I did not take a black tie

I did not take a black tie
I came to see my mother
Ward 11 said Mary
I left a message, on the mobile

For my brother
I did not take a black tie
I came to see my mother
Ward 11 said Mary
I left a message, on the mobile

For my brother
I did not take a black tie
I came to see my mother
Ward 11 said Mary
I left a message, on the mobile

For my brother
Sugar Diabetes
Broke the best part of my grandfather's life
And my mother’s sister
For ten years she's lived in fear
Of chocolates and cake
And the desire to gorge
The desire to gorge
I did not take a black tie
I came to see my mother
Ward 11 said Mary
I left a message, on the mobile

For my brother

Sugar Diabetes
Broke the best part of my grandfather's life
And my mother’s sister
For ten years she's lived in fear
Of chocolates and cake
And the desire to gorge
The desire to gorge
And here I am at 47
At the end of half a week of visiting

And communicating, and feeling
Yes feeling for the goodness of people

How everyone contributes

And everyone cares
I did not take a black tie
I came to see my mother
Ward 11 said Mary
I left a message, on the mobile

For my brother
Sugar Diabetes
Broke the best part of my grandfather's life
And my mother’s sister
For ten years she's lived in fear
Of chocolates and cake
And the desire to gorge
The desire to gorge
And here I am at 47
At the end of half a week of visiting

Communicating and feeling
Yes feeling for the goodness of people

And how everyone contributes

And everyone cares
Now alone in the Sculpture Park
Beneath the sun and the crows
Thinking about life, about art

And sculpture

And doing things, with care
Tonight we bomb Yugoslavia
Trying our best to care

Available at Amazon

Now There Is No Horizon

The waves roll over and over
Rolling along the curve of the shoreline
Their stereophonic splashes washing over

Washing over
Silently the sodium lights glaze the ripples
Incidentally highlighting the ebb and flow
All the while the buoys and marker lights

Bobble and flicker
All of this through the blown open

Broken bathroom door
This after Yentob on Freud on the radio
Only pretending to understand
Wanting to remember this time
Wanting to describe the space
Describe the feeling
Sodium at the seafront
At midnight
No other sounds
Sea moving, air flowing
And earlier, Hockney saying painting
Painting is the real thing
A photograph could not capture
And you know he is almost right
But behind me is the sink
And down below the window
A solitary moment, a stranger passing
Neither captured by the flashbulb

Nor the paintbrush
Both unable to synthesise all of the view
But with these words
Written down, beside the corroded

Cracked glass single glazed window
With a cream windowsill inside
And outside

Sky blue, mottled, exterior paint
I can see out into the blackness
To describe that; now there is no horizon
Only a two dimensional black space
A completely starless night sky
How would the painter work
Without depth and perspective
How would the photographer touch
The thousand miles of nothingness
Between here and the next continent
Or remember the background sounds
Beach bound pebbles crashing
Like sacks of marbles
Or the roar
Of the last motorbike
As he serenades
And leaves
The shoreline
Promenade

Available at Amazon

Another Invitation

Where are you now
Write to me more often
Where are we now
Softly spoken
Where I am
Fairly often
There you are then
Nothings broken
A writer’s invitation
Simulating tactile sensation
The coffee’s black
In Massarella’s café
The light is bright
Behind the lens
I smile, awhile
In moments of magic
Where are you now
Write to me more often
Where are we now
Excitedly spoken
Knocks on the head
Some say I’m still suffering
Knocks on the head
Woken, spoken with beauty
Where are you know
Write to me more often
Where I am now
Panicking slowly

Concentrate

Imagine a transparent mind
Postulate, bring to life

Disordered thoughts inside
Motivate, drive me madly
Introversion, extrovertly
A birth is more special
Than I can yet contemplate
A life is more special
Than I care to admit
How to release
Unwise ineffectual pressures
But retain, explain
Love’s compassion learning

