Bread

BREAD

              Nutty brown wholemeal,
              wheat germ, standard white,
              supermarket pre-wrapped cardboard,
              stale wedding reception left-overs;
              it's all the same
              to Bewick swans and Mallard ducks
              fighting for every thrown crumb,
              quacking and screeching
              at upstart gulls and starlings
              keen to encroach on banks.
              Only when the last bag of bread
              is emptied,
              the last child departed,
              will they retire
              fat to the island.

              © GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Ashton under Lyne, 20th September 1987

Publications

1990 Aireings (UK)
1992 STEALING KISSES (Hyde, New Hope International)
1998 The Morpo Review (Internet)

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)