tanka 11

tar wagon pulls in
to moor-top carpark, off-loads
two wicker baskets-
three dozen pigeon sweep out
circle twice, then head for home

© Gerald England

Composed: Standedge, 17th June 1993

Publications

1994 Indefinite Space (USA)
1998 Conspire (Internet)

Vacation Time

VACATION TIME

Through the windy pass
frozen waterfalls cling to fell sides
In the valley park
the river is rapid with melt
To a young boy
swans are just big ducks
The bypass-building bulldozers
menace bank-holiday traffic

At nightfall
the weather howls between trees
Over the radio
comes news of strife and hardship
Inside
minds are still with sleep
Puzzle solutions
are put back to bed again

© Gerald England

Composed: Manton Farm, 20th March 1986

Publications

1993 Endless Mountain Review (USA)
1988 Conspire (Internet)

The Bay At The Back Of The Ocean

               THE BAY AT THE BACK OF THE OCEAN

               At the Bay-at-the-back-of-the-ocean
               a boy wrote his name in white sand
               and drew a rude picture of mummy
               whilst his brother picked at the grains
               and bottom-shuffled towards the blue

               Hidden behind the cow-climbed Dun
               beyond the sheep-trodden tees and greens,
               at the Bay-at-the-back-of-the-ocean
               where the machair stretches smooth and clean
               a man and wife looked toward more distant isles

               At the Bay-at-the-back-of-the-ocean
               a boy cried out to the warming wind
               and waved at the royal Atlantic
               whilst his brother crawled towards daddy,
               sand penetrating nappy, caking face

               Whilst others ascended to the Abbey
               one walked, one buggied, with parents trekked
               to the Bay-at-the-back-of-the-ocean
               searching for colours in rocks hiding pools
               and crevices where pink flowers grew

              © GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Fionnphort, 30th July 1984

Publications

1985 Period Piece & Paperback (UK)
1986 FUTURES (Ipswich, Magic Pen Press)
1998 Conspire (Internet)