Where are you now
Write to me more often
Grow me
Slowly
I feel to exude high expectation
Is this received, perceived, untrue
You seem able, stable, of invention
Thoughtful, real, true, you, you…
Supportive or disruptive
Challenging or cajoling
Balanced or biassed
Me or you
Energy flows
The picture grows

The smile returns
Doubts burn away
Where are you now
Speak to me
Speak to me more often
Kick me
Metaphorically
Engage me
Excess of sensuality
Draw me in, repeatedly
Tell me
What I should give
How you, you demand of me
To reach, within you
Command, perhaps
On reflection
The flow should meander
A little
Where are you now
Still with me
With me more often
Being
Distraction
Extracting self from self-satisfaction
Self-sufficiently
So so efficiently unaware
People need people
Communication’s complements 

Consumption
Interaction is
The second oxygen of life
Where are you now
Will you be
My

One and only

Available at Amazon

Graham Or Is It John

Graham or John
Where are you from
Your picture is so
So character strong
Your coat was red
You never said
You'd been before
Walked out the door
The zephyr blew
The jeans were blue
The memory cradle
Leaving the stable
A stable boy
A big girl’s toy
Open top sport
Not your sort
The white cotton shirt
Does hurting hurt
Passing on by
Tears lover’s cry
Turning eighteen
It's about being seen
Crocodile shoes
Silver studs in two's
Sail by, swan in stature
It's essence you capture
You glide and slide

Taking the Cadillac ride
The girl on your arm
Besotted by charm
Pretty pink dress
Virginity suppressed
Hair flicked back
Listening to chicken shack
Painting your own picture
Writing your own scripture
You carry your confidence
With supreme diffidence
Believing the dream
Selling the sheen
Envy brings engagement
Edge endows enragement
The cockerel crow quietens
The peacock colour whitens
The cloud of smoke
The oarsman’s silver stroke
Waters wash over
The discarded cloak
He walked right in
He couldn't swim
He never spoke
You missed the joke
Nothings real
From our dreams we steal
Joseph's Technicolor dream-coat
Is our conscience missing the boat

Available at Amazon

Bag Job

The half-baked golden moon
In a star struck star spangled sky
That incontinence calling

To be at one with nature
A wee in the night

A wee long look at the night sky
Moonset at midnight
With October smelling of new mown hay
Driving past presence
Escaping into the day
In touch with such wonderment
How can anyone believe
By Christ such wonderment
Oh, oh, what a relief
Moon after midnight
Golden orb of redness and light
Walking on globules of goodness
Opening to kindness, hidden deep
And distance for kindness
And, but words, for release
Walking in wonderment
Oh Christ, Christ, it is beginning to seep

Frowns Of A Clown

Biko
Back in the USSR
Biko
Gabriel cries from afar
Lynott is a rocker and a roller
With his friend Moore
Walking the Parisienne walkways
Sliding steel guitars
Teardrops on the terrace
Springtime is for lovers
Have you been there too
In or out of love
Morning suns keep rising
Cloud clearing skies
Beneath the zephyr breeze
And smiles keep on
The frowns of a clown cannot hide them
Some call it deity
I prefer majesty
In the singular moment
Their really only is I
No friends, no family, no colleague
Aristotle: how do you reply
Back then to the early morning
Sunrise and wakening eyes
A day clear of conscience
A day beginning to cry
And crying has led to change
Mandela follows Biko

Peace continues to be sought
Thanks to these men of principle

Mans mind is not easily bought
Mans mind is not easily bought
Meditate on that thought
Wish upon a star
Dream the everlasting dream
Jung and Munch are memories
The unconscious mind
The visual scream
Moments only in the greater scheme
Thirty years of passing
Thirty years of thoughts
Packed inside these words
Packed inside this mind
The clarity of vision
The splendid thoughts of youth
How best to resurrect
Back in search of truth
Compromise and insincerity
The game I've learned to play
Bending rules not breaking
Interrogate integrity they say
So move away from the men in suits
Move away to follow friendship
Believe once more in Aristotle
Let pleasure be here amongst you

