June 28th 1982

JUNE 28TH 1982

From by Ben Lawers
a rainbow spans Loch Tay

The day after the Last raft came first
and TV’s number 1 was last
Kenmore is again
just a place where the road changes sides,
shrouded in the mist
and drenched by the rain
that has nourished Fortingall’s Yew
since the time of Solomon.

A lonely youth of four
swings in the park at Killin.

He has seen eagle owls by the roadside,
deer, sheep, rabbits, cattle;
has sailed in a boat on Loch Tay
he likes little rivers!

Youth sees no history
and the future
only from a circle’s centre.

Prince William was named today.

No-one plays in the park with the boy
from whom rabbits run away;
he looks for the ducks
that come from the river begging bread.

From by Ben Lawers a rainbow spans Loch Tay.

© Gerald England

Composed: Killin, 28th June 1982

Unpublished

Subject Matter

SUBJECT MATTER

             having the resolve
             and discovering the time
             but lacking energy
             and being easily diverted

the rain beat steadily on his cottage that year
days of sunshine disappeared in grey cloud
red sunsets were only seen by other shepherds
Old Shep had fled with the flock

            getting to grips
            demanded determination
            concentrated effort
            to produce the finished article

the horns of the prize bull were not detachable
pieces of porcelain could be put back together
the cattle would be called at milking time
but no tractor can close the gate to the field

GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Oldham, 15th May 1981

Publications

1987 The Old Police Station (UK)
1990 Iota (UK)
1992 Alternative (USA)
1994 Indefinite Space (USA)

[5m]

Composed: Ashton under Lyne, 5th May 1982

Publication

2005 World Haiku Review (Internet)

Visitors to the Pub

VISITORS TO THE PUB

They talk of those who do not talk
like what they do and of pedantry
though the word seems unknown to them.

They take affront at calling a biro
a biro pen - after all you do not call
a wellington a boot, by Jove - but
they might know if a bomber dropped one on them!

Another drink?
        a gin?
            o yes,
                 but it must be...
Do you think he'll have it here
o yes, good man, he has.

At home they have a black kitten
that has taken to visiting neighbour's houses
and hiding under cars in driveways.

At night they hunt it
shouting out its name for all to hear -
Gemini! Gem-i-niii!

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Stratford on Avon, 4th April 1982

Publication

2000 Other Poetry (UK)

Mornings

              MORNINGS

              Always I find
              the downstairs curtains
              partly drawn -
              tell-tale paw-marks
              on the glass;
              my son, rising five,
              early riser,
              finds his way
              down dark stairs;
              his family still sleeps;
              atop the settee,
              warmed by the radiator,
              he looks out at the street,
              searches the sky for planes
              Manchester-airport bound.
              I've been good, daddy,
              he says;
              it's nearly not dark, dad,
              it's nearly morning.

             ©  GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Heckmondwike, 2nd February 1982

Publications


1983 Poetic Licence (UK)
1988 Pennine Ink (UK)

Still Life

STILL LIFE

                 After the baby has gone
                 to bed    there remains
                 a bright square mat.
                 Beyond a jumbled rattle
                 of six chained bangles
                 a pink teddy bear lies
                 face down guarded by
                 a blue black-nosed dog
                 The guarded fire warms
                 the room in which
                 a television plays
                 moving colour to the air

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Ashton under Lyne, 23rd December 1981

Publications

1988 Piddiddle (USA)
1988 Z Magazine (Isle of Man)
1994 Dandelion (UK)

Oldham December

OLDHAM, DECEMBER 1981

           The wind that whistles over Oldham Edge,
           having crossed the town,
           the road, the railway and
           the demolished wastes of Glodwick,
           hits me full in the face on Hardy Street.
           I turn down Barlow, South Hill, Chief Streets,
           find the shelter of Bobbin Skewer Walk.
           Mr. Khan curses the weather in Urdu;
           he has cleared a path
           through to the local Mosque
           but snow still drifts
           threatening to engulf the Pentecostal Church,
           Ukranian Social Club and Old Folks' Flats.
           The lake in the park is frozen over.
           A lone van struggles to climb Park Road,
           wheels spinning in the salt-green slush.
           The winter isolates inhabitants;
           few venture out for fish and chips
           prawn foo yung or japatis and curry.
           The doors of the Waterloo Inn
           are open - just: four players
           huddled round the pool table
           discuss plans for summer holidays.

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Ashton under Lyne, 21st December 1981

Publications

1983 True Thomas Poetry (UK)
1992 STEALING KISSES (Hyde, New Hope International)
1996 POET'S ENGLAND 18 - LANCASHIRE (West Kirby, Headland)
2001 Poetext (Internet)

[4n]

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Manchester, 19th December 1981

Publications

1992 Fat Chance (UK)
1993 FOUR SQUARE REPLAY (Leeds, Krax)

(49)

dirty derelict
derricks - determination
decaying, dying

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Wolverhampton, 19th December 1981

Publication

1987 Red Pagoda (USA)

***

suterareshi
kijuki tsui ni
kuchi-hatete

© GERALD ENGLAND

Japanese translation by Sakuzo Takada

Publication

1987 Red Pagoda (USA)

(48)

I have two children
and therefore have no need for
any alarm clock

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Birmingham, 19th December 1981

Publication

1994 Thorny Locust (USA)

(c10)

travelling towards
the thaw black mud and frozen
green thrust through the white

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: North Rode, 18th December 1981

