Beneath the row of nettles© GERALD ENGLAND
the dock leaves grew
and ivy up a tree
Out at sea the destroyer plied
its silent way while the raucous sounds
of toucans, macaws and cockatoos
filled the tropical aviary
One white-cheeked touraco, with shining
scarlet eyelashes hung firmly
to a twig for his long-lost nest
Two little guinea-pigs shared their home
with the cockatiels
A white peahen looked uninterestedly on
at two peacocks, tails afanned
and bottoms shaking a furious courtship
The Alexandrine parakeet took
the tomato and held it in its claw to eat
Neither we nor they cared for the rain
The mist destroyed any sight out at sea
and the trees dripped
Composed: St Lawrence, IOW, 5th May 1977
Publications
1980 THE RAINBOW AND OTHER POEMS (Heckmondwyke, Fighting Cock Press)
1981 New Hope International (UK)
1993 The People's Poetry (UK)
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