(x15)

anchored off an isle
they watch the sun set
behind a bigger

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 8th October 2006

Unpublished

Confessions Of Chrysthete XXXIII

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE XXXIII

she meets
a lot of people
she rarely
gets round
to saying
goodbye

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 8th October 2006

Unpublished

(x14)

home-grown honey stall
she sits with her back to traffic
faces the sea

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 8th October 2006

Unpublished

(x13)

above the quarry
a whole host of vultures
ride thermals

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 8th October 2006

Unpublished

Voukolies, Crete

VOUKOLIES, CRETE

an October Sunday
midmorning in the rain
old men sit at tables
outside half a dozen
different tavernas
their voices loud in discussion

midafternoon in the sun
the place is almost deserted
quiet rules

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 8th October 2006

Publication

2007 Sons of Camus Writers International Journal (Cyprus)

(x12)

two snails
climb a whitewashed wall
ants descend

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 7th October 2006

Unpublished

(x11)

the snake woman
loans an old man her stool
until his bus comes

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 7th October 2006

Unpublished

Hawks

HAWKS

hawk
on a hot tin roof
stares over hotel roofs and pools
at yachts sailing the blue Mediterranean

silently
a second hawk flies in
from the mountains

the first lifts off
shows the white underside of wings
and the two are away
together

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 7th October 2006

Publications

2007 Sons of Camus Writers International Journal (Cyprus)
2007 Ackworth born, gone West (Internet)

Dogs & Cats

DOGS & CATS

dogs lie asleep
everywhere

three guard the hens and sheep
on a farmstead
by the road to Xirocompi

another lies in the entrance
to the Handicraft Exhibition in Chania
just above the mosaic ramp

as the evening rush hour
clogs the street
motorbikes and pizza-delivery men
darting between spaces
one lies
oblivious to the noise
outside an electrical retailers

cats, on the other hand
either sit patiently
or scamper about
erratically

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 7th October 2006

Publication

2009 Crature Features (Cyprus)

tanka 39

under the sunset
a no longer young couple
see a sparkle
as the boat sails moonward
love is alive again

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 6th October 2006

Unpublished

Confessions Of Chrysthete XXXII

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE XXXII

she wonders
why she ever loved him
was it because he loved her
and she so wanted someone to love her
that she loved him
anyway?

now he is gone
she wonders
why she ever loved him

she longs to see him again
to find out why
but she also longs
not to see him again
fearing finding out

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 6th October 2006

Unpublished

Confessions Of Chrysthete XXI

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE XXXI

she wasn’t there
when needed
she wasn’t needed
when there

emptiness fills her heart
she remembers the happy times
they are only memories
she remembers the angry moments
they have long been finished with
but the sadness
remains
and will not leave her

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 5th October 2006

Unpublished

Confessions Of Chrysthete XXX

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE XXX

to reach the bells
she has to climb the tower

at first there is a stone spiral

at one stage
the height of the steps increases
she has to stretch her leg to reach

at another point
the handrail gives way
she has to push hard against the side walls

then the steps narrow
she has to climb sideways

halfway up there is a wooden platform
on which she feels safe

beyond is an iron ladder
but some rungs are missing

finally she can ring the bell

she is refusing to come down

the peel of the bells
is keeping villagers awake

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 5th October 2006

Publication

2011 Envoi (UK)

(x10)

a year on
still the warmth in her hand
that day

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 5th October 2006

Unpublished

Confessions Of Chrysthete XXIX

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE XXIX


after years
of avoidance
to finally hit the water
slowly immersing
from toe to waist
o the joy
of the therapy pool

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 5th October 2006

Unpublished

Confessions Of Chrysthete XXVIII

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE XXVIII

to catch the sparrow
the cat must find its moment
else it has flown

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 5th October 2006

Unpublished

Confessions Of Chrysthete XXVII

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE XXVII

hope lies
in the bright eyes of babies
that melt hearts

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 5th October 2006

Unpublished

Confessions Of Chrysthete XXVI

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE XXVI

her light
is trapped
inside clouds
she cannot shine
like a star
one day it rains sorrow
but she is sodden
and unable to fall
one day the sun is happy
but she is blown along with the wind
and unable to fly
wonders
will she ever shine?

