Reading Imperial Bedrooms in Salisbury

The curtains were drawn to keep the room cool and dark -

 I was reading Imperial Bedrooms -

I imagined LA sunlight fell on Salisbury -

I held a tumbler of Grey Goose in my hand -

My face showed nothing -

I wondered what else was not real -

Salisbury 

May 2026 

Watching Mulholland Drive a second time

I was beguiled once more -

Spellbound, helpless -

Dizzy with unease -

Caught in a net of dreams -

May 2026

A cobweb of memory

A small hand touched mine as I turned the pages -

I saw my name, written many times -

The classroom a cobweb of memory -

May 2026 

Dark birds

Anne says there'll be a thunder storm -

The air is still -

Dark birds fly over the pine trees -

East Stoke

May 2026

Waiting

Waiting for the story my blood will tell -

Now breathing different air -

Becoming smoke -

A pale shape in the summer garden -

May 2026 

I know you said

I was the first to leave the sauna -

Darting across the sand -

Past bright pedalos -

Sunbathing dads -

Swimming in the Bank Holiday sea -

I turned to see you follow -

You were with Amanda, one of your dearest friends -

I swam up to you -

All I knew was your smile and the joy of the waves -

This is wonderful I said -

I know you said -

Studland 

May 2026 

Low tide at South Beach

Walking towards the sea on ribbed sand -

Low tide -

Seaweed curling round my ankles in the shallows -

Pine trees above the green shore -

The joyous shock of the waves -

Afterwards, the warmth of the guernsey -

The memory of your voice -

South Beach 

Studland 

May 2026