The sea which touches the edge of the world ...

I'm walking toward the bend in the river -

A watch around my wrist which tells only one time -

An Old Testament sky above the flooded fields -


The year ending -

Behind me, the small houses -

Ahead of me, the sea which touches the edge of the world -


Tuesday 31 Decembet 2019


Ridge
Dorset 

Ravenna train ...

This year, I think I'll go by train to Ravenna -

I'll see the mosaics -

I'll sip an expresso, wear a linen suit -


I'll sit with my shadow -

I'll find the words -


December 2019

East Stoke
Dorset 

Winter caught in a net of stars ...

Ben put down his moonshine -

Only hardcore boatmen drink there now he said -

I walk there with Flash, foraging for the stove -


I pictured the pub on the remote cut -

The dour Olive behind the bar -

The derelict stables facing the dark water -

The ale in a tall glass -

The sky in the window -

Winter caught in a net of stars -


December 2019


Ferring
West Sussex 

Over Laphroaig ..,

Over Laphroaig I remembered Konya -

Ken marching through the dark hotel -

Insisting they opened the bar -

Sitting with him, drinking the obscure gin we found -

The waiters gazing at us -

Astonished yet still courtly -

Later walking through the ancient city -

Past courtyards where rapt dancers touched heaven and earth -


December 2019

Ferring
West Sussex

At our boozy ease ...

We sat at our boozy ease -

The long table was strewn with exciting bottles -

Varnsey and Charlie were vaping -

The sisters shared Brighton memories -

I remembered Tess singing on a summer's stage -

She clasped her slender glass -

Flash's eyes were a yellowy brown -

Ben smiled his gentle mysterious smile -


December 2019


Ferring
West Sussex 

The whole world here for him ...

We walked along the beach -

Spooky bungalows were half hidden by tamarisk trees -

Salt rimed windows faced the sea -

Flash raced on ahead, leaping and slender -

The whole world here for him, joyous and strange -


December 2019


Ferring beach
West Sussex 

The first winter ...

Candles glimmered amongst the half empty bottles -

A glass was filled with Raker's Shine -

Ben spoke about his first winter on the narrow boat -

The ice on the windows -

The frozen trees overlooking the tow path -

The warmth of the fragrant stove -

Reading a chapter from a treasured book -

Biggles sees it through - 


December 2019

Ferring
West Sussex

The stars were young again ...

Christmas had been a time for Horses Necks -

My dad would fix them in the kitchen -

Dizzying measures as though he were still on the cruiser -

A mess night with the Commodore -

 Being called Jim by the padre -

The stars young again -

The ship filled with light on a tideless sea -


December 2019

Studland
Dorset 

A shell still full of voices ...

Whilst the rain fell I thought of the summer valley -

I remembered the mayflies crazily dancing -


I thought about the letter written by the sad father -

Each word reaching out to me across an icy river - .


There were photographs of daughters in the jewel box -

Stopped watches, a cameo brooch, a shell still full of voices -



December 2019


East Stoke
Dorsetb

Finding pieces of my heart ...

Richard calls this attic mining -

Delving under cobwebbed purlins -

Finding pieces of my heart -

A toy fishing rod -

A tiny robot -

The Tiger Who Came to Tea 



December 2019

The Old School House
East Stoke
Dorset

A secret library ...

I'm looking at these books from the attic -

A Phaidon Max Ernst -

A Faber Edward Thomas -

A foxed Nostradamus -


The last readers of these books were spiders -

I pictured their secret library -

The wind singing in the chimney -

The webs hanging in the dark -


December 2019


The Old School House
East Stoke
Dorset 

Turning the pages of Iron in the Soul ...

When I turn the pages of Iron in the Soul I think about my dad -

Not the dad lost in the lounge of memory -

The dad who was a clutch of sparrows' bones -

The dad who said I can't seem to walk -

But the dad who argued with the Port Admiral -

The dad who loved jazz -

Who read Sartre -

The dad who poured Annick a whisky -

The dad who asked what is it to be free ?


