(x16)

mountain thunder
the sun over the sea
– double rainbow

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 9th October 2006

Unpublished

Confessions Of Chrysthete XXXVI

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE XXXVI

she had her legs
firmly planted
in her own ground
her heart followed the wind
all around the world
gathering
foreign scents
it came home
like a pigeon.

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 9th October 2006

Unpublished

Her Adventure

HER ADVENTURE

They said it was dangerous;
they said they would have to carry out a "risk-assessment" first.

They said it could be fun
but was it appropriate?

They said it might be painful
so requested a supply of suitable medication.

They said it might be joyful
and cautioned moderation.

She told them where to go
and off she went,
enjoyed the adventure,
returned with a happy heart.

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 9th October 2006

Unpublished

Confessions Of Chrysthete XXXV

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE XXXV

she hears the chug chug
of the train along the track
all she can see are
lines of light in the darkness
there is an odour of woodsmoke around
tinged with the fragrance of oranges
she feels herself shivering
and her toe ends tingle
salt seems to be settling
on the edge of her tongue

suddenly
she sits bolt upright
the train is still chugging along
she heaves a sigh of relief
and sleeps again.

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 9th October 2006

Publication

2011 Envoi (UK)

Cretan Evening

CRETAN EVENING

There is flooding in Macedonia.
We watch the rescue efforts
on a small TV
in the corner of the taverna.
Two hours east in Heraklion
it is raining, we are told,
but heading across to Rhodes.
The moon in the West is full;
between clouds
we trace the constellations
and from the olive groves
hear the stridulation of crickets
serenading the sky.
The prediction for tomorrow
is uncertain.

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 8th October 2006

Unpublished

Confessions Of Chrysthete XXXIV

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE XXXIV

she travelled far
Japan, Vancouver
Switzerland, Tunisia
Casablanca, Khatmandu
always sent a postcard home
seeing places
she will never go to again
meeting people
she will never see again
but wherever she goes
she will always come home

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 8th October 2006

Unpublished

(x15)

anchored off an isle
they watch the sun set
behind a bigger

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 8th October 2006

Unpublished

Confessions Of Chrysthete XXXIII

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE XXXIII

she meets
a lot of people
she rarely
gets round
to saying
goodbye

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 8th October 2006

Unpublished

(x14)

home-grown honey stall
she sits with her back to traffic
faces the sea

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 8th October 2006

Unpublished

(x13)

above the quarry
a whole host of vultures
ride thermals

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 8th October 2006

Unpublished

Voukolies, Crete

VOUKOLIES, CRETE

an October Sunday
midmorning in the rain
old men sit at tables
outside half a dozen
different tavernas
their voices loud in discussion

midafternoon in the sun
the place is almost deserted
quiet rules

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 8th October 2006

Publication

2007 Sons of Camus Writers International Journal (Cyprus)

(x12)

two snails
climb a whitewashed wall
ants descend

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 7th October 2006

Unpublished

(x11)

the snake woman
loans an old man her stool
until his bus comes

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 7th October 2006

Unpublished

Hawks

HAWKS

hawk
on a hot tin roof
stares over hotel roofs and pools
at yachts sailing the blue Mediterranean

silently
a second hawk flies in
from the mountains

the first lifts off
shows the white underside of wings
and the two are away
together

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 7th October 2006

Publications

2007 Sons of Camus Writers International Journal (Cyprus)
2007 Ackworth born, gone West (Internet)

Dogs & Cats

DOGS & CATS

dogs lie asleep
everywhere

three guard the hens and sheep
on a farmstead
by the road to Xirocompi

another lies in the entrance
to the Handicraft Exhibition in Chania
just above the mosaic ramp

as the evening rush hour
clogs the street
motorbikes and pizza-delivery men
darting between spaces
one lies
oblivious to the noise
outside an electrical retailers

cats, on the other hand
either sit patiently
or scamper about
erratically

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 7th October 2006

Publication

2009 Crature Features (Cyprus)

tanka 39

under the sunset
a no longer young couple
see a sparkle
as the boat sails moonward
love is alive again

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 6th October 2006

Unpublished

Confessions Of Chrysthete XXXII

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE XXXII

she wonders
why she ever loved him
was it because he loved her
and she so wanted someone to love her
that she loved him
anyway?

now he is gone
she wonders
why she ever loved him

she longs to see him again
to find out why
but she also longs
not to see him again
fearing finding out

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 6th October 2006

Unpublished

Confessions Of Chrysthete XXI

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE XXXI

she wasn’t there
when needed
she wasn’t needed
when there

emptiness fills her heart
she remembers the happy times
they are only memories
she remembers the angry moments
they have long been finished with
but the sadness
remains
and will not leave her

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 5th October 2006

Unpublished

Confessions Of Chrysthete XXX

CONFESSIONS OF CHRYSTHETE XXX

to reach the bells
she has to climb the tower

at first there is a stone spiral

at one stage
the height of the steps increases
she has to stretch her leg to reach

at another point
the handrail gives way
she has to push hard against the side walls

then the steps narrow
she has to climb sideways

halfway up there is a wooden platform
on which she feels safe

beyond is an iron ladder
but some rungs are missing

finally she can ring the bell

she is refusing to come down

the peel of the bells
is keeping villagers awake

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 5th October 2006

Publication

2011 Envoi (UK)

(x10)

a year on
still the warmth in her hand
that day

© Gerald England

Composed: Maleme, 5th October 2006

Unpublished