Available at Amazon

Songbird Sleeping

Like a willow weeping
Or a songbird sleeping
Like a time remembered, so clearly
Or a time you came so close, so nearly
When the cold waves came crashing
Tethered nights with dark winds thrashing
Under stars and half moons rising
Skimming pebbles half surprising
Thurlestone sands

So so far from Thurlestone School
Only needed one more broken rule
Under stars laughter hides the fear
Sinister is the minister that does not hear
And that is just what we do
Me, you, we two
Like willows weeping
Like songbirds sleeping
Another time you just smiled
Along the golden mile
Jack the lad in life and laughter
Getting, impressing

Whoever it was you were after
But in the camouflage under cover
Wanting to be more than just one other
Needing to prescribe a different being
Creating images for onlookers seeing
Not knowing what is truly showing
Or who cares enough to be knowing
Designer clothes are no compensation
Neither is narcotics a true sensation
Life lived in void space nine
Way apart, abreast from time
Like a willow weeping
Like a songbird sleeping
The guitar played blues and soul
The band embraced the ball
Earlier the songs were engaging
Memories and old emotions

They also were raging
You never meant to part
So why did you start
Drifting into the grey abyss
Forgetting what you'd miss
Climbing mountains and missing molehills
Moving in motion, but leaving picture stills
That was what you wanted to do
To create something, well me too
More than simply nine to five
More feeling dead than alive
Like the willow weeping
Like the songbird sleeping
Evoking outspoken jokes
Handing round the Spanish smokes
Jack Daniels and Stella ice
Heading off in search of spice
Catch a late night cab
Once again you’re jack the lad
Only this time come tomorrow
Laughter will turn to sorrow
Deeper down into your own depression
Caught inside your own oppression
Not able to imagine

How to change your state
You've lost the path to your golden gate
And all around everyone's trying
Yet you are the only one not crying
You are not the willow weeping
No more are you the songbird sleeping

Available at Amazon

Blackpool

We’re here
We’re right along the South Shore
We’re here
We’re strolling down the Promenade
Kiss me quick
Kiss me hard
Take me now
Take me down the Promenade
We’re here
We’re playing at the Pleasure Beach
We’re here
We’re walking on the Golden Mile
Kiss me quick
Kiss me while
Take me now
Take me down the Golden Mile
We’re here
We’re treading on the North Pier
We’re here
We’re dancing at the Winter Gardens
Kiss me quick
Kiss me, oh pardon
Take me now
Take me down the Winter Gardens
We’re here
We’re climbing up the Tower
We’re here
We’re riding on the Trams
Kiss me quick
Kiss me, kiss me on time
Take me, take me now
Take me down the Fleetwood line.
Can you remember the candy floss
Can you remember the toffee apples
Can you remember the funny house
Can you remember the wild mouse
We’re here
We’re queuing at the Donkey Rides
We’re here
We’re gambling on the Slot Machines
Kiss me quick
Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me my bride
Take me, take me now
Take me down the rising tide
Take me, take me now
Take me down the rising tide
Take me, take me now
Take me down the rising tide

Available at Amazon

Remember The Hero

Commitment
Equal to zero
Never, not ever, except if its o.k.
Fall in line
Join the queue
Open time for rejection
Pity is not
Ever selected
Parting shot’s failing words
Nothing more than meaning
At that instant in time
Opportunity bespoken
Courage to have no conviction
Desirous of freedom
Fleeing to be free
Course it just does not
Work any other way
Corruption without care
Stating the obvious
Pouring the rhyme
Steering to be
Well that is the way
See if you risk
Losing it all
Reading the line
Creating the image
Clouding the issue
Take it on head first
Take it to task
Neglect asymmetric action
Proud to beg
Upstanding to fall
Crazed with distortion
Extinguish the anguish
Obliterate desire
Mask any malignant hope
Wreak havoc and teardrop
Crush chaos and cause
Eradicate ethereal thought
Bring into some being
Alternate
Hope
Equal to Zero
Remember
The heroes and the villains

