A little man sat by my bed
As I lay there full of dread
I said "Do you ever sleep?"
The sight of him just made me weep

He lifted up his little cap
Then asked me what I thought of that
I said "Why don't you go away
And not come back another day"

Keith  Wilson.  Windermere.  UK  2017.

The eleventh of May
The date of today
Was the day of the birth
On this fortunate earth
Of a poet of note
Of Keith Wilson I speak
Published, prolific
Read in the cities
Read on the beach
On tablets and towers
They love his technique
From gardens and flowers
To departures and grief
His readers rejoice and celebrate
This wholly happy date

Sean Hunt

Weather hot
but cloudy
News headline:
'A bronze statue
has been switched
for a cheaper model'

I've been to doctors, opticians
pharmacy and hospital
All in one week
Hoping next week will be quieter

I  lie  peacefully  in  Iquez  Military  Cemetery.
Near  Arras  N­orthern  France

They  say  I  was  a  very  remarkable  soldier.­
From  the  First  World  War.

I  was  born  in  Brighton  Engla­nd.
And  later  joined  a  Yorkshire  regiment.

So  it  was  str­ange  that  I  had  to  die.
in  a  Scottish  regiment.

Never  m­ind  those  days  are
now  long  gone

Keith  Wilson  Windermere ­ UK  2016.

Now it's hibernating time
which is fine
I'm so tired I could sleep
on my feet
standing up
like Maggie's happy horse

Its a high spring

summer morning

the Daffodils  have been nice

now its the blossom

that's lighting up the countryside

I've been for an operation

so I must take it easy

in the coming weeks

The garden will soon be in full bloom

as summer comes

KEITH WILSON

On my holiday
I went to visit a cave

I was a bit apprehensive
but, tongue in cheek, I went inside

It was a large cave,
you almost needed a map

Feeling my way
I just hoped I wouldn't fall

It turned out ok

To  my  home  there  on  the  hilltop.
To  my  home  there  by  the  dale.
To  that  place  which  is  a  part  of  me.
One  day  I  know  I'll  sail.

I'll  step  off  the  ships  forever.
And  I'll  sail  no  more  the  seas..
When  I  answer  yet  the  sirens.
Of  my  homeland  calling  me.

Keith  Wilson.  Windermere.  UK  2016.

Burst into the room  
cool blood dripping from the vein
friend said: "Enigma"

The Hostas
are flowering
well
this year
don't always do

It's blistering hot
Here in England
No time to
Acclimatise

The  weather  very  hot.
Like  standing  over  a  melting  ***.

The  gardens  oh  so  dry
suffering  under  a  cloudless  sky.

The  English  Lakes.
Warmest  place  in  Britain.

Keith  Wilson.  Windermere.  UK.  2018.

Blistering hot the other day
Humid heavy air
I prayed to the heavens
For more pleasant weather
And I thank the Lord
For making it cooler
And more bearable
Praise the Lord
You answered my prayers

I had the privilege
of the first house - fly
of the season
last Sunday
A sign of things to come

The Hydrangeas bushes
I see from my window
are a vivid blue color
Hot and humid today
so they do stand out

By the way
some Hydrangeas
are pink
The colors seem to come
from different soil conditions

I can't be bothered
with life
It's age
Isn't it?

Or could it be the weather?

Beware of this day
We need to be nervous
Julius Caesar was assassinated
Two hundred sailors drowned
in a cyclone
which Sank their warships
In 1952 Large amounts of rain
fell on a French island
in the Indian Ocean
I was in Egypt at the time
Sinai desert
No rain

Been  away  for  7  weeks.
Glad  to  be  back.
I  am  so  touched people
have  missed  my  poetry.
hope  you  have  been  doing  well.
Many  thanks  again.
Take  care.

Keith  Wilson.  Windermere.  UK  2017.

Dark days again
Noisy in here today
resting on the spine of my book
my head's in a spin
making things impossible

I met a man yesterday
He was a large man
with the sort of outdoor face
you might find
on a mountain
He asked about a destination
I believe I sent him the wrong way
I'm so sorry

I was innocently sat on the straw
in Egypt
under the sun
when a mirage
suddenly appeared
Very vivid!
Then suddenly
it was finite

I stood on the steps of our mansion
Hazel was busy doing the garden
She found a bird’s nest in the bushes
She finished folding the groundsheet
which was a relief to one and all

The old barn owl was on the wing
in line with the moon's shadow

I followed without a whisper
until he settled, in a nearby tree

I went to the doctor today
and he wasn't in

I tossed a silver coin
which spilled across the floor
into the speck of dust
I told my lover
it was over

It's  raining.
What  a  lovely  morning
after  all  that  sun.
The  Mallard  ducks  are  out.
I  can  breathe  again..
It  became  too  warm.

Keith  Wilson.  Windermere.  UK.  2016.

