Remembering the first day of term ...

Teachers' cars filled the car park - 

It was the first day of the Spring Term - 

On my way to the Sports Centre, I heard the bell for the first lesson - 

I remembered those mornings when I'd walked into my waiting classroom - 

The holidays were over - 

I'd face my first class, a carnival of idle boys - 

I'd tell them to colour in the map of The Roman Empire - 

I'd stare in longing at the classroom clock - 

I'd look out my window at the playground - 

Above it was the blue freedom of the sky - 

11.00

Wednesday 4 January 2017

Purbeck Sports Centre

Purbeck School

Wareham

Dorset

The curse of Hootenanny ...

It's the curse of Hootenanny Anne said -

She put down her Horse's Neck - 

Seasick Steve shook his beard - 

Jools was wearing wearing his gangster suit with dangerous lapels - 

Two men had clocks for heads - 

John Cooper Clarke smiled a desolate smile - 

Roy Wood sang Blackberry Way - 

They've dug him up I said - my eyes brimmed with tears - 

I remembered buying the 45 - 

I wore a green velvet jacket - 

My friends had paradise in their pockets - 

Roy sang then with the angels - 

The small town became a secret world of mystery and wonder - 

Saturday  31 December 2016

The Old School House

East Stoke

Dorset

In Waterstones ...

Whilst Anne braved fitting room mirrors, I leafed through new books in Waterstones - 

I saw the woman who looked like Angela Carter - 

When I'd bought The Sacred History of The World she'd laughed - 

That's a bonkers book she'd said - 

But it's wonderfully mad - 

I picked up a Julian Barnes - 

I imagined hearing a black Zil drive past my fearful apartment block - 

Outside, in Falkland Square there were three beggars - 

The sky was an icy merciless blue - 

Soon it would be dark - 

16.00

Tuesday 2 January 2016

Waterstones

Poole 

Dorset 

At Joe's ...

We ate Ocean's brownies after our walk on Ballard Down - 

At the next table, city dwellers wore waxed jackets - 

Quiet waves stirred delicate shells - 

A small dog explored a dark necklace of seaweed - 

The pale sea reflected the light of the hidden sun - 

High above the bay, upon the windswept path, we'd kept company with our memories - 

Beneath our feet were flints and shining bones - 

Beautiful clouds filled the sky - 

Walking with us were our precious shadows, each one now warm, full of colour, each one redeemed, forgiven - 

13.15

Sunday 1 January 2016

Joe's Cafe

South Beach

Studland

Dorset 

Waiting for midnight ...

I shall wear the New Year like a cloak of yellow feathers - 

I shall wait for midnight before a slow burning fire - 

Anne will sing sorrowful yet beautiful songs - 

There will be golden apples upon the ancient tree - 

Jewelled birds will sing upon its lichened branches - 

Ageless stories will be written upon the sky -

A watch which tells a different time will be placed around my wrist - 

23.30

Saturday 31 December 2016

The Old School House

East Stoke

Dorset 

 

After the movie ...

I walked up West Street, my mind still full of stars - 

I'd seen strange creatures in ancient cities - 

Spaceships had orbited planets like terrible angels - 

The mist filling the quiet street hid the moon - 

Street lights glimmered like gentle suns - 

Each house I passed was a nest of dreams - 

21.55

Friday 30 December 2016

West Street

Wareham

Dorset 

After the vodka lollies ...

After the vodka lollies, I needed the gym -

Rob greeted me with a wry smile - 

A stroke referral walked slowly between the cross trainers - 

A beautiful young Amazon lifted weights - 

I watched Bargain Hunt on the flat screens -

A bravo with a cropped rug looked at a brutal wristwatch - 

Driving to the gym, I'd listened to Captain Beefheart - 

Strange guitars pulsed as the Captain sang - 

I may be hungry but I sure ain't weird - 

12.30

Thursday 29 December 2016

Purbeck Sports Centre

Wareham

Havant