Available at Amazon

Weightless

Remember watching

That 66 Wimbledon final
Then rushing on to the local court to play
And after watching the 66 cup final

At the home of football
Then running to the nearest park

To score the winning goal
Remember Lords, cricket

Sunshine summer wherewithal
Inspired immediately to place

Willow bat on corky ball
Then there’s that Laurence Llewellyn
Encouraging us all

To change our living rooms
However, on this occasion, rather
It was the poem of Raymond Carver
Betjeman, Browning and WH Auden
Visions, poems

Words sympathetically spoken
Of love and life, and love and loss
Emotion, pain, pleasure, candy floss
Sweetness to soften the blow
Without the worry of the sugar
Without the weight of the thought
I've let myself be immersed, I am enthused
I'm on the pitch, I write to you

Are you… confused

Available at Amazon

Invisible Man

Strides and vest
F**k the rest, its just illumination
The record player and short cropped hair
Can they take, can they take any more
Bare of foot, unable to care

Feeling and seeing despair
Can they take, any, any more
Rented room, fade and zoom
His personal space for me to play
Banks of lights, electric switches
Nothing to see, nothing to see
No route inside your mind, nothing to find
Invisible, Invisible Man
Strides and vest
F**k the rest, its just illumination

Drying frame, crying shame, crying game
It’s only tea towels and boxer’s briefs
Empty hangar, crumpled coat

Castle moat, it ain’t
Chequered shirt, washed out dirt

Ready for tomorrow, or today
Put up chair, it’s not even there

Not permanent
Somewhere to stare

Though nowhere to hide or confide
Sink full of dishes

Curtains off the swishes
The bins are overflowing

With yesterday’s news
But hang just there, that Roman pillar rare
What’s it hide, what’s inside

Behind the wool and shoddy felt
Strides and vest
F**k the rest
It is just illumination

Available at Amazon

Free David Hockney

Orange grove
Mulholland Drive
From the mountain to the sea
Waves of Freesias
Floods of shimmering grass
From the garden to eternity
Orange men of Ulster
Belief, tradition or conspiracy
Fighting to be free
Decaying, slowly dying flowers
Scorched, torched, grassland misery
Genetic feeding, unknown disease
Blue sky, sunshine
A zephyr of a breeze
Summer dreams, sweet memories

Chocolate and Cinnamon
Birthday party
Sunday tea
Flying back from Guantanamo
Two years of nothing but darkness
Returning, again in darkness
Questioning and questioning
Interrogation, Why
Why were you there
Tomorrow you will be released
But will you, will you
Ever again, be free

Available at Amazon

Callisthenics

Morning Exercise
Awake
Awash
Avogadro’s law
Balance
Breathe
Balm of Gilead
Cajun
Cake
Carbon tetrachloride
Diesel
Dandruff
Dendrochronology
Element
Educate
Erotomania

Available at Amazon

Play

On every one occasion
Yes every time we meet
A special little happening
Yes dancing little feet
On every one occasion
Simply washing dishes sleek
A separate memory moment
Yes dancing cheek to cheek

Available at Amazon

Chorus (For those you’ve left behind)

It seems to me
From the way you dress
That you are a long way
A long way from home
I also surmise, surprise
That you are lost
Lost inside, or so I find
Inside your sketchbook mind
Looking back
Back along the promenade
The turret and the tower
They are your silhouettes
The clock in the square
The coronation cross
They are your foreground,
Your definition and fine detail
This picture
Framed to the East
Framed by the faraway shores
Beyond the distance, beyond the horizon
The Jurassic cliffs crumble
Their history cloaks another kind of time
You are I surmise
A long way from home
Are you here to escape
Escaping the troubles of a mad mankind
Are you, here away, but crippled
Crippled by, by your wandering mind
The stillness and calm
Of this present situation
Aside from the wars and the warriors
Is it this that tests your patience
The injustice of your situation
Not by choice, nor in context
Simply an artist drawing, drawing
On what’s left, left of life in time
The light is fading
You have moved along
The chorus or the song has gone
The stolen lives