December 2019


East Stoke
Dorset

Albanians drove by in dangerous BMWs ..

Still slightly hungover, I rummaged amongst the foxed Penguins -

All around me were reefs of books -

There were leaning towers of Sci Fi, ziggurats of biographies -

Next door, the taxi drivers were ordering mega breakfasts - 

Albanians drove past the book shop in dangerous BMWs -

I found what I was looking for -

Iron in the Soul - 


December 2019


Southsea

The sun drew closer to the twilight earth ...

Pilgrims had passed through here -

The same winter's sun had lengthened their tired shadows -

The same stone arch was above my head -


I remembered the high path to chapel above the sea -

How I'd cast a pebble into the bright spring -


My own shadow lengthened -

The sun drew closer to the twilight earth -



December 2019


Salisbury Cathedral

Each step I took was one followed by a shadow ...

A mist rose from the darkening fields -

The bare trees were delicate bones against  the sky -

The narrow road led to a lonely house -

I walked as though I were a scholar in a short story by M R James -

Thorny hedgerows shut out the world -

Each step I took was one followed by a shadow -



December 2019


Ridge
Dorset

Casting ancient spells ....

In this room, you would hear wonders -

Ships sailing across unknown seas - 

Mermaids lamenting shining boys -

The King of the wildwood wearing an ivy crown - 

Three hares gazing at the moon -

December 2019

Salisbury Museum 

Part time city Marsyas Donner Kebab ...

It was like being punched in the face, this painting -

The flayed singer, hanging upside down -

The jealous god -


Marsyas -

Apollo -

Those beautiful, dreadful, names -


The olive grove transformed into a late night kebab house -

The bright god holding a greasy knife -

The singer a cylinder of meat -


December 2019


Jaime Valtierra
Part Time City Marsyas Donner Kebab


Salisbury 

My tears filling the world ...

Sandra spoke the beautiful and mysterious words -

My small candle was one of many -

My small white star hanging with other stars from the kindly tree -

My tears filling the world my dear ones had left -


December 2019


Saint Faiths
Havant 

Breakfast in The Country Pantry ...

I dusted my tinned tomatoes with fiery pepper -

Each mouthful was a scalding delight -

I overheard the conversations of grizzled taxi drivers -

Five grand -

The road was up -

Did you see the paper ? 

Richard had unwound his scarf -

The young woman with blue hair wore a tinsel necklace -

I thought about writing my name on the steamed up window -

Christmas decorations hung in gaudy webs from the ceiling -

I remembered the juke box in the Hopperesque lounge -

The midnight whisky in another bar -

The darkness in the streets -

The flickerings of televisions in shadowy rooms -


December 2019


Southsea 

The promise of an awakening tree ...

We heard the news whilst we sat in fellowship -

The gentle waiters drew back -

What comfort could I offer ?


I remembered the rainbow above the turbulent bay -.

The smile of the gentle father, waiting for his child -

The passing of a shadow -

The promise of an awakening tree -


December 2019


The Massala
Swanage
Dorset

No green coats for my dear ones ...

The trees are bare in the final garden -

It's winter -

Mute birds gather -


No green coats for my dear ones -

Only rain from the dark sky -

A wind from the edge of the world -


December 2019


Warblington 

Santa wearing sunglasses ...

Along the top of the wall, I saw the Santas -

The thick walled house behind the wall -

Each Santa wearing sunglasses -

Cool dudes in the December sun -


December 2019

Corfe

A fragrant summer ...

There -

Stencilled by a youthful hand -

I saw her -

The goddess I'd seen in the beautiful city -


I remembered her golden hair -

The sky above the sea -


I knew that even here there could be a fragrant summer -

A warm wind blowing from an exquisite shore -



December 2019


Swanage 

The same enchantment ...

The same trim bungalow - 

The same worn body - 

The same anger - 

The same enchantment - 

December 2019

Walking away from narrow stairs .,,

I walked away from the narrow stairs -

The damp walls -

The dark tongues of mould -

The shoes left outside forlorn doors -


I thought of the lives lived here -

Then I thought of the life lived by the man who wore brogues -

I pictured the long wall which enclosed his park -

The Land Rover which marked out his kingdom -


December 2019

The Greek Prince ...

