Taking time to just be
Come with me
Care of the soul
Calm ease smile breathe
Stillness speaks
Siddhartha
Taking time to just be
The quest for meaning
The quest for meaning
The lost art of being happy
Care of the soul
The Celestine Prophecy
Siddhartha
The invitation
The lost art of being happy
Zen mind, beginner’s mind
Stillness speaks
The invitation
Come with me
Mankind who searches of and for himself
Mankind who searches of and for himself
Zen mind, beginner’s mind
Calm ease smile breathe
The Celestine Prophecy
Most days I would try to write a poem; it is a practice, as I suppose is meditation, or smiling, or watching the world go by
Friday, 31 August 2018
Thursday, 30 August 2018
Cube 5: Front, right, back, top, left, bottom
Sat at the bar
On a bar stool
Waiting for a taxi
Waiting for a woman
A woman who recently telephoned
Waiting for a taxi
To ask if she ought to come over
Yes, she asked, did she ought to come over
Of course you said yes
With a hint of delirium you said yes
To ask if she ought to come over
Yes, yes; yes, absolutely you should come over
Sat at the bar
Now somewhat excited
A woman who recently telephoned
Of course you said yes
Now somewhat excited
On a bar stool
With a hint of delirium you said yes
Indeed spilling over with excitement
Waiting for a woman
Indeed spilling over with excitement
Yes, she asked, did she ought to come over
Yes, yes; yes, absolutely you should come over
On a bar stool
Waiting for a taxi
Waiting for a woman
A woman who recently telephoned
Waiting for a taxi
To ask if she ought to come over
Yes, she asked, did she ought to come over
Of course you said yes
With a hint of delirium you said yes
To ask if she ought to come over
Yes, yes; yes, absolutely you should come over
Sat at the bar
Now somewhat excited
A woman who recently telephoned
Of course you said yes
Now somewhat excited
On a bar stool
With a hint of delirium you said yes
Indeed spilling over with excitement
Waiting for a woman
Indeed spilling over with excitement
Yes, she asked, did she ought to come over
Yes, yes; yes, absolutely you should come over
Wednesday, 29 August 2018
Cube 5: Bottom, front, right, back, top, left
One white house
On one long road
One closed door
The one, who is now unapproachable, was abroad
One intense summer
One new-life louse
One spiritual destiny
One white house
From one tourniquet
One spiritual destiny
Sold for eternity
One closed door
To one line dance
In a life of chance
Sold for eternity
The one, who is now unapproachable, was abroad
One intense summer
One lost soul doing a runner
From one tourniquet
To one line dance
One lost soul doing a runner
One new-life louse
In a life of chance
On one long road
On one long road
One closed door
The one, who is now unapproachable, was abroad
One intense summer
One new-life louse
One spiritual destiny
One white house
From one tourniquet
One spiritual destiny
Sold for eternity
One closed door
To one line dance
In a life of chance
Sold for eternity
The one, who is now unapproachable, was abroad
One intense summer
One lost soul doing a runner
From one tourniquet
To one line dance
One lost soul doing a runner
One new-life louse
In a life of chance
On one long road
Tuesday, 28 August 2018
Cube 5: Left, bottom, front, right, back, top
The red telephone box is gone
Only a small square
Of flattened tar-macadam remains
Of those cross-channel love conversations
Someone once told me
Of those cross-channel love conversations
Where the calf acts as a second heart
Pumping blood around the body
Should either of these stories be true
Only a small square
Of remains would be a fine thing
Someone once told me
A place for a fountain
Of remains would be a fine thing
A place for a patch of freesias
Where the calf acts as a second heart
A scent, a memory of skin on skin
Of flattened tar-macadam remains
A place for a patch of freesias
Pumping blood around the body
Should either of these stories be true
The red telephone box is gone
A place for a fountain
A scent, a memory of skin on skin
Only a small square
Of flattened tar-macadam remains
Of those cross-channel love conversations
Someone once told me
Of those cross-channel love conversations
Where the calf acts as a second heart
Pumping blood around the body
Should either of these stories be true
Only a small square
Of remains would be a fine thing
Someone once told me
A place for a fountain
Of remains would be a fine thing
A place for a patch of freesias
Where the calf acts as a second heart
A scent, a memory of skin on skin
Of flattened tar-macadam remains
A place for a patch of freesias
Pumping blood around the body
Should either of these stories be true
The red telephone box is gone
A place for a fountain
A scent, a memory of skin on skin
Monday, 27 August 2018
Cube 5: Top, left, bottom, front, right, back
Sunshine soddened Friday afternoon
Soft sands, rippled for the weekend
Cigarettes packed in cabin baggage
Travelling from sun to sun
Soft sands, rippled for the weekend
Departure lounge, arrival hall
Always waiting, always kissed on greeting
Time will have its way, always, and true
The gift of time, the gift of you
Time will have its way, always, and true
There is no restraint
There need be no need for restraint
Sunshine soddened Friday afternoon
Departure lounge, arrival hall
Are we coming, are we going
The gift of time, the gift of you
Cigarettes packed in cabin baggage
Are we coming, are we going
Warm skin, bare warm skin
There is no restraint
Travelling from sun to sun
Always waiting, always kissed on greeting
Warm skin, bare warm skin
There need be no need for restraint
Soft sands, rippled for the weekend
Cigarettes packed in cabin baggage
Travelling from sun to sun
Soft sands, rippled for the weekend
Departure lounge, arrival hall
Always waiting, always kissed on greeting
Time will have its way, always, and true
The gift of time, the gift of you
Time will have its way, always, and true
There is no restraint
There need be no need for restraint
Sunshine soddened Friday afternoon
Departure lounge, arrival hall
Are we coming, are we going
The gift of time, the gift of you
Cigarettes packed in cabin baggage
Are we coming, are we going
Warm skin, bare warm skin
There is no restraint
Travelling from sun to sun
Always waiting, always kissed on greeting
Warm skin, bare warm skin
