Living through lockdown

Living through lockdown

I cannot shout at the supermoon
because I cough.
I cannot fly a banner in the air
but I can collect the hope
and spread an arc of colour.
I hear the dogs bark
and see the cats wink.
My beard grows long
and sharp toenails prick consciousness.
I shall sleep in the thunder
awake in the new normal.
I will love you from a distance
never touching with my fingers
that dry and wither in the heat.
My memories are of pictures
etched in the sands of time.
The masks will be torn down
and the wheels will spin.
One day we will hug and kiss again.

© Gerald England

Composed: Hyde, 26th June 2020

Needing more Cosmos

In memory of   Steve Sneyd

Deepening wind and light
accelerating by yet captured
in a moment of reflection

© Gerald England

Composed: Hyde, 23rd December 2019

Publication

2020 Cosmopoetry (Internet)

A contribution to Weekend Reflections.

Red October

Red October

Remnants of Hurricane Ophelia
draws air full of Saharan dust
and debris from forest fires
in Spain and Portugal.
A bright sun struggles
to break through.

© Gerald England

Composed, Hyde, 16th October 2017

Publication

2018 Cosmopoetry (Internet)

Spooky astroku

well beyond the light
twenty-two miles a second
Spooky* whizzes by

© Gerald England

Composed, Hyde, 1st November 2015

Publication

2016 Cosmopoetry (Internet)
2016 Ackworth born gone West (Internet)

* Spooky is a reference to the comet/asteroid that passed by the Earth in 2015.

A contribution to Skywatch Friday.

Quiet evening in Blackpool

QUIET EVENING IN BLACKPOOL

over Blackpool's North Pier
out of clouds
the sun's rays spread -
two seagulls perch
on the promenade guard rail
as a third flies over.

© Gerald England

Composed, Hyde, 8th May 2014

Publication

2014 sithenah.

A contribution to
Wednesday Waters;
Good Fences;
Skywatch Friday.

for Martin Lucas

for Martin Lucas

in our presence
another grain of sand
passes through

© Gerald England

Composed: Hyde, 15th April 2014

Unpublished

Astrohaiga 4

evening energy reaches out across sand and silent sea

© Gerald England

Composed: Hyde, 15th May 2013

Publication

2013 Cosmopoetry (Internet)

A contribution to Skywatch Friday.

Astrohaiga 3

above and below the long abandoned jetty sky and sea

© Gerald England

Composed: Hyde, 15th May 2013

Publication

2013 Astronomy without borders (Internet)

A contribution to Skywatch Friday.

Astrohaiga 2

August evening
so many colours
so many swirls

© Gerald England

Composed: Hyde, 15th May 2013

Publication

2013 Cosmopoetry (Internet)

A contribution to Skywatch Friday.

Astrohaiga 1

as the tide rolls out
temporary pools reflect
the lowering sun

© Gerald England

Composed: Hyde, 15th May 2013

Publication

2013 Cosmopoetry (Internet)

A contribution to
Skywatch Friday;
Weekend Reflections;
Scenic Weekends.

i.m. Hortensia Anderson

i.m. Hortensia Anderson

your notes from new york
across the wide atlantic
the rain still falls

© gerald england

Composed: Hyde, 30th May 2012 ·

Unpublished

haiku (d68)

leaves and leaves
that rustle raucously
in the night wind

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Hyde, 4th October 2011

Publication

2011 Hyde DP Xtra (Internet)

A contribution to NF Trees and Bushes.

August Riots (2011)

AUGUST RIOTS

Saturday as London riots
Manchester boasts it is riot-free
though some fear to celebrate

Sunday in Salford
and Manchester City Centre
a mad mob mobilizes

Wanton destruction
Miss Selfridge's torched
lots of looting

Monday morning
an army of citizens gather
armed with brooms

Outside Starbucks
free coffee for volunteers
cleaning the streets

Wednesday afternoon sun
fountains play in Piccadilly Gardens
families having fun

The trams trundle
down Market Street
thronged with shoppers

Only a few boarded up windows
remain to remind us
of a sad Sunday.

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Hyde, 28th August 2011

Publication

2011 Ol' Chanty - Chanticleer Online (Internet)

Jodrell Bank Observatory Haiga

my father
the long distance runner
next to Copernicus

© Gerald England

Composed: Hyde, 3rd April 2011

Publications

2011 Cosmopoetry (Internet)
2011 Ackworth Born, Gone West (Internet)

A contribution to:
Skywatch Friday;
The Weekend in Black and White.

Valentine cards

VALENTINE CARDS

On Hyde Market
Valentine cards - fifty pence
or three for a pound!

© Gerald England

Composed: Hyde, 14th February 2011

Unpublished

tanka 45 (Solar eclipse 2011)

Pse 2011 In Magurele (Romania) photograph © Andreea Fazacas
an eclipse tonight
posted a friend on Facebook
but by then too late
out of my window blackness
others' visions seen online

© Gerald England

Composed: Hyde, 16th January 2011

Publications

2010 Cosmopoetry (Internet)
2010 Ackworth born, gone West (Internet)

A contribution to Skywatch Friday.

Haiga for Leslie Moon

words © Gerald England; image © Leslie Moon

glimmer of light
behind dark clouds
a storm brews

© gerald england

Composed: Hyde, 3rd January 2011

Publication

2010 Ackworth born, gone West (Internet)

A contribution to Skywatch Friday.

haiga X

ten kisses
mark the spot
unknown

© 2010 gerald england

Composed: Hyde, 29th December 2010

Publication

2010 Ackworth born, gone West (Internet)

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

(d63) september sun

september sun
chasing the clouds
before breakfast

© gerald england

Composed: Hyde, 5th September 2010

Publication

2010 Autumn Haiku (Internet)

A contribution to Skywatch Friday.

(d61)

across the pond
to an unknown friend
fond kisses

© Gerald England

Composed: Hyde, 8th August 2010

an entry for the Calico Cat Contest where authors were asked to compose a haiku to complement Origa's sumi-e "Sympathy. Orang-utan and Lizard".


Rice paper 'Double Shuen', Japanese sumi ink, Chinese watercolours, Copyright © Origa .


is the Russian translation of my haiku.

Publication

2010 Ackworth born, gone West (Internet)