Homage to Blueberries
Last year when visiting Paris
I saw a priest jump over a ticket barrier
A few days later I met him outside of his church
I asked him why he had tried to avoid his fare
With a gentle smile he explained
That his motorbike had given birth hours earlier
And that he was jumping for joy
A Journey to Weymouth
Lizzie come Dizzy was sitting on the coastal train looking at the distant Purbeck Hills
Although the day was bright the faraway load clouds were shadowing the smooth contours of the landscape making it quite gloomy in certain places and bright in others
In the clear blue sky the pale day moon was seeking warmth from the modest January sun
Lizzy felt snug in the warm railway carriage but knew that when she left the train she would soon face the chilled winds fresh from the sea
In one of the ornate shelters on the seafront Johnny come Lately would be waiting for her wrapped up in his leather jacket and university scarf
She found him quite quickly in the shelter nearest to the jubilee clock and for a while they watched as the brisk waves broke on to pebbled sand
How she wanted to swim in the sea and experience the ice water depths of its season
But she feared its moods and remained in her lovers arms
The following day Lizzie and Johnny walked to Portland as they were keen to visit Chesil Beach
When they arrived they found a huge pebble bank which they explored for a while before retiring to nearby inn
Lizzie come Dizzy collected five prize pebbles which in her view exhibited human facial characteristics whilst Johnny read passages of Browning to her in a soft voice often extinguished by the strengthening winds
Johnny come Lately explained that how the island had once been connected to Weymouth by a railway and how a sculptor named Henri Gaudier Brzeska had before the Great War visited the quarries in the area in search for suitable materials
He noted that the French sculptor had not survived the war and the railway was just a memory lost in the mists of time
On the day that they parted both Lizzie come Dizzy and Johnny come Lately rose well before dawn to take advantage of a stunning sunrise
In the distance a streak of yellow gold light promised a memorable day but both knew that within hours this radiance would be extinguished
Rain was forecast and little by little the light died and the grey clouds overwhelmed the town
Johnny come Lately accompanied Lizzie come Dizzy to the towns railway station and waited an hour with her until her train arrived
And after she left he walked miserably back to his parent’s house where he resumed his studies
I am passing through Wareham Bournemouth and Southampton too
Winchester Woking and Waterloo
Soon I will be warm in my little flat
Please ring me then for a loving chat
A Portrait of Anna Elizabeth Baker
Half hidden behind a fresh brick wall
You do not camouflage your perfumed stare
Only a brilliant rose challenges your authority
And in time it too will fade
Late Yellow
In your pinafore dress
You stand proud
Only a rose
Questions your stare
Letters
I am reading your blind dictionary
What words these are
I will share them
In our silent correspondence
Early Brown/Late Yellow
Early Brown
Late Yellow
Silken Sleeves
Roses Mellow