That Day

THAT DAY

Gillamoor looked great that day,
the done-heather brown over the hillside,
bare trees exposing the moor to view
Surprise View still surprises
by its continuing ability to do so
The low November sun sought out
the shades as numerous as the
lights of brown in your hair
That day I was not hurtling
down the motorway to meet you
I was cutting over the moors
to the North East's coast
It wasn't you I was meeting that day
but you'd have enjoyed the drive
and the subsequent lunch on the pier
by the sea

I did

© Gerald England

Composed: Sheffield, 11th November 1972

Publications

1974 Strath (UK)
1980 THE RAINBOW AND OTHER POEMS (Heckmondwyke, Fighting Cock Press)
1988 Iota
1990 Verve (USA)
2007 MIND AND BODY (York, Fighting Cock Press)

Left Foot Poem

LEFT FOOT POEM

I leave you here
now
before you leave me
You are about to go
I guess you knew
all the time
just what you would do
You tried so
to love me
but could never be true
with your right foot
in his world
and the wrong one in mine
I go now
before you do
I haven't the strength
to watch you go
I'll make it easy
for your reasoning
to accept your action
without remorse
There will be tears
in several eyes
both yours
and mine

Others will be happy

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Sheffield, 1st November 1972

Publications

1973 Radix (UK)
1990 Verve (USA)

To M.M.

TO M.M.

The first time
we met as strangers
We parted as friends

The second time
we met as friends
We parted as lovers

The last time
we met as lovers
We parted as friends

We did not meet
again
We are now
not even friends

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Sheffield, 14th April 1972

Publications

1972 Spring Tide (UK)
1986 Envoi (UK)
1990 Verve (USA)
1990 THE INWARD EAR (Cambridge University Press)
1992 THE BEGINNER'S CHOICE (Harlow, Longman)
1992 STEALING KISSES (Hyde, New Hope International)
1996 Poephysics (Internet)
2007 LITERATURE 2nd edn (Oxford University Press)
2007 Ackworth born, gone West (Internet)


*****
PARA M.M.

A primeira vez
que nos encontramos
como desconhecidos
nos despedimos como amigos.

A segunda vez
que nos encontramos
como amigos
nos despedimos como amantes.

A ultima vez
que nos encontramos
como amantes
nos despedimos como amigos.

Nao nos encontramos mais
e agora nao somos
nem mesmo amigos.

GERALD ENGLAND

Traducao por Teresinka Pereira.

Publication

1990 POESIA INGLESA (Bluffton, International Writers and Artists Association)

Epitaph for Two Vultures

EPITAPH FOR TWO VULTURES

Two demented vultures
sitting on Lover's Leap

Says one to the other -
The Age of Love
I fear
is over

© Gerald England

Composed: Ackworth, 7th June 1969

Publications

1970 MOUSINGS (Sheffield, Headland)
1970 Pontefract & Castleford Express (UK)
1990 Verve (USA)