There need be no need for restraint
Sunday, 26 August 2018
Cube 5: Back, top, left, bottom, front, right
Eight miles to the coast
Every day an early morning trek
Eight miles seeing more than most
The artist's tools are his deck
Not prose nor poems be they be
Yet invitingly descriptive
Of that route to the sea
Eight miles to the coast
Yet invitingly descriptive
His style prescribes the daily plea
Every day an early morning trek
Capturing the minutest single speck
Amid the vastness of creativity
Capturing the minutest single speck
On these the flat-lands of Lincolnshire
The artist's tools are his deck
Not prose nor poems be they be
His style prescribes the daily plea
Founded on the sandstones of life
Amid the vastness of creativity
Of that route to the sea
Founded on the sandstones of life
Eight miles seeing more than most
On these the flat-lands of Lincolnshire
Every day an early morning trek
Eight miles seeing more than most
The artist's tools are his deck
Not prose nor poems be they be
Yet invitingly descriptive
Of that route to the sea
Eight miles to the coast
Yet invitingly descriptive
His style prescribes the daily plea
Every day an early morning trek
Capturing the minutest single speck
Amid the vastness of creativity
Capturing the minutest single speck
On these the flat-lands of Lincolnshire
The artist's tools are his deck
Not prose nor poems be they be
His style prescribes the daily plea
Founded on the sandstones of life
Amid the vastness of creativity
Of that route to the sea
Founded on the sandstones of life
Eight miles seeing more than most
On these the flat-lands of Lincolnshire
Saturday, 25 August 2018
Cube 5: Right, back, top, left, bottom, front
I wish I had a river to skate on
O that I had heard the silence
On the ice floats of the North Pole
In the spring of summertime
My neighbour begins to build
I wish I had peace to wait on
On the ice floats of the North Pole
Darkness now so slight delayed
I wish I had moved the hour on
To play the midnight play
I wish I had a river to skate on
My neighbour begins to build
To play the midnight play
Never since, and never yet
I wish I had peace to wait on
Nowhere else, and nowhere near
As we found where we belong
Nowhere else, and nowhere near
In the spring of summertime
Darkness now so slight delayed
I wish I had moved the hour on
Never since, and never yet
O that I had heard the silence
As we found where we belong
O that I had heard the silence
On the ice floats of the North Pole
In the spring of summertime
My neighbour begins to build
I wish I had peace to wait on
On the ice floats of the North Pole
Darkness now so slight delayed
I wish I had moved the hour on
To play the midnight play
I wish I had a river to skate on
My neighbour begins to build
To play the midnight play
Never since, and never yet
I wish I had peace to wait on
Nowhere else, and nowhere near
As we found where we belong
Nowhere else, and nowhere near
In the spring of summertime
Darkness now so slight delayed
I wish I had moved the hour on
Never since, and never yet
O that I had heard the silence
As we found where we belong
Friday, 24 August 2018
Cube 4: Top, right, left, back, front, bottom
In that place of nowhere knowing
With those footsteps steadfast going
To that dance of girls a throwing
In that place of nowhere knowing
To that dance of girls a throwing
Here we go our oats a sowing
Smiling eyes and cheeks all glowing
As if the morning cockerel crowing
With those footsteps steadfast going
To the west wind wildly blowing
Step by step our beauty showing
In that place of nowhere knowing
In that place of nowhere knowing
Step by step our beauty showing
Smiling eyes and cheeks all glowing
Hand in hand our lust is growing
In that place of nowhere knowing
To the west wind wildly blowing
Here we go our oats a sowing
Skin on skin with snowdrops snowing
Skin on skin with snowdrops snowing
In that place of nowhere knowing
As if the morning cockerel crowing
Hand in hand our lust is growing
With those footsteps steadfast going
To that dance of girls a throwing
In that place of nowhere knowing
To that dance of girls a throwing
Here we go our oats a sowing
Smiling eyes and cheeks all glowing
As if the morning cockerel crowing
With those footsteps steadfast going
To the west wind wildly blowing
Step by step our beauty showing
In that place of nowhere knowing
In that place of nowhere knowing
Step by step our beauty showing
Smiling eyes and cheeks all glowing
Hand in hand our lust is growing
In that place of nowhere knowing
To the west wind wildly blowing
Here we go our oats a sowing
Skin on skin with snowdrops snowing
Skin on skin with snowdrops snowing
In that place of nowhere knowing
As if the morning cockerel crowing
Hand in hand our lust is growing
Thursday, 23 August 2018
Cube 4: Bottom, top, right, left, back, front
Let me take myself to you
Let you welcome me with deafened silence
Not a movement of branch or twig
Not a leaf in the breeze, nor a wave on the shore
Let me make myself alive within you
Let you find me hipper than before
Wearing every colour of the rainbow
Feeling the very tenderness of my skin
Wearing every colour of the rainbow
Catching every kiss I ever kissed
Every inside thigh I ever stroked
Not a movement of branch or twig
Let you find me hipper than before
Take me in the very way you take me
Shake me as you never shook me before
Let you welcome me with deafened silence
Feeling the very tenderness of my skin
Shake me as you never shook me before
Every inside thigh I ever stroked
Not a leaf in the breeze, nor a wave on the shore
Let me make myself alive within you
Take me in the very way you take me
Catching every kiss I ever kissed
Let me take myself to you
Let you welcome me with deafened silence
Not a movement of branch or twig
Not a leaf in the breeze, nor a wave on the shore
Let me make myself alive within you
Let you find me hipper than before
Wearing every colour of the rainbow
Feeling the very tenderness of my skin
Wearing every colour of the rainbow
Catching every kiss I ever kissed
Every inside thigh I ever stroked
Not a movement of branch or twig
Let you find me hipper than before
Take me in the very way you take me
Shake me as you never shook me before
Let you welcome me with deafened silence
Feeling the very tenderness of my skin