I gazed at the biscuit tin next to the small rocking horse -

The faded image of the Greek Prince -

The half smile -

The rust like brown snowflakes falling on the gilt chair -


Logs smouldered in the stove -

I folded up my newspaper -

I remembered the words from a song I'd loved -

And although my eyes were open -

They might just as well've been closed -


The Old Granary -
Wareham
Dorset


December 2019

This narrow world ...

I imagined living in this narrow world -

Crossing the road -

Being amongst the grey houses -

The pebble-dashed walls -


Walking to the chippy -

The rain coming in from the sea -


November 2019

A gammon's nest ...

This was a gammon's nest, I thought -

That pristine driveway -


The immaculate Skoda -

That leather sofa for reading The Daily Mail -


November 2019

Reading the Bull from the Sea ...

I'm reading The Bull from the Sea -

Whilst I'm reading it, I'm drenched in ancient sunlight -

The air is scented with resin -

Brave ships sail on a wine dark sea - 

Mysteries take place in olive groves - 

The vine king is crowned -

Dolphins carry boys from island to island - 

Pale girls dance under a murderous moon - 

December 2019

Walking towards Moreton ...

We walked through the pinewoods -

The air was as icy and dizzying as a chilled loosener -

Mist rose up from the withered bracken -

Bright December sunlight fell from the frozen sky -



December 2019


Moreton

Outside Greggs ...

More gammons - 

A mobility scooter outside Greggs -

Curious Springers -

The Santa Special -

Seagulls flying above the rooftops -

A morning'a canvassing in Station Road -


November 2019

Richard returns from the North ...

Richard's returned from the North -

The Jura in a midnight glass -

The fishing boats in the harbour -

A selkie's skin -

The jigsaw pieces on the driftwood table -


November 2019

The boy with purple sleeves ...

The boy with purple sleeves cut my hair -

I recognise your head he said -

There were Christmas baubles hung above the cut throat razors -


I listened to the barbers' banter -

The scissors danced above my head -


Barnets
Wareham

November 29 2019

The gaudy tin ...

I'm eighty eight she said -

My daughter wants me to go in a home -

I don't want to go into a home -

Look, there's my kitchen -

See - 

And my hair - I've just had it done -


I looked at the sparkling work top -

The neat hair -

The calendar on the wall -


My eyes pricked with tears -

There they were -

All the days crossed out -

One by one -


I saw the willow pattern plate -

Three biscuits from the gaudy tin -

The house all around her like the empty sea -


November 2019

Sea-green incorruptible .,.

I remember my dad longing to be a member of a revolutionary tribunal -

Making swift judgements -

Lean like Cassius -


He'd linger over the words -

Sea-green incorruptible -


November 2019

The wheezing man ..

The wheezing man opened his door -

A drizzly rain was falling -


I'm fed up with them all he said -


I'm for the NHS I said -

It saved my life -


I want us to leave the wheezing man said -


November 2019

The letter ...

The letter was like an elegant snare -

Grave concerns - 

My regrets - 

The man wearing brogues would avoid hearing truths - 

He'd support a charity - 

Slip into a photograph - 

Smile his gleaming smile -

November 2019

A silky voice ...

All I saw was a navy blue blazer -

Brown brogues - 

A posho shirt - 

All I heard was a silky voice - 

I concur with all you say - 

We must all work together - 

Let's get Brexit done - 

Hustings

Swanage 

November 2019 

Magical thinking ...

It's magical thinking I thought -

All these suspicious brows -

These lowered, wary, eyes -


Ears deaf to whatever words I speak -

Whatever hope I bring -

In thrall to a smirking head, floating on a screen -


November 2019

The man wearing brogues ...

Would the man wearing brogues knock on a door like this ?

Climb these dimly lit stairs ?

Hear a dog barking in a hopeless lounge ?

