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Michael John Oct 2018
a sophisticated double negative
ensues a devastating clarity..
and a few lines on a train
why comely

fine england
touched by an
autumnal wand..
song

to barren sparkle
gold the shiver from
the gods..
(prom
around the bend
come by dream´ s winter..!!!)

astrix..a child´´ s poem..another
good one from twigzy..
Michael John Jan 2019
i


a strange time
but the same
all the same
i still miss
red wine
how i loved
that abandoned
safe spacing
lifting of pain
a button
in my brain
clicking off
or on
here am i
again..!

ii

i would read
the russians
their suffering
brought solace
so understanding
drink and lie in bed
clair de la lune
thank you


iii

a)

auntie mabel
said
they
would
hang me..

being
from
wales
poetically

a lilting
prophesy
(a prediction
common
among family)

b)

i was bemused at
the time
we sat in the bar
red wine

dribbled off her
chin
hang me..
why..

she said she knew
not why-
why is a sin
i was eleven
or ten..
Michael John Jan 2022
(as we get older
our childhood
returns somehow
rainbow:)

i have an urge to
climb a tree
perhaps,an agave
as it toppled by
threre would be
my best work
i know me..
Michael John Dec 2023
a throne..

iii

one of our favourite stories
was the emperors new clothes
the foolhardiness of adults

their vanity and pomposity
their gullibility o
look at me!

parading by
look at the emperor
his suit is so fine, see!?

i should say!
he was starkers?!
(the herd..)

it takes a child to
speak the truth
to say the blinding

obvious-
the emperor was
en deshabille..!!?

(meanwhile..on their
sunbeds
two swarthy  tailors slept..)
Michael John Apr 2024
i

a time of learning..
and incredulity..
a time of non stop

blah-blah-blah..!
how it could be?
how a stone goes plop!

in the cool pool of time
and washes your life up
on some distant shore..

where you stagger about
sea **** in your ear
salted with doubt!

(like a bunny-hop..)
and you think well i never
saw that coming..

ii

and you sit minding
your own
(maybe a little ******!)

and come it done-
(everyone knew but you)
and that was the end..
Michael John Jan 2019
a

auntie mable said to me
said they would hang me..

coming from wales
and poetically placed

(her lilting prophesy
common amid family..)

b

i was bemused at the time
we sat in the bar..red wine

dribbled off her chin
she ****** back in

hang me why
she knew not why

why is a sin
why is a sin boy..
Michael John Aug 2017
the summer is coming to a finish
the anti-bite sits golden..

the dwindling at the sand-
an extra blanket at hand..

the blue swallow flies south
scattered showers on red roof..

we breath relief..
cool the devil´s tooth..

then sad au revoirs
see you next year..!

the air picks at us..
but soon dry our tears..
Michael John Dec 2018
i


a walk about towns
lily be crowned
great godess
to bed airwares on..parenthesis
perchance to dream in
splendour and innocence..
shared the family of man
when more is less..
when we live free of fear
and intimidation
when violence against
women
be uncommon..
we safe in our home
where human rights
exist..
for everyone
where we own
ourselves
body and soul..

ii

a little bird sings
outside her window
through the pale
dawn´ s light..

she says in oblivion
where she does not
know
where there´ s a
way..

iii

where we on a wing
where love the day
where night bring
hope so..

where the moment
the pauses
truth our meditations
and free lost cause

where equalities
where dreams
like sheep count
she smiles..

iv

where concord is
obvious and profound
like the blue bus
lily laughs..exclamation

like a little bird..
tucks her head
turns and goes
on in search

of the right word
the juste mot
where we like ourselves
o she says
the music stopped..
Michael John Jul 2024
a wee misplacement on the right-
a stretch put right
and into the box!

spinning on a dime
after deft a touch
(we held our breath)

a moment of pure zen!
the ball and net were one!
the silence of the gods-

the beauty of stone
o where have we been?
the love of albion..

in the last of time
rapture abounding-
glory glory-ollie watkins..!
Michael John Jan 2022
barter has been replaced
by the corner shop
the corner shop by the supermarket
by a piece of plastic
ain ´t life fantastic?
Michael John May 2023
i

