Time Off

Eyes closed

A body of messages

Form a disorderly queue

Interrupted

By a call from the hillside

A view of settled grass

Of the wide open moorland

Before the longer view, a more distant Tor

I bought a new watch

It acts as a reminder

Same make, similar model

Stainless steel strap, with inset gold plate

Saturday mornings did it for me then

As they do it for me now

How else to find the space

Time to agglomerate the pace

A place where vapour trails of memories

Can place me between the roof and the floor

Thrust me, hang me helpless, into the chasms

Of neither knowing, nor not ever understanding

This poem is from the collection 

Tackle

I wake so early

The stakes higher than before

This pattern called to break

For the sake of all, and evermore

This poem is from the collection 

Once more YKB

If the week could be longer

Strength of mind turned

By the fruits of our own design

As we walk the surf side line

If the bonds then stronger

Length of loss spurned

By the cuteness of our own time

As we talk the blue of Yves Klein

This poem is from the collection 

Tuesday Tea

Willow, water, reed

Feed into timelines

To tread back-along

Natural sounds (sheep, birds, bees)

Camouflage the road noise

Still the rumbles of the aircraft

Destined for those other places

I went there myself

It was a while ago

I am often reminded

She met me at the airport

She was happy

For she knew I wasn't straying

Destined for those other places

In those days I often took a cigarette

I would care for one now

If only for the memory, of deep inhalation

This poem is from the collection 

Gentleness

The kiss, love and care entwined

Thank you for being a poet

Or at any rate someone indefatigable enough

To read your own words for our neighbour & friend

The kiss, care with love enshrined

Thank you for being a person

Or at any rate someone, exceptionally

Understanding enough, to put up with the poet

This poem is from the collection