sijo 8

the spider's web is strung between two wheelie bins
after I move one ready for tomorrow's collection
she still clings to the middle of a dusty line

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 7th September 2004

Publication

2005 Outlaw (UK)

A Snail Bounces

A SNAIL BOUNCES

So here I am
mid-morning
lounging on the lazyboy;
I've been up for hours,
had a shower,
done bacon and eggs,
checked my email,
cleared the spam,
picked the pinta
off the doorstep
as I greeted the postman,
brought the laundry down,
set the washing-machine;
so now I settle down
to listen to the video-recording
of last week's
"Just a minute"
on freeview digital radio --
the phone rings
and it isn't a distant call centre
selling a new mortgage
or telling of a holiday
I've won in a competition
I never entered
or of how my postcode
has come up on their computer --
I can be a show-house --
but this time
it is the secretary of a society
of which I'm a life member;
he wants to know
if I am still me
have I still
got a life;
seems the last issue
of the society's transactions
was returned
marked "gone away"
but I haven't,
I'm still here
and ready
for a fresh pot of tea

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 17th March 2004

Publications

2004 The Drunken Boat (Internet)
2005 Outlaw (UK)

Wednesday

WEDNESDAY

overnight sprinkle of snow on shed roof
gone by seven-thirty
a flurry of flakes by eight
gives way to rain to sun to snow to rain to sun to snow to rain
the afternoon market is busy
cold shoppers shuffle into the warm mall
for tea and a toasted teacake
outside the stall-holders pack up early

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 10th March 2004

Publications

2004 The Drunken Boat (Internet)
2005 Outlaw (UK)

What is Good for the Goose

WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE GOOSE

half an hour per pound
and three-quarter hours more
gas mark 6
middle of the oven
don't forget the roast potatoes
horse-chestnut stuffing
goes down well
oops
wrong kind of goose?
goes up well
crowded bar
on the way out
just one finger
make sure your mate
is right behind you
to catch the lefthand
slap to the cheek
look shocked
walk out quickly
do not look back
better be a turkey

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 26th September 1997

Publication

2005 Outlaw (UK)

42 Reviews of my Childhood

42 REVIEWS OF MY CHILDHOOD

from a roman (sic) literary review

Suckling on her womanliness to pick some interesting lines,
these poems seem over-pruned.
The combination of physical beauty that links shaking bottoms
and Christianity disappears in verbal pictures,
glimpses between images and the laughter of the Cornish Riviera.
This sixth collection concerns the nude in poetry.
The author starts by the ocean as though arguing with the tide.
playing from between mischievous cobble stones.
I cannot trap the womb.
The author is in love with what the wind takes out of Scotland.
Thumbnail sketch parodies of this hysteric journey across my memories,
perhaps its silent way will reach far into their home again.
You only get glimpses between doorways —
it is perhaps a smooth surface,
a day for little guinea-pigs
even if you can display a good thick pile carpet,
feel the children's often half-hearted intentions,
deal with indecent exposure.
An entertaining short novel
but too many letters from scenes of running home
to the laughter of hills.
They are all our children consumed by double pneumonia.
His final poem deals with mundane-seeming events,
archetypes of Doctor Who and poetic paraphrases of hills.
Such sentiments all help to gain friends in Birmingham,
shared experiences of quitting the slimming programme.
The cat sulks by the fireside;
perhaps the cheery flame dispels the moonlight.

© Gerald England

Composed: Gee Cross, 4th April 1996

Publications

1997 International Poetry Supplement (USA)
2005 Outlaw (UK)