In The Spirit

IN THE SPIRIT

all writers know that
to conform to the spirit
is appropriate

represented here
because they become confused
they are breaking them

it's stimulating
writers find themselves perplexed
when not wearing bras

know the impact of
his unwholesome giggle can
truly understand

the naive led to
nowhere and related forms
are condemned to sneer

if everything worked
the sea and poetic forms
are not monuments

in the painted steel
you ignored all my warnings
wanted Mona Lisa

I WON'T BE CALLED WORDS
poetic forms are given you
for broadcasting here

the vanishing point
writing that it is data
stimulating her

work which happens to
a position of the page
is like flattery

the discarding of
the picture on the north shore
pretends to writing

poetic message
in THE ART OF POETRY
is irrational

poetic margins
constantly loom to fly
however boiling

dearly beloved
submit poems but never a
position of bread

she said it should be
mutual recreation
of the marginal

all eager for such
writers in the form they can
easily be grand

Joyce's writing and
past glories of ignorance
form a bitter tear

creating impact
in critical decorum
it is not a rock

moving ignorance
in three lines don't establish
aesthetic appeal

with writers of strength
not one listens to used metre
to hell with the words

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Gee Cross, 6th September 1992

Publications

1993 POETRY (Bluffton, International Writers and Artists Association)
1994 POEMS ABOUT POETRY (Hull, Psychopoetica)
1998 Snakeskin (Internet)

Waiting for the Kettle to Boil

WAITING FOR THE KETTLE TO BOIL

Torches flash

From children

Banned to play

Quietly in cars.

On the back seat

A dog shivers

Sniffs for sheep

Two fields away.

Over the hill

Snow clouds gather.

Mother makes lace.

Father does

The washing up.

The radio broadcasts

The forecast.

No-one listens

As the steam rises.

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Tong, 14th March 1988

Publications

1990 Bold Print (USA)

1990 Maple Valley Vine (USA)

*****

              ESPERANDO A CACAROLA FERVER

              O fogo faisca.

              As criancas foram proibidas

              de brincar. Estao quietas

              no carro. No banco de tras

              o cachorro treme

              cheirando os carneiros

              no campo distante.

              No alto do monte

              o ceu se carrega de nuvens de neve.

              A mae faz renda.

              O pai se lava.

              O radio irradia

              a previsao do tempo.

              Ninguem presta atencao

              quando o vapor sobe.

              GERALD ENGLAND

              Traducao por Teresinka Pereira

Publication

1990 POESIA INGLESA (Bluffton, International Writers and Artists Association)

Gentle

GENTLE

(for B.S.)

"Gentle Jesus, meek and mild"  — Charles Wesley.

Who threw the money-changers
from the temple?

Who endured pain,
suffered children?

Who turned water to wine,
fishermen to saints?

Who walked on water,
trod on Roman toes?

Being gentle
is never a soft
option!

Gentle opens more doors
than hard knocking,
can turn the key
to eternity!


© Gerald England

Composed: Ashton under Lyne, 29th September 1985

Publications

1988 Tandava (USA)
1992 STEALING KISSES (Hyde, New Hope International)
1998 The Morpo Review (Internet)

*****

              GENTIL

              (Para B.S.)

                  "Gentil Jesus, manso e docil"

                             Charles Wesley.

              Quem tocou os cambistas

              do templo ?

              Quem suportou a dor

              e o sofrimento das criancas ?

              Quem transformou a agua no vinho,

              pescadores em santos ?

              Quem caminhou sobre as aguas

              e pisou no calcanhar dos romanos ?

              Ser gentil

              nao e nunca a opcao

              mais suave

              Ser gentil abre mais portas

              do que bater com forca,

              e tambem pode abrir com chave

              a eternidade!

              © GERALD ENGLAND

              (Portuguese translation by TERESINKA PEREIRA)

Publication

1988 Directory of International Writers & Artists (USA)

To M.M.

TO M.M.

The first time
we met as strangers
We parted as friends

The second time
we met as friends
We parted as lovers

The last time
we met as lovers
We parted as friends

We did not meet
again
We are now
not even friends

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Sheffield, 14th April 1972

Publications

1972 Spring Tide (UK)
1986 Envoi (UK)
1990 Verve (USA)
1990 THE INWARD EAR (Cambridge University Press)
1992 THE BEGINNER'S CHOICE (Harlow, Longman)
1992 STEALING KISSES (Hyde, New Hope International)
1996 Poephysics (Internet)
2007 LITERATURE 2nd edn (Oxford University Press)
2007 Ackworth born, gone West (Internet)


*****
PARA M.M.

A primeira vez
que nos encontramos
como desconhecidos
nos despedimos como amigos.

A segunda vez
que nos encontramos
como amigos
nos despedimos como amantes.

A ultima vez
que nos encontramos
como amantes
nos despedimos como amigos.

Nao nos encontramos mais
e agora nao somos
nem mesmo amigos.

GERALD ENGLAND

Traducao por Teresinka Pereira.

Publication

1990 POESIA INGLESA (Bluffton, International Writers and Artists Association)