Long Northwards Poems

"The Payload" 

The payload 
came crashing down
like rain expelled
from the fat belly 
of a ruinous pregnant cloud 
bilious with buxom promise

it came crashing down 
like school fish released 
from the tight confines
of a course rope...

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It had come, at last, today was the day
you see, it was full moon and that meant
it was time for the initiation ceremony
over the next week Mambo would complete tasks

Then he would become a man...

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The bombers began to bleed
their heavy tears of death
from 20,000 feet above the breathless battlefield, 
B-17 Flying Fortress formations
moving with apocalyptic aplomb
the shadows of high metal crosses by the hundreds
rippling along the rugged roman earth
bringing...

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But the mood of celebration
Lasted only for a short time 
Very few returned to thank them
Han and Matto found this puzzling 
 

Chapter 2 BLOOD MOON
 
Through the days and nights that followed 
Spread a...

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CHAPTER 3 The River
 
While they paused to rest a moment 
Han gazed suddenly behind them
To the south a long way distant
Faintly rose a hazy ribbon
 
From the grassland; Han spoke quietly,
"Loved ones, we are...

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...A jolt ran though the broken men,
like wraiths they rose, streamed for the door,
Gobayth waved them on until
nobody remained anymore.
They raced on towards the small hut
where all of the pick-aces lay,
some guards were starting to...

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...The sharp-shooters opened on him first,
Cutting down fifteen of his dragoons,
Tartleton ordered a grand charged,
with his infantry now on the move.

The sharp-shooters fired and fell back,
were absorbed in the second line,
who had been ordered to...

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Bleached bones of a fallen beast,
Casting a shadow that points
To the east,
A cowboy rides out
With a noose round his neck,
Travelling north on a
Perilous trek.

The noose is a reminder
That his life is not his,
Not that he...

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"Westward, further out ..."

Dusk washes over you
warm like honey 
saltry and sweet
immersed in amber tones of 
apricot alerts and rose 
swirling unfurling peonies 
the blooming silent dancing clouds 
rush over white horses 
crashing against 
bracken...

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The fire

burn the furn
the forest is on fire
light eyes
sparkle in cloven escarpment
drizzle the muzzle around the bear
h’s so aware
tear the trees
in the east
feast
the birds screeching clawing
gnawing at the spectacular horizon
torching the ghostly night
awakened with fright
my...

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The last sigh of the Moor, King Boabdil,
As he flees the triumphant Ferdinand,
Echoes round slopes of a mist-shrouded hill.
He looks back for the last time at the land
That he once ruled. `Weep as a woman...

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Hand in hand with the breaking pink light of dawn, 
A light east breeze dances on tiptoes upon the water’s surface. 
I stand on the wooden deck, looking out onto the quiet bay,
Scattered boats gently...

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Let me count the days since spring
And with jays and canaries sing
The moment of birth. I was born
At the bud of the young ram's horn
Fiery as a Mars in his van of war
O I love...

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I had wandered a path
and followed a star
traveling northwards
it was quite bizarre


this will inside
was not my own
but something foreign
ill have you know


I finally rested
at a palms broad feet
wiped off my face
the night I did greet


far...

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Smart savior see, listen my genuine words
Happy heart come, come check beyond
Every sweet word me, every pillar towards
Establishing a good home, too firm a bond

Kind from now we, East West or Northwards
Someone somewhere saw, a...

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A speck drifts in the wind blown hither and tither,
Briefly settling then takes to the air once more.
Now a charged particle thanks to the storm,
It flitters around like a beautiful butterfly.

Travelling the world at the...

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The rains are here, relentless as ever
The grass blade is excited like never
The season of hibernation is over
Swirling in water,  as a duck dumpling
  in sauce
The blade of grass has come home

A rich...

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