POEMS

Right now I'm working on a sequence of poems inspired by Coton Orchard – a priority habitat bursting with biodiversity, but threatened by local government's plans to build a busway.  This one was written in the spring, for Blossom Day (23rd April).

Blossom’s Time
 
See these over-wintered trees –
Fissured frames, frigid limbs,
Dead fingers – their summer dreams
Lie in the grass, thin skeletons.
 
Fossil forest, caught in the act
Of marking time. Until
Earth tilts,
And one grey woollen mitten strains and splits, lets slip a lightening streak,
And the secret
Is out,
 
And out again – the change repeats
A hundred-thousand-fold, and builds
To a full, full-throated peal.
Spring’s bunting trills.
 
The gloves are off; a show of hands;
Clouds of mayflies taking flight;
Manna from heaven; wedding banns;
Silent snowfall overnight.
 
Morning’s broken; bright new world.
Arresting sight beseeches, Stay!
But as the final bud unfurls,
Three petals drift away.

Telling Time

This collection of poems appeared on my blog during the lockdown. They were written, in an attempt to tell, in all senses of that word, the time.  Like most people’s experience of those months, it’s a mixed lot, in both mood and measure. At the end, I collected them into this small book.

It's another world now, but I've kept the blog as a record, along with audio tracks of readings and the original reflections. And there are still a few copies of the book – £6, to include postage and packing in the UK. All proceeds go to The Woodland Trust. You can get a preview by clicking the cover.

Telling Time

£6.00

Buy now

I haven’t yet figured out shipping overseas! But if you’re outside the UK and would like a copy, send me a message letting me know where you are and we’ll work something out.