Nursery Rhyme

NURSERY RHYME

The cow jumped over the moon
The dish ran away with the spoon
But it had to stop when they got caught
by an American and a Russian astronaut
who ate that beast
at the first lunar feast

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Harlow, 15th November 1971

Publications

1972 Bogg (UK)
1972 Ludds Mill (UK)
1980 THE RAINBOW AND OTHER POEMS (Heckmondwyke, Fighting Cock Press)
1993 Daily Cow (USA)

Third Meeting with Chicken

THIRD MEETING WITH CHICKEN

The sandwiches
were liberally salted
Appetite
was a two-edged sword
Thaw was attempted
A fuse was blown
and a double No
became the remains
of
cold chicken

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Sheffield, 1st November 1971

Publications

1975 Ludds Mill (UK)
1990 Sword of Shahrazad (UK)
1991 Impetus (USA)
1996 Target (UK)

Christmas Present

CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Jesus Christ was God's Christmas present to the world!
Oh yes!
We opened the gift up very carefully
but we saved the wrappings
and threw away
the present!

© Gerald England

Composed: York, 7th July 1969

Publications

1970 MOUSINGS (Sheffield, Headland)
1970 Pontefract & Castleford Express (UK)
1970 Tait's Quarterly (UK)
1972 Roots (UK)
1972 Ludds Mill (UK)
1973 ENVIRONMENT (Thames Ditton, Ember Press)
1973 Purston Parish Magazine (UK)
1985 New Hope International (UK)
1990 Omnific (USA)

*****
WEIHNACHTGESCHENK

jesus christus war gottes weihnachtsgeschenk fur die welt
o ja
wir haben das geschenk sorgfaltig geoffnet
abet wir haben das geschenkpapier aufgehoben
und das geschenk
weggeworfen

gerald england

aus dem englischen ubersetzt von elly grothof-nouwen

Publications

1983 Lyrik-Mappe (Austria)
1985 New Hope International (UK)

*****
PRESENTE DE NATAL

[Portuguese translation by Teresinka Pereira- text not to hand]

Publications

1985 New Hope International (UK)
1986 Literatura Internacional (USA)