Tom's beard

 Tom's beard is like a prophet's -

The beard of a sage -

As though he were leading his people -

Following a pillar of fire -

Or sitting outside a dacha -

Bearing witness with a sorrowful pen -



Swanage 

September 30 2026 

Dancing to the music of The Blue Racoons

George sat at the story teller's feet -

His sleek head glowed with love -


On a table were the tiny bones of a watch -

There was a guitar leaning against a chair -


George knew all the stories -

In his head he was dancing to the music of The Blue Racoons -

Swanage 

September 29 2026 

The joy of a flat white after swimming

The joy of a flat white after swimming -

Our numbed fingers becoming warm -

The bravery of your gaze -

Your smile -

Pier Cafe

Swanage 

September 28 2026 

Beguiled

I was beguiled by this hidden garden -

There was a holly tree with bright leaves -

Berries in red clusters on slim branches -

Pale green apples in a shapely tree -

A rose still in bloom with luscious silky petals -

Gargoyles were hanging from the church tower -

Grasping the lichened stones -

Their mouths gaping above an olive tree -

Rain would soon fall -

Beyond the narrow gate were old houses filled with silence -

A giant lay on the hill under rearing clouds - 

Cerne Abbas

September 27 2026 

Watching a Harry Potter

I'm watching a Harry Potter on ITV 2 -

Malfoy sneering - 

Hermione like a bright flame in the dark -

Dementors like bad dreams - 

The Old School House

East Stoke 

September 26 2026

Our tears became golden guineas

Whilst he spoke, we felt the heat of a sullen sky - 

The weight of chains - 

We were given new names -

Our tears became golden guineas - 

The Mowlem

Swanage 

September 25 2026 

in the mirror I see his face

I wear my dad's watch -

A delicate Tissot -

I remember it on his thin wrist -

I held his hand that last afternoon - 

I said I love you - 

I think of him now whilst I hear my heart - 

When I look at my hands I see his hands - 

In the mirror I see his face - 

The Old School House 

East Stoke 

September 24 2026 

Scented with memory

The tall villa, overlooking the bay -

Its dark windows -


Pushing open the front door -

The still air in the hall, scented with memory -


Park Road 

Swanage

September 23 2026

Glioblastoma

The hospital bed in the lounge -

The ruin of her husband's body -

The ashes in her eyes -

The Focus Centre 

Swanage 

September 22 2026 

You wore a geometric dress

You sat next to me whilst the saxophones poured out their golden notes -

I had to force myself not to turn and look at you -

You wore a geometric dress -

I knew the shape of your lovely body from our swims together -

Your legs were brown and bare -

You'd smiled when you saw me -

You're gorgeous I'd said -

We listened to the jazz -

Your husband said he was too tired to have a drink -

You walked me to the car -

The sky above the castle was a darkening blue -

When I held you a third time I said I shouldn't be doing this -

Yes you should you said -

September 2026 

Stars fall on me from heaven

I'm reading William Blake and the Sea Monsters of Love -

An angel holds my hand -


Stars fall on me from heaven -

When I look in the mirror I see that I am beautiful - 

The Old School House 

East Stoke 

September 20 2026

At the Bring and Share

Slyly uncorking a Merlot - 

Gazing about me -


These bottles of red -

Slices of quiche -


The retired vicar's neat beard -

The young MP -

Hearing the slightly tipsy laughter -

The shared names -


Moving through the well mannered house -

Like being a ghost amongst these worthies -

These former comrades -

Lucinda's house

Swanage

September 19 2026

The windows of my heart flung open

Holding his small hand - 

The windows of my heart flung open -

Walking in the light of his joy -

Salisbury 

September 18 2026 

There were still apples on the tree

There were still apples on the tree -

So many -


Like those moments with you -

Even now, at the very end of my autumn -

Bringing summer back - 

The Old School House 

East Stoke 

September 17 2026

Rose drinks her tea

Rose smiles her wary smile -

Gravelly voiced, she's shrugged off death threats - 

She knows which numbers to call -

Wise with her memory of the streets -

Reaching for her tea -

As though she were still in her office -

Her lanyard round her neck - 

Waiting to hear the next desperate story - 

Herston Hall

Swanage 

September 16 2026 

You think I can fix myself?