Shake me as you never shook me before
Every inside thigh I ever stroked
Not a leaf in the breeze, nor a wave on the shore
Let me make myself alive within you
Take me in the very way you take me
Catching every kiss I ever kissed
Let me take myself to you
Wednesday, 22 August 2018
Cube 4: Front, bottom, top, right, left, back
Through Regent’s Park
Heading for the canal
Which will take us
To Camden Lock
To Camden Lock
And Camden Market
To West Indian curries
With nitro (nitro-glycerine?) ice-creams
Through Regent’s Park
Where friends and families sojourn
A place a long way from our home
Where we carry on walking
A place a long way from our home
Which will take us
To a place you once knew
To West Indian curries
Where friends and families sojourn
Heading for the canal
To go through Little Venice
And Camden Market
Where we carry on walking
To go through Little Venice
To a place you once knew
With nitro (nitro-glycerine?) ice-creams
Heading for the canal
Which will take us
To Camden Lock
To Camden Lock
And Camden Market
To West Indian curries
With nitro (nitro-glycerine?) ice-creams
Through Regent’s Park
Where friends and families sojourn
A place a long way from our home
Where we carry on walking
A place a long way from our home
Which will take us
To a place you once knew
To West Indian curries
Where friends and families sojourn
Heading for the canal
To go through Little Venice
And Camden Market
Where we carry on walking
To go through Little Venice
To a place you once knew
With nitro (nitro-glycerine?) ice-creams
Tuesday, 21 August 2018
Cube 4: Back, front, bottom, top, right, left
Waiting for the silence
Waiting in the moment
I hear the water from the dripping tap
Ringing out, on the spoon and the cereal bowl
Watching for awareness
Watching within my body
I scan those parts I feel
And those I feel more intently
And those I feel more intently
I treat with equanimity
I try to say: all is all is all the same
Ringing out, on the spoon and the cereal bowl
Watching for awareness
I try to be, I aim to be to be
A little bit of me to love a little bit of me
Waiting for the silence
A little bit of me to love a little bit of me
I scan those parts I feel
I hear the water from the dripping tap
I try to say: all is all is all the same
I try to be, I aim to be to be
Watching within my body
Waiting in the moment
I treat with equanimity
Waiting in the moment
I hear the water from the dripping tap
Ringing out, on the spoon and the cereal bowl
Watching for awareness
Watching within my body
I scan those parts I feel
And those I feel more intently
And those I feel more intently
I treat with equanimity
I try to say: all is all is all the same
Ringing out, on the spoon and the cereal bowl
Watching for awareness
I try to be, I aim to be to be
A little bit of me to love a little bit of me
Waiting for the silence
A little bit of me to love a little bit of me
I scan those parts I feel
I hear the water from the dripping tap
I try to say: all is all is all the same
I try to be, I aim to be to be
Watching within my body
Waiting in the moment
I treat with equanimity
Monday, 20 August 2018
Cube 4: Left, back, front, bottom, top, right
I was not at all disappointed
After all you did have something to say
Some words which you thought were worth revealing
Cutting to the quick
You did not hold back
Some words which you thought were worth revealing
And for that I thank you
Best there should be no misunderstanding
No false dawns with which to begin the day
After all you did have something to say
So, good to get it out into the open
Freedom from any lingering hopes, or doubts
Freedom from any lingering hopes, or doubts
Cutting to the quick
Your stormtroopers to the fore
Best there should be no misunderstanding
No false dawns with which to begin the day
I was not at all disappointed
Though I stopped a good way short of celebration
You did not hold back
Though I stopped a good way short of celebration
So, good to get it out into the open
And for that I thank you
Your stormtroopers to the fore
After all you did have something to say
Some words which you thought were worth revealing
Cutting to the quick
You did not hold back
Some words which you thought were worth revealing
And for that I thank you
Best there should be no misunderstanding
No false dawns with which to begin the day
After all you did have something to say
So, good to get it out into the open
Freedom from any lingering hopes, or doubts
Freedom from any lingering hopes, or doubts
Cutting to the quick
Your stormtroopers to the fore
Best there should be no misunderstanding
No false dawns with which to begin the day
I was not at all disappointed
Though I stopped a good way short of celebration
You did not hold back
Though I stopped a good way short of celebration
So, good to get it out into the open
And for that I thank you
Your stormtroopers to the fore
Sunday, 19 August 2018
Cube 4: Right, left, back, front, bottom, top
They are an unlikely combination
She, so archaically well spoken
He, a foul-mouthed alcoholic
On the number thirteen bus
Travelling from Lords to central London
With his guitar and can of Tennant's extra
Offering many many thanks to the bus driver
They get off two stops before Selfridges
Walking there, for breakfast in the restaurant
With his guitar and can of Tennant's extra
He, a foul-mouthed alcoholic
Unable to sit in any peace at all
Are they old rock stars, from St John’s Wood?
Offering many many thanks to the bus driver
She, so archaically well spoken
Perhaps they have grown old and frail together
Perhaps they have grown old and frail together
They get off two stops before Selfridges
On the number thirteen bus
Unable to sit in any peace at all
Are they old rock stars, from St John’s Wood?
Travelling from Lords to central London
They are an unlikely combination
Walking there, for breakfast in the restaurant
She, so archaically well spoken
He, a foul-mouthed alcoholic
On the number thirteen bus
Travelling from Lords to central London
With his guitar and can of Tennant's extra
Offering many many thanks to the bus driver
They get off two stops before Selfridges
Walking there, for breakfast in the restaurant
With his guitar and can of Tennant's extra
He, a foul-mouthed alcoholic
Unable to sit in any peace at all
Are they old rock stars, from St John’s Wood?
