how it does jar
where is the jar of majesty
that they scoop up to bestow
upon a new consort found
where another fell away
cuckold me now that royal
blue-blooded majesty
i would like some now today
quickly quickly
anoint me with that majesty
for i feel a kingship coming on
oh come on now come on now
that’s no way to treat your king
ragamuffins 1955
ragamuffins castellated around their red hole seats
jump inside and to one side the black culvert
with the stove-in corrugated roof
fill it with smoke and the winner stays
the longest coughing a blue earned respect
ochre cinder tips grass covered
not the black clinking tip’s shining slag
paths foot-inscribed and changing with
the excavations of the cranes deciding
on the rise and fall of adventures
step beyond last daring step
every death-defying truth unknown
beyond the company of pals
ragamuffins one and all
not one shoe unshod
every item of clothing unclothed in rips
the soils of these self same tips
seven tarmac pyramids
of historical extraction unknown
leaping from one to the other
the epitome of habitual bravado
to the grass-kneed slope of the king’s castle
and down goes the invader’s enfilade
sally rhubarb clubbing away their rights
two paths one destination
two paths of an infinite return
with the medals of adventures
changing time and again hammering
play into its rightful place
the steps to adulthood understood
but hidden in insider games
what was afoot was being afoot
on top of this industrial detritus
to us it was out to play
for kids in my day went out to play
and devil take the hindmost
and often did
i saw it with my own eyes
a long long time ago
there were these ragamuffins
and i was one of them
with my own seat
on the castellated red hole
the king of the castle
i was
a ramble through autumn
castlewards by autumn light
smoked rayed these bonfire days
butterflies long gone and butterfled
for the days are growing cold
kick rustle leaves down narrow ways
a conspiracy of orchard light
settling in all the red skins
of apples meant for pies
walk besides the sea with me
how gentle seems the rise and fall
the buoys are bare for all
the boats are safe ashore
there in the east
the wind will rise one day soon for sure
the sea will rise and cast ashore
the flotsam of the year
back west the weltering sun has gone
the shadow light creeps by hours
weary are our steps it seems
but what’s in our hearts is ours
by hours and hours
all takes it turn to turn
re pose
in that moment
that moment becomes that moment
if you look
where you are looking
you will fall over
the look will find you
when relaxation is complete
composure
returns to that moment
isn’t it just unjust
inside a poem
we look around at everyone
and all we see is our reflection
reflecting on that
we see everyone reflecting
behind us a multitude
stop jostle pushing
in front of us a void
there is no one there to help
inside a poem
there is just isn’t
it’s a one way trip
… or reason
the poem tripped over a rhyme
fell in the slime
not worth a dime (any more)
prose rose
called follow me me
over the top
it was
no harm as styes stay
duly born of noblesse oblige
puerperal psychoses do abound
around memorable poppy days
forgetting to remember
i am ostracised in
the vegetable aisle
of this sceptred isle
that once fought colonial wars
british heroes ?
my grandpa told my dad
no bloody way ! he emphasised
you keep your head down son
and so that lie died
parading up and down
on no harm as styes stay
with their medals
they are as happy as pigs in shit
what is it the poet did once deride
‘dulce et decorum est pro patria mori’
who you looking at !!
i offered the cat
two fingers of cream
but she couldn’t decide
to i proffered one
but she preferred the other
life is but a dream
do you remember that day
today
when you arrive back
on the plane
i will be waiting
like i waited all those years ago
that first time
when the snow swirled
and you were late and
you ran all the way
do you remember that day
and i kissed you
that way
in the lamplight
your eyes wide
i remember it as if it were yesterday
i have been waiting ever since
it’s out the result is in
when all is said and done
they have gone and spoken
but what have they gone and done
what have they gone and said