[47th]

 (for M.R.B.)

                   And  having  said
                   all that he could
                   he knew there was
                   more  to be  said

                   And having  opened  his hand
                   there were no further hiding
                   places    He had to face the
                   critics  with  only  his pen
                   for  a  weapon  -  only  his
                   computer   and  his  printer
                   make  hard  copy of the word

                   © GERALD ENGLAND.

Composed: Ashton under Lyne, 20th August 1986

Publication

1993 Vigil (UK)

Sonnet for a Lost Roman Road

SONNET FOR A LOST ROMAN ROAD

Treading by compass the unseen line,
Following the way the Romans led,
Thinking only of the road ahead,
Looking for a place to realign,
Bringing their direction back to mine,
Fording then each river bed,
Crossing over each watershed,
Marvelling at such a straight design.

The stones lie mostly below the turf;
A barn there and an oak tree here
Point to this route no longer used
Under the land of some Saxon serf
Who ploughed his fields without a tear
For all the history he had seduced.

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Ashton under Lyne, 1st February 1980

Publications

1986 Acumen (UK)
1989 Vigil (UK)
1998 LIMBO TIME (Hyde, New Hope International)
1999 Black Creek Review (USA)
2000 Manifold (UK)