*******!-lily broke  a boot
lace..
a newt-like despondent
face

racked to the very
core
she wobbles to the utility
draw-

(first a  **** upon
the mead-)
-batteries,string,
beads


pens and pencils
copper
post card
cassete-the cure

a skewer for
potatoes
egg timer
timeless

plenty of fluff
dust
mastermind
cusses-

ii

the string hangs
in indecision
consider a
bangle

kicked and bangs
the woodwork at
an incongruous
angle

iii

on the table
meanwhile,
her solitary
boot sits
like me-
a hole for a
sole,
hung with a
lost
tongue,
kind of old
and worn
frayed and
torn
but optimistic
like crows
neither black nor
white..
we will wait..

iv

an adagio for string(s)
folded in two
love becomes
one

she looks like cloud(s)
is there enough to
go round?
always..

samuel barber
Michael John Nov 2018
be a poet or not
do or delete
amount
the same
a hill of beans

plus
or subtract
abstract
a drop in

the ocean
to hung
purple
naked

from
a nearby
pole
dark as a coal

by the moon
upside
down
or a nice

cup of tea
not really
much difference
older one is

ii

why sail it into
an iceburg..
leonardo would
never be allowed
into first class
that kind of spoilt
it..
love may transcend
the class barrier
but not a skanky irish
artist..
still,kate was game..

iii

love will transcend
anything
this is patiently
obvious..

excuse me
this rather bland
observation
and a rather

bad..
i am smashed
excuse me
go at the irish..

gosh.
when it comes
to that..
yes
love will transcend..!
Michael John Mar 2020
beaten by the machine
my heart wear thin
never fear wise hearts
there is always the sun
* by the stranglers
Michael John Nov 2019
be careful heart you know the drill
those that make infinite
hole
that burn and tear years on

those that join up great continent
in between all space and will
stolen
my heart done-

for!
those who take for sport
those who can´t help it
those who will be caught
those who are just bored


those permanently ******
those dentists
those oil merchants
those experiments

in forgetfulness
those who walk through doors
those who soar
those who die

but pick and shovel
from one side to t´other
beware!beware!
small time

thunderbirds
the collectors
more holes than
blackburn lancashire

who wait for a knock
on their faces more
who store away tears
along with all the rest..
Michael John Jan 21
because i have no need
except to eat
and the elements at bay

keep..
some human exchange
would be nice

a safe enviroment in which
to be-a nice cup of tea
and a twix o

(habitual me..)
i need nothing
that is suffice..
Michael John May 2020
before the woman runs home
shouting are you home
before the begun to turn
us..

not before breakfast
but at the split awakening
became a distant end
on the magical bus..

now and then my friend
i played my part i did my
bit
i have learned to cuss..
Michael John Jul 2023
i)

being corrupt has
it´s moments
all is lies cheating
hypocrisy-

and ha-ha but-
lily chews her
way through a
sunday morning

space cookie-
here she pauses
to clean her gum
and ****

her finger-without
the dissolute  there would be
no good
we can not have god

without the devil
without doubt
no faith
no hate-no love..

ii

life or death,
the world belonged
to itself
the bugs and-

(i preferred her
silent)
-a dream as yet
undreamt..

iii

creation a single note
maybe A flat-i mean,
have you walked down
the high street

lately..?!

iv

paradise to the fast food
slice
clear water to plastic

poison from the very skies-
(no wonder we are sick)
fries

fall deafening
man cries-
why..
Michael John Oct 2023
i

between three never has
rhythm been so syncopated
lily says,the cramps kick ***?!
(like a bad girl should..)

paul explores space and time
and between us
alternative realities bristle
and fizzle..

we join hands and circle
our sensibilities do
the serotonin stomp-
o om!

ii

dirac ambles to a book
begins on page one
lily with jazz hands a-
fluttering

goes over and says
you like bukowski?
eh?hes a ***** old man
but sometimes very beautiful-

simple-comes and goes i take
no interest in fashion
love is a dog from hell..
borrow it..paul..
Michael John Aug 2020
i

books are much!
long lost
tactile friend

of the mind
and heart-
touch

to thought..
now and then
always

they be
full of
everything!

