In a bar at a table we drink beer
full of cheers and cheers, cheer;
Andrew plays with musical toys
boisterous, boy-like, boisterous toys:
drinkers turn with ready eyes
and barmaids feint in mock surprise
at such momentous foolery now and here.
By the kitchen table, we chomp toast:
into taste and teeth and taste;
chewing faces - smiles like sun
it’s fun, it’s fun, it’s funny fun
and, as the sun drops Yorkshire hills,
our sample set of simple thrills
begins to end - a singular day is done.
Ingredients
Me
Bulk
Hands
Smile
Symmetry
Target
Important
Serious
Ignoring
Focused
Folly, like writing, watching TV, cooking, talking.
Steps
Distract target by moving condiments to strange places.
Put salt in sugar. Balance vinegar on an edge.
Put pepper into kettle.
While target distracted by condiments, assail main folly
like scribble on paper, change channels, drop a few eggs, interrupt by singing.
Vibrate.
Look into eyes.
Say sorry.
Laugh.
Smile.
Sleep soundly.
When you visit an old One in the Care Home
it’s not much fun;
not so beautiful to clap eyes on frames
and hunchbacks;
the lady with a dress riding too high
boo-hooing
and Aunt’s intensity ‘You don’t know what it’s like for me.
No one does.’
But up there on the incessant flat screen,
bright as a galaxy, the Beijing Olympics,
team GB, greatest achievement,
UK athletes (all that gold)
with medals, anthems, shining faces,
thighs and torso, smoothly dolphin,
all the family proud as Punch
and the nation pleased as Punch
so I turn,
sever Auntie’s gaze,
when only two dimensions
grab me more than starving eyes
and it makes her cry;
that I look away.
Only his mouth expresses a sound
in a moment floating as if in a bubble,
squeezing out air towards a crowd
who dangle in hope for his very next word
(reaching and straining for peace - or trouble;
like a white butterfly or chasing hound.)
His word vibrates and sound bows down:
ripples to nothing - so efforts re-double.
Only his mouth expresses a sound.
Beyond me, out there, in time and space
I can reach and touch my own best friend;
a boy with a laughing carefree face
with a sensitive gaze and a magic hand.
Beyond me, out there, in time and space
his nose is as curved as a pirate hook
and his eyes two shining oyster beds;
I can always, headlong, smile and look
at a young buccaneer with a grinning head:
His nose is as curved as a pirate hook!
I have only to know in my heart he's there
and to sing out his name with a carefree joy
and he’ll perk his left side dangling ear;
just like me - a rainbow boy:
I have only to know in my heart he's there.
Beyond me, out there, in time and space
we are happy and easy, a church bell rings
and, wonder of time, it tolls in place
a kingdom made for a perfect king.
Beyond me, out there, in time and space.
‘Hey Mister, look what I got in this jam jar;
I got a pet bumble, I got a pet bee!
Her name is Maisy, I’ll keep her forever
Maisy is pretty and Maisy is me.’
Maisy batters and buzzes the glass;
Energy can go beyond the airless
And an old man in the station
Clumsily tries to pick up 5p
Again and again with cold white fingers;
Clubs of intensity ‘Do it for me!’
On his head he wears a jaunty cap,
‘Make sure you catch your train’ he grins ‘young chap’
And so, ‘I’ll tell you what, let’s twist the cap’
And with a rush of air then Maisy’s free.
I run for crinkled chips
to share with my best mates.
Skipping down a yellow beach,
I kick at racing shadows
and whoops - chips grin back
from filthy sand
but a few gilded beauties
linger in the plastic tray.
A mardy-thought;
a quick fox-glance:
my mates are playing cricket.
Eat the clean ones quick!
Then time to share the awesome news:
of detritus.
