HOMER'S LOST ODYSSEY

Tempus cart sin lunar seen

einmorrow when

auld Willie fuck mule up et true

rex land umap

Et set la mare of pacmac een

we matter Pen

chick et pig peas sweden too

may sud it hap

Od sammed an arm oot hug aleen

tres bitter men

nine doll not farting fickle few

et nivver nap

Gaga mamda rumba fit latrine

gnash tee moren

daun blood bit achshit new

circumvent wrap

© Gerald England

Composed:  Gee Cross, 1st July 1990

Publications

1992 Inkshed (UK)

2004 Chanticleer Magazine (UK)

Temperatures

TEMPERATURES

The snow fell thick and fast
that night
The phone went dead
at half past nine
so we had an early night
The drifts were hard up
against the doors
next morning
The car was marooned
in the old stable
We counted our stocks
of coal,
of food,
and waited for the thaw to come
A helicopter came
on the fifth day
It dropped us some food
and a letter
from your mother
After the snowplough
got finally through
we gathered ourselves together
and I drove you
over the Wolds
to Malton
A slow train to York
then non-stop home
That summer
you bought me a little Galloway
and stabled her in the garage
We rode her together
over Millington Wold
over Cold Wold
and up as far as Thixendale,
your warm body
pressing at my back
I raced her later
at Kiplincotes
Running third two-thirds of the way
she fell and broke her ankle
I had her shot
You left me

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Sheffield, 14th January 1971

Publications

1987 Inkshed (UK)
1992 STEALING KISSES (Hyde, New Hope International)
1996 Boggers All (UK)

Metaphor of a Snail and an Elephant

METAPHOR OF A SNAIL AND AN ELEPHANT

Have you ever watched a snail
crawl up the back of an elephant ?

She'd asked me how it was going

It was one of those days
when you've worked three times as hard as you usually do
but for all the results
you might have done (perhaps better had you done)
nothing

The snail had almost reached the top
The elephant moved slightly
The snail
        fell
             off

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Glasgow, 1st August 1967

Publications

1968 New Melody (UK)
1971 Platform (UK)
1972 Roots (UK)
1987 Inkshed (UK)
1989 Short Fuse (USA)
1992 STEALING KISSES (Hyde, New Hope International)

Musaphobia

MUSAPHOBIA

I heard a new word today.
It has two meanings
apparently;
- quite distinct - I am assured.
Musaphobia: dislike of mice
                   or poetry.

I've often been asked
whether I were man
         or mouse.

I can answer that now
for there is a likeness there -
the seeming insignificant
which none-the-less
can frighten the mighty ELEPHANT,
or make women
           stand
                 on chairs        
                           & lift
                                  their skirts.

Yes the poem does have affinity with
   the mouse.

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Glasgow, 1st May 1967

Publications

1970 MOUSINGS (Sheffield, Headland)
1989 Eavesdropper (UK)
1990 Inkshed (UK)
1997 Tara's Poetry Page (Internet)
2010 Chanticleer (Internet)