 25, 2026Missive

When I lie down

When I lie down To rest my bones Hoping to fall asleep I struggle to remain Supine Without fearing death The unknowable My insufficiency. Come to think of it I am confused about…

May 22, 2026Missive

It rarely happened

It rarely happened To me, But it did, Once. Confronted outside of school The crowd in a big circle Screaming, “Fight, fight, fight.” It was a misunderstanding But I had offended…

May 20, 2026Poem

You’re not as bright

You’re not as bright As you think you are Not even a Dead star More of a barren rock Lacking atmosphere Airless To the point of Suffocation One breath short Of a full tank…

May 20, 2026Poem

You’re not as bright

You’re not as bright As you think you are Not even a Dead star More of a barren rock Lacking atmosphere Airless To the point of Suffocation One breath short Of a full tank…

May 17, 2026Missive

When did it get okay

When did it get okay For the doctor to ask “Are you constipated?” Just like that Without preamble How rude Iron tablets are one thing Anybody can have a deficiency It can be…

An etched pen-and-ink illustration with a red accent, evoking "I don’t know what my number is now…".

May 16, 2026Missive

He walked the tracks

He walked the tracks At weekends Hopping from sleeper to sleeper Counting the missed beats As failure Wishing for a future Where the sky was blue The hills were green And the air…

May 16, 2026Poem

The moon has no words

The moon has no words No mouth For me To put them into What would it say Hanging low In the celestial Inanimate Lacking the power To give life Or take it away We give it meaning…

May 15, 2026Poem

There are days and then, there are days like these

Like it or not I must do the Medicare form today. There are days and then There are days like these Today is a struggle I miss so much Of what was, The way we were. Our lives The…

May 13, 2026Poem

There is little light

There is little light To spare The sky is solid The sun, enveloped in cloud Kept in isolation Hidden from the morning A stern inquisitor Always finding fault Beating a drum…

An etched pen-and-ink illustration with a blue accent, evoking "A quiet day, but cool enough.".

May 5, 2026Missive

Be wary of the guy

Be wary of the guy Who is certain He is right. I know almost nothing, I may have an understanding Of one or two things Especially after a drink When, for a brief moment, I am…

May 5, 2026Poem

I remember

I remember The touch of your hand On my arm The weight of your head On my shoulder Its touch The way you brushed Your hair Applying makeup Without a mirror Blotting lipstick On a…

An etched pen-and-ink illustration with a blue accent, evoking "It is dry but cold and windy this morning. Great. Not.".

May 3, 2026Poem

I remember

Nothing prepares you for the aftermath – a meditation on memory, loss, and the longing to rewind life's inevitable conclusion.

May 2, 2026Missive

I find it interesting

I find it interesting What? How we always seem to find Time for conversation When we come in here. Sitting down Gives us a quiet time to reflect, It’s not a bad thing. No, but do…

April 30, 2026Poem

It has taken many years

It has taken many years To perfect so very little Holding a cup Just so Adopting a pose A casual study Learned As well as any other I close my eyes To enjoy the proximity Of…

April 28, 2026Missive

Those loose thoughts

Those loose thoughts Quietly pondered As we go to sleep Are ingenious I right all wrongs Find new ways To move forward Write poems Solve the Navier-Stokes equation In my head With…

April 26, 2026Poem

Falling or climbing

Falling or climbing It’s not the same Not for me Maybe you have seen it before Maybe I have The way some people scrabble In the dirt To build a future Full of broken windows They…

An etched pen-and-ink illustration with a blue accent, evoking "Football to watch tomorrow hurrah.".

April 25, 2026Poem

I am cold

I am cold There is little point in denial When I exhale The air turns to ice on my lips Fingertips clutched To my palms Drawing blood The heat of my heart The only warmth I know,…

April 23, 2026Poem

It hasn’t rained but it is very dull.

It hasn’t rained but it is very dull. I am eating sand Swallowed with every breath Coating my throat Grit enough to grind stone, Powder food, Without the need to chew. The wind…

April 19, 2026Missive

He was an Englishman

He was an Englishman On a bus in New Zealand Lost in the world Drifting around Trying to rekindle interest In something other than nothing. People were excited about Hobbits Which…

April 18, 2026Poem

It’s bloomin’ September tomorrow. Where did nine months go?

It’s bloomin’ September tomorrow. Where did nine months go? Children played at war Sometimes drew blood by mistake Using sharp sticks As swords They made bows From Churchyard Yew…

April 18, 2026Missive

It is too easy

It is too easy To be vilified For your mistakes Like the man Who humped a goat For a wager He could never win Do I love god No Do I love god Yes Beloved Be hated Be the one who…

April 18, 2026Missive

It is too easy

It is too easy To be vilified For your mistakes Like the man Who humped a goat For a wager He could never win Do I love god No Do a love god Yes Beloved Be hated Be the one who…

April 17, 2026Poem

Is it any different now

Is it any different now Everything progresses Toward decline They are interconnected In place and time. Scruffs on thecorner Waiting for disorder To come along Coppers sit in vans…

April 16, 2026Missive

There are times

When the swagger is as real as it ever was – at least that's what you tell yourself – navigating the space between dignity and decline.

April 15, 2026Missive

A shift in mood

A shift in mood Carries me away Thrown off-kilter Old houses with bowed windows Cracked glass And split frames Narrowed alleys With cobblestones Are grounding, Grudging reminders…

April 15, 2026Poem

The weather is fickle

The weather is fickle What once was amiable Is now at war There is a rage A reckless disregard Ripping up trees In mindless retribution. Tortured branches Whipping to and fro With…

April 14, 2026Poem

Churches and hospitals

Churches and hospitals Get larger The buildings grander The ceilings higher Decorated in style Designs refreshed To reflect the times Less classical Than once they were With a…

April 11, 2026Missive

On my own,

On my own, Just like in my dreams, I am younger More astute. Less likely to stumble over My words. I still stumble over my feet From time to time Which would happen less often,…

April 7, 2026Missive

I can see no use

I can see no use In pondering What might happen When the truth of it is That I will be dead So what difference does it make Buried, burned Scattered here or there I don’t care.…

April 7, 2026Missive

I can see no use

I can see no use In pondering What might happen When the truth of it is That I will be dead So what difference does it make Buried, burned Scattered here or there I don’t care.…

An etched pen-and-ink illustration with a blue accent, evoking "Liverpool is losing to West Ham. I will continue to watch.".

April 6, 2026Missive

My father

My father Built a garage in the garden Laying the cement Throwing up the walls It had two windows, Pretty soon they were Covered in cobwebs The joints full of woodlice. Were the…

April 6, 2026Poem

When do you know?

When do you know? Is it the first time He pulled the legs Off a spider The wings from a butterfly Disembowelled the cat next door Locked the baby In a cupboard Tied the dog to the…

April 5, 2026Poem

As long as I can still write and drum…

As long as I can still write and drum… Too many pebbles With too little sand A wayward path Full of jagged blades Cutting to the quick Dead set against a raw wind The grit and…

An etched pen-and-ink illustration with a blue accent, evoking "Gosh, what a morning for Man City.".

April 4, 2026Poem

The clouds bloom

The clouds bloom And billow Flowering on the horizon A Joni Mitchell chorus Rolling and tumbling Slipping and sliding The gulls have taken lessons From a cutpurse The tops from…

April 4, 2026Missive

Are they dead yet?

Are they dead yet? You know, Not the really dead, Those Lonely ones The sad sacks With the flesh Hanging from their backs Stripped of dignity Carried out Under a cloud, After the…

April 4, 2026Missive

Are they dead yet?

Are they dead yet? You know, Not the really dead, Those Lonely ones The sad sacks With the flesh Hanging from their backs Stripped of dignity Carried out Under a cloud, After the…

March 28, 2026Missive

Is any reality

Is any reality Worth believing When change is inevitable The heart is fragile Some people forget To pay it some mind Wake up one morning To find it broken Some have it stolen…

March 24, 2026Missive

Pigeon feathers ruffle

Pigeon feathers ruffle In avian angst As seagulls bully Bread crumbs In a glut of frenzied greed A bloodless coup. I scatter them Without breaking step A psychopath Would have…

March 21, 2026Poem

When I look down

When I look down From the high ground I can see Forever Is an aspect With too much self-regard. There is beauty In the rise of smoke Heaven bound Spirits fly Escaping suffocation.…

March 19, 2026Missive

There is nothing to gain

There is nothing to gain From denial Holding back From moving forward Freezing the clock Pulling the plug. I have nothing against Believers in god If they don’t profess To be…

March 18, 2026Poem

They look at the sky

They look at the sky Warm bodies Packed together Marinating Topped and tailed There is always Safety in proximity Soft flesh Hot to the touch Shooting stars That might be Missiles…

March 12, 2026Poem

What a thrill

What a thrill To walk alone This blank morn With its alien song Ancient raptors Fly In reptilian progress The sea so far gone As to make a moon Of this Sand stretched landscape…

March 10, 2026Poem

Decisions

Decisions Demand resolution This might be a good thing Or not. Oft times, It’s not easy to tell the difference. Everything happens at once The sea rises Regardless of philosophy…

March 8, 2026Poem

It is too hot

It is too hot Without air conditioning Imagination Grows with repetition Even the vibration Of the washing machine Is reminiscent of a disaster. Somewhere Bombs fall My…

March 7, 2026Poem

It is no use

It is no use I’m not cutting off my Pinky finger Bleeding from the eyes I’ll not empty my guts Out onto the floor Go belly up In front of you Even if you stuff A rag in my mouth…

February 28, 2026Poem

Take a

Take a Walk to the crossroads Where the lamplight Fades Dig a hole Big enough to fall into. The whole world Will disappear It is an image of convenience Sand castles Tumble into…

February 25, 2026Poem

People say

People say You shouldn’t wait For something to happen You should force its hand Walk toward it Meet it head-on Whatever it is. Death Is the only thing We can be sure of In a world…

February 24, 2026Poem

Take a

Take a Walk to the crossroads Where the lamplight Fades Dig a hole Big enough to fall into. The whole world Will disappear It is an image of convenience Sand castles Tumble into…

February 22, 2026Poem

It is easy to believe

It is easy to believe I am lost Walking the desert Breaking new ground A sun-bleached morning The scorch of a bush fire Brightening the horizon With the intensity Of a volcano…

February 21, 2026Poem

Breathless

Breathless Insufferable heat January Hotter than July A world on fire. Faces distort in the mirror Skin cracks There is little respite Magpies carry parasols Lizards bask In the…

February 17, 2026Missive

Life is not what it was

Life is not what it was Reality is a dispute Too long in the tooth For an easy escape, The world is as real As I can make it Which isn’t always a good thing Given poor judgement…

February 16, 2026Poem

Birds cry out

Birds cry out In warning Of trespass The trees are home to many I know them not The movement of Overlapping leaves Is an artful disguise Enough to house a multitude. It suits me…

February 11, 2026Poem

I will push your head

I will push your head Down Into the toilet bowl Flushed You will be. I am the better man How proud I will be When I am greater Than anybody Who has ever lived Blonder than Marilyn…

February 10, 2026Poem

I have lost the skill

I have lost the skill To form words To recognise An objective reality Construct a narrative Build worthwhile connections Touch another’s heart Surrender my soul Willingly Give…

February 8, 2026Poem

As the sun hangs

As the sun hangs Low in the sky, Warm for this time of year, Bringing smiles To the faces of fellow Travellers, And as excited squirrels Steal peanuts From a bird table,…

February 6, 2026Poem

There is nothing

There is nothing As stupid As human As brave as Living with fear. As foolish as Honour bound As complex As misunderstanding Feelings Heart-driven. He was a volunteer Why? Leaving…

February 5, 2026Poem

Do you remember

Do you remember When we danced On an empty dance floor In the small hours. The music playing Just for us, Unchained melody By the Righteous Brothers. A solitary glitter ball…

February 4, 2026Poem

It is easy to believe

It is easy to believe I am lost Walking the desert Breaking new ground A sun-bleached morning The scorch of a bush fire Brightening the horizon With the intensity Of a volcano…

February 3, 2026Missive

Is what we do ever enough.

Is what we do ever enough. When do we know. How can we be sure What we do is right, Or necessary, Who it benefits, Why we even bother. What keeps us going When the worst happens…

February 3, 2026Poem

Breathless

Breathless Insufferable heat January Hotter than July A world on fire Faces distort in the mirror Skin cracks There is little respite Magpies carry parasols Lizards bask In the…

February 2, 2026Poem

What holds us here?

What holds us here? Tethered And bound Corporeal flesh Growing to completion Before sentient Degeneration Steals our meanings In a febrile flush Of burned bridges. Are we brought…

February 1, 2026Poem

Boys do cry.

Boys do cry. What of the tear that falls In isolation, Even as it dries, The trace it leaves Barely visible In the dust Around my feet, Is it worthy Of attention. What of the…

January 29, 2026Poem

There is so much beauty

There is so much beauty In the jumble, The tumble of life. When, still warm clothes, So casually cast off, Pose dramatically Across a chair, The sleeve of a dress Beckoning…

January 27, 2026Poem

It is heavenly,

It is heavenly, With you sleeping At my side, Pain free. Your pale skin Cool to the touch, Breathing Slow and easy, The bed an oasis Of peace and tranquillity. Even a car alarm…

January 26, 2026Poem

It happens so quickly.

It happens so quickly. The blue sky, A clear view across the bay A glimpse of herringbone On the far horizon. White caps Toss wild white mane, Like a stampede Of moorland ponies.…

January 23, 2026Poem

A final solution.

A final solution. Yesterday we laughed Drank wine, broke bread Played cards for a while Talked football and boxing Long into the night Ali and Foreman What a fight United in…

January 21, 2026Poem

The cat arches its back

The cat arches its back Shrieking like a child And the fox backs off. Wary of the sharp claws She caught him once before, It is a regular occurrence This stand off At the garden…

January 16, 2026Poem

Old Lovers.

Old Lovers. There is beauty in silence When it is shared. A strange fascination With words unspoken. Looks exchanged with a smile, Wrapped in the warmth Of a gentle touch, The…

January 15, 2026Poem

There is simplicity in peace,

There is simplicity in peace, Calmness in acceptance, A strangely alluring quality To the air Once it is expelled. The drift into sleep, The decent into darkness Enlightened, By…

January 13, 2026Poem

Ghostly.

Ghostly. Objects move by themselves Doors are open And then closed. A cup appears The coffee hot and strong, You are sure It was just there But when you reach out It has gone,…

January 8, 2026Poem

Bursting the bubble,

Bursting the bubble, Feeling the pain, Knowing that there will Be hurt once again, Dreaming of summer Living with rain, Praying for better, Fearing the worst, Belief is a feeling…

January 1, 2026Poem

All things Past.

All things Past. Too easily lost, It slips away In a breath, Too late To remember. Never found, Once gone. It is slow to forget And quick to regret. Always there, Protected in…

December 31, 2025Poem

So much left unsaid.

So much left unsaid. The words I long to use Never leave my head. They roll around, Forming, storming. Turning on themselves, Collapsing, Self referencing. Lost in translation…

December 29, 2025Poem

A family Christmas.

A family Christmas. Keep the cold at bay. Try as you may, It gets harder The older you get. Sleeping in, Lazing the day away, Seems like a plan. But keep warm if you can. It is…

December 29, 2025Poem

In the moments

In the moments When the sun shines It might be a dream But there is affirmation In the warmth The sweat on my brow An honest response. Freckles reign supreme In those moments Of…

December 29, 2025Poem

In the moments

In the moments When the sun shines It might be a dream But there is affirmation In the warmth The sweat on my brow An honest response. Freckles reign supreme In those moments Of…

December 22, 2025Missive

Sometimes

Sometimes Cars move in straight lines Unless acted upon By an opposing force The right arm Of my left-handed self Moves in mysterious ways Pulling the wheel awkwardly When I look…

December 21, 2025Poem

No matter the day,

No matter the day, However bright, I am still in the dark. Even as the sun Cracks the sky, Sudden splinters Painting clouds Blood red, Glowing embers Spreading a Morning’s…

December 21, 2025Poem

It should be summer

It should be summer The dust could be snow The wintry feel of it I wonder about the roses Are they disappointed Do they hang low Weeping sadly For the lack of sunshine The wind,…

December 17, 2025Poem

Beds move

Beds move In a frenzy of night terrors Restless legs Kicking out in a blind Sitting up With a cough A truth can erupt Like vomit Once out It can never be recovered People get hurt…

December 16, 2025Poem

Tough

Tough As the leather On a miner’s boot The worn edges Around the hole Pock-marked With coal dust. A blacksmith's apron The scars on his hands Tough As an overcooked steak. A…

December 16, 2025Missive

Tough

Tough As the leather On a miner’s boot The worn edges Around the hole Pock-marked With coal dust. A blacksmith's apron The scars on his hands Tough As an overcooked steak. A…

December 13, 2025Poem

She moves me,

She moves me, In so many different ways. I can even say yes, When it should be no. I carry her with me, where ever I go, And think of her, Even when my mind Is set on other…

December 11, 2025Poem

Loving is easy,

Loving is easy, It is the living that hurts. Holding your warm body Softly to my chest, Soothes it clean away. But everyday, The heart grows weary. As winter’s song Becomes a…

December 5, 2025Poem

The world is changing,

The world is changing, Even mountains move. Every day the road ahead Can take a different turn, And the skies above Grow darker. The river We need to cross, Flows on, But keeps on…

December 4, 2025Poem

Caught in the rain

Caught in the rain Not hung out Or up To dry But soaked right through. The shiver of it Brings nothing of pleasure But a sadness For spring Desire and rebirth. The smell of you…

December 3, 2025Poem

I know nothing,

I know nothing, Less than the hole in my head Where blood leaks Out Through my fingers. In my dream The bullet does not miss There are no lies Life is misdirection It happens…

December 1, 2025Poem

There is dissonance

There is dissonance Between then and now The wind is a force Too far Too angry Whipping mischievously At unsuitable clothing Shards of stone Piercing flesh Hard as it is To…

November 29, 2025Poem

It stood,

It stood, All alone, Lop-sided, Wooden walls, warped and swollen. The roof peeled back, Like a sardine tin. It was once So brightly painted. Yellow walls, As I remember. And a pea…

November 29, 2025Poem

I carry a torch

I carry a torch For lost time When darkness was All there was of night I do not lie with anyone Never have I lied about anything For that matter For so many moons Past counting…

November 28, 2025Poem

Rain washed sky,

Rain washed sky, Falling down, Into a sea Of teeming souls, Splashed by the Dust of yesterday. Lonely hearts, Torn from slumber. Lovers, warmed By the memory Of an electric kiss.…

November 27, 2025Poem

On the clock,

On the clock, It never stands To be held back. Even when it is the answer, It is pressing, Winding down. In passing, It precedes us. Staying ahead, It leads us into Tomorrow,…

November 26, 2025Poem

Dreaming,

Dreaming, Feeling alive, And ever young. Even when faced with Impossible situations, Conscious of nothing But the moment. Then comes detachment, A voice of reason, Reminding and…

November 26, 2025Poem

Nobody knows me

Nobody knows me Nor I them We are strangers Floating in relation I had a body Once upon a time It seems to me We all did Nothing accounts for poor taste Pluck out thine own eyes…

November 26, 2025Poem

Nobody knows me

Nobody knows me Nor I them We are strangers Floating in relation I had a body Once upon a time It seems to me We all did. Nothing accounts for poor taste Pluck out thine own eyes…

November 24, 2025Missive

I write for you.

I write for you. Not that I know how, or why. But it is a need I continue to feed. A compulsion, An itch that must be scratched. A restless confusion A baffling riddle That leaves…

November 22, 2025Missive

Inching up the Mile End Road.

Inching up the Mile End Road. Pinching a space here, losing one there. Passing the old St Cements hospital site, I worked there, just for a while, In the old days, When we…

November 19, 2025Poem

A field of War.

A field of War. We tumbled in the grass, Green stains marked the act. Tender leaves crushed Beneath our bodies, Entwined as they were, In the midst of knowing, For the first time.…

November 17, 2025Poem

The sky leeches

The sky leeches Into the trees Nothing stays between the lines A grey wash A pink moon A child's painting By numbers Nature has rules To bend As much as any surrealist The drip…

November 15, 2025Poem

Is it a fair trade?

Is it a fair trade? Waiting for the wind To change. It sings a sombre song, A gentle lullaby, Drifting from the west, Rolling and tumbling Unto the sea. Warm and damp, It peppers…

November 13, 2025Poem

There is little light

There is little light To spare The sky is solid The sun, enveloped in cloud Kept in isolation Hidden from the morning A stern inquisitor Always finding fault Beating a drum…

November 10, 2025Poem

Cool grace,

Cool grace, The open smile That lights your face. A welcome to the day Expression. With a power To both comfort, And bring me to my knees. The gentle breeze, On a warm morning,…

November 9, 2025Missive

In death we trust.

In death we trust. It is a becoming We move toward With unerring progress. In such uncertain times, It is a surprising Feature we hope to avoid. And never see The truth of Its…

November 8, 2025Poem

So wet,

So wet, The water pooled at her feet. Even standing Beneath an awning, Surrounded by people yawning, She was hot under the collar. Steam rose from damp bodies And glasses misted…

November 7, 2025Poem

Close to the edge.

Close to the edge. You lean right over, Stretching out, Craning your neck For a better view. Never satisfied With an explanation, When another question Will do. Walk behind the…

November 7, 2025Poem

Brain replacement

Brain replacement My head is full of concrete Stone me if it is Drop me in a lake Bury me at sea Nothing is happening No flash Of inspiration Only the sound Of inhalation The hiss…

November 3, 2025Poem

It was an opening.

It was an opening. Not the beginning, That happened long ago, But a way in. It can be tricky, On the outside. Cold and lonely, Waiting for a chance, Somebody to notice, Stop for a…

November 1, 2025Poem

The rain drips off

The rain drips off My cold nose Early morning dew Shivering down my spine The echo of sleep Still Reverberating through me. In aspect I am a spectre Haunting the empty beach front…

October 31, 2025Missive

An early morning call.

An early morning call. Her voice At once familiar. You knew, Even before she spoke. A different kind Of connection. You let your work Self go. And through the phone, Still feel…

October 30, 2025Missive

Be wary of the guy

Be wary of the guy Who is certain He is right. I know almost nothing, I may have an understanding Of one or two things Especially after a drink When, for a brief moment, I am…

October 29, 2025Poem

Too late the open door?

Too late the open door? Kept closed tight, Double locked Against the night. The bolt sealed shut, Hardly ever drawn. Hinges squeal A warning, Whenever Pressure is applied.…

October 28, 2025Poem

Separation Anxiety

Separation Anxiety Missing her warmth, The touch of breath Upon my cheek. The surge Of pleasure When her lips Brush my ear. The whisper of love, I long to hear. The movement of…

October 28, 2025Poem

Limp flags

Limp flags Hang from lamp posts Tired old things Tattered and torn Covered in gravy The dustbins fight For supremacy Up and down the street Dirty pretty things Rubbish more out…

October 27, 2025Poem

Fingers and toes.

Fingers and toes. I remember When you were newly formed Softly wrinkled With a sublimely rounded belly Little piggies Went to market Some of them never came home I counted them…

October 25, 2025Poem

It was the call of the wind.

It was the call of the wind. Hardly a breeze It whispered across His cheek with a song. Soothing, Discordant thoughts, Lulling him with Promise. Tugging his ear lobes, Pinking…

October 23, 2025Missive

I find it interesting

I find it interesting What? How we always seem to find Time for conversation When we come in here. Sitting down Gives us a quiet time to reflect, It’s not a bad thing. No, but do…

October 17, 2025Poem

It’s not as warm today, but it will be fine.

It’s not as warm today, but it will be fine. Water vapour Trails behind me A great train Steaming through the night A mysterious destination An oriental surprise The bones of the…

October 14, 2025Poem

And still we have a union.

And still we have a union. Relationships, Even the good ones, Need work To maintain Their spark. Too many fail, Through lack of care, And consideration For the little things.…

October 14, 2025Poem

We are old bones

We are old bones With no homes There is no place For refugees with the blues Nothing ever changes Fingers point Passports are not renewed Identities are revoked Dignity is stolen…

October 11, 2025Poem

I will be okay.

I will be okay. I know it You say I don’t I have more to lose More to hold on to But it feels not. There is a bottom It is covered in fish glue I am stuck fast Heavy scales cover…

October 11, 2025Poem

I know it

I know it You say I don’t I have more to lose More to hold on to But it feels not. There is a bottom It is covered in fish glue I am stuck fast Heavy scales cover my eyes There is…

October 9, 2025Poem

Be happy, be happy

Be happy, be happy Stop with the misery It hurts. To be selective Is a state of mind Turn a negative Into a positive It is the only way To coexist With the madness Of gunboats…

October 9, 2025Poem

Be happy, be happy

Be happy, be happy Stop with the misery It hurts. To be selective Is a state of mind Turn a negative Into a positive It is the only way To coexist With the madness Of gunboats…

October 8, 2025Poem

We say we don’t care

We say we don’t care When we do We say we don’t need love When we do No matter who or what May come between us In the making. Women, men Me or they Whatever we might be Give me a…

October 7, 2025Poem

Dance

Dance On my cloth cap Squash it down Hold me close Connect me To the ground There is nothing under the sun That cannot be free Sit with me Beneath a tree Bring me a posy Let me…

October 4, 2025Poem

The air shimmers,

The air shimmers, A wispy wraith, All twist and curl. Slow to reappear, As the black top heat haze Starts to rise, Image coalescing. A new Pronouncement. An early morning Sacred…

October 2, 2025Poem

In dreams.

In dreams. Fears are real, The things I want Are things I need. And even though Some dreams May never come to pass, Dawn will Remove those Shadowed souls From memory. In truth,…

October 2, 2025Poem

Close the curtains

Close the curtains Cover the mirror Turn the pictures to the wall How can you live that way From one day to the next One step forward Two steps back A moment is a lifetime Waiting…

October 2, 2025Poem

Close the curtains

Close the curtains Cover the mirror Turn the pictures to the wall How can you live that way From one day to the next One step forward Two steps back A moment is a lifetime Waiting…

September 30, 2025Poem

Does it matter what I say,

Does it matter what I say, What I think, When black rain falls, And with each new drop Our lives are washed away. Hopes and dreams, Fears and screams, Slip between The warring…

September 29, 2025Poem

No broken door.

No broken door. No broken door Nor the acrid stink Of disinfectant Will deter me Blood on the floor A shatter of glass Crunching like hoarfrost in winter A reminder of a night to…

September 29, 2025Poem

No broken door

No broken door Nor the acrid stink Of disinfectant Will deter me Blood on the floor A shatter of glass Crunching like hoarfrost in winter A reminder of a night to forget For…

September 28, 2025Missive

True Love Ways.

True Love Ways. We were blameless, Children really, Copied lyrics Straight from vinyl. Learned them by heart, Sang in harmony, In groups, Friends together, Acapella on street…

September 26, 2025Poem

You are close.

You are close. When I close my eyes, The pattern on the lids All there is to see, Shifting shapes, Capillaries, That slowly move And change, as Awareness is aroused You are with…

September 26, 2025Missive

Sometimes I am lost

Sometimes I am lost Not just for words Although that is often true Reflecting back On what I should have said Things I could have done Which is a life less wasted Than not lived,…

September 25, 2025Poem

There is wonder

There is wonder In the little things. A drop of rain, A bird that sings. Even a single random thought. When nothing is done But an imagining Of life, And how it could be, Should…

September 23, 2025Poem

Shildon to Darlington

Shildon to Darlington (site of the world’s first passenger railway) There once were sleepers Steel bones Twisted skeletons Overgrown with rust. Broken promises Of fulfilment…

September 20, 2025Poem

Weekend warriors.

Weekend warriors. Sunday is a given Young guns run For someone It could be anyone From Connor to Bradley. Cancer relies On charity Nothing really changes. The old lags, The…

September 20, 2025Poem

Sunday is a given

Sunday is a given Young guns run For someone It could be anyone From Connor to Bradley. Cancer relies On charity Nothing really changes. The old lags, The wheezers Geezers and…

September 19, 2025Poem

A rugged island sleeps

A rugged island sleeps In peace The wind veers away A little piece of heaven On a windswept day The smell of smoked fish Lingers From beyond the veil With the relics Of bygones…

September 18, 2025Poem

Nobody cares about the little things.

Nobody cares about the little things. Not unless they make money, Or become the latest human interest. A story on the breakfast show. At least it seems that way To Jimmy. When he…

September 18, 2025Poem

He sat

He sat Clasped hands Resting on the table Waiting for his dinner Perpetually tearful He said it was the weather ‘I’m glad to see you Who are you again? I don’t want to be rude But…

September 18, 2025Poem

A lost conversation

A lost conversation He sat Clasped hands Resting on the table Waiting for his dinner Perpetually tearful He said it was the weather ‘I’m glad to see you Who are you again? I don’t…

September 17, 2025Poem

What can be done,

What can be done, To stem the flow Of life draining away, Whenever the door To happiness Is left open. When death Shoulders its way in, Barging down feeble protest. Swinging its…

September 16, 2025Poem

Weary to the bone,

Weary to the bone, Head hung low, Spine twisted With the weight of life. She sang, Low and sweet. Gospel mainly, Old words That lifted her spirits As she worked. Hard times Never…

September 13, 2025Poem

Lay down to sleeping

Lay down to sleeping There will be no weeping Too much has gone The shedding of life The shredding of it. Do not wake Do not suffer the indignity Of injustice The morning is not…

September 13, 2025Poem

Lay down to sleeping

Lay down to sleeping I will have no weeping Too much has gone The shedding of life The shredding of it. Do not wake Do not suffer the indignity Of injustice The morning is not yet…

September 11, 2025Poem

They were the young ones.

They were the young ones. Fussed and preened over, Entered into baby shows, Photographed Using box Brownies. Black and white images Of cheesy grins. Knobbly knees And bony shins.…

September 11, 2025Poem

It felt like death

It felt like death Stuck Deep in the mud Lying alongside me Was America The whole of it Supine Struggling, half done Each arm and leg Pulling in a different direction Going down I…

September 11, 2025Poem

Politics of dreaming

Politics of dreaming It felt like death Stuck Deep in the mud Lying alongside me Was America The whole of it Supine Struggling, half done Each arm and leg Pulling in a different…

September 10, 2025Poem

There are no stones

There are no stones For me to wake They are as cold As the snakes that lie Beneath them Morning births An early warning Of summer A slew of rare Black Cockatoos Colonise a roost…

September 10, 2025Poem

A morning after Plath

A morning after Plath There are no stones For me to wake They are as cold As the snakes that lie Beneath them Morning births An early warning Of summer A slew of rare Black…

September 9, 2025Poem

Even the scarecrow turned about.

Even the scarecrow turned about. It was the most he could do, And the wind helped out. Sending him around, Spinning awkwardly, On his broom stick spine. Arms flailing wildly,…

September 7, 2025Poem

Five years on.

Five years on. Every day, An anniversary Of something and nothing. Remembered, forgotten, Celebrated, hated. The day feared, revered. Overblown, Birthdays outgrown, Candles burned…

September 4, 2025Missive

Oh, how

Oh, how We castigate The philosopher Challenge the scientist Draw him to the sword Hang him On tenterhooks Close his eyes As we close ours. The weariness of the word The…

September 3, 2025Missive

It wasn’t me.

It wasn’t me. Nobody listens to a word I say Not that I care So I’ll say it again. It wasn’t me Who did any of that It just happened And I was in the other room Anyway With the…

September 3, 2025Missive

Nobody listens to a word I say

Nobody listens to a word I say Not that I care So I’ll say it again. It wasn’t me Who did any of that It just happened And I was in the other room Anyway With the door closed When…

September 1, 2025Poem

Silence sits in the corner

Silence sits in the corner With fear hanging in the air Nothing happens Without warning Smoke signals Float from the chimney But who reads them When heads are bowed Over bright…

September 1, 2025Poem

Silence sits in the corner

Silence sits in the corner With fear hanging in the air Nothing happens Without warning Smoke signals Float from the chimney But who reads them When heads are bowed Over bright…

August 25, 2025Missive

This is not America

This is not America But is it less? If it were Armenia Or New Zealand Would it be any more? Are they all Just another country With a quieter voice. Do you over there In the…

August 25, 2025Missive

Patriotism.

Patriotism. This is not America But is it less? If it were Armenia Or New Zealand Would it be any more? Are they all Just another country With a quieter voice. Do you, over there…

August 23, 2025Missive

There are times

There are times When I fall into an abyss Of introspection. The wonder is nobody knows, Maybe they do What of it? Sometimes the worst Of things can stand before us Undetected. How…

August 23, 2025Missive

Nobody knows.

Nobody knows. There are times When I fall into an abyss Of introspection. The wonder is nobody knows, Maybe they do What of it? Sometimes the worst Of things can stand before us…

August 21, 2025Missive

What do they see

What do they see When they look up The cat The dog The spiny hedgehog With a splint on its leg Broken From an exuberant roll Down a steep hill. Do they get dizzy Suffer from…

August 20, 2025Missive

If I were the long hand

If I were the long hand Of my grandfather’s clock I would point down To thirty minutes Past the hour Not too late to back up Or jump forward. I would think on death Which would…

August 20, 2025Missive

If I were the long hand

If I were the long hand Of my grandfather’s clock I would point down To thirty minutes Past the hour Not too late to back up Or jump forward. I would think on death Which would…

August 13, 2025Missive

He sits outside

He sits outside On the street In his car Looking in I’m sure of it As I look out At him Looking in at me As sure as eggs Is eggs. We are at an impasse I could pull the blind But…

August 2, 2025Poem

Democratic valuables

Democratic valuables There are dream worlds Hellscape utopia’s Inspirational videos People with smooth skin Paler than white Voices to fall asleep to Waking up eventually Lost in…

July 30, 2025Missive

There is no genius involved

There is no genius involved I met one once He was no fun Barely registered as human I thought he was me We all thought we were In the same time frame But it was a random…

July 29, 2025Poem

Stay with me

Stay with me When all is said I’m as lost as a madman On tenterhooks Waiting for the axe to fall. The possum is motionless On the wire He forgot which way to go I saw him blink…

July 29, 2025Poem

Stay with me

Stay with me When all is said I’m as lost as a madman On tenterhooks Waiting for the axe to fall. The possum is motionless On the wire He forgot which way to go I saw him blink…

July 26, 2025Missive

One day, there will be no

One day, there will be no Shadow boxing Polarised posturing. Measuring up will stop Comparisons of genitalia Will not raise a laugh. As influence wanes And avatars fade The sadly…

July 25, 2025Poem

There is lethargy,

There is lethargy, With the feel of winter The kitchen is a barren Tundra The white on black Polar opposites. The icy blast of air From the fridge Its bleak insides Sculpted from…

July 21, 2025Poem

Wide eyes roll

Wide eyes roll Starkly white All morning stuck in the blind Shuttered in the coalhouse Left on a whim To be stripped bare Violated by the vermin Warm-bodied scuttlers. The skin…

July 19, 2025Poem

What do I protect?

What do I protect? Without trying I am become A product of my breathing The bones of me, invisible. If only I could see a way To break the seal The coal black eyes will Disappear…

July 18, 2025Missive

There was always time

There was always time For reflection He had plenty of it, Nobody to see No expectations He liked the peace But missed the company. For a while He thought the cleaner was his…

July 18, 2025Missive

There was always time

There was always time For reflection He had plenty of it, Nobody to see No expectations He liked the peace But missed the company. For a while He thought the cleaner was his…

July 17, 2025Missive

Hunkered down here

Hunkered down here Over coffee And a blueberry muffin I can tell you Nothing matters More than love, Peace, A good scotch, Oh yes, and good company. Good company and The memory of…

July 14, 2025Missive

There is nothing to lift me

There is nothing to lift me No strings attached Keeping me grounded The boards are still wet from high tide An Osprey glides Higher, lower Faster slower I will never fly so high…

July 12, 2025Poem

There is a moment

There is a moment When it all becomes real The sky The earth. War and pain Blood and bone. Oh! the sky. It is so blue Is it the same for you Is it really there The weight of it As…

July 10, 2025Missive

PSG beat Real Madrid. Hurrah.

PSG beat Real Madrid. Hurrah. Hopefully, it will be a little warmer and less wild. Hope is a parlour trick I think I have its measure Only to wrestle with it Half the night I have…

July 9, 2025Missive

I am caught

I am caught In a world of difference Which is almost the same As it should be Until it’s not. It must be a dream But it takes time to realise When it’s in technicolour A lurid…

July 7, 2025Poem

Those who speak of love,

Those who speak of love, Welcome it Live it Build homes together Grow old together, Are the wonders Of the past The present and the future. They are what it means To be free, To…

July 7, 2025Poem

Those who speak of love,

Those who speak of love, Welcome it Live it Build homes together Grow old together, Are the wonders Of the past The present and the future. They are what it means To be free, To…

July 4, 2025Poem

I walk alone

I walk alone How far is it to the end Did I pass through a beginning The draw of the light Is intoxicating, It hovers in the slurry Of dark imaginings Before the fear Slices…

July 3, 2025Missive

I am a fugitive

I am a fugitive Running away from something I should run toward The gun in the pocket Of a silent assassin The image of an angel On his shoulder The broken reels of a disused…

July 1, 2025Poem

It is painfully easy

It is painfully easy To squint Peek through the lashes Focus on the point Between my eyes Where I behold two noses Floating in space And see you in the glass Reaching out a hand.…

July 1, 2025Poem

It is painfully easy

It is painfully easy To squint Peek through the lashes Focus on the point Between my eyes Where I behold two noses Floating in space And see you in the glass Reaching out a hand.…

June 30, 2025Missive

There is proportionality

There is proportionality A pattern to discern A ratio of comparison An angle of incidence. Leather boots sink into the mud Just so far The pull of it The slow release As air is…

June 30, 2025Missive

Geo-metricses

Geo-metricses There is proportionality A pattern to discern A ratio of comparison An angle of incidence. Leather boots sink into the mud Just so far The pull of it The slow…

June 27, 2025Missive

Every day is another day

Every day is another day Closer to disorder There is action On the streets In the public houses And town halls. Debating chambers Are full of hot air When world powers are run…

June 26, 2025Missive

Everything shuts down

Everything shuts down Closes up Sleeps in silence Filling space When less is more. There is nothing Between the stars But distance. If there were a god Watching from within The…

June 25, 2025Missive

It would be easy

It would be easy There is nothing to stop me I could reach out A hand The dog looks friendly enough. If you are kind They will do right by you I know that to be true So many I…

June 23, 2025Missive

I stagger

I stagger Under the weight of the sky, The drizzle of rain A constant, As the moon burns In the hollow Of a cloud A tallowed candle Spluttering toward death. There is a smell of…

June 23, 2025Missive

I stagger

I stagger Under the weight of the sky, The drizzle of rain A constant, As the moon burns In the hollow Of a cloud A tallowed candle Spluttering toward death. There is a smell of…

June 19, 2025Poem

Self-destruct

Self-destruct War babies Wander broken halls Tired apartment buildings Smoulder Battle-scarred, The charred skeletons Of forgotten empires. A blood red sky filters Old light…

June 18, 2025Missive

My mind wanders,

My mind wanders, It is all I can do To keep it tethered In the room I fear its loss I could be a dada doodle dandy Pretend to be cool Perform for myself Stand on a corner…

June 16, 2025Missive

Some people

Some people Will always believe The world is flat I’m not sure what to think about that It used to be, When it was a tabletop With toy soldiers And Dinky toy cars Motorised…

June 14, 2025Missive

The horizon lies at my nose end

The horizon lies at my nose end The sky, as grey as the muddle Of a watercolour The sharpness clouded The meaning blotted out In a swirling artless blur Strangely intriguing Now…

June 14, 2025Missive

The horizon lies

The horizon lies Just beyond my nose The sky, as grey as the muddle Of a watercolour The sharpness clouded The meaning blotted out In a swirling artless blur Strangely intriguing…

June 13, 2025Missive

It puts things in perspective.

It puts things in perspective. I will carry on tomorrow. One day at a time. The world turns Beneath my feet I struggle to hold on The effort of staying upright On a slippery slope…

June 13, 2025Missive

The world turns

The world turns Beneath my feet I struggle to hold on The effort of staying upright On a slippery slope Is part penance For being human The rest is lost In self-absorption The…

June 9, 2025Missive

I have this earworm

I have this earworm Thing going on It's not like it’s a bad song But for goodness' sake The Blues for Terry Southern I barely know him If it’s the guy I remember The Magic…

June 7, 2025Missive

There is always the allure

There is always the allure Of evening The warm breeze Drifting through the trees At midnight, When the sky is as dark As the mind of a demented spirit Or a tech billionaire…

June 6, 2025Poem

Nothing is simple

Nothing is simple Love has sharp edges Serrated teeth The pain of loss Barbs of steel That tear at the flesh Nothing is as it should be. War is base It follows no moral Principle…

June 6, 2025Poem

A booked hearing check

A booked hearing check Nothing is simple Love has sharp edges Serrated teeth The pain of loss Barbs of steel That tear at the flesh Nothing is as it should be. War is base It…

June 5, 2025Poem

He would argue

He would argue Make his point Rail against the world Even without alcohol There was anger So much of life As rotten As windfall He saw maggots in the gravy How could you be a…

June 3, 2025Poem

If there were magic

If there were magic It wouldn’t be pretty Nothing comes of power Without it causes panic In the rest of us The Magi are not gods They rip through wet flesh Throwing the best of us…

May 29, 2025Missive

Am I searching

Am I searching If I am, it is reckless When I am without doubt Unprepared for the weather Or any outcome If it comes to it. The sky outside is a bright blue It could be beautiful…

May 28, 2025Poem

The ague of years

The ague of years The lolling of a weary head Bone-tired eyes It is a robbery Stolen in the night As you lay Strapped within the bonds Of reckless waste Restless spirit leaking…

May 26, 2025Missive

Within the child

Within the child Sometimes When a baby Turns its big, round eyes On you The bright liquidity The intelligence The curiosity Haunting them Somewhere behind the pupil And the retina…

May 26, 2025Missive

Sometimes

Sometimes When a baby Turns its big, round eyes On you The bright liquidity The intelligence The curiosity Haunting them Somewhere behind the pupil And the retina Where the soul…

May 19, 2025Poem

Sway in time

Sway in time Dance to a tune What is it with death Even the good news Comes with a codisil The doctor never looks you in the eye Unless he shines a light Staring back at him…

May 19, 2025Poem

Sway in time

Sway in time Dance to a tune What is it with death Even the good news Comes with a codisil The doctor never looks you in the eye Unless he shines a light Staring back at him…

May 15, 2025Poem

Dodo-ism.