The jackdaws
are noisy
today
They like to rule the roost

Very aggressive birds
even with their own partners
The evil squawk
reminds me of witches and death
They are constantly chasing
small birds away
They fight for position
whilst trying to bathe
in the fountain
They fight for scraps of food
lying around

Keith.
Keith the gardener, Keith the poet,
Keith with the infectious smile, Keith with the load of worries,
Keith of the lost loves, Keith of the quirky turn of phrase,
Keith who could always come up with a title -
Keith, we shall remember you well.
Hugs all round,
Janet

It's a nice January morning
after the overnight hard frost

John the postman
is a cheerful chap
although
he once hurt his back

He brings the mail
dead on time
whether it's wet
or whether it's fine

He trundles along
in his little red van
and he's always there
to help if he can

But I can sit and dream a while
about her and her perfect smile
Yes I can be in my dreams
and watch her dance
between moonbeams
Her golden silken hair all free
as she comes
and walks by me
I see her smile
and laugh along
and listen as she
sings her song
No one can
compete for her
forever there
A part of me until I die
seen by my third eye

Keith has gone
He has passed on
a week ago
I am letting everyone know
His fellow poets in Windermere
will publish a few new poems here

Keith has done his rain dance
No more fun in the sun
Too much time in Egypt
until the war was done

Rain rain rain aplenty
all the drains are running empty
Like Santa's Rudolph always prancing
I will keep on rain dancing

The roofers are banging up above
making it stressful for the poets
We tremble with all the kerfuffle

As the roofers trail through the muddy garden
we wonder when they will be finished
As of now it is indefinite

Keswick to Kendal by bus
Boarded at Keswick
few people aboard
lovely and peaceful
just watching
as the amazing scenery goes by
At Ambleside things change dramatically
an army of unruly schoolchildren
arrive onboard
The whole journey turns into a nightmare
I was glad when we reached sunny Kendal

I've  always  been  a  ladies  man.
I  think  they  are  truly  great.
But  they  always  seem  to  die  on  me.
That  seems  to  be  my  fate.

Their  courage  and  bravery  is  unsurpassed.
Much  stamina  they  have  got.
They  seem . to  accept  things  more  than  men.
And  put  up  with  their  lot.

What  they  lack  in  muscle  power.
His  made  up  with  mental  strength.
To  fight  the  pain  of  childbirth.
They  will  go  to  any  length.

So  don't  knock  them  fellows.
They  will  always  be  there  for  you.
And  if  you  treat  them  properly.
They'll  remain  loving  kind  and  true.

Keith  Wilson.  Windermere.  UK.  2016.

When  you  go  down  there.
The  settings  so  grand.
And  you  might  see  my  friend  there.
Playing  in  his  band.

The  sun  minting  coins
on  the  surface  is  grand.
Casting  shadows
across  on  the  land.

The  setting  so  grand  there.
And  fills  you  with  hope.
In  this  mad  world.
It  helps  you  to  cope.

Keith  Wilson.  Windermere.  UK. 2017.

An eerie mist descends
just above the water level
as daylight begins to fade
All the trees are bare
and the ancient mountains
are stubbornly standing there
All the boats are in shore
having their winter makeover
Odd flickers of light
quickly come and go
adding to the mystery
of those who have perished there
in Lake Windermere

I walked the garden long in late evening
The sun was casting shadows on the rooftops
The garden sparkled from the raindrops after overnight rain
Everything feeling quite peaceful

Leaves on a sloping grassy bank
appear to look like
an armada of ships
menacingly
travelling along

The  leaves  now  saying
a  sad  farewell.

To  the  trees  they
have  adorned  so  well.

Yes,  autumn  glory  is  here.

Keith  Wilson.  Windermere.  UK.  2017.

Another  day  is  over.
Another  day  is  done.
This  week  went  past  so  quickly.
This  week  went  by  so  fast.
My  life  has  gone  so  quickly.
Old  men  told  me  so.
And  now  I  tell  the  young  men.
That  life  to  quickly  goes.

Keith  Wilson.  Windermere.  UK.  2016.

I  read  a  obituary  in  the  newspaper.
Of  a  long  lost  friend.

It  hit  me  off  the  page.
Like  an  arrow  through  my  heart.

Keith  Wilson.  Windermere.  UK.  2016.

I met some Chinese
on my walk today
They seemed lost

I was so sad to see you go

But that was what you wanted

I saw you sadly to your train
Knowing I’d never see you again.

No farewell kiss
No tender hug

Just a heart of pain
And a waiting train.

We hadn’t long together

Just a few short weeks

But as your train speeds fast away
I’ll remember them forever.

Keith  Wilson
2003

(published in 'Love and Life')

I'm  in  the  room  in  which  she  slept.
With  a  pool  of  tea­rs  she  wept.

I  find  a  letter  she  left  for  me.
its  a  l­etter  I  really  don't  want  to  see.

she'll  only  want  to  say  good­bye.
Which  almost  certain  will  make  me  cry

I,ll  put  the ­ letter  safe  away.
To  read  upon  some  future  day.

When  th­e  memory's  diminished  in  my  soul.
And  her  memory  fading  ­old.

Keith  Wilson  Windermere  UK  2016.

Is it really over
Has your love died
Is it the end of the line

Do you not need me
No part of me
Is it really over

Our love once was strong
I thought it was forever
Is it the end of the line

When love was new
I just thought of you
Is it really over

We met in the park
Just before dark
Is it the end of the line

When you were gone
I tried to move on
Is it really over
Is it the end of the line

It was quite a shock
seeing the lovely artwork
of a luminous train
with all the strange syllables
across the bottom edge