Musaphobia

MUSAPHOBIA

I heard a new word today.
It has two meanings
apparently;
- quite distinct - I am assured.
Musaphobia: dislike of mice
                   or poetry.

I've often been asked
whether I were man
         or mouse.

I can answer that now
for there is a likeness there -
the seeming insignificant
which none-the-less
can frighten the mighty ELEPHANT,
or make women
           stand
                 on chairs        
                           & lift
                                  their skirts.

Yes the poem does have affinity with
   the mouse.

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Glasgow, 1st May 1967

Publications

1970 MOUSINGS (Sheffield, Headland)
1989 Eavesdropper (UK)
1990 Inkshed (UK)
1997 Tara's Poetry Page (Internet)
2010 Chanticleer (Internet)

The Silence of the To-Come

THE SILENCE OF THE TO COME

The silence of the world is all around
yet the sound
comes back in voices not yet known.
Throw the silver-white stone
into the water of life's destiny.
It will be
in the countless years to come
a reminder to some
of these years then gone
and one
not gold nor lead nor other metal -- pick
but age of plastic
the plastic substitute.
The tree's root,
the flower's stem,
from them
comes the waking dawn
tomorrow's silent morn.

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Glasgow, 10th April 1966

Publications
1982 International Poetry (USA)
1997 Tara's Poetry Page (Internet)
1998 LIMBO TIME (Hyde, New Hope International)

Final Curtain

FINAL CURTAIN

A theatre in Copenhagen
is the setting for this tale
List' to this tale and then
Learn its meaning without fail

A new comedy true to life
the clown dressed as a Bishop
a whore his faithful wife
and the laughter could not stop

Twas halfway through the second show
a better show there'd not been
in Denmark they do trow
Twas last that many have seen

Next day the show they did not hold
for backstage a fire broke
The clown the public told
They died laughing at his joke

© Gerald England

Composed: Glasgow, 3rd January 1966

Publications
1967 St John's Bulletin (UK)
1969 Breakthru (UK)
1997 Tara's Poetry Page (Internet)