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 5th October 2006

Unpublished

Confessions Of Chrysthete XXV

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE XXV

a small word
from the lips of a stranger
is all it takes

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 5th October 2006

Unpublished

(x9)

our road blocked
the sheep scratches its ear
before scampering

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 4th October 2006

Publication

2007 Sons of Camus Writers International Journal (Cyprus)

(x8)

our veal-chop
abandoned to a swarm
of wilful wasps

© Gerald England

Composed: Therisso, 4th October 2006

Published

2007 Sons of Camus Writers International Journal (Cyprus)

(x7)

at each turn
another view across
to Lakki church

© Gerald England

Composed: Zouvra, 4th October 2006

Published

2007 Sons of Camus Writers International Journal (Cyprus)

Confessions Of Chrysthete XXIV

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE XXIV

she is emotional
but also self-assertive
helping the stranger with his stick
pointing out the stair-less path
which will lead him
to the back of the church
whose bell rings the half-hour
she is her own woman
only half-smiling
at his quick return

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 4th October 2006

Unpublished

October in Crete

OCTOBER IN CRETE

Behind the Deutscher Soldatenfriedhof
the brilliant sun is quickly setting.
Beyond lies the peninsular
with its monastery and Orthodox Academy.
Meanwhile in the East
the gibbous moon rises
over the haze of
jagged mountain tops
that stretch almost to Africa
but for the sea that cuts between.
Lanes lined with bamboo
lead to olive groves
and orange trees that crop twice-yearly.
Dogs and hens and goats
share yards,
each with their private shrine to St. Nicholas.
Even after dark
it is still warm.

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 3rd October 2006

Publication

2007 Sons of Camus Writers International Journal (Cyprus)

Confessions Of Chrysthete XXIII

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE

XXIII

in this contrary world
where nothing seems
to be whatever it seems
put on a brave face
keep smiling
be a survivor.

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 3rd October 2006

Unpublished

Confessions Of Chrysthete XXII

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE XXII


kindness
is like a ripple
that spreads out
in an ever increasing circle

but circles can be bro
ken,
tumult disturb the calm

reinstatement
requires
strength

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 3rd October 2006

Unpublished

(as11)

three moons
in an upstairs window
and one in the pool

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 2nd October 2006

Publication

2006 Meetings in Dejhagascar (Internet)

One-way Street

ONE-WAY STREET

Under the sign
for a one-way-street
the dog sits
waiting
no worries
over forthcoming meals
knowing only
that mademoiselle
will soon return
and walkies
will be resumed.

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 2nd October 2006

Publication

2009 Creature Features (Cyprus)

(x6)

green fruit hangs
only the fallen ones
are orange

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 2nd October 2006

Unpublished

Confessions Of Chrysthete XXI

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE XXI

having someone to care for
strengthens the carer
their castle
is surrounded
by a moat
of experience and common sense

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 2nd October 2006

Unpublished

Confessions Of Chrysthete XX

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE XX

the eye
of the chameleon
sees what is there
and what is not there
true and not true
look the same
the difference
cannot be seen

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 1st October 2006

Unpublished

Confessions Of Chrysthete XIX

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE XIX

with open ears and eyes
she watches his mouth,
listens to the words spoken
and then
defends herself

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 1st October 2006

Unpublished

Soggy Dog

SOGGY DOG

The wet and soggy poodle
lays trails of muddy marks
all along the hallway
up the stairs and
on to his mistress’s bed

oh how she hates him

bathed and clipped
his hair all puffed
and scented

oh how she loves him

until tomorrow

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 1st October 2006

Published

2009 Creature Features (Cyprus)

Confessions Of Chrysthete XVIII

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE XVIII

to be a friend
i have to love you

to love you
i do not have to like you

but oneness
comes only
when love
is each way

between
before
and after

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 30th September 2006

Published

2008 Curlew (UK)

Confessions Of Chrysthete XVII

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE XVII

no point
seeking
for happiness
just
be happy
else
there is
no point

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 30th September 2006

Published

2008 Curlew (UK)

Confessions Of Chrysthete XVI

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE XVI

too late
when old
to regret
lost youth

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 30th September 2006

Unpublished

Confessions Of Chrysthete XV

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE XV

crushed lavander
kills the odour
of pain,
takes the senses
to a higher plain

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 30th September 2006

Unpublished

Confessions Of Chrysthete XIV

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE XIV

the old tree
holds
in its memory
many
visitors

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 30th September 2006

Unpublished

Confessions Of Chrysthete XIII

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE XIII

don't lie to yourself
accept your weaknesses
then they will make you strong

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 30th September 2006

Unpublished

Confessions Of Chrysthete XII

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE XII

something stirs
in your body
then it clicks
in your head

another case
of déjà vu
.

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 30th September 2006

Unpublished

Cretan Morning

CRETAN MORNING

Ten in the morning:
birds sing in the trees
above the whirr of a wood-cutting machine.

Every so often the loud cry
of cockle-doodle-doo;
someone is hammering,
traffic roars on the main road
children’s voices can be heard.

The cock pierces the air again
and the quiet cacophony continues
as a dog barks.

