At St Govan's Head

Image © Chris Downer; source Geograph               

AT ST. GOVAN'S HEAD

              Perched between cliffs
              approached by seventy-four steps
              (or count them different if you will)
              St Govan's chapel rests.

              The roar of waves muffles
              the sound of gunshot.
              A red flag flys above:
              the coastal path is closed.

              Enough to wake the dead ?
              - test the patience of a saint ?
              We know almost nothing
              of the hermit who here sought peace.

              Perhaps his spirit takes revenge.
              A fat gull sentries the car-park,
              squawks defiantly on the sign-post,
              feed without comfort on crumbs.

              © GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Walwyn's Castle, 1st June 1989

Publication

1990 2nd Rapture (UK)

The Poetic Thing

THE POETIC THING

I would like to do the poetic thing
I would like to run naked into the sea
A symbolic cleansing of my filthy body
An act of simple ritual and pious purity
But I am afraid
Not of the devils of the deep
I cannot do it
for if I do
the law will nick me, lock me up
charge me with indecent exposure
And if I escape the law
the cold will get me,
lay me down in hospital
with double pneumonia
So I merely wash my hands
buy a peace offering
of fish and chips
and go home

© Gerald England

Composed: Flamborough North Landing, 9th June 1978

Publications

1981 DADDYCATION (Ashton under Lyne, New Hope International)
1999 The Affiliate (Canada)
1990 YOUNG MINDS (Hull, Psychopoetica)
1990 2nd Rapture (UK)
1990 Lucidity (USA)
1993 Pomes (UK)

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)