Erosion

© Copyright 2006 RichTea.
EROSION

At Mappleton the road
runs right on over the edge
of the crumbling cliff which
the grey foam of a sulky, green sea
continually devours.
Remaining are outline foundations
of houses now removed
to safer places farther inland.

Much farther inland are the huge
Holderness haystacks - built
four-square and solid -
topped by thatched-type roofs
held down by building bricks.

More building bricks and concrete
form suburban Hull in whose
outer housing estates we loose
ourselves among winding drives.

The farmer ploughs his fertile land
and builds his stacks of hay
but they are not defense enough
against the nibbling encroachments
of erosion on either side
from the city and the sea.

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Oldham, 1st October 1976

Publications

1984 Weyfarers (UK)
1990 2nd Rapture (UK)
1992 STEALING KISSES (Hyde, New Hope International)

Bealach na Ba

BEALACH NA BA

(Pass of the Cattle)

The signpost warned us in advance --
narrow, one in five, triple hairpin bends --
Unsuitable for Learner Drivers -- it said.
We climbed into cloud, blindly negotiated
the hairpins before descending into sunshine.

At Applecross and Toscaig the sea
was a clear crystal, bright and blue
as sea is always meant to be
not grey or green as it's usually seen.
Raasay and Skye seemed only offshore land.

The cloud had moved on for our return.
We rested at the summit, surveyed the sea
laden with islands, the land punctured by lochs,
and pondered how cattle could ever pass
over such a hostile and precipitate way.

Descending to Kishorn where an oil-rig
was being assembled like a meccano toy,
we looked down as gods over the mountains,
uncountable peaks of barren rock
stretching to an infinite horizon.

© GERALD ENGLAND.

Composed: Oldham, 1st September 1976

Publication

1984 Ocarina (UK)

Dinner at Elshieshields

DINNER AT ELSHIESHIELDS

The hitchhiker had brought a black tie
Jeans, sweater and a haversack he thought
might not be right for dinner with a Scottish laird
The gaunt aristocratic lowlander up his purple rhododendron drive
was a daunting smoking-jacketed prospect for the invited youth
We had no fears for him
seeing the sheared sheep at Kirkmichael
as white as whitsun goats and large as mules,
or the playful rabbits of Ae, darting into Nithsdale
with fat black wood-pigeons flying in front of us
Our breakfast came with the morning sun

© Gerald England

Composed: Closeburn, 24th June 1976

Publications

1977 Counterpoint (UK)
1980 THE RAINBOW AND OTHER POEMS (Heckmondwyke, Fighting Cock Press)
1983 Green's Magazine (Canada)
1995 Northwords (UK)

The Dog

THE DOG

The dog dodges puddles in the road
but is fond of creating them -
does not drink water he cannot see
the substance being transparent
Milk he sees and partakes of
with the vigour of a cat

At the coast he makes himself a sight
chasing stones into the sea
then running from the attack of waves
that roll and roar defiantly back at him

A daft dog that goes eagerly out
during the heaviest downpour
of rain or snow patiently
to wait soaking behind the door
until he is let in again
to shake himself, lie down and lick his paws

Ever eager to explore the house
only the sound of a running bath
will set him adamantly staying put
refusing all incentive to bound upstairs
Once there he submits, knowing
he must be dirty to deserve a bath

Dogs and water make strange companions.

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Oldham, 15th May 1976

Publication

1987 Outreach (UK)

(c8)

he spoke loudly so
that he could keep his hearers
some distance away

© gerald england

Composed: Oldham, 3rd May 1976

Publication

1990 Prophetic Voices (USA)

(c7)

it's not the pressure
that counts but whether it is
rising or falling

© gerald england

Composed: Oldham, 3rd April 1976

Publication

1987 Prophetic Voices (USA)

Calvary

CALVARY

And who owned the nail ?
Who the hammer ?
Who the hand that hammered ?
Whose symbol is the hammer ?

Hammer, hammer nail the hand
Nailed hands cannot comfort
Nailed hands cannot heal
Nailed hands can't forgive

Was it my nail and your hammer ?
Or mine the hammer yours the nail ?
Who will take the hammer from us ?
Only the hand that we have nailed

Extract the nail with the claw of the hammer
And let the hand that was nailed
rise up and lift the hammer from us
Free us from the hammer's hold

© Gerald England

Composed: Oldham, 1st February 1976

Publications

1977 EYES (Huddersfield, Sight Saving Association)
1977 International Biographical Centre Magazine (UK)
1980 THE RAINBOW AND OTHER POEMS (Heckmondwyke, Fighting Cock Press)