Pages

Saturday, 4 October 2025

At least two sides and the other sides

Half in many, half in few

Halfway sent the soldiers knew

We'll talk of lies, we'll talk of truth

We'll walk all over our unheard youth

Half in danger, half in doubt

Halfway arms they held them out

We’ll talk of liberty, we'll talk of honour

We'll walk all over the fallen Madonna

Half in stillness, half in style

Halfway art on murder mile


We'll talk of society, we'll talk of class

We'll walk all over the wayward lass

Half in brother, half in son

Halfway death for everyone

We'll talk of poverty, we'll talk of creed

We'll walk all over those who do not read

Half in justice, half in retribution

Halfway rumours court confusion


We'll talk of courage, we'll talk of pride

We'll walk all over should you deride

Half in peace, half in reconciliation

Halfway long walk from alienation

We'll talk of culture, we'll talk of history

We'll walk all over now where's the mystery

We'll half talk of strength

We'll half talk of power

We'll walk halfway

All over you cometh the hour



Friday, 3 October 2025

The other sides

We'll talk of lies, we'll talk of truth

We'll walk all over our unheard youth

Well talk of liberty, we'll talk of honour

We'll walk all over the fallen Madonna


We'll talk of society, we'll talk of class

We'll walk all over the wayward lass

We'll talk of poverty, we'll talk of creed

We'll walk all over those who do not read


We'll talk of courage, we'll talk of pride

We'll walk all over should you deride

We'll talk of culture, we'll talk of history

We'll walk all over now where's the mystery


We'll talk of strength, we'll talk of power

We'll walk all over you, come the hour



Thursday, 2 October 2025

Looking up

With a splash of water from Dmitri's hand

The last curled-up double leap ended

The audience even after the last curtain call

Could not do else but ask for more


And you tell me that sentimentality carries a cloud

To remember not to cast my memories on to others

Those who have their own memories to carry

Their own past lives to dress and to undress


I am leaving you now, for a while at least

To forage my own landscapes, in my skyline beauty

Not in past streams and becks but in the new rivers

Which run down mountains not yet visited


Oddly I do this whilst Satie plays his Gymnopédies

I picture the pumice stone you spoke of

Did you expect this

Did you predict this


The tap drips, you know nothing of this

Dust inside your casket, you cannot see the ripple

Or hear the resonant cadence, though you sit

Sit beside me, on this October morning



Wednesday, 1 October 2025

At least two sides

Half in lightness, half in dark

Half way home past Lincoln Park

Half in Sodium, half in sky

Halfway there I wonder why


Half in praise, half in pain

Halfway past I can't explain

Half in darkness, half in light

Halfway wonder that I might


Half in sleep, half in wake

Halfway from the dreams I make

Half in stillness, half in flight

Halfway way up then out of sight


Half in bud, half in leaf

Halfway acorn underneath

Half in mist, half in dew

Halfway home the migrants flew


Half in sun, half in shade

Halfway done the moneys made

Half in anger, half in doubt

Halfway round the roundabout


Half in clover, half in rye

Halfway over do I cry

Half in Dover, half in France

Halfway over my last romance


Half in life, half in death

Halfway gasp for my last breath

Half in mourning, half in joy

Halfway dressed in corduroy


Half in many, half in few

Halfway sent the soldiers knew

Half in danger, half in doubt

Halfway arms they held them out


Half in stillness, half in style

Halfway art on murder mile

Half in brother, half in son

Halfway death for everyone


Half in justice, half in retribution

Halfway rumours court confusion

Half in peace, half in reconciliation

Halfway long walk from alienation



Tuesday, 30 September 2025

Straight roads

The flat spot

At the top

Of the up down

Arable and

Farm land acres


Hedgerows almost

Into fences

Trees without leaves

Long shadows follow

The line of the plough


A sunset, bigger

Than a cathedral

A moon decked

With all of Saturn’s rings

Or so it seems


Does it mean

I have seen into

A deeper autumn

Or is the clean air

A warmness of your giving



Monday, 29 September 2025

Wet and cold and warm

Frosted crinkled crystals sat upon the five bar gate

Sentry to the streams and turnpikes

Blessed as the very day that we wait


All the while we listen outright, touch the frost atop

The five bars; held together by diagonal slants

Swung on and off the blacksmiths curled hinges


In the stillness, on the stiff crumpled grass

Sparkled sharpness of the dampness frozen

Moments as later breathe air of kingdoms passed


Look closely at your clothes, your skin

All of the outside of within

Think on that fair scented hair shampoo 


And the bath salts

In your early morning hot water soak

Later, in the library or bookshop


Or perhaps the Methodist Tea Rooms

Sit in the happiness of this sunlight

Read these or someone else's words


Dream of pancakes for tea

With treacle and maple syrup

And dollops of vanilla ice cream


Then, even though it's not politically correct

Take a cigarette

Inhale and exhale your love


Puff away, rub your thumbs and fingers

Wipe off the gathered ice

From your well worn shoes


Even without the snow

It's good to go into the mist

Beyond the stream, out into the clearing