The Ferryman’s Arms - by
About to sit down with my half-pint of Guinness
I was magnetized by a remote phosphorescence
and drawn, like a moth, to the darkened back room
where a pool-table hummed to itself in the corner.
games
The Plinky-Boat - by
Something near to true
night-darkness. The children
are playing the Plinky-Boat –
a xylophone made
from a reclaimed yoal
Rounders in the Dark - by
The circle shrinks
/ as players one by one
/ are summoned by a shout;
/ till in the gloaming none remains
/ to catch the…
Celestial Planisphere, a glow-in-the-dark jigsaw for ages 7+ - by
That box held the moon and the sun and more,
a stash that made you superheroic,
expert on constellations and the zodiac,
the universe studding your bedroom floor.
Hanging On - by
I’m hanging on to your early days
/ when you can’t wait for me to arrive
/ for cuddles and tickles and…
Charades with Freya (7) - by
Animals are easy. I can do penguin waddle,
/ hoppy frog, snappy croc. And Actions – all
/ those ings – dancing,…
To Any Reader - by
As from the house your mother sees
/ You playing round the garden trees,
/ So you may see, if you will look
/ Through the…
The Swing - by
How do you like to go up in a swing,
/ Up in the air so blue?
/ Oh, I do…
Chai ya Jioni - by
Wakati tunywapo chai hapa upenuni
/ Na kuwatazama watoto wetu
/ Wakicheza bembea kwa furaha
/ Tujue kamba ya bembea yetu
/ Imeshalika na imeanza kuoza
/ Na bado kidogo…
The Death of Old Men - by
Old Henri is dying.
/ Children play tag in the dust.
/ And we, whose world is next,
/ sit with him under the tree
/ and watch…
The Land of Story-Books - by
At evening when the lamp is lit,
/ Around the fire my parents sit;
/ They sit at home and talk and sing,
/ And do…
Teams - by
I would have skipped the stupid games,
/ long afternoons spent chilled in goal,
/ or sleepy, scratching, in deep field,
/ leapt…