Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Dreaming in colour

the ladies with a red attitude
the man who spoke in splashes of yellow
even the white room
that was not Hugh's

Friday, April 22, 2011

closing time -
two drunks argue over which
swear word is worse

Friday, April 15, 2011

Poem written when I didn't have time

If I only had five minutes to write
I would have to write about this flitter
from one thing to another that I do
and how, now, I'm trying to slow right down
and stop the days from flickering past me
like the view from the window of a train

Sunday, April 10, 2011

how many things
do I need to dispose of
before
each one left
becomes precious?

Friday, April 08, 2011

Thursday, April 07, 2011

Tuesday, April 05, 2011

How to resist tyrannical optimism

Be pessimistic
when disaster looms
pay close attention
at the darkening of each day
find time for sadness
months or years after a loss
admit dissatisfaction with your life
when you have less than you had hoped
be sure you're not persuing someone else's dream
during the programme or the ads
do not suspend your disbelief
when the fourth wall breaks
express your disillusionment
even if others disapprove
refuse to stay forever young.

Monday, April 04, 2011

Saturday, April 02, 2