Publications

1987 Red Pagoda (USA)
1990 Prophetic Voices (USA)

***

shiro no naka ni
midori oshidasu
yukige michi

© GERALD ENGLAND

Japanese translation by Sakuzo Takada

Publications

1987 Red Pagoda (USA)
1990 Prophetic Voices (USA)

(c9)

            

how the snow contours
branches; pockmarks furrows in fields
 the black stream cuts through

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Prestbury 18th December 1981

Publications

1987 Red Pagoda (USA)
1990 Prophetic Voices (USA)
1992 Candelabrum (UK)
1998 LIMBO TIME (Hyde, New Hope International)
2000 HAIGA (London, Suekichi Book)

***

yuki oou
nohara wo wakete
kawa kuroshi

© GERALD ENGLAND

Japanese translation by Sakuzo Takada

Publications

1987 Red Pagoda (USA)
2000 HAIGA (London, Suekichi Book)

Poppies

POPPIES

(for Edward Thomas)

Unrisen the early mower
only the all night lit windows
hint of humanity in gardens
where an indolent owl flies
sleepwalking in the misty joy
past the church by the green
to the highporched barn of a deserted farm
It alone gives life
to the doorless stables and cumbered stalls
The weathervane fox is rusted south
never telling of the hateful east
the rainy west or crude north wind
Luxuriant nettles, tall tansy
fleabane, dandelions, hawkweeds
testify to anxious labourers
leaning on plough or scythe or hoe
to watch the hounds or a carriage go by
Not fifty yards away
beyond a shadowy corner
seen in the broad halflight before sunrise
the crimson of uncountable poppies
enmeshed with thoughts of mist pearl
desirable as an Italian illusion
having the serene strange beauty
of a woman born of summer air

Yet half an hour
would have seen them reaped

To have come thus far
and know the distance less
to be less than the equal of a poppy
- how else retain the courage
still to voyage on ?

The poppies still shine
and from his tower of ivory
yet does the blackbird sing

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Ashton under Lyne 14th December 1981

Publications

1988 Facet (USA)
1989 Quickenings (USA)
1992 STEALING KISSES (Hyde, New Hope International)
1992 Wildflower (USA)
1998 Ygdrasil (Internet)

Powh

POWH

my son builds with his Lego
powh, powh, powh, he shoots
daddy doesn't like guns, he says,
this is a radiator
powh, powh, powh.

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Ashton under Lyne, 1st December 1981

Publications

1983 Literature (USA)
1983 Box of Rain (UK)
1990 Sword of Shahrazad (USA)
1992 STEALING KISSES (Hyde, New Hope International)
1998 Christian Poetry Review (UK)

When Teething

WHEN TEETHING

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Ashton under Lyne, 11th November 1981

Unpublished

Friday Evening

FRIDAY EVENING

               Sweltering under a September sun,
               doubting the wisdom of donning
               overcoat with hood,
               a sudden, drenching storm
               confirms advisability of choice.
               Walking round a wet corner,
               hood protectively up,
               sun still shining behind,
               a double rainbow invites -
               the lower bow, bright,
               arcing over fields;
               the higher, duller,
               blurring into clouds.

               The rain eases;
               the sun sets;
               the rainbow fades.

               © GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Oldham, 30th September 1981

Publications

1983 True Thomas Poetry (UK)
1986 FUTURES (Ipswich, Magic Pen Press)
1993 The Frogmore Papers (UK)

Pleasure Flight

PLEASURE FLIGHT

              from five hundred feet
              the funfair rides are toys
              to reach down for
              model cars move
              along the streets
              of a model village
              matchstick men
              are laid out
              on a sandy foreshore
              tractor trails in fields
              are finger-writing
              islands along the creek
              are mud-pies with a green top
              only the sea
              and the sky
              retain their real size
              during descent
              we and our stomachs
              contract

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Clacton on Sea, 20th September 1981

Publication

1982 Harvest (USA)

The Visit

 THE VISIT

              It told us nothing

              we didn't already know

              not that we had

              admitted everything -

              our worst fears

              at best confirmed -

              Despite all

              the proffered help

              for persistence,

              parental perspicacity,

              percipient patience,

              pertinacious power,

              positive pleasure,

              predicative precision,

              purposeful progress

              and prudence

              there are no substitutes

              In the end

              we are alone

              yet before the end

              there are thoughts

              to share

              burdens to burn

              in the fire

              of loving friendship

              We are all in it together

              pacing our parallel paths.

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Ashton under Lyne, 9th September 1981

Publication

1994 International Poetry (USA)

Announcement for Carol

ANNOUNCEMENT FOR CAROL

Not much news
and no cheap ads
in tonight's paper

A few hours old
and already being used
to wrap my fish and chips

"Congratulations to Carol
on passing six O-levels"

Dear Carol,
I hope your celebrations
outlast the life
of this newspaper.

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Ashton under Lyne, 1st September 1981

Publication

1986 Diggers Magazine (UK)
1998 The Affectionate Punch (UK)

To My Wife On Our Seventh Wedding Anniversary

TO MY WIFE ON OUR SEVENTH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

               Seven times seven times seven times
               seven times seven times seven times
               seven memories fill these years
               forgotten memories of tears
               that fell when fear
               occasionally came near
               and though this is the time to scratch
               the itch that's under the other's skin
               there isn't in this world a wind
               that ever could blow out our match

               © GERALD ENGLAND


Composed: Ashton under Lyne, 22nd June 1981

Publication

1981 DADDYCATION (Ashton under Lyne, New Hope International)