Of those, you’ve left behind

Available at Amazon

Happy Day

By chance you happened

Upon a black lake walk
Shearwaters of reflection

Reflecting one more magical moment
The flight of the partridge

And the exited young collie
Soul refresh, soul rebirth

Underfoot the twig leafs crackled
Ethereal and eternity

Thank heaven for spontaneity
Meander among the coriander

Hands blessing vision and line
Bright light out of beauty

Splish-splash, light onto beech leaf
Sing and bring good to good times

Sing, bring good once again
Playful seeker of pleasure

Hedonism out of Ithaca returned
Bountiful protector

Of the prosaic presenter
Wish for mirth, wish

Shear essence, fluorescence of joy
Atmosphere emerging

Resurgence of energy amongst enigma
Pretend the maker of dreams

Protect the rabbits of Bethlehem
Mend, cognisance blends

Mindful of love, innocent in joy
Sorting, becoming

Of images past, captured, enraptured
Floodlights on memories

Provoking, freeing fresh thought
Waltzing Matilda

And whirling swirling dancing tunes

Runes without time

Blooms without blinds
Meditation, loves medication

Dedication, sealing, healing

Revealing feathers and plumes

Honed and groomed
Walking back along the pathways

Holding spaces, minutiae

Binding moments into aspherical wholes
Believing the fragments of fortune blessed

To fall in this particular, peculiar

Non-perfunctionary kind of way

Available at Amazon

Wind Band

It is, is it, just a room
Like many other
A simple carpet, bedspread
Eiderdown cover
Carved tabled
Embraced with lace
Drawers for dressing
Lathe turned legs
Listening to the Ironmonger’s Ball
Over the rolling, calling, windswept wall
It is, is it, just another room
Like, alike, alike many, many another
A space, stark, dark, dark turned light
Sounds escaping into a classical night
It’s a living, breathing, developing art

Fighting, fighting for it’s very future
In this room, towards Nirvana
A wind band, a wind band orchestra
Colours combining, harvesting in my mind
In this room, unlike the night

Unlike any other

Available at Amazon

Chronicle

The cathedral’s silent space
The blacksmith’s forging flame
The British bed and breakfast
Walking over the reservoir ramparts
Canal boat over the sky-high viaduct
Coach trip to the seaside
Scared that it could all be lost
Scared that there could be even more
Scared by the shifting sands of minds
Time is the ethereal enemy
Understanding the hour

The minute, the day
Missing by a mile the year

The generation, the life

The railway platform at mid-day
Apples and oranges on the market stall
Ale house and alfresco foraging
Cars boarding the over-night ferry
Fishermen landing their catch on the quay
Cricket whites and willow battered ball
Scared at not meeting the cost
Scared that there could be even more
Scared by the fluidity of inflation
Money is the surrealist enemy
Understanding the pound in our pocket

Missing by a mile

The millions flowing through a lifetime

The works Christmas party
Bingo at the club
Dominoes in the pub
The aeroplane

Going from ground to cloud
The ice cream on the promenade
The surfboard cutting spray
Scared at being somewhere different
Scared there might be even more
Scared by a changing space
Place is the straight-jacket enemy
Understanding the room

The yard, the town
Missing by a mile the city

The county in the country
The cinema screen imagery
The theatrical actor’s observations
The brass band playing eulogies
Mountains of misunderstood meetings
Thousands of insincere greetings
Waiting for Murphy's law
Scared at not saying
Scared that there could be even more
Scared of listening and feeling
Communication is the free-world enemy
Understanding hello, goodbye, yes and no
Missing by a mile everything in between

Available at Amazon