Stealing Kisses

              STEALING KISSES

              He loves pretty girls,
              singles them out,
              goes straight up
              and plonks a sloppy kiss
              on their hand or face or cheek
              and looks for the twinkle in their eyes

              Because he is small
              and handicapped
              and loveable
              and totally irresistible
              they hug him,
              cuddle him and kiss him.

              I am jealous of my son.

              If I tried the same,
              they would probably belt me;
              certainly his mum would.

             ©  GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Banchory, 11th August 1989

Publications

1990 The White Rose (UK)
1990 Bardoni (UK)
1991 Hybrid (UK)
1992 STEALING KISSES (Hyde, New Hope International)
1993 Prophetic Voices (USA)
1997 Cyberscribers (Internet)

Nidderdale

NIDDERDALE

Bedraggled daffodils line the lanes
unnerved by April snows.
Only the curlew crying on the fell,
the short-eared owl stationed on his post,
know that summer still will come
as surely as the growing lambs will go.

By the lake where a myriad mosquitos hum,
only the bravest rabbit boasts
of the ability to foretell
how strong will be the wind's abuse,
how many elms will no longer grow
to offer shelter to the homeless crow.

© Gerald England

Composed: Ripley Castle, 23rd April 1989

Publications

1991 Hybrid (UK)

1991 Owen Wister Review (USA)

1992 STEALING KISSES (Hyde, New Hope International)

1992 International Poetry (USA)

2000 NO CHOICE BUT TO TRUST (Pittsburgh, UnMon America)

2006 Other Voices (Internet)

Beyond Glossop

BEYOND GLOSSOP

cats eyes?
beacons that light a roadside?

Snake Pass
midnight
winter

not cats'
but eyes of sheep
headlight-reflected pins

the dark shape
seen too late
squeal of brakes
crash of glass
a dying ewe bleats
silently

splinters of glass
from a broken headlamp
mix with mutton blood

the wind howls
the mountain streams cascade
there is no moon above the mist
there are no lights now

all is frozen

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Ashton under Lyne, 20th September 1980

Publications

1984 Aireings (UK)
1992 Hybrid (UK)
1992 STEALING KISSES (Hyde, New Hope International)

Veronica

Composed: Sheffield, 10th October 1971

Publications

1972 THE WINE THE WOMEN AND THE SONG (Pyle, Kenfig Press)
1972 Stillborn (UK)
1982 Global Tapestry Journal (UK)
1988 Agog (London, UK)
1991 Hybrid (UK)
1996 Boggers All (UK)

Note: Some publications using the title Miss V.

Tar Distillery

TAR DISTILLERY

Black outlined structure
Black-brown water-reflected buildings
by riverside built
Sky-coloured river-water
Gray, hazy, smoke-filled, industrial sky
Petroleum ethers -
cracking products
Refining
of crude organic mixtures
The eyes tolerate, appreciate
the symmetry
of water-reflected ugliness

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Wakefield, 16th August 1970

Publications

1972 Pommegranate (UK)
1991 Hybrid (UK)
1992 STEALING KISSES (Hyde, New Hope International)

Hutton-le-Hole April 1970

HUTTON-LE-HOLE, APRIL 1970
(for Barbara)

Little lambs are playing
in the pale, green field,
but beneath the warm sun
a cold wind blows.
Four ewes come up
looking for a bite
of chicken sandwich
or a swig of vacuum-flask coffee.
The beck still races
through the village,
down the waterfall
and out again.
What visitors there are
have room to move about and walk
over stepping-stones and bridges,
though shoes become muddy.
Further up the dale
there is snow to be seen -
the last remnants of winter
remaining, withstanding
the onslaught of summer,
(heralded by the lambs)
with its hordes
of tourists,
ice-cream vans,
hot weather,
and the sunshine of money.

© Gerald England

Composed: Hutton le Hole, 10th April 1970

Publications

1972 Datr (UK)
1991 Hybrid (UK)