[6k]

© Gerald England

Composed: Whitby, 14th April 1994

Publications

1995 Apostrophe (UK)
1996 Still (UK)
1998 Raw NerVZ Haiku (Canada)

[9f]

Composed: Manchester, 16th June 1985

Publications

1989 Bogg (USA)

1992 Apostrophe (UK)

1998 LIMBO TIME (Hyde, New Hope International)

2000 Peace & Freedom (UK)

In Deep

IN DEEP

there were several entrances
indeed there were several holes
some holes were inside other holes
possible exits were only ends
with little room for turning
or else they led to other holes
there were ways out
but only for the slim and fit
or the very fat and strong

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Oldham, 12th February 1983

Publications

1989 Short Fuse (USA)
1990 Lizzengreasy Magazine (Japan)
1992 Odyssey (UK)
1994 Apostrophe (UK)
1998 LIMBO TIME (Hyde, New Hope International)
1998 NASA (USA)
1999 Black Creek Review (USA)

Destitute Woman

DESTITUTE WOMAN,
AFTER PABLO PICASSO

Art Gallery of Ontario

       The woman is seated
                  leaning
                          almost
       against the blankness of the wall
       She is covered entirely in her cloak
       Her eyes are closed in sleep
       her pale face tilted
       From the closeknitted brow
       runs her sharp bone nose
       to a tight mouth that is not smiling
       Her hands are closed beneath her cloak
       She remains here
                 nearly
                        sleeping
       Her tiredness
       is what binds her to the world
       which itself is closed in tiredness
                               to her

© Gerald England

Composed: Sheffield, 2nd February 1974

Publications

1980 Leeds & Harrogate Graphic (UK)
1980 PENNINE ANTHOLOGY 1980 (Huddersfield, Woodhead Publications)
1991 Apostrophe (UK)
1992 Quickenings (USA)
1994 Purple Pastiche (UK)
1998 Ygdrasil (Internet)

[11a]

© Gerald England

Composed: Sheffield, 1st May 1973

Publications

1976 MEETINGS AT THE MOOR'S EDGE (West Kirkby, Headland)
1982 Interstate (USA)
1993 Apostrophe (UK)
2003 Blackbird (USA)

The Ice Is Frozen In Upon Itself

THE ICE IS FROZEN IN UPON ITSELF

The ice is frozen in upon itself
No amount of hyacinths
or pricking roses can melt
There is a hole in it from which blood pours
From the other opening
come waves in cut air
One of the holes is useless
sterile
essence of nothing
The ice is frozen in upon itself
Fire frightens it
sends into panic
Two ducts exude salt water
Shed skin withers
The ingathering of ethanolic drugs
is accentuation of accumulation
But even steady pressure
creates no heat
The ice is frozen in upon itself

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Sheffield, 29th April 1973

Publications

1974 Littack (UK)
1980 THE RAINBOW AND OTHER POEMS (Heckmondwyke, Fighting Cock Press)
1993 Dial 174 (UK)
1993 Apostrophe (UK)

Satar et Bacchi

SATAR ET BACCHI

Satar's dowly queen fortents
la finder de la climerax
Them cowlads full la city dents
a-wailing et winding on ser fax

Bacchi's boys had sled zi wud
et full la wold were danderund
mile tweny oars skim not i cud
sin dowly queen hed bliperund

So efter full respite hed stan la toll
quierant messlow deing on core
Satar flipped on Bacchi's bowl
et not la many key der more

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Sheffield, 21st March 1971

Publications

1971 Gargantua (UK)
1986 The Old Police Station (UK)
1989 Working Titles (UK)
1991 Apostrophe (UK)

Dreams

DREAMS

There are no dreams in the deepest sleep
for deepest sleep is purest rest
and I need rest most of all from my dreams
which are always of the restless kind
My dreams are dreamt when only half asleep
the hypnotic state of the physiological psychologists
when the electroencephalograph traces a jagged line
the jumbled signals of multitudinous nerves
recalling images past-remembered
but long forgotten
Half-remembered names of half-remembered faces
flash across my dreaming eyes
ideas and false linkages
possible predictions for the future

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Ackworth, 1st March 1967

Publications

1972 Datr (UK)
1992 STEALING KISSES (Hyde, New Hope International)
1993 Apostrophe (UK)
1993 Dream International Quarterly (USA)
1997 Temporary Sanity (Internet)
1999 Unlikely Stories (Internet)