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