Water Lane

I imagine living in Water Lane -

The river flowing past my house -

Gentle ghosts on its steep stair -

Exquisite paintings on the walls -

I'd walk there from the cathedral -

Past quiet doorways -

Heating music from gracious rooms -

Remembering joyous afternoons -

I'd imagine you -

Beautiful and smiling -

A clock slowly ticking -

Sunlight falling on a shaker chair -

Water Lane 

Salisbury 

April 2026

Lizzie Gardens

Trees in new leaf in Lizzie Gardens -

Blossoms falling on the grass -

Playing sharks with Jake -

His smiles a promise of summer -

Salisbury 

March 2026

He'd once commanded hawks

Brian returns -

I've been in hospital he says -

Shivering on his mobility scooter -

His heart failing -

His beard longer -

He'd once commanded hawks -

Been a friend of bees -

Been gifted honey -

The wind that waits will blow him away -

As though he were shaped out of fallen leaves -

Swanage 

March 2026

Wearing my chinos like Prufrock

Eating a Cornish pasty on the seafront -

The dinosaur roaring above the Pirate Golf -

Gulls swaggering -

Breathing salty air -

Wearing my chinos like Prufrock -

Swanage 

March 2026

You may not be aware, but you know

Peter gave me The Messiah's Handbook -

I thought of you -

How brave you were -

How beautiful -

There was only one question to ask -

March 2026

With every word

Walking by the river -

Under the plane trees -

Listening to you telling me about your life -

Loving you more with every word you said -

London 

March 2026

Wanting the march to never end

Being part of this vast joyous crowd -

Hearing songs and wild exultant drums - 

My feet urged to dance -

Reading the brave words on banners held up by faithful hands -

Filled with the desire to turn the world upside down -

No longer just one voice -

Or a mute tongue -

Being with you, my comrade, in this city of memory and dream -

Wanting the march to never end -

London

March 2026

,