Dodo-ism. I won’t care When I’m dead, Put me in a jar Carry me with you To a point on the compass Let me teeter on the edge. I may fall this way Or that It will not matter. I…

May 15, 2025Poem

I won’t care

I won’t care When I’m dead, Put me in a jar Carry me with you To a point on the compass Let me teeter on the edge. I may fall this way Or that It will not matter. I won’t care who…

May 13, 2025Missive

What a disappointment,

What a disappointment, Nothing is real. Now that my mind is clear I can see It is all just imaginary. Some guy I am, But in conversation I come across as quite bright, For the…

May 12, 2025Missive

It is bizarre,

It is bizarre, To expect something different To happen tomorrow But we do. I guess it ensures we are all Disappointed. Some keep trying, others don’t, It is a strange delusion To…

May 8, 2025Poem

We weren’t always skeletons

We weren’t always skeletons But when you strip everything away This is what you get A collection of bones Some bigger, others smaller But essentially Who can tell the difference?…

May 1, 2025Poem

She found the house

She found the house Where she used to live, Before the closed ward And elctro-convulsive therapy. She blagged her way into The garden where She had planted a Flowering Cherry It…

May 1, 2025Poem

She found the house

She found the house Where she used to live, Before the closed ward And elctro-convulsive therapy. She blagged her way into The garden where She had planted a Flowering Cherry It…

April 30, 2025Poem

We find solace

We find solace In each other. Sharing experience Forming circles Crowding city squares Bellies full of anger Waiting for the bombs to fall Bones and blood Arms and legs All as…

April 30, 2025Poem

My back is a little better. Not totally, but better.

My back is a little better. Not totally, but better. They will need to play better next time. We find solace In each other. Sharing experience Forming circles Crowding city…

April 29, 2025Poem

Too many stories

Too many stories Every suitcase has one Squashed by weight Of experience Bus stations are Peripatetic Lost and found Cities are just cities Hungry for fresh blood There are a…

April 29, 2025Poem

Caleb’s birthday.

Caleb’s birthday. I am up now, even though there is no football to watch. Too many stories Every suitcase has one Squashed by weight Of experience Bus stations are Peripatetic…

April 28, 2025Missive

There is disagreement

There is disagreement But in the abstract There is an abundance Of realities. Illusion is as real As the notion Of fairness in capitalism Society in refined circles. The books on…

April 28, 2025Missive

There is disagreement

There is disagreement But in the abstract There is an abundance Of realities. Illusion is as real As the notion Of fairness in capitalism Society in refined circles. The books on…

April 26, 2025Poem

Once upon a time in-

Once upon a time in- What happened here? I wandered through a library Fingered lost books The spines discoloured Dust covered Unread, For the longest time. There is no…

April 26, 2025Poem

What happened here?

What happened here? I wandered through a library Fingered lost books The spines discoloured Dust covered Unread, For the longest time. There is no safekeeping. I saw Hemingway In…

April 25, 2025Poem

Armistice/Remembrance Day should be enough for anybody.

Armistice/Remembrance Day should be enough for anybody. I could have had strawberries They were in the fridge Big and juicy That ‘just short of blood red’ colour Which means they…

April 25, 2025Poem

I could have had strawberries

I could have had strawberries They were in the fridge Big and juicy That ‘just short of blood red’ colour Which means they will be tasty. Some people judge Writing By the words…

April 23, 2025Poem

Every morning

Every morning One summer That ran over into autumn I suffered hammer blows Drinking a glass of water Sitting on the edge of the bed Spooning headache pills Into my mouth with…

April 23, 2025Poem

Every morning

Every morning One summer That ran over into autumn I suffered hammer blows Drinking a glass of water Sitting on the edge of the bed Spooning headache pills Into my mouth with…

April 22, 2025Poem

It can all disappear

It can all disappear So quickly. Behind closed doors There is magic, Lovers kiss The heat of their bodies Warming the room. Outside on the street Below a sign for quarter-pounders…

April 19, 2025Poem

There is predictability

There is predictability In stoicism My stubborn reaction To discomfort Oh, it’s just a burn A scratch, A cut, a bruise What’s a broken finger A broken toe A few stitches Between…

April 19, 2025Poem

There is predictability

There is predictability In stoicism My stubborn reaction To discomfort Oh, it’s just a burn A scratch, A cut, a bruise What’s a broken finger A broken toe A few stitches Between…

April 16, 2025Missive

She showed me a painting

She showed me a painting She said it was her best work It was white Not canvas white But painted white It had pretty cool brushstrokes But they were white It was all white I said…

April 15, 2025Poem

The children play

The children play War games Draw lines in the sand Erase them With the back of a hand Scuff them with a shoe Tear down a makeshift bridge Blow up a dinky toy With the gunpowder…

April 10, 2025Missive

Garbage strike.

Garbage strike. There are bin bags In the corner Next to the recycling Pushed back against the wall In deepest shadow Creating images Bloated bodies Stacked up Ready for the…

April 9, 2025Missive

Somedays

Somedays I push out Dissociate and disconnect Float, disembodied Formless and unattached, Seeing everything Differently From among the cobwebs At the back of a cupboard Under the…

April 7, 2025Missive

It held on.

It held on. I want to say for dear life But it seems crass To refer to the dying With such familiarity When we were never close, Separated as we were By root and branch. I don’t…

April 2, 2025Missive

No pressure.

No pressure. We all have something To conceal. A curtain is a veil Of protection From both sides I worry over The movement of stars The smell of coffee The passing of wind Hoping…

April 2, 2025Missive

We all have something

We all have something To conceal. A curtain is a veil Of protection From both sides I worry over The movement of stars The smell of coffee The passing of wind Hoping nobody seeks…

March 31, 2025Missive

So he lay

So he lay On the grass In the shadow of the clapboard Along with the empties Rolling in the dirt Smelling of puke and gut rot Wondering if he would live Until morning Or when he…

March 31, 2025Missive

So he lay

So he lay On the grass In the shadow of the clapboard Along with the empties Rolling in the dirt Smelling of puke and gut rot Wondering if he would live Until morning Or when he…

March 27, 2025Missive

Poets in connection

Poets in connection Arts, and abstraction There are too few keys But many locks. Words barter a way out Losing potency In the struggle to engage. The world is hostile To the many…

March 19, 2025Missive

Graveyards heave.

Graveyards heave. In the city They dig up caskets Rebury them out in the sticks. Stack the old stones Against the wall In rows six feet deep. There are some old ones Impossible to…

March 19, 2025Missive

Graveyards heave.

Graveyards heave. In the city They dig up caskets Rebury them out in the sticks. Stack the old stones Against the wall In rows six feet deep. There are some old ones Impossible to…

March 18, 2025Missive

I will suffer

I will suffer I shouldn’t wonder Playing fast and loose With the muse If indeed I do. I write a verse or two Do as I please For the most part, However, if I am deserted I might…

March 18, 2025Missive

The best for a week or so.

The best for a week or so. Well done to me. I will suffer I shouldn’t wonder Playing fast and loose With the muse If indeed I do. I write a verse or two Do as I please For the…

March 11, 2025Poem

Our friends in the North

Our friends in the North Summer purrs Buzzing with the sound Of fat insects Full of juice The smell of citronella The swirl of smoke Mosquitoes kept at bay. Somewhere far away…

March 7, 2025Poem

There are too many people

There are too many people With smiles, That never reach the eyes A death’s head Staring at the world Fat mouths, stuffed with hate Tumbling out Like an eruption of ectoplasm.…

March 7, 2025Poem

There are too many people

There are too many people With smiles, That never reach the eyes A death’s head Staring at the world Fat mouths, stuffed with hate Tumbling out Like an eruption of ectoplasm.…

March 5, 2025Poem

We lay together

We lay together Entwined Beneath the naked sky Sharing constellations A smelly afghan coat Slowly drying from a downpour Loosely wrapped around us We were both sticky with sweat.…

March 1, 2025Missive

Daily missive breaks into the weekend for Saturday the 1st of March.

“I know what it’s like.” The old man said From the depths He had sunk into. Lower than the covers Further down in the bed than I could reach Without breaking wind “It is easy To…

February 27, 2025Missive

I don’t know where they came from

I don’t know where they came from The trees, Tall and willowy But not willows Out of a fantasy novel maybe Wood nymphs? If there is such a thing Who would know When they keep…

February 22, 2025Missive

I might be invisible

I might be invisible But there is no hiding place In a heat haze Sweat runs down my face I am a candle Melted wax The noise of the midden Sullies the silence The pain of…

February 20, 2025Missive

Nothing is real

Nothing is real There are no humans Everything is a projection Of my psyche The window shows a movie Some actor sits in a car Picking his nose A woman walking by Sneers. He flicks…

February 20, 2025Missive

Nothing is real

Nothing is real There are no humans Everything is a projection Of my psyche The window shows a movie Some actor sits in a car Picking his nose A woman walking by Sneers. He flicks…

February 19, 2025Poem

Do you sway

Do you sway Beneath the stars Under the moonlight The rumble of thunder A herald of hard times Do you sway When the sky breaks The windows rattle Wolves howl Wet snouts Lifted…

February 18, 2025Poem

Stop firing

Stop firing The world is tinged With orange The sun a fiery glow A taste of sorrow The decadence of life Laid waste Children play In search of nature Plastic swords and toy guns…

February 18, 2025Poem

Douse the flames

Douse the flames The world is tinged With orange The sun a fiery glow A taste of sorrow The decadence of life Laid waste Children play In search of nature Plastic swords and toy…

February 15, 2025Poem

Bar room blitz

Bar room blitz Do you wonder at it The silence Thin-skinned Brittle faced smiles Bartenders with bare arms Tattoos of peace and love In lieu of war The laughter in pain The…

February 14, 2025Missive

There will be an end to it

There will be an end to it Unexpectedly. No clear lines are drawn Even as they merge On the horizon. The weft of warm air A ripple In my heart If I tear it apart Will it let me…

February 11, 2025Poem

Asleep at the back

Asleep at the back Breaking chains The rust of bones Bent in toil The scourge of weariness Creeping over The darkling edge Never too settled The fear of reprisal A death hand…

February 10, 2025Missive

The warm smell

The warm smell Of grilled sausages Drifts across from the Fire pits The air heavy With the tang of onions, The taste of the sea Washing them away. He floated Unhindered Dipped…

February 8, 2025Poem

In ages past

In ages past Aeons to come Passing moments The sun, nothing More than an eruption Of superheated gas A pinprick in velvet It is arithmetic I am algebraic Formulated Designed…

February 6, 2025Poem

I know,

I know, Even through a grey mist The air full of apprehension Winter cold pressing in Wood burning stoves Struggling to warm old houses Gabled roofs sagging lower Desperate to…

February 3, 2025Poem

Some people think they know,

Some people think they know, Sitting in the sun Under an umbrella Drinking a martini Choosing to smoke A big fat cigar Because they can. Stinking of rot and dead skin Nose pickers…

February 3, 2025Poem

Some people think they know,

Some people think they know, Sitting in the sun Under an umbrella Drinking a martini Choosing to smoke A big fat Havana Because they can. Stinking of rot and dead skin Nose…

February 1, 2025Missive

A plague on sunlight

A plague on sunlight The pain of it Cracking a skull Full of dust Fragments of thought The scratch of tinnitus An insect’s bite I must be dead Beetles fill my head In search of…

January 30, 2025Missive

We are sad sacks

We are sad sacks Brooding in silence The lack of company Sitting alone In the dark Striking a light Without a candle Do we choose To remain in isolation. There is a moral…

January 29, 2025Missive

Up, stand the men

Up, stand the men With big hair and Bouffant eyebrows They would prefer A ten-gallon hat It speaks for a generation The old ways Invested with a sense of pride The West was won…

January 25, 2025Missive

If you want to lead

If you want to lead It should not be you Holding office Wielding power, Pressing buttons on a whim. It is a lonely world At the best of times Too much empathy Would drive you…

January 24, 2025Missive

My brain is in dissolve

My brain is in dissolve The walls, in retreat Pushing in Pulsing out I am in Defence mode. Clinics are full to the brim With the hopeful The hopeless Serial applicants Supplicants…

January 24, 2025Missive

If you want to lead

If you want to lead It should never be you Holding office Wielding power, Pressing buttons on a whim. It is a lonely world At the best of times Too much empathy Would drive you…

January 22, 2025Missive

The words made no sense

The words made no sense Torn out of their mouths Half-formed Carried on the wind as they rode by It could be a warning A crude joke A cry of joy From one boy To the other. Kids on…

January 22, 2025Poem

You might think

You might think I would say No There is no rule To say I have to Fill my boots With five-minute solos Awkward One-liners Gauche lyrics Written On the back of A napkin Phrases…

January 20, 2025Missive

There are some

There are some Who say If there are no absolutes Nothing really matters. A multiverse of possibilities Is heaven sent To the excuser What is an atrocity here An intentional act…

January 17, 2025Missive

Zealotry is rife

Zealotry is rife Religious bigotry Is not confined In time or place, The constitution Just like the monarchy in Blighty Is a symbol Of democracy Not a blood oath. The world is not…

January 16, 2025Poem

Lives

Lives Drip dried Hung on clotheslines Hidden in dumpsters Behind restaurants Emptied into trucks Taken to the waste tip Out of town Piled onto garbage Broken kitchen gadgets Worn…

January 14, 2025Missive

There is nothing

There is nothing As cold and final As the realisation We are all alone The swollen eye Peeking from the cupboard The darkened maw Behind the teapot Tells me not to worry We all…

January 14, 2025Missive

There is nothing

There is nothing As cold and final As the realisation We are all alone The swollen eye Peeking from the cupboard The darkened maw Behind the teapot Tells me not to worry We all…

January 13, 2025Missive

I’m very sorry

I’m very sorry There is no genius here There might be a heart Pumping Idly It sits with me On the sofa Cozying up Smouldering Making promises About sticking around for the finale…

January 11, 2025Poem

An empty sky

An empty sky Easy to fall into As blue as it ever was I fell as deep As a griever’s sorrow Plunged further than A widow's peak Gathered into it Held in a warm embrace The heat of…

January 8, 2025Poem

Unattached

Unattached Unseen Lost in the cold slap Of closing As primary colours fade, When dreaming stops. There is sadness In the giving over To the harsh tale The rail against pale…

January 4, 2025Poem

A sorry excuse for summer

A sorry excuse for summer When it feels like winter The low, limp clouds Flabby with rain The heat of a wood stove Barely warming the air. Treachery On a Beaufort scale The…

December 27, 2024Missive

The bone wrenching

The bone wrenching Cussedness Of it Deadweight Dragging the flesh Keeping tired eyes glued Shut Wanting to lie still Barely aware Of being here Or anywhere Hoping something will…

December 27, 2024Missive

The bone wrenching

The bone wrenching Cussedness Of it Deadweight Dragging the flesh Keeping tired eyes glued Shut Wanting to lie still Barely aware Of being here Or anywhere Hoping something will…

December 23, 2024Poem

Surviving the fall

Surviving the fall We are monuments To the dead Individual repositories History Written as backstory Acted out Entertainment value The European theatre Saturday matinees Played…

December 21, 2024Missive

It is all too much

It is all too much Anti-matter Dark matter No matter Reverse engineering Mirror microbes and proteins Driving on the right The left Breaking wind When it seemed All I wanted to do…

December 19, 2024Poem

Stay with me

Stay with me Through it all The heavy rain Sharp as a knife Dog days with a dark edge Scraping the walls Peeling away Pictures of the dead Stapled to the flesh Already rotting As…

December 19, 2024Poem

Stoned hearts

Stoned hearts Stay with me Through it all The heavy rain Sharp as a knife Dog days with a dark edge Scraping the walls Peeling away Pictures of the dead Stapled to the flesh…

December 14, 2024Missive

Who knows what is what

Who knows what is what The wherefores and why-not Of life When it comes from every direction All at once Avoidance is not an option. Sit on the sofa why don’t-ya God will sort it…

December 12, 2024Poem

Don’t just drift

Don’t just drift Stop the clock Let me see you again This is not a rhyme It is just a matter of time Before the world is re-aligned. Nothing matters We are legion Everything comes…

December 12, 2024Poem

Cool.

Cool. Don’t just drift Stop the clock Let me see you again This is not a rhyme It is just a matter of time Before the world is re-aligned. Nothing matters We are legion Everything…

December 11, 2024Poem

This is the place

This is the place I want to be Your head on my shoulder I see it now I feel its warmth Against my cheek. Ten million souls Wander close by That could be a lie Nothing could be…

December 10, 2024Missive

Some idiot

Some idiot Who may have been An agent provocateur Asked what makes a guy think He/she is a poet As if there was an easy answer To a self-reflection From the self-absorbed What…

December 6, 2024Poem

With a chunk of whole-grain

With a chunk of whole-grain Garnished with green olives And tomato. As I watched the girls go by. They were young Everybody is Should I be sanctioned? Feeling guilty for thinking…

December 6, 2024Poem

We are monuments

We are monuments To the dead Individual repositories History Written as backstory Acted out Entertainment value The European theatre Saturday matinees Played out over a century…

December 6, 2024Poem

Avocado in the rain.

Avocado in the rain. With a chunk of whole-grain Garnished with green olives And tomato. As I watched the girls go by. They were young Everybody is Should I be sanctioned? Feeling…

December 4, 2024Poem

There is nothing but space.

There is nothing but space. Grass stalks ruffle In a sighing wind The trees whisper Morning prayers, As silent as the grave. Ravens gather On the stones, Waiting for the end. She…

December 3, 2024Poem

I never reach the horizon.

I never reach the horizon. It inches forward Arches away One step beyond. As much a mystery As the rainbow Shadows keep to the corners Afraid of exposure. In darkness, everything…

November 30, 2024Poem

The weather is good

The weather is good For the imagination I am a breaker Rolling on the sea The path is an ocean Carrying me There is salvation in the air If not for the flies The madness of them…

November 30, 2024Poem

The weather is good

The weather is good For the imagination I am a breaker Rolling on the sea The path is an ocean Carrying me There is salvation in the air If not for the flies The madness of them…

November 29, 2024Poem

Things were different

Things were different They are different now Perhaps I was alive I might now be dead It doesn’t take a long eye To see the future Is as much a mystery As history Which is revised…

November 28, 2024Poem

The politics of ecstasy

The politics of ecstasy Mad men In shiny suits Fat arses hung lower Than their opinions Grinding the gears Breaking stone Making a world In their own image. Sad faced clowns With…

November 28, 2024Poem

Mad men

Mad men In shiny suits Fat arses hung lower Than their opinions Grinding the gears Breaking stone Making a world In their own image. Sad faced clowns With shrunken empires…

November 25, 2024Poem

Squirrel me red.

Squirrel me red. Ah, but for the Gray With the pox We would see the beauty Of the Red It is long gone now In all but the north Where the Kings of Northumbria The Prince Bishops…

November 25, 2024Poem

Ah, but for the Gray

Ah, but for the Gray With the pox We would see the beauty Of the Red It is long gone now In all but the north Where the Kings of Northumbria The Prince Bishops The scourge of the…

November 21, 2024Poem

He counted stars

He counted stars There was weeping The pillow is a lonely place To be She is elsewhere Beside him is a ghost It haunts the crook of his arm The bend of his neck Toward absent lips…

November 21, 2024Poem

It should be good.

It should be good. He counted stars There was weeping The pillow is a lonely place To be She is elsewhere Beside him is a ghost It haunts the crook of his arm The bend of his neck…

November 20, 2024Poem

The satisfaction of cold air

The satisfaction of cold air In summer The heat of the day Laid waste The lack of conscience. What worries me Is the nature of cold blood A snake lies in wait In the shadow The…

November 19, 2024Poem

The stars are distant

The stars are distant Less than a twinkle They are disappointed It is in their eyes A galaxy of blank faces I knew them once But they never knew me. They want me dead Maybe I am…

November 17, 2024Poem

All in all, it was a good day.

All in all, it was a good day. Leave a text A voicemail If you must Switch off the phone There will be a reply Eventually Whether you want one or not Block a number Use a burner…

November 16, 2024Poem

Thanks to Plath.

Thanks to Plath. Her skin is like paper A whole life is written on it A fever could burn her up Turn her into ashes A strong wind And she would dissipate Nobody would know. Every…

November 16, 2024Poem

Her skin is like paper

Her skin is like paper A whole life is written on it A fever could burn her up Turn her into ashes A strong wind And she would dissipate Nobody would know. Every night Is pitch…

November 14, 2024Missive

They sit in groups

They sit in groups Twos and threes White noise Spilling onto the pavement Sitting alone is perfect For coffee The opinions of others crowd in As crispy bacon is Torn into pieces I…

November 14, 2024Missive

Coffee grounds

Coffee grounds They sit in groups Twos and threes White noise Spilling onto the pavement Sitting alone is perfect For coffee The opinions of others crowd in As crispy bacon is…

November 13, 2024Poem

Cloud nine and threequarters.

Cloud nine and threequarters. The women laugh Loose limbed Stretched out together Lounging on cold slabs Air-conditioned In the molten heat Of summer Difference is incremental The…

November 12, 2024Poem

One blind drawn

One blind drawn Nothing complete Everything is partial The wind punches the Jackoranda The air, heavy and heaving Lives come and go Buggies pass in procession. School days, A slow…

November 12, 2024Poem

Window dressing

Window dressing One blind drawn Nothing complete Everything is partial The wind punches the Jackoranda The air, heavy and heaving Lives come and go Buggies pass in procession.…

November 11, 2024Poem

Walking

Walking Late at night Side-stepping toe-rags who shuffle With the gait of the dead, For want of sleep And warm welcomes. Throwing themselves at shop windows Diving from platforms…

November 9, 2024Missive

I sat on a wall

I sat on a wall Biding my time Getting a breath or two After a brisk walk Six miles, give or take Puffy passengers disembark The big cruise ship Tired looking people With…

November 9, 2024Missive

I sat on a wall

I sat on a wall Biding my time Getting a breath or two After a brisk walk Six miles, give or take Puffy passengers disembark The big cruise ship Tired looking people With…

November 8, 2024Poem

A sweated dew

A sweated dew Come morning Am I any different To you or anybody Today or yesterday Waiting in the dark Hiding beneath the layers The folds of skin The weft of a veil A curtain of…

November 6, 2024Poem

If I had a cat,

If I had a cat, They said, It would be a comfort. I know what they meant But the challenge Is in the caring. It would either be Ambivalent Or hate my guts Give me a wide birth…

October 30, 2024Poem

The tides, they are a changing

The tides, they are a changing There was no disguising The early warning The pre-morbidity We were all okay Before the reminder came It shivered the timbers Turned us into…

October 26, 2024Poem

Time is time was.

Time is time was. It always led somewhere Not so easy to follow The beating of iron The heat of the forge Blistered fingers Working the tools Crawling in muck Branded by coal dust…

October 26, 2024Poem

It always led somewhere

It always led somewhere Not so easy to follow The beating of iron The heat of the forge Blistered fingers Working the tools Crawling in muck Branded by coal dust Soaked into the…

October 22, 2024Poem

Nobody knows

Nobody knows Not even the moon The sky is a pitiless void With no angels left to sing There is nothing in the river But filthy flies and Ankle biters The stink of neglect The…

October 22, 2024Poem

A lover’s moon

A lover’s moon Nobody knows Not even the moon The sky is a pitiless void With no angels left to sing There is nothing in the river But filthy flies and Ankle biters The stink of…

October 16, 2024Poem

A night at the museum

A night at the museum They fell in Through a back door Isn’t that always the way No welcome mat Red carpet ride Liveried footmen Guard of honour The bones of them Drunken heroes…

October 15, 2024Poem

They picnic in the dunes

They picnic in the dunes Lie together On the sand Beneath the branches Of willow trees The arches of old stone bridges Built before steam When women were burned as witches If they…

October 10, 2024Poem

It is a slow spring into summer

It is a slow spring into summer Winter refuses to release its hold Binding the wind to blow Keeping its grip As tight as loosening will allow Holding the promise Of warmer climes…

October 10, 2024Poem

It is a slow spring into summer

It is a slow spring into summer Winter refuses to release its hold Binding the wind to blow Keeping its grip As tight as loosening will allow Holding the promise Of warmer climes…

October 9, 2024Poem

It would be a postcard

It would be a postcard If the wind wasn’t As sharp as a cutthroat The foolhardy swim here Every morning Come rain or shine. They look half-dead Wearing wet suits To pull…

October 5, 2024Missive

There is something about

There is something about Looking at nothing Until I realise I am staring At a beautiful woman. She looked back Staring right through me From a thousand yards. The ice melting From…

October 1, 2024Poem

Two people

Two people Almost Together Are they strangers Do they know the way Travel the same path? Perhaps, we all have. Neither of them speak Nor look at each other But many a relationship…

September 28, 2024Missive

With his eyes closed

With his eyes closed He could be anywhere From Chattanooga To Istanbul. Constantinople. The rhythm of the train Lulled him With its fraudulent comfort Pretending to care When it…

September 26, 2024Missive

Another church mouse.

Another church mouse. I am no more out there Than I am in here Silence is a strange accompaniment To the passage from one state To another. A church is a quiet place. So much for…

September 20, 2024Missive

I beheld the tree

I beheld the tree With its fragile white flowers, What kind I can’t recall but I’m sure it will come to me It is in my garden After all. It has flowered overnight How could it…

September 19, 2024Missive

Climbing or falling

Climbing or falling It’s not the same Not for me Maybe you have seen it before Maybe I have The way some people scrabble In the dirt To build a future Full of broken windows They…

September 18, 2024Poem

Only the lonely

Only the lonely Waiting to survive, Nothing changes But the conviction To believe. The movement of stars Is as grounding As the solidity of the earth, The sadness of the moon As…

September 17, 2024Poem

I am cold

I am cold There is little point in denial When I exhale The air turns to ice on my lips Fingertips clutched To my palms Drawing blood The heat of my heart The only warmth I know,…

September 14, 2024Missive

Shapeless rain.

Shapeless rain. I look at the passage Of days The way people come and go The absurdity of motion On either side of the window, The implausibility Of a rainbow Without a light…

September 13, 2024Poem

I am eating sand

I am eating sand Swallowed with every breath Coating my throat Grit enough to grind stone, Powder food, Without the need to chew. The wind buffets from Either side Coughing fit to…

September 10, 2024Missive

Mirrors reflect

Mirrors reflect Though never were they wise With nothing to say about anything Other than what is plain to see. The truth laid out Or so it would seem Without embellishment Or…

September 7, 2024Poem

We grazed on strawberries,

We grazed on strawberries, Filled our baskets With blackberries, Stomachs swollen The suffering came later Crawling like insects Among the rows In a nursery field, Along the hedge…

September 2, 2024Missive

The fellowship of the ring

The fellowship of the ring He was an Englishman On a bus in New Zealand Lost in the world Drifting around Trying to rekindle interest In something other than nothing. People were…

August 31, 2024Poem

War babies.

War babies. Children played at war Sometimes drew blood by mistake Using sharp sticks As swords They made bows From Churchyard Yew Thought it was brave To rip a branch from a tree…

August 30, 2024Missive

Is it any different now

Is it any different now Everything progresses Toward decline They are interconnected In place and time. Scruffs on the corner Waiting for disorder To come along Coppers sit in…

August 28, 2024Missive

Party Animal.

Party Animal. There are times When the swagger Is as real as it ever was At least that’s what you tell yourself When the room is in danger Of overwhelming the neatly Folded…

August 27, 2024Poem

A shift in mood

A shift in mood Carries me away Thrown off-kilter Old houses with bowed windows Cracked glass And split frames Narrowed alleys With cobblestones Are grounding, Grudging reminders…

August 24, 2024Poem

Houses of the Holy

Houses of the Holy Churches and hospitals Get larger The buildings grander The ceilings higher Decorated in style Designs refreshed To reflect the times Less classical Than once…

August 23, 2024Poem

Nomads

Nomads We were nomads Walking the cobbles Kicking stones Against dustbins Waiting for the clang. Hiding in alleyways Wishing for rain To wash away the stain Of his dad’s death At…

August 20, 2024Missive

I close my eyes

I close my eyes And the world ends. It only exists inside my head When I’m dead It will be gone (Arse about face). But then childish dreams Will keep popping in and out Of the…

August 19, 2024Missive

I read a little

I read a little Waiting for indolence to ease, It rarely does. Bukowski understood He wrote about a redhead Which echoed my first thought. He had the same experience Floored…

August 19, 2024Missive

I read a little

I read a little Waiting for indolence to ease, It rarely does. Bukowski understood He wrote about a redhead Which echoed my first thought. He had the same experience Floored…

August 17, 2024Poem

I see them from the sofa,

I see them from the sofa, As they walk across the window From one side to the other Hiding behind the flat screen For a while, Extras in a soap opera. I wonder what they do When I…

August 17, 2024Missive

A day at the races.

A day at the races. I see them from the sofa, As they walk across the window From one side to the other Hiding behind the flat screen For a while, Extras in a soap opera. I wonder…

August 16, 2024Missive

I stand my ground

I stand my ground Without a gun To brandish Or an amendment to my name. I am better than that. In my head, I can spin On a sixpence Like a number ten Or Tiger before He succumbed…

August 16, 2024Missive

I stand my ground

I stand my ground Without a gun To brandish Or an amendment to my name. I am better than that. In my head, I can spin On a sixpence Like a number ten Or Tiger before He succumbed…

August 15, 2024Missive

I am highly strung

I am highly strung Wound so tight I could twang, Snap in two, Catgut stretched To its limit. I am a marionette Wasn’t she married to Louis the 16th? I refuse to write Roman…

August 15, 2024Missive

I am highly strung

I am highly strung Wound so tight I could twang, Snap in two, Catgut stretched To its limit. I am a marionette Wasn’t she married to Louis the 16th? I refuse to write Roman…

August 14, 2024Missive

I hate bar flies

I hate bar flies What good are they Apart from a link In the food chain The natural order The circle of life However, a bit like wasps I ask why. Then again I know that some…

August 14, 2024Missive

I hate bar flies

I hate bar flies What good are they Apart from a link In the food chain The natural order The circle of life However, a bit like wasps I ask why. Then again I know that some…

August 12, 2024Missive

I wrote a poem

I wrote a poem In my head When walking Of course, I had no pen or paper Why would I? It was exercise Cardio pumping along the foreshore In the freezing cold One of those mornings…

August 12, 2024Missive

Hurrah…summer is a coming…

Hurrah…summer is a coming… I wrote a poem In my head When walking Of course, I had no pen or paper Why would I? It was exercise Cardio pumping along the foreshore In the freezing…

August 10, 2024Missive

It is easy to believe

It is easy to believe That all the good stuff is In the past Which is not strictly true, But it is More or less As most of what is likely Has already happened At least once Not…

August 10, 2024Missive

Easy riding

Easy riding It is easy to believe That all the good stuff is In the past Which is not strictly true, But it is More or less As most of what is likely Has already happened At least…

August 8, 2024Poem

I am up now and the day moves on.

I am up now and the day moves on. There are homes In the valley below The heat of them Melting the falling snow Before it reaches the roofs The winding wheels Wet with drizzle The…

August 8, 2024Poem

There are homes

There are homes In the valley below The heat of them Melting the falling snow Before it reaches the roofs The winding wheels Wet with drizzle The air filled with A crescendo of…

August 2, 2024Poem

Long dog night

Long dog night Digging for bones Howling at the moon Chasing nightmares Through wet streets Where sodium lights Fizz in warning Dark shadows lean in From the cold Leeching the…

August 2, 2024Poem

It’s a dog’s life.

It’s a dog’s life. A long dog night Digging for bones Howling at the moon Chasing nightmares Through wet streets Where sodium lights Fizz in warning Dark shadows lean in From the…

August 1, 2024Poem

Today would have been our 35th anniversary.

Today would have been our 35th anniversary. It is easy to forget. As easy to remember. The loss of it is More than its lack. The push-me pull you, This way and that movement of…

August 1, 2024Poem

It is easy to forget.

It is easy to forget. As easy to remember. The loss of it is More than its lack The push-me pull you This way and that movement of wonder. A curtain Both open and closed. The tilt…

July 31, 2024Poem

I am the soil,

I am the soil, A trickle through my fingers The feel of it on my skin The ripple of the wind The fall of leaves Too many sit in silence On the verge of experience I am not too far…

July 30, 2024Missive

I thought maybe I could

I thought maybe I could Be worthy Write a poem Sing a song Prove something to myself A proof of life It would take a miracle To separate the truth From the make-believe Where…

July 30, 2024Missive

I thought maybe I could

I thought maybe I could Be worthy Write a poem Sing a song Prove something to myself Proof of life It would take a miracle To separate the truth From the make-believe Where…

July 27, 2024Missive

There is no wonder in it.

There is no wonder in it. A straight talker Might be respected But has few friends Directness can be construed as rude I am never sure About the truth of things So much of what I…

July 26, 2024Poem

There is only the tree.

There is only the tree. It stands eternally It waits patiently Never flinching Bar the occasional dip Of recognition Before a strong wind Does it see me Where we meet The coming…

July 24, 2024Poem

A slum dog city

A slum dog city Ten million souls Maybe more. Even less Is still beyond my comprehension. I am numberless There is only now What I see and what I hear The addition of theory Makes…

July 22, 2024Poem

Cradle to grave.

Cradle to grave. Clean white walls Square white rooms Dark cells without light Staccato breathing Butterfly wings Fluttering Fluorescent streaming Silent screaming Devious…

July 18, 2024Poem

Foyles Charing X Road

Foyles Charing X Road Drifting Down Charing Cross Road I break into A memory of gingerbread houses And Christmas decorations Winter warmers And a Tree in Trafalgar Square…

July 17, 2024Poem

Isolde is fifty today, wowser.

Isolde is fifty today, wowser. There is no denying The truth behind dying It is as inevitable As a poor tax No matter the wish for a stoppage Even a reversal When so many believe…

July 17, 2024Poem

There is no denying

There is no denying The truth behind dying It is as inevitable As a poor tax No matter the wish for a stoppage Even a reversal When so many believe the worst Nostalgia is an…

July 12, 2024Poem

Northern sea waters

Northern sea waters The sea roils in lazy whirls. Oily, dark and unctuous Flattering to deceive Too flat to be dangerous Too solid, full of salt and seaweed To be an attraction,…

July 12, 2024Poem

Northern sea waters

Northern sea waters The sea roils in lazy whirls. Oily, dark and unctuous Flattering to deceive Too flat to be dangerous Too solid, full of salt and seaweed To be an attraction,…

July 9, 2024Poem

When it rains

When it rains There is a promise, Not in the weather But in its determination. A sea breeze can change everything Dreams are easier to Navigate with eyes wide Close them and…

July 4, 2024Missive

Is anything real,

Is anything real, When a philosophical theory, The traditional positivists dismissed As being too abstract Anti-western Not subject to verification Without innumerable…

July 4, 2024Missive

Is anything real,

Is anything real, When a philosophical theory, The traditional positivists dismissed As being too abstract Anti-western Not subject to verification Without innumerable…

July 2, 2024Poem

Darkness pools in corners

Darkness pools in corners Unplumbed depths at the centre Steam rises through gratings In the pavement A black and white movie A comic strip romance Skirts are blown By an…

July 2, 2024Poem

Hopefully, I will feel better tomorrow.

Hopefully, I will feel better tomorrow. Darkness pools in corners Unplumbed depths at the centre Steam rises through gratings In the pavement A black and white movie A comic strip…

June 26, 2024Poem

It is eight years now,

It is eight years now, Two leap years When you could have asked me Had you wanted to. I asked you Twice The first time In a service station On the M1 You dared me to do it,…

June 25, 2024Poem

Kissed awake

Kissed awake By the flight of a Crow The noise it made on landing The look it gave in passing He knew me And would write about our Encounter In his memoir A book of birdsong The…

June 20, 2024Poem

I am not alone

I am not alone It might feel that way Invisible, insidious Pain Wraps its disease Around everyone At one time or another, Tying us all in knots. What would I do At the top of a…

June 14, 2024Missive

Do you look forward

Do you look forward When you travel Do you look back at where you Have been? On a bus or a train? You have little choice on a plane. In America, in the movies They look at each…

June 12, 2024Poem

All the president’s men.

All the president’s men. There is a devil in you Not a vampire And yet maybe so Drawing blood Wherever you go From the innocent doe With the soft skin The one with her foot In the…

May 31, 2024Missive

There was too much danger in standing still

There was too much danger in standing still People get killed that way. In the shower, we would laugh, Do crazy stuff Covered in soap I fell the other day I was always worried she…

May 28, 2024Missive

It is primal

It is primal Sitting in a darkened room Before an uncovered window Gazing out into the world A grey sky Incessant drizzle Cave dwelling, A Troglodyte, Prehistoric survivalist. Is…

May 27, 2024Poem

The way of the crow

The way of the crow Is a sharp eye A cold wind in the darkness A nameless moon Dipping behind the hill A slow glide between Shadowed trees Invisible As young lovers walk by. I am…

May 22, 2024Poem

Home for the weekend.

Home for the weekend. He sat with a suitcase packed Waiting by the door He waited there all afternoon He’d waited there before They would come to claim him They would not leave…

May 20, 2024Missive

PTSDay

PTSDay I see him sometimes My dad He stares back at me from the mirror Not his eyes I don’t have them Or his nose Or the lips I have my mum’s mouth She doesn’t need it anymore.…

May 18, 2024Missive

On my own,

On my own, Just like in my dreams, I am younger, More astute. Less likely to stumble over My words. I still stumble over my feet From time to time Which would happen less often,…

May 15, 2024Poem

It is disappointing

It is disappointing The lay of the land As the cold north wind Blows its icy breath Across a beaten earth Old Oaks whisper among themselves Of ancient days A time of magic and…

May 14, 2024Poem

How many times

How many times Will the commanding voice Drown out the meek They pretend to care about Until the lights go out. The harsh-faced hawks With their hands On the prize The gleam of…

May 13, 2024Poem

In the slow-to

In the slow-to Quickening Fall Toward oblivion, A future we all think Is not ours to live Until there is no escape No coming back When there is nothing else But breaking Into a…

May 9, 2024Poem

There will be undoing

There will be undoing No matter the consequence Age unravels with time Whatever we do. Even as Skylarks sing High in the sky Hovering over the countryside Announcing a claim on…

May 7, 2024Missive

Dreaming as I walk

Dreaming as I walk Walking as I dream Sometimes it is not easy To differentiate Too many thoughts converge For dreaming Until Dolphins jump Right out of the sea In front of me And…

May 3, 2024Poem

They pretend to know

They pretend to know What freedom is The tallest trees Closer to the sky Where the angels fly So they say Apples land further From the high branches Bad apples never fall far And…

May 1, 2024Missive

Do you remember

Do you remember How it used to be? The smell of warm toast The noise of a busy cafe The market hustle The morning bustle The way she would look up, Puzzled At the sound of her…

April 29, 2024Poem

Those days,

Those days, When everything swirls in time To the music Not an external ‘acoustic’ opus But an existential, Pulsing rhythm Running through your veins As all the plates Do the…

April 27, 2024Poem

My father

My father Built a garage in the garden Laying the cement Throwing up the walls It had two windows, Pretty soon they were Covered in cobwebs The joints full of woodlice. Were the…

April 25, 2024Poem

Too many pebbles

Too many pebbles With too little sand A wayward path Full of jagged blades Cutting to the quick Dead set against a raw wind The grit and dirt Washed away By the fast flow Of an…

April 20, 2024Missive

Anglo-file.

Anglo-file. It is tough being English In a modern world When so many people Think we are arrogant Pissheads Rampant Monarchists Without a worldview That is not Anglo-centric.…

April 17, 2024Missive

Is it age,

Is it age, The of notice time, Slowing of bustle Weariness of yesterday, The insolence of its hustle. What brings me here To this moment The waiting Head cocked to one side The…

April 16, 2024Missive

Whole worlds exist.

Whole worlds exist. Despite their rarity It is a commonplace idea Another leap of faith A step into the future Even with a secondary Grasp of popular physics I am at a loss To…

April 15, 2024Poem

The clouds bloom

The clouds bloom And billow Flowering on the horizon A Joni Mitchell chorus Rolling and tumbling Slipping and sliding The gulls have taken lessons From a cutpurse The tops from…

April 13, 2024Poem

I wish for pleasure

I wish for pleasure In the rise of the sun To bathe in its cold light. The chill in the air As my fingers scream At the bite in a fresh wind Toes curled against the icy Hore of…

April 10, 2024Poem

Foden scored a cracker.

Foden scored a cracker. Arsenal drew and perhaps will do better next week. I expect City to win at home. He said tune-in, drop-out Hallucinogens are good for your health Increased…

April 10, 2024Poem

He said tune-in, drop-out

He said tune-in, drop-out Hallucinogens are good for your health Increased clarity Is good for the soul Until the man Locked him up For crimes against humility Drug-induced…

April 6, 2024Poem

Perhaps I will do a little more tomorrow.

Perhaps I will do a little more tomorrow. Too many ghosts Jibber jabber The older you get The drunker. The brain is a sponge Too much exposure Bleaches it. Like the Great Barrier…

April 6, 2024Poem

Too many ghosts

Too many ghosts Jibber jabber The older you get The drunker. The brain is a sponge Too much exposure Bleaches it. Like the Great Barrier Reef It is a protected environment But the…

April 4, 2024Missive

Some say

Some say “What good Has come of progress” Apart from an end to Polio and TB An increase in Infant survival rates Longer lives And a slew of other health benefits If you can afford…

April 4, 2024Missive

Some say,

Some say, “What good Has come of progress” Apart from an end to Polio and TB An increase in Infant survival rates Longer lives And a slew of other health benefits If you can…

March 30, 2024Missive

Raise another glass.

Raise another glass. I am exalted. Sovereign. Are we not all so? What does it mean anyway? When so many are blown away By a feckless wind The seeds of doubt Planted in single rows…

March 30, 2024Missive

Raise another glass.

Raise another glass. I am enshrined. Sovereign. Are we not all so? What does it mean anyway? When so many are blown away By a feckless wind The seeds of doubt Planted in single…

March 25, 2024Poem

Was it the tenderness of youth?