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 30th September 2006

Unpublished

Confessions Of Chrysthete XI

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE XI

she is
unconfident,
lacking in courage
and envious
of the stout-headed poppy
shouting at the sun

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 30th September 2006

Publication

2011 Snakeskin (Internet)

(x5)

water-drops
glisten on the surface
the leaf smells sweet

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 30th September 2006

Unpublished

Confessions of Chrysthete X

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE X

talking
to a kind stranger
we leave our life's baggage at home,
share one secret thought

briefly unladen
we open

inner joy

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Maleme, 29th September 2006

Unpublished

(x4)

ancient walls
between its crevices
purple flowers

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Maleme, 29th September 2006

Unpublished

Confessions of Chrysthete IX

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE IX

a harsh critic
silenced her
she swallowed the words inside her
till they boiled


© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Maleme, 29th September 2006

Unpublished

Confessions of Chrysthete VIII

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE VIII

night of no sleep
afloat above a sea of faces
beckoning

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Maleme, 29th September 2006

Unpublished

Confessions of Chrysthete VII

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE VII

in the darkest forest
my dead father
shines
a torch

i see my mother
from before i was born


© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Maleme, 29th September 2006

Unpublished

(x3)

something scurries
deep in the olive grove
but we do not see

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Maleme, 28th September, 2006

Unpublished

Confessions of Chrysthete VI

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE

VI


how can I ever be alone
with the wind in my face,
the sea at my foot,
the crickets in the bush at night,
a snake or a dog to stroke
and my love by my side?

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Maleme, 28th September, 2006

Unpublished

(x2)

strewn
under autumn leaves
seeds of spring

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 28th September 2006

Unpublished

(x1)

tall sycamores
way way up above
a glimmer of light

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 28th September 2006

Unpublished

Confessions of Chrysthete V

Confessions of Chrysthete V

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 28th September 2006

Unpublished

Confessions of Chrysthete IV

Confessions of Chrysthete IV

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 28th September 2006

Unpublished

Confessions of Chrysthete III

Confessions of Chrysthete III

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 28th September 2006

Unpublished

Confessions of Chrysthete II

Confessions of Chrysthete II

today's dawn
always a little bit different
from yesterday

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 28th September 2006

Unpublished

Confessions of Chrysthete I

Confessions of Chrysthete I

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 28th September 2006

Unpublished

(y26)

Photograph © Gerald England: view original
autumn breeze
our neighbour's sunflowers
sway

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 16th September 2006

Published

2006 Falling Leaves

(as10 Pluto)

(PLUTO…)

only eight now
it might have been twelve or more
certainly not nine

© Gerald England

Publication

2006 Meetings in Dejhagascar (Internet)

(y25)

fat magpie
sitting on the fence
autumn wind

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 21st August 2006

Publication

2006 Falling Leaves (Internet)

(as9)

rainfall on rocks
the constituency of each
changes with space

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 16th August 2006

Publication

2006 Meetings in Dejhagascar (Internet)

(y23)

sun out a magpie waits in the willow

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 7th August 2006

Publication

2006 Falling Leaves (Internet)

(y23)

autumn gale
the rosebush knocks
on my window

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 1st August 2006

Publication

2006 Falling Leaves (Internet)

(y21)

cooler night
i fetch the duvet
from its cupboard

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 31st July 2006

Publication

2006 Summer Haiku (Internet)

(as8)

thunder moon
rats scurry for cover
along the deck

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 11th July 2006

Publications

2006 Summer Haiku (Internet)
2006 Meetings in Dejahagascar (Internet)

*****bubuit de luna
sobolani tasnesc spre adapost
de-a lungul puntii

Gerald England

-Romanian translation by
Andrei Dorian Gheorghe-

Publication

2006 SARM (Internet)

(y19)

cruise end
behind a black container
the sun sets

© Gerald England

Composed: North Sea, 23rd June 2006

Unpublished

(as7)

morning moon
the flat sky stretches
to a still sea

© Gerald England

Composed: St Petersburg, 18th June 2006

Publication

2006 Meetings in Dejhagascar (Internet)

(y18)

on the dockside
rows of rolled steel
wait under cranes

© Gerald England

Composed: St Petersburg, 17th June 2006

Unpublished

(y16)

nestled
beneath the old depot
a small lighthouse

© Gerald England

Composed: Nynesham, 15th June 2006

Unpublished

(y15)

departing liner -
from the halted ro-ro
hands wave

© Gerald England

Composed: Warnemunde, 13th June 2006

Unpublished

(y14)

after the noon
changing of the guard
a rush for icecream

© Gerald England

Composed: Copenhagen, 12th June 2006

Publication

2007 Blithe Spirit (UK)

(y13)

harbour entrance
a ladybird lands
on my wrist

© Gerald England

Composed: Copenhagen, 12th June 2006

Publication

2006 Summer Haiku (Internet)
2006 World Kigo Database (Internet)

(y12)