Offering many many thanks to the bus driver
She, so archaically well spoken
Perhaps they have grown old and frail together
Perhaps they have grown old and frail together
They get off two stops before Selfridges
On the number thirteen bus
Unable to sit in any peace at all
Are they old rock stars, from St John’s Wood?
Travelling from Lords to central London
They are an unlikely combination
Walking there, for breakfast in the restaurant
Saturday, 18 August 2018
Cube 3: Bottom, left, back, right, front, top
Only one original wall is to remain
The rest to be steel and glass
Bulletproof, and shatterproof, of course
With bathroom and cloaks by the entrance
The ground floor to be quasi open-plan
With three-metre high ceilings
And staircases to run up both sides
The rest to be steel and glass
All the way beyond the third floor
And staircases to run up both sides
Internal balconies to face the old wall
With bathroom and cloaks by the entrance
All of the bedrooms with a clear uninterrupted view
All the separation any house could wish for
Internal balconies to face the old wall
Bulletproof, and shatterproof, of course
Such that life could be compartmentalised
With three-metre high ceilings
All the separation any house could wish for
Only one original wall is to remain
Such that life could be compartmentalised
The ground floor to be quasi open-plan
All of the bedrooms with a clear uninterrupted view
All the way beyond the third floor
The rest to be steel and glass
Bulletproof, and shatterproof, of course
With bathroom and cloaks by the entrance
The ground floor to be quasi open-plan
With three-metre high ceilings
And staircases to run up both sides
The rest to be steel and glass
All the way beyond the third floor
And staircases to run up both sides
Internal balconies to face the old wall
With bathroom and cloaks by the entrance
All of the bedrooms with a clear uninterrupted view
All the separation any house could wish for
Internal balconies to face the old wall
Bulletproof, and shatterproof, of course
Such that life could be compartmentalised
With three-metre high ceilings
All the separation any house could wish for
Only one original wall is to remain
Such that life could be compartmentalised
The ground floor to be quasi open-plan
All of the bedrooms with a clear uninterrupted view
All the way beyond the third floor
Friday, 17 August 2018
Cube 3: Top, bottom, left, back, right, front
The noses are the big giveaway
Yes, the big noses are the giveaway
Both in his sculpture and his paintings
They have faces with ski-slope noses
And I say that with some confidence
Sat as I am
Opposite three of his nude women
All with pubic hair, and big noses
Yes, the big noses are the giveaway
Even if you didn’t know of his addiction
Not to tell of his drinking, and his fighting
Sat as I am
They have faces with ski-slope noses
Not to tell of his drinking, and his fighting
Even when he had become a father
All with pubic hair, and big noses
Both in his sculpture and his paintings
They spoke of his gay, and decadent life
Even when he had become a father
Opposite three of his nude women
The noses are the big giveaway
Even if you didn’t know of his addiction
They spoke of his gay, and decadent life
And I say that with some confidence
Yes, the big noses are the giveaway
Both in his sculpture and his paintings
They have faces with ski-slope noses
And I say that with some confidence
Sat as I am
Opposite three of his nude women
All with pubic hair, and big noses
Yes, the big noses are the giveaway
Even if you didn’t know of his addiction
Not to tell of his drinking, and his fighting
Sat as I am
They have faces with ski-slope noses
Not to tell of his drinking, and his fighting
Even when he had become a father
All with pubic hair, and big noses
Both in his sculpture and his paintings
They spoke of his gay, and decadent life
Even when he had become a father
Opposite three of his nude women
The noses are the big giveaway
Even if you didn’t know of his addiction
They spoke of his gay, and decadent life
And I say that with some confidence
Thursday, 16 August 2018
Cube 3: Front, top, bottom, left, back, right
Between the monuments of Lambeth Bridge
That is
On to the prettily pink painted Lambeth Bridge
A young man carries a haversack
Between the monuments of Lambeth Bridge
The woman, perhaps his mother, without his father
She pulls a gaudy, but colourful, suitcase
The sort only a divorcee would buy without thinking
A young man carries a haversack
I put one step in front of the other
Already today she and he have thought of him
We meanwhile have walked rather a long way
The woman, perhaps his mother, without his father
That is
To visit mosques, museums, and art galleries
I put one step in front of the other
The sort only a divorcee would buy without thinking
To visit mosques, museums, and art galleries
To take coffee and cakes, sat down by the river
We meanwhile have walked rather a long way
She pulls a gaudy, but colourful, suitcase
On to the prettily pink painted Lambeth Bridge
To take coffee and cakes, sat down by the river
Already today she and he have thought of him
That is
On to the prettily pink painted Lambeth Bridge
A young man carries a haversack
Between the monuments of Lambeth Bridge
The woman, perhaps his mother, without his father
She pulls a gaudy, but colourful, suitcase
The sort only a divorcee would buy without thinking
A young man carries a haversack
I put one step in front of the other
Already today she and he have thought of him
We meanwhile have walked rather a long way
The woman, perhaps his mother, without his father
That is
To visit mosques, museums, and art galleries
I put one step in front of the other
The sort only a divorcee would buy without thinking
To visit mosques, museums, and art galleries
To take coffee and cakes, sat down by the river
We meanwhile have walked rather a long way
She pulls a gaudy, but colourful, suitcase
On to the prettily pink painted Lambeth Bridge
To take coffee and cakes, sat down by the river
Already today she and he have thought of him
Wednesday, 15 August 2018
Cube 3: Right, front, top, bottom, left, back
All too human
All too human at Tate Britain
Couples, families, groups of friends, folks on their own
A Sunday tradition, on Easter Monday
Headscarfs had to be worn
In the mosque
All too human at Tate Britain