Was it the tenderness of youth? The swoon of naked bodies Over the sofa Empty bottles on the floor The smell of sweat And sex The chill of a winter Without electricity. Monopoly a…

March 23, 2024Poem

Formula One.

Formula One. The Osprey is jostled By the turbulence From low-flying aircraft Practising their skills Formation dancing Laying carpets Along the valley floor Pulling up sticks At…

March 23, 2024Poem

Formula One.

Formula One. The Osprey is jostled By the turbulence From low-flying aircraft Practising their skills Formation dancing Laying carpets Along the valley floor Pulling up sticks At…

March 22, 2024Poem

After rain,

After rain, With the smell of it in the air The shiver of damp leaves The bowed heads of trees Wet birds shake themselves dry. Preening sodden feathers Before taking flight, The…

March 22, 2024Poem

After rain,

After rain, With the smell of it in the air The shiver of damp leaves The bowed heads of trees Wet birds shake themselves dry. Preening sodden feathers Before taking flight, The…

March 19, 2024Poem

I saw an image

I saw an image Of pretty pinks and greens Blossoming As the Daisies Danced together In a meadow With the Buttercups Upon a bright spring morning Awash with colour As pretty as a…

March 19, 2024Poem

I saw an image

I saw an image Of pretty pinks and greens Blossoming As the Daisies Danced together In a meadow With the Buttercups Upon a bright spring morning Awash with colour As pretty as a…

March 16, 2024Poem

Conspiracy theories abound already.

Conspiracy theories abound already. The river is a protest Without placards A procession Sedate and without rancour The whole of it snaking Through the city Coiling through the…

March 16, 2024Poem

The river is a protest

The river is a protest Without placards A procession Sedate and without rancour The whole of it snaking Through the city Coiling through the townhouses The plush riverfronts With…

March 13, 2024Poem

He looked out

He looked out On a street much like any other The everyday of its appearance The impromptu greeting Of morning The fleeting moments of passers-by None meeting his eye. So much of…

March 13, 2024Missive

He looked out

He looked out On a street much like any other The everyday of its appearance The impromptu greeting Of morning The fleeting moments of passers-by None meeting his eye. So much of…

March 12, 2024Poem

Sitting in the dark

Sitting in the dark Save for a candle, Watching it splutter. Believing it to be a connection To faded romance Hard times When women polished silver And cleaned fire grates For the…

March 12, 2024Poem

Sitting in the dark

Sitting in the dark Save for a candle, Watching it splutter. Believing it to be a connection To faded romance Hard times When women polished silver And cleaned fire grates For the…

March 9, 2024Poem

Cruise ships cluster in the bay

Cruise ships cluster in the bay Disgorging passengers Onto the jetty Colonial combatants In Hawaiin shirts Tourist mufti Dressed to swarm Locusts scouring For souvenirs to carry…

March 9, 2024Poem

I miss Kora.

I miss Kora. My back is a little sore. I need to be watchful of that. Cruise ships cluster in the bay Disgorging passengers Onto the jetty Colonial combatants In Hawaiin shirts…

March 8, 2024Poem

Is there an end

Is there an end Yet to be determined Lounging on a veranda Sheltered from the world By a low wall Hearing without seeing A boy pestering his mum For nothing, in particular, She is…

March 7, 2024Poem

Sometimes we disappear

Sometimes we disappear Gossamer blue People are windows To be seen through Talking whilst collecting groceries The soil is still attached To the potatoes They taste better that…

March 7, 2024Poem

Sometimes we disappear

Sometimes we disappear Gossamer blue People are windows To be seen through Talking whilst collecting groceries The soil is still attached To the potatoes They taste better that…

March 6, 2024Missive

I remember moving furniture

I remember moving furniture Around in a small room Trying to find extra space When there wasn’t any, Whilst drinking whisky Straight from the bottle, Falling asleep on a sofa…

March 5, 2024Poem

There is an end

There is an end Lush grass crushed underfoot The dew squeezed out Like toothpaste Blood dried as black as tar Too afraid to be cowards Left in the dirt to rot Stargazing. On a…

March 5, 2024Poem

There is an end

There is an end Lush grass crushed underfoot The dew squeezed out Like toothpaste Blood dried as black as tar Too afraid to be cowards Left in the dirt to rot Stargazing. On a…

March 1, 2024Missive

Nothing is carefree

Nothing is carefree The illusion of abandon. The splash of the Kingfisher Is a source of wonder But it is an essential Component of nature. Even the weed Growing through a crack…

March 1, 2024Missive

Well done to me.

Well done to me. Nothing is carefree The illusion of abandon. The splash of the Kingfisher Is a source of wonder But it is an essential Component of nature. Even the weed Growing…

February 29, 2024Poem

I remember

I remember Walking with friends Arms flung casually around each other's shoulders Unaffected Laughing and joking Whispering about stupid stuff Without a care in the world Running…

February 29, 2024Poem

I remember

I remember Walking with friends Arms flung casually around each other's shoulders Unaffected Laughing and joking Whispering about stupid stuff Without a care in the world Running…

February 27, 2024Missive

Do I drift?

Do I drift? Am I carried along Wafted on a breeze Left in a heap Piled up in the gutter Borne on a cosmic wind Lost in space Even as the world revolves around me, Us? An…

February 27, 2024Missive

Do I drift?

Do I drift? Am I carried along Wafted on a breeze Left in a heap Piled up in the gutter Borne on a cosmic wind Lost in space Even as the world revolves around me, Us? An…

February 26, 2024Missive

I drank coffee

I drank coffee And read the news More war More conspiracy theories More privileged assholes demanding To be treated with deference Where the law Is folded into a double helix…

February 26, 2024Missive

Otherwise, all is good.

Otherwise, all is good. I drank coffee And read the news More war More conspiracy theories More privileged assholes demanding To be treated with deference Where the law Is folded…

February 22, 2024Missive

Perhaps I would have fought

Perhaps I would have fought In the Spanish war On the right side of course, Whichever one that was As it depends on your point of view But isn’t that always the way? Lots of…

February 21, 2024Poem

What is the point

What is the point Of thought Without love The unhinged meanderings Of profundity Lacks sagacity Is deficient in wisdom When bereft of intimacy Or concern for balance. Perhaps the…

February 20, 2024Poem

I move through decades

I move through decades At a glance. She is a newborn Swathed in love The terror of it Fragile and breakable I catch my breath For fear of fumbling, Her downy head Lolling…

February 9, 2024Poem

Did I dream of England

Did I dream of England I think I did She was both cold and warm At the same time Offering a steady hand, Supporting me as I sat Shaking from the cold. There was a wind blowing I…

February 8, 2024Missive

Entrenched.

Entrenched. Settled in. Spiders do it so well Waiting Unmoving Unreflective Their heads in the moment Or is it the past? Perhaps they would be happy To be favoured With a tasty…

February 8, 2024Missive

Entrenched.

Entrenched. Settled in. Spiders do it so well Waiting Unmoving Unreflective Their heads in the moment Or is it the past? Perhaps they would be happy To be favoured With a tasty…

February 6, 2024Poem

In those forgotten lands

In those forgotten lands Where the weeds lie abandoned And the hedgerows Have grown too wide Even for the ditch, Hazel and hawthorn Invade the meadows Where Aberdeen Angus roamed…

February 6, 2024Poem

In those forgotten lands

In those forgotten lands Where the weeds lie abandoned And the hedgerows Have grown too wide Even for the ditch, Hazel and hawthorn Invade the meadows Where Aberdeen Angus roamed…

February 5, 2024Poem

The wind is breathless

The wind is breathless Panting at my heels Throwing up the dirt The ground, still too wet For sitting. The air too agitated For a momentary respite, Kicking stones Displaced In…

February 1, 2024Missive

Is there any sense in

Is there any sense in Scratching my soul When I don’t submit Any of my vain-arsed work Or try to find a literary agent Why even bother? It’s not like I’m about to Add anything of…

February 1, 2024Missive

Is there any sense in

Is there any sense in Scratching my soul When I don’t submit Any of my vain-arsed work Or try to find a literary agent Why even bother? It’s not like I’m about to Add anything of…

January 31, 2024Missive

Outlying

Outlying Do I have any claim on the world On my body My name The clamour of chaos The surreality of day-to-day Living The pretence of civility When there is no empathy Acceptance…

January 31, 2024Missive

Outlying

Outlying Do I have any claim on the world On my body My name The clamour of chaos The surreality of day-to-day Living The pretence of civility When there is no empathy Acceptance…

January 29, 2024Poem

He touched the same place

He touched the same place On the scarred old Oak Whenever he passed. Did it ever bring him luck? How would he know? He had grown taller, Straighter, With every passing year Much…

January 26, 2024Missive

When I lie down

When I lie down Wrestling with sleep Or a lack of I ask if I’m satisfied With what I’ve achieved Did I write anything Did I create anything worthwhile Does it matter When will I…

January 23, 2024Poem

They are grumpy

They are grumpy Clunky and craggy With creases, Ravines and gullies Dug deep From top to bottom Cold as ice I have heard that They are ready to crumble It is hinted at In that low…

January 23, 2024Poem

Midnight is mystical

Midnight is mystical The bright light of a big sky A million stars An array of galactic proportion A parsec so easily travelled In a lazy sweep Of a sleepy head. The scope of Its…

January 22, 2024Poem

Only the dead

Only the dead Are unencumbered By the fear of failure Their future is secure. The release from struggle Is a weight lifted Perhaps they can find A better frame of mind More…

January 22, 2024Poem

The words made no sense

The words made no sense Torn out of their mouths Half-formed Carried on the wind as they rode by It could be a warning A crude joke A cry of joy From one boy To the other. Kids on…

January 22, 2024Poem

Only the dead

Only the dead Are unencumbered By the fear of failure Their future is secure. The release from struggle Is a weight lifted Perhaps they can find A better frame of mind More…

January 20, 2024Poem

We were country boys

We were country boys Tortured by the fear of servitude To the land, Before the coal seam The Bessemer converter The shipyard Indentured employment Took its place. None of which…

January 20, 2024Poem

We were country boys

We were country boys Tortured by the fear of servitude To the land, Before the coal seam The Bessemer converter The shipyard Indentured employment Took its place. None of which…

January 19, 2024Poem

If we could choose

If we could choose To escape the clamour Some would queue To get into the asylum With its white walls And quiet room Many have jumped at the chance Of a restart Electroshock…

January 18, 2024Poem

I thought we had a world

I thought we had a world I held it in my hand Cradled it carefully Taking it with me On every journey. When we sat On the frame Of a five-bar gate, Walked the high hills Idled by…

January 18, 2024Poem

Generations have stood

Generations have stood Upon this land Worked it Loam and stone Tarried in warm companionship Gazed at the lay of it The wonder of their toil The shaping of their future With hoe…

January 17, 2024Poem

The only living boy.

The only living boy. Zealotry is rife Religious bigotry Is not confined In time or place, The constitution Just like the monarchy in Blighty Is a symbol Of democracy Not a blood…

January 16, 2024Poem

My step count has increased to 13.8K.

My step count has increased to 13.8K. Generations have stood Upon this land Worked it Loam and stone Tarried in warm companionship Gazed at the lay of it The wonder of their toil…

January 16, 2024Poem

Lives

Lives Drip dried Hung on clotheslines Hidden in dumpsters Behind restaurants Emptied into trucks Taken to the waste tip Out of town Piled onto garbage Broken kitchen gadgets Worn…

January 15, 2024Poem

There is no redemption

There is no redemption In regret Or freedom in remorse The weight of conviction Is burden alone To be carried Through the long days When the temptation To drown In desolation…

January 13, 2024Poem

Behind my eyes

Behind my eyes The world Is more than a universe Bigger, deeper. I could fold up inside As small as a billiard ball, Roll me. I would rattle against the walls Invisible to the…

January 11, 2024Poem

Moving out.

Moving out. At a time when a typewriter Was a contraption A complex mechanism Worthy of mythical status, It sat On a table by the window Waiting to be rescued From ineptitude. I…

January 11, 2024Poem

An empty sky

An empty sky Easy to fall into As blue as it ever was I fell as deep As a griever’s sorrow Plunged further than A widow's peak Gathered into it Held in a warm embrace The heat of…

January 10, 2024Poem

No good.

No good. I could only watch As they tore through the packing Two people Whirling pirouetting A modernist couple Packing along to music A threepenny opera Nothing prepares you For…

January 10, 2024Poem

Packers and lifters.

Packers and lifters. I could only watch As they tore through the packing Two people Whirling pirouetting A modernist couple Packing along to music A threepenny opera Nothing…

January 10, 2024Poem

Too many vampires

Too many vampires Heartless and fanciful Living in shadow Wearing black hats And Gucci loafers Too many to shove a stake into For all we try To find a way to clear the decks Of…

January 8, 2024Poem

The moon turns

The moon turns Its face away A glimmer of love Covered in tinfoil A disguise of fools And miscreants Halfway bound in tragedy Lost on the road Finding a way to paradise Before we…

January 6, 2024Poem

There was an edge

There was an edge In the aftermath Of reaping The crop of ripened ears Leaving a sharp stubble That would scratch soft skin Skewer a reckless soul Damage the hem of a Sunday skirt…

January 5, 2024Missive

It is not true

It is not true What they say about silence There is no honour in it Not when it beats at the ears With little in the way of rhythm Or thought to engender a feeling Of comfort Or…

January 4, 2024Poem

Our Christmas break was unseasonal

Our Christmas break was unseasonal A sorry excuse for summer When it feels like winter The low, limp clouds Flabby with rain The heat of a wood stove Barely warming the air.…

January 4, 2024Missive

If I could I would

If I could I would Pull the bedclothes up To my chin Just to lie there Without moving Warm as toast And in that moment, When the dreaming is upon me Imagine driving fast On a…

January 3, 2024Poem

Lost to life

Lost to life Feeling the way Finding summer Wintered in a forgotten pocket Weathered by windfall Beaten by degrees Where once, before The blight of death, Love gathered Bound in…

December 27, 2023Poem

The fan blows hot air

The fan blows hot air From one end of the deck To the other. The temperature climbs Higher than comfort Heavy with humidity The Euphorbia thrives, Its many red flowers Bouncing…

December 27, 2023Poem

The fan blows hot air

The fan blows hot air From one end of the deck To the other. The temperature climbs Higher than comfort Heavy with humidity The Euphorbia thrives, Its many red flowers Bouncing…

December 23, 2023Poem

Would you believe it is Christmas Eve tomorrow…again?

Would you believe it is Christmas Eve tomorrow…again? I miss you, Kora. Give me a whiteout To a hurricane A cyclone to a Southerner. The crispen crunch Of virgin snow Pure of…

December 23, 2023Poem

Give me a whiteout

Give me a whiteout To a hurricane A cyclone to a Southerner. The crispen crunch Of virgin snow Pure of intention Hiding a range of uneven Surprises Below a softened blanket…

December 22, 2023Missive

Homecoming.

Homecoming. It could have been so different If Mother hadn’t scolded the dialect out of me When I was a boy. Refusing to listen unless I used the right words, Embarrassing at the…

December 20, 2023Missive

There are times

There are times When with a gentle push Through an old net curtain A subcutaneous membrane With a little surface tension There is nothing Standing between Me and my childhood.…

December 16, 2023Poem

Sometimes when walking

Sometimes when walking My feet drag in the heavy grass The mud of the moors The smell of peat. Through a scud of clouds I catch a glimpse of a limpid sun I can almost hear it…

December 14, 2023Poem

City did win but it was a nothing game…

City did win but it was a nothing game… We picked potatoes In sets There were very few girls As I remember “Too distracting for the older boys” The farmer said. There were one or…

December 14, 2023Poem

We picked potatoes

We picked potatoes In sets There were very few girls As I remember “Too distracting for the older boys” The farmer said. There were one or two, Who looked formidable, Amazonian.…

December 13, 2023Poem

Even dry

Even dry Without a nip Or the smell of an aged cask It is easier to hold onto the sofa Than a skeleton bob On the Cresta run. My mother said “Masturbation is dirty. It will make…

December 13, 2023Poem

Even dry

Even dry Without a nip Or the smell of an aged cask It is easier to hold onto the sofa Than a skeleton bob On the Cresta run. My mother said “Masturbation is dirty. It will make…

December 12, 2023Poem

Under the shadow of spires

Under the shadow of spires Ego towers scraping the sky, In ramshackle streets With the graffiti, Broken bins Spewing out the detritus of modern life, The wretched rags of…

December 12, 2023Poem

Under the shadow of spires

Under the shadow of spires Ego towers scraping the sky, In ramshackle streets With the graffiti, Broken bins Spewing out the detritus of modern life, The wretched rags of…

December 7, 2023Poem

Waiting in a crush

Waiting in a crush Of commuters On the southbound platform Of the Northern Line Too many people With not enough breathing room Itchy for fresh air Even this early in the morning…

December 6, 2023Poem

As a boy

As a boy A hole in the hedge At the bottom of the garden. I crawled inside Hiding out for what seemed like hours Watching Mum put the washing On the line I believed I was…

December 4, 2023Poem

Can you see it?

Can you see it? If you can What can you do When it is all Just a judgement call And we all know a judgement Is a smidgeon short of An educated guess. The pinched and sharp-nosed…

December 4, 2023Poem

Can you see it?

Can you see it? If you can What can we do When it is all Just a judgment call And we all know a judgement Is a smidgeon short of An educated guess. The pinched and sharp-nosed guy…

December 1, 2023Poem

When I lift my feet

When I lift my feet Off the ground Tuck them up Next to me On the sofa I could be on an island Like it was when I was a boy Lying in bed Hugging myself tight. A scared little…

November 30, 2023Poem

I plant my foot,

I plant my foot, Never is it still Long enough to take root. The echo of it’s fall Follows in my wake Through the long nights Hollowed into valleys Where the unwary Falter Before…

November 28, 2023Poem

I am afraid of being boxed up

I am afraid of being boxed up Downsized Put into storage Were I can be visited Now and then As the mildew grows Over my bits and pieces The best of me Left with the rest of me In…

November 28, 2023Poem

I am afraid of being boxed up

I am afraid of being boxed up Downsized Put into storage Were I can be visited Now and then As the mildew grows Over my bits and pieces The best of me Left with the rest of me In…

November 27, 2023Poem

I knew you were angry

I knew you were angry After we saw the telegenic Evangelist Drive off in a Ranger Rover With blacked-out windows Just after he’d been beseeching Poor people with nothing But the…

November 25, 2023Missive

No matter how trim I appear to be

No matter how trim I appear to be How far I walk Or even how many times I hear “You don’t look your age.” The skin, on my calves, When the muscle is flexing Has a texture Not…

November 25, 2023Missive

No matter how trim I appear to be

No matter how trim I appear to be How far I walk Or even how many times I hear “You don’t look your age.” The skin, on my calves, When the muscle is flexing Has a texture Not…

November 22, 2023Missive

All is good now.

All is good now. “I am of a mind.” My great Uncle Tom Would say. “I am of a mind to… And here it became a joke We as children would Wait Mouths open wide Eyes agog As he rolled…

November 22, 2023Missive

Daily missive for Wednesday the 22nd of November.

“I am of a mind.” My great Uncle Tom Would say. “I am of a mind to… And here it became a joke We as children would Wait Mouths open wide Eyes agog As he rolled the words around…

November 21, 2023Poem

I have wandered,

I have wandered, Dawdled in shadows Dug deeply for tomorrow Without ever finding it Listened to stories Told by withered old souls Sat around cheery campfires Blazing Spritely…

November 21, 2023Poem

Maguire was a liability once again…

Maguire was a liability once again… I have wandered, Dawdled in shadows Dug deeply for tomorrow Without ever finding it Listened to stories Told by withered old souls Sat around…

November 16, 2023Missive

Daily missive for Thursday the 16th of November.

“Isn’t it a perfect day?” She said. “It is a lovely day But not perfect.” I replied. “Which is a matter of perception Is it the right time, In the right place With the right…

November 15, 2023Poem

The Descent of Man.

The Descent of Man. They dragged themselves up Out of the deep Reprobates with sea legs Looking for an easy lay. Any excuse To explain away The discrepancy in their story…

November 15, 2023Poem

The Descent of Man.

The Descent of Man. They dragged themselves up Out of the deep Reprobates with sea legs Looking for an easy lay. Any excuse To explain away The discrepancy in their story…

November 14, 2023Poem

In those, other days

In those, other days When grey was no more than it should be Coolly understated Brown, more Or maybe just less Than a mood best left alone, Unless it is October, With leaves…

November 13, 2023Poem

Why do they stare

Why do they stare Those lip-lickety Sticketybeaks With a nose for voyeurism Amateur photographers Dilettantes of freedom To do unto others But not unto them Given the chance to be…

November 13, 2023Poem

Why do they stare

Why do they stare Those lip-lickety Stickybeaks With a nose for voyeurism Amateur photographers Dilettantes of freedom To do unto others But not unto them Given the chance to be…

November 11, 2023Poem

Give Peace a Chance.

Give Peace a Chance. He carries her close to his heart With no last goodbye They conduct Silent conversations Individually nuanced Inherently misunderstood. Against the background…

November 11, 2023Poem

Armistice day and still there is war.

Armistice day and still there is war. Give peace a chance. He carries her close to his heart With no last goodbye They conduct Silent conversations Individually nuanced Inherently…

November 9, 2023Missive

As broken as Bukowski

As broken as Bukowski After a relapse Discovering my humanity During a bout of vertigo Holding on to the toilet bowl Afeared of an upchuck Of disavowed vowels An injudicious…

November 9, 2023Poem

As broken as Bukowski

As broken as Bukowski After a relapse Discovering my humanity During a bout of vertigo Holding on to the toilet bowl Afeared of an upchuck Of disavowed vowels An injudicious…

November 7, 2023Missive

If I sit quietly

If I sit quietly For more than a moment I take leave of my senses. Maybe we all do, The thought of a God, Which is not a direction I would choose to take, On a tall stool In a…

November 4, 2023Poem

Is it foolish or profound

Is it foolish or profound To stare upon the empty ground To pick up a stone And throw it high Just to watch The progress of its fall And be in thrall To the wonder of stars The…

November 2, 2023Poem

I hear it in the pipes

I hear it in the pipes The gurgle of sadness The strangled cry The memory of holding a candle In the attic Freezing The darkness flickering Creating shadows A macabre affair…

October 28, 2023Missive

Exhibition

Exhibition One time We lay naked on the grass At midnight Gazing up at the stars Overlooked by windows Curtained with chintz A haze of marijuana and alcohol seeping out from The…

October 28, 2023Missive

One time

One time We lay naked on the grass At midnight Gazing up at the stars Overlooked by windows Curtained with chintz A haze of marijuana and alcohol seeping out from The bohemians on…

October 27, 2023Missive

And just as the neighbour

And just as the neighbour Many floors above, The Osprey flying over, Heading for the sea Where the best fish swim, Can look down upon it, A wooden deck, Once stained and varnished…

October 27, 2023Missive

And just as the neighbour

And just as the neighbour Many floors above, The Osprey flying over, Heading for the sea Where the best fish swim, Can look down upon it, A wooden deck, Once stained and varnished…

October 25, 2023Poem

Did I know,

Did I know, When rolling in the hay, Tumbling in thrall to hysteria Finding the truth of lust In breathless coupling Scratched by briars When the stars were bright The blood as…

October 21, 2023Poem

Times change with the seasons

Times change with the seasons Nothing is as was When ordinary folks wore their Sunday best Had a special tea set For visitors Only using the front room When the vicar called.…

October 18, 2023Poem

How bloody annoying.

How bloody annoying. She had outlived them all The people she loved And loathed. Even on a good day, She was hard to like. Her tendency to tell it As she saw it Had alienated her…

October 18, 2023Missive

She had outlived them all

She had outlived them all The people she loved And loathed. Even on a good day, She was hard to like. Her tendency to tell it As she saw it Had alienated her From all but close…

October 16, 2023Missive

Wherever I go

Wherever I go I move To a melody Playing in my ears Whispering through my brain, Nobody is alone anymore, Bluetooth is a godsend Unless it is a headache. Cat Power sings Dylan The…

October 13, 2023Poem

Breakfast on a train

Breakfast on a train Talking to strangers Brief encounters Never forgot Moments of pleasure Respite as the world flies by The romance of travel Without being strapped in Or…

October 11, 2023Poem

The torn curtain.

The torn curtain. Cowards are exalted The loudest voices heard Above the clamour Shouting from the tall grass. Hidden in the clutter Of argument Are the peacemakers Easily…

October 11, 2023Poem

The torn curtain.

The torn curtain. Cowards are exalted The loudest voices heard Above the clamour Shouting from the tall grass. Hidden in the clutter Of argument Are the peacemakers Easily…

October 9, 2023Missive

Sometimes it is easy

Sometimes it is easy To feel old If I keep my eyes closed Anything is possible. The creak of a floorboard Could be her Creeping in or out Depending on the mood I create When a…

October 9, 2023Missive

Sometimes it is easy

Sometimes it is easy To feel old If I keep my eyes closed Anything is possible. The creak of a floorboard Could be her Creeping in or out Depending on the mood I create When a…

October 6, 2023Poem

The Robin Hood tree.

The Robin Hood tree. Does the world stand or fall On the snap of a twig The tumble of a Sycamore By the Roman wall Stepping on A crack in the pavement Beating the bus to the next…

October 2, 2023Missive

Does success follow

Does success follow In the wake of failure Is it the other way around Does it even matter when the time comes To view the world anew. Standing in the middle of a fresh-cut field…

October 2, 2023Missive

The Kings' birthday…

The Kings' birthday… Does success follow In the wake of failure Is it the other way around Does it even matter when the time comes To view the world anew. Standing in the middle…

September 30, 2023Poem

Nobody admits it,

Nobody admits it, Especially on a hot day When the ice melts In the glass Before you have a chance To finish the drink. The barman is on the lookout For a tip And you don’t need…

September 29, 2023Poem

Sunday morning brunch

Sunday morning brunch Spongy clouds move cautiously Sheepishly tumbling Afraid to touch For fear, they will be absorbed Into the belly of a beast, A gas giant Much like the hairy…

September 27, 2023Missive

It is what I do and it works.

It is what I do and it works. Acts of remembrance. Even sitting at a plastic table With a flat white The screech of conversation All but drowning out the songs of the morning…

September 27, 2023Poem

Acts of remembrance.

Acts of remembrance. Even sitting at a plastic table With a flat white The screech of conversation All but drowning out the songs of the morning Cockatoos and Rosellas Jostling…

September 26, 2023Poem

Old guys run on steam

Old guys run on steam Tip me sideways It would be easy The road is as uneven as I am unsteady. Limbs and heart So very far apart Dreams of fulfilment Remain at the idea stage…

September 26, 2023Poem

I’ll text but not now.

I’ll text but not now. Obviously, nothing of any interest happened today. Old guys run on steam Tip me sideways It would be easy The road is as uneven as I am unsteady. Limbs and…

September 24, 2023Poem

There are times

There are times When I am Completely hollowed out Empty all the way down From the sickly sweet smile Which I give to greet the bartender To my old black boots Scuffed and…

September 22, 2023Missive

And you have seen

And you have seen Those dirty grey streets Precincts designed by the office junior Whilst named partners were wined and dined In Canary Wharf Dreaming of international recognition…

September 22, 2023Missive

And you have seen

And you have seen Those dirty grey streets Precincts designed by the office junior Whilst named partners were wined and dined In Canary Wharf Dreaming of international recognition…

September 18, 2023Missive

Sometimes it is easy

Sometimes it is easy To ignore a notification A breaking news story In favour of a feel-good reel When there was a time The headlines were emblazoned Across a broadsheet Written…

September 18, 2023Missive

Sometimes it is easy

Sometimes it is easy To ignore a notification A breaking news story In favour of a feel-good reel When there was a time The headlines were emblazoned Across a broadsheet Written…

September 17, 2023Missive

Sometimes wisdom

Sometimes wisdom Stops by, Never does it linger. Pausing for a while Slipping in and out Twisting around in the space Between one thought and the next Loose limbed and Restlessly…

September 14, 2023Missive

A plush Hotel in Durham

A plush Hotel in Durham And I consider it The discovery of an effect The appetite for change The taste of fresh prawns As an appetiser In the comfortable hotel With the stylish…

September 14, 2023Missive

A plush Hotel in Durham

A plush Hotel in Durham And I consider it The discovery of an effect The appetite for change The taste of fresh prawns As an appetiser In the comfortable hotel With the stylish…

September 13, 2023Poem

I flip off my slippers

I flip off my slippers With disdain For my progression When there once was a time I would jump naked Into bed, We would. You were always of the opinion It was the best way to…

September 8, 2023Poem

Bath salts.

Bath salts. Pinched pink skin Flabby puckered faces Scrunched up against a milky sun Hunkering down into water Heavy with salts Steam rising into the chilly air Sending encrypted…

September 6, 2023Poem

RAAC

RAAC There was ever an excuse, Poor representation Is more normal than not. Pour the concrete Plug the hole Let the devil worry about the detail As by the good grace Of a generous…

September 4, 2023Poem

It is a life,

It is a life, Less demanding For the earnest schoolboy Too young for work, Discovering the country Following the tumble of a mountain stream Where it was still possible to jump…

September 2, 2023Poem

Old Durham Town.

Old Durham Town. It is a City Like no other, With its Cathedral towering high Above the river, The castle keeps guard Over everything. Prince Bishops reigned down On brow-beaten…

August 31, 2023Poem

I looked directly into the stars,

I looked directly into the stars, Deeply searching But found no answers Their counsel wisely kept. They held all the cards And kept them close, Future-proofed. I journeyed as far…

August 28, 2023Poem

There,

There, It seems the sky is blue Thickly rich with a sheen Of royal icing, Billowy clouds Drifting by in concession To variability. On a dry day The dusty path always knows its…

August 26, 2023Missive

I remember

I remember Those moments when everything seemed right There weren’t many But they were there Distinct and precious She was often involved But then that was to be expected. Rarely…

August 25, 2023Missive

Sometimes

Sometimes Of a morning After purging in the toilet Washing and shaving, If that’s what stokes you up, Looking in the mirror Has a way of grounding the best of intentions After a…

August 21, 2023Poem

The tears come easily

The tears come easily He has begun to think of them As cleansing regret His eyes were sore From a lifetime Of having seen too much There would be no going back To make changes. He…

August 19, 2023Poem

What does the wind learn

What does the wind learn In its blind rush To blow Wilder than before Pausing only to Change direction On a restless whim. A recalcitrant escapade Barely contained Never abashed…

August 18, 2023Poem

Tom knew,

Tom knew, It wasn’t the clock on the wall Nice clock though it was, He could hear the tick-tock From the far side of the room It was so quiet, He knew time was passing By the rise…

August 12, 2023Poem

It rarely happened

It rarely happened To me, But it did, Once. Confronted outside of school The crowd in a big circle Screaming, “Fight, fight, fight.” It was a misunderstanding But I had offended…

August 11, 2023Poem

I do see love

I do see love It lies in the curve of mother earth The kiss of a warm breeze After a light shower Two bodies sheltered Beneath a small umbrella Designed for one Hot steam rising…

August 2, 2023Missive

When did it get okay

When did it get okay For the doctor to ask “Are you constipated?” Just like that Without preamble How rude Iron tablets are one thing Anybody can have a deficiency It can be…

August 1, 2023Poem

Life is war

Life is war Not war There is a tendency to fight. Some poor boys die for it The less we know about it the better So say the gerrymanders Heads buried In a gunny sack Horses for…

July 29, 2023Poem

He walked the tracks

He walked the tracks At weekends Hopping from sleeper to sleeper Counting the missed beats As failure Wishing for a future Where the sky was blue The hills were green And the air…

July 28, 2023Poem

Londinium

Londinium It was always there Hidden in the fog The Romans walked by In full uniform Legions of them Whistling in the dark All decked out in battle fatigues Cute skirts and plumed…

July 27, 2023Poem

There are days and then

There are days and then There are days like these Today is a struggle I miss so much Of what was, The way we were. Our lives The things I can’t change The most difficult things To…

July 25, 2023Poem

If I could

If I could I would glide soundlessly, The thought of it, Like a hawk Eyes peeled To reveal The curve of the earth. I would see from coast to coast The hills and dales below The…

July 21, 2023Poem

Perhaps,

Perhaps, If I really was disillusioned With capitalism The consumer society The welfare state Nimbyism Corrupt politicians, religious leaders Bigots and racists I would live in a…

July 13, 2023Poem

I sit back

I sit back Facing forward I wish to see where I’m going I know where I’ve been. The train smells of bleach With a tang of pickle From the half-eaten cheese and ham sandwich On the…

July 11, 2023Poem

Onward and upward.

Onward and upward. Way back, When I was still young enough To think about the future Over a glass of scotch I remember killing a cockroach Walking across the table, He had walked…

July 7, 2023Poem

Who knows where it began

Who knows where it began They say it was before The waters rose, When people could walk over from the continent I wonder what the first settlers Thought of that In the years that…

June 24, 2023Poem

There were no stars,

There were no stars, Sitting on the steps below Eros The twinkling lights of Piccadilly Were too bright, Around the corner in Soho Where Raymond once held a revue Of ingenues and…

June 23, 2023Poem

Robber Barons

Robber Barons Oilwell fountains Run black gold red Back broken cities All laid out Landscaped bloodlines Telegraph poles Drunk on power Barely standing upright Fallen cables…

June 19, 2023Poem

I often wonder

I often wonder If you can see my soul When you gaze down From wherever it is you are. It is always dark in the corner, Sometimes I think you will spring out of the shadows, Like…

June 19, 2023Poem

I often wonder

I often wonder If you can see my soul When you gaze down From wherever it is you are. It is always dark in the corner, Sometimes I think you will spring out of the shadows, Like…

June 13, 2023Poem

A billion lost suns

A billion lost suns Countless broken planets Hopelessly endangered species Groping this way and that Searching For answers to questions Best left unanswered. Faithless flesh…

June 5, 2023Poem

There is always something

There is always something Trying to break out Of someone. Lost moments Broken promises Hearts that were never meant to be Floating in sorrow. One for the money Two for the show.…

June 1, 2023Missive

Rabbit rabbit.

Rabbit rabbit. He had the best view Probably the best job Sitting on the tractor Churning up the earth Turning up potatoes The farmer's boy A jammy, privileged son With an eye for…

June 1, 2023Poem

He had the best view

He had the best view Probably the best job Sitting on the tractor Churning up the earth Turning up potatoes The farmer's boy A jammy, privileged son With an eye for the ladies And…

May 31, 2023Poem

I look up at the sky

I look up at the sky Snow is falling Flakes flutter down into my eyes They sparkle in the melting A magical feeling One lands on the tip of your nose And we laugh The Shard looks…

May 29, 2023Poem

He was no Einstien

He was no Einstien But he had made a fortune in Bitcoin Pulled out before the truth of it Hit the headlines His cash was well hidden In offshore accounts. These days he invested…

May 29, 2023Poem

He was no Einstien

He was no Einstien But he had made a fortune in Bitcoin Pulled out before the truth of it Hit the headlines His cash was well hidden In offshore accounts. These days he invested…

May 26, 2023Missive

There is no truth to it

There is no truth to it The world is not flat There are hills everywhere It is easy to laugh, When the tide is out The white sand stretches in front Of my eyes as far as the…

May 26, 2023Missive

There is no truth to it

There is no truth to it The world is not flat There are hills everywhere It is easy to laugh, When the tide is out The white sand stretches in front Of my eyes as far as the…

May 25, 2023Poem

We carved our names

We carved our names Inside a heart Cut deep Into the bark of the old oak, The noble one At the edge Of the green woods, Where the Death Caps grow. We were always told to ward…

May 23, 2023Poem

There is life and death

There is life and death Blood and dust Love and lust, Curled up In dark corners. Crumbling buildings Cling onto the earth like limpets Souring the landscape Homes for rotting…

May 23, 2023Missive

There is life and death

There is life and death Blood and dust Love and lust, Curled up In dark corners. Crumbling buildings Cling onto the earth like limpets Souring the landscape Homes for rotting…

May 22, 2023Missive

He was tired of reading,

He was tired of reading, The book lay unopened on his lap As his head bobbed. Resting his eyes Which is what his dad used to say When he had nothing to do But wait. There was…

May 19, 2023Missive

West Ham did win.

West Ham did win. I was with madmen and crazies Who had smoked too much marijuana Injected themselves with inkblots Painted their faces in sorrow They railed at the world Laughed…

May 19, 2023Missive

I was with madmen and crazies

I was with madmen and crazies Who had smoked too much marijuana Injected themselves with inkblots Painted their faces in sorrow They railed at the world Laughed at inconsequential…

May 16, 2023Missive

The garden brushed the sea,

The garden brushed the sea, As I lay Enveloped in soft green grass Remembering a moment, A false memory, Perhaps a line of poetry, Like an island Looking up into the blue. Reason…

May 16, 2023Poem

The garden brushed the sea,

The garden brushed the sea, As I lay Enveloped in soft green grass Remembering a moment, A false memory, Perhaps a line of poetry, Like an island Looking up into the blue. Reason…

May 13, 2023Poem

The Old fella

The Old fella It is too late now The effort of a lifetime A continual process Of reinvention Piecing himself together Sticking plasters over Sealing wax Using string to prevent…

May 11, 2023Poem

As the sun begins to set

As the sun begins to set There is a pause between a Crow Giving fair warning Of its territorial right And the cacophony of Cockatoos Returning home to roost. In the sound of…

May 11, 2023Poem

The short one.

The short one. As the sun begins to set There is a pause between a Crow Giving fair warning Of its territorial right And the cacophony of Cockatoos Returning home to roost. In the…

May 8, 2023Missive

Bank holiday afternoons

Bank holiday afternoons Rarely deliver On a promise, There is a chill in the air Even though the sky is high and dry. In England The blue would be tinged with a rime of frost…

May 6, 2023Poem

He would rather be in prison

He would rather be in prison Than beneath the arches Where a battalion Of old souls and veterans Bivouac Under canvas and cardboard There is no television. The brazier he warms…

May 6, 2023Missive

He would rather be in prison

He would rather be in prison Than beneath the arches Where a battalion Of old souls and veterans Bivouac Under canvas and cardboard There is no television. The brazier he warms…

May 2, 2023Poem

Yonder is a father

Yonder is a father With laughing children A boy of two or three A girl of not much more Walking the river bank Throwing leaves into the water Playfully chasing Pooh sticks. It is…

April 27, 2023Missive

The next few days will be tricky.

The next few days will be tricky. It is everywhere In all things, Near or far. The swoop of the Red Kite The sublime speed The flurry of feathers The plummet to the ground Caught…

April 27, 2023Poem

It is everywhere

It is everywhere In all things, Near or far. The swoop of the Red Kite The sublime speed The flurry of feathers The plummet to the ground Caught before it ever really fell. The…

April 26, 2023Missive

Mum read obituaries

Mum read obituaries As she got older The Sunderland Echo Delivered by a boy To the door Pushed through the letter box The Sunday papers Often got stuck The front page torn, Wet if…

April 26, 2023Poem

Mum read obituaries

Mum read obituaries As she got older The Sunderland Echo Delivered by a boy To the door Pushed through the letter box The Sunday papers Often got stuck The front page torn, Wet if…

April 25, 2023Poem

Am I lost?

Am I lost? If I was Would I be found Squirrelled away Down in the deep Burrowed beneath the cold earth The frozen steel of it Flint hard As a stone fit to spark a fire into life…

April 21, 2023Poem

I could get lost

I could get lost Looking up Dizzying myself Following the pattern The familiarity of design The comfort in knowing the stars Will shine tomorrow Just as long as the sky is clear…

April 21, 2023Missive

I could get lost

I could get lost Looking up Dizzying myself Following the pattern The familiarity of design The comfort in knowing the stars Will shine tomorrow Just as long as the sky is clear…

April 20, 2023Missive

A rich and privileged man

A rich and privileged man Once said Out loud From a stage Before thousands of adoring souls As he kept time with his leather Bound foot “With every clap of my hands Somebody dies…

April 17, 2023Missive

Is it true to say,

Is it true to say, Is anything? Is it too exposing Is there anything left to hide What do they mean by it anyway? The people who pretend They bleed out Pouring their guts onto the…

April 17, 2023Poem

Is it true to say,

Is it true to say, Is anything? Is it too exposing Is there anything left to hide What do they mean by it anyway? The people who pretend They bleed out Pouring their guts onto the…

April 14, 2023Missive

The road has long gone

The road has long gone The trace of it lies In the weft of wildflowers The spread of an overgrown hedge The space between saplings The cut of the landscape. Once this way A road…

April 14, 2023Poem

The road has long gone

The road has long gone The trace of it lies In the weft of wildflowers The spread of an overgrown hedge The space between saplings The cut of the landscape. Once this way A road…

April 13, 2023Missive

It’s a girl.

It’s a girl. I can’t remember being born Some people say they can But that is just wishful thinking Adopting a Klienian Paranoid schizoid position The pretence of early learning…

April 10, 2023Missive

Do not confuse the poetry

Do not confuse the poetry With the man A flimsy contrived rhyme Or worse Blank verse Perhaps it is better Or is it classically inferior I know not There is always an argument…

April 10, 2023Missive

Do not confuse the poetry

Do not confuse the poetry With the man I flimsy contrived rhyme Or worse Blank verse Perhaps it is better Or is it classically inferior I know not There is always an argument…

April 5, 2023Missive

There is always discomfort

There is always discomfort An embarrassing silence Especially at night Walking the street Passing a policeman on his beat Feeling guilty for nothing Forced to look him in the eye…

April 5, 2023Missive

There is discomfort

There is discomfort An embarrassing silence Especially at night Walking the street Passing a policeman on his beat Feeling guilty for nothing Forced to look him in the eye…

April 1, 2023Poem

There is no escaping the mystery of days

There is no escaping the mystery of days Everything comes and goes A subtle exchange bound to the inevitable An inextricable link As the horns of old stags grow Just to break away…

March 31, 2023Missive

Freedom of expression.