our uncut lawn
all along the edge
buttercups

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 30th May 2006

Publication

2006 Summer Haiku (Internet)

(as6)

low sunlight
north martian winter
a bumby boulder

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 20th May 2006

Publication

2006 Meetings in Dejhagascar (Internet)

*****lumina scazuta
iarna martiana nordica
un bulgare accidentat

Gerald England

Romanian translation by Andrei Dorian Gheorge

Publication

2006 SARM (Internet)

(y11)

shrivelled daffodils
under the willows' shade:
dandelions bloom

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 27th April 2006

Publication

2006 Summer Haiku (Internet)

(p21)

trees drip drain overflows the open road

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 19th April 2006

Publication

2006 Ukku Spring Haiku (Internet)

(p20)

Easter Sunday in the potting-shed cowslips

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 16th April 2006

Publication

2006 Ukku Spring Haiku (Internet)

(p12)

spring moves too fast easter so soon upon us

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 12th April 2006

Publication

2006 Ukku Spring Haiku (Internet)

(as5)

April arrival
the descent upon Venus
fraught with danger

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 9th April 2006

Publication

2006 Meetings at Dejagascar (Internet)

(as4)

post-eclipse
in the afternoon dawn
frogs croak

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 9th April 2006

Publication

2006 Cosmopoetry (Internet)

Snap - April 5th 2006

SNAP - APRIL 5th 2006

the new clock
on the reconstructed
mini-roundabout
is stuck at twenty to nine

rescued from the fallen tower
of the rubber factory
demolished in favour
of an estate of yuppie houses
its four faces
seem forlorn

in the taxi
returning from the supermarket
the first bee of the year
buzzes lethargically
unthreatening
this cold spring day

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 5th April 2006

Unpublished

(p18)

chopped a neighbour's tree the cherry remains

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 4th April 2006

Publication

2006 Ukku Spring Haiku (Internet)

(y10)

town hall steps three frozen pickets protest the rain

© Gerald England

Composed: Hyde, 28th March 2006

Publication

2011 A Hundred Gourds (Internet)

(p17)

overnight rain two dozen daffodils finally sprung

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 27th March 2006

Publication

2006 Ukku Spring Haiku (Internet)

(p16)

spring forward an hour and another hour to change them all

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 25th March 2006

Publication

2006 Ukku Spring Haiku (Internet)

(p15)

somewhere in the memory a green field

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 22nd March 2006

Publication

2006 Ukku Spring Haiku (Internet)

(p14)

today tentative steps towards ...

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 19th March 2006

Publication

2006 Ukku Spring Haiku (Internet)

(as3)

almost spring
the moon at apogee
snow on daffodils

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 16th March 2006

Publication

2006 Meetings in Dejhagascar (Internet)

*****aproape primavera
luna la apogeu
zapada pe narcise

Gerald England
in Romaneste de Andrei Dorian Gheorghe

Unpublished?

Yorkshire haiku 12

t' old allotment
diggin early tatties
granddad sweats

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 16th March 2006

Publication

2012 Yorkshire Dialect Society Summer Bulletin (UK)

Yorkshire haiku 11

shufflin dahn t' prom
wi a bag o fish an chips -
vinegary kisses

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 16th March 2006

Publication

2012 Yorkshire Dialect Society Summer Bulletin (UK)

Yorkshire haiku 10

New Year's Day
a bud unfurls itsen
on t' cyclamen

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 16th March 2006

Unpublished

Yorkshire haiku 9

Kessmus day
thru r' cemetery raihlins
holly berries poak

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 16th March 2006

Unpublished

Yorkshire haiku 8

stuck i' a jam
lass chucks t' roahd atlas
aht a t' sunroof

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 16th March 2006

Publication

2012 Yorkshire Dialect Society Summer Bulletin (UK)

Yorkshire haiku 7

warmh October
cahncil sweeper cleears leeaves
t' wind blahs em back

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 16th March 2006

Unpublished

(p13)

spring clean in the garden muck remains

© Gerald England

Publication

2006 Ukku Spring Haiku (Internet)

(p12)

yellow and blue two little crocuses by the church wall

© Gerald England

Publication

2006 Ukku Spring Haiku (Internet)

(p11)

keeping her head down march winds

© Gerald England

Publication

2006 Ukku Spring Haiku (Internet)

(p10)

before leaving a last pint at the "swan-with-two-necks"

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 5th March 2006

Publication

2006 Ukku Spring Haiku (Internet)

(p9)

openly looking for spring here there

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 3rd March 2006

Publication

2006 Ukku Spring Haiku (Internet)

(p8)

under willow St. David's Day a sign

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 1st March 2006

Publication

2006 Ukku Spring Haiku (Internet)