You did not loiter
Headscarfs had to be worn
No place really for a woman
All too human
Too much violence in the Quran
You did not loiter
Look again at portraiture
A Sunday tradition, on Easter Monday
See just how the artists interpret our life
No place really for a woman
In the mosque
Spaces not filled with the peacefulness of peace
Look again at portraiture
Too much violence in the Quran
Spaces not filled with the peacefulness of peace
Couples, families, groups of friends, folks on their own
See just how the artists interpret our life
All too human at Tate Britain
Couples, families, groups of friends, folks on their own
A Sunday tradition, on Easter Monday
Headscarfs had to be worn
In the mosque
All too human at Tate Britain
You did not loiter
Headscarfs had to be worn
No place really for a woman
All too human
Too much violence in the Quran
You did not loiter
Look again at portraiture
A Sunday tradition, on Easter Monday
See just how the artists interpret our life
No place really for a woman
In the mosque
Spaces not filled with the peacefulness of peace
Look again at portraiture
Too much violence in the Quran
Spaces not filled with the peacefulness of peace
Couples, families, groups of friends, folks on their own
See just how the artists interpret our life
Tuesday, 14 August 2018
Cube 3: Back, right, front, top, bottom, left
The car, without any markings, is sinister
The cocktail bar, with red velvet seating, is sinister
The Souza paintings are sinister
The Francis Bacon’s, all of them, always sinister
Lucian Freud, why? Naked
Lucian Freud, unattractive? Naked
The Souza paintings are sinister
Lucian Freud, grotesque? Naked
Francis Bacon: triptych; challenging
Francis Bacon: light bulb; challenging
Lucian Freud, unattractive? Naked
Francis Bacon; daring, challenging
Francis Bacon: triptych; challenging
RB Kitaj, blessed with the colourful
Lucian Freud, why? Naked
The car, without any markings, is sinister
Francis Bacon; daring, challenging
RB Kitaj, over-flowingly colourful
Lucian Freud, grotesque? Naked
The Francis Bacon’s, all of them, always sinister
RB Kitaj, blessed with the colourful
Francis Bacon: light bulb; challenging
The cocktail bar, with red velvet seating, is sinister
RB Kitaj, over-flowingly colourful
The cocktail bar, with red velvet seating, is sinister
The Souza paintings are sinister
The Francis Bacon’s, all of them, always sinister
Lucian Freud, why? Naked
Lucian Freud, unattractive? Naked
The Souza paintings are sinister
Lucian Freud, grotesque? Naked
Francis Bacon: triptych; challenging
Francis Bacon: light bulb; challenging
Lucian Freud, unattractive? Naked
Francis Bacon; daring, challenging
Francis Bacon: triptych; challenging
RB Kitaj, blessed with the colourful
Lucian Freud, why? Naked
The car, without any markings, is sinister
Francis Bacon; daring, challenging
RB Kitaj, over-flowingly colourful
Lucian Freud, grotesque? Naked
The Francis Bacon’s, all of them, always sinister
RB Kitaj, blessed with the colourful
Francis Bacon: light bulb; challenging
The cocktail bar, with red velvet seating, is sinister
RB Kitaj, over-flowingly colourful
Monday, 13 August 2018
Cube 3: Left, back, right, front, top, bottom
Abandoned car
On the ring road
Police are aware stickers
Over smashed in windows
Maybe with a crowbar
Police are aware stickers
Someone must have been really angry
Someone must have done something very wrong
Perhaps gang warfare, or drug dealers
Or a seriously broken relationship
Someone must have been really angry
To cause so much wanton damage
What will it take for recovery
On the ring road
Or a seriously broken relationship
To make one lose one’s senses
What will it take for recovery
Abandoned car
Perhaps gang warfare, or drug dealers
Maybe with a crowbar
To make one lose one’s senses
Over smashed in windows
To cause so much wanton damage
Someone must have done something very wrong
On the ring road
Police are aware stickers
Over smashed in windows
Maybe with a crowbar
Police are aware stickers
Someone must have been really angry
Someone must have done something very wrong
Perhaps gang warfare, or drug dealers
Or a seriously broken relationship
Someone must have been really angry
To cause so much wanton damage
What will it take for recovery
On the ring road
Or a seriously broken relationship
To make one lose one’s senses
What will it take for recovery
Abandoned car
Perhaps gang warfare, or drug dealers
Maybe with a crowbar
To make one lose one’s senses
Over smashed in windows
To cause so much wanton damage
Someone must have done something very wrong
Sunday, 12 August 2018
Cube 2: Left, back, front, bottom, top, right
Kings Cross is our next stop
Buffet is in coach H
First class has complimentary service
We are now leaving Peterborough
Past the building sites
Buffet is in coach H
Past the industrial estates
Past the open fields with potato pickers
Past the drainage channels
First class has complimentary service
Past the ponds with reeds and grasses
Past the church, on its own, in a field
Past the church, on its own, in a field
We are now leaving Peterborough
With embankments to both sides
Past the open fields with potato pickers
Past the drainage channels
Kings Cross is our next stop
Flooded fields, long boats on canals
Past the building sites
Flooded fields, long boats on canals
Past the ponds with reeds and grasses
Past the industrial estates
With embankments to both sides
Buffet is in coach H
First class has complimentary service
We are now leaving Peterborough
Past the building sites
Buffet is in coach H
Past the industrial estates
Past the open fields with potato pickers
Past the drainage channels
First class has complimentary service
Past the ponds with reeds and grasses
Past the church, on its own, in a field
Past the church, on its own, in a field
We are now leaving Peterborough
With embankments to both sides
Past the open fields with potato pickers
Past the drainage channels
Kings Cross is our next stop
Flooded fields, long boats on canals
Past the building sites
Flooded fields, long boats on canals
Past the ponds with reeds and grasses
Past the industrial estates
With embankments to both sides
Saturday, 11 August 2018
Cube 2: Right, left, back, front, bottom, top
Platform 3 for the 10:40 to London
First class to the front
Tickets and railcards please
Is contactless ok?