Freedom of expression. In pre-Raphelite days Before the advent of individuality When there were Wooden ships and galley slaves And everyone was a loin cloth Away from nudity, When…

March 30, 2023Missive

He walked freely

He walked freely The hard ground Beaten flat by the feet of ancients Long since gone. All who this way passed From daybreak until the setting of the sun, Worked their way through,…

March 25, 2023Missive

There was too much noise,

There was too much noise, The rattle of people talking As rapidly as machine gun fire. He struggled to stand upright The temptation to dive into the bushes Almost overwhelming. He…

March 24, 2023Missive

A hardworking man

A hardworking man Toiling all day on the land A scythe in his hand Driving a tractor Pulling a plough Building a wall to mark the boundary A fence to keep out the fox All the…

March 24, 2023Missive

A hardworking man

A hardworking man Toiling all day on the land A scythe in his hand Driving a tractor Pulling a plough Building a wall to mark the boundary A fence to keep out the fox All the…

March 16, 2023Poem

Liverpool lost with a whimper…bloody real Madrid…

Liverpool lost with a whimper…bloody real Madrid… What would you tell me? What would you say Would I even listen Would I walk away. How would I find you If I chose to look How…

March 16, 2023Poem

The short one.

The short one. What would you tell me? What would you say Would I even listen Would I walk away? How would I find you If I chose to look How would I see you If I closed the book.…

March 15, 2023Poem

There are people who might hope

There are people who might hope For something different But it is an ordinary day, Clouds roll over Twenty-six miles From Calais to Dover They know the way. People who step off…

March 10, 2023Poem

A nod to Robert Frost…a very civil war.

A nod to Robert Frost…a very civil war. The spider barely registers The silken shiver of the web, No fly is caught It will pass on by, To be ensnared But further on, Deeper yet,…

March 8, 2023Poem

Dalton-Le-Dale

Dalton-Le-Dale There are so many tales to be told Even here in this field What does it mean to lie fallow When I can hear the rattle of sabres The clash of iron and steel The…

March 7, 2023Missive

There is nowhere to be

There is nowhere to be Other than here In the shadow of the tree, Perhaps There is nowhere to be But within the imagery. There is a whole world of history Between you and me I…

March 7, 2023Missive

There is nowhere to be

There is nowhere to be Other than here In the shadow of the tree, Perhaps There is nowhere to be But within the imagery. There is a whole world of history Between you and me I…

March 6, 2023Missive

Sometimes it is better

Sometimes it is better To keep your mouth shut To say nothing Keep your council To stay schtum Sometimes people don’t want to be told Black is white What is what. Pointing out the…

March 6, 2023Missive

Sometimes it is better

Sometimes it is better To keep your mouth shut To say nothing Keep your council To stay schtum Sometimes people don’t want to be told Black is white What is what. Pointing out the…

March 4, 2023Missive

Dog sitting

Dog sitting The dog seems happy enough To chew on a bone Held between his paws Taking his time to crack it open Enough to reach the marrow The simplicity of its pleasure A lesson…

March 3, 2023Poem

Red Roses die

Red Roses die Shrivelled and brittle Their heavy heads fallen Crunching underfoot Tinder dry The old bones of skeletal trees Pock-marked landscapes As deathly as a battlefield…

March 3, 2023Poem

Red Roses die

Red Roses die Shrivelled and brittle Their heavy heads fallen Crunching underfoot Tinder dry The old bones of skeletal trees Pock-marked landscapes As deathly as a battlefield…

March 2, 2023Poem

He was a mountain troll

He was a mountain troll And when he stepped into the pub The light from the window Was obscured What had previously been A noisily jovial room Blinked out. Six foot seven and a…

March 2, 2023Poem

He was a mountain troll

He was a mountain troll And when he stepped into the pub The light from the window Was obscured What had previously been A noisily jovial room Blinked out. Six foot seven and a…

February 21, 2023Poem

The storm is electric

The storm is electric A stampede of rain, An incessant accompaniment To the rumble of thunder The flash of lightning, Brightening the sky. Dispelling darkness. Strange silhouettes…

February 20, 2023Poem

I could have been a soldier

I could have been a soldier Who dug his own grave A boy who died Before needing a shave I could have been an author Who never was read Been the Kings taster And ended up dead Been…

February 20, 2023Poem

My second session was better.

My second session was better. I coulda, shoulda. I could have been a soldier Who dug his own grave A boy who died Before needing a shave I could have been an author Who never was…

February 14, 2023Missive

The… “It’s not a Valentine's Day poem” poem.

The… “It’s not a Valentine's Day poem” poem. I do talk Not always out loud I am not a chatterer Nothing worries me more Than being thought of as a windbag Pretty Polly Razor-bill…

February 13, 2023Poem

I have stood alone in the dark

I have stood alone in the dark The warmth of the day Not yet melted Looking up at the sky Wondering why the tail of a comet Was so very difficult to see How long before The ice…

February 11, 2023Missive

There were always wrongs

There were always wrongs Two wrongs or more Never did make things right As I cursed the injustice of bed without supper For the temerity Of saying no to Sunday school How many…

February 10, 2023Missive

Sometimes

Sometimes Even when sad, I walk, As if I have somewhere to be. There is a kind of pride in an overtaking manoeuvre The fastest kid on the block When I was a skinny little kid…

February 9, 2023Missive

There is a heaven

There is a heaven If only for the sake of poetry I discount other references as missing Out salient facts in favour of pretence. The reward for good behaviour Carrot and stick…

January 28, 2023Missive

Daily missive breaks into the weekend for Saturday the 28th of January.

“You are a natural,” she said. I’m not sure what she meant Or what she wanted me to say Did she mean that I didn’t have to work Too hard Or that things came too easily, Without…

January 26, 2023Poem

Living in France

Living in France Would suit a taste for fine wine But living in Canada would make me A bedrunken With a deathwish After only two units apparently. I wonder how that will be…

January 26, 2023Poem

Living in France,

Living in France, Would suit a taste for fine wine But living in Canada would make me A bedrunken With a death wish After only two units apparently. I wonder how that will be…

January 24, 2023Missive

I have no time for mirrors

I 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…

January 21, 2023Missive

Daily missive breaks into the weekend for Saturday the 21st of January.

“How many times have I told you” She would say “People will see what they want to see No matter what you do” Standing barefoot in a queue Waiting for coffee A beach bum Still…

January 20, 2023Missive

There is life in them,

There is life in them, The path knows its own way Taking its time to meander Listening to the footfalls Of travellers. Pushing back, Resisting the urge to rise up. The gate post…

January 19, 2023Missive

Some people are under-prepared

Some people are under-prepared Perhaps they were caught unawares Before their due date When the body was still evolving Undetermined by the passage of time Fresh-faced and…

January 19, 2023Missive

Some people are under-prepared

Some people are under-prepared Perhaps they were caught unawares Before their due date When the body was still evolving Undetermined by the passage of time Fresh-faced and…

January 18, 2023Missive

There is always something remarkable

There is always something remarkable Happening to somebody Doing something Somewhere. Even as I sit in solitude Barely visible to another living soul My mind is untethered The…

January 16, 2023Poem

There are no hearts and flowers

There are no hearts and flowers Just a stream of mucus, A slithery thread Dried onto the rumpled chin Of an old man Still smiling at the memory Of a dream he once had. Little…

January 16, 2023Poem

There are no hearts and flowers

There are no hearts and flowers Just a stream of mucus, A slithery thread Dried onto the rumpled chin Of an old man Still smiling at the memory Of a dream he once had. Little…

January 13, 2023Missive

Bigotry unbridled

Bigotry unbridled We know who, It’s not me or you It’s not the people next door Who all have good manners And never make a noise They are different to the others You know the ones…

January 12, 2023Poem

Some say they hear music

Some say they hear music When to others there is none Dancing in the meadows To the rustle of leaves The beating of an Eagles wings The carping of an old crow. There is a melody…

January 11, 2023Missive

Walk with me

Walk with me Stand ankle-deep in a rolling sea Foaming and pulling The rip of rough sand Scouring sensitive skin. Delight in the struggle to remain In one place, I will take your…

January 7, 2023Poem

There was a time

There was a time When a word here, A look there, Would have meant the world But even landscapes change In time. There is nothing to keep me now, Unencumbered by expectation…

January 7, 2023Poem

There was a time

There was a time When a word here, A look there, Would have meant the world But even landscapes change In time. There is nothing to keep me now, Unencumbered by expectation…

January 5, 2023Poem

It rained all night but it at least has stopped…for now.

It rained all night but it at least has stopped…for now. Therapeutic Liaisons I wonder what you think Of me If you trust your instinct Look at my appearance The affable facade The…

January 2, 2023Missive

I might be an open-book

I might be an open-book But I’m more than a page-turner There might be Little meat on my bones But there is heft To the weft of words Spilt across the page They may look familiar…

December 29, 2022Poem

But he was hiding under the table

But he was hiding under the table Playing peek-a-boo from behind his fingers Eating a Garibaldi Stolen from the biscuit barrel on the sideboard. Waiting for the explosion The rap…

December 29, 2022Poem

Manchester City did win. However, it was a good game.

Manchester City did win. However, it was a good game. I fell asleep whilst watching television…again. But he was hiding under the table Playing peek-a-boo from behind his fingers…

December 27, 2022Missive

So many of us are cowards,

So many of us are cowards, Queuing To look at Tigers behind bars Happy to maintain the separation Reeling from the stare The murderous intent, The silent plea for freedom The…

December 26, 2022Missive

Heroes wear beige.

Heroes wear beige. Do we really understand The human cost Fat flies circle dead meat The rotting carcass is a magnet For the scavenger The pond is drained of life When the big…

December 26, 2022Missive

Heroes wear beige.

Heroes wear beige. Do we really understand The human cost Fat flies circle dead meat The rotting carcass is a magnet For the scavenger The pond is drained of life When the big…

December 15, 2022Missive

Here I sit in numbed indolence

Here I sit in numbed indolence A book page from Keats, A nodding head away from sleep. As a beery sun froths Out of an effervescent love Of incandescence. Such enthusiasm for…

December 15, 2022Missive

France leads in the game against Morocco…deservedly so.

France leads in the game against Morocco…deservedly so. I guess that I’m no fun these days. Here I sit in numbed indolence A book page from Keats, A nodding head away from sleep.…

December 14, 2022Poem

A tin bath in the garden

A tin bath in the garden Sunk into the soil As a water feature Full of Goldfish and tadpoles. Nothing very grand Although the mosquitoes Found it did improve their chances Of…

December 14, 2022Poem

Messi is on fire.

Messi is on fire. A tin bath in the garden Sunk into the soil As a water feature Full of Goldfish and tadpoles. Nothing very grand Although the mosquitoes Found it did improve…

December 10, 2022Missive

Watch your ‘P’s” and “Q’s”

Watch your ‘P’s” and “Q’s” “Same again, please Perhaps you should just leave the bottle. It’s a big mistake to argue With a guy who believes he’s right Deep down inside I guess…

December 10, 2022Missive

Saturday the 10th of December.

“Same again, please Perhaps you should just leave the bottle. It’s a big mistake to argue With a guy who believes he’s right Deep down inside I guess there was a time Before the…

December 9, 2022Missive

Out of a mistaken

Out of a mistaken Belief in first love, The urging of peer groups The whispered pleading of a pimply virgin Who bragged of his conquests Demanding his right To sample delight for…

December 9, 2022Poem

Out of a mistaken

Out of a mistaken Belief in first love, The urging of peer groups The whispered pleading of a pimply virgin Who bragged of his conquests Demanding his right To sample delight for…

December 8, 2022Missive

It was a wet night

It was a wet night After a warm day But autumn could be like that I gave you my overcoat Draping it over your shoulders To take the edge off the cold I remember we talked about…

December 6, 2022Missive

Joe worked two jobs

Joe worked two jobs Worth of hours, Sweating hard labour On the land Six days a week Half a day on a Sunday, When he had a hot bath In front of the fire He attended the Methodist…

December 3, 2022Poem

Candlelight.

Candlelight. Light the candle Hope lies In the flickering flame Yellow fingers Clutching at straws Hay bales piled high In an old barn A hurricane lamp Waiting for a match…

December 3, 2022Poem

Candlelight.

Candlelight. Light the candle Hope lies In the flickering flame Yellow fingers Clutching at straws Hay bales piled high In an old barn A hurricane lamp Waiting for a match…

December 1, 2022Poem

The dying of every child

The dying of every child Deepens the darkness Engulfing me Grief is never understood It is endured Mothers cry in pain Fathers die in vain It happens again and again With every…

December 1, 2022Poem

War baby

War baby The dying of every child Deepens the darkness Engulfing me Grief is never understood It is endured Mothers cry in pain Fathers die in vain It happens again and again With…

November 30, 2022Missive

Why came I here?

Why came I here? Whether in mind or body Is there any knowing? Whatever the circumstance There is consequence. The road lies long Stretching out in all directions The sea ebbs and…

November 26, 2022Poem

The landing floor creaks

The landing floor creaks The stairs look bleak Disappearing down into darkness The belly of a whale Full of mud. Through the window A few stars struggle to be seen The Thames…

November 23, 2022Missive

Even with the noise of a pub

Even with the noise of a pub Full of working people Clamouring for drinks Throwing off the travails of the week Tearing open brown paper envelopes Full of old money A shower of…

November 22, 2022Missive

War room.

War room. The news is cold and bloody The camera takes me there The intimacy of pain Revealed on a smartphone Old men bend beneath the strain Of their undoing Feeling shame where…

November 22, 2022Missive

War room.

War room. The news is cold and bloody The camera takes me there The intimacy of pain Revealed on a smartphone Old men bend beneath the strain Of their undoing Feeling shame where…

November 19, 2022Missive

Sometimes the saddest things

Sometimes the saddest things Are the words least said The space between breaths The silence at the end of a sentence That makes no sense. When the journey to a hospital for tests…

November 19, 2022Missive

Sometimes the saddest things

Sometimes the saddest things Are the words least said The space between breaths The silence at the end of a sentence That makes no sense. When the journey to a hospital for tests…

November 16, 2022Poem

Somebody put a wall

Somebody put a wall On a football field A skinny boy chasing a through ball Ran into it, full tilt Split his forehead wide open. Blood stained the mortar Alongside Where a spider…

November 14, 2022Missive

Escaping is easy

Escaping is easy Not physically, We are all trapped somewhere With or without bars, Conforming to norms Rules and regulations. Outliers are banned, Rebels always drive On the…

November 14, 2022Missive

Walking blues

Walking blues Escaping is easy Not physically, We are all trapped somewhere With or without bars, Conforming to norms Rules and regulations. Outliers are banned, Rebels always…

November 11, 2022Missive

I was out walking,

I was out walking, Although in my head I was a lifetime away I was not really so very far from home. It was supposed to be spring But an anxious wind blew With a reminder of…

November 9, 2022Poem

Home thoughts of Browning.

Home thoughts of Browning. I will be here in February In the sticky humid heat An electric fan blowing, Sterile air flowing over the bones of me Tired as they are Waiting for my…

November 7, 2022Poem

They play music

They play music In the recreation room, There is an upright piano Which an old woman with blue hair And crooked fingers Sometimes plays, As well as an ancient, wooden stereogram…

November 3, 2022Poem

They walked together in the rain

They walked together in the rain Arm in arm, Two friends Not sober and neither to be judged, The last bus, long gone. The darkness weighted all about them Nailed to the ground…

November 3, 2022Poem

They walked together

They walked together Arm in arm, Two friends Not sober and neither to be judged, The last bus, long gone. The darkness weighted all about them Nailed to the ground With tent pegs.…

November 2, 2022Missive

Daily missive for Wednesday the 2nd of November.

“There is no rest,” said he “As much as I would like to believe It to be so, The ground is cold And as hard as nails No bed that I would wish to lie on There is no softness to the…

October 29, 2022Missive

You say that you love her

You say that you love her Writing poems, romantic odes Clever little sonnets With musical connotations To elevate the meaning Above the mundane, Lifting words from books Trying…

October 29, 2022Missive

You say that you love her

You say that you love her Writing poems, romantic odes Clever little sonnets With musical connotations To elevate the meaning Above the mundane, Lifting words from books Trying…

October 25, 2022Missive

The world is changed,

The world is changed, Everything improved From this comfortable seat, A garden chair on a balcony With the sun fighting to regain control Over the sky The moon, keeping a watching…

October 24, 2022Missive

What is this,

What is this, Yesterday on speed dial? Old newspapers covered in grease Stuffed into a fireplace waiting for a match Singed eyebrows, Old-style barbers, using a taper Whilst…

October 21, 2022Poem

Just not quite yet though.

Just not quite yet though. The wind is a wanderer A choir of many voices Whispering through the silence Of long cold nights Blowing over land and sea Borrowing the stories of…

October 21, 2022Poem

The wind is a wanderer

The wind is a wanderer A choir of many voices Whispering through the silence Of long cold nights Blowing over land and sea Borrowing the stories of lovers As it slips between the…

October 20, 2022Poem

Dog days and wildflowers

Dog days and wildflowers Tumble me down Through the dog days, Old tin roofs Sagging under their own weight Rust covered impressions Corrugated sheets Deathbed confessions. There’s…

October 15, 2022Missive

Suddenly,

Suddenly, From nowhere, I wondered If there actually was an Elysium And yes, of course, that would mean There would have to be a Hades I know, As if there was any logic to This…

October 14, 2022Missive

It’s not that things are difficult,

It’s not that things are difficult, Building a pyramid might be Difficult Although you have to ask for whom? The slaves who gave their lives The slavers or the designers, Perhaps…

October 11, 2022Missive

Joe sacrificed another pawn,

Joe sacrificed another pawn, His head bowed low over the board, A game of chess and a single malt Seemed to trump working In the middle of the day, The pub barely figured in his…

October 7, 2022Poem

It is October.

It is October. There is no frost south of the Equator Unless on top of a mountain Or in Antarctica where the Emperor penguins Shuffle back and forth On wide webbed feet, to stop…

October 7, 2022Poem

It is October.

It is October. There is no frost south of the Equator Unless on top of a mountain Or in Antarctica where the Emperor penguins Shuffle back and forth On wide webbed feet, to stop…

October 6, 2022Missive

There is so much to choose from

There is so much to choose from The shelves are laden with organic this, Sulphate free that Which I thought was where they were hosting The next world cup Jeux sans Frontieres If…

October 6, 2022Missive

There is so much to choose from

There is so much to choose from The shelves are laden with organic this, Sulphate free that Which I thought was where they were hosting The next world cup Jeux sans Frontieres If…

September 29, 2022Poem

An old man and the sea.

An old man and the sea. Did once you look so different? As ageless as time The passing of years Writ in deep-grained lines Painted there for as long as I can remember The weft of…

September 29, 2022Poem

The crows are in good voice…caw…caw…

The crows are in good voice…caw…caw… An old man and the sea. Did once you look so different? As ageless as time The passing of years Writ in deep-grained lines Painted there for…

September 28, 2022Poem

And so we sailed

And so we sailed Out of Aegina, imagined we, as brave As ancient Ulysses An epic odyssey Where the best of us found divinity At one with the ocean Your eyes, as green as emeralds…

September 24, 2022Poem

Somewhere,

Somewhere, Along the byways and highways The wonder of things impacts, Tearing through layers of perception Misguided notions of temperament The anger of loss The way the earth…

September 24, 2022Poem

Somewhere,

Somewhere, Along the byways and highways The wonder of things impacts, Tearing through layers of perception Misguided notions of temperament The anger of loss The way the earth…

September 14, 2022Missive

There were some people

There were some people I may have known as friends, Even though their uneven presence Through the hard times begs to differ, Who called upon me to lean further Than the edge. To…

September 10, 2022Poem

Uncivil War.

Uncivil War. In a quiet wood As the apple blossom falls The sun setting, bloody red Dancing shadows play, Filtered through low-hung branches A myriad of flaming petals Spiralling…

September 8, 2022Poem

I will take you there

I will take you there It will be a better place Free from doubt and pain Where tall trees sing, Swing together In harmony. Grass will grow greener The crops will be bountiful and…

September 8, 2022Missive

I will take you there

I will take you there It will be a better place Free from doubt and pain Where tall trees sing, Swing together In harmony. Grass will grow greener The crops will be bountiful and…

September 6, 2022Missive

Do we sing?

Do we sing? I believe we did Perhaps it was a state of mind An awareness of the world People introject ideas, Adopt attitudes and beliefs from what they experience Around them…

September 6, 2022Missive

Do we sing?

Do we sing? I believe we did Perhaps it was a state of mind An awareness of the world People introject ideas, Adopt attitudes and beliefs from what they experience Around them…

September 5, 2022Missive

I rest,

I rest, On an ancient barrow The mound is firm and cold The grass, green and lush My mother would have warned me About the stains on my trousers Never coming out in the wash. The…

September 5, 2022Missive

I rest,

I rest, On an ancient barrow The mound is firm and cold The grass, green and lush My mother would have warned me About the stains on my trousers Never coming out in the wash. The…

September 1, 2022Poem

The old-new world.

The old-new world. How can it be right To say That the earth is washed clean When it rains All kinds of irredeemable scrap And useless crap Strewn all over the place Filthy bags…

September 1, 2022Poem

The old-new world.

The old-new world. How can it be right To say That the earth is washed clean When it rains All kinds of irredeemable scrap And useless crap Strewn all over the place Filthy bags…

August 24, 2022Missive

The tomb of the unknown publisher.

The tomb of the unknown publisher. Would it please you to know That I can picture you? With more than a pinch of vanity in the pronouncement How do I know there is even a ‘you’ It…

August 24, 2022Missive

The tomb of the unknown publisher.

The tomb of the unknown publisher. Would it please you to know That I can picture you? With more than a pinch of vanity in the pronouncement How do I know there is even a ‘you’ It…

August 23, 2022Missive

It was easier to remain

It was easier to remain In quiet contemplation At the nature of separation Without the encumbrance Of a connection, broken or otherwise, At least that is what she told herself In…

August 16, 2022Poem

She comes,

She comes, Under the cover of sleep Dusting me with magic Sometimes hiding in shadows As deep as any stygian mire A spring of endless proportion, Not a refreshment of choice,…

August 12, 2022Poem

Secret thoughts

Secret thoughts Pushed to the back of the mind Where for a moment a loved one is hated Taboo and Ballyhoo Streams of consciousness Creating a new world With nobody in it Where the…

August 11, 2022Missive

Ridley Road Market.

Ridley Road Market. There were always rats Scratting for scraps Even on cold mornings Fighting each other for the right To plunder from under the meat stall Where the tarmac runs…

August 10, 2022Poem

I have forgotten midnight

I have forgotten midnight Other than in shadow When a misty light splutters From the humidifier in the corner The air as dry as sticks, Crackling with the energy Of an electric…

August 9, 2022Poem

Upon entering

Upon entering There is commotion The air whorls with anxiety Pressure fluctuations Changing the ambience Tilting the balance The resistance to change The withdrawal of connection…

August 9, 2022Poem

Upon entering

Upon entering There is commotion The air whorls with anxiety Pressure fluctuations Changing the ambience Tilting the balance The resistance to change The withdrawal of connection…

August 4, 2022Poem

Locked into a future never reached

Locked into a future never reached The present, gone in a moment Only the past remains As an accompaniment Barely an accomplishment for revisionists When individualists take…

August 2, 2022Missive

Sometimes when I look at the page

Sometimes when I look at the page It is empty, Well I tell a lie It is not a page Not nowadays It is a screen But it is still empty There is a Bee on the ground Just a few feet…

August 1, 2022Poem

Psycho-fascist facsimile.

Psycho-fascist facsimile. What is it about you and power Little man So angry when aroused By the thought of being ignored Secret swastika Tattooed with invisible ink Hidden from…

August 1, 2022Poem

England versus Germany…

England versus Germany… Psycho-fascist facsimile. What is it about you and power Little man So angry when aroused By the thought of being ignored Secret swastika Tattooed with…

July 27, 2022Poem

What of it now old man?

What of it now old man? Reflections can lie Unless they are surprises Catching the unwary, ill-prepared. Forgetting is an art form, Misunderstood, It is perfected by the ageing,…

July 25, 2022Poem

There is a distance

There is a distance A space filled with expectation A wonder of imagination Wrapped in a thick blanket Warmed by the touch of soft skin The hairs on the back of my neck sing There…

July 23, 2022Poem

When sleep comes

When sleep comes There is always a wailing An unmet need The stripping of flesh Old bones clamouring for life Shoulder blades that once were wings Empty eye sockets Wet with tears…

July 22, 2022Missive

The sea lies picture still

The sea lies picture still Flecked by sunlight, painted by a godly hand My chin resting on the wooden rail I can feel the grain How many have sat here before me Gazing out into…

July 19, 2022Poem

White noise.

White noise. And there was snow A dusting of it Blown softly like white sand across a beach Flour from an airtight tin Poured out into a bowl A little puff, a blowback into the…

July 19, 2022Poem

Kora’s birthday tomorrow…

Kora’s birthday tomorrow… White noise. And there was snow A dusting of it Blown softly like white sand across a beach Flour from an airtight tin Poured out into a bowl A little…

July 16, 2022Missive

I thought if only we were dreamers

I thought if only we were dreamers Freedom would be easy If the truth was only heard Then so it would be… But I am still a prisoner of the haunting Too many times waiting For the…

July 15, 2022Missive

I ran aground on a traffic island

I ran aground on a traffic island Just another passenger The driver said he was as sober as a judge Who knew they were all on the sauce I was a pirate from Penzance Watching from…

July 14, 2022Missive

It is strange to think about walking away

It is strange to think about walking away As an escape from consequence When there is nothing Left to leave But an image Burned into empty eyes that once were full An oasis of…

July 13, 2022Missive

It seemed like a long way

It seemed like a long way Walking to the shops for groceries With a note in my pocket And a few coins…I never held paper money Until I was older Mother’s little soldier She cried…

July 13, 2022Missive

Gunlaw

Gunlaw It seemed like a long way Walking to the shops for groceries With a note in my pocket And a few coins…I never held paper money Until I was older Mother’s little soldier She…

July 9, 2022Poem

You were never more beautiful,

You were never more beautiful, Memory flares in recognition The soft folds of summer Enveloped in the warmth Of a blissful moment As the variegated leaves Of a thousand trees…

July 6, 2022Missive

There are no open hands

There are no open hands They were always closed fists Even without gloves No welcome was ever freely given Freedom was never truly won We are all prisoners of conscience At the…

July 4, 2022Missive

The woman looked formidable

The woman looked formidable Even on a hot day She wore a cashmere coat, long and dark With an Astrakan collar, An ermine stole over her shoulders A Philip Treacy hat sat atop her…

July 2, 2022Poem

They walk to work together,

They walk to work together, Friends since childhood Fifteen proud men, still young Though growing older by the day He knows they will be friends until they die Nobody knows when…

July 2, 2022Poem

They walk to work together,

They walk to work together, Friends since childhood Fifteen proud men, still young Though growing older by the day He knows they will be friends until they die Nobody knows when…

July 1, 2022Missive

What do you do?

What do you do? He asked It seemed quite an innocuous question The sort of thing you say, Whilst standing in an A380 lounge bar Next to a stranger At 39 thousand feet All wobbly…

June 29, 2022Missive

I am a wanderer

I am a wanderer Flitting from place to place A Magpie Picking up crumbs of comfort From wherever they may fall It is rare to see a Magpie on his own I teeny bit unlucky Perhaps I…

June 28, 2022Missive

A loud drunk sat on a stool,

A loud drunk sat on a stool, Tufty hair and uncultured stubble Peaking from his nostrils, sprouting on his chin, Barely able to look himself in the eye Addressing the bar as if he…

June 20, 2022Poem

Give me a reason

Give me a reason To remain earthbound When so much happens Outside of the realm of the everyday, I heard you say, At least I thought it was you Until the truth dawned, Not as…

June 18, 2022Poem

And as you lie,

And as you lie, Deer tread lightly through the fern Making tasty nibbles Of store-bought flowers left by sad-faced people Squirrels play Over, under, in and out Running around…

June 18, 2022Poem

How annoying.

How annoying. And as you lie, Deer tread lightly through the fern Making tasty nibbles Of store-bought flowers left by sad-faced people Squirrels play Over, under, in and out…

June 17, 2022Poem

So many enlightened souls

So many enlightened souls Wait until their loved ones fall asleep, Worn out from the vigil Tirelessly trying to garner every last drop Of comfort from a finger squeeze The…

June 15, 2022Poem

So many people follow spit

So many people follow spit And polished soldiers On a walk down the Mall, Wearing papier-mache masks Waving to the gallery As quaint and appealing as an English summer fete A…

June 14, 2022Missive

He sat at a quiet table in the corner

He sat at a quiet table in the corner In the shade of a large Monstera Where waxy leaves cast intricate shadows Over a pristine white tablecloth Without a hint of a crease…

June 10, 2022Missive

It is strange what we make of the world

It is strange what we make of the world Different people finding their own way Some of us stop occasionally to listen to A bee humming, warm waves lapping Gently erasing the…

June 10, 2022Missive

It is strange what we make of the world

It is strange what we make of the world Different people finding their own way Some of us stop occasionally to listen to A bee humming, warm waves lapping Gently erasing the…

June 9, 2022Missive

Did you see him as he drifted

Did you see him as he drifted From one place to another? A chubby-faced child danced happily With a jubilee balloon on a stick Naked as a cherub, other than a pair of grubby pants…

June 8, 2022Missive

Whatever you do

Whatever you do Never get that idea into your head, You know the one That some guy, whatever he looks like Maybe one of those skinny dudes With the grey streaks in his hair And a…

June 8, 2022Missive

Whatever you do

Whatever you do Never get that idea into your head, You know the one That some guy, whatever he looks like Maybe one of those skinny dudes With the grey streaks in his hair And a…

June 7, 2022Poem

Camden Lock… revisited in June 2022.

Camden Lock… revisited in June 2022. When the moon is full Blood red or chalk white Both visible, inseparable Together and apart The air warm, seeped in memory Hushed with…

June 7, 2022Poem

When the moon is full

When the moon is full Blood red or chalk white Both visible, inseparable Together and apart The air warm, seeped in memory Hushed with anticipation Of an awakening There is a…

June 3, 2022Missive

I sit in a pub in Islington

I sit in a pub in Islington Not a stone's throw from the Angel Where Tom Paine used his common sense To avoid an uncomfortable Moment in an age of reason When his barroom treatise…

June 3, 2022Missive

The Angel Islington 2022.

The Angel Islington 2022. I sit in a pub in Islington Not a stone's throw from the Angel Where Tom Paine used his common sense To avoid an uncomfortable Moment in an age of reason…

June 1, 2022Missive

At last, I found some shelter

At last, I found some shelter Wandering through jaded halls An old precinct in need of a makeover An escape from the rain A refuge from another storm Filled, as it was, with…

June 1, 2022Missive

Whoops almighty.

Whoops almighty. Shopping mall death knell. With a nod to WB Yeats. At last, I found some shelter Wandering through jaded halls An old precinct in need of a makeover An escape…

May 31, 2022Poem

2022-05-31

The City of Culture was won by Bradford…I knew it would be…even though Durham has so much reason to be chosen it doesn’t actually have a large cultural mix, other than the…

May 31, 2022Poem

Faith no more.

Faith no more. For no particular reason, I can recall Other than it was a Sunday, Raining and I was hungry I stepped into what looked like a nice clean restaurant Not long opened,…

May 28, 2022Poem

It must have been cold

It must have been cold Standing in the dark Beneath a northern sky Building up the fire to keep warm Somebody said we lived in a bell jar They had read it in a book Which sounded…

May 26, 2022Missive

We build our histories

We build our histories Formalise our structures The past we give ourselves So contingent on our opinion The heft of self-delusion The weight of our decisions The baring of the…

May 26, 2022Missive

We build our histories

We build our histories Formalise our structures The past we give ourselves So contingent on our opinion The heft of self-delusion The weight of our decisions The baring of the…

May 23, 2022Missive

Sometimes I catch myself thinking

Sometimes I catch myself thinking Of other people and different faces The familiarity of other places Would that I could hold on to these thoughts But they slip away so easily As…

May 20, 2022Poem

I walk the same path every day

I walk the same path every day Sometimes it rains Big fat heavy drops soaking through A fairweather hoodie Fashion trainers are no match for a heavy downpour Sodden feet are not a…

May 19, 2022Poem

I am not a bad man

I am not a bad man Not in my heart Sometimes I even hear the bluebirds sing Wake up to the day with a smile Look out for my neighbour Rather than hurrying off the other way I…

May 17, 2022Poem

Slapstick and roadkill

Slapstick and roadkill Eyes water, stomachs hurt Bladders empty prematurely Sliding down from a seat Rolling in the aisles Dissolving into tears of joy But to describe laughter as…

May 16, 2022Poem

It is a living thing

It is a living thing Moving slowly, stirring the mud Never clear enough to see through Slipping through dirty fingers Sifting out treasures Washed up brooches, bloated floaters…

May 13, 2022Poem

The last of the summer’s wine.

The last of the summer’s wine. As evening turns into night The sound of laughter carries with it The smell of beer From the pub on the corner He can picture the loneliness Of…

May 13, 2022Poem

The last of the summer’s wine.

The last of the summer’s wine. As evening turns into night The sound of laughter carries with it The smell of beer From the pub on the corner He can picture the loneliness Of…

May 11, 2022Poem

Sometimes when I’m dreaming

Sometimes when I’m dreaming I climb a high mountain Which is often a staircase Or resembles a building Maybe the Shard or the Eiffel Tower The air is sweet with no need for an…

May 11, 2022Poem

Sometimes when I’m dreaming

Sometimes when I’m dreaming I climb a high mountain Which is often a staircase Or resembles a building Maybe the Shard or the Eiffel Tower The air is sweet with no need for an…

May 7, 2022Poem

It had taken many years

It had taken many years But now he could sit quietly On a grassy bank Overlooking the estuary All morning Without feeling a hint of guilt Barely a smidgeon of sadness, A pinch of…

May 5, 2022Poem

Nothing stirred but the senses

Nothing stirred but the senses As the child stood The door flung wide Maybe not a time for the somnambulist this cold night ‘Whisht now…go back to bed.’ Gently said His mother…

May 4, 2022Poem

I love you my darling and miss you every single day.

I love you my darling and miss you every single day. I made it through another bad day in one piece. You were there In the fresh warmth of a shower The clean cotton smell of a…

May 4, 2022Poem

You were there

You were there In the fresh warmth of a shower The clean cotton smell of a newly made bed The first cup of coffee, almost black Richly flavoured The taste of salt on the wind…

April 30, 2022Missive

It is only the old men who read newspapers

It is only the old men who read newspapers In the shade, out of the sun Over coffee and a bacon sandwich Everybody else seems to browse a screen Even as they talk, distractedly…

April 29, 2022Poem

Happy birthday to you Soren…

Happy birthday to you Soren… I am doing okay, just the one beer. I missed you both today. Pardon my sorrow It does not mean a lack of appreciation For all that is beheld, Nothing…

April 29, 2022Poem

Pardon my sorrow

Pardon my sorrow It does not mean a lack of appreciation For all that is beheld, Nothing is further from the centre Of an honest reflection, It is in the hollow of absence Where…

April 27, 2022Poem

Does beauty ever fade

Does beauty ever fade As old days sail by Perhaps it merely changes Evolving through the ages As the sun sets, a different hue The reds and golds of a fiery sky Breaking into…

April 25, 2022Missive

There is a coldness to the sun

There is a coldness to the sun The way it burns a hole in the sky Unrelenting in its implacability We were told it was our friend To get out into it Let it shine upon us, play out…

April 22, 2022Missive

What of these soft and fluffy

What of these soft and fluffy Clouds that hang Like the cotton wool balls A child would glue into a diorama The edges frayed, bleeding into the blue An impressionist painting of a…

April 22, 2022Missive

What of these soft and fluffy

What of these soft and fluffy Clouds that hang Like the cotton wool balls A child would glue into a diorama The edges frayed, bleeding into the blue An impressionist painting of a…

April 20, 2022Poem

This is not a protest sing along

This is not a protest sing along When will it end The continuity of vitriol The hollow disregard for innocence We were all a little mad Even as I sat waiting at the station For…

April 20, 2022Poem

It’s not a protest sing along

It’s not a protest sing along When will it end The continuity of vitriol The hollow disregard for innocence We were all a little mad Even as I sat waiting at the station For the…

April 18, 2022Poem

Moment by moment

Moment by moment If there was just one moment The trigger pulled The bomb exploding The world ending The eagle diving down Toward its prey With nary a thought for anything else…

April 15, 2022Poem

Mr Sugarman and the schoolroom

Mr Sugarman and the schoolroom It is a strange pronouncement To recall a school hall As an amphitheatre Of cavernous proportion As I sit, a parent Preparing to face a teacher With…

April 14, 2022Poem

I thought on it

I thought on it Alone on the sofa Gazing out across the room Through the window Into the distance Past the cherry tree How long ago it was planted So many dreams we all have had…

April 14, 2022Poem

I thought on it

I thought on it Alone on the sofa Gazing out across the room Through the window Into the distance Past the cherry tree How long ago it was planted So many dreams we all have had…

April 12, 2022Poem

Daily missive for Tuesday the 12th of April.

‘There is never just one way to look at things’ I can still hear you say it As we sat at an outside table, breathing in fumes From the infernal combustion engines Idling at the…

April 11, 2022Missive

Are we indeed higher forms

Are we indeed higher forms When so little has improved In the way we interact Gloating over misfortune Has such a very checkered history The Collesium was sold out For years Every…

April 11, 2022Missive

Are we indeed higher forms

Are we indeed higher forms When so little has improved In the way we interact Gloating over misfortune Has such a very checkered history The Collesium was sold out For years Every…

April 6, 2022Poem

There were Flowering Cherry trees

There were Flowering Cherry trees On Sewardstone Road Bordering the Hackney side of Victoria park They presaged summer Everything seemed brighter when they bloomed The sun blinked…

April 4, 2022Poem

Today there is heavy rain

Today there is heavy rain What good is it to me Or anyone else Driving winds blow everything Down the hill Toward the sea The water running with vicious intent Shoes were never…

April 2, 2022Missive

Move on people…nothing to see here…

Move on people…nothing to see here… The last sentence reminds me of that old Baz Lurman song ‘sunscreen’ The public bar If I gaze too long Looking down into the glaze on the table…

April 2, 2022Poem

The public bar

The public bar If I gaze too long Looking down into the glaze on the table Walnutty with smokey flecks Ring stains from whisky glasses That could have been mine Wishing time away…

April 1, 2022Poem

Lift me up

Lift me up One last time Carry me out Roll me over your heads The way football crowds used to do Behind the goal on the terraces When little scamps were caught in the crush Gently…

March 31, 2022Missive

Will a day come

Will a day come When I am read to by a stranger Head tilted forward Jaw hanging open Spittle forming a silvery path Down onto manmade fibre Barely conscious of a change In the…

March 30, 2022Poem

She sat alone

She sat alone A lady in black In an empty church Head bent in prayer Knees close together Hands clasped The skin across her knuckles stretched so tight It was as white as bone One…

March 29, 2022Missive

Conrad’s apocalypse now.

Conrad’s apocalypse now. With a few words of Conrad keeping me company It was humid the sweat pumping The muddy beach shimmering All the way to the sea which looked Worn out from…

March 29, 2022Missive

With a few words of Conrad keeping me company

With a few words of Conrad keeping me company It was humid the sweat pumping The muddy beach shimmering All the way to the sea which looked Worn out from all the effort it took To…

March 26, 2022Missive

I move less by chance

I move less by chance Than by design In parallel to the action With a veneer of separation intact Ever the observer Never the participant Those days long gone Consigned to the…

March 26, 2022Missive

I move less by chance

I move less by chance Than by design In parallel to the action With a veneer of separation intact Ever the observer Never the participant Those days long gone Consigned to the…

March 25, 2022Poem

Sweat stained walking

Sweat stained walking Counting the steps Everyday rituals Holding the ragged edges together Breaking into the future Ripping through the fabric Bordered with threadbare dreams…

March 23, 2022Missive

Sometimes in the afternoon

Sometimes in the afternoon When my head begins to nod The outside world impregnates The solitude of an empty brain with wildlife Without any need for recreational drugs Or…

March 22, 2022Missive

What is it about people

What is it about people Who want clean-cut answers When all the edges are blurred Who forget patriots might love their country But still may not be right It is such a small world…

March 22, 2022Missive

What is it about people

What is it about people Who want clean-cut answers When all the edges are blurred Who forget patriots might love their country But still may not be right It is such a small world…

March 21, 2022Poem

Sitting by the ocean

Sitting by the ocean A brisk breeze Lifting gritty sand into the air To nestle among tousled strands Of sea wet hair Where it irritates and itches Scraping hard against the scalp…

March 18, 2022Poem

I didn’t stack up on breakfast I was just not in the mood…

I didn’t stack up on breakfast I was just not in the mood… I will ask her though. If you asked about the night How was it What about it made My blood run warm The beating drum…

March 18, 2022Poem

If you asked about the night

If you asked about the night How was it What about it made My blood run warm The beating drum that was my heart Carefully lifted Held with the tenderness You would afford a…

March 17, 2022Poem

Did we meet when

Did we meet when You were living Passing on the street As the crowds stood by Waving flags as epitaphs For the last of us to die, Who will be left sitting On a hillside looking…

March 15, 2022Missive

Is there a reason for it

Is there a reason for it What do you think? Some people develop rubber necks Wag sponge tongues Talk in empty soundbites or paraphrase A juicy tabloid, feeding tidbits to the…

March 14, 2022Missive

Every day I walk

Every day I walk Strange it is, after so many years To see the same faces On different bodies Worried frowns of newborns Propped up in buggies As young mothers run off the weight…

March 12, 2022Missive

Putting on the Ritz

Putting on the Ritz It is the violin As close to a mood as an instrument Pulling the heartstrings The sorrowful urge to listen The chatter of background noise A prelude to awkward…

March 11, 2022Poem

There was a moment when the sun shone

There was a moment when the sun shone In glorious disguise of summer Briefly breaking through a liquid sky Almost falling in its haste to brighten A sorry morning Soggy from wet…

March 11, 2022Poem

There was a moment when the sun shone

There was a moment when the sun shone In a glorious disguise of summer Briefly breaking through a liquid sky Almost falling in its haste to brighten A sorry morning Soggy from wet…

March 10, 2022Poem

Would that I laid hands to pacify

Would that I laid hands to pacify Whenever there was a need Some say I have the gift Whatever that may be But so many need attending Pain and suffering abound I can only look upon…

March 10, 2022Poem

Would that I laid hands to pacify

Would that I laid hands to pacify Whenever there was a need Some say I have the gift Whatever that may be But so many need attending Pain and suffering abound I can only look upon…

March 7, 2022Missive

A storm has come.

