Each silent moment

A yacht on the still sea -

The reflection of the mast on the water -

The heaped flints on the sand -

Each silent moment a pearl of memory -

South Beach

Studland 

February 2026

Joyous birds

Wearing my Charborough tweed -

A lobster sashshaying to the beat of the XR drums -

Singing our way through the rainy streets -

Past Pret a Manger and Wetherspoons -

Holding up kindly flags -

Laughing with the comrades -

Passionate words like joyous birds -

Bournemouth 

February 2026

Reading The Line of Beauty

I'm reading The Line of Beauty -

I remember the house in Highgate -

The beautiful manners of my hosts -

The boy with the Eton tie -

February 2026

Thinking of Josh

I remember you drinking with the comrades -

The fire in your voice -

How you longed for a different world -

Even then, perhaps, the devils were in your blood -

Taking you to this white bed -

Your young son lying next to you -

I've tasted this air -

It comes from beyond the edge of the world -

My eyes fill with tears -

February 2026

The smoke in your hennaed hair

Driving the rakish Dacia through the New Forest - 

Remembering a wild summer -

The smoke in your hennaed hair -

New Forest 

February 2026

Watching Hamnet

Watching the frightened boy walking towards the dark gateway - 

Trying his best to be brave -

Thinking of Jake, or Wallace -

My eyes filling with tears -

The Rex

Wareham 

January 2026 

Outside Java

We had coffee outside Java -

My heart raced when I saw you walk towards us -

I had to hide how glad I was to see you -

I thought of you resting your head on my shoulder -

Your tears -

How you had come into my life -

Java

Swanage 

February 2026