In Deep

IN DEEP

there were several entrances
indeed there were several holes
some holes were inside other holes
possible exits were only ends
with little room for turning
or else they led to other holes
there were ways out
but only for the slim and fit
or the very fat and strong

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Oldham, 12th February 1983

Publications

1989 Short Fuse (USA)
1990 Lizzengreasy Magazine (Japan)
1992 Odyssey (UK)
1994 Apostrophe (UK)
1998 LIMBO TIME (Hyde, New Hope International)
1998 NASA (USA)
1999 Black Creek Review (USA)

Wind On The Road

WIND ON THE ROAD

The soft breeze gale
deposits a patchwork of leaves,
demolishes the trees in rows,
scatters seed

Coloured blooms light a flat field
Fat flowers gyrate in the wind
under a cloud-hidden disc
of questioning warmth

Bicycle tyres tread a gravelled path
There is a sideside wobble
as wheels turn according to gradient
Handlebars are tightly gripped

Scurries of rainfall wets faces
hurrying to many active places,
smears the glass, confuses vision
Claritylack hinders control

In the end a still, small voice
Movement is rapid but unnoticed
Progression's a going ahead from
not forward towards

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Sheffield, 24th April 1973

Publications

1974 Promontory (UK)
1980 THE RAINBOW AND OTHER POEMS (Heckmondwyke, Fighting Cock Press)
1989 Short Fuse (USA)
1990 Left-Footed Wombat (USA)
1993 Lo Straniero (Italy)

Traces

TRACES

Returning home
at midnight,
lorries pass me
on the main road.

Years ago,
before I gained
my respectability,
I'd have thumbed
a lift
on one of those;
through the night
to morning
somewhere else,
new places, new faces, traces
of freedom.

I walk on home
to bed,
for tomorrow
I face
again
the workaday world.

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Ackworth, 7th July 1968

Publications

1970 Bogg (UK)
1970 MOUSINGS (Sheffield, Headland)
1986 Peace & Freedom (UK)
1989 Short Fuse (USA)
1993 Processed World (USA)
1999 Unlikely Stories (Internet)

Metaphor of a Snail and an Elephant

METAPHOR OF A SNAIL AND AN ELEPHANT

Have you ever watched a snail
crawl up the back of an elephant ?

She'd asked me how it was going

It was one of those days
when you've worked three times as hard as you usually do
but for all the results
you might have done (perhaps better had you done)
nothing

The snail had almost reached the top
The elephant moved slightly
The snail
        fell
             off

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Glasgow, 1st August 1967

Publications

1968 New Melody (UK)
1971 Platform (UK)
1972 Roots (UK)
1987 Inkshed (UK)
1989 Short Fuse (USA)
1992 STEALING KISSES (Hyde, New Hope International)