A storm has come. I can hear the rain See it fall There is comfort in it when we are dry The sky is heavily overburdened With the weight of water Everything dull battleship grey…

March 5, 2022Poem

Teaspoons

Teaspoons Outside the leaves are falling The nights roll in Before the day is done There are pictures on the sideboard Blues skies with sunny smiles A drawer full of used…

March 5, 2022Poem

Teaspoons?

Teaspoons? Outside the leaves are falling The nights roll in Before the day is done There are pictures on the sideboard Blues skies with sunny smiles A drawer full of used…

March 4, 2022Poem

There was a night, long ago

There was a night, long ago When he drank whisky from the bottle Until his eyes were red Although justified in terms of sadness It was a kind of madness How quickly could he…

March 4, 2022Missive

There was a night, long ago

There was a night, long ago When he drank whisky from the bottle Until his eyes were red Although justified in terms of sadness It was a kind of madness How quickly could he…

March 2, 2022Poem

All the lights were out on Russia Lane

All the lights were out on Russia Lane It was just a coincidence Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood Was still open Homeless men stood in the shadows Arguing about Karl Marx…

March 1, 2022Missive

In loss and welter

In loss and welter Ignorant of consequence Victims of betrayal There were rows of dreams Laid out to dry Hungover Like old-timers trying to sleep Whilst draped across clotheslines…

March 1, 2022Missive

In loss and welter

In loss and welter Ignorant of consequence Victims of betrayal There were rows of dreams Laid out to dry Hungover Like old-timers trying to sleep Whilst draped across clotheslines…

February 28, 2022Poem

Everything stops

Everything stops With a hug Except for the beating of hearts Pounding in chest cavities Finding a rhythm The earliest music No wonder the drummer Is at the heart of things War and…

February 28, 2022Poem

Everything stops

Everything stops With a hug Except for the beating of hearts Pounding in chest cavities Finding a rhythm The earliest music No wonder the drummer Is at the heart of things War and…

February 26, 2022Poem

As I once stood

As I once stood Bleached white in the darkness Fading into the colour Of morning The Northwind blowing Imagining the snow Where once we stood Whipped into mounds Powdered stone…

February 26, 2022Poem

As I once stood

As I once stood Bleached white in the darkness Fading into the colour Of morning The Northwind blowing Imagining the snow Where once we stood Whipped into mounds Powdered stone…

February 24, 2022Missive

It is strange to sit here

It is strange to sit here Remembering the touch of your hand Resting upon my arm as we walked, The smell of China Town in the rain The noise of traffic on Shaftesbury Avenue So…

February 23, 2022Poem

Or perhaps I won’t. My call.

Or perhaps I won’t. My call. The boy who waits To carry the books Spending an hour in front of a mirror Practising the words to use As he greets her The man who wears nail varnish…

February 23, 2022Poem

Modern love

Modern love The boy who waits To carry the books Spending an hour in front of a mirror Practising the words to use As he greets her The man who wears nail varnish On his pinky To…

February 22, 2022Poem

Rain slips through my fingers

Rain slips through my fingers But slaps down hard Upon my head There is no escape For the Albatross But all the other birds Seek shelter from the storm They have to clear a space…

February 22, 2022Poem

Rain slips through my fingers

Rain slips through my fingers But slaps down hard Upon my head There is no escape For the Albatross But all the other birds Seek shelter from the storm They have to clear a space…

February 21, 2022Poem

It takes a little while

It takes a little while But as the dark shadow hidden In the corner Before the sun has risen Becomes a chest of drawers I come to realise The voice I heard, The deep baritone…

February 21, 2022Poem

It takes a little while

It takes a little while But as the dark shadow hidden In the corner Before the sun comes up Becomes a chest of drawers I come to realise The voice I heard, The deep baritone…

February 17, 2022Poem

Does the grieving widow

Does the grieving widow See the blue sky Welcome it with the morning She wishes it were so When last she looked The daffodils were as tall As they would ever be Waving across the…

February 15, 2022Poem

A walk through the ward

A walk through the ward Is always akin to a promenade Without a parasol Or the eye of an artist Deadman walking Privates on parade The new boy Barely out of short trousers Wearing…

February 14, 2022Poem

She sits in a straight-backed chair

She sits in a straight-backed chair At a table facing the door China teapot steaming Another cup waiting A Polly-wally-doodle dog, With kind eyes and a soft tongue Hanging out Of…

February 12, 2022Missive

Caravan adventures

Caravan adventures Why did we go to Crimdon Dene To sit on a clifftop In a caravan Rain battering down all day long, With the sound of it An artillery barrage, We were a platoon…

February 11, 2022Missive

The luxury apartment block

The luxury apartment block The hall was as hot and humid As a Turkish bath Or a steam room in Soho Where cadaverous men Fully paunched with whisky veins Snaking over bulbous noses…

February 9, 2022Poem

Where is he now?

Where is he now? The dirt-faced man With the scrubby beard Worn grey from exposure Thick as wire Entwined in nasal hair Spotted with sauce from A bacon sandwich too salty For…

February 4, 2022Poem

I love you Kora.

I love you Kora. The devil rides on horseback As the poor boy works the land There never was an angel In the gloaming Nor the lights of a multitude Winding through the twilight…

February 4, 2022Poem

Feudal serfdom

Feudal serfdom The devil rides on horseback As the poor boy works the land There never was an angel In the gloaming Nor the lights of a multitude Winding through the twilight…

January 29, 2022Poem

When he enters

When he enters In the darkness In those brief moments Before the flare of brightness From the ceiling lights The bookcase looks as he remembers Over-stuffed with well-thumbed…

January 27, 2022Missive

Some days are not to be remembered

Some days are not to be remembered Not everything is worth the trouble Of recall A blind man drills a hole in the wall That awful jagged high-pitched sound That cuts right through…

January 27, 2022Missive

Some days are not to be remembered

Some days are not to be remembered Not everything is worth the trouble Of recall A blind man drills a hole in the wall That awful jagged high-pitched sound That cuts right through…

January 20, 2022Poem

There is no morning dew

There is no morning dew In my domain Tim might steal it Away from Bonnie Leave it all a wasteland Picking up the pieces in a storm Fighting for the right To call you mine When…

January 20, 2022Poem

I will have a better day tomorrow

I will have a better day tomorrow There is no morning dew In my domain Tim might steal it Away from Bonnie Leave it all a wasteland Picking up the pieces in a storm Fighting for…

January 17, 2022Missive

The girl from Nottingham

The girl from Nottingham With her flattened vowels That speak of ancient legends Written in the blood Of indentured men and women Perpetuating myths of ancient Avalon The spirit…

January 17, 2022Missive

The girl from Nottingham

The girl from Nottingham With her flattened vowels That speak of ancient legends Written in the blood Of indentured men and women Perpetuating myths of ancient Avalon The spirit…

January 11, 2022Missive

The train may never pass

The train may never pass This way again How long will it be Before the whistle is blown On this moment of rehabilitation The warning horn sounds As the crossing gates close I…

January 10, 2022Missive

Nothing is revealed

Nothing is revealed In the blankness of a stare Where are you hiding? There is a whole world Lying behind the eyes When did I realise If I ever did That lonely birds sing The same…

January 10, 2022Missive

But of course I am senile. I forgot.

But of course I am senile. I forgot. Nothing is revealed In the blankness of a stare Where are you hiding? There is a whole world Lying behind the eyes When did I realise If I…

January 8, 2022Missive

If God is a construct

If God is a construct Devised by wise thinkers Sitting around a campfire Newly established, To ward off predators Skulking in the shadows, To give meaning To the randomness of…

January 8, 2022Missive

If God is a construct

If God is a construct Devised by wise thinkers Sitting around a campfire Newly established, To ward off predators Skulking in the shadows, To give meaning To the randomness of…

January 6, 2022Poem

Holding on

Holding on Bleached white talons Old-boned fleshless fingers Flayed of feeling Clasped tightly to the railing It is not the heart that flutters But the failure of the body To take…

January 6, 2022Poem

Holding on

Holding on Bleached white talons Old-boned fleshless fingers Flayed of feeling Clasped tightly to the railing It is not the heart that flutters But the failure of the body To take…

January 5, 2022Missive

Therapeutic Liaisons

Therapeutic Liaisons I wonder what you think Of me If you trust your instinct Look at my appearance The affable facade The urbane refinement, Ready smile The way I listen to your…

January 5, 2022Missive

Therapeutic Liaisons

Therapeutic Liaisons I wonder what you think Of me If you trust your instinct Look at my appearance The affable facade The urbane refinement, Ready smile The way I listen to your…

January 4, 2022Poem

It takes so little

It takes so little Hunched over a glass Full of bitterness A smell can conjure up an invention. A delusion of grand design A fawning distant memory As real as a waft of Chanel In…

January 4, 2022Poem

There are so many things

There are so many things Imprinted on the soul Still lives, Soft fruit overflowing Onto a walnut table Scenes from an imaginary western Playing chopsticks on an upright piano In a…

January 4, 2022Poem

It was a good day.

It was a good day. I still missed Kora Back in the day, she would have loved those waves. It takes so little Hunched over a glass Full of bitterness A smell can conjure up an…

January 3, 2022Poem

Liverpool was thoroughly outplayed by Brentford this morning.

Liverpool was thoroughly outplayed by Brentford this morning. Photograph courtesy of Londonist The leaves are long gone The grass frostbitten. In the sweep of the path, There is…

January 3, 2022Poem

There are hearts

There are hearts Interwoven with expert hands Pulling ragged edges closer together, Love embroidered into every stitch There is no separation Even as North winds blow A kiss of…

January 3, 2022Poem

Photograph courtesy of Londonist

Photograph courtesy of Londonist The leaves are long gone The grass frostbitten. In the sweep of the path There is the sculpt of a thousand feet, Shuffling onward Into the old…

January 1, 2022Missive

Happy New Year

Happy New Year Well not so much a party As a barbecue The guests were slow cooking Why would anybody go-ahead With an afternoon soiree Without air-conditioning Thirty-five degrees…

January 1, 2022Missive

Well not so much a party

Well not so much a party As a barbeque The guests were slow cooking Why would anybody go-ahead With an afternoon soiree Without air-conditioning Thirty-five degrees of…

December 28, 2021Poem

Is there a reason…

Is there a reason… For wishing people harm Laughing at misfortune Sharing secrets to the world Breaking someone’s trust To feel powerful Posting a live feed of an accident…

December 27, 2021Poem

My back hurts a little.

My back hurts a little. Even the Possum looked up The Carpet Python paused Mid-constriction As still as an enthusiastic tweeny Playing statues For what might be the last time, As…

December 23, 2021Missive

Twelve years old

Twelve years old Hanging around the kitchen Getting underfoot Pleading to be noticed Fingering the houseplants Squeezing leaves Poking the soil Checking if they need water When…

December 14, 2021Poem

Have I…

Have I… Sat too long in the midst of things Languishing in life’s clamour Inhaling the smell of bustle Expensive cologne, cheap deodorant The yellow stain Of hard earned sweat The…

December 13, 2021Missive

There was no age of reason

There was no age of reason Or period of enlightenment Political discourse Open debate or philosophical jousting Beyond a few privileged Well-fed propagandists Spouting equality…

December 5, 2021Poem

Are there any other truths

Are there any other truths Withheld It is no comfort to believe Sophistication is enough To manipulate an image When broken boats sink They take truths with them But leave behind…

December 4, 2021Poem

There is a moon

There is a moon It never does much Other than wax and wane Moving across the sky Time and time again They say it influences the tides But on nights like this It barely registers…

November 27, 2021Missive

And

And Does it make me any better? Gazing out from behind dark glasses Watching as the aging lothario With the five-o-clock thirst, Yesterday’s transgressions Hanging over his…

November 26, 2021Missive

I think I had spoken twice

I think I had spoken twice Before he responded If that’s what it was One second he was staring right at me The next he had pulled back As if jerked by an invisible thread The look…

November 24, 2021Poem

Jolly good.

Jolly good. Bright red nail polish Gently holding tiny feet Painting dainty toes Massaging moisturising cream Into smooth hairless calves The mystique of an inner thigh Gently…

November 23, 2021Missive

Today...

Today... Dust carts need less men Probably that applies to women too Not that I have seen too many dustwomen Perhaps they have more sense Than to hang out with guys Who drink a…

November 17, 2021Poem

Straight from the shower

Straight from the shower Skin still moist Steam curling off Freckled shoulders Water droplets pooled In the concave well of a clavicle There is a sensuous, unconscious swish Of…

November 16, 2021Missive

There were no poets

There were no poets In the public bar Of the workman’s club On a Friday After the back shift When pitmen piled in There was money to be spent On Fed special Over a few hands Of…

November 12, 2021Missive

It is the wise man who is wary

It is the wise man who is wary Of a windfall The brightest berries Are not always the ones With the sweetest taste Too many fail to heed the warning Alchemists profit From such…

November 11, 2021Missive

They call it noble

They call it noble Not the unearned title A patrician with inherited status The blue-blood of the high-born The aspiration of the righteous With honorable intent Magnanimous in…

November 10, 2021Missive

Uncivilised cities

Uncivilised cities What brought us here To this moment of mutual destruction Were not we Once great ancient cities Dependent on the trade Of copper pots, exotic perfumed boxes…

November 9, 2021Missive

If I was

If I was Read to by a child What would it signify The passing of a flame? I remember listening to children When they were learning to read Helping them overcome the stumble The…

November 8, 2021Missive

Working on the wards

Working on the wards Would have been more fun If we were all high together Some days we were in Desperate need of a lift When the in-patients Were harder to define as ill Than the…

October 30, 2021Poem

The sweet scented candle burns,

The sweet scented candle burns, Flickering in the draft from The window Dark smoke curling up Unto the ceiling It would be easy to imagine Esoteric circles forming Intricate…

October 22, 2021Poem

Sadly the oil stain is a stayer.

Sadly the oil stain is a stayer. I would lay my cloak Like Walter Worship at your feet If only I could find you I would be an old man With a stick Terrified of empty dreams…

October 19, 2021Missive

The young woman

The young woman Sits cross-legged Her face wide with joy She sings to an audience of mothers As they bounce happy children Upon their laps Laughing in time to the rhythm The…

October 18, 2021Missive

It is why I shy away

It is why I shy away Talking about complaints The last procedure The one coming up After the shingles have cleared My grandmother Used to say she would die If shingles traveled…

October 17, 2021Missive

There is nobody for miles

There is nobody for miles Which seems like a good thing Where a farmhouse is concerned So well appointed Picture book views A tender breeze Replete with the sounds of the country…

October 12, 2021Missive

I know the place

I know the place Deep down, hidden beneath The bluff and bluster The wry smile, laconic charm That tends to slip after the first sip Of hard liquor Inclined toward melancholy It…

October 6, 2021Poem

Hope had its feathers plucked today

Hope had its feathers plucked today Or maybe they all fell out Too many sad things Happen to good people Somebody laid poison It might be for the rats But the pigeons suffer too…

September 24, 2021Poem

If I linger

If I linger It would be to wait Where skyboats kiss the ocean Light beams scatter Into a million fireflies Playing tag Dreams are buried in sleep dust Until the time comes For…

September 23, 2021Missive

Fact.

Fact. A very quiet day. Hoorah for Hollywood. I miss you Kora. How long does it take For chains To be repurposed The poacher turn to gamekeeper The freedom fighter wear The…

September 21, 2021Missive

Old Tom was a churchman

Old Tom was a churchman But his pulpit was at the bar Of the Coach House Every night until lights out He may have gone to Church on a Sunday But still found his way To the pies on…

September 8, 2021Missive

Otherwise what would be the point of them?

Otherwise what would be the point of them? Is it indifference To attend a Pilates class Sip on a glass of Shiraz During the evening news Glance away to pour another As the body…

September 5, 2021Missive

After the divorce

After the divorce Stuffed down the side of the sofa I couldn’t remember my wife wearing them Not for me I stuffed them in the bin The dog retrieved them I guess that said…

August 30, 2021Missive

There comes a time

There comes a time When nothing ever fits Old truths are proved to be false The well of good things runs dry With a time limit on obsolescence Fascists call for euthanesia…

August 29, 2021Poem

Bullied this way and that

Bullied this way and that Tossed by the swirl and bluster Of an off-shore breeze Fooled by the coquettish curl Of an autumn zephyr Torn from the straight road home By a mean…

August 27, 2021Poem

It was infectious

It was infectious A contagion Rippling through the room A rush of immense power Sending people down to their knees Hunched in apoplexy Doubled over, disabled Debilitated,…

August 26, 2021Missive

Is it our secrets

Is it our secrets That define us And make us who we are Without them are we But avatars Lacking the essence of ourselves The inner substance The hidden process The overlay of…

August 23, 2021Poem

With an air of concealment

With an air of concealment Loose strands of hope Flop over the eye Of the feint hearted Barely holding court With reality The smell of hysteria When things go astray Every sleight…

August 21, 2021Missive

Another day tomorrow.

Another day tomorrow. Tell me something of beauty The mystery of it Is eluding me Does its power lie in secrecy Does it need to be seen To be appreciated Without witness to the…

August 17, 2021Missive

She came over

She came over From the bar Sat right in front, nose to nose Her heels were so high She walked on her toes Banged her drink down so hard on the table It sloshed over the side Which…

August 16, 2021Missive

He barely looked up

He barely looked up An old man Wrapped up against the cold, Although it seemed quite warm to me To go back to I think he knew, Smiled to himself Even as he rolled the crisp new…

August 14, 2021Missive

I hear the tumble of voices

I hear the tumble of voices The welcome in their song Old friends over lunch On a balcony, shaded from the midday sun They are not mad Englishmen after all Spending time together…

August 12, 2021Poem

Lay me down

Lay me down In this soft bed Weary are the bones that carry me I need to rest a sunblessed head Tired is what I’m feeling From the pain of long lost days Let me sleep till morning…

August 11, 2021Missive

If I ever fully got religion

If I ever fully got religion I would find a place Within my mind A self made barricade To hide behind A safe haven from the arrogance Of omnipotence That would surely tear at the…

August 10, 2021Missive

There are times

There are times When the blood slows Almost to a trickle The heartbeats slow down As part of a bio-feedback loop Over which I am supposed To exorcise control When sadness brings…

August 2, 2021Poem

Are rich men just astro-nuts.

Are rich men just astro-nuts. Oh reapers wind Was it greed that drove you Pandemonium, floods and pestilence The religion of Apocalypse Hell’s mouth Leeching black clouds of…

July 31, 2021Poem

Hospice Earth

Hospice Earth If you knew me Would you hear me at all When words are not made of silver Their tone more redolent of farmwork Than the halls of academia With nary a mention of…

July 29, 2021Poem

This lamenting wind

This lamenting wind Lord of the lands The air above the sea Ripping the tips from Rolling waves Fighting to usurp gravity Leaping skyward Dreaming of floating As rainclouds High…

July 27, 2021Poem

Are there any reasons

Are there any reasons For this harsh continuance No excuses stand Scrutiny from the doubting Overcome objections From the whispers Darkness has a way of Losing all focus Sharply…

July 23, 2021Missive

The ‘Elephant man’

The ‘Elephant man’ ‘Do you consider your writing to be beautiful?’ The guy said, Leaning over my shoulder To read the text on the screen Even though my back was turned Facing away…

July 21, 2021Poem

All seems well in the Croucher household.

All seems well in the Croucher household. I thought it was a dream Until the light narrowed Into a supermoon Illuminating a figure Silent in the dark Too close to be an accident…

July 17, 2021Missive

Maren’s birthday.

Maren’s birthday. Do I feel as strongly as you Does pain cut quite as deeply Are the scars of old wounds Slower to heal The mark of them worn with pride Or shame My voice so…

July 16, 2021Poem

Building site blues.

Building site blues. So much noise Even in silence The world intrudes Flooding in Engulfing the senses Probing the synapses until they bleed Ear protectors should be mandatory…

July 15, 2021Poem

There is beauty in circling

There is beauty in circling The rise and fall The stillness in flight The silence of an Osprey The sadness of the prey Never knowing The sweetness of the day The last sweet breath…

July 10, 2021Poem

Hope she understood.

Hope she understood. Glory be to Hitchcock A string of ragged crows Perched upon the wire As it hums beneath them So much power waiting to be grounded Electrons, every one…

July 9, 2021Poem

Glory damn your rage

Glory damn your rage As fire splutters in the grate There is no respite for the weary Old soldiers wasting their fortune On sorrow Too late to worry now So sayeth the old crone…

July 8, 2021Poem

You fall with me

You fall with me The sleep of angels A kiss of forgetting It is a sword to splice through The finest silk Sharp as any blade should ever be Dividing me completely With an ecstasy…

July 5, 2021Poem

Happy days.

Happy days. Perhaps he was a soldier It is in his bearing Straight back, legs kicked out A quick march every day Up and down the foreshore Marshalling the troops Disdain so…

July 2, 2021Poem

Nobody knows

Nobody knows Once the door is closed English castles Dingy dungeons recalled Long gone now The scullery and meat safe A washstand in the street For the miners An unlit loft With…

June 30, 2021Missive

There are times

There are times When thinking is a pastime They are less frequent As the world gets older There is a drudge about life Even in the countryside Where the mind has more freedom To…

June 29, 2021Poem

We had blind faith

We had blind faith Northland boys Travelling south with little money Begging lifts from strangers Before we understood How dangerous Innocence could be We didn’t see change coming…

January 1, 2021Poem

Ring out the old ring in the new.

Ring out the old ring in the new. He was happy In the corner Playing with plasticine Or manipulating A 2B or not 2B pencil Copying pictures Of the Beatles From Fabulous 208 Into…

January 1, 2021Poem

He was happy

He was happy In the corner Playing with plasticine Or manipulating A 2B or not 2B pencil Copying pictures Of the Beatles From Fabulous 208 Into his sketchbook Sometimes whole…

December 31, 2020Poem

Listen

Listen Is there anybody breathing With fingers on the pulse A moment on the lips Is worth the time It takes to remember Who we are Is there nothing To believe in When truth is…

December 31, 2020Poem

Happy new year

Happy new year Hope for better, plan for... Listen Is there anybody breathing With fingers on the pulse A moment on the lips Is worth the time It takes to remember Who we are Is…

December 29, 2020Missive

Nothing is ever the way it seems

Nothing is ever the way it seems Observation is always coloured By experience Expectation bends light from the sun In a twist of gravitation Hidden worlds suddenly exposed To…

December 28, 2020Poem

Is there a reason…

Is there a reason… For wishing people harm Laughing at misfortune Sharing secrets to the world Breaking someone’s trust To feel powerful Posting a live feed of an accident…

December 28, 2020Poem

How weary is this

How weary is this Dog end day A last stand For the ancients Who walk among us Cloaked in faded Histories long past Cast starkly in relief Of invisibility Slowly sets the sun On…

December 27, 2020Poem

Even the Possum looked up

Even the Possum looked up The Carpet Python paused Mid-constriction As still as an enthusiastic tweeny Playing statues For what might be the last time, As if their life depended…

December 26, 2020Poem

Happy Christmas...War is not over.

Happy Christmas...War is not over. Set fair the road Its ending far from done Dipping below the horizon Lost in heat haze As the destination Becomes less clear With every faltered…

December 23, 2020Missive

Twelve years old

Twelve years old Hanging around the kitchen Getting underfoot Pleading to be noticed Fingering the houseplants Squeezing leaves Poking the soil Checking if they need water When…

December 21, 2020Missive

With a nod to Sir John Betjeman

With a nod to Sir John Betjeman Oh, dear John What would become Of you today A call for bombs To rain down on Slough Would be frowned upon Hatred shared in virulent Memes Whatever…

December 21, 2020Missive

Oh, dear John

Oh, dear John What would become Of you today A call for bombs To rain down on Slough Would be frowned upon Hatred shared in virulent Memes Whatever they might be An apology sought…

December 21, 2020Poem

Would we go

Would we go You and I together Walking empty streets Following the rain Keeping one step behind The other Resisting the temptation To wade into cool water On a clear night When…

December 20, 2020Missive

Many is the time

Many is the time Sad eyes, afraid of compromise Glide away from youthful things They are all so taught and perfect Do they know I wonder? Are they as lost as we When all is said…

December 19, 2020Poem

Grey clouds,

Grey clouds, Loosely attached Scud briskly Glancing this way and that Collars upturned Against the wind Young turks Bent on revolution Hurrying on With no time to chat Looking for…

December 19, 2020Poem

Grey clouds,

Grey clouds, Loosely attached Scud briskly Glancing this way and that Collars upturned Against the wind Young Turks Bent on revolution Hurrying on With no time to chat Looking for…

December 16, 2020Missive

Trust in me

Trust in me Forget inequality A lack of electricity Clean water A proportional tax system Which works for all Rather than The power imbalance Which is weighed heavily In my favour…

December 15, 2020Missive

It was magical

It was magical Sitting on the top deck At the front of the bus Above the driver Looking out over the world As it came toward you It was a starship Exploring new worlds Rocking…

December 15, 2020Missive

It was magical

It was magical Sitting on the top deck At the front of the bus Above the driver Looking out over the world As it came toward you It was a starship Exploring new worlds Rocking…

December 14, 2020Poem

Have I…

Have I… Sat too long in the midst of things Languishing in life’s clamour Inhaling the smell of bustle Expensive cologne, cheap deodorant The yellow stain Of hard-earned sweat The…

December 13, 2020Missive

There was no age of reason

There was no age of reason Or period of enlightenment Political discourse Open debate or philosophical jousting Beyond a few privileged Well-fed propagandists Spouting equality…

December 11, 2020Missive

One foot in the…grump

One foot in the…grump He is there every weekend Painting the same views Surrounded by a selection Of his work Somebody said ‘beautiful’ As they walked by He said ‘thank you’ It…

December 10, 2020Poem

Daily missive for Thursday the 10th of December.

Although I only knew him through our contact on Facebook Gordon was an avid supporter of my written work and often passed lovely comments which made me believe him to be a very…

December 10, 2020Poem

What do you see

What do you see In the shallows Of this still pond Barely worth the trouble Of navigation Its lifeless depths Dull in comparison To the light in your eye Narcissus was godly But…

December 9, 2020Poem

In a monsoon summer

In a monsoon summer With the sun high In a cobalt sky After the storm Has dissipated Weakened leaves fall There is a sadness In the slow tumble A frailty in their Brittle…

December 9, 2020Poem

In a monsoon summer

In a monsoon summer With the sun high In a cobalt sky After the storm Has dissipated Weakened leaves fall There is sadness In the slow tumble Frailty in their Brittle fragility…

December 4, 2020Poem

There is a moon

There is a moon It never does much Other than wax and wane Moving across the sky Time and time again They say it influences the tides But on nights like this It barely registers…

December 2, 2020Missive

Today there is madness

Today there is madness In the air There has to be Without it the world Would be exposed As a missed opportunity For the rebirth Of humility Fraudulent feelings Squeezed beneath…

December 1, 2020Poem

The world changes size

The world changes size Every day For an infant It is no bigger Than a mother’s face A fulsome moon Superimposed against A starless sky A backdrop Filled with shapeless ghosts She…

December 1, 2020Poem

The world changes size

The world changes size Everyday For an infant It is no bigger Than a mother’s face A fulsome moon Superimposed against A starless sky A backdrop Filled with shapeless ghosts She…

November 29, 2020Poem

It is too easy to forget

It is too easy to forget Sitting on lush green grass So closely together there was no space For the wind to find a way through Shoulders, knees and heads touching Leaning in, ever…

November 27, 2020Missive

And

And Does it make me any better? Gazing out from behind dark glasses Watching as the ageing lothario With the five-o-clock thirst, Yesterday’s transgressions Hanging over his…

November 26, 2020Missive

I think I had spoken twice

I think I had spoken twice Before he responded If that’s what it was One second he was staring right at me The next he had pulled back As if jerked by an invisible thread The look…

November 24, 2020Missive

Bright red nail polish

Bright red nail polish Gently holding tiny feet Painting dainty toes Massaging moisturising cream Into smooth hairless calves The mystique of an inner thigh Gently washing her…

November 24, 2020Missive

It was clear

It was clear The bookend needed to talk He looked out from the shelf It was warm There was sweat on his forehead From the effort Of holding up his end I want to tell you something…

November 24, 2020Missive

It was clear

It was clear The bookend needed to talk He looked out from the shelf It was warm There was sweat on his forehead From the effort Of holding up his end I want to tell you something…

November 23, 2020Missive

Today...

Today... Dust carts need fewer men Probably that applies to women too Not that I have seen too many dustwomen Perhaps they have more sense Than to hang out with guys Who drink a…

November 20, 2020Missive

The wind is freewheeling

The wind is freewheeling Following its own path Dancing to a different tune Spinning and turning Changing direction On a sixpence Old money has a more Romantic disposition When…

November 20, 2020Poem

The wind is freewheeling

The wind is freewheeling Following its own path Dancing to a different tune Spinning and turning Changing direction On a sixpence Old money has a more Romantic disposition When…

November 18, 2020Missive

When you stood by a window

When you stood by a window The sun in your hair The fire in your eyes Looking beyond what I saw outside There was a circus Of the spectacular With highwire performers Trapeze acts…

November 17, 2020Missive

We are more than physical

We are more than physical Human Drives do not have pistons There is no pressure release valve Steam does not escape through the ears Disney is a corporation Not a biology class We…

November 17, 2020Missive

Nothing is planned for tomorrow so the day is mine.

Nothing is planned for tomorrow so the day is mine. We are more than physical Human Drives do not have pistons There is no pressure release valve Steam does not escape through the…

November 17, 2020Missive

Straight from the shower

Straight from the shower Skin still moist Steam curling off Freckled shoulders Water droplets pooled In the concave well of a clavicle There is a sensuous, unconscious swish Of…

November 16, 2020Poem

Flying high over mountain tops

Flying high over mountain tops Feathering cloud cover Heavy with droplets Of recycled water Ready to fall Dipping deep down into valleys Brushing treetops Pine needles spinning…

November 16, 2020Missive

There were few poets

There were few poets In the public bar Of the workman’s club On a Friday After the back shift When pitmen piled in There was money to be spent On Fed special Over a few hands Of…

November 16, 2020Poem

Flying high over mountain tops

Flying high over mountain tops Feathering cloud cover Heavy with droplets Of recycled water Ready to fall Dipping deep down into valleys Brushing treetops Pine needles spinning…

November 13, 2020Missive

Flies find a way in

Flies find a way in But not a way out They lie On a window sill Roadkill In need of a cleaner No matter how fast The river It will never flow Uphill Why do birds fly Ten thousand…

November 12, 2020Missive

It is the wise man who is wary

It is the wise man who is wary Of a windfall The brightest berries Are not always the ones With the sweetest taste Too many fail to heed the warning Alchemists profit From such…

November 11, 2020Missive

The Eleventh Hour of the eleventh day...

The Eleventh Hour of the eleventh day... They call it noble Not the unearned title A patrician with inherited status The blue-blood of the high-born The aspiration of the…

November 10, 2020Missive

Uncivilised urbanity

Uncivilised urbanity What brought us here To this moment of mutual destruction Were not we Once great ancient cities Dependent on the trade Of copper pots, Exotically perfumed…

November 10, 2020Missive

What is there for me

What is there for me To influence When so much of life Exists independently Of my domain White Butterflies swarm For just one day Filling the air Catching the light Fluttering as…

November 10, 2020Missive

What is there for me

What is there for me To influence When so much of life Exists independently Of my domain White Butterflies swarm For just one day Filling the air Catching the light Fluttering as…

November 9, 2020Missive

If I was

If I was Read to by a child What would it signify The passing of a flame? I remember listening to children When they were learning to read Helping them overcome the stumble The…

November 8, 2020Missive

We’re all a little cuckoo

We’re all a little cuckoo Working on the wards Would have been more fun If we were all high together Some days we were in Desperate need of a lift When the in-patients Were harder…

November 7, 2020Poem

So strongly flows

So strongly flows The river Beneath the bridge Tumbling over glacial rocks In a helter-skelter Cataract Raging downhill Unto the dale A thousand Ice-cold pinpricks Puckering the…

October 30, 2020Missive

The Huntsman. (is a spider)

The Huntsman. (is a spider) The sweet-scented candle burns, Flickering in the draft from The window Dark smoke curling up Unto the ceiling It would be easy to imagine Esoteric…

October 26, 2020Poem

Did I dream

Did I dream The stone so round The texture not as smooth As it may appear Abrasive as sandpaper The strike board on a matchbox Blistering my fingers The smell of sulphur As I roll…

October 22, 2020Poem

I would lay my cloak

I would lay my cloak Like Walter Worship at your feet If only I could find you I would be an old man With a stick Terrified of empty dreams Walking in my sleep Wandering alone at…

October 19, 2020Missive

The young woman

The young woman Sits cross-legged Her face wide with joy She sings to an audience of mothers As they bounce happy children Upon their laps Laughing in time to the rhythm The…

October 18, 2020Missive

It is why I shy away

It is why I shy away Talking about complaints The last procedure The one coming up After the shingles have cleared My grandmother Used to say she would die If shingles travelled…

October 16, 2020Missive

There is nobody for miles

There is nobody for miles Which seems like a good thing Where a farmhouse is concerned So well appointed Picture book views A tender breeze Replete with the sounds of the country…

October 13, 2020Poem

There is a place

There is a place Beyond the ken of mortal men Where children play With wild abandon People laugh and carouse With little fear of censure As spirits flow In such good harmony There…

October 12, 2020Missive

I know a place

I know a place Deep down, hidden beneath The bluff and bluster The wry smile, laconic charm That tends to slip after the first sip Of hard liquor Inclined toward melancholy It is…

October 11, 2020Poem

There is no good in a call

There is no good in a call After midnight When a blood moon filtered Through heavy night blinds Is a presage of disaster A blind man’s fingers Reaching for the jugular The smell…

October 6, 2020Poem

With a nod to Emily.

With a nod to Emily. Hope had its feathers plucked today Or maybe they all fell out Too many sad things Happen to good people Somebody laid poison It might be for the rats But the…

September 24, 2020Poem

If I linger

If I linger It would be to wait Where sky boats kiss the ocean Light beams scatter Into a million fireflies Playing tag Dreams are buried in sleep dust Until the time comes For…

September 23, 2020Missive

How long does it take

How long does it take For chains To be repurposed The poacher turn to gamekeeper The freedom fighter wear The clothes of an oppressor Good intentions metamorphosize Into dogma…

September 22, 2020Missive

What does it say

What does it say When a man has been To more funerals than weddings The gap will soon grow wider As the age of Aquarius Might sound peaceful But death still walks among us Weeding…

September 21, 2020Missive

Old Tom was a churchman

Old Tom was a churchman But his pulpit was at the bar Of the Coach House Every night until lights out He may have gone to Church on a Sunday But still found his way To the pies on…

September 20, 2020Missive

She was curious

She was curious After so many years Nurturing a garden Pouring her soul into the earth Planting a seed Watching it grow A rock garden in the corner Next to the water feature…

September 15, 2020Missive

Daily missive for Wednesday the 15th of September.

‘Do you know why you write?’ A face slowly came into focus It had been there In front of mine for quite some time I knew that from the look Of concern in her eyes, Big, green,…

September 11, 2020Missive

There were times

There were times Before lockdowns, old age Dark depression, anxiety and grief Or whatever other ill may befall the living Before the time comes to move on, Some people say…

September 8, 2020Missive

Is it indifference

Is it indifference To attend a Pilates class Sip on a glass of Shiraz During the evening news Glance away to pour another As the body count Of another atrocity Is being reported…

August 30, 2020Missive

There comes a time

There comes a time When nothing ever fits Old truths are proved to be false The well of good things runs dry With a time limit on obsolescence Fascists call for euthanasia…

August 27, 2020Missive

It was infectious

It was infectious A contagion Rippling through the room A rush of immense power Sending people down to their knees Hunched in apoplexy Doubled over, disabled Debilitated,…

August 26, 2020Missive

Is it our secrets

Is it our secrets That define us And make us who we are Without them are we But avatars Lacking the essence of ourselves The inner substance The hidden process The overlay of…

August 23, 2020Missive

With an air of concealment

With an air of concealment Loose strands of hope Flop over the eye Of the faint-hearted Barely holding court With reality The smell of hysteria When things go astray Every sleight…

August 21, 2020Missive

Tell me something of beauty

Tell me something of beauty The mystery of it Is eluding me Does its power lie in secrecy Does it need to be seen To be appreciated Without witness to the blooming Is a rose by…

August 20, 2020Poem

If I came upon you

If I came upon you In the late afternoon With the sun bleeding Into a jasmine sky On the blazing wings of angels Barely recognisable from an art form A pre-Raphaelite Rossetti's…

August 17, 2020Missive

She came over

She came over From the bar Sat right in front, nose to nose Her heels were so high She walked on her toes Banged her drink down so hard on the table It sloshed over the side Which…

August 16, 2020Missive

He barely looked up

He barely looked up An old man Wrapped up against the cold, Although it seemed quite warm to me To go back to I think he knew, Smiled to himself Even as he rolled the crisp new…

August 14, 2020Missive

I hear the tumble of voices

I hear the tumble of voices The welcome in their song Old friends over lunch On a balcony, shaded from the midday sun They are not mad Englishmen after all Spending time together…

August 12, 2020Poem

Lay me down

Lay me down In this soft bed Weary are the bones that carry me I need to rest a sun-blessed head Tired is what I’m feeling From the pain of long lost days Let me sleep till…

August 11, 2020Poem

If I ever fully got religion

If I ever fully got religion I would find a place Within my mind A self-made barricade To hide behind A safe haven from the arrogance Of omnipotence That would surely tear at the…

August 10, 2020Missive

There are times

There are times When the blood slows Almost to a trickle The heartbeats slow down As part of a bio-feedback loop Over which I am supposed To exorcise control When sadness brings…

August 7, 2020Missive

A dystopian suture

A dystopian suture Perhaps there were great men Greater women Walking the streets Looking for pleasure Finding it missing Gone with the passing of humour Hidden behind plague…

August 2, 2020Missive

Are rich men just astro-nuts.

Are rich men just astro-nuts. Oh reapers wind Was it greed that drove you Pandemonium, floods and pestilence The religion of Apocalypse Hell’s mouth Leeching black clouds of…

July 31, 2020Missive

Hospice Earth

Hospice Earth If you knew me Would you hear me at all When words are not made of silver Their tone more redolent of farmwork Than the halls of academia With nary a mention of…

July 30, 2020Poem

There are words

There are words Too meaningful to share Too powerful Shrouded in mystery Venerated when repeated In seclusion Whispered in private Honeyed between the lips Of lovers Given freely…

July 29, 2020Poem

This lamenting wind

This lamenting wind Lord of the lands The air above the sea Ripping the tips from Rolling waves Fighting to usurp gravity Leaping skyward Dreaming of floating As rainclouds High…

July 27, 2020Missive

Are there any reasons

Are there any reasons For this harsh continuance No excuses stand Scrutiny from the doubting Overcome objections From the whispers Darkness has a way of Losing all focus Sharply…

July 26, 2020Missive

Nothing comes to mind

Nothing comes to mind A hollowed silence Flows through empty halls Perception a door closed To any difference of opinion The wind might have With the prevailing drift Of the…

July 23, 2020Missive

The ‘Elephant man’

The ‘Elephant man’ ‘Do you consider your writing to be beautiful?’ The guy said, Leaning over my shoulder To read the text on the screen Even though my back was turned Facing away…

July 21, 2020Poem

I thought it was a dream

I thought it was a dream Until the light narrowed Into a supermoon Illuminating a figure Silent in the dark Too close to be an accident Of nature He was a stranger But I knew him…

July 17, 2020Missive

Do I feel as strongly as you

Do I feel as strongly as you Does pain cut quite as deeply Are the scars of old wounds Slower to heal The mark of them worn with pride Or shame My voice so rarely heard Every word…

July 16, 2020Missive

Building site blues.

Building site blues. So much noise Even in silence The world intrudes Flooding in Engulfing the senses Probing the synapses until they bleed Ear protectors should be mandatory…

July 15, 2020Poem

There is beauty in circling

There is beauty in circling The rise and fall Stillness in flight Silence of an Osprey Sadness of the prey Never knowing The sweetness of the day The last sweet breath Last, fast…

July 12, 2020Missive

People are drawn to a smile

People are drawn to a smile Happiness is prescribed As protection against Everyday afflictions Laugh and the world Laughs with you Walk on the sunny side Be swept up by adulation…

July 10, 2020Poem

Glory be to Hitchcock

Glory be to Hitchcock A string of ragged crows Perched upon the wire As it hums beneath them So much power waiting to be grounded Electrons, every one Information carriers…

July 9, 2020Poem

My little soldier.

My little soldier. Glory damn your rage As fire splutters in the grate There is no respite for the weary Old soldiers wasting their fortune On sorrow Too late to worry now So…

July 8, 2020Poem

You fall with me

You fall with me The sleep of angels A kiss of forgetting It is a sword to splice The finest silk Sharp as any blade should ever be Dividing me completely With an ecstasy divinely…

July 6, 2020Missive

Oh Australia

Oh Australia When will we learn Tin Pots and technocrats Defile the land we now call home Divert the source of water Deprive an ancient basin Whilst filling up the pool In their…

July 5, 2020Poem

Perhaps he was a soldier

Perhaps he was a soldier It is in his bearing Straight back, legs kicked out A quick march every day Up and down the foreshore Marshalling the troops Disdain so plainly written On…

July 2, 2020Missive

Nobody knows

Nobody knows Once the door is closed English castles Dingy dungeons recalled Long gone now The scullery and meat safe A washstand in the street For the miners An unlit loft With…

July 1, 2020Missive

I stopped to talk

I stopped to talk Normally I would just nod And keep walking But the old man was spread-eagled Under the tree For all the world he looked dead He smelled dead But he always did…

June 30, 2020Missive

There are times

There are times When thinking is a pastime They are less frequent As the world gets older There is a drudge about life Even in the countryside Where the mind has more freedom To…

June 29, 2020Missive

Daily missive for Tuesday the 29th of June.

It has been 11 years since the death of my son. I still see him as the boy he was. the older foolish man I have become. We had blind faith Northland boys Travelling south with…

June 23, 2020Missive

Thursday the 23rd of June.

