Poem

an abandoned poem

~

an abandoned poem  (  a  p o e m  )

…



an abandoned poem

no poetry stirs

just letter impressions

where once there were words


perhaps it was madness?

perhaps they're all dead

or fire breathing gypsies

& that's why they fled?


an abandoned poem

no owls here or ghosts

or overgrown ivy

on pillars nor posts


perhaps it was sadness

or wolves prowled along

then feasted all meaning

oh, what here went wrong?


an abandoned poem

with i on my own

the dust here is quiet

i want to go home


so hurry now hurry

leave this place untold

& when you reach safety

then tell not a soul

...

i hope they have solvents in heaven

~

i hope they have solvents in heaven  (  a  p o e m  )

…



oh i hope they have solvents in heaven

real tipex & super-strength glue

the kind where one sniff

sweeps us off in its bliss

oh i hope they do - as do you


oh i hope they have catnip in heaven

& calpol & tixylix-plus

to soften them lulls

as things might get quite dull

oh dear lord, have you thought of us


( ? )


oh i hope they have dossin' in heaven

just fuck all & knockin' around

like daytime t.v

which i love ( secretly )

as well as them saints, shrouds & clouds


& there best be no churches in heaven

if heaven in name's worth its worth

we went through that shite

back when we were alive

to get here - keep that shit on earth


( please )

...

the sheet here

~

the sheet here  (  a  p o e t r y  )

…




forests indoors

& storms in our heads

fields in our straw barns

& gardens in sheds


cobwebs on tongues

& spiders in scrawls

bees not in bonnets

but headscarves & shawls


ants in our pants

our huffs & our rasps

stubbled these palms are

so muddled our grasps


clues say dunno

it's any sod's guess

this is the sheet here

so add your own mess

...

some call it plagiarism …

~

some call it plagiarism  (  a  p o e m  )

…



blink at blank pages on the off-chance

when your eyes open

then they're not blank


poems can tah-dah - suddenly there

writ in an instant

oh but from where


( ? )


blink at blank pages until they aint

white as a snowflaked

first coat of paint


maybe it's pixies, faeries or gnomes

when all is written

claim as your own

...

fall into summer

~

fall into summer  (  a  p o e m  )

…




trip on a cowslip & fall into summer

fumble a stumble, part-cartwheel then under


follow proceedings like willow on leather

float like a ghost or a deft thieving feather


glide for a moment - pretend it's a lifetime

as the bellflower clangs so the wild thyme chimes


swift as that swallow or sting from a nettle

cross every digit then settle on petals

...

shoe-be-do

~

shoe-be-do  (  a  c o n t e m p o r a r y  )

…




mind the skies or you'll feel blue

keep half an eye on your shoes

shift a shuffle - shoe-be-do

leaf a rustle, leave no clues


write a letter everyday

as tongues wag & branches sway

as heels squeak & almost say

dearest red, i'm somewhat grey


hide a lemon from the sun

with a crayon draw a gun

observe mad hares on the run

blow your nose for kingdom come


ride a white harpie or six

pick up sticks - swim in the styx

wear no laces lest you slip

eat your greens or you'll feel sick

...

what to avoid

~

what to avoid  (  a  l i s t  )

…




chickenpox

matching socks

wheres & whats

goldilocks

scheming plots

pentecosts

pandora's

tempting box


axe attacks

holes in sacks

nicks & nacks

paddywhacks

flatpack shat

pavement cracks

asbestos

any tax


hows & whys

howling skies

podgy thighs

porky pies

cheery highs

clocks when wise

hair that just

will not dye


politics

sinking ships

stick to script

improv' tits

scissor kicks

runny shits

( & )

dicks who pen

funny lists

( sorry )

...

actually

~

actually  (  a  p o e t i c a l  )

…





none of these hills

are actually hills

they're huge goosebumps

the wind it chills

this fearful land

this restless still

none of these hills

are actually hills


none of these lakes

are actually lakes

they're big puddles

make no mistake

these things soon build

for fishes sake

none of these lakes

are actually lakes


none of these trees

are actually trees

they're drama students

can't you see?

this wooden cast

of wannabes

none of these trees

are actually trees


( & )

none of this verse

is actually verse

'tis gobshite fare

a gift-stroke-curse

& yet it rhymes

oh aye, terse nurse

none of this verse

is actually verse


( phew )

...