Are you having food?
Fruit, yoghurt, popcorn, pain au chocolat
Do you want coffee sir?
Can I have a sparkling water?
Charing Cross for Trafalgar Square
Fruit, yoghurt, popcorn, pain au chocolat
Tickets and railcards please
Blackfriars or Mansion House
For Tate Modern
Do you want coffee sir?
First class to the front
Less affluent classes to the rear
Less affluent classes to the rear
Can I have a sparkling water?
Is contactless ok?
Blackfriars or Mansion House
For Tate Modern
Are you having food?
Platform 3 for the 10:40 to London
Charing Cross for Trafalgar Square
First class to the front
Tickets and railcards please
Is contactless ok?
Are you having food?
Fruit, yoghurt, popcorn, pain au chocolat
Do you want coffee sir?
Can I have a sparkling water?
Charing Cross for Trafalgar Square
Fruit, yoghurt, popcorn, pain au chocolat
Tickets and railcards please
Blackfriars or Mansion House
For Tate Modern
Do you want coffee sir?
First class to the front
Less affluent classes to the rear
Less affluent classes to the rear
Can I have a sparkling water?
Is contactless ok?
Blackfriars or Mansion House
For Tate Modern
Are you having food?
Platform 3 for the 10:40 to London
Charing Cross for Trafalgar Square
Friday, 10 August 2018
Cube 2: Top, right, left, back, front, bottom
Out of town
Onto the new road
Then back onto the old road
But first petrol, and a bacon sandwich
Then back onto the old road
Car stereo playing loudly
Or silenced completely
To allow poems to be recorded
Onto the new road
Poems dreamt up whilst driving
No, I know it’s not the safest way
And it is quite possibly illegal
But first petrol, and a bacon sandwich
Poems dreamt up whilst driving
Or silenced completely
Depending on the mood of the moment
Out of town
No, I know it’s not the safest way
Car stereo playing loudly
No one knows where you are right now
No one knows where you are right now
And it is quite possibly illegal
To allow poems to be recorded
Depending on the mood of the moment
Onto the new road
Then back onto the old road
But first petrol, and a bacon sandwich
Then back onto the old road
Car stereo playing loudly
Or silenced completely
To allow poems to be recorded
Onto the new road
Poems dreamt up whilst driving
No, I know it’s not the safest way
And it is quite possibly illegal
But first petrol, and a bacon sandwich
Poems dreamt up whilst driving
Or silenced completely
Depending on the mood of the moment
Out of town
No, I know it’s not the safest way
Car stereo playing loudly
No one knows where you are right now
No one knows where you are right now
And it is quite possibly illegal
To allow poems to be recorded
Depending on the mood of the moment
Thursday, 9 August 2018
Cube 2: Bottom, top, right, left, back, front
All is to be blue sky
Faint wisps of white puffy clouds
Slowly, gradually, entering and leaving
Mind like sky meditation
All is to be green hills
Rolling dales and valleys
Undulating, gently and smoothly
Mind like land meditation
Undulating, gently and smoothly
The waves easily ebb and flow
Lapping, onto the soft submissive sand
Slowly, gradually, entering and leaving
Rolling dales and valleys
Passes through black mountains
Vistas offered for the seeing
Faint wisps of white puffy clouds
Mind like land meditation
Passes through black mountains
Lapping, onto the soft submissive sand
Mind like sky meditation
All is to be green hills
Vistas offered for the seeing
The waves easily ebb and flow
All is to be blue sky
Faint wisps of white puffy clouds
Slowly, gradually, entering and leaving
Mind like sky meditation
All is to be green hills
Rolling dales and valleys
Undulating, gently and smoothly
Mind like land meditation
Undulating, gently and smoothly
The waves easily ebb and flow
Lapping, onto the soft submissive sand
Slowly, gradually, entering and leaving
Rolling dales and valleys
Passes through black mountains
Vistas offered for the seeing
Faint wisps of white puffy clouds
Mind like land meditation
Passes through black mountains
Lapping, onto the soft submissive sand
Mind like sky meditation
All is to be green hills
Vistas offered for the seeing
The waves easily ebb and flow
All is to be blue sky
Wednesday, 8 August 2018
Cube 2: Front, bottom, top, right, left, back
Sunlight falls onto the moss-covered shingle shed roof
Sunlight fell on the moor, on the cart track lane
Time to take time to simply be observant
Time to take time simply to breathe
Time to take time simply to breathe
To watch the ladybird on the dry stone wall
To spot the four leaf clover in the meadow grass
To see the white sight-screens, on the cricket field
Sunlight falls onto the moss-covered shingle shed roof
Sunlight on the tree, the hedge, the fence
Still to work out the purpose of it all
Still to engage, with and in, the wonder of it all
Still to work out the purpose of it all
Time to take time to simply be observant
Observe no more than what actually can be seen
To see the white sight-screens, on the cricket field
Sunlight on the tree, the hedge, the fence
Objects placed with objectivity in mind
Sunlight fell on the moor, on the cart track lane
To watch the ladybird on the dry stone wall
Still to engage, with and in, the wonder of it all
Objects placed with objectivity in mind
Observe no more than what actually can be seen
To spot the four leaf clover in the meadow grass
Sunlight fell on the moor, on the cart track lane
Time to take time to simply be observant
Time to take time simply to breathe
Time to take time simply to breathe
To watch the ladybird on the dry stone wall
To spot the four leaf clover in the meadow grass
To see the white sight-screens, on the cricket field
Sunlight falls onto the moss-covered shingle shed roof
Sunlight on the tree, the hedge, the fence
Still to work out the purpose of it all
Still to engage, with and in, the wonder of it all
Still to work out the purpose of it all
Time to take time to simply be observant
Observe no more than what actually can be seen
To see the white sight-screens, on the cricket field
Sunlight on the tree, the hedge, the fence
Objects placed with objectivity in mind
Sunlight fell on the moor, on the cart track lane
To watch the ladybird on the dry stone wall
Still to engage, with and in, the wonder of it all
Objects placed with objectivity in mind