‘Breathe’ Such a simple thing Trying to stop is not easy Unless you are determined Or have an awful affliction Not many are allergic to oxygen Perhaps they are to the twenty-first…

June 19, 2020Missive

The pressed steel sky

The pressed steel sky Is as cold as ice Tempering the effects Of a white hot sun Too low in the sky To be of any real benefit When the fire goes down Bellies cry out for more Than…

June 19, 2020Missive

The pressed steel sky

The pressed steel sky Is as cold as ice Tempering the effects Of a white-hot sun Too low in the sky To be of any real benefit When the fire goes down Bellies cry out for more Than…

June 16, 2020Poem

Daily missive for Wednesday the 16th of June

‘Believe me’ Said the old dear With rheumy eyes Watering the whiskers on her chin I could see them grow ‘Not five days ago Sitting over in that corner Leaning into the shadow The…

June 16, 2020Poem

Wednesday the 16th of June.

‘Believe me’ Said the old dear With rheumy eyes Watering the whiskers on her chin I could see them grow ‘Not five days ago Sitting over in that corner Leaning into the shadow The…

June 15, 2020Missive

I stared at the keyboard

I stared at the keyboard It didn’t move on its own From my childhood Something called ‘Sparky and the magic piano’ About a piano that Spoke and played all by itself Cutting out…

June 15, 2020Missive

The keyboard

The keyboard Didn’t move on its own From my childhood Something called ‘Sparky and the magic piano’ About a piano that Spoke and played all by itself Cutting out the middleman Or…

June 14, 2020Poem

Restore cold hearts

Restore cold hearts Bestow upon them the gift Of inefficiency The heaviness of defeat The light rapidity of excitement As the light changes With the sunrise The pounding fit to…

June 11, 2020Missive

I doubt she will come knocking soon...thank goodness.

I doubt she will come knocking soon...thank goodness. We pass it on Whether we know it or not Even special outings Looked forward to by both mum and dad Were stressful Nothing was…

June 11, 2020Missive

We pass it on

We pass it on Whether we know it or not Even special outings Looked forward to by both mum and dad Were stressful Nothing was easy The tide was always on the turn The boat a leaky…

June 9, 2020Missive

With a nod to Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse

With a nod to Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse Who do we turn to When no one is looking Who do we ask When no one seems to care It is easier to believe Omnipresence Is something…

June 9, 2020Missive

With a nod to Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse

With a nod to Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse Who do we turn to When no one is looking Who do we ask When no one seems to care It is easier to believe Omnipresence Is something…

June 8, 2020Missive

Do I see things as they are

Do I see things as they are As they are meant to be Or as they appear Do I pass judgement on the many Look ill upon the few Who for some unknown reason Other than the way they…

June 8, 2020Missive

Do I see things as they are

Do I see things as they are As they are meant to be Or as they appear Do I pass judgement on the many Look ill upon the few Who for some unknown reason Other than the way they…

June 4, 2020Poem

The boy had watched

The boy had watched The bird fly by Several times that day A pretty little thing, a Robin So he had been told By the old man Who lived next door. He always seemed to be Sitting…

June 4, 2020Poem

The boy had watched

The boy had watched The bird fly by Several times that day A pretty little thing, a Robin So he had been told By the old man Who lived next door. He always seemed to be Sitting…

May 28, 2020Poem

Blue singer.

Blue singer. You were strong To take the pain of living Surviving hateful things Sweat stained beds Broken trust paternal rust Eating through the guilding Of golden slumber…

May 24, 2020Poem

Which way do you turn

Which way do you turn With no one to guide you How do you choose One way or the other When all of the doors Look much the same Some may differ in colour Which may be a trick of…

May 24, 2020Poem

Which way do you turn

Which way do you turn With no one to guide you How do you choose One way or the other When all of the doors Look much the same Some may differ in colour Which may be a trick of…

May 22, 2020Poem

How do you sleep

How do you sleep Is it a measure of discontent Whittling down the hours Pacing the floor Wearing out the carpet Drinking the last of the whisky Tearing pages from an old diary…

May 21, 2020Poem

Stop the war

Stop the war I want to get off Is there any beauty here In the shadow of catastrophe There is always one thing or another To subvert the narrative As Peanut Butter is to Marmite…

May 21, 2020Poem

Stop the war

Stop the war I want to get off Is there any beauty here In the shadow of catastrophe There is always one thing or another To subvert the narrative As Peanut Butter is to Marmite…

May 19, 2020Poem

Empty heads

Empty heads Is it right to call you thus Are we all just one and the same Who walks with me Do we all follow Shuffling along Behind the colours As once we did At the Miners Gala…

May 19, 2020Poem

Empty heads

Empty heads Is it right to call you thus Are we all just one and the same Who walks with me Do we all follow Shuffling along Behind the colours As once we did At the Miners Gala…

May 15, 2020Poem

Did winter come

Did winter come Stealing in through cracks In the firmament Where the heavens Are leavened in preparation Of morning Did its icy tendrils Creep into the bedroom Crystallizing…

May 11, 2020Poem

Is there permanence to this cloud

Is there permanence to this cloud Its adherence to the sky As if pasted in position By an artistic infant Creating a diorama For a school project Using cotton wool balls From…

May 7, 2020Poem

Growing old disgracefully

Growing old disgracefully When my five senses lie As useless as a broken lamp In a land of deepest darkness With air as thickly drawn As a barrel full of treacle My luck will have…

May 7, 2020Poem

Growing old disgracefully

Growing old disgracefully When my five senses lie As useless as a broken lamp In a land of deepest darkness With air as thickly drawn As a barrel full of treacle My luck will have…

May 5, 2020Missive

I miss you all.

I miss you all. Joseph seemed more concerned About my reluctance to engage In the process than was I. After all, I knew myself from the inside out. Nothing about me seemed worth…

May 5, 2020Missive

Joseph seemed more concerned

Joseph seemed more concerned About my reluctance to engage In the process than was I. After all, I knew myself from the inside out. Nothing about me seemed worth Drawing a…

April 24, 2020Poem

Death Valley of the dolls.

Death Valley of the dolls. The cactus stands Boldly growing Brazen as a brass-faced lie Before its shadow Has a chance to die In the noon day sun Pumped up Full of water Thirst…

April 24, 2020Poem

Death Valley of the dolls.

Death Valley of the dolls. The cactus stands Boldly growing Brazen as a brass-faced lie Before its shadow Has a chance to die In the noonday sun Pumped up Full of water Thirst…

April 23, 2020Poem

What did you do

What did you do In the cold war Daddy-o After the service announcements Showed us how to survive A nuclear attack Closing doors Hiding under the table Until the all clear Baby…

April 23, 2020Poem

What did you do

What did you do In the cold war Daddy-o After the service announcements Showed us how to survive A nuclear attack Closing doors Hiding under the table Until the all-clear Baby,…

April 15, 2020Poem

Fly with me

Fly with me Follow the creek In its serpentine meander Through the lowlands There will be no voles Just empty holes Rats outlast the competition As Kingfishers dive Fat toads,…

April 15, 2020Poem

Fly with me

Fly with me Follow the creek In its serpentine meander Through the lowlands There will be no voles Just empty holes Rats outlast the competition As Kingfishers dive Fat toads,…

April 13, 2020Missive

Above the hum of the washing machine

Above the hum of the washing machine I heard a bell ring, Over on the building site Another truck was Waiting by the gate Ready to be filled with The sad remains Of an old…

April 13, 2020Missive

Above the hum of the washing machine

Above the hum of the washing machine I heard a bell ring, Over on the building site Another truck was Waiting by the gate Ready to be filled with The sad remains Of an old…

April 10, 2020Poem

The hungry Hawk

The hungry Hawk Will still hunt in the rain Waiting, not flying Cleverly concealed Hunkered up close To the trunk of a tree Sheltered from the worst of it Eyes sharp as tacks…

April 7, 2020Poem

There is no cabal

There is no cabal Everybody wants to rule Greed is a global currency Power is a given For some A wish fulfillment for many Why do you believe In dominion When guaranteed…

April 7, 2020Poem

There is no cabal

There is no cabal Everybody wants to rule Greed is a global currency Power is a given For some A wish fulfillment for many Why do you believe In dominion When guaranteed…

March 30, 2020Poem

There are too many

There are too many Who believe Theirs is the right side Too few think before they leap To judgement Or to act Failing to recognise The irony In putting hands together For the…

March 29, 2020Poem

The man at the bar

The man at the bar Sporting carefully tousled hair And tortoiseshells Held a book by Chekov It was the ‘Three Sisters’ He turned the pages slowly His eyes drifting up Over his…

March 29, 2020Poem

It should be fun.

It should be fun. The man at the bar Sporting carefully tousled hair And tortoise shells Held a book by Chekov It was the ‘Three Sisters’ He turned the pages slowly His eyes…

March 26, 2020Poem

He shuffled forward

He shuffled forward Laden with plastic bags Full of lord knows what His life, I guessed His clothes were heavy with dirt The frayed edges were for real This was not exactly a…

March 26, 2020Poem

He shuffled forward

He shuffled forward Laden with plastic bags Full of lord knows what His life, I guessed His clothes were heavy with dirt The frayed edges were for real This was not exactly a…

March 25, 2020Poem

Freshly wet

Freshly wet From a short sharp shower I didn’t mind The rain was warm Slapping lightly onto my face I could sit awhile Days like these were a wonder The sky had split asunder It…

March 24, 2020Poem

Daily missive for Wednesday the 24th of March.

‘With a nod to Bukowski’ He was always in a hurry Prowled the hen house On the run Tore it open in a flash Spilt blood It splashed high Leaving a slash of red Up into the trees…

March 24, 2020Poem

It’s all good.

It’s all good. ‘With a nod to Bukowski’ He was always in a hurry Prowled the hen house On the run Tore it open in a flash Spilt blood It splashed high Leaving a slash of red Up…

March 22, 2020Poem

There are no great first lines

There are no great first lines Not until after the third drink When the floor is littered with paper Crumpled in disgust Thrown wildly Underarm Overarm Blindly Lobbed Tossed…

March 22, 2020Poem

There are no great first lines

There are no great first lines Not until after the third drink When the floor is littered with paper Crumpled in disgust Thrown wildly Underarm Overarm Blindly Lobbed Tossed…

March 19, 2020Poem

I would rather be a weed

I would rather be a weed Than a pot plant Stuck in one place Waiting to be watered Left out in the sun When it is too hot Leaves burning Without sunscreen Or in the shade Too dark…

March 17, 2020Poem

I am of a mind

I am of a mind To speak of trivial things The frippery around the edge Of life The way of the world When it is at war with itself Disguising the pain With a sing-a-long Around an…

March 13, 2020Poem

You touched me

You touched me In the morning As the sun levered Its way through the gap Between the bottom Of the blind and the window sill A streaming service Without need Of subscription The…

March 12, 2020Poem

There is no sky

There is no sky No matter how high you fly Above is always blue There is no touching it Reaching out Stretching bony Yearning Fingers wide Dreaming of leaving Looking earthward…

March 12, 2020Poem

There is no sky

There is no sky No matter how high you fly Above is always blue There is no touching it Reaching out Stretching bony Yearning Fingers wide Dreaming of leaving Looking earthward…

March 10, 2020Poem

Touch my soul

Touch my soul I feel the fingers Tugging at the corners Where the lustre is worn With too much lost To touch up with nail varnish There was a time When tippex covered A multitude…

March 10, 2020Poem

Touch my soul

Touch my soul I feel the fingers Tugging at the corners Where the lustre is worn With too much lost To touch up with nail varnish There was a time When tippex covered A multitude…

March 5, 2020Poem

He saw nothing

He saw nothing Head bowed low A furrow of concentration Ploughing scars Across a youthful brow Reading all he could Learning how to be A study in appreciation Of the written word…

March 5, 2020Poem

He saw nothing

He saw nothing Head bowed low A furrow of concentration Ploughing scars Across a youthful brow Reading all he could Learning how to be A study in appreciation Of the written word…

March 3, 2020Poem

I hope that I sleep a little better than yesterday...please.

I hope that I sleep a little better than yesterday...please. Bring me back From the brink Find a way To remove the curse Of surrender When the sky darkens Try to remember The…

March 3, 2020Poem

Bring me back

Bring me back From the brink Find a way To remove the curse Of surrender When the sky darkens Try to remember The earth is still turning The sun still burning Bring me back In a…

February 13, 2020Poem

Queensland...

Queensland... Rain sweetly falling Tenderly driven Warmly received Parched Bamboo leaves Droop down Though Not in exhortation Their long, slim, delicate shape Akin to ladies…

February 12, 2020Poem

Daily missive for Friday the 12th of February.

‘Cheers’ he mumbles Raising the glass To an empty room He is unsure why When there is no one to care But it seems polite To acknowledge the first drink Or maybe it’s the second He…

February 10, 2020Missive

Am I truly master

Am I truly master Or merely an apprentice Learning on the way From one mishap to another When the control Of one's own actions Is so easily overridden By the unforgiving Hand of…

February 6, 2020Missive

My eyes are undimmed

My eyes are undimmed But they are weary Have they seen too much Or not enough I remember an old film Starring Ray Milland When in the final scene He plucked out his own eyes…

February 5, 2020Missive

Be wary of me

Be wary of me There is more to know Than a first line Which is nothing More than a fly trap Pretty words all lined up In a row Sitting in a bathroom, Written under the bedclothes…

February 5, 2020Missive

Ah well I am inside now so no problem…

Ah well I am inside now so no problem… Be wary of me There is more to know Than a first line Which is nothing More than a fly trap Pretty words all lined up In a row Sitting in a…

January 27, 2020Poem

If I asked you

If I asked you To paint a picture What would it be Tall ships on the water In full sail An angel on the foredeck Battle hardened veterans With broken hearts One-armed men In…

January 27, 2020Poem

If I asked you

If I asked you To paint a picture What would it be Tall ships on the water In full sail An angel on the foredeck Battle hardened veterans With broken hearts One-armed men In…

January 22, 2020Poem

I love you Kora.

I love you Kora. No football in the morning...a lie in...I wish. Each step taken Is further away Or is it closer, toward Time is as flexible As the imagination Moving,…

January 22, 2020Poem

Each step taken

Each step taken Is further away Or is it closer, toward Time is as flexible As the imagination Moving, oscillating, This way and that With changeable acceleration Before coming to…

January 18, 2020Missive

With inspiration from the Scottish play.

With inspiration from the Scottish play. When something this way comes How will you know Who do you ask What stops the wayward From turning In the silence There are no witches To…

January 17, 2020Missive

Forever and always.

Forever and always. When something this way comes How will you know Who do you ask What stops the wayward From turning In the silence There are no witches To stir the pot The…

January 13, 2020Poem

Do you hear it

Do you hear it The whistle of sound A city makes In the dead of night A kiss before dawn When the night swallows Whole The day before A hot acrid reflux Of electricity The hum of…

January 13, 2020Poem

Who’s fooling who...as the old song goes.

Who’s fooling who...as the old song goes. Do you hear it The whistle of sound A city makes In the dead of night A kiss before dawn When the night swallows Whole The day before A…

January 9, 2020Missive

Again this is a different poem to the one I was going to post

Again this is a different poem to the one I was going to post But these are strange days indeed. So many good folk Easily led Told to wear masks Stay indoors Have a weekend at…

January 9, 2020Missive

So many good folk

So many good folk Easily led Told to wear masks Stay indoors Have a weekend at home To act as a breaker They eat crisps And take to bed There is no fight left To give the state a…

January 8, 2020Missive

I am at a loss,

I am at a loss, Turned inside out I would be like any other Flayed alive Melting into the earth Meeting the needs Of the land Levelled by my own hand The levellers were a good…

January 7, 2020Missive

I stand at a crossroads

I stand at a crossroads It is the witching hour With time enough Only for one wish What will it be Do I privilege those Less fortunate than me Be generous with my freedom To…

January 7, 2020Missive

I stand at a crossroads

I stand at a crossroads It is the witching hour With time enough Only for one wish What will it be Do I privilege those Less fortunate than me Be generous with my freedom To…

January 2, 2020Poem

Hope is in despair

Hope is in despair As it lies wanting Waiting for time To break its hold on Our disrepair Dreams are broken In anticipation Of the moment Sleep falls from our eyes As a token Of…

January 2, 2020Poem

A new year treat...two for the price of one

A new year treat...two for the price of one Every day there is A little piece of magic Waiting to be noticed Old men Trying to catch rainbows Splashing in rainwater Laughing like…

January 1, 2020Missive

There is no tabula-rasa

There is no tabula-rasa Clean slates Were written on before, Wiped clean Though they may be The surface is never the same Smeared in memories Half forgot Yesterday’s lesson Is…

December 31, 2019Missive

I love you, Kora.

I love you, Kora. A secret is not a secret If nobody knows It is an unknown Not hidden or kept But nonexistent It is in the act of knowing That it becomes Acquired knowledge Kept…

December 31, 2019Missive

A secret is not a secret

A secret is not a secret If nobody knows It is an unknown Not hidden or kept But nonexistent It is in the act of knowing That it becomes Acquired knowledge Kept in confidence…

December 24, 2019Missive

I have aged in years

I have aged in years Recently matured Brought low in adversity My struggle was always Disbelief There was enough of me To doubt If I would withstand The trials of becoming A real…

December 22, 2019Missive

Are you out there

Are you out there Waiting in suspension Of my disbelief Is there a time and place Where moments overlap An intersection A convergence of sorts Where we can meet I would step Into…

December 20, 2019Poem

Airport smells

Airport smells Burnt coffee beans A blend of body odour Brewed in mens urinals Brings tears to the eyes Chronic intoxicant The world in transit Crumpled looks And sleepy heads…

December 20, 2019Poem

Airport smells

Airport smells Burnt coffee beans A blend of body odour Brewed in men’s urinals Brings tears to the eyes Chronic intoxicant The world in transit Crumpled looks And sleepy heads…

December 19, 2019Missive

It is a good chair

It is a good chair A little closer to Ikea Than Chippendale Who were an all male Beefcake dance troupe Did they do the full Monty? Whatever that is Apart from an out of work…

December 19, 2019Missive

It is a good chair

It is a good chair A little closer to Ikea Than Chippendale Who were an all male Beefcake dance troupe Did they do the full Monty? Whatever that is Apart from an out of work…

December 18, 2019Poem

It’s Christmas time...

It’s Christmas time... Trouble me to care When the truth Is so easily dismissed The only reaction Is to recoil from the smell Of pity I can see you there Standing in shadow…

December 18, 2019Poem

It’s Christmas time...

It’s Christmas time... Trouble me to care When the truth Is so easily dismissed The only reaction Is to recoil from the smell Of pity I can see you there Standing in shadow…

December 16, 2019Poem

There is no stillness

There is no stillness Motion is perpetual Every solid object Is in transition Between one thing And another Atoms moving too quickly To be seen Mean everything is An optical…

December 16, 2019Poem

There is no stillness

There is no stillness Motion is perpetual Every solid object Is in transition Between one thing And another Atoms moving too quickly To be seen Mean everything is An optical…

December 12, 2019Poem

Is it over

Is it over When will we know As the veil is drawn The light already faded The mist a pearly white Shadows hunting for purpose A lamp in the window Flickers and dies Darkness eats…

December 10, 2019Poem

When disappointment

When disappointment Feels like a virtue It is so easy to forget How it feels to succeed Wary of false promise Too afraid to believe Success is ever deserved Defeat a default More…

December 10, 2019Poem

Hard choices.

Hard choices. When disappointment Feels like a virtue It is so easy to forget How it feels to succeed Wary of false promise Too afraid to believe Success is ever deserved Defeat a…

November 23, 2019Poem

Grass is well suited

Grass is well suited To hard times It needs to be It has a simplicity In design that Ensures its evolution Into a seed crop Though well trodden Invariably squashed As a necessity…

November 22, 2019Poem

Is there a point

Is there a point To this exercise When will it be revealed Scales falling away Let my blind eyes see Is there a truth waiting To prove itself worthy Of the name How many times…

November 21, 2019Poem

Is there truth in me

Is there truth in me An honesty Is everything I do and say A proof of my existence The purity of my soul A remnant of innocence Do I believe in beauty The majesty of good grace…

November 21, 2019Poem

Is there truth in me

Is there truth in me An honesty Is everything I do and say A proof of my existence The purity of my soul A remnant of innocence Do I believe in beauty The majesty of good grace…

November 18, 2019Poem

Why wouldn’t I? She was the love of my life.

Why wouldn’t I? She was the love of my life. They broke the mould When you were born How many times Has that been said Sometimes in praise Others in dread The phrase, so brutally…

November 18, 2019Poem

They broke the mould

They broke the mould When you were born How many times Has that been said Sometimes in praise Others in dread The phrase, so brutally revealed To be as unapologetic As the…

November 14, 2019Poem

The nearness of you

The nearness of you Almost upon me Close enough to touch Reaching out Senses straining To break free Escape the Earthly bound Corporeal Striving to float Into the ether The…

November 12, 2019Poem

She seemed in good spirits.

She seemed in good spirits. I miss Kora. How long is eternity When does it begin To determine its own future There is no impermanence In existence When nothing remains Unchanging…

November 12, 2019Poem

How long is eternity

How long is eternity When does it begin To determine its own future There is no impermanence In existence When nothing remains Unchanging There is little constancy In revolution…

November 7, 2019Poem

There are reflections

There are reflections In every window Each one holds a truth Waiting to be seen From the other side There was a picture Hanging on the wall Above the bed I see it now Caught in…

November 7, 2019Poem

What is there for me

What is there for me To influence When so much of life Exists independently Of my domain White Butterflies swarm For just one day Filling the air Catching the light Fluttering as…

November 7, 2019Poem

What is seen

What is seen Has already died The outer layer Flaking away Piling around our feet The weft Of a carpet Heavily worn Carried in dust moats Strips torn With every taunt Pieces of…

November 7, 2019Poem

You are celebration

You are celebration The wonder of the world Wrapped in fine paper With ribbons and bows A moment of expectation An element of surprise A fulfilment of thanks An intake of breath…

November 7, 2019Poem

From where I sit

From where I sit A slash of blue Separates One house from the other The roofs are flat The angles sharp Artless. A featureless sky Empty of interest A plainly coloured hew Free of…

November 7, 2019Poem

When all is said

When all is said What is left Of the dream Was it ever shared When you woke me From a nightmare The screams were real We lay together Holding hands Until sleep came You were…

November 6, 2019Poem

When the knife is raised

When the knife is raised The gun is fired The voice silenced In a welter of cruelty A wail of partizan Approbation Sanctimony Shows no remorse When the rope is hung From the…

November 6, 2019Poem

Election fright.

Election fright. When the knife is raised The gun is fired The voice silenced In a welter of cruelty A wail of partizan Approbation Sanctimony Shows no remorse When the rope is…

November 5, 2019Poem

As the years turn

As the years turn Recovery from mishap Is slower Even the smallest things Offer a challenge Breathing is still An autonomic response Completed With little regard For the…

November 5, 2019Poem

Don’t let the sun go down...

Don’t let the sun go down... Dandelions are fighters Proud to break through A crack in the pavement A brilliant display Sunshine yellow Blazing on a fallow field A colourful…

November 5, 2019Poem

Don’t let the sun go down...

Don’t let the sun go down... Dandelions are fighters Proud to break through A crack in the pavement A brilliant display Sunshine yellow Blazing on a fallow field A colourful…

November 2, 2019Poem

We were young

We were young Before footprints Were laid down As history On moondust Once upon a time Stonehenge was a new build With planning permission For another magic circle The clock moved…

November 2, 2019Poem

We were young

We were young Before footprints Were laid down As history On moondust Once upon a time Stonehenge was a new build With planning permission For another magic circle The clock moved…

October 28, 2019Poem

We all seek solace

We all seek solace In justification So many interpretations Of decisions taken For the greater good By what definition And who do we use As reference When we behold A god in man’s…

October 28, 2019Poem

We all seek solace

We all seek solace In justification So many interpretations Of decisions taken For the greater good By what definition And who do we use As reference When we behold A god in man’s…

October 27, 2019Poem

She is a high-minded cat

She is a high-minded cat Licks the cream With the tip of her tongue Peeping from her mouth In repose A knowing smile Fixed in place On a haughty face Her eyes all a flutter With…

October 23, 2019Poem

There is nothing in the air

There is nothing in the air But the bustle Of life Squeezing in on all sides Crowding out the illusion Of distance Falsely constructed Partitions Between organisms Easily torn In…

October 23, 2019Poem

Oh dear me.

Oh dear me. There is nothing in the air But the bustle Of life Squeezing in on all sides Crowding out the illusion Of distance Falsely constructed Partitions Between organisms…

October 22, 2019Missive

He finds himself

He finds himself Counting interactions How many words Have been spoken in one day Some without reply Baristas and check-out operators Seem to feature in the total With far more…

October 22, 2019Missive

He finds himself

He finds himself Counting interactions How many words Have been spoken in one day Some without reply Baristas and checkout operators Seem to feature in the total With far more…

October 18, 2019Poem

Halloween tale

Halloween tale Is it too late To arrest the fall Reaching out Flailing blindly Searching for a purchase Finding none. In the darkness Tied to a chair We all share The same fear As…

October 18, 2019Poem

Halloween tale

Halloween tale Is it too late To arrest the fall Reaching out Flailing blindly Searching for a purchase Finding none. In the darkness Tied to a chair We all share The same fear As…

October 16, 2019Missive

Has the time gone

Has the time gone When our intervention really mattered When words carefully uttered Influenced what might be done Information shared Not out of courtesy But as a matter of course…

October 13, 2019Poem

Dance with words

Dance with words Jumbled by the rhythm Of night music Barely heard above the fallout From a nearby balcony Where once a lover stood Waiting for a call To arms Wars were never…

October 12, 2019Poem

What keeps you

What keeps you Holds your heart Within its grasp Exerting you on Driving forward The hammerhead Hitting the nail Squarely down Into the hardwood Holding up the roof Keeping the…

October 12, 2019Missive

It was always

It was always Peter and Kora Or Kora and Peter It still is... What keeps you Holds your heart Within its grasp Exerting you on Driving forward The hammerhead Hitting the nail…

October 10, 2019Poem

The big crow caws

The big crow caws A warning The treetops are his Province Swooping down To give sentence To lesser lights Though they might shine With colours bright They are no match For his…

October 10, 2019Poem

Un-caring for the elderly

Un-caring for the elderly We are but ghostly Haunting the bones of life Breaking out spirits Sipped from a dusty glass Darkly stained In spite of the old ones Mopping lined brows…

October 9, 2019Poem

There is no escape

There is no escape From heartache No surreptitious Flight by night Will steal you away From the clutches Of sorrow There is no eluding Consequence It is attached Much as a shadow…

October 8, 2019Poem

A Mangrove

A Mangrove Is so much more than a tree In the sea, Proudly it stands Branches spread wide The world in its hands Landlocked at low tide So many have died Cut down for Marinas And…

October 8, 2019Poem

A Mangrove

A Mangrove Is so much more than a tree In the sea, Proudly it stands Branches spread wide The world in its hands Landlocked at low tide So many have died Cut down for Marinas And…

October 4, 2019Poem

Comfort has an edge

Comfort has an edge It comes with conditions Slicing through old scars Razor sharp observation Of the familiar Cutting through mangled defences Hastily erected As self protection…

October 3, 2019Missive

Is it a truth

Is it a truth A statement of relative fact Or metaphor For an undisclosed malaise Hidden from view By the turn of a phrase When the cock doth crow What will I know Of this…

October 3, 2019Missive

Is it a truth

Is it a truth A statement of relative fact Or metaphor For an undisclosed malaise Hidden from view By the turn of a phrase When the cock doth crow What will I know Of this…

October 2, 2019Missive

The walls are bare

The walls are bare Paintings remain In well travelled boxes Out of sight When they should be hung Too many for the room A decision in need of taking Each one too precious To…

October 2, 2019Missive

I am tired.

I am tired. The walls are bare Paintings remain In well travelled boxes Out of sight When they should be hung Too many for the room A decision in need of taking Each one too…

October 1, 2019Poem

It is not real

It is not real Not an object With mass Cannot be tethered Hindered Destroyed or repurposed It is invisible Never returning Even when called Brooks no delay Ringing a change Even…

October 1, 2019Poem

Time…

Time… It is not real Not an object With mass Cannot be tethered Hindered Destroyed or repurposed It is invisible Never returning Even when called Brooks no delay Ringing a change…

September 30, 2019Poem

Pain is not beauty

Pain is not beauty It is not a virtue Stoicism is not noble It is a smokescreen Behind which We hide How we feel About the progress Of disintegration Which began With a slap to…

September 30, 2019Poem

Pain is not beauty

Pain is not beauty It is not a virtue Stoicism is not noble It is a smokescreen Behind which We hide How we feel About the progress Of disintegration Which began With a slap to…

September 24, 2019Poem

My prostate and bowel are still at war.

My prostate and bowel are still at war. Circle with me Into the centre The moonlight glows Creamy white On the dancefloor Where the music plays Move me away From the periphery The…

September 22, 2019Poem

Who is watching

Who is watching Waiting in darkness Barely moving As the lights go down Babies sleeping Grieving widows Weeping Less a spectator More a participant Joining the cats On night…

September 22, 2019Poem

Who is watching

Who is watching Waiting in darkness Barely moving As the lights go down Babies sleeping Grieving widows Weeping Less a spectator More a participant Joining the cats On night…

September 21, 2019Missive

You don’t know me

You don’t know me I barely know me Nothing I say Has any relevance To the proof Of my disguise Or is it disingenuous Pretending to agree With the empty vessel theory Of everything…

September 20, 2019Poem

A white horse stampede

A white horse stampede Teeming across the bay Rolling in full Foam flecked Wild eyed fright, Heads tossed high Salty waters rise Into a broken sky Warm with a threat of rain,…

September 19, 2019Poem

In the shower

In the shower With warm water Washing yesterday’s Dreams away Rinsing the sour taste Of morning out of tired skin Smoothing away the creases Cleansing is a ritual It is better not…

September 18, 2019Missive

Nice.

Nice. We are responsible owners after all. There are things Which defy explanation Leaning back with hands In the sand Closing curious Sensitive fingers into a fist And finding a…

September 18, 2019Poem

There are things

There are things Which defy explanation Leaning back with hands In the sand Closing curious Sensitive fingers into a fist And finding a pendant Sorely missed Lost a few days…

September 16, 2019Poem

Is progress

Is progress Leaving me behind Watching the world Slip over the horizon Everything we need For survival In a container ship Bound for the furthest reaches Of our imagination When…

September 11, 2019Poem

There is little real fire

There is little real fire In these terse words Spat out in defiance Of the shallow pool From which they were drawn There is no depth To their antagonism No marrow in the bones Of…

September 11, 2019Poem

Presidential rhetoric.

Presidential rhetoric. There is nothing In the words But an excuse Some offer an apology Written as an afterthought On the back of a broken promise Folded into a pocket square…

September 11, 2019Missive

My time has gone.

My time has gone. There is little real fire In these terse words Spat out in defiance Of the shallow pool From which they were drawn There is no depth To their antagonism No…

September 11, 2019Missive

All good.

All good. Presidential rhetoric. There is nothing In the words But an excuse Some offer an apology Written as an afterthought On the back of a broken promise Folded into a pocket…

September 9, 2019Poem

The sun burns a hole

The sun burns a hole Through the ozone An affected reflection Inciting the blue With the sedition Of mutiny In every shadow Underlying the reason For shelter When the wind blows A…

September 9, 2019Poem

The sun burns a hole

The sun burns a hole Through the ozone An affected reflection Inciting the blue With the sedition Of mutiny In every shadow Underlying the reason For shelter When the wind blows A…

September 7, 2019Poem

Close your eyes

Close your eyes Turn into the wind Let it tingle Your skin Remember the first time You leaned out of the window Of a moving car The thrill Of excitement The chill In the backdraft…

September 7, 2019Missive

That eventuality would finally put the flour on the biscuit.

That eventuality would finally put the flour on the biscuit. Close your eyes Turn into the wind Let it tingle Your skin Remember the first time You leaned out of the window Of a…

September 6, 2019Poem

Cognition needs

Cognition needs More than a spark To power the cells Even as a fierce flame burns Jumping from one relay to the next Switching direction Creating patterns Schematics containing…

September 2, 2019Poem

Talk...don’t talk

Talk...don’t talk Touch... don’t touch Open top parades Mind game gymnastics As seen through First degree seminars Dispensing broken homilies To the disparate Lying in wait Behind…

September 1, 2019Poem

Is anything real

Is anything real Images reconstructed To fulfil a notion Preconceived As a learned response To reward An acceptance of Archetype The world A collection of secondhand Descriptors…

August 30, 2019Poem

Heartbroken

Heartbroken Cobblestones Worn smooth by the trample Of countless feet Unaware of the gradual Erosion as individual Pieces Fuse together Under pressure Crumbling when powdered dry…

August 30, 2019Missive

Heartbroken

Heartbroken Cobblestones Worn smooth by the trample Of countless feet Unaware of the gradual Erosion as individual Pieces Fuse together Under pressure Crumbling when powdered dry…

August 27, 2019Poem

You melt in my arms

You melt in my arms And a wisp of cool air Wafts over my skin Ruffling every hair They bow One by one At the passing Quivering In the vortex As absence Is a conflict Of…

August 26, 2019Poem

I dreamed

I dreamed In sweet regard For the truth of things Your head upon my shoulder The fragrance of you An intoxicating bouquet A serene moment Overwhelmed with desire To share In the…

August 23, 2019Poem

I bathed in nature

I bathed in nature As pagans stood On ley lines Worshipping the freedom Of the wind Waiting for the earth To speak Of its disappointment At the thoughtlessness Of children Who…

August 23, 2019Poem

After more than enough to drink in a Thames side pub

After more than enough to drink in a Thames side pub I bathed in nature As pagans stood On ley lines Worshipping the freedom Of the wind Waiting for the earth To speak Of its…

August 22, 2019Poem

Broker a peace

Broker a peace Drape me over Your shoulder Carry me to safety Over the blackened bones Of the fallen When the mist Is at its heaviest Thick with the iron Taste of blood Catching…

August 22, 2019Poem

Broker a peace

Broker a peace Drape me over Your shoulder Carry me to safety Over the blackened bones Of the fallen When the mist Is at its heaviest Thick with the iron Taste of blood Catching…

August 21, 2019Poem

Are we alone

Are we alone Stuck in the middle Of an argument between One existential moment And the next Considering truths With the ground shifting Even as we speak What do we seek When the…

August 20, 2019Poem

Am I but reflection

Am I but reflection A mirror To my soul Free to learn Of imperfection As untouchable As a rainbow As heroic as the dead A metaphor In a nursery rhyme Partitioned within Armour…

August 18, 2019Poem

You roll with me

You roll with me Down a grassy hill Childlike We run Carefree Through the wild meadow Laughing like drains Kicking the heads From Dandelions A shattered timepiece Spinning in…

August 18, 2019Poem

You roll with me

You roll with me Down a grassy hill Child like We run Care free Through the wild meadow Laughing like drains Kicking the heads From Dandelions A shattered timepiece Spinning in…

August 17, 2019Poem

I dreamed

I dreamed In sweet regard For the truth of things Your head upon my shoulder The fragrance of you An intoxicating bouquet A serene moment Overwhelmed with desire To share In the…

August 17, 2019Poem

If I follow

If I follow Will you wait Stop awhile Window shop Catch a bus Sit on the top deck Look through windows People in front rooms In pyjamas Eating bananas Wearing night caps Drinking…

August 14, 2019Poem

What is this washing over me

What is this washing over me But experience Will the weight of life Ever ease Heavy is the traveller’s heart The heft of it Exceeding expectation Idiosyncratic pleasure A…

August 14, 2019Poem

What is this washing over me

What is this washing over me But experience Will the weight of life Ever ease Heavy is the travellers heart The heft of it Exceeding expectation Idiosyncratic pleasure A lifeblood…

August 13, 2019Poem

Colour me

Colour me I am indistinct Ill-defined against the grey Bring the world to life With the warmth Of your breath The air is vibrant With the possibility Of such vitality The promise…

August 10, 2019Poem

All good.

All good. How weird is that? Is it credible Can only singers sing Whilst others Sit quiet Who can know What it is like to suffer When privilege is worn Like a glove Even cast-off…

August 10, 2019Poem

Is it credible

Is it credible Can only singers sing Whilst others Sit quiet Who can know What it is like to suffer When privilege is worn Like a glove Even cast-off it is there Waiting to be…

August 10, 2019Poem

There is music

There is music Floating lightly on humid air Drifting between Ordained peels of Raucous laughter Canned for ease Of tracking An anaemic sitcom On an iPad The smell of coffee Seeps…

August 5, 2019Poem

What is it you see

What is it you see Is it more Or less than yesterday When a President In a nervous sweat Gave it all away For want of a face wipe Who stood by When Maggie cried For the camera It…

August 5, 2019Poem

Is there anything more

Is there anything more To this than a thin disguise The trappings of life Loosely wrapped For fear of strangulation When desperate souls Cry out for swaddling The comfort of…

August 5, 2019Poem

Is there anything more

Is there anything more To this than a thin disguise The trappings of life Loosely wrapped For fear of strangulation When desperate souls Cry out for swaddling The comfort of…

August 4, 2019Poem

How is it done

How is it done The shrug of a shoulder Wrong footing Even the nimblest mover The sharpest knives So easily blunted By a wrap of Paper Sleight of hand Will fool the eagle-eyed…

August 4, 2019Poem

How is it done

How is it done The shrug of a shoulder Wrong footing Even the nimblest mover The sharpest knives So easily blunted By a wrap of Paper Sleight of hand Will fool the eagle-eyed…

July 30, 2019Poem

With a nod to Audin.

With a nod to Audin. The clock has no face Time is an artifice A fob watch lost In a fog Of misremembering How did the world end With so little To commend it, As stories undreamed…

July 29, 2019Poem

Pull me back

Pull me back From the edge With its enticement Bold inducement To peer out Beyond the boundary Between Our two worlds If I fall Who else will follow Nobody waits For explanations…

July 27, 2019Poem

What is the good

What is the good In holding on Even as a grip is questioned There is an Instinctive tightening A death's hand Locked into the fear Of letting go Not for its own sake More as an…

July 27, 2019Poem

What is the good

What is the good In holding on Even as a grip is questioned There is an Instinctive tightening A death's hand Locked into the fear Of letting go Not for its own sake More as an…

July 27, 2019Poem

Eucalyptus leaves

Eucalyptus leaves Caught in the sun Winking in the wind Sparkling as diamonds Glittering the sky Proud trees bowing With respect As the eagle flies Swallows swoop In harmony…

July 27, 2019Poem

Eucalyptus leaves

Eucalyptus leaves Caught in the sun Winking in the wind Sparkling as diamonds Glittering the sky Proud trees bowing With respect As the eagle flies Swallows swoop In harmony…

July 26, 2019Poem

Sweet.

Sweet. Oh well Grandparent day at school...lovely. Clouds gather along the far edge Of the bay Rolling and tumbling slowly Ancient gods At war with one another A stampede of wild…

July 26, 2019Poem

Clouds gather along the far edge

Clouds gather along the far edge Of the bay Rolling and tumbling slowly Ancient gods At war with one another A stampede of wild stallions A legion of ancient warriors Powdered…

July 24, 2019Poem

Break with time

Break with time Attendance to detail Is futile When small things Which make the difference Never remain In the same place Long enough To hold on to Step out of mind Follow a…

July 24, 2019Poem

Very probably.

Very probably. Break with time Attendance to detail Is futile When small things Which make the difference Never remain In the same place Long enough To hold on to Step out of mind…

July 24, 2019Missive

Double-decker joyride.

Double-decker joyride. On the journey into Sunderland When I thought It was home to the Queen Before the Beatles When traffic was a horse With a thrown shoe A bus every half hour…

July 24, 2019Missive

On the journey into Sunderland

On the journey into Sunderland When I thought It was home to the Queen Before the Beatles When traffic was a horse With a thrown shoe A bus every half hour Except on Sunday…

July 24, 2019Poem

Is there a workshop

Is there a workshop For broken hearts A repository A lost place A warehouse Somewhere between This space and that Where hearts are stored in sequence Waiting to be recovered…

July 20, 2019Missive

My gosh but I do miss her.

My gosh but I do miss her. Beware the illusion Of happiness There is jeopardy In acceptance Belief without proof Promotes blind spots Wellbeing marketed As a superfood To keep the…

July 20, 2019Missive

Beware the illusion

Beware the illusion Of happiness There is jeopardy In acceptance Belief without proof Promotes blind spots Wellbeing marketed As a superfood To keep the people Well-fed On…

July 18, 2019Poem

I never speak

I never speak To soldiers There is no changing A certainty The belief In a stranger’s heart Is a closely guarded Secret How can I see you Slipping through shadows Whispering by…

July 18, 2019Poem

Without those memories I would have crashed and burned ong ago.

Without those memories I would have crashed and burned ong ago. I never speak To soldiers There is no changing A certainty The belief In a stranger’s heart Is a closely guarded…

July 15, 2019Poem

The sea is a reflector

The sea is a reflector Mirror me In real time Bending forward to follow The swish of a flathead A curious Yabby Blindly waving Lean in Will you reach out Do we touch Will we meet…

July 15, 2019Poem

A wan sunlight

A wan sunlight Laps weakly At the window Strangely resistant to mourning The loss of its power To surprise, Thrumming its fingers Against the backdrop Of a rainstorm Revealing a…

July 15, 2019Poem

The sea is a reflector

The sea is a reflector Mirror me In real time Bending forward to follow The swish of a flathead A curious Yabby Blindly waving Lean in Will you reach out Do we touch Will we meet…

July 15, 2019Poem

A wan sunlight

A wan sunlight Laps weakly At the window Strangely resistant to mourning The loss of its power To surprise, Thrumming its fingers Against the backdrop Of a rainstorm Revealing a…

July 14, 2019Poem

There are words

There are words I would long to hear Spoken clearly Into my ear Bursting with love Filling my soul As they float in the air I picture how They would look On a page So…

July 10, 2019Poem

A was a wall

A was a wall Dividing East From West They tore me down Used my bones To build a patio For a temple the Modernists buried Beneath an office block In Shoreditch Once I bore witness…

July 10, 2019Poem

A was a wall

A was a wall Dividing East From West They tore me down Used my bones To build a patio For a temple the Modernists buried Beneath an office block In Shoreditch Once I bore witness…

July 9, 2019Poem

She would love this place and I wish she was here.

