Sunday, February 7, 2010

While drunken men slept

While drunken men slept
babies were born
red poppies peeped out
from fields of corn.
Springs gathered to pools
rivers surged onwards, refreshing, free
their journey inexorable
through town and country on into the sea.
The lonely were visited
broken hearts consoled,
nations, oppressed, their liberty gained
we watched the events unfold.
There is bread in my basket
milk in my cooler
I can't remember a time
when my larder was fuller.
I got a spring in my step
and in my mouth, laughter
gunna swagger through town
and count the cost after.
*
While drunken men slept
deserts were turned
to delightful gardens, people will dwell
where they had merely sojourned.
Listen! an old woman singing!
her song about a jar
cracked and broken, ugly
the delicate beauty marred,
Look! a tear in her eye!
a Potter, with heart filled with compassion
has gathered up the pieces
and made it over again.
For she had been that vessel
tossed out to the wind and rain
but in that gentle Artist's hand
has been made more lovely again.
Trees sigh with singing
on the side of the hills,
thankful for the streams that water
bringing life alive, as God wills.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

I will daughter you




















*
I will daughter you
follow you
wherever you may go
though ties may now be broken
love will not have it so
I will daughter you.
*
You won't be alone
I'll come too
however hard the road
together we will walk it
we'll share the heavy load
I will daughter you
*
Never take my freedom from me
by sending me away
though they make of me a stranger
where I make my bed is where I will lay.
*
If the night is cold
dark and long
my love will make you warm
and light the empty spaces
until the morning come
I will daughter you.
*
Follow you
I will daughter you.

Monday, September 8, 2008

The Nestle

A loveliness was found for him,
a tender touch with kindness.
Though he did not know her
she lay next to his heart
warming the shallow with nestling.
Warmth which only she could impart.
*
Unlearned gentleness of a girl
for might was not the needing,
nor a shield from arrows.
Her beauty was to him
as though through a mist percieved,
her innocence unhurt by whim.
*
It was the councel of others
that had brought her to his side,
and that with searching long,
her warm simplicity
the gift that only she could bring,
so that heart with heart would agree.
*
Soft petal in the morning chill
she lay in darkness under.
The moonlight's cold she stays
and sweetly flows the flow.
Her soft breath will not awaken him
as she makes his heart her pillow.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Guinevere's bed

Shall a pale shadow
and she a ghost, a phantom
cost so valiant a king,
whose heart will hold with a promise
and break it with beguiling.
She will betray you with her kiss
*
Arms that will hold you,
eyes that have encaptured your own,
in another's arms entwined
making warm with passion the place
where is no promise to bind.
Dying sweetly in the embrace
*
Chivalry begone
with chasing from the kingdom.
Camlan's field will be the site,
the question Guinevere shall pose,
wild the cherry she will bite,
will bitter you too in the throes.
*
Was it Caliburn?
taken up for the kingdom
that had brought the victory
or was it honour which prevailed?
the true cause we may now see.
Then cast away the sword that failed.
*
Ah valiant heart
will be for a shadow pale,
pierced through with lady's arrow.
When she has made you cuckold,
then Albion's race will know,
for Guinevere's bed they were sold.
*
Mist that lays across
not only lake but the realm
now veils from our eyes the view
that noble, which made you great.
The find your strength in virtue,
victory shall not be late.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Teasel Teasel






Tease me with teasel down weasel way


my lover will comb my hair today


if he is gentle and teasels well


I will open my heart, all my feelings tell


If he is rough, teasel will catch


I will show him the door, lift up the latch


If he is foolish, teasel will break


he will forsake me, my heart will ache.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

The Water Meadows [Winchester]


Flowering down the meadow view
grass lush and head swayed poppies
dong a song the distant church bell
the butterfly's aimless intention pursue
along corridors of wind change breeze
*
Hummed stillness across the water pond
frenzied the wingéd dancers
buttercups made golden by sunshine
peek'a'boo playing among the trees beyond
which also hide squirrel from casual glancers
*
Heavenly scented laying so light in the air
as yet unmoved by the sparrow wing
bathed in the summer evening glow
beauty of nature the water meadows share
with nobody and with all and with everything
*
Closing the day down clouds now veiling
the last pipes of the rude blackbird rising
it has been a day of shouts and of laughter
but now the velvet of quietude prevailing
the approaching shadows of nightfall advising

Sunday, June 22, 2008