Observe no more than what actually can be seen
To spot the four leaf clover in the meadow grass
Tuesday, 7 August 2018
Cube 2: Back, front, bottom, top, right, left
The main line brought me the most part
The branch line almost finished me off
I cannot remember where I started
Whether an aeroplane was involved or not
I walked from station to bus stop
I waited in the dark night’s fine drizzle
I knew this place, I knew it well
Now who on earth knows where I am
Whether an aeroplane was involved or not
For the moment, let us say that was so
To add a little glamour perhaps
Now who on earth knows where I am
The main line brought me the most part
I had been travelling for a long time
All of the day and on into the evening
I walked from station to bus stop
But I had not yet reached my destination
I knew this place, I knew it well
I cannot remember where I started
To add a little glamour perhaps
I had been travelling for a long time
The branch line almost finished me off
I waited in the dark night’s fine drizzle
For the moment, let us say that was so
The branch line almost finished me off
I cannot remember where I started
Whether an aeroplane was involved or not
I walked from station to bus stop
I waited in the dark night’s fine drizzle
I knew this place, I knew it well
Now who on earth knows where I am
Whether an aeroplane was involved or not
For the moment, let us say that was so
To add a little glamour perhaps
Now who on earth knows where I am
The main line brought me the most part
I had been travelling for a long time
All of the day and on into the evening
I walked from station to bus stop
But I had not yet reached my destination
I knew this place, I knew it well
I cannot remember where I started
To add a little glamour perhaps
I had been travelling for a long time
The branch line almost finished me off
I waited in the dark night’s fine drizzle
For the moment, let us say that was so
Monday, 6 August 2018
Cube 1: Right, front, back, top, bottom, left
I am pretty much self-sufficient
In a mindful, spiritual, kind of way
Pretty much ok with self-confidence
When left to my own devices
Not that I crave solitude
But if by chance it happens upon me
In a mindful, spiritual, kind of way
Not that I desire to be a hermit
But a little time alone would be ok
Every now and then that is
Pretty much ok with self-confidence
Yet still exploring my faith
Not that I crave solitude
But to know more about oneself
I am pretty much self-sufficient
But a little time alone would be ok
Not that I desire to be a hermit
I hope you are coming to understand
When left to my own devices
Yet still exploring my faith
But to know more about oneself
Every now and then that is
But if by chance it happens upon me
I hope you are coming to understand
In a mindful, spiritual, kind of way
Pretty much ok with self-confidence
When left to my own devices
Not that I crave solitude
But if by chance it happens upon me
In a mindful, spiritual, kind of way
Not that I desire to be a hermit
But a little time alone would be ok
Every now and then that is
Pretty much ok with self-confidence
Yet still exploring my faith
Not that I crave solitude
But to know more about oneself
I am pretty much self-sufficient
But a little time alone would be ok
Not that I desire to be a hermit
I hope you are coming to understand
When left to my own devices
Yet still exploring my faith
But to know more about oneself
Every now and then that is
But if by chance it happens upon me
I hope you are coming to understand
Sunday, 5 August 2018
Cube 1: Left, right, front, back, top, bottom
An arched stone bridge, one arch
The River Plym flows off of the moor
An ice cream van in the car park
Children playing in the water
It is quiet later on, as I drive by
On my way home from work
I help to take colour out of water
Making it fit and safe to drink
Although my role is one of observer
An ice cream van in the car park
On my way home from work
Occasionally I would call in
To purchase a lollipop or vanilla tub
The River Plym flows off of the moor
I help to take colour out of water
Meanwhile saving what I could
Although my role is one of observer
An arched stone bridge, one arch
It is quiet later on, as I drive by
To purchase a lollipop or vanilla tub
Occasionally I would call in
Children playing in the water
Making it fit and safe to drink
Meanwhile saving what I could
The River Plym flows off of the moor
An ice cream van in the car park
Children playing in the water
It is quiet later on, as I drive by
On my way home from work
I help to take colour out of water
Making it fit and safe to drink
Although my role is one of observer
An ice cream van in the car park
On my way home from work
Occasionally I would call in
To purchase a lollipop or vanilla tub
The River Plym flows off of the moor
I help to take colour out of water
Meanwhile saving what I could
Although my role is one of observer
An arched stone bridge, one arch
It is quiet later on, as I drive by
To purchase a lollipop or vanilla tub
Occasionally I would call in
Children playing in the water
Making it fit and safe to drink
Meanwhile saving what I could
Saturday, 4 August 2018
Cube 1: Bottom, left, right, front, back, top
I am aware of the completeness of my body
As I stand between the monumental stone pillars
I breathe in, I breathe out, I take a step forwards
Onto the narrow, rutted, potholed lane
With walls, fences, and verges to the side
The lane turns corners and falls gradually
Before reaching the main road and the promenade
Which in turn takes me down to the beach
I remember the rippled, and wet, firm sands
The tide was receding
The sunrise was slowly rising
I breathe in, I breathe out, I take a step forwards
I stop, stand in wonder for a while; I retrace my steps
Before reaching the main road and the promenade
The tide was receding
I am aware of the completeness of my body
I sit in the cafe with a coffee and a cigarette
The lane turns corners and falls gradually
The sunrise was slowly rising
Onto the narrow, rutted, potholed lane
I stop, stand in wonder for a while; I retrace my steps
With walls, fences, and verges to the side
I remember the rippled, and wet, firm sands
I sit in the cafe with a coffee and a cigarette
As I stand between the monumental stone pillars
I breathe in, I breathe out, I take a step forwards
