He's just hanging around

Sitting in the garden of Number 53 -

Gulls weaving between the chimney pots on salty wings -

Dazzle of blossom above my head -

Chilled Carling in my glass -

Remembering playing pool with Wallace -

The Stranglers on Spotify -

Hugh Cornwall singing he's just hanging around -

Scarborough 

April 2026

My spirit as light as his

I play table tennis with Wallace in the attic room -

Below us, salty roofs face the sea -

Hitting the ball with a lurch of my bat, I  wish that I was younger -

My hair no longer white -

My spirit as light as his -

My eye as pure -

Scarborough 

April 2026

The bed

Birdsong -

Sunlight through the trees -

Sleepless hours -

The bed where I found no comfort -

Woodhall

April 2026

Watching Die Hard

Bruce looks like a half naked bloodied angel -

Barefoot, he slays henchmen -

The sneering villain wears a beautiful suit -

Flames devour policemen -

Bruce aims his unfailing gun -

Welcome to the party he says -

April 2026

How he whoops

When I'm in darkness, I think of Jake -

How he fills my life with joy -

How he whoops when he catches balloons -

April 2026

Rise in Glory

I heard them; outside The Boston Tea Party - 

Clasping bibles, fervent tongued -

Rise in Glory -

Death is not in the end -

Salisbury 

April 2026

I had lost the key

I was unable to enter the beautiful house -

A door barred my way -

I had lost the key -

April 2026