Treasure Island ...

I shall read Treasure Island -

My dad loved this book -

He'd tell me the names of the characters -

Jim Hawkins, Squire Trelawney, Israel Hands - 

In my nightmares, Blind Pew clutched at my throat - 

My boy's narrow bed floated on a crystal sea -

Long John Silver handed me a golden coin - 

I can still hear my dad, even now - 

Putting down his midday glass -

He drank slowly, like a connoisseur, lingering on the taste -

I'd hear gulls cry in the sunlit lounge -

Friday 30 April 2021

The Old School House 

East Stoke 

Dorset 

Canvassing ...

We knocked on the door of a house saying Life Is A Beach - 

There was an opulent Tiguan on the drive -

A man wearing a blue polo shirt opened the door - 

I'm George George said -

Friday 30 April 2021

Swanage 

Dorset 

What words the mouth would whisper ...

I wondered what dreams were inside this head -

What strange birds flew against those closed eyelids - 

What words the mouth would whisper -

Thursday 29 April 2021

The Walled Garden 

Moreton 

Dorset 

Waiting for Margaret ...

The river was high -

The water reflected the poplar trees -

A  Sunseeker nudged the Town Quay -

I wait for Margaret -

I imagined the river rising still further -

Cobwebbed attics becoming islands - 

Coracles moored to the weathercock of Lady St Mary's - 

Pikes sleeping amongst the pews -

Tuesday 27 April 2021

Town Quay

Wareham 

Dorset 

I think I'm going back ...

Java was open -

Dusty Springfield singing -

I sipped coffee amongst louche greenery -

There were dinosaurs near the beach -

I'd heard them roar -

Kieran crafted salads -

There were unsettling mannequins inside the coffee shop -

Shapely torsos were draped with velvet - 

I remembered sitting here with the comrades -

My heart racing - 

The thought of a cool hand holding mine -

Dusty was still singing - 

Her voice amongst the greenery

I think I'm going back -

Tuesday 27 April 2021

Java 

Swanage 

Dorset

A willow wand in a narrow bed ...

Sunlight fills the room -

I remember the first girl I loved -

Walking with her down Chantry Road -

I was a shy boy -

Slow to flower - 

A willow wand in a narrow bed - 

Monday 26 January 2021

The Old School House 

East Stoke 

Dorset 

Party At Sunday ...

I'm sipping Das Almas coffee from Virgulino Muniz -

I'm listening to Party At Sunday -

There are woozy guitars - 

I remember languid afternoons -

The colour of a dress -

The smoke blown into my mouth - 

The drink left in my glass - 

Saturday 24 April 2021

The Old School House 

East Stoke 

Dorset