why
why not
mayhap..

ii

i buy a book at the market
there is much to consider
(in no set
order)

(lily bathes in stilled
cores)
odor
or

art work on the
cover
author

dedication
to lover
marker

a flower
telephone
numbers

some accounts
to daddy
love jimmy

christmas
1955
preface

underlined
die
print

ing
bind
in
­
condition
not in
cost

17 shillings..
by the same
similar

50 cent
lent
library

newmarket
bankok
hostels

bantam
puffin
pengui­n

mm
7 reprints
have i read

these
save
trees

a bar
a beach
strange thread..
Michael John Sep 2021
boring..
(don´t know my verbs
from my nouns..)
earthling!?-

one per cent of
americans say they
have been abducted
by aliens-

interesting..
who were the more
nonplussed-
EARTHLING!!?

with thousands of years
of civilization behind
they probed their ****
what did they find..?
Michael John Dec 2018
breathing is difficult
wanting not to
is hard..

but i am built
to last
word..

i have good ****
for my hip
and dickey heart..

and music
and eat
chips

and salt
and vinegar
soul food..!
cheers to mia..
Michael John May 2024
but not so much
the pit and the pendulum
(i can get slow torture
any old time..)

poe, we have a guest-
he does n´t like people
(i wonder who does)
he sees all-!

he sees the dark and light
but cares for neither
dull are opels bright
in his eye-fevers

like the star and half moon..
what is it you want?
to write and be a poet-
and you-a musician..
Michael John Nov 2018
ii


but then i flicked it
off a nearby stick
and danced to some
music
on some skanky
blanket
of grey
and love
thus relieving
the boredom
and stress
fear
etc..
paint and not
there oh therre
so i enjoyed
there and gods
smiled down..
Michael John Feb 2024
by..
lily´s sigh
ephemeral

(beryl the peril
style)
paul-

you say science explains
the complex simple
and poetry makes

the simple complex?
what is yours
is yours

and what is mine
is mine
and all..

(where did that packet
of papers get to..?)
ay there is so much

blurb
best not think too
much

try be merciful
and love
not as simple

as science or
poetry
look what they

done to us
painbirds
o cry butterfly..
Michael John Aug 2017
i said to myself again and again
i will never drink again..never..
not now..but until then..
i will have a good time..!

dutch bob would say
alcohol is sneaky
(had i been a bottle of
beer i would have felt guilty..)

he would throw back his
great viking head and sing
tom dooley..early morns-
cognac beer and backgammon..
Michael John Dec 2024
i

can you see now
why we hated you
in retrospect..

the greed and corruption..
ah,the 1980´s..
i was young

ii

on the south side of crete
young and innocent
people from all around

the world-
cheap wine and time
it was fun..
Michael John Jan 2022
can you think of an instance
when you can go somewhere
else

you probably can
but you can´t
is nt life quaint..?
Michael John Aug 2023
i

certain times of day
i do the same things
my old lady says
i am a creature of

habit-silly rabbit,
she also says
and ******-what
ever that means..

mad
as
a
boiled owl..

(expression from a
new found land)
love is cruel
never mind..


ii

but i do rise at
8 30
and read till
9 30
breakfast at
10..

and play my scales
till
half past
then wash up

and then go down the
supermarket
return and
cook

at 12 30 i play an
hour-
giuliani is hot
on the books..!

lunch at
1 30
today is spaghetti
and chilled

gazpacho
watch a movie
and doze
read..

at 4
sweep the floor
water the jazz
pet the cats..
Michael John Aug 2023
certain times of day
are more auspicious
sisters/brothers-

to be the natural man
inside
ebb and flow  

the tides
-the sun
-the moon

and the stars
mapped our way
our destiny recognised..
Michael John Aug 2023
certain times of the day,
say i am older,
time no longer plays,
a care free aire-

some times a dirge,say,
twenty past the hour,
stinted and grey,
sweet yet sour..
Michael John Aug 2017
i loved buk* from the get-go
thank you lizzie from norway
do not lose them *******
you would say..

notes of a ***** old man
and factotem-
i remember them..
through him i liked poetry..

