I met Dominic

I met Dominic

In the Bow room

At Madhyamaka

The UK’s first centre

For Kadampa Buddhism

He was repairing

The four, large, sash windows

His tools, materials and dust covers

Were strewn all over the floor

Also around the temple cabinet

I asked if he was a resident

Or a contractor, to which he replied

That he was a Buddhist contractor

Oh I said, what does that mean

Well; he paused, I waited, he said:

Being fair, being honest

Not charging too much

Being prepared to work extra hours

Having the desire to do a good job

Not to be driven by profit

Dominic is from Norwich

Which has a small meditation centre

Out towards the coast

He came up with his girlfriend

But she fell off the bike

And, with a bruised face

She felt uncomfortable

Needed to return home

He thinks it will take another week

To complete the renovation

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Sat again

Sat again

On the landing

Beside the open window

The van Gogh print

Has been moved

Replaced by a sculptural affair

Both window and sculpture

Are photographed

For future reflections

Tall ceilings

Are in my life today

Long may that continue

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Café stop for breakfast

Café stop for breakfast

Just like all those years ago

On the way to work at Edwinstowe

Same as it ever was, to the last

The kitchen staff are busy as hell

Doing this, that and the other

Surely grey haired Nellie is the mother

Of the washing up daughter under her spell

And the road, to the race track

Quiet today, but not for long

Sadness, but soon to be a song

All that silent nostalgia; watch my back

Don’t forget fishing men, and holidaymakers

Looking for an early autumn break

With sausage, bacon and steak

A poetry stop with or without any takers

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He strolls across

He strolls across

The cobbled market square

Grey shorts, grey T-shirt, grey hair

She takes his arm, grey dress

But blonde hair, au naturelle

There is no disguise for love

Two construction workers

With boots, beards

And safety vests

While Mrs Robinson plays

On the cafés sound system which acts

As wallpaper for the lunchtime diners

Steak and eggs (two)

With a side of bubble & squeak

Which, probably thanks to ample butter

Is way more than simply delicious

Indeed it must be remembered

And, right here and now, it has been

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In the honeymoon phase

In the honeymoon phase

Of a relationship break-up

Before the house is sold

Or new homes identified

Another café, on another day

In a town

Without any recommendation

Other than the café

In the drilling-down essence

Of two people falling apart

Before new shoots of life

Find their way through the earth

A pair of colour-coded Italian bicycles

With matching mustard-wall tyres

Each have drop handlebars

Although neither is a female frame

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