Today's poet

[Harry H Howgill]

Night Garden

Your mouth, a hand
against my mouth.
Pressed to earth, we dream
of ocean: heat-soaked, washed
with exhaustion, our mariner's sleep
haunted by smells of garden--fresh rosemary
thirty miles off Spain. Long grasses
sway the bottom of our boat.
We follow a sequence
of scents complex as music,
navigate earth places, sea places, follow
acoustics of mountains,
warbler instinct in the dark--
Siberia, Africa, and back--
phosphor runways guiding us to shore,
moonlight half eaten by the waves.

Across the lawn, a lit window floats.
Welts of lupine. You remember
an open window, Arabian music
through wet beeches. We know we're moving
at tremendous speed, that if it could be seen
the stars would be a smear
of velocity. But all is still,
pinioned. In the night garden,
light is a swallowed cry.
Naked in the middle of the city
the stars grow firm in our mouths.

Anne Michaels (my favourite)

That is one of the most lovely poems that I think I've ever read. A great choice Hes and another author to add to the list to take more time to discover.

[Harry H Howgill]

Goodness. Looks like we're in for an Emo night.

We're a fickle bunch, we'll have a beautifully varied natter as always.

I got another book too, by G. Basil Sleigh (anyone with initials in their name can't be bad!) Looks like he's a local to me. This ones from 1923.

Windermere

Many a man has travelled the Earth
In search of Glory's Wine!
Many a man has sought for Mirth
In the eyes of a Maid divine!
Many the Charms that bind the Heart
With spell of a Mystic Shrine!
Good Earth teems
With Magic Dreams -
Windermere, you're mine.

Out of a boat, as a three-year-old,
I fell in your fond embrace!
Many a fire, as a Pirate Bold!
I lit, with a Picnic face!
Many a fish I filched from you
With a stick and a pin and twine!
Memory teems
With Boyhood Dreams -
Windermere, you're mine.

Purple in sunset of Autumn Glow
Your stately Fairfield sleeps.
Melody taught your Becks to flow,
And Harmony wedded your Deeps.
Poetry lurks in every Bay,
And haunts each scented Pine!
Beauty teems,
With Lover's Dreams -
Windermere, you're mine.

[Old Whippet]

feeling lazy, but Freckle, Tri-mind, Hes, Mossdog, Harry, Derby T, x-runner.... thanks for your contributions today. Some quality reading and creation.
Hope Feckle that you've had a cold shower!

[Harry H Howgill]

Hi OW

I know what you mean. I think some of us are a little burnt out at the moment. A weekend of sleep, running, drink and friends should see us come good again.

cheers

HHH

feeling lazy, but Freckle, Tri-mind, Hes, Mossdog, Harry, Derby T, x-runner.... thanks for your contributions today. Some quality reading and creation.
Hope Feckle that you've had a cold shower!

[Harry H Howgill]

Happy the man, and happy he alone,
He who can call today his own:
He who, secure within, can say,
Tomorrow do thy worst, for I have lived today.

John Henry Dryden

[Derby Tup]

icy lobby draught
chills breakfasting Englishman
hot coffee pleases

[Old Whippet]

icy lobby draught
chills breakfasting Englishman
hot coffee pleases

Hey DT - it's midnight on Friday, and I'm a bit pissed, but I do enjoy these treats from the orient. Your poetry is turning to a cracking travelogue.

[Derby Tup]

Hey DT - it's midnight on Friday, and I'm a bit pissed, but I do enjoy these treats from the orient. Your poetry is turning to a cracking travelogue.

Thanks Whippet. It's eight o'clock in the morning here and last night's bottles of Tsingtao seem a long time ago

Working today but got tomorrow (err, Sunday) off for sightseeing so hoping for some inspiration

[Hes]

Hey DT - it's midnight on Friday, and I'm a bit pissed, but I do enjoy these treats from the orient. Your poetry is turning to a cracking travelogue.

You and me both...shouldn't have had that last talisker! I had high hopes for writing this evening but I am going to go to bed...work tomorrow and an early start. Goodnight all.x

[Hes]

Happy the man, and happy he alone,
He who can call today his own:
He who, secure within, can say,
Tomorrow do thy worst, for I have lived today.

John Henry Dryden

well said!!