Craig

           CRAIG

           Craig is three now

           Last year he climbed
           the height of the
           Giant's Causeway

           Today he crossed
           in wave-sprayed boat
           to Staffa and probed
           the depths of Fingal's Cave

           Craig is handicapped

           In one year
           he has crossed
           the Giant's sea
           from Ulster to the Hebrides

           How many years
           will he take
           to climb other heights
           probe other depths
           cross that other sea
           others label "normallacy" ?

           © GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Fionnphort, 3rd August 1984

Publications

1984 New Hope International (UK)
1984 International Biographical Centre Magazine (UK)
1984 Boyds Walk Newsletter (UK)
1986 FUTURES (Ipswich, Magic Pen Press)
1987 White Rose Magazine (UK)

*****

Portuguese translation by Teresinka Pereira

Text not to hand.

Publication

1985 International Poetry (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)