She would love this place and I wish she was here. Lie with me Wonder at the ocean Rolling on Deeply delved stillness Cold and dark Beneath white tipped waves Hiding so much An…

July 9, 2019Poem

Lie with me

Lie with me Wonder at the ocean Rolling on Deeply delved stillness Cold and dark Beneath white tipped waves Hiding so much An invisible touch Just out of reach Light dissolved In…

July 6, 2019Poem

The sky is an ocean

The sky is an ocean Watch me flounder Drowning in plain sight Throw a lifeline From the shadows Where sunlight Trickles through a canopy Of rain clouds Ominous rollers Ready to…

July 6, 2019Poem

I said yes...of course I will.

I said yes...of course I will. I love you Kora. The sky is an ocean Watch me flounder Drowning in plain sight Throw a lifeline From the shadows Where sunlight Trickles through a…

July 4, 2019Poem

Nevertheless I have had worse nights…

Nevertheless I have had worse nights… Warm yourself Sit by the fire Listen to the rattle Of pots and pans As old bones settle Lose yourself in flame Purifying ragged thoughts…

July 4, 2019Poem

Warm yourself

Warm yourself Sit by the fire Listen to the rattle Of pots and pans As old bones settle Lose yourself in flame Purifying ragged thoughts Easing the flow of blood Arresting the…

July 1, 2019Poem

Albion.

Albion. Yonder Over the hill Beyond the frozen forest The sunken city Surrounded by clay pits At the very edge Of a forgotten lea Trampled with muddy prints Cloven hooves In…

June 29, 2019Poem

Is it all worth

Is it all worth The posturing Playing to the gallery Making false promises With barely enough Substance to cover the lie If anybody cares to try To see beneath it There are more…

June 29, 2019Poem

Is it all worth

Is it all worth The posturing Playing to the gallery Making false promises With barely enough Substance to cover the lie If anybody cares to try To see beneath it There are more…

June 27, 2019Poem

One more breath

One more breath Blows the wind Stirring an ocean coloured sky Salt tossed clouds Wild as running water Turbulent air Scouring the dirt from Between old men’s toes Walking the…

June 27, 2019Poem

One more breath

One more breath Blows the wind Stirring an ocean coloured sky Salt tossed clouds Wild as running water Turbulent air Scouring the dirt from Between old men’s toes Walking the…

June 25, 2019Poem

Shut me down

Shut me down My system is redundant Whatever was uniquely Individuated Has long since been Superseded By an algorithm Designed to replicate A human response To stimuli Without the…

June 24, 2019Poem

I don’t think it is possible...not now and maybe not ever.

I don’t think it is possible...not now and maybe not ever. Is there a workshop For broken hearts A repository A lost place A warehouse Somewhere between This space and that Where…

June 19, 2019Poem

Life is a death sentence

Life is a death sentence A burden for many To carry through all of their days There is respite In love Hidden as it may be Buried yonder Beneath the flowering Cherry tree In the…

June 19, 2019Poem

Life is a death sentence

Life is a death sentence A burden for many To carry through all of their days There is respite In love Hidden as it may be Buried yonder Beneath the flowering Cherry tree In the…

June 17, 2019Poem

Tethered

Tethered Held by a rope Tied to an ankle Sentenced to walk in circles A beast Burdened with the knowledge Of no escape Yoked onto a heavy plough Brow furrowed with pain Lost in…

June 17, 2019Poem

Life gets kinda tedious don’t it? LOL.

Life gets kinda tedious don’t it? LOL. Tethered Held by a rope Tied to an ankle Sentenced to walk in circles A beast Burdened with the knowledge Of no escape Yoked onto a heavy…

June 16, 2019Poem

I am crated and shipped

I am crated and shipped Humiliated and whipped Locked in a room To be viewed Tortured for fun I am stripped naked Fed scraps Confined The meaning of freedom Redefined To enclose…

June 16, 2019Poem

I am crated and shipped

I am crated and shipped Humiliated and whipped Locked in a room To be viewed Tortured for fun I am stripped naked Fed scraps Confined The meaning of freedom Redefined To enclose…

June 13, 2019Poem

There is no beauty in it

There is no beauty in it Whatever might have been In the beginning Has long since gone Shrivelled into a gnarled Old walnut Too rotten on the inside To be of any use In a fruit…

June 10, 2019Poem

Holding on

Holding on Scratchy fidgety Not finger tight Life is a much looser Arrangement than that Rumours of instability Meet the threshold For breaking down Waiting for pennies To drop…

June 10, 2019Poem

Holding on

Holding on Scratchy fidgety Not finger tight Life is a much looser Arrangement than that Rumours of instability Meet the threshold For breaking down Waiting for pennies To drop…

June 7, 2019Poem

With the passing of years

With the passing of years There is a chance For learning Take nothing as a given Or for granted With every loss Is realisation Life is temporary A contemporary state Supplementary…

June 6, 2019Poem

My parents wedding anniversary…

My parents wedding anniversary… Walking barefoot Through a blizzard Of cherry blossom Blowing lazily On the breeze Carpeting the ground Soft as Eiderdown Touching toes In a rock…

June 6, 2019Poem

Walking barefoot

Walking barefoot Through a blizzard Of cherry blossom Blowing lazily On the breeze Carpeting the ground Soft as Eiderdown Touching toes In a rock pool Filtering sand between…

June 4, 2019Poem

Dream of summer

Dream of summer The smell of lavender Growing wild at the roadside Angry wasps invading A picnic In the forest next to the High ponds As the wind blows In from the sea Salt riming…

June 4, 2019Poem

Dream of summer

Dream of summer The smell of lavender Growing wild at the roadside Angry wasps invading A picnic In the forest next to the High ponds As the wind blows In from the sea Salt riming…

June 1, 2019Poem

Bring it on.

Bring it on. Lean into the wind Counterbalance, It is compensation For listening to both sides Wild in the blowing Out from the sea Nothing really matters Behind glass But the…

June 1, 2019Poem

Indifference

Indifference Is a cold hand Squeezing the heart A frozen ground An unyielding wall A breathless void An empty stare A well of deep confine Darkness complete Draining life With no…

June 1, 2019Poem

Melbourne Sandbar.

Melbourne Sandbar. Lean into the wind Counterbalance, It is compensation For listening to both sides Wild in the blowing Out from the sea Nothing really matters Behind glass But…

June 1, 2019Poem

A pinch and a thump.

A pinch and a thump. Pilates later, typically when I feel dead on my feet. Indifference Is a cold hand Squeezing the heart A frozen ground An unyielding wall A breathless void A…

May 30, 2019Poem

Open me

Open me Like a flower in sunlight Petals spread in welcome Of its warm attention Head bobbing gently in appreciation Of the breeze A soft breath Tickling every single hair On a…

May 30, 2019Poem

Open me

Open me Like a flower in sunlight Petals spread in welcome Of its warm attention Head bobbing gently in appreciation Of the breeze A soft breath Tickling every single hair On a…

May 28, 2019Poem

There is no flight

There is no flight We are pedestrian The spirit is not upon us Unless splashed upon the rocks There is no freedom Weight of indifference Is as suffocating As drowning in one’s own…

May 28, 2019Poem

It is in the eyes

It is in the eyes A well to fall into A journey without end A million stars To wish upon A whole universe Of infinite possibility A quickening Subtle pulsation The cradle of life…

May 28, 2019Missive

It is in the eyes

It is in the eyes A well to fall into A journey without end A million stars To wish upon A whole universe Of infinite possibility A quickening Subtle pulsation The cradle of life…

May 25, 2019Poem

Seen through windows

Seen through windows Blank looks On welfare faces Join the queue Of strangers Waiting in line For soup at the kitchen Gathered in spaces Warming hands Around fiery braziers Under…

May 22, 2019Poem

There is no time wasted

There is no time wasted Unless it is wanted So to be Break bread, eat Converse with me Over a glass of wine Discover the wonder Of intimacy As the stars traverse the sky Question…

May 16, 2019Missive

Until she wasn’t.

Until she wasn’t. We could ice dance Beneath the stars Skate down the street In a deep freeze Bygone winters A sepia childhood We had no fridge But a meat safe Wore woollen socks…

May 16, 2019Poem

We could ice dance

We could ice dance Beneath the stars Skate down the street In a deep freeze Bygone winters A sepia childhood We had no fridge But a meat safe Wore woollen socks On our hands to…

May 15, 2019Missive

There are many stories

There are many stories Not just his Truth is a metaphor A generalised belief An acceptance Of a given A version of a tale We tell ourselves To soothe the sayers Hectored tone Some…

May 15, 2019Poem

There are many stories

There are many stories Not just his Truth is a metaphor A generalised belief An acceptance Of a given A version of a tale We tell ourselves To soothe the sayers Hectored tone Some…

May 6, 2019Poem

Foundering in the deep

Foundering in the deep Of a bleak outlook, Snow is unnecessarily Attractive From a window In the glow of lamplight Individual flakes fall Whilst some just hang In a suspension Of…

May 5, 2019Poem

Stargazing

Stargazing Unsettle me With your absent smile Barely recognisable In the gloaming As the light fades Beyond the reach Of the lantern Shadows move me More than the silence They…

May 4, 2019Poem

Stargazing

Stargazing Unsettle me With your absent smile Barely recognisable In the gloaming As the light fades Beyond the reach Of the lantern, Shadows move me More than the silence They…

May 3, 2019Poem

A Sunday joint

A Sunday joint Wrapped in brown paper Tied up with string Carried from the butchers On a Saturday afternoon With enough meat Left over For Monday Sixpence for going Saved up In a…

May 3, 2019Poem

When a white sun hangs

When a white sun hangs In a bleaching sky With no chance of rain The air too dry Children left alone to die For want of freedom When the rich man Does what rich men can Takes all…

May 1, 2019Poem

It was scary but I woke up and out of it.

It was scary but I woke up and out of it. I am tossed A boy thrown high Birthday bumps in a schoolyard Jumping onto haywains A blizzard of fine chaff The prickle of short sharp…

May 1, 2019Poem

I am tossed

I am tossed A boy thrown high Birthday bumps in a schoolyard Jumping onto haywains A blizzard of fine chaff The prickle of short sharp Corn stems Cutting through Holes in old…

April 29, 2019Poem

Think of me

Think of me Not too deeply I am a shallow reflection A dreamer in two dimensions I have a third Hidden in a suitcase With a false bottom It will carry me further Than my father…

April 29, 2019Poem

Inertia

Inertia White clouds overhead Skylight dreamers Vapour trail streamers Writing I love you In letters a mile high I only hope the Loved one knows What it took to arrange It might…

April 28, 2019Poem

Do you see me

Do you see me Head bowed down To the North wind Wrapped Warm against the cold An old tree Rooted in the past Unearth me There is little goodness Left in this soil I am too tired…

April 28, 2019Missive

Sunday the 28th of April.

‘More's the pity’. Marek’s birthday tomorrow. Monday the29th of April. Rest in Peace my boy. White clouds overhead Skylight dreamers Vapour trail streamers Writing I love you In…

April 27, 2019Missive

I talk out loud

I talk out loud Even when walking It is strange The act of speaking As a demonstration of existence Not as communication But self-verification Living alone is a world within a…

April 27, 2019Poem

An unforgiving climate of change.

An unforgiving climate of change. There is no space For maneuver Internal debate Has given way to inertia A slow breeding Of external clutter Surrounded by doubtful Reminders Of…

April 27, 2019Missive

This was not the piece I had in mind for today's missive

This was not the piece I had in mind for today's missive But when out walking the following words came together And on return just tumbled onto the page With a nod to Bob and…

April 27, 2019Poem

An unforgiving climate of change.

An unforgiving climate of change. There is no space For manoeuvre Internal debate Has given way to inertia A slow breeding Of external clutter Surrounded by doubtful Reminders Of…

April 25, 2019Poem

Millions died from starvation in Russia and China…

Millions died from starvation in Russia and China… Mercury rising Even the ice Feels warmer to touch Hot breath On my shoulder Is a little colder When the wind changes course It…

April 25, 2019Poem

Mercury rising

Mercury rising Even the ice Feels warmer to touch Hot breath On my shoulder Is a little colder When the wind changes course It is an uneven path Wending as it does Between one…

April 24, 2019Poem

Three blue Elephants

Three blue Elephants Nose to tail Amble toward A William Morris linen spray Artfully placed Decor Shelved vinyl And all that jazz Sharing space with pictures Art and books In an…

April 23, 2019Poem

Fold me into a warm blanket

Fold me into a warm blanket Of beneficence Freshly baked bread Coffee Pot on a stove Home fires Sonny Rollins and Miles Davis Bend into a groove As cool as single malt Rolled over…

April 22, 2019Poem

Paper cuts are painful

Paper cuts are painful Bend the knee To the righteous They will be heartbreakers Burn your fingers On the hot plate Everyone has done it My blisters Have little sisters And a few…

April 15, 2019Poem

My wave length

My wave length Is bent out of shape Drawn forward Whilst trying to escape With no way back So far to fall Into the darkness Snuffed out In a final spin Before disappearance There…

April 13, 2019Poem

If,

If, Together we exist Why does the feeling persist I have missed something Why do I care what you say Even though we disagree Can we still be friends Do you like what you see Are…

April 12, 2019Poem

A single tear,

A single tear, Lachrymose crystal Perfectly formed Falling to the ground As a white dove flies Into the sun Casting a shadow On an upturned buggy Wheels still spinning An infant…

April 12, 2019Poem

A single tear,

A single tear, Lachrymose crystal Perfectly formed Falling to the ground As a white dove flies Into the sun Casting a shadow On an upturned buggy Wheels still spinning An infant…

April 11, 2019Poem

Birds sing

Birds sing They squawk and talk Chit chat about this and that Coveting nesting sites Swallows have aerial fights As crows win the war Dogs have conversations Across the fence Lone…

April 11, 2019Poem

Sunlight breaking

Sunlight breaking Through eiderdown Soft bellied cloud Red tinged at sunset Fiery ingots In a molten sky Poetic allusions In response To a pall of pollution A bellicose soupcon Of…

April 11, 2019Poem

Rhubarb.

Rhubarb. Birds sing They squawk and talk Chit chat about this and that Covetting nesting sites Swallows have aerial fights As crows win the war Dogs have conversations Across the…

April 11, 2019Poem

Vegan extremism now...my goodness, what next?

Vegan extremism now...my goodness, what next? Sunlight breaking Through eiderdown Soft bellied cloud Red tinged at sunset Fiery ingots In a molten sky Poetic allusions In response…

April 10, 2019Poem

I will miss her even more when I am alone.

I will miss her even more when I am alone. I have no confidence In politicians To do the right thing In big business To care about Ordinary people In need of a fair deal With…

April 10, 2019Poem

I have no confidence

I have no confidence In politicians To do the right thing In big business To care about Ordinary people In need of a fair deal With their right To live a good life Free of the…

April 8, 2019Poem

Cruel winds blow

Cruel winds blow Lonely birds Over treacherous seas Too exhausted for flight Too afraid to stop Drowning is not an option To be considered As white tops Reach up Frothing with…

April 8, 2019Poem

Help me out Kora.

Help me out Kora. Cruel winds blow Lonely birds Over treacherous seas Too exhausted for flight Too afraid to stop Drowning is not an option To be considered As white tops Reach up…

April 7, 2019Poem

The colonial virus

The colonial virus It is a chill Sharply drawn Stone cold Madame Tussauds Death stare A featureless parade Of arid, brittle life Devoid of warmth A dry crust Easy to powder…

April 7, 2019Poem

I hope so.

I hope so. I miss Kora. The colonial virus It is a chill Sharply drawn Stone cold Madame Tussauds Death stare A featureless parade Of arid, brittle life Devoid of warmth A dry…

April 6, 2019Poem

Different moments

Different moments Alternate departures Time lapses Without waiting For confirmation Travel information Is at a premium In the rush To banter words Before the hush Imposed on…

April 6, 2019Poem

Astalavista baby.

Astalavista baby. Different moments Alternate departures Time lapses Without waiting For confirmation Travel information Is at a premium In the rush To banter words Before the…

March 30, 2019Poem

Open wide thine eyes

Open wide thine eyes They are too distracted By the colour Of so many bright lights Split asunder And refracted Through a rheumy Film of tears Scant protection Against the…

March 29, 2019Poem

I am nothing

I am nothing But a fool How could I believe We were invulnerable Bulletproof Nothing would break Our spirit A love forged In adversity Would conquer all Together we traversed…

March 28, 2019Poem

You are love

You are love Sickness Whispering words No one can hear Intimacies No one can see Taking me by surprise The breath of my body Released in deflation Winded, I fall For you Over and…

March 27, 2019Poem

Buried

Buried In barely remembered Pockets of forgetting Yesterday is gone It slips away Without a second glance Eager to leave Afraid to outstay A welcome Diminished, Even before…

March 21, 2019Poem

Coronaviral

Coronaviral A slough of despond Accompanies The broken economy Restriction of liberty Baby boomers In isolation Old strollers Ditched High rollers Struggle to pass the test No…

March 21, 2019Poem

A slough of despond

A slough of despond Accompanies The broken economy Restriction of liberty Baby boomers In isolation Old strollers Ditched High rollers Struggle to pass the test No difference…

March 13, 2019Poem

Bummer...in more ways than one.

Bummer...in more ways than one. Stay, a foolish heart In its wish to flee This sleeve Does it deign to wear Itself regally Carried Or captivated By an erotic Charge of…

March 13, 2019Poem

Stay, foolish heart

Stay, foolish heart In its wish to flee This sleeve Does it deign to wear Itself regally Carried Or captivated By an erotic Charge of imprisonment A biased observer Barred from…

March 12, 2019Poem

Oxygen is a narcotic

Oxygen is a narcotic It is impossible to deny Breathing an essential Before red mist falls There is no living without The sweetness Of the first taste of morning Filling the lungs…

March 9, 2019Poem

Gosh, I miss you, Kora.

Gosh, I miss you, Kora. When a day lacks substance Reach out a hand Take a firm hold Pull it closer Grasp the ruff of its collar Ride the kickback Shake the life out of it Before…

March 9, 2019Poem

When a day lacks substance

When a day lacks substance Reach out a hand Take a firm hold Pull it closer Grasp the ruff of its collar Ride the kickback Shake the life out of it Before the slippage Into memory…

March 7, 2019Poem

Fragility is strength

Fragility is strength Flesh So easily torn Bones broken Snapping as tinder Greensticks split Under duress As joints crack So the back is bowed Weighed down By more than woes…

March 7, 2019Poem

Fragility is strength

Fragility is strength Flesh So easily torn Bones broken Snapping as tinder Greensticks split Under duress As joints crack So the back is bowed Weighed down By more than woes…

March 5, 2019Poem

Old houses

Old houses Hold more than memories Crumbling plaster Curling wallpaper Last seen before the war Tinder dry newspapers Used as underlay Headlines of yesteryear Who knows where The…

March 3, 2019Poem

No survivors

No survivors Sweetly sings the morning A siren’s call To the grieving Old sailors Waiting to sail Mouths sewn shut To silence the whisper Of warnings Pretence of interest Is an…

March 2, 2019Poem

There is nothing worse

There is nothing worse Than warm champagne A broken fingernail A flat tyre in a rainstorm No signal for the phone Wet through With no change of clothes Falling in the mud Sump oil…

March 2, 2019Poem

There is nothing worse

There is nothing worse Than warm champagne A broken fingernail A flat tyre in a rainstorm No signal for the phone Wet through With no change of clothes Falling in the mud Sump oil…

February 26, 2019Poem

If it carries on I will have to get a referral for a urine test…

If it carries on I will have to get a referral for a urine test… Pass me over When I am sleeping Sprinkle angel dust Let it settle upon my face Lest my eyes come open As the…

February 26, 2019Poem

Pass me over

Pass me over When I am sleeping Sprinkle angel dust Let it settle upon my face Lest my eyes come open As the breath leaves In slow remorse It would be painful To be reminded Of…

February 17, 2019Poem

There were ships

There were ships Made from cardboard With bedsheet sails Firing water cannon Across a paddling pool As wide as the seven seas Pirates carousing With lemonade Duelling with plastic…

February 17, 2019Poem

There were ships

There were ships Made from cardboard With bedsheet sails Firing water cannon Across a paddling pool As wide as the seven seas Pirates carousing With lemonade Duelling with plastic…

February 10, 2019Poem

I miss Kora dreadfully.

I miss Kora dreadfully. I will cope but I will never get over losing her...ever. Are we adrift In a boundless sea Traversing the inevitable Asleep at the tiller Floating on solar…

February 10, 2019Poem

Are we adrift

Are we adrift In a boundless sea Traversing the inevitable Asleep at the tiller Floating on solar winds Blindly travelling Lost, navigating An expanding cosmos Is there any…

February 6, 2019Poem

Open is the heart

Open is the heart To let you in It is as welcome As the sweet breath Of summer A healing wind Where wildflowers Flavour the air With the bold scent Of a new day Golden hay bales…

February 6, 2019Poem

Open is the heart

Open is the heart To let you in It is as welcome As the sweet breath Of summer A healing wind Where wildflowers Flavour the air With the bold scent Of a new day Golden hay bales…

February 5, 2019Poem

You lied to me

You lied to me There is no Santa Claus Fairies will not die With no belief They will just stay away There are other worlds Imaginary friends Hide in shadows Waiting for the right…

February 5, 2019Poem

You lied to me

You lied to me There is no Santa Claus Fairies will not die With no belief They will just stay away There are other worlds Imaginary friends Hide in shadows Waiting for the right…

January 30, 2019Poem

Is it too late to turn

Is it too late to turn Once we have seen The monolith So much of it lies Hidden Below the water line It takes too long Stopping is an idle race Perhaps we should Just plough on…

January 30, 2019Poem

Is it too late to turn

Is it too late to turn Once we have seen The monolith So much of it lies Hidden Below the waterline It takes too long Stopping is an idle race Perhaps we should Just plough on…

January 28, 2019Poem

Hiding in the tall grass

Hiding in the tall grass Pretending it is summer Waiting for the rain To wash me away Anything to change The feeling of inevitability Surrounding the evolution Of change…

January 25, 2019Poem

Does it matter?

Does it matter? There are so many words Floating in abstract Encircling, A scrabble Of covered wagons Waiting to spell Westward Ho Nouns wander listlessly Sleepy sheep Chewing…

January 25, 2019Poem

There are so many words

There are so many words Floating in abstract Encircling, A scrabble Of covered wagons Waiting to spell Westward Ho Nouns wander listlessly Sleepy sheep Chewing grass As a…

January 24, 2019Missive

I know nothing

I know nothing Of poetry Of life The definition of love The intention of being The measure of another The passion of cause Sleight of indifference The pain of suffering Is always…

January 23, 2019Poem

Everything slips away

Everything slips away Unseen Between glances Trying to remain unblinking For fear of missing A goodbye Even when there is none Nobody knows When a change occurs Waiting for the…

January 18, 2019Poem

Oh well.

Oh well. What do you see When I see the dawning Fingers of sunlight Melting in shadows The night sky above me Becoming a window The first bird is calling A welcome to morning The…

January 18, 2019Poem

What do you see

What do you see When I see the dawning Fingers of sunlight Melting in shadows The night sky above me Becoming a window The first bird is calling A welcome to morning The wind in…

January 17, 2019Poem

What is proportional

What is proportional About representation Is it a crime Are we a victim Of loneliness Who bears responsibility For the relief of ennui How can we evaluate causation In the…

January 16, 2019Poem

Talk to me

Talk to me Without rancour In real-time Before symptomatic Plunder Takes away the reason For a metaphor Plainly spoken Steal my thunder It is not worthy Of your attention When the…

January 15, 2019Poem

There are few dreams

There are few dreams Worthy of remembrance Nothing comes to mind Unless it screams The memories we have Are soon forgotten In the waking Unlike when we were children Spiders on…

January 13, 2019Poem

What do you think

What do you think You know about me About anything The tip-tapping of a keyboard The only clue So many opinions Become unglued at midnight Too much trust placed In messaging Video…

January 7, 2019Poem

There is never

There is never Total silence Even the deaf have tinnitus However intermittent The sound of one’s own Heartbeat Ringing in the ears Never complete darkness The flicker of a shadow…

January 1, 2019Poem

Dampened is the

Dampened is the Spirit flagged By too much exposure To harsh truths Weathered by changeable Attitudes Stripped of protection Riven to the bone Powdered and blown Ground between…

December 31, 2018Poem

Unlock

Unlock A memory Allow the essential essence Of my existence To bleed into dark corridors Wash into empty rooms Push against closed doors Uncover blackened windows Pour in stately…

December 29, 2018Poem

I miss Kora.

I miss Kora. Give me wings Oh how I would fly Dancing through the air Coordinated in movement A mockery of Synchronised divers Dipping as one Noses pinched closed Feigning a smile…

December 24, 2018Poem

Fingers crossed.

Fingers crossed. Night night...I miss you Kora. Bring me home Dig up the bones Buried beneath the dust Of bygones Where the worms lie Flat and dry In the heat of an unforgiving…

December 20, 2018Poem

It needed to be said.

It needed to be said. Move me With your story As the wind Rifles through byways Collecting the dust of memories The whisper of Broken hearts and fairytales Dripping with…

December 18, 2018Poem

But other than that all is good.

But other than that all is good. Your kiss As I awake Your warm breath Lifts me Higher than rooftops Over tilted steeples Floating on the wind Between sun tossed trees With…

December 12, 2018Poem

Ah well...at least she is, in my dreams.

Ah well...at least she is, in my dreams. There are no sticks In the yard Big enough to lay across My back No blades so keenly ground As to slice through The armoury of excuses…

November 30, 2018Poem

I will bid you goodnight.

I will bid you goodnight. I love you Kora. There will come a time When the cold Has worked its way Into the bone Numbing the sorry soul Before it has chance to Find its way home…

November 29, 2018Missive

Onward and upward.

Onward and upward. Such is dread Hidden Beneath unbidden silence Every muted sound Stripped of meaning Muffled and bound Buried so deeply down Below the threshold Of understanding…

November 5, 2018Poem

The wind picks up

The wind picks up So much more than leaves Pollen and dust Every hushed whisper is Tossed high into the air Forming new chains Of thought rarely connected Origami clouds scud Over…

November 2, 2018Poem

Concrete slabs

Concrete slabs Broken pavements Twisted lamp posts Wreathed in dust Sedimented earth A sky painted rust Is what it was What it might become A dystopian nightmare Needs not an…

October 24, 2018Poem

I will never know now...only in dreams.

I will never know now...only in dreams. I am getting too old for this. Wave no flags Half mast or flying high Trampled in the dirt As angry bullets fly Painted in bright colours…

October 12, 2018Poem

Pour me a drink

Pour me a drink It is the worst night Of a long hard winter A terrible storm Endless in its persuasion Relentless in pursuit Of a release Caught whistling in the dark Squeezed…

October 6, 2018Poem

Brand loyalty.

Brand loyalty. My gosh Kora I miss you. I miss my wife. To hear those words Falling from your lips The sound they made The tumble Of laughter When I caught your eye In the mirror…

October 5, 2018Poem

There was an ease

There was an ease About the nature Of the dismissal Nothing of consequence Would come from this As if He thought himself Untouchable Social standing White male privilege Centuries…

October 1, 2018Poem

Not yet and maybe not ever.

Not yet and maybe not ever. I missed Kora today. As the leaf turns The greener side inclines Toward the sun Cherry blossom blooms More each day Filling the window A passionate…

September 25, 2018Poem

And still I write this self absorbed drivel.

And still I write this self absorbed drivel. There is no redemption In rumination It is not in the gift Of any one person To erase the past Change the process Of remembrance The…

September 13, 2018Poem

Cowardly.

Cowardly. Everything hangs loosely Around the idea Of a good life Throw off the mantle It barely covers The underside Where shadows grow More defined Waiting for an opportunity To…

September 4, 2018Missive

Raise a glass

Raise a glass Accept the need To coexist With conflict There is no peace Without it Absence of doubt Hesitation or uncertainty Is not as desirable As you might think When grey is…

August 26, 2018Poem

Of course she doesn’t procrastinate as much as me.

Of course she doesn’t procrastinate as much as me. Tumble me down Throw off the shackles Watch as limbless logs Slide down a slope Into waiting water It was an illusion Of freedom…

August 2, 2018Poem

You wander

You wander In and out With barely space Enough to breathe Squeezing through Closed doors Bolted to keep some things out Some things in Drifting with little purpose It seems…

July 28, 2018Poem

Saturday the 28th of July.

‘Yes I remember…’ Kerry is soon to be forty if you can believe it. You are never coming back are you? How do we move forward When the wind Is not prevailing There is no moon Blood…

July 24, 2018Poem

Heaven forfend.

Heaven forfend. The world is close enough But too far away To touch without reaching out To risk a brush with The other side Of the divide Is more than A matter of debate Laptop…

July 18, 2018Poem

That will never happen though...the king of wishful thinking.

That will never happen though...the king of wishful thinking. Ghosts Inhabiting empty spaces Suffocate from within Nothing to see Anywhere But everywhere Is bursting with Gossamer…

July 14, 2018Poem

Should I reach out to Marcus?

Should I reach out to Marcus? Do not cry There is money in the meter Half a loaf A pot of jam Milk you can drink Straight from the bottle Full cream Not homogenized Freshly worked…

July 4, 2018Poem

Thank goodness I am getting something right.

Thank goodness I am getting something right. Play softly With me There is a fragility In strength It splinters inside With barely a trace A contained explosion Rarely witnessed By…

June 17, 2018Poem

Please let me have a better night.

Please let me have a better night. There is a certainty In youth It leaks away So much less is known In the pursuit of understanding I can dance in the moonlight Under the stars…

June 11, 2018Poem

I don’t want to be the resented archetypal bad smell.

I don’t want to be the resented archetypal bad smell. Warm blood Hotter then than now Heavy hearts Lighter then than now Real love More real then than now In retrospect Love is…

June 6, 2018Poem

My mum and dad’s wedding anniversary.

My mum and dad’s wedding anniversary. Life is a vocation For the serious minded Not a gap year Backpacking in the bush Sleeping in hostels Working on fruit farms A field trip To…

June 4, 2018Missive

Dropped unprepared

Dropped unprepared Into the future We would founder No shortcut To completion It is not in the homecoming But in the odyssey From which we become Would we even recognise The world…

May 30, 2018Poem

There is nothing but the shape

There is nothing but the shape It is empty Of all but hollow fibres Floating in a glass Half full of sour milk No kindness is too small To be served as an afterthought It is the…

May 29, 2018Poem

Oh well.

Oh well. Every day, No matter the ennui My indifference brings No respite to change Every blade of grass Will bruise beneath my feet There is a silent joy In the rebound It…

May 23, 2018Poem

Sad flags hang loosely

Sad flags hang loosely Like frozen fingers Pointing gravely At the night sky Summer houses With panoramic views Lose heat without insulation In a faux English garden Araucaria…

May 15, 2018Poem

I don’t know why bother it is not as if it matters.

I don’t know why bother it is not as if it matters. I have nothing to give Not even time is mine It is a construct An ever-changing perception An evolution Of sufficient magnitude…

May 12, 2018Missive

Bit by bit by bit.

Bit by bit by bit. As Kora would say. Throw me away Dump me on the floor Tear me into pieces Empty out the cabinet A depository Full of yellowed paper Faded balance sheets Ragged…

May 11, 2018Poem

I can barely believe it myself.

I can barely believe it myself. The Graveyard shift. Am I lost In this vast darkness What mechanism Will I need to strike A gentle light Free me of this desolation Impetuous…

May 10, 2018Poem

I do miss her. Every single minute of every day.

I do miss her. Every single minute of every day. Whisper me sweet sorrow Breathe a warning Of misbegotten days Drenched in the sweat of Forgetting Nothing has broken It is as it…

May 9, 2018Poem

Wipe it clean

Wipe it clean Sweep the dirt away Clean hands Leave fingerprints Every piece moved On the board Has been marked Even when the King Is last to fall His lustre has been tarnished…

May 5, 2018Poem

How low is this

How low is this When even the lifting Of a finger is a study In retribution How dark are the days When the sky Is a wash of satanic discolour Heavy with the curl of darkness…

May 4, 2018Poem

I have missed Kora dreadfully.

I have missed Kora dreadfully. I love you Kora. Remember me tomorrow As I do you Deep within Beyond the science Part of the fabric The essence of structure Where nostalgia is an…

May 2, 2018Poem

If I am sure of one thing I am sure of that.

If I am sure of one thing I am sure of that. Push back Hold on to the rail You lean against It is not a weapon But an aid to balance The injustice. The ground below Is a little…

April 28, 2018Poem

What a different world it might be had he lived

What a different world it might be had he lived What good am I When nothing I do Can change the turning Of the circle There is no stillness Much less uniformity Even the sky will…

March 18, 2018Poem

Move on now.

Move on now. Stand to attention Button your lip What is the point Of detention as a deterrent When it is safer Than a night with my old man Why was I written Out of history Was my…

March 7, 2018Poem

She is definitely not enamuring herself on me at all.

She is definitely not enamuring herself on me at all. What does living do But confuse The wisdom of children When answers Are as simple As the questions asked Everybody needs to…

February 26, 2018Missive

Am I alone now

Am I alone now Is this a quiet place Giving solitude Free from intrusion Thought insertion Is pathological Until the peace Is disturbed by another Low flying drone How many times…

February 16, 2018Poem

It is a warm thought

It is a warm thought In summer A cooling touch Washing the grime away On a hot day Dancing in the rain Splashing like children Jumping with the delight Of innocence Laughing as…

February 9, 2018Missive

If there is an understanding

If there is an understanding Of energy It lies beyond, Further than the reach Of anybody here Tantalisingly close At the extremes When the testing comes Only to stretch further…

February 6, 2018Poem

I miss her so much.

I miss her so much. She looks just As she ever did Smiling in a shy Self conscious way Head tilted to one side A different angle For every pose Afraid the shadow Would suggest a…

February 2, 2018Poem

Too difficult in fact.

Too difficult in fact. ‘Which one should I wear?’ She turned A short skirt in one hand A pair of blue jeans In the other Holding them up Bashfully Against her tummy To mask her…

January 24, 2018Missive

The movers were nice but slow.

The movers were nice but slow. Sleep is Never dreamless But misremembered An empty space Without the freedom To indulge in fantasy There is but a wall With no end Or gate through…

January 21, 2018Poem

None of this will change.

None of this will change. How can it? There was a moment When the world imploded A cataclysm Out of all proportion To anything I had ever known How did I respond To the…

January 17, 2018Poem

It wasn’t quite like that but you know what I mean

It wasn’t quite like that but you know what I mean She should think about a move. Dispossess me Take away the tags Remove the marks Of identification Which guarantee me A place at…

January 16, 2018Poem

As the sun goes down

As the sun goes down He stands By the garden gate A warm breeze Playing across the meadow Gently it swings Free of encumbrance Back and forth As the hinges squeak A lazy…

January 14, 2018Poem

Sad.

Sad. I miss Kora. I wonder who really misses me. Docklands. Foul is the taste Of age and decay The stench of disappointment Rotting bones The disgrace of broken promises Made as…

January 10, 2018Poem

You peddle an absurd

You peddle an absurd Notion of unity As your nest is feathered By the efforts of others Witter about equality Of opportunity The death of social mobility Fragility of glass…

January 8, 2018Poem

How do you find the words

How do you find the words To speak When the breath Has been sucked out of a room The silence A solid wall Immovable without an improvised Explosive device Attached to an emotional…

December 31, 2017Poem

Time to remember

Time to remember Unlock A memory Allow the essential essence Of my existence To bleed into dark corridors Wash into empty rooms Push against closed doors Uncover blackened windows…

December 29, 2017Poem

It is an easy decision

It is an easy decision On a full stomach When the stars are aligned Through a triple glazed window A blood moon Tumbles over the rooftops As flying foxes Follow an erratic flight…

December 29, 2017Poem

Give me wings

Give me wings Oh how I would fly Dancing through the air Coordinated in movement A mockery of Synchronised divers Dipping as one Noses pinched closed Feigning a smile Starlings…

December 24, 2017Poem

A Christmas Story.

A Christmas Story. Bring me home Dig up the bones Buried beneath the dust Of bygones Where the worms lie Flat and dry In the heat of an unforgiving sun Everything passes Even the…

December 23, 2017Poem

It all goes on

It all goes on Children sing The same songs The elf sits on the shelf And children believe In magic Even as the last present bought Has a price tag still attached The eyes tell a…

December 22, 2017Poem

Is this my undoing

Is this my undoing Does the haunting Of dreams that promise So much Spill into waking Am I spat out Into daylight Still possessed Am I not to be freed Will there be no waiting…

December 21, 2017Poem

Freedom

Freedom Is costly It barters against Disappointment With its brevity The butterfly takes wing Only to fall Prey to the swallow Even before Its course is run Nothing escapes The…

December 20, 2017Poem

Move me

Move me With your story As the wind Rifles through byways Collecting the dust of memories The whisper of Broken hearts and fairytales Dripping with sentimentality Rites of passage…

December 19, 2017Poem

There is a storm coming

There is a storm coming Pale against the horizon A horseman Barely visible To the casual glance As grey as the Rolling clouds He flickers In and out of focus Lost in the Shimmer…

December 18, 2017Poem

Your kiss

Your kiss As I awake Your warm breath Lifts me Higher than rooftops Over tilted steeples Floating on the wind Between sun tossed trees With twisted golden crisp dried leaves…

December 17, 2017Poem

Hard pressed

Hard pressed Battered by the strong With an eye on survival Too many die Trying Is that what we are for Practice for the sculptors Of a grand design Is there indeed A plan Do the…

December 13, 2017Poem

Open as a flower

Open as a flower Spread out Petals wide enough to envelop The sun When the time comes To steal a little bit Of daylight It will illuminate Your nights As you wait for morning…

December 13, 2017Poem

Be gentle

Be gentle There are too many Sharks in sharp suits Bottom feeders With an eye for the wounded So much of life is war When what is needed Is an armistice On grievance A game of…

December 12, 2017Poem

There are no sticks

There are no sticks In the yard Big enough to lay across My back No blades so keenly ground As to slice through The armoury of excuses Keeping my powder dry As a storm of…

December 11, 2017Missive

Commuting.

Commuting. What is the hurry Everybody is moving In parallel Touching distance Is a concept never tested An invisible barrier Separates even the closest Of travellers A thin…

December 10, 2017Missive

I am no poet

I am no poet There is no beauty here Just the raging of a bloodied soul Crying for the departed A visceral scream From within the eye Of a hurricane A forlorn shrug As the dying…

December 9, 2017Poem

Deeply crisp

Deeply crisp Featherly flaky A spritely Whitely fall of snow Pretty as a picture Of a Victorian Christmas Fingerly numbing cold In the iced crystal crush Morning rush Scraping the…

December 6, 2017Poem

Do you enjoy the dream

Do you enjoy the dream Of autumn With its slow awakening Of winter The crisp sound Of ground frost Beneath your feet As you wait for a Perfect symmetrical Snowflake to fall Onto…

December 2, 2017Poem

Rain on me

Rain on me Trickle down Under my shirt Soak through Imperfect footwear Dampening spirits With every drop. Eventually As the drains Prove less than adequate The water levels will…

December 1, 2017Poem

Too much to say

Too much to say About nothing But butterflies And daffodils Before they were broken. Rainbows are a token Of what it means To be free If you want to Waste time On romance Softly…

November 30, 2017Poem

There will come a time

There will come a time When the cold Has worked its way Into the bone Numbing the sorry soul Before it has a chance to Find its way home And frozen the hands Of the eternal As…

November 28, 2017Missive

What was the intention

What was the intention Of this odyssey? Too often the trail Has been obscured Waylaid by distraction Hampered by indecision Hindered in progression Toward an understanding Of its…

November 27, 2017Poem

There is more than an ocean

There is more than an ocean Stretched between us However wide and deep it may be I have waited As waves have broken Along the shoreline Washing at my feet Resisting the pull Of…

November 25, 2017Poem

If I listen carefully

If I listen carefully I can hear the song Of the old man Sitting in the doorway Surrounded by rags Collected from dumpsters Legs wrapped in bandages Lumpen old pipes Lagged to…

November 24, 2017Poem

Barely a moment

Barely a moment To believe A thankless wind Whistles Through the cracks In my soul It makes a liar Out of summer The solidity of home So much more Than a flicker of disapproval…

November 16, 2017Missive

Drop my pretence

Drop my pretence It is not yours to carry Wearing it as a trophy Displayed for all to see A hanging tree A pendant A picture in a public gallery It is as I showed you In the…

November 12, 2017Poem

Religion...Politics...mental health.

Religion...Politics...mental health. Promote a hunger For deliverance Market abhorrence Use it to stoke the fires Of the inferno In the broken souls of The undead Blame me Twist…

November 7, 2017Poem

Walk on by

Walk on by Cross on the other side Button that lip Stitch it closed Silence that voice Before the words form Nothing good will come From complaining Satisfaction is a guarantee It…

November 5, 2017Poem

The wind picks up

The wind picks up So much more than leaves Pollen and dust Every hushed whisper is Tossed high into the air Forming new chains Of thought rarely connected Origami clouds scud Over…

November 2, 2017Poem

Broken pavements

Broken pavements Twisted lamp posts Wreathed in dust Sedimented earth A sky painted rust Is what it was What it might become A dystopian nightmare Needs not an Armageddon It is…

October 24, 2017Poem

Wave no flags

Wave no flags Half mast or flying high Trampled in the dirt As angry bullets fly Painted in bright colours By school children For a jubilee No flags for me At the graveside Rolled…

October 22, 2017Poem

Walk with me

Walk with me While away the hours Between the rise and fall With a companion Pass the time of day Tarry over small things Laugh at inconsequentials Banter with humour But never in…

October 21, 2017Poem

There is no easy way

There is no easy way To say goodbye If it is not a choice There is nothing good Or noble In denying how it feels To stay behind When you would Rather go No brick road To follow…

October 15, 2017Poem

What do they know

What do they know With their twist and turn This way and that Aerial acrobatics On the wing Freestyle gymnasts Birds of a feather Cavorting in close harmony Even as rituals Are…

October 12, 2017Poem

Pour me a drink

Pour me a drink It is the worst night Of a long hard winter A terrible storm Endless in its persuasion Relentless in pursuit Of a release Caught whistling in the dark Squeezed…

October 6, 2017Poem

To hear those words

To hear those words Falling from your lips The sound they made The tumble Of laughter When I caught your eye In the mirror Sharing a basin Cleaning our teeth in unison Playing…

October 5, 2017Poem

Privilege.

