Giovanna led us singing ...

Giovanna led us singing down Cornhill -

We followed her with our flags and voices -

Singing out against those who would burn the world -

They wore their lies like beautiful clothes -

All they would leave was ash and bitter water -



Friday 14 February 2020


Dorchester 

A tropic sun in the Dorset sky ...

Water lapped against the door of The Old Granary -

Cherished Skodas were endangered by the tide -

The slow river had overflowed its banks -

The gentle town was now part of a drowned world -

In time, flamingos would nest on St John's Hill -

Emerald creepers would hang from the lampposts -

Spooky orchids would cover the effigy of T E Lawrence -

Iguanas would bask in South Street -

A tropic moon would burn in the Dorset sky -



Thursday 13 September 2020


The Town Quay
Wareham
Dorset 

Riding with the Irishman ...

Last night I rode with the Irishman in the killing car -

Drugstore windows reflected our cruel fins -

Our chrome mouth shone in the light of the American moon -

We drove past Italian restaurants -

Men with wizened faces poured themselves murderous chasers -

I wore, like the Irishman, an inscrutable mask -

I slept in gaudy hotels -

I saw the murder of a president on a smoky screen -

I smelled the oily smell of dollars -

I watched the final killing -

A single tear on the Irishman's cheek -

I was engulfed by this timely parable -

Keep the door open Father the Irishman said -



Wednesday 12 February 2020

The Rex
Wareham
Dorset

Between storms ...

The cove was bathed in golden light -

We'd walked past the empty holiday cottages -

Narrow pebbled paths led to blue doors -

Thatched roofs enfolded chill bedrooms -

For a moment, the air was still -

We were between storms -

We stood on the beach of white stones -

I wore no watch -

We waited for the wind -




Tuesday 11 February 2020


Lulworth Cove
Dorset 

The memory of the storm ...

Anne dried the sleeves of her coat before the wood burning stove -

The pristine cafe was almost empty -

Outside, icy waves broke against the dunes -

Shining stones had been cast up on the sand -

The sky held the memory of the storm -



Monday 10 February 2020


Studland
Dorset 

Storm Ciara ...

It's like being a character in J G Ballard's The Wind from Nowhere -

The wind shaking the Zoe -

Witnessing the invisible fury of the air -

Hearing its voice in the chimney -

Watching its chill fists strike the gentle town -



Sunday 9 February 2020


Wareham
Dorset

The dandy ...

I admired the sparkling shirt -

The cut of his coat -

Oh yes he said -

It's an opera coat -

I'm looking for a Fred Astaire white tie and tails -

I sipped my village hall coffee -

The gentle town's dandy looked at my long tweed coat -

Do you like dressing up he asked -

My father never liked me dressing up - 

He liked anything with four legs or a ball going into a goal -


Saturday 8 February 2020


Wareham
Dorset