Uniform

The day begins
With the delivery man
Good looking letters
Arriving in the post
The day is bathed
In the sun of June
Good looking lawns
Stretch to the water

Listen to the buzzing-bee
Listen to the chaffinch
Shadows aren't all we see
As we watch the dragonfly
Stamp this moment
Label it at least once more
Blow away the dust
Eradicate the cobwebs

Love is as lovers do; so say thanks
That she asked to marry you
Look on down the line
Look back to the doorstop
Say thanks for her loving you
Say thanks for the morning

Available on Kindle

Seat Towards the Water

The old silver-birch
Its leaves, tilted by the breeze
As though the time had come
To wave brightly at the blue sky

The groundsman
He has done the groundsman's job
As though knowing of my nostrils needs
For the tinge of newly-mown grass

The blackbird soars
In a territory of its own making
As if to take me back to the stories
Of Jonathan Livingston Seagull

I am also conscious that flies
And midges share this space
As if they had been invited
By the sounds of the bullfrog

You are on the steps
Saying goodbye to the scouser
As if your empathy with mankind
Could become never-ending

And of course the butterfly
All dressed in cream & damsel
As if the meadows are about to beckon
With the flight, and call, of the partridge

Available on Kindle

Start Again

There is a roof light
Yet it is the electric light
Whose glow is cast
Onto the vase of flowers
The candles
At either side of the mirror
An awkward height for lighting
Or for light to go into the bedroom
A place I can sort of see
Through a glass panelled door
With engravings of pheasants
Where more light is flowing
Artificial, ruby red light
And white, natural daylight
The night-time is over
The morning is with us
I can hear the birds
I can hear the gas boiler
All seemed clearer
Yesterday, though without
Wine and conversation
It becomes more difficult
Today, to piece together
The many divergent strands

Available on Kindle

Ruling Class - Working Class

Distinguished guests
Also Those Less Distinguished

We welcome you
Please help the world
Forget past hatreds, also wrongdoings

Search out peace
And peaceful propaganda
Be thankful, for food on the table

Be mindful
Of wine, women & song
Follow the shadows, through the gardens

Watch the waves
Of the summer leaves
Say hello to you, say thank you to yourself

For these are the better days
After the Good Year for the Roses

Available on Kindle

Your Castle Awaits You

On the top
Up above Alston Moor
Away from the river
Away from the bridge
On the floor of the valley

I sit, I think
It's a thinking sitting thing
We drink champagne
We drink gin
It's a gin & champagne thing

Available on Kindle