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Sunday, 15 August 2021

Divination

The sleeves on my vest
Or base layer as Finisterre
Choose to call it, ride up
To sit above my elbows

It is a minor irritation
Although I am not sure
That it warrants a complaint
But perhaps a query to quality control

Instead to watch Gen Kelsang Nyema
Focussing on the positive frame of mind
I am asked to sit comfortably
Feet on the floor, hands in my lap

Which is much as I began the day
And so so settled did I become
That sleep welcomed me into its house
Until the meditation alarm woke me

And now I have been told
That I am infallible, though
I do believe sarcasm may be involved
I would anyway have preferred unfathomable

Like the bicycling man from Sheffield
Who followed his dream
Or rather he followed his gut instinct
And all turned out, sort of, ok



Saturday, 14 August 2021

Unperturbed

No news is good news
Although the news is not due
Until this time next week

Other news
Is also outstanding
Yet without much hope

Light shines
As light falls
At a slant, at a time

When what else
Comes to mind, comes to mind
From who knows where

There was that time
No, truly there was
I’m sure I remember

In any case I smile
And why wouldn’t I
With so so little on my mind

It is the quiet moments
The slow moving stillness
Which echoes, or reflects the clatter

Friday, 13 August 2021

Stealth

Outpatients department
Grantham hospital
Oral Surgery & Orthodontics

Who knows what’s next
Who knows why
Who knows where

No butterflies or songbirds
No beech tree or aspen
No coffee, or tea

But lots of receptionists
Three so far
Have passed me onto the next one

Perhaps it is the new payment system
That’s left the car park so empty
Must remember to pay before I go

My Covid test results
Did not come through
Though Kate said I would be negative

I don’t know
Whether to take that as a compliment
Or if I ought not to pay anyway



Thursday, 12 August 2021

Sustained

Sat outside
By the straw bales
After a good lunch
Of cheeseburger, with tomato relish
Followed by
Peach and raspberry de-luxe ice cream

On the eleven-twenty to Newcastle
Complete with face masks
The only two
To board at Corbridge
But then we are travelling off-peak
As a means of economising


Wednesday, 11 August 2021

You Do The Math

Thomas Ellis
Painter
Decorator
Glazier
Signwriter

A tradesman
Serving the shopkeepers
Of this northern
Historic abbey town
Which closes at 4pm

Actually
The Deli at Number 4
Went home early
Or closed the shop
To prepare coleslaw

The building society
Has moved next door
Their building
Taken over by Dickinsons
Who were established in 1878