Christmas Present

CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Jesus Christ was God's Christmas present to the world!
Oh yes!
We opened the gift up very carefully
but we saved the wrappings
and threw away
the present!

© Gerald England

Composed: York, 7th July 1969

Publications

1970 MOUSINGS (Sheffield, Headland)
1970 Pontefract & Castleford Express (UK)
1970 Tait's Quarterly (UK)
1972 Roots (UK)
1972 Ludds Mill (UK)
1973 ENVIRONMENT (Thames Ditton, Ember Press)
1973 Purston Parish Magazine (UK)
1985 New Hope International (UK)
1990 Omnific (USA)

*****
WEIHNACHTGESCHENK

jesus christus war gottes weihnachtsgeschenk fur die welt
o ja
wir haben das geschenk sorgfaltig geoffnet
abet wir haben das geschenkpapier aufgehoben
und das geschenk
weggeworfen

gerald england

aus dem englischen ubersetzt von elly grothof-nouwen

Publications

1983 Lyrik-Mappe (Austria)
1985 New Hope International (UK)

*****
PRESENTE DE NATAL

[Portuguese translation by Teresinka Pereira- text not to hand]

Publications

1985 New Hope International (UK)
1986 Literatura Internacional (USA)

There are Others

THERE ARE OTHERS

There are others
others too Lord
Other people
other places
I have not seen
If I have not seen them
how can I understand them ?
I can't see everything
There isn't time
to see
EVERYTHING

To see
that I cannot see
is to understand
that I cannot understand

© Gerald England

Composed: Ackworth 6th June 1968

Publications

1969 Tait's Quarterly (UK)
2000 Poetry Church (UK)

Prayer

PRAYER

Prayer is a straight line
=========================================
God is the track not intermediate station

© Gerald England

Composed: Ackworth, 2nd January 1968

Publications

1969 Tait's Quarterly (UK)
2003 SOUNDING HEAVEN AND EARTH (Norwich, Canterbury Press)

A Prayer

A PRAYER

My God, My God, Why have I forsaken you ?

I know you are
My whole being knows you are
I cannot conceive an atheism
even agnosticism will not do
for I know you are
My whole being knows you are

My God, My God, Why have I forsaken you ?

Unsure
you showed me the way
Low
you lifted me up
Sinner
you forgave me
Alien
you took me unto yourself
Loveless
you gave me love
Fearful
you brought me your peace
Idle
you gave me a task to do
Weak
you strengthened me

My God, My God, Why have I forsaken you ?

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Glasgow, 1st November 1967

Publications

1968 Tait's Quarterly (UK)
1980 THE RAINBOW AND OTHER POEMS (Heckmondwyke, Fighting Cock Press)

Where Are You Going My Little One

WHERE ARE YOU GOING MY LITTLE ONE ?

Stop

Sit down

Think

Do not rush on

Stop

Sit down
quietly
and think

If you have nowhere to go
then please
stay at home
and leave room
for those who know where they are going
to travel there in peace

If you have somewhere to go
then go
and only make diversion
upon a change
of destination

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Ackworth, 1st June 1967

Published

1969 Tait's Quarterly (UK)
1973 Roots (UK)
1994 Thorny Locust (USA)
1998 LIMBO TIME (Hyde, New Hope International)

Friendship's Smile

FRIENDSHIP'S SMILE

  Friendship's smile is often dry
       for behind a warmth doth lie
  No need for gifts of shining gold
       What value do these hold ?
            Gifts seek a return
            and wise men discern
            Return then is not
       and that's the giver's lot

  Friendship's smile need not be dry
       for behind a warmth doth lie
  A gift though barely touching strife
       the token of a life
            No return is sought
            'Tis not even thought
            but friendship is got
       and that's the giver's lot

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Pontefract, 4th April 1966

Publications
1967 Tait's Quarterly (UK)
1976 MEETINGS AT THE MOOR'S EDGE (West Kirkby, Headland)
1990 The Third Half (UK)
1992 Alternative (USA)

Love is Dead

LOVE IS DEAD

Love is dead
Love is dead ?
Can love be dead ?
How can love be dead ?
Love is life
and life is love
If love is dead
then life is dead

Can life be dead ?

© Gerald England

Composed: Ackworth, 1st April 1966

Publications
1968 Tait's Quarterly (UK)
1997 International Poetry (USA)

Wish of the Gods

WISH OF THE GODS

Last night I lay asleep and dreamt
I found myself in the seventh heaven
and all around the gods were stood
Apollo in their midst

Apollo he did speak to me
- make one wish and it shall be granted thee
Do you wish for wealth or power
for wisdom or for health

to be surrounded by fine maids ?
Whate'er it is you wish you shall receive -
- I do not wish for health or wealth -
thus to the gods I spoke

-I've but one wish and this it is
That the laugh may always be on my side -
The gods they would not could not speak
but soon the silence broke

Apollo first and then the rest
the gods they laughed and laughed out long and loud
the gods they laughed and did not speak
so then I did awake

Now I know that the gods have taste
for most unsuitable it would have been
if the gods had gravely told me
- Thy wish it is granted -

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Glasgow, 1st January 1966

Publications
1969 Tait's Quarterly (UK)
1991 Poesie (India)