We talked for an hour,
She had a single tear below her eye
She wasn’t sad but astute
As she asked what and why

We were the pugilists,
She the referee,
It was no tear but a blemish,
An old injury.

I listened to you both,
Expressing your views,
And, in my silence,
I examined your shoes.

Then it was my turn;
I spoke what was true.
It was the truth I spoke
To her and to you.

Then our time was over,
No more debate,
No more apologizing in advance,
No more to relate.

So we stepped into tomorrow,
Now sure of what to do
And, look, I - I have fallen in love again
Unfortunately for you.

When next I see you,
I shall say nothing
Not that I have nothing to say.

When next I see you,
I shall feel nothing
Not that I have nothing to feel.

I shall not let words or feelings
Interrupt our communion

When you were young,
I played with you,
I read to you,
I tucked you in.

When you were older
I spoke words you enjoyed
I expressed feelings you understood

But, no, I shall say nothing,
I shall feel nothing,
It may only last a moment.

It will mean everything

All along the river bank
Where the water-crowfoot grow,
There are creatures scurrying back and forth,
Excited, they seem to know

On the winding waterway
The oarsman ploughs a furrow
As his canoe pushes swiftly homeward
As if there’s no tomorrow

Busy workers in the city
Run like ants, hither thither to and fro
They bump into each other, get up, say sorry
And then have another go

The lonely farmer in his tractor
Is going as fast as he can
But there is long meandering queue behind him
A lorry, several cars and a van

The postmistress in the village
Is suddenly rushed off her feet
As all her customers descend upon her
And buy stamps by the sheet

That is the cause of this frenetic activity?
What is the reason for all this fuss?
The word is on everyone’s lips
The word is Christmas

On the morning of Christmas Day
The children wake to feel weight on their feet
A stocking full of presents
With an orange or chocolates to eat

Soon the turkey is in the oven
And crackers on the table
Uncle Tom and Auntie Flo arrive
Along with cousin Mabel

But do not forget on this special day,
The homeless out in the cold
Or the people ill in hospital
Their stories need to be told

Pause for a moment to remember
To venture outside your door
And share with your fellow beings
Some time, food and drink and more

Shall we leave them to it now
And watch from some faraway star?
All the gaiety fun and laughter
On the best day of the year  - by far!

Where do I go from here?
Floating down and standing tall.
Sinking without fear,
Pushing away from the wall.

Where do we go from here?
Circling each other on the border,
Never standing too near,
Never crossing the water.

Where do I go from here?
Deeper, longer, stronger than before
Holding on to a breath of air,
Longing for my feet to touch the floor.

Where do we go from here?
Down below or up above?
Maybe I should stay down there,
Waiting for you.

Before midnight, I slept quite well.
This filthy disease kept away
It suited me to shake hands and smile
And occasionally roll in the hay.

Then the daylight disappeared
And slowly darkness fell
I grew tired but I was spared
The ****** descent into Hell.

I pulled the curtains across
I locked the doors
I lived life at a loss
What was it all for?

Because soon enough it was night
Deep dark black skies
I no longer slept
Could not close my eyes

Now they are open
And I can see
What it is like to be broken
What it is like to be me

What is it like to be free?
Trapped in a world of my own?
What is it like to be me
Broken and alone?

****
****
****
****

Follow me across fields
Whistle through flat leaves
While I spread blankets and honey

Follow me into blindness
As we stumble in our search
For elastic money

Follow the scratch of my pen
As it records stories of battles fought and forgiven

Follow me to the top of the tower
Leap into the empty air
Of heaven

Follow me in your blue dress and leave it next to mine  
Folded in sin

Follow me into the smoke of cigarettes
And watch as coins bounce and spin

Follow me and dance with one hand on your side
As fingers click.


Follow me and all this you shall see and hear
As the seconds tick

Follow me

Whisper it in the breeze,
As it rushes through time;
Say it in the way you smile,
As you swallow your wine.

This gamut of emotions
Which teaches us each day,
Each hour, each minute to learn
How to kneel and to pray.

I found tonight true friendship,
So simple, so pure;
I discovered its hidden secret,
Its mysterious allure.

So come, follow me,
Come join the wars of the past.
Fill up those heaving body bags
Until it is over at last.

I am too tired to elucidate.
How much time is left to me?
All I can do is write these words
And count from one to three.

Whisper it in the breeze
As those who came before have done.
Say it in the way you smile,
As you swallow the crumb.

Take off my shoes, my socks,
My crumpled suit and tie.
Begin to play as we used
When we had no need to die.