A chilled Carling - 

My first glass - 

House -

He's smashing a mirror -

You think I can fix myself ? -

The Old School House

East Stoke

15 September 2026 

I was your castaway

I watched the mist from the sea hide rooftops -

Veil the bay where I'd swum with with you - 

Your house like an island - 

I was your castaway - 

Swanage

September 14 2026 

A forgiving sea

I wake up in my dream drenched bed -

I'd placed three shells by my pillow -

Each one perfect -

A memory of a forgiving sea - 

The Old School House

East Stoke 

September 13 2026 

Leaving the cottage

Leaving the cottage -

The thick stone walls, whitewashed to a dazzle - 

The low ceilinged rooms - 

The porthole window -

The apple tree in the salty garden - 

The soft beds where we heard the voice of the sea - 

Veronica Cottage

Portscatho 

September 12 2026 

Last night at The Standard

A snug like a burrow -

Paintings of dead captains -


A glass of Tribute in the riotous garden -

A starless sky - 

The Standard

Portscatho 

September 2026 

Queen of Falmouth

Breathing wild air -

The boat side on to the waves -

Spray chilling our faces -

Glimpsing a yacht with swollen sails -

A lighthouse on a headland -

A reef of clouds in the sky -

Queen of Falmouth 

St Mawes Falmouth Ferry

September 2026 

Percuil River

I rowed the white dinghy out into the river -

Past yachts and sleek RIBs -

The wind ruffling the water - 

Trees lining the curving channel - 

Anne sweeping by on her blue kayak - 

Eyes hidden by sunglasses - 

Warm sunlight dancing on the waves - 

Both of us in a watery Eden - 

Percuil River 

Cornwall

September 2026 

Swimming off Towan Beach

I can still feel the water I swam in -

The memory of the waves on my skin -

The blueness of the sky above me -

The beauty of the clouds -

Towan Beach 

Cornwall

September 2026 

St Just in Roseland

As though I were remembering a dream -

The deep valley -

The gentle greenery over mossy beds -

The church with its ancient name -

Heaven reflected in the silent river -

St Just in Roseland

September 2026 

Portscatho twilight

Walking back up the hill -

Away from the small harbour -

The fishing boats resting on the sand -

Past curtains hiding gentle rooms -

Gardens facing the sea -

Lampposts glimmering in the salty twilight -

Followed by our earlier selves -

Anne, going to a dance -

There, in the Memorial Hall -

Myself, on the clifftop path -

Wearing a shirt as blue as the sea - 

Portscatho 

September 2026 

Another end of days

We walked past sun burnt dads -

Lean Amazons sculpting sand castles -

A prowling herring gull -

Beach huts with chirruping radios -

Salty grandchildren -

Having tea in the Cabin with Union Jacks snapping in the wind -

The blue zinging sea -

Thinking it was like walking with Roth or Zweig in Ostend -

Another nervy summer -

Another end of days -


Swanage 

September 2026

Watching House

House scowls, lurching on his cane -

His eyes burn -

He speaks in savage metaphors -


In his apartment, he plays icy jazz piano -

He talks with ghosts -

Remembers how he will be alone -


September 2026

We said goodbye

We said good bye to the kindly Baptist nanas -

To the sand tray, the play dough -

The singing in a circle -

The cup cakes -

The Welsh boyo of a minister with his parables -

The gentle grandad with his wispy beard -

The young mums fluttering round their buggies -

My heart was full -

One precious chapter ending -

Goodbye Jake they said -

Goodbye  -

Salisbury 

September 2026

After the A Train

I woke up thinking of you -

How you wore a long red dress -


How I kept looking at you -

Unable to look away -


Your arms were bare -

Your smile was my world -


When we hugged each other I said how lovely you were -

When you asked if I would still swim with you I said yes yes -

Swanage 

September 2026 

Leaves falling from a golden tree

The quartet is playing Bye Bye Blackbird -

It's slowly getting dark -

The notes of Rob's saxaphone are  like leaves falling from a golden tree -

The Mowlem 

Swanage 

September 2026