Background Music

BACKGROUND MUSIC

sharing breakfast
with my son
in the grease-spot
I rock my feet
to the sounds
of a 30-year old
top ten;
Dylan, the Beatles,
Elvis, the Rolling Stones,
Tell Laura I Love Her.
My son eats his beans
tucks into his toast
smiles at his dad
knowing he’s happy
if he’s happy.
We drink up
rush away
to catch a train
leaving the 60s
a memory
still ringing
in our ears.

© Gerald England

Composed: Manchester, 27th September 1997

Publications

1997 Gallery Zandraat (Internet)
1999 Pennine Ink (UK)

Mornings

              MORNINGS

              Always I find
              the downstairs curtains
              partly drawn -
              tell-tale paw-marks
              on the glass;
              my son, rising five,
              early riser,
              finds his way
              down dark stairs;
              his family still sleeps;
              atop the settee,
              warmed by the radiator,
              he looks out at the street,
              searches the sky for planes
              Manchester-airport bound.
              I've been good, daddy,
              he says;
              it's nearly not dark, dad,
              it's nearly morning.

             ©  GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Heckmondwike, 2nd February 1982

Publications


1983 Poetic Licence (UK)
1988 Pennine Ink (UK)

May Special

MAY SPECIAL

It was May and it was snowing
as we drove down that delightful lane
lined by saxifrage and beyond them trees
We did not stop at Rievaulx
but only surveyed it from the car
Further on a pheasant, or a partridge,
flew down from the trees
to land behind a fence
It wasn't any special day
But later, when the sun forced out its warmth,
for our son, running over the grass
of Mount Grace Priory dodging daffodils
and trying to get in on the photograph
a girl was taking of her boyfriend,
perhaps there was something special after all

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Oldham, 1st May 1979

Publications

1980 THE RAINBOW AND OTHER POEMS (Heckmondwyke, Fighting Cock Press)
1988 Pennine Ink (UK)
1995 Current Accounts (UK)

Movement

MOVEMENT

poets must move with the times he said -
i folded up my newspaper and walked

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Ackworth, 31st January 1971

Publications

1971 Bogg (UK)
1987 Pennine Ink (UK)
1990 Truly Fine (USA)
1992 STEALING KISSES (Hyde, New Hope International)
1993 Prophetic Voices (USA)
2005 Haiku Scotland (UK)

Politician's Proverb

POLITICIAN'S PROVERB

A slogan a day
keeps the electorate at bay

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Glasgow, 2nd February 1967

Publications

1972 Wormwood Review (USA)
1988 Pennine Ink (UK)
1989 The Affiliate (Canada)
1992 STEALING KISSES (Hyde, New Hope International)