(23)

beyond mere breathing
lies the use of our organs
senses, faculties

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Sheffield, 3rd January 1971

Publication

1971 OVERGROUND (Pontefract, Whitwood and District Arts Association)

(19)

walking in footsteps
of another's path, dying
where the footsteps cease.

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Sheffield, 1st May 1970

Publications

1970 MOUSINGS (Sheffield, Headland)
1970 Headland (UK)
1971 OVERGROUND (Pontefract, Whitwood and District Arts Association)
1992 Quickenings (USA)

(17)

the doors of fortune
open outwards and therefore
they cannot be stormed

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Ackworth, 26th March 1970

Publications

1971 OVERGROUND (Pontefract, Whitwood and District Arts Association)
1992 STEALING KISSES (Hyde, New Hope International)

(13)

echo is my friend -
I love sorrow and echo
takes it not away

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Ackworth, 3rd March 1970

Publications

1971 OVERGROUND (Pontefract, Whitwood and District Arts Association)
1992 STEALING KISSES (Hyde, New Hope International)

(10)

piece of sodium
a little drop of water -
instant raging fire!

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Sheffield, 7th February 1970

Publication

1971 OVERGROUND (Pontefract, Whitwood and District Arts Association)

(8) & (9)

instant tea and milk
in a paper cup with four
saccharin tablets

*****
kettle on coal fire;
a warmed staffordshire teapot;
five minutes to mash

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Sheffield, 2nd February 1970

Publications

1970 MOUSINGS (Sheffield, Headland)
1971 OVERGROUND (Pontefract, Whitwood and District Arts Association)

(7)

note the appealing
casual intimacy
of an unmade bed

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Sheffield, 11th January 1970

Publications

1970 MOUSINGS (Sheffield, Headland)
1970 Headland (UK)
1971 OVERGROUND (Pontefract, Whitwood and District Arts Association)
1991 The Affiliate (Canada)
1991 Next Exit (Canada)

(3)

lunch almost ready;
distracted by bridegroom's kiss -
first burnt offering

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Ackworth, 20th December 1969

Publications

1970 MOUSINGS (Sheffield, Headland)
1970 Headland (UK)
1971 OVERGROUND (Pontefract, Whitwood and District Arts Association)
1981 DADDYCATION (Ashton under Lyne, New Hope International)
1990 Maple Valley Vine (USA)
1991 Envoi (UK)

(2)

snow on southern slopes -
I, sweating in summer's sun
on the road below

© Gerald England

Composed: Ackworth, 14th December 1969

Publications

1971 OVERGROUND (Pontefract, Whitwood and District Arts Association)
1972 Roots (UK)
1987 Red Pagoda (USA)
1994 Candelabrum (UK)

*****
nan men no
yuki no saka-michi
asebamite

© Gerald England

translation by Sakuzo Takada

Publication

1987 Red Pagoda (USA)

At Objet-Lar

AT OBJET-LAR

At objet-lar dan summer wen
All for Omniall wud sen
pour fashioning his tarter well
dan icevig's green forcetell,
Gizur ta black et Keggsiman
mak far demise te wan

Far Christi's message langed sin
at Vellandkatla underbin
tair Gizur still astacum
dan in der battle sum

Whole objet-lar mun tak it doon
pour la pere et pretty soon
but non occurance cam
so Gizur all kiss yam

© Gerald England

Composed: Ackworth, 21st July 1968

Publications

1969 AN ANTHOLOGY OF POETRY (Pontefract, Whitwood and District Arts Association)
2004 Chanticleer (UK)

There is a Choir

THERE IS A CHOIR

There is a choir buzzing in my head
an harmonious choir
thinking
thinking -
it is thinking
one thought
and it is buzzing
in my head

This thought is not my thought
It is thought
by the choir
thinking in my head
I am not responsible
for this thought
I am only responsible for my own thoughts

Let the choir think
I shall not head their thoughts
Their thoughts are not my thoughts
They are not
and they shall not be
It is hard to resist
the thinking of the choir in my head

The choir which is thinking in my head
is thinking of a chess problem
on a train
jumping a brook
Their thoughts
are worth
a thousand pounds
a word

Alice thinks in pictures

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Glasgow, 10th April 1967

Publication

1969 AN ANTHOLOGY OF POETRY (Pontefract, Whitwood and District Arts Association)