Will they believe us? – Will they believe us when we’re gone? Will they believe how the sun shone through the green-leaf canopy that arched like a cathedral ceiling high above our horizontal eyes? Will they believe how the light shimmered on the trembling diamond leaves of silver birch? Or how every blade of grass […]
Archives: Poems
Dedicated to the staff at Costa Coffee, Merrion Centre, Leeds In this sonnet, I celebrate the baristas that work so hard to make our coffee and give us a place to go to work, meet friends, relax, people-watch, build relationships, etc. Without these everyday heroes, people like myself wouldn’t have a safe and comfortable place […]
I You shine bright alright – But it’s a cold and languid light; A bit like moonlight, But not quite right. At least the moon has a purpose – You’re just shite. II I would have given you my last penny But the hole in your soul Swallowed it whole; I watched my penny roll […]
Once, I had a friend called Hilda — At least, I think that’s how it was, The memory has grown dim now Like faces through the window fog. And, even then, I hardly knew Enough to capture her whole life In words that only dull the hue Of her raindrop-refracted light. Life is far too […]
A real witch won’t tell you she’s a witch Twine and needle – sew me a stitch But you’ll know her when you see her One-a stitch, two-a stitch, three… She’ll root you to the floor with nothing more Four-a stitch, five-a stitch, six… Than a lock of hair and kindling sticks Seven… eight.. nine… […]
Each country has its history, Its cultures, and its mysteries. Some good, some bad; some pride, some shame. Someone once asked: “What’s in a name?” My country’s name, it means a lot – If I don’t love England, what have I got? This country is my motherland, She cradled me in her two hands. I […]
‘The heart doesn’t live here anymore’ – Read the note pinned on his door. I pulled it down and traced the words With my cold, white index finger, Then folded it and slipped it in My inside jacket pocket. I’m not sure why I did that, Or what it would achieve, But, somehow, it felt […]
Dedicated to Margaret Atwood (obvs) I wonder if that cat would like Margaret Atwood Like Margaret Atwood likes the cat. Would The cat write Margaret Atwood In a series of cat poems (Dedicated to cat-lovers, Cat friends, And cat others)? Owing to the knowing That cats write cat koans, Would the poem about Margaret Keep […]
They said I couldn’t drink no more And I assumed an air of surprise. I said “Ooh, I better pack it in then!” But that was just a pack of lies. As soon as I left the clinic, I went round to my local shop, Bought a litre bottle of rum, Took it home and […]
A poem for alcoholics A drink would be niceTo kickstart my dayA small glass of vinoTo make these tremors go away I’ll pop to the shopFor a bottle of wineNo one will even noticeAnd it’s already half-past nine Get out my favourite glassPour a sensible measureThey do it on the continentIt’s a harmless pleasure Oh […]