View of Stamford from the North

              VIEW OF STAMFORD, FROM THE NORTH

              That Great Roar -
              the old artery
              which sustained the town
              when coachmen would choose Inns
              for the merits of their stables -
              passes by this neglected,
              southern toe-end of Lincolnshire,
              separates it from old-pal Rutland
              now drowned in Leicestershire.

              Left in Burghley's tourist-shadow
              it might have become
              a small-time town where no-one laughs
              where life is a serious business.

              Landlords of those same Inns
              now serve bar-meals in yards
              which have become beer-gardens
              They extend the same welcome
              recognising that their visitors
              must choose to come this way.

              The town respects its position
              - even the Mayor shops at Morrisons.

              © GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Great Casterton, 23rd May 1989

Publication

1989 The Third Half (UK)

Christmas Time

CHRISTMAS TIME

No sooner summer's end
than supermarkets fill their shelves
with tempters for the Christmas spend.

Civic authorities string up lights
to glimmer through the gloom
of foggy mid-November nights.

Children open advent doors
in calendars revealing scenes
of cribs and candles and Santa Claus.

With the first of the season's pantomimes
or the knocking of the carollers;
Christmas begins at different times.

But the time that Christmas truly starts
is when we open up our selves,
allowing Christmas to invade our hearts..


                          © GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Ashton under Lyne, 14th November 1987

Publications

1988 The Third Half (UK)

2000 Breathe (UK)

The Word on Eyes

THE WORD ON EYES

The wise man's eyes are in his head
but the fool walks in darkness;
his eyes are in the ends of the earth
They that tarry long at the wine;
they that go to see mixed wine;
they have redness of eyes
Better is the sight of the eyes
than the wandering of desire,
which is vanity and vexation of spirit
The eyes of the lofty shall be humbled
The rebellious have eyes and see not
The eyes of the pure in heart
shall see God
The eyes of the blind shall be opened
The eyes of the Lord are in every place
beholding the evil and the good
The eyes of all wait upon Him
and he gives them their meat in due season

© Gerald England

Composed: Oldham, 6th April 1977

Publications

1977 EYES (Huddersfield, Sight Saving Association)
1992 The Third Half (UK)
1993 Unicorn (UK)

Friendship's Smile

FRIENDSHIP'S SMILE

  Friendship's smile is often dry
       for behind a warmth doth lie
  No need for gifts of shining gold
       What value do these hold ?
            Gifts seek a return
            and wise men discern
            Return then is not
       and that's the giver's lot

  Friendship's smile need not be dry
       for behind a warmth doth lie
  A gift though barely touching strife
       the token of a life
            No return is sought
            'Tis not even thought
            but friendship is got
       and that's the giver's lot

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Pontefract, 4th April 1966

Publications
1967 Tait's Quarterly (UK)
1976 MEETINGS AT THE MOOR'S EDGE (West Kirkby, Headland)
1990 The Third Half (UK)
1992 Alternative (USA)

Dream of Love?

DREAM OF LOVE

I fain would know who she might be
pervades my sleep each night
Is she the moon that shines above
the sun's uprising light ?

A mere reflection of the mind
by cogitation wrought ?
An image by my soul designed
disclosed to me by thought ?

A form by willing spirit drawn
my hopes to realise ?
One which my sight should want for to
perceive in fleshly guise ?

Might she exist in far off land
or even nearer home ?
Perhaps she nightly dreams of me
Oh could she read my poem !

Perhaps it be "elle n'existe pas"
a wrathful demon's scheme
to lure me to regretful deeds
asleep and while I dream !

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Glasgow, 1st December 1965

Publications
1992 The Third Half (UK)
1992 International Poetry (USA)