He might shoot his cuffs -

Sing God Save the Queen at an Armistice Parade -

Offer tea to yoga ladies -

Yet the pinched streets would still be there -

The door would open on the hopeless lounge -


November 2019

Swanage

Following numbers ...

We all follow numbers now -

We look at trajectories -

I think of Brecht -

I can sit, hugger mugger -

But I can't dissolve the people -

And elect another -


November 2019

Magical thinking ...

It's magical thinking I thought -

All these suspicious brows -

These lowered, wary, eyes -


Ears deaf to whatever words I use -

Whatever hope I bring -

In thrall to a smirking head -

Floating on a screen -


November 2019

Swanage
Dorset 

The red banner ...

I followed my heart -

I followed the red banner -

I remembered my grandparents -

My dad's dad, working in the dockyard -

Shaping the iron and steel -

The grey ships swallowing men's strength -

My mum's dad -

Haunted by the terrifying years -

Cycling the cold miles, looking for work -

Then I remembered my mum, called by her surname -

Harding, you clean the silver now -

There could be no other banner -


November 2019

Swanage
Dorset 

The stove ...

This was the second night we had lit the stove -

I arranged the kindling as though it were part of an installation in a pristine gallery -

My fingers were scented with kerosine -

I remembered the stove in the November tea house -

The photograph of Attaturk -

The dark greenery of the Mulberry tree -

The glass tear drops held in work worn hands -



Thursday 21 November 2019


The Old School House
East Stoke
Dorset

Karabortlen gold ...

This evening, we used the olive oil pressed in the generous garden -

I remembered the mountains and the fragrant pines -

The beautiful leaves of the olive trees -

The gift of the olives -

Their picking -

The magic blade of Mr Karageorge's knife -

The laughter on the terrace -

The stories told as the moon rose in the warm sky -

Treasures -

Karabortlen gold -


Wednesday 20 November 2019


The Old School House
East Stoke
Dorset

Picturing the house in The Mezzotint ...

When I saw the house, I thought of the story by M R James -

The Mezzotint -


I pictured the house lit by moonlight -

A crouching shape, halfway across the lawn -

A shadow in the nursery -

The lamps lit too late -


Tuesday 19 November 2019

Purbecks
Dorset 

Counting heartbeats ...

The two wiry boys were well versed in crowbar lore -

They knew the wiles of chimneys -

I saw the sooty memories of long ago winters -


I sat, for a while, with those who'd lived in this house -

Who'd walked with me in the quiet valley -

Who'd gathered pine cones as I had -


Together, we'd thrown the pine cones upon the fire -

Watched the flames burn brighter -

Counted our heartbeats whilst the fire burned -


18 November 2019

The Old School House
East Stoke
Dorset 

Bell Street ...

I remembered this pathway -

These steps - 

The three small stone angels - 

The tangled lawn - 

When the door opened, the same air came out - 

I glimpsed the same corner of the hallway - 

A framed photograph of a lost darling - 

The long years like sad dust scattered in every room - 

Sunday 17 November 2019

Bell Street 

Swanage 

The Daily Mail open on the kitchen table ...

He's a traitor -

No, not interested - 

A liar - 

Sell us to the Russians - 

He's got no integrity - 

He's a terrorist - 

I read it in the papers - 

I heard these words - 

I saw those who spoke them - 

I pictured the black squashy sofa in the lounge - 

A memory of Jeremy Kyle - 

The Jack Russell in the back garden - 

The Daily Mail open on the kitchen table - 

Saturday 16 Novrmber 2019

Swanage 

Dorse 

A burning pen ...

I'm in The Old Granary -

Warmed by a wood burning stove -

The deer hound in the ironmongers is hunkered down -

Gentle hip hop's playing -

I'm reading Germinal -

That Zola !

Those miners, in that flat dire land -

Those pits -

Each page sends you reeling -

I read then in a newspaper about food banks -

Pinched lives -

Immiseration -

We need a Zola -

A calling out of lies -

A j'accuse ! 

A burning pen -


Friday 15 November 2019


The Old Granary
Wareham
Dorset