Onto the narrow, rutted, potholed lane
With walls, fences, and verges to the side
The lane turns corners and falls gradually
Before reaching the main road and the promenade
Which in turn takes me down to the beach
I remember the rippled, and wet, firm sands
The tide was receding
The sunrise was slowly rising
I breathe in, I breathe out, I take a step forwards
I stop, stand in wonder for a while; I retrace my steps
Before reaching the main road and the promenade
The tide was receding
I am aware of the completeness of my body
I sit in the cafe with a coffee and a cigarette
The lane turns corners and falls gradually
The sunrise was slowly rising
Onto the narrow, rutted, potholed lane
I stop, stand in wonder for a while; I retrace my steps
With walls, fences, and verges to the side
I remember the rippled, and wet, firm sands
I sit in the cafe with a coffee and a cigarette
Friday, 3 August 2018
Cube 1: Top, bottom, left, right, front, back
Grandad paid for the tenancy
Mum and dad, landlord and landlady
Dad’s second job, delivering to the road-work navvies
I changed schools, from Thurlestone to Birdsedge
From daily tears to daily joy
But no more rides on the steam shunting engine
Our very own full-size football field
With a lamp-post for a nighttime kick-about
Mum and dad, landlord and landlady
Raiding gardens, scrumping strawberries and peas
Playing tin-can-squash with the big boys
But no more rides on the steam shunting engine
Dad’s second job, delivering to the road-work navvies
Braziers, for frying bacon and egg breakfasts
As the kerbstones were unloaded by hand
Our very own full-size football field
I changed schools, from Thurlestone to Birdsedge
Playing tin-can-squash with the big boys
Braziers, for frying bacon and egg breakfasts
With a lamp-post for a nighttime kick-about
Grandad paid for the tenancy
Raiding gardens, scrumping strawberries and peas
As the kerbstones were unloaded by hand
From daily tears to daily joy
Mum and dad, landlord and landlady
Dad’s second job, delivering to the road-work navvies
I changed schools, from Thurlestone to Birdsedge
From daily tears to daily joy
But no more rides on the steam shunting engine
Our very own full-size football field
With a lamp-post for a nighttime kick-about
Mum and dad, landlord and landlady
Raiding gardens, scrumping strawberries and peas
Playing tin-can-squash with the big boys
But no more rides on the steam shunting engine
Dad’s second job, delivering to the road-work navvies
Braziers, for frying bacon and egg breakfasts
As the kerbstones were unloaded by hand
Our very own full-size football field
I changed schools, from Thurlestone to Birdsedge
Playing tin-can-squash with the big boys
Braziers, for frying bacon and egg breakfasts
With a lamp-post for a nighttime kick-about
Grandad paid for the tenancy
Raiding gardens, scrumping strawberries and peas
As the kerbstones were unloaded by hand
From daily tears to daily joy
Thursday, 2 August 2018
Cube 1: Back, top, bottom, left, right, front
No signal, no email
No phone, no text
Committal and commitment
For all of the coming days
No signal, no email
Intimidation as her very way of being
Ego as the means of survival
A dog eat dog kind of life
For all of the coming days
Breaking down the inner policeman
Growing strong and growing proud
Learning, learning; learning all the while
No phone, no text
No shortage of confident young people
Intimidation as her very way of being
Breaking down the inner policeman
Congratulations on your performance
Committal and commitment
Ego as the means of survival
Growing strong and growing proud
A dog eat dog kind of life
No shortage of confident young people
Congratulations on your performance
Learning, learning; learning all the while
No phone, no text
Committal and commitment
For all of the coming days
No signal, no email
Intimidation as her very way of being
Ego as the means of survival
A dog eat dog kind of life
For all of the coming days
Breaking down the inner policeman
Growing strong and growing proud
Learning, learning; learning all the while
No phone, no text
No shortage of confident young people
Intimidation as her very way of being
Breaking down the inner policeman
Congratulations on your performance
Committal and commitment
Ego as the means of survival
Growing strong and growing proud
A dog eat dog kind of life
No shortage of confident young people
Congratulations on your performance
Learning, learning; learning all the while
Wednesday, 1 August 2018
Cube 1: Front, back, top, bottom, left, right
Jigsaw-puzzle on the table
Macaroni cheese for dinner
Coffee in the World Peace Cafe
Guided meditation in the Bow Room
Photographs in the walled garden
Trip out to Millington village
Ploughed fields; partridges, or were they pheasants
Treetops and steam topped power stations
Macaroni cheese for dinner
Across the road to Kilnwick Percy Spa
Trip out to Millington village
Single bedded bedroom, bathroom shared with six
Guided meditation in the Bow Room
Chanted prayers play on compact disks
Treetops and steam topped power stations
Buddhism becoming Meditationism
Jigsaw puzzle on the table
Across the road to Kilnwick Percy Spa
Photographs in the walled garden
Chanted prayers play on compact disks
Coffee in the World Peace Cafe
Single bedded bedroom, bathroom shared with six
Ploughed fields; partridges, or were they pheasants
Buddhism becoming Meditationism
Macaroni cheese for dinner
Coffee in the World Peace Cafe
Guided meditation in the Bow Room
Photographs in the walled garden
Trip out to Millington village
Ploughed fields; partridges, or were they pheasants
Treetops and steam topped power stations
Macaroni cheese for dinner
Across the road to Kilnwick Percy Spa
Trip out to Millington village
Single bedded bedroom, bathroom shared with six
Guided meditation in the Bow Room
Chanted prayers play on compact disks
Treetops and steam topped power stations
Buddhism becoming Meditationism
Jigsaw puzzle on the table
Across the road to Kilnwick Percy Spa
Photographs in the walled garden
Chanted prayers play on compact disks
Coffee in the World Peace Cafe
Single bedded bedroom, bathroom shared with six
Ploughed fields; partridges, or were they pheasants
Buddhism becoming Meditationism
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