Pottery Classes

A poem from 1986

I saw the clay before me

spinning round and round

but she didn’t get dizzy

I splashed water upon her

gently

and with my fingers

I moulded her soft body

into a multitude of designs

when I had finished I sat back

and admired her beauty

her very being there worshipped me

and I saw that it was good

upon her earthy surface

I drew a man and a woman

sitting in the shade of a giant appletree

I had been working for an hour

and so I went to make

a cup of coffee

ten minutes later I returned

and noticed that my creation

was gone

in her place was a serpent

laughing at me

so I picked it up

by the tail

and cursed it

and threw it out of the window

I immediately installed

an electric burglar alarm

to make sure that it wouldn’t come back

Sleep

A double acrostic poem from 2016

Pitter patter

Cerebral inertia

Grabbing at my body, soaking limbs in numbness, I

Suffer sentient deprivation

Rationality sways

Again I come back, again

I drift

Nice you are, dripping sanity and nonsense in turn

Pale Shadow

A poem from 1990 - a psalm of lamentation

I used to be an aspiring warrior,

a theologian -

a rock.

I used to be in love,

I used to be certain

- unstable

Who are you?

Who are you to ride on my horse?

Are you me?

Are you who I used to be?

Who is now the shadow

and who the identity?

I used to be dressed in armour

- I seldom cried.

I hid in the One who is higher than I.

Now I only talk to my father

and do not feel the relationship that we have.

Who are you?

Who are you to throw a blanket over reality?

Are you me?

Are you who I used to be?

Who is now the truth

and who the poor man?

Parallel

A cinquain poem from 2016

Love you

At least, I would

But it's impossible

The way that our lives have panned out

Oh, sigh!

Local Newspaper Photographer

A poem from 1986

what did you do

to warrant a place in the news

you raised a cheque for ninety p

and sent it to a charity

and the local newspaper photographer

wants a picture so all can see

the smiling face with gormless grin

the flashy pose

and “look how wonderful I am” badge you wear

upon your swelled up chest

you won a competition

so you’re showing off your prize

with a sickly-innocent smile on your face

while pride lives in your eyes

and the local newspaper photographer

wants a picture so all can see

and give you something to show off about

while sharing evening coffee

this is a song for cynics

but one thing that I must say

as I notice our MP and mayor

appear

5 or 6 times a week

to seek

a friendly air with the electorate

I don’t believe that everyone

wants their picture shown for pride

but when the local newspaper photographer comes

I’m sure it’s hard to hide

Citalopram and the Seven Side Effects

A poem from 2016

Pukey

Thirsty

Sweaty

Sleepy

Headache

Dizzy

And

Limp

O! Bless The Man

A poem from 1985

O! bless the man who is left carrying the can

O! bless your heart

the sneezing is about to start

Mood Music

A poem from 2016

Anxiety

A kind of background music

Discordant

Not to my taste

Blending into life

Poisoning everything

Like an earworm

Annoying thoughts pop up

Over and over

Repetition, causing deviation and hesitation

Leading to procrastination

Numb

Inside

Defence

Against

Hurt

Now a new normal

Low mood

Constant companion

Shafts of hope!

Flashes of light!

I see the tunnel has an end!

Momentary brightness!

Momentary lightness!

More serotonin please!

A Few Nights Ago

A poem from 1990

A few nights ago I dreamt about you

but you were fat

and you said you didn’t want me

but when we hugged

you made me feel so warm

and I didn’t want to let go

because I fell into a trance

                in your arms.

You had aged by ten years

                while I hadn’t

                and this was your excuse.

Brilliant White

A poem from 2016

Angel of light

Brilliant white

Star of the dawning

Morning

Bejewelled

Crowned with glory

Perfect, beautiful fire

Angel of doubt

Kicked out

Brilliant white

Turns nicotine yellow

Fallen crown

Cast down

Shadow of night

When we first met I thought you were wonderful

It seemed to me you could do no wrong

Soul mate

Empathy

We were so in love

Joined at the hip

A couply couple

I saw only joy and laughter in your eyes

I felt that electricity as hands held and lips touched

I thought I knew your every thought

Two hearts breathing as one

Radiant love

Glow and glow

Then time opened my eyes

You were not who I thought you were

Bitter words tortured

A roaring lion devouring

Faults exposed

Gleeful

Disentangling

Sparks flew as affection died

I don't even like you any more

Split apart

Painful tearing

Heart beats faint

Slow

Fire is out

Embers dying

Separation

Death

Eternal death