Stretford

              STRETFORD

              Looking through the cafe window grill
              beyond the fence of heavy iron spikes
              the view is of the electric grid

              I stir an over-sweetened mug of tea
              while scanning the uncrossable road
              from Old Trafford to the motorway

              Green and grim is the ancient tree,
              seeded back in cartwheel days,
              that blocks now the cumulus cloudscape

              © GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Gee Cross, 9th September 1986

Publications

1987 Aireings (UK)
1996 POET'S ENGLAND 18 - LANCASHIRE (West Kirby, Headland)

Oldham December

OLDHAM, DECEMBER 1981

           The wind that whistles over Oldham Edge,
           having crossed the town,
           the road, the railway and
           the demolished wastes of Glodwick,
           hits me full in the face on Hardy Street.
           I turn down Barlow, South Hill, Chief Streets,
           find the shelter of Bobbin Skewer Walk.
           Mr. Khan curses the weather in Urdu;
           he has cleared a path
           through to the local Mosque
           but snow still drifts
           threatening to engulf the Pentecostal Church,
           Ukranian Social Club and Old Folks' Flats.
           The lake in the park is frozen over.
           A lone van struggles to climb Park Road,
           wheels spinning in the salt-green slush.
           The winter isolates inhabitants;
           few venture out for fish and chips
           prawn foo yung or japatis and curry.
           The doors of the Waterloo Inn
           are open - just: four players
           huddled round the pool table
           discuss plans for summer holidays.

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Ashton under Lyne, 21st December 1981

Publications

1983 True Thomas Poetry (UK)
1992 STEALING KISSES (Hyde, New Hope International)
1996 POET'S ENGLAND 18 - LANCASHIRE (West Kirby, Headland)
2001 Poetext (Internet)

Arrival in Nottingham

(1969 - photograph courtesy of Gail's Man at Nottingham Daily Photo.)

ARRIVAL IN NOTTINGHAM

The train
trundles
over the Beeston Canal
with swans cruising up past barges parked townward
into that long
track-covered curve
of ground
Stops
in the Goods Yard North
for passengers
to take stock
of the view
of the castle
standing at
the other end
of the curve's radius,
impressive,
imposing
on its solid rock foundation
Shunts forward
into the Goods Yard West
Further aspects
of the castle
Lurches gradually
into the Goods Yard East
leaving the castle
behind an engine shed
Reaches
eventually
the station.

© GERALD ENGLAND


(2007 - photograph courtesy of Gail's Man at Nottingham Daily Photo.)

Composed: Nottingham, 10th March 1971

Publications

1991 The Vincent Brothers Review (USA)
1993 POET'S ENGLAND: NOTTINGHAMSHIRE (St.Albans, Brentham Press)
1996 MARIGOLDS GROW WILD ON PLATFORMS (London, Cassell)
1998 LIMBO TIME (Hyde, New Hope International)
2007 Ackworth born, gone West (Internet)