I wave when I see her
she caught my attention
a few years ago now
walking somewhere
to the shops maybe
then back again
shiny silver trainers
snowy white hair
determined step
she looked like my mum
drawn to her…

A dog barks
machinery clanks
the rasping sound
of vehicles reversing
workmen shouting
in the distance
music plays

pigeons grunt
in fear of magpies
who won't be denied
albeit distracted
momentarily
by a buzzard
screeching overhead

these sounds
the sound…

this morning
on my right
and to my alarm
it isn't a match
the colours
all wrong
the styling
too flashy
hold up
is that...
gold thread
how can this be
where once
there was unison
understanding
an inseparable pair…

after all
it is just another day
the date changes
as usual
rules remain the same
hope is blasted
into thin air
a battle of fireworks
from coast to coast
why the competition
who cares
for the biggest
brightest
longest…

too old to dream
yet still I hope
too old to believe 
yet still I trust
too old for tears
but still I cry
too old for games 
yet still I try
too old to love
yet still I do…

how do they sleep at night
the decision makers
covered in blood stained cloth
they sleep fine
their decisions your demise
birds fly across their blue skies
missiles fly across yours
one head above the parapet cries
stop please stop

…

fight for freedom
fight for your family
they said
war fueled time
passes by
slowly
each inch gained
takes its toll
each inch lost
every bloody
blame filled moment
scars a soul
fight for your lives
they said 
for your…

we watch
the once powerful 
sit powerless
here to answer 
not to question
scrutiny bears down
pierces through
prepared answers
does truth need
such...
long...
pauses...
occasionally 
you cry
without compassion
we audit your tears
and wonder
what or who…

I have played...
gardens
pubs
working mens clubs
record shops
art centres
coffee shops
sheds
charity shops
churches
my double bed
barns
bandstands
a living room or two
fields
forests
zoomed with you

small festivals
big festivals
christmas fetes
acoustic…

a loud thud
on the window
startled
I jump up
look out
and there
on its back
is a song thrush
gasping
I call you
will it die
I ask
stunned I think
you say
it may recover
fly away…

Who is right?
I am,
Me too, I'm right!
Who is wrong?
Not me. Me neither.
I'm not wrong.
Our common ground

Is there a middle,
where we can meet,
see eye to eye?
A quiet place,
a place of…

it's that time
leaving
i place a smile
wave goodbye
close the door
fold in half
and cry

if no one reads you
are you read
if no one hears you
are you heard
if no one sees you
are you seen

yes you are read
because you wrote
yes you are heard
because you spoke
yes you…

Plumbing 
Leaves me cold
Under the sink
My head turned upside down oh
Ballcocks another drip 
I could call a plumber 
Not over my twisted body
Get me my big red wrench 

through a window 
to a window
where decay resides
damaged
aged 
ravaged 
adopted by neglect
broken panes gaze upon walls 
with neither ceiling or floor
fine wallpaper
skilfully hung 
hangs
fluttering
twisting into life 
certain escape
a gust away
through…

the ups and downs of 
who cares
the I'm right you're wrong of
who cares
the ins and outs of 
who cares
the your truth my truth of
who cares
the toing and froing of 
who cares
the beginning or…

I will not 
wipe away my tears
they can dry on my face
because 
no one hears me
like you did
because 
no one knows me
like you did
because 
no one loves me
like you did
I am carrying…

if I worked
in a biscuit factory
and shamed the biscuits
for being soft and tasteless
because 
in my opinion 
they are soft and tasteless
should I be vilified 
ignored
sidelined
dismissed
educated maybe
to ensure 
that in future
I…

I have to sing
somehow
somehow songs will be sung
all the way through 
to the end
without tears
then I will sing another
and another
and another
until I have a set
your set of songs 
eventually
I will…

In the distance I see three SUVs
parked on a muddy track.
Three people emerge,
one from each SUV.

My path takes me closer,
they are camouflaged,
pot bellied men,
each holds a gun.

I pass them by,
they do…

I let the silence envelop me,
cling to my form,
unable to move,
the stillness feels,
surprisingly empowering,
my inner movements 
hidden from view.

Eyes closed,
shallow breaths sustain.
An involuntary sigh,
a deep intake of life,
renders me visible…

how many years 
have I loved you 
how many months 
of you and me 
how many weeks 
have we shared 
how many days 
have we been here
how many hours 
passed us by 
how many seconds 
without goodbye 
35 years …

words invade
unwanted
wanted
they torment 
conflict
collect together 
forming lines
that demand to be written

controversial lines
political lines
self-indulgent lines
angry lines
lines that betray belief
passion spewed across white paper
meanings misconstrued
misinterpreted

released by the writing…

time measured in emotion,
hangs around,
a guest outstaying their welcome.
the hands of time
shove you against the wall,
trapping you there,
then, casually,
finds something else to do.
suspended,
unable to move on,
you look at time,
you…

It's vast, this space you have left.
I knew I would miss you,
of course I would,
but what should I do now
with this space?
Yes, there is a sort of freedom,
your parting gift,
what you wanted us…