The Poetic Thing

THE POETIC THING

I would like to do the poetic thing
I would like to run naked into the sea
A symbolic cleansing of my filthy body
An act of simple ritual and pious purity
But I am afraid
Not of the devils of the deep
I cannot do it
for if I do
the law will nick me, lock me up
charge me with indecent exposure
And if I escape the law
the cold will get me,
lay me down in hospital
with double pneumonia
So I merely wash my hands
buy a peace offering
of fish and chips
and go home

© Gerald England

Composed: Flamborough North Landing, 9th June 1978

Publications

1981 DADDYCATION (Ashton under Lyne, New Hope International)
1999 The Affiliate (Canada)
1990 YOUNG MINDS (Hull, Psychopoetica)
1990 2nd Rapture (UK)
1990 Lucidity (USA)
1993 Pomes (UK)

Funeral

FUNERAL

He would have been buried
two days ago
but Christmas intervened
I watched them bury him
in the New Cemetery
on the village outskirts
He booked his spot there
when it was opened twenty years ago
For twelve years
his has been the only empty grave
He helped to lay the track
of the railway line
that ran behind the graveyard
The line of the track
makes a good footpath
The embankment is fine for viewing
his funeral from
He used to play dominoes
in the Boot each Saturday night
I took his place
the day he died
We won every game we played

© Gerald England

Composed: Ackworth, 30th December 1973

Publications

1976 MEETINGS AT THE MOOR'S EDGE (West Kirkby, Headland)
1988 Waterways (USA)
1993 Pomes (UK)
2004 Curlew (UK)