Privilege. There was an ease About the nature Of the dismissal Nothing of consequence Would come from this As if He thought himself Untouchable Social standing White male…

October 1, 2017Poem

As the leaf turns

As the leaf turns The greener side inclines Toward the sun Cherry blossom blooms More each day Filling the window A passionate landscape So closely set Bees are bountiful Already…

September 25, 2017Poem

Thank you, John Betjeman,

Thank you, John Betjeman, There is no redemption In rumination It is not in the gift Of any one person To erase the past Change the process Of remembrance The weight of…

September 13, 2017Poem

Everything hangs loosely

Everything hangs loosely Around the idea Of a good life Throw off the mantle It barely covers The underside Where shadows grow More defined Waiting for an opportunity To envelop…

September 4, 2017Missive

Raise a glass

Raise a glass Accept the need To coexist With conflict There is no peace Without it Absence of doubt Hesitation or uncertainty Is not as desirable As you might think When grey is…

September 3, 2017Poem

Steady rain

Steady rain Falling in September Whether seasonal spring shower Or autumn squall Is only a matter Of geography We are housebound But the outlook Can be different With the promise…

August 25, 2017Poem

Tumble me down

Tumble me down Throw off the shackles Watch as limbless logs Slide down a slope Into waiting water It was an illusion Of freedom A reckless wilderness Even as trees soar high…

August 2, 2017Missive

You wander

You wander In and out With barely space Enough to breathe Squeezing through Closed doors Bolted to keep some things out Some things in Drifting with little purpose It seems…

July 28, 2017Poem

How do we move forward

How do we move forward When the wind Is not prevailing There is no moon Blood or blue To guide the way The road overgrown With tumbleweed connections Tearing at ragged memories…

July 27, 2017Poem

Open the cage

Open the cage It is a mass of Gilded splinters Carpeting the ground Bloody my steps Where do feet go When the shackles Are no longer attached Do they wander Into strange…

July 25, 2017Poem

What is silence

What is silence When the hiss of morning Is a tell tale sound of Summer Breakfast radio Through an open window Where do pigeons shelter From the sun When the wires are hot And the…

July 24, 2017Poem

The world is close enough

The world is close enough But too far away To touch without reaching out To risk a brush with The other side Of the divide Is more than A matter of debate Laptop barricade Line of…

July 23, 2017Poem

Listen because you want to

Listen because you want to Not because the voice you hear Is the loudest Whisper me a truth There are so few I believe Is not a fact But it makes a slave Of all who fail to…

July 18, 2017Poem

Ghosts

Ghosts Inhabiting empty spaces Suffocate from within Nothing to see Anywhere But everywhere Is bursting with Gossamer dreams Drifting in vacuum Collapsed into microdots That…

July 14, 2017Poem

Sleepless in Essex.

Sleepless in Essex. Do not cry There is money in the meter Half a loaf A pot of jam Milk you can drink Straight from the bottle Full cream Not homogenized Freshly worked With a…

July 4, 2017Poem

Play softly

Play softly With me There is a fragility In strength It splinters inside With barely a trace A contained explosion Rarely witnessed By the casual observer Weigh your intervention…

July 2, 2017Poem

There is no return

There is no return To yesterday No amount of wishing Will make it so Time may not be linear It might bend With the influence of Gravitational waves The confluence of Now and then…

June 29, 2017Poem

Do not tarry

Do not tarry Open the door Tightly wedged though it may be The jamb swollen Through the weathering So much rain Has been shed The sky has been rent With tears For the passing of…

June 21, 2017Poem

As circulation slows

As circulation slows You will feel cold Air or blood It is no matter Each need to move To be refreshed Warm air rises Water expands, As it freezes Ice floats Pipes burst Blood…

June 20, 2017Poem

Sitting on the porch

Sitting on the porch As the world is reborn Out of sight Beyond the horizon Was it sleeping In the tumbledown Of yesterday’s memories It is cold enough To remember snow How good…

June 16, 2017Poem

The sleeping dog

The sleeping dog Lies peacefully Barely breathing A slight twitch of an eyelid The flick of a tail A ripple of the ribcage What dreams are these To move him so A fear of mortality…

June 14, 2017Poem

Blame me

Blame me If you will It is an inevitability When viewed in isolation Everything stands alone Braced on solid foundation Lest it fall It is a progress No one can prevent It is not…

June 11, 2017Poem

With a nod to Bob.

With a nod to Bob. Warm blood Hotter then than now Heavy hearts Lighter then than now Real love More real then than now In retrospect Love is what you make it Better that you take…

June 7, 2017Poem

Step into my garden

Step into my garden You have no need Of a lantern You can see by starlight Be careful of the bramble The Hawthorn Is a sharp reminder To follow the path The rose has a habit Of…

June 6, 2017Poem

Life is a vocation

Life is a vocation For the serious minded Not a gap year Backpacking in the bush Sleeping in hostels Working on fruit farms A field trip To collect samples Of Marble Crayfish…

June 4, 2017Missive

Dropped unprepared

Dropped unprepared Into the future We would founder No shortcut To completion It is not in the homecoming But in the odyssey From which we become Would we even recognise The world…

May 31, 2017Missive

It is a fine day

It is a fine day To be thinking About freedom From encumbrance New songs are just old songs Once they are sung. Over a cup of coffee In the morning When the slate is clean Before…

May 30, 2017Poem

There is nothing but the shape

There is nothing but the shape It is empty Of all but hollow fibres Floating in a glass Half full of sour milk No kindness is to small To be served as an afterthought It is the…

May 29, 2017Poem

Every day,

Every day, No matter the ennui My indifference brings No respite to change Every blade of grass Will bruise beneath my feet There is a silent joy In the rebound It resounds In…

May 28, 2017Missive

It is restful

It is restful Sitting beneath a watery sun Nursing a heavy lead crystal Glass fit for a single malt Infused ice tumbling gently with every sip It is not warm But not cold either…

May 25, 2017Poem

Touch me

Touch me In the morning When I awake fresh From oblivion Where truth is coated In fairy dust Sugar free of context Stripped of consequence Until the whisper of revival Brings a…

May 23, 2017Poem

A Melbourne winter.

A Melbourne winter. Sad flags hang loosely Like frozen fingers Pointing gravely At the night sky Summer houses With panoramic views Lose heat without insulation In a faux English…

May 22, 2017Missive

Trust your children

Trust your children To get it right Nothing will prevent them From trying It is their world To grow into When all you can do Is apply a sticking plaster To an open wound Children…

May 17, 2017Poem

There are two sides

There are two sides Multiple dimensions Are not an anomaly Nothing happens without Preparation Even when it is invisible To the observer There is no transparency Thoughts are…

May 15, 2017Poem

I have nothing to give

I have nothing to give Not even time is mine It is a construct An ever-changing perception An evolution Of sufficient magnitude As to measure my reaction From one point to another…

May 14, 2017Poem

Stormy stormy night.

Stormy stormy night. So many doors closed Windows boarded Streets ill lit No welcome light Shining Just a deepening layer Of shadow As the moon disappears Caught in the grip Of a…

May 13, 2017Poem

Throw me away

Throw me away Dump me on the floor Tear me into pieces Empty out the cabinet A depository Full of yellowed paper Faded balance sheets Ragged receipts and agreements Dusted with…

May 11, 2017Poem

A response to a word challenge from the SLOP group.

A response to a word challenge from the SLOP group. The Graveyard shift. Am I lost In this vast darkness What mechanism Will I need to strike A gentle light Free me of this…

May 10, 2017Poem

Whisper me sweet sorrow

Whisper me sweet sorrow Breathe a warning Of misbegotten days Drenched in the sweat of Forgetting Nothing has broken It is as it always was An attribute of melancholy So long a…

May 9, 2017Poem

Chessboard motives.

Chessboard motives. Wipe it clean Sweep the dirt away Clean hands Leave fingerprints Every piece moved On the board Has been marked Even when the King Is last to fall His lustre…

May 7, 2017Poem

Deep in wonder

Deep in wonder As a swallow dives Ponder if you will The splendour The measured fall But there is no free wheeling Birds are slaves To their nature They fly To live Until they die…

May 5, 2017Poem

War zone.

War zone. How low is this When even the lifting Of a finger is a study In retribution How dark are the days When the sky Is a wash of satanic discolour Heavy with the curl of…

May 4, 2017Poem

Remember me tomorrow

Remember me tomorrow As I do you Deep within Beyond the science Part of the fabric The essence of structure Where nostalgia is an anchor Memory is not linear Veering…

May 2, 2017Poem

Push back

Push back Hold on to the rail You lean against It is not a weapon But an aid to balance The injustice. The ground below Is a little shaky Tremors creep up through the floor Unless…

April 30, 2017Poem

Open me up

Open me up I am closed A book as once was open So easily read With nothing hidden In the small print Pages now tightly sealed Loose leaves Drawn and bound To keep the words…

April 28, 2017Poem

My son Dorian would have been 41 years old tomorrow.

My son Dorian would have been 41 years old tomorrow. What good am I When nothing I do Can change the turning Of the circle There is no stillness Much less uniformity Even the sky…

April 15, 2017Poem

There is grace in constancy

There is grace in constancy Should it be Well regarded An enduring trait Endearing for all its familiarity Depend on one thing There is an expectation Character will be unchanged…

April 9, 2017Poem

What have you done

What have you done To warrant my trust When all is said You are little more than A story to frighten Children Into believing That truth is a saviour Binding the meek Into…

April 5, 2017Poem

String me up

String me up In pearls Worn around your neck Frozen tears Coldly gleaming A whisper of regard For such exposure With little recognition Of the pain Ill found in hanging In such…

March 27, 2017Poem

Where is the beauty

Where is the beauty I used to know Hiding in bright things Lingering in lazy sunsets The murmur of Starlings Chasing through red fingers Stretched wide Over the vast eternal A…

March 26, 2017Poem

Shame me

Shame me Demand my attention Revolutionise yourself The world needs a saviour It cannot be Allowed to continue With so little regard For the meaning Of existence is surely Worth…

March 23, 2017Poem

He had no wings

He had no wings No feathers To line his nest Every trial flight Was a testing time For the pilot Was a novice With nothing but Holes in his pockets Air in his thermals Landings…

March 19, 2017Poem

Sing for me

Sing for me Let the voices ring Fill the air with joy Drown out this restless flow Striving to crash and tear Through all the layers Of my protection A strident call Beastlike…

March 18, 2017Poem

Stand to attention

Stand to attention Button your lip What is the point of detention As a deterrent When it is safer Than a night with my old man Why was I written Out of history Was my name Taken…

March 16, 2017Poem

There is a space

There is a space It is left unfilled The empty seat The table deliberately chosen By the window Overlooking the street outside The passersby unaware Of their role Players with…

March 15, 2017Poem

Drape me in ceremony

Drape me in ceremony Wrap me in fine silks Tightly bound Swaddled in ritual Remembered In hushed anniversarial Recollections Hidden Beneath a shroud A misted gauze Where the last…

March 14, 2017Poem

If you can see me

If you can see me Roll your eyes A whisper in my head Itching like a violin bow In an infant’s hand Scraping across dry strings Shadows jump When the wind blows Pulling at the…

March 13, 2017Poem

You see me smile

You see me smile I see you laugh We go about our business Living a life Walking in daydreams Shopping for candles Browsing the wine selection Taking used books From the secondhand…

March 10, 2017Poem

Do you remember

Do you remember Dancing at midnight On a floodlit stage Beneath the stars Cheek to cheek Exhausted after learning How to dance to the music Of Zorba the Greek Making love in the…

March 7, 2017Poem

What does living do

What does living do But confuse The wisdom of children When answers Are as simple As the questions asked Everybody needs to Feel love To know the truth So many people Forget how…

March 6, 2017Poem

Does it help

Does it help When the dream dies Doors close With a final click Barring entrance Looking in Face pressed Tight against the glass Misting over from Laboured breath Is it any…

March 1, 2017Poem

I must be evil

I must be evil Wrap my knuckles Hard with a bamboo cane The edge of a wooden ruler Slice my calves With a leather flay A slipper called Betsy I never flinch from a clip Around the…

February 27, 2017Poem

Once touched by love

Once touched by love The imprint remains Heart felt Tender is the memory Of yesterday Forever painted Into the furthest corners Brightening shadows Those dark fingers Which…

February 27, 2017Poem

Chase me

Chase me Through the smoke screen It is a difficult transition Moving From listening ear To internal confidant Sliding through the Narrow gaps between One reasoned process And…

February 26, 2017Missive

Am I alone now

Am I alone now Is this a quiet place Giving solitude Free from intrusion Thought insertion Is pathological Until the peace Is disturbed by another Low flying drone How many times…

February 20, 2017Poem

A walk along the foreshore.

A walk along the foreshore. Heavy air Sinks hearts Beneath a layer Of easy breathers Mutton heads Who lost the way To San Jose Crash through layers Of low flying cloud Hanging…

February 16, 2017Poem

The hissing of summer rain

The hissing of summer rain It is warm thought In summer A cooling touch Washing the grime away On a hot day Dancing in the rain Splashing like children Jumping with the delight Of…

February 12, 2017Missive

The Godhead's Absence

Did you really Watch from the shadows Afraid to be seen. Were you aware Of the impact Lack of concern had On the process Of development The probability is An observer will…

February 12, 2017Poem

I remember the cold,

I remember the cold, Woollen socks Sliding down too easily Bunching up at the end of the boot Old blue jeans soaking wet From too many falls Fingers stiff and blue We still threw…

February 9, 2017Missive

If there is an understanding

If there is an understanding Of energy It lies beyond, Further than the reach Of anybody here Tantalisingly close At the extremes When the testing comes Only to stretch further…

February 9, 2017Poem

The wind cries

The wind cries A lonely sound Echoing through Deep canyons Seared into the earth Deeply charred Open scarred reminders Of the natural order Nothing more powerful Has been found To…

February 6, 2017Poem

Ageless Beauty

She looks just As she ever did Smiling in a shy Self conscious way Head tilted to one side A different angle For every pose Afraid the shadow Would suggest a Double chin Ageless…

February 2, 2017Poem

A Technicolour Moment

‘Which one should I wear?’ She turned A short skirt in one hand A pair of blue jeans In the other Holding them up Bashfully Against her tummy To mask her nakedness Forgetting the…

February 2, 2017Poem

Douse me

Douse me Use accelerant To fan the restless flame Dancing in the embers Of yesterday Sprightly it flickers Twinkling against The ageless sky Reflecting blood red Onto a blue moon…

February 1, 2017Poem

Differences are marked

Differences are marked With the scars Of old wounds With the worst damage Often self-inflicted The pain of misdeeds Never stops haunting The image we construct To promote…

January 24, 2017Poem

The Wall Between Dreams

Sleep is Never dreamless But misremembered An empty space Without the freedom To indulge in fantasy There is but a wall With no end Or gate through which One can gain entry To the…

January 22, 2017Poem

Did you ever have a nightmare

Did you ever have a nightmare Wake up in a cold sweat Blood pounding in your head Afraid to get out of bed More afraid to remain Under the covers Than to touch the floor Just two…

January 21, 2017Poem

There was a moment

There was a moment When the world imploded A cataclysm Out of all proportion To anything I had ever known How did I respond To the devastation As it occurred With equanimity As…

January 19, 2017Poem

It comes and goes

It comes and goes In silence No words are needed Barely a rustle Not even a ruffle Of wind to announce Its entrance Mark its departure Its presence barely Understood Even in…

January 17, 2017Poem

What does the dog think

What does the dog think As he tip taps Around the house Nails clacking Against polished wood This way and that From front to back Pausing at The bottom of the stairs Waiting. I…

January 16, 2017Poem

The Gate Swings Shut

As the sun goes down He stands By the garden gate A warm breeze Playing across the meadow Gently it swings Free of encumbrance Back and forth As the hinges squeak A lazy…

January 16, 2017Poem

Does anybody hear

Does anybody hear The sound of my breath Escaping Exasperated Anxiously ragged and sour After sleep In exaltation After a long walk Who will hear what I hear In the morning As an…

January 15, 2017Poem

Rock me gently

Rock me gently The bamboo chair creaks With the accumulation Of memories Age has split its sides There is no laughter In the bedroom After the visiting angel Has gone…

January 15, 2017Poem

There Is No Sanctuary

Old people’s homes. There is no sanctuary Not here It is a meagre shelter The structure is unsound The walls crumble The foundations Are undermined As old earth dries There is a…

January 14, 2017Poem

Docklands.

Docklands. Foul is the taste Of age and decay The stench of disappointment Rotting bones The disgrace of broken promises Made as the sun shone We are all skeletons Shadows cast…

January 10, 2017Poem

Hold the Ladder Steady

You peddle an absurd Notion of unity As your nest is feathered By the efforts of others Witter about equality Of opportunity The death of social mobility Fragility of glass…

January 9, 2017Poem

Nobody knows

Nobody knows It is all a matter of degree How deeply delved Is the search for truth When any answer can be found To meet an expectation With nary a flick of the finger Between…

January 8, 2017Missive

How do you find the words

How do you find the words To speak When the breath Has been sucked out of a room The silence A solid wall Immovable without an improvised Explosive device Attached to an emotional…

January 4, 2017Missive

The Gift and the Burden

Sensitivity is a concept Misunderstood In the interchange Between boon or a blight Given freely As a gift It exists in a bubble Of empathy Otherwise it becomes a burden To the…

January 1, 2017Missive

Instead I thought to write a short letter to you all,

Instead I thought to write a short letter to you all, It is a special day for so many even those who might, for one reason or another find it annoying and cloyingly over…

January 1, 2017Poem

Humour is a serious matter

Humour is a serious matter Not to be laughed at Dismissed with a shrug A roll of the eyes When it is a blind A cover to slip over The exposed skin As it blooms With embarrassment…

December 29, 2016Poem

Take account of the little things.

Take account of the little things. Be ever mindful Of the power in a soft kiss, A gentle touch, The weight of a head Bowed And resting Upon your chest. The way her eyes Dance and…

December 20, 2016Poem

There is energy

There is energy It is out there Waiting to be called upon, So I am told. If only it was free At the point of delivery, We could all use it Without penalty. How do we choose, When…

December 16, 2016Poem

We laugh

We laugh Even as hearts break. In fox holes Where fat rats Fight over rotting flesh And broken bodies Are an audience’ Of the macabre, Soldiers tell tales, And when all else fails…

December 14, 2016Poem

The National Health Service: From the cradle to the Grave.

The National Health Service: From the cradle to the Grave. There is a storm coming. It may be tea cup sized In a scheme Of grand proportions. Barely registering On the beaufort…

December 6, 2016Poem

A young girl weeps,

A young girl weeps, She wants her mum To stop the pain And take her home again. Too afraid to stay Alone in a hospital bed With the moans and groans The smells and bells The beeps…

December 4, 2016Poem

What of wealth?

What of wealth? The trappings of power, The means to make a difference. A priceless gift Freely given, Brief moments in time Small treasures Never easily measured Until they have…

December 1, 2016Poem

What is a boat

What is a boat Without passengers, Cargo Or crew, Just driftwood. What is a river, Without a bridge To get to the other side, The waters too deep To negotiate alone, If not an…

November 23, 2016Poem

What of her breath

What of her breath The beat of her heart So aligned to mine The bloom in her lips The rose bud Mouth. Flowers she loves Who will tend them, Show them love. Where will she go Where…

November 17, 2016Poem

No longer young

No longer young Never beautiful No pretty pictures To tear at the heart Just a middle aged man With all the privilege That unasked for gift affords. When in truth It seems We see…

November 15, 2016Poem

As a child

As a child You saw a wall As something to climb, Used school books, Stood on tip toe To see what lay beyond, What was hidden, And now, Balancing precariously On the edge of…

November 12, 2016Poem

Visiting time.

Visiting time. Warm air re-cycled, Distributed unevenly Through antiseptic corridors, Hermetically sealed To resist The passage of hot breath, Contain the sweat Of fevered brows,…

November 8, 2016Poem

Perhaps it’s all you need

Perhaps it’s all you need It is warm, The touch. Stimulating and familiar, A caress With one finger tip, Tracing the contours. Skin tight Finely covered Golden down, Barely…

November 4, 2016Poem

The sky swam,

The sky swam, Awash with mackerel He was too old to party Took pleasure in leisure More tailored to his needs. Enjoyed a genial walk Before breakfast. A jaunty journey, Through…

October 14, 2016Poem

What of this scratch

What of this scratch This restless itch That renders so much Possibility From the subtlety of change But finds a way To waste its chance And rue its loss, In a wallow of obsession…

October 5, 2016Poem

What do you expect

What do you expect At a time of doing less And wanting more. We play with power, Use imagination To create a new world order, Just in time for Christmas, Treat life As a game…

October 1, 2016Poem

SLOP weekly picture challenge

SLOP weekly picture challenge You painted the sky Hung it with starlight, Promised the moon Would be my friend, Watch over my dreams, Smile me unto morning. I slept easy With…

September 23, 2016Poem

Weekly Challenge 25th of October to 1st of November SLOP

Weekly Challenge 25th of October to 1st of November SLOP All Hallows… When the veil Between dimensions Is thinnest You might wonder What is life But a meaningless, Daily…

September 10, 2016Poem

An unusually nice day

An unusually nice day A lightly dusted butterfly Flutters by, It is a late developer Dancing from memory, A series of haphazard beats Swaying awkwardly, Like a drunken thief. It…

September 8, 2016Poem

Is it an illusion,

Is it an illusion, A version of events, A truth we tell, To sleep soundly. How different would it be For you To look at me And see another story. Will I come out of it well. It is…

August 29, 2016Poem

I fear you,

I fear you, Even as the light you carry, Beckons me on, Driving me deeper, Into the dark unknown recesses I have so often skirted In this tip toe through life. But I am drawn By…

August 20, 2016Poem

The sofa is too big

The sofa is too big With unnecessary cushions Wedged at odd angles To compensate For the expanse Of empty space. There is a depression In just one of the five seats Where the…

August 16, 2016Poem

The Circle Line.

The Circle Line. The train rushes by. Catching our reflections And whisking them off As we wait like cattle In trucks, on a siding. Many are sucked off their feet, Carried away In…

August 14, 2016Poem

Can you make something

Can you make something From nothing, Take a treeless leaf Twist it into what it is not Make it into something It might want to be? A boat on a restless sea, A fragile raft Braving…

August 10, 2016Poem

Rejection…

Rejection… An everyday occurrence. Everywhere, In public or hidden away In the cold silence Of an empty room, Somebody feels the heat. The embarrassed flush When a truth sayer…

August 1, 2016Poem

Heart and soul.

Heart and soul. What is this heart of mine? Is it but a muscle, A pulmonary device, An over active vacuum pump Pushing blood through Miles of winding arteries, Day after day, Beat…

July 30, 2016Poem

There was still something

There was still something In his eyes. The face had collapsed In on itself. Deep creases that were etched With the stain of defeat, Inked in with sweat and dirt. The nose carried…

July 26, 2016Poem

Formica tables,

Formica tables, The smell of grease and bacon The tear in the eye of the painted lady And the leer that is pasted on the face Of an old drunk, Still nursing his sorrow From the…

July 15, 2016Poem

The News at Ten.

The News at Ten. It can be cold under the sun Even cameras and bright lights, Interpreting truth in high definition And Technicolour, With more than a nod to Hollywood In their…

July 13, 2016Poem

It is a shaded spot

It is a shaded spot Partially hidden By a tumble of ivy and clematis A deeply dappled overhang Evenly warmed, Beneath the friendly tangle Of creeping stems and variegated leaves.…

July 11, 2016Missive

Dignity is ephemeral and not a given

Dignity is ephemeral and not a given Once we bask In the power of its illusion We can be fooled by its charms. If we ignore the impact kindliness Will have on its appearance The…

July 3, 2016Missive

Remembrance.

Remembrance. Anniversaries turn me back And looking at the past From a world of my creation Is a bitter truth That may never taste as sweet. It is a mordant reverie, To stand…

June 28, 2016Missive

You were told so many times.

You were told so many times. On your mother’s knee, Even as a baby, When learning to walk, From the earliest moment Before you could talk And as you grew older, Stretching out,…

June 26, 2016Poem

Pond life.

Pond life. There are very few angels Snuffling in the mud Searching for scraps Fighting for space Among the bottom feeders. They hang out with clowns And dodge predators Using the…

June 24, 2016Poem

Why did I listen to your

Why did I listen to your Whispered appeal, So calm and inviting In appearance, I lowered my guard To your advances, The gentle ebb and flow, Hypnotic. And lulled by a promise Of…

June 22, 2016Poem

Be careful out there

Be careful out there And go easy on yourself. Cowards run together And hunt in packs Like wolves, Hungry to devour The naive traveller. It is what they do To protect themselves…

June 20, 2016Missive

He jumps and sparks

He jumps and sparks With so much electricity It could bring a carbon Neutral solution To powering the National grid. It would be easy to organise A few children in a room Bouncing…

June 18, 2016Poem

With her warmth so reassuring

With her warmth so reassuring The touch of her soft hair tickling my skin Each breath, The rise and fall so gentle As she sleeps, A miracle of wonders. Even the bleakest of days…

June 10, 2016Poem

Do I linger?

Do I linger? Tarry awhile Wait for the wind to change The day to catch up. For you to raise a finger To your mouth, Point to me And whisper I love you. Do I look for that smile…

June 8, 2016Poem

The un-romantic one.

The un-romantic one. There is no romance Hidden In fingers of half light As shadows seek To suffocate The last rainbow And warm rain falls With drops The size of golf balls…

June 5, 2016Missive

A coin has two sides.

A coin has two sides. A bulb can be turned Either on, Or off, Unless it’s a dimmer, When the glow can be reduced, To a lumin Less than a glimmer. When released An object can go…

June 1, 2016Missive

What is it you want

What is it you want That we have not already given, So many times before? Do you come to sit in judgement Never at peace with what you see, Though the toll you demand Has been…

May 31, 2016Poem

It is as it was

It is as it was Before electricity, Dark and silent Claims the day As it crawls into the past, Mocking any attempt To make hay, When the sun is buried Beneath the makings Of a…

May 29, 2016Poem

An expanse

An expanse More than just space Less than empty. A stretch of sofa, Left unoccupied Decorative cushions scattered In a random way So unlike you To leave them like that. The hair…

May 26, 2016Poem

Be careful,

Be careful, I am not made of steel. I do have strength, Sinews forever straining to withstand All they are forced to endure. I am but fragile, A single note in a choral symphony.…

May 23, 2016Missive

What keeps you here?

What keeps you here? Holding forth Taking up space Better served By those with something More to say. Listen to yourself For goodness sake, Griping on about this And that When the…

May 21, 2016Missive

Do you understand the reason for this

Do you understand the reason for this Constant drain The trickle that becomes a downpour An irritating drip You cannot stem even though You seek to control the flow Do you worry…

May 21, 2016Poem

So much to see

So much to see But nothing to touch Everywhere Inside and out Rumours of your passing Dance on the wind Leave footprints In the garden Where the wild flowers grow. In a splintered…

May 13, 2016Poem

I still feel you there, deep in my heart.

I still feel you there, deep in my heart. I see us walking, here beneath the trees, Red sunlight bleeding through the leaves. We duck below hanging branches, And together, bear…

May 12, 2016Missive

What Stories Do You See?

There is a ring It hangs on a gold chain Around my neck What does it mean to you When it appears Am I sad, do I look it? Or was that a smile you caught as I Shared a joke with…

May 9, 2016Poem

Dancing in the Moonlight

A peon to inertia. Is that you I hear Whispering in my ear Dancing in the moonlight Turning my heart On a sixpence Laughing in the darkness As your scent Fills my lungs The waft…

April 18, 2016Poem

She is the blood

She is the blood Of my tears, The salt on my skin. Even the marrow In my bones carries Her memory. When she is gone My arms lie open, Spread wide, A crucifix Without a cross. I…

April 13, 2016Poem

Daily missive for Wednesday the 29th of July.

Inspired by the poems of Wilfred Owen... World War One poet...though not in his style. There are spent shells Lying on the beach Everywhere. Buried in sand, Wedged between…

April 7, 2016Poem

It is in the timing,

It is in the timing, All things are. However obliquely There is a sequence Of events that need to occur Before it is safe to proceed. Unconsciously We assess and establish Degrees…

March 30, 2016Poem

Birds fly.

Birds fly. How does that feel Do they wonder As the mood takes them, Feathering wings, Gliding with relative ease, Rising on thermals, Lifting and falling Spiralling together.…

March 28, 2016Poem

Margate.

Margate. Where the sky meets the sea The line is blurred. A shadow blanket falling Into a wash of grey, As empty containers, A fleet of ghostly vessels Steel giants Ride at…

March 23, 2016Missive

It is not an opera,

It is not an opera, There is no libretto. The drama is not confined Within a narrative framework, No editor to strike out Unnecessary lines, Or suggest alternative progression And…

March 17, 2016Poem

I still dance,

I still dance, And the smoky kiss Of the full moon Warms the memory. Whenever I stand Beneath a naked sky With its canopied beauty, I remember The breaking dawn. The tinkling…

March 15, 2016Missive

I sit, placed as you are,

I sit, placed as you are, In my own space. In part known, To myself And those who love me, But hidden from the world By a veil of secrets. These have been drawn As self protection…

March 11, 2016Poem

There is restlessness

There is restlessness Even in good times. When the sun is high And the ice tinkles In the glass, Calling time on abstinence, The day calls out For the recklessness Of yesterday.…

February 27, 2016Poem

We wear the scars

We wear the scars Battle weary bones Bear the toll And carry the cost Of a private war. There are no medals For survival When life is lived So close to its edge That danger Is a…

February 25, 2016Poem

And the sky weeps

And the sky weeps Even as it burns The hot flush Seeping between the cracks In the curve Of the rainbow. Are these tears of joy Do they fall for us As we shelter Safe and sound.…

February 21, 2016Missive

What of sides?

What of sides? We all have them We take them too. But what are they, When what you show Can mean so much, And to hide away, Adopt a facade, Present yourself as different, Take up…

February 19, 2016Poem

Under the Sun...s..t happens.

Under the Sun...s..t happens. We owe so much To that singular orb, Its centrality. Holding the balance Keeping the flame Of life burning. The hub Around which All wheels turn And…

February 16, 2016Poem

And comes the fall.

And comes the fall. With or without The jagged edges That cut and tear, To leave sharp reminders And serve notice To the sorry traveller. There is little To be gained from…

February 12, 2016Poem

This is life,

This is life, Or something like it. Oft time I may have tried To find an alternative But if there is one It holds no Blunt and rusted knife to My throat. And it will not spill…

February 10, 2016Poem

What of significance?

What of significance? Why should we care What we do, Who we are Or what legacy We may leave. When it can take A million years To form an Island. Rising from nothing Out of the…

February 6, 2016Poem

It is the worry

It is the worry The hurly burly And damage of life The way it bites Through the toughest skin. It might be a gunshot And nine lives lost. How many more. Before You spit out The…

February 4, 2016Poem

What will happen

What will happen How will it be If nothing, No matter what, For good or ill, Can make The heart of you Feel again. What good Would it be To be numbed To even a glance Whether by…

February 2, 2016Poem

Sleep is upon us.

Sleep is upon us. Are we to be defined By our dreams Do they make of us What we are Not just in living But in dreaming As we toss and turn Whirl in Their maelstrom Are swept Into…

January 31, 2016Poem

The outlook changes

The outlook changes With a smile. And warmth returns To the eyes. With the lifting Light is restored Where once Darkness ruled. And in their Twinkling All aspects of life Are in…

January 18, 2016Poem

So many things

So many things To believe in. Some of them true, Whilst others are not. But it is clear that in life, Everything begins With the coming of light And ends in its absence. The…

January 16, 2016Missive

Changeable as the weather is what you are.

Changeable as the weather is what you are. Jumping in and out of things Just as quickly as saying yes and no In the same sentence. Making a decision and changing it Before…

January 14, 2016Poem

If I only had words

If I only had words What could I do To convince you Of my sincerity? When, in fact If you just want sweet things, It is all too easy to Rummage around in the biscuit tin And pull…

January 12, 2016Missive

What is so special

What is so special And original about thought, When it is so common. Even standing in a queue Watching the expression Of the barista When, after carefully manoeuvring And…

January 7, 2016Poem

It is a brightening.

It is a brightening. Fill me up, Let it be over, The darkening of days, The hounding of nights, Long on bleak encounters. It is a lightening. Paint me happy, Wash me all over,…

January 5, 2016Missive

Some people have

Some people have An uncommon ability To make light of a task. They seem to redefine the Meaning of impossible In a series of easy stages. Whatever they intend to reveal Simply…

January 3, 2016Poem

Why waste time

Why waste time With worry over weeds. When they grow so freely Without need for help Or interference. Pushing through shingle With impunity. Twisting between broken pots With…

May 28, 2015Poem

A Time of Becoming

It is always A time of becoming When the rose First blooms It opens in readiness. The bee drawn by invitation, And so the dance begins, Sown into the seeds Of perpetuity. Even the…

May 25, 2015Missive

What of words

What of words And inspiration. How do they touch The heart and reap So fine a victory As to change minds And cultivate A culture of civility In the course of Just a few brief…

May 23, 2015Missive

How can it be said so often,

How can it be said so often, By so many, With the use Of metaphor and simile, To disguise its true intent? And is this by definition, Another attempt At sincerity, Without…

May 20, 2015Poem

Love and war.

Love and war. Even in the spit of death When its stain And foul stench Tarnishes a spirit That grew, in spite Of the pain In its soul. As blind greed beget A slew of hatred And…

May 19, 2015Poem

She was the sparkle

She was the sparkle In a diamond The petals of a flower A shining star The sweetest kiss The whisper In the song of morning. He was The glow of the moon Filtered through Filigree…

May 18, 2015Missive

The day after the day after the night before.

The day after the day after the night before. What is this state Of indecision. It does not bind or blind But hovers In constant hesitation, And contributes To a discontent. A…

May 15, 2015Poem

The Miracle of Me and You

They ask for them Every day. You hear the call, To cure cancer, End the war, Prevent hunger, Bring happiness To the world. What would I do, If it were true, Or you? Do you believe…

May 13, 2015Missive

Am I to be persuaded

Am I to be persuaded By the call of the sun, In its encouragement To the blooms of the garden, As they shout their Colourful delight. Do I pretend to care. Should the light from…

May 9, 2015Poem

The Wallflower

The Wallflower At what cost To sit and wait For a change in the air And stand on the fringe Of the crowd, Watching the dance Unfold. Is it cool To watch from the wings As a story…

May 8, 2015Missive

The Library.

The Library. It is a haven An enclave Hidden in full view And ignored, By most. The tide flows on, Passing over And around it, Whilst Humanity screams, Bellows with rage. Empty…

May 7, 2015Poem

The Dew Drop's Fall

It glistened, Picking up the light From the sun. Splitting the beam Into its constituent parts With a natural precision. The Hadron collider In miniature, Creating a grainy…

May 6, 2015Poem

Beauty

What is this thing Of which we speak Without knowing How to find the words To do it justice. We use covert language, Talk of tree and leaf, The blazing sky, Stars that gaze In…

May 1, 2015Missive

I am still here.

I am still here. On this day, When spring is meant To open its door to summer. And to be fair, The sun is shining on Two homely blackbirds, nest building In the corner of the…

April 28, 2015Poem

The Impact of You

Not really Not today. I knew of you, The preparations for Your arrival Never seeming complete. I waited with trepidation, Worried about my suitability, My expertise. Was I…

April 24, 2015Poem

He follows a dark trail,

He follows a dark trail, Walking in shadow, Laughing at the sun, Wearing the night like a cloak. The glint in his eye A badge of honour He uses to disarm The unwary Who may fall…

April 20, 2015Missive

Refugees lost for profit.

Refugees lost for profit. What does it matter The way words fall? Random happenings Are vaguely witnessed, Collected thoughtlessly, Wrapped in metaphor And deeply pocketed, Like a…

April 18, 2015Missive

It is never enough

It is never enough Just to write about it. Sometimes the pain Is too great to rhyme. That process is too easy, Thinking one line At a time. It demeans the feelings, Leaving them…

April 13, 2015Poem

Cafe people.

Cafe people. She was graceful, In a slow and easy Variation on a theme That still had rhythm. She practiced her steps Every morning, In the full length mirror, Discretely…

April 8, 2015Missive

It is the same sky

It is the same sky But from a different angle The coffee tastes good And there is a buzz in the air But not from a bee The honey is Already on the table And the ambience is…

April 6, 2015Poem

They tumble out

They tumble out Across the dressing table. Earrings and necklaces, Lovers entwined. An open drawer A strapless bra, An all in one And a visible panty Form a line, of Peeping toms…

April 2, 2015Missive

The Hierarchy of Nature

It is an observation Easily made, Nothing exists in isolation, Without the underlying Premise of structure. Even the chaos Of an overgrown hedgerow And the wild appearance Of an…

March 27, 2015Missive

The Dream in Your Cup

What do you need, As the coffee slips Easily down your throat, The rich, morning smell Promising to carry you away With a subtle blend Of subliminal hot spots, The suggestion Of a…

March 26, 2015Missive

We can be ambivalent,

We can be ambivalent, Conflicted and uncertain. It is even possible To be both excited And anxious. At one and the same time Hearts can skip a beat, Feel both heavy and light.…

March 25, 2015Poem

Mile End Hospital.

Mile End Hospital. It was an old workhouse, In harder times. So many ghosts Swirl in the smoke From the chimney Above the kitchens. A hospital now, It has known pain. And in its…

March 23, 2015Poem

An anxious attachment.

An anxious attachment. It flutters, A butterfly, Caught in a net, Struggling to be free. The dust of its wings Sparkling, Powdery Iridescent smudges Announce an end To its flight,…

March 18, 2015Missive

What do I know

What do I know Of life? The stuff that Invades my days, Infects my dreams And promotes such Weariness. My temperament overwhelmed By its poison. Should I know? When so much Is…

March 8, 2015Poem

The Way Ice Burns

A hotel in the Cotswolds. Hot The way ice burns. Lips tingling From a single kiss. Time The way it moves, Like a river, Ever onward, Never catching up With itself. Sometimes…

March 6, 2015Poem

Rumination: On the power of love and fragility of life.

Rumination: On the power of love and fragility of life. A life So easily lost. A breath, Exhaled. Curling, Like grey smoke From an old Victorian Chimney. Dissipating. Tossed on a…

March 5, 2015Poem

Stress…at the heart of the matter.

Stress…at the heart of the matter. Even on a good day The sky high and wide The sun incandescent, Burning All trace of a chill Spring mist away, There is still Weight. An ambient…

March 2, 2015Poem

Before the Waking

She opens, Like a flower In early morning, As the sun comes up Unaware of the coming storm, The rain clouds That gather, On the horizon, Waiting to push over, With the wind…

February 28, 2015Poem

The Listening Face

Nobody owns it, But ultimately, When we get right down To basic truths, So many people want Much the same thing, And try to avoid Listening to The actual words, Even when they ask…

February 27, 2015Poem

It was only a lunch box.

It was only a lunch box. Battered now, And faded from too much sun. A lighter blue, Than it once was, when new. The superman logo Peeled away long ago. Even the catch was gone,…

February 25, 2015Poem

The anxious heart

The anxious heart Rises. It craves release. Leaping Into the mouth, Racing away With itself, And breaking, Needlessly, Over small things, When so little Can be done. So much Can…

February 20, 2015Poem

A shiver,

A shiver, Brief, But uncontrollable. More than a wash, A ripple, A raging tide, That surges through me. A liquefying touch, Cleansing the soul. Re-assembling The broken pieces.…

February 19, 2015Poem

Love is not the bird,

Love is not the bird, It is the song, That breaks the silence Of early morning. Drifting through the trees, Lifting my eyes skyward, In search of inspiration. Love is not the…

February 18, 2015Poem

Death as entertainment and it is Broken Bad.

Death as entertainment and it is Broken Bad. Crushed under foot, Boots blindly trod Over tender green shoots, Struggling for life, Through the cracks In a cinder block World. The…

February 14, 2015Poem

What is it you see

What is it you see When you look at me? Every line that age Has drawn upon my face, The naked skin That shines, upon my head. And hairs that grow Everywhere but the place I want…

February 10, 2015Poem

The Seed of Doubt

She laughed. It was the only thing She knew How to do When they asked. People never saw Through it, Even though It didn’t reach her eyes. Pain has become Too deeply woven Into the…

February 9, 2015Poem

No more pretence.

No more pretence. Rumination And time slippage Are closer bedfellows Than the comfort Of nostalgia For smoke in bars. Cigarettes with heavy tar. Eyes red and watery, The beer…

February 6, 2015Missive

It is lonely,

It is lonely, With only one voice Whispering on the inside. But it can be peaceful. It is easy to imagine The chaos Of an internal dialogue, Becoming so closed, It would be a…

February 4, 2015Poem

The Perfect Assassin

One in two will have a visit from cancer at some point in their lives. Love passages Make the journey Easier. They have energy Of purpose, To overcome Setbacks, Tear down walls,…

January 27, 2015Poem

He is just a smile from here

He went away, As many do, Without fanfare. No goodbye song To listen to, No words to Make it right, Just the call You never want, That breaks A silent night. He never feels Too…

January 25, 2015Missive

We cosset all our yesterdays,

We cosset all our yesterdays, They bring comfort. And are wheeled out To varnish the new With a familiar sheen. Harsh modernism Softened with a chocolate box Pastiche, To mimic…

January 20, 2015Poem

Harsh words

Harsh words Crumple faces and burst bubbles. They fly on hot air, And as they hiss out The world is poisoned. Egos are flattened, Steamrollered, Trampled beneath Lines, trotted…

January 19, 2015Poem

Cold hands,

Cold hands, With finger tips Frozen to the bone. Icicle digits, Refusing to bend Or twist, Flexing, wringing Making a fist, As un-oiled joints, scream. This is no way To wake from…

January 6, 2015Poem

Globalisation.

Globalisation. Rolling in dirt. Playing footsie Under the table. The left hand, Never knowing What the right hand is doing. Trouble brewing, As money makers, Movers, shakers Keep…