A Quiet Road (where once there was hell)

there are pine trees down this way
and though tall, their heads bow down
pity for the madness
that painted once this ground
this forest now is quiet
save voices on the wing
but never do these pines forget
the screams upon the wind

Pillow Book

open wide your pillow book
and on its pages write my name
that I may such dreams inspire
and inscribed pleasures to attain

so when we wake, as leather bound
with your fingers still ink stained
you shall reach to touch my waking
our tale then writ, poetry framed

A Rose No More

her thorns snapped away
and perhaps she looked the same
though a rose no more

contemplation

what use versed philosophy
for we destined as dust
flesh that’s cursed to turn to ash
consciousness to rust?
the reason then is fleeting salve
a balm impermanent
to make from rhyme a reason
for our transcience.

Waiting for Butterflies

in these stone sarcophagi
wrapped mortality
waiting for the soul to fly
in colours bright and free
across the azure summer sky
on wings of angels breath
the emergent butterfly
this conquerer of death

Still Life (incomplete sketch)

how still held the air tonight
no breath upon the trees
what god of the elements
denied the evening breeze?

for in the wind the forest dance
entertains the throng
and life emerges from its sleep
to join the breeze in song.

A Memory

his heart then was pure
as were his boathouse poems
stained by summer rain

The Knocker-Upper Song

I am the knocker-upper
my knock-up pole is long
and as I go round knocking-up
I sing my little song

second verse, same as the first…

ohhh, I am the knocker-upper
my knock-up pole is long
and as I go round knocking-up
I sing my little song

repeat until all of the town is knocked up…

Give Me; Verse One

give me liberty, give me cake
give me peace for heaven’s sake
give me love on records round
give me half a million pounds
give me cats to purr at night
give me walks in pale moonlight
give me bread and lentil stew
but above all please give me you

Consomnio

I dreamt so far,
from the edge of the world
I slipped away
a waterfall into nothingness
from where no traveller
may return
with stories to tell….

…save “here be dragons”