tornado

those poor cars those poor cars

• video

a scene on the ganges is described

 a scene on the ganges is described

is this the real world
at the end of a path of words
overhung with expectation 
a scene unfolds in disbelief 
and yet he says he saw it
just as described
i do so want to believe
for then i can plan to go there
and replay the words into the river’s wind
the sunset’s solitude
and kneel there
momentarily

gasp

 gasp

you can’t speak without breathing

for air is free speech

you cannot write a poem without the muse

who comes uninvited and without a fee

if you stop speaking or writing until you are paid

you will smother creativity 

and maybe

just maybe 

i will never return

it said 

chaplet

 chaplet 

on lengthening vines

all  the  rest  less 

birds of summer

talk is of going south

of following the old birds

their taste tales of Africa

with their tails in the air

are you ready 

steady …

twittering

overwintering

the cat’s dog days

 the cat’s dog days

a cat stalks

the sun

in the lavender stalks

it all talks of

the dog days of summer

that have been seen off

how the words fall 

that have seen it all

the cat twirls three times

and dozes off

just sayings

 just sayings

in the lost woods

the voices of my mum and dad

the funny sayings they had

a fire to warm me

now that i am lost in the turning 

they were such strange sayings

head under the pillow stuff

dark window stuff

distant train stuff

to who 

will i turn to

now that the turntable is

sending me back down the track 

muttering all those sleepy sayings

just one more for the road 

if not now then when

 if    not    now    then    when

i said that one day i was going to visit

she said if not now then when

and i thought and thought 

i was still thinking when they said

your time is up