some may say adolescent
but he made so love..
and in post office
when an alsation

smells his ****,
we are all transported
to heaven..!
he threatened his audience..

who the hell is tom jones..

ii

well,lizzie, i lost them..
and losing borrowed books
were we in hell..
i lent them to some one who

swore the same..i hear your laugh!
he had a head on in the dark
he broke his leg and his friend
broke his arm..

the books were gone..
stupid **** you would say
i recall you big honest grin..
you said you liked me..

because i never turned down
a drink..
if this was irony
it was lost on me..lol..

so the books picked up
by some one passing
and loved and cherished
just like i do  you now..

changing lives and growing love..
i thought about you..
when they carried each other
past to the bathroom..

just drunk and fine!
while we looked on
thanks for lending me
them...

iii

lily say something
she is busy reading
the rats by james herbert..

a late sixties horror classic
every one gets it..
the rat is so deep in our pscyche
these one´s are wise

too..dog size..packs..
they have the taste
for human flesh..
it is early days..

it is a secret
a scratch causes
death
within 24 hours..

it is herberts way
this is a real period piece
a simple style
we had a national health

system..last remnents
of a great empire..
a working class
rats..are..eating..people...

in amongst our order
be it puppy baby
school boy
mary..

they are slashing and
pulling cheeks away..
i do skip bits..where

is the wine..

astrix

charles bukowski..
Michael John Aug 2017
chopin, verily is dying
in the love of full moon
in sigh of summer breeze
a last glance into her eyes..

stranglers is a living
saturday night and *******
deep dark winter
a quiet cold brain..
Michael John Jun 2024
clever, this is one
of those words
i have never done-

my shoulders touch
my ears and i look
into the void-

if you can explain time
or talk your way out
of a beating

then who am i to say..
if you can do the latter
by the former..then..

ii

then ..hats off..
i mourn the demise of
the hat-

a hat might
explain time or..
or not..
Michael John May 2020
clowns with fake bells
your name
what to tell
a game..

what a ******* hell
no particular aim
say well
the blame

lies well
lame
jester bell
love wains

hate swells
what a dame
he fell..
(fake dumb bells..)
Michael John Jul 2024
come on happy?!
let´s go for a walk-
it´s a lovely day!
-though you don´t
deserve it
after last night´s
performance..

leave it out!
passive/aggressive xxxx
the state of my head..watch?!
i can hardly wag my tail..
you go-
i´ll dream of the innocent..
i´ll lie and twitch..
Michael John Jul 2024
i

come on now hap
i have to go into the pound
shop-one of these days!?

h-yeah.. dystopia is a head
gp-we never had pound shops
when i was young-

h-o god!
and a young brando in
a street car-materialism was

the kindness of strangers-
not-look at cosmetics-!
all we had was brute-

or west for the more sophisticated..
now look at this land fill-
now,what did i want..?

ii

a home and a happy family
i suppose-sir...sir..!?
your dog is urinating on the floor..

happy?!sorry i lost it there..
outside..!your grounded mister-
h-que sera,sera..
Michael John Sep 2018
i

coming splintered across the
crossing they compared
telephones and i recalled
how we exchanged
our playing cards..

some were stills from the
b movies popular in the
day others potrayed the
sadistic and others were
popular football players..

i suspect not much has
changed
they made it safetly
across and
a pigeon shat quite near..

ii

i hope i will
die as quietly
as a mouse

all in my still
beady
eyes

my love til
the last thump
of my little

heart and
kind time
be

to sweet whim
wild and loving
as been

and to come
see
and still seeing..
Michael John Jun 2024
consistant like a snake
begging for change
what is in the store-
war..

you want what´s mine
you want it all
it is just your way-
war

it is inevitable or
such
what a bore!-
war..

look at the past
look to the future
a dying bird-
war..

it is the truth
or lie
on it´s ****** way-
war..
Michael John Jan 22
correlation:the relationship
between two or tragedy
adds lily-

the trick is to recall her
first smile or an old
melody-

your song by elton
-or some dirge
by the lake´s side

picnic..
lemonade and tongue
or cyanide..

well,i say i could not
live without her
and god knows it´s

hard to live with her
changes and choice
take your pick
Michael John Dec 2022
i

dahab now, there was
little town
with  big heart

carpeted and corral
a breezy crown
laughing hearts

nice tea
hashish and
camels

it is simple
and relaxed..
dry..

ii

i settled in
with the bedouin
little goats

traipsed-by
golly, the sea
was blue

nearly died..
i can´t recall
me

but i guess
it is still as
beautiful
dear crow,
did n´t your mother ever say
never love a stranger, boy-

for they are here
and they are not here
like a favourite toy

something can´t remember
they will pull your wings away
and smile askance as you fall

cry outside their door
caw into a letter-box
take their underwear

they are not here..
not for nothing they care
not here..
never love a stranger is a novel by harold robbins..
Michael John Aug 2024
did i sleep?
i had a dream
i had a dream
and you were in

it..or i dreamed
i was deaming
or dreamig or
you know

what i mean-(i will
awake in a minute!)
i kept saying-wake up!
to you but you said
i am already..

you are dreaming
well,that is odd
i said-look the chip pan
is smoking!there will
not be time-you said
you held my hand..

up is a problem but we
calmly watched as the flames
engulfed all around us..
it was kind of boring..
you said i know write a poem..
and a rodent whispered to them
love everyone..
Michael John Jan 2019
i



did you know lily
it is impossible to think
in english

logically
that is
difficult

but not
impossible-
eg

to be has 21
distinct meanings
and every one

false to fact..
(what ever
that means..)

answers on
a ciber
postcard..
Michael John Oct 2018
division is the topic
under discussion
one can never
(sic)

be greedy enough
discuss..
(babylon by bus*)
our heart a daisy

one to marvel at
on a busy highway
grown fat and pretty
through the tarmac..

nourished be our root
blue and wise the
firmament
the passing admire

our brief and filled
life of universal love
soon enough time up..!?
sway and dance..!


a great album by bob marley
Michael John Sep 2021
doctor,as my guitar
will add
melancholia is madness
waiting to occur-
it needs to be snipped
in the bud but
nothing only
may require
a flower might
want water
know what i mean
babbling will not
heal or pills neither
love unrequited
we must pay
or else
Michael John Oct 2021
doctor, i don´t like
you-
(it is nothing personnel
you understand
you are probably
a decent man
but it is the mountain
of bull-****
that accrues day
by day
that taint´s every
breath i breath
it is the hypocrisy
it is the mean way
it is the beady
little eye
it is the fatal
shrug
nothing´s torpid
hug
in a living hidden
with lie
silence omits
we forgotten
song gone
understanding
sympathy
empathy
peachy
why i don´t
like
it is not really
understanding
why..)

a man walks into
a bar
and slaughters
all
puts a disc on
and makes
breakfast..
Michael John Oct 2021
doctor, it hurts when
i do this
well, don´t do it
then..

a very old joke
but not  
bad
philosophy-

ignoring enviroment
conditioning
and our duality

love-hate
pleasure-pain
if it hurts-desist..

ii

doctor,i have four minutes
to live!-
what can you do
for me!?

(he could boil an egg)
life´s brevity..
man´s faith in
modernity..(?)

iii

doctor,
i love her
and yet
she seems
not and that is
no joke..
Michael John Sep 2021
doctor,it pays not
to be sensitive
(if we wish to live)
for like the flower
our soul requires
water-like
pills nor  babble
may quibble
nor nothing neither
is love unrequited
or guitar-
where there is
melancholia may
occur
madness or else
pay we must
aint life quaint
hear the neighbours
cry and holler..
Michael John Oct 2021
doctor,i woke
laughing
love was stoked
a nuclear

engine!
i was fat/thin
onward **!
where i´d been?

a lost
alone and
gone
dream..
Michael John Oct 2021
doctor,what happens
if we die in our sleep
we shall sigh and laugh
go deeper and deep

and  no longer have
or have not-but weep,
like the little waif-
for shall we reap

our just deserts..if
our hearts, can keep
if ourselves hate
our goodness reaps

naked and loveless..
our faith a high leap
a time to pay
(and the cost  steep)

if,we die in our sleep
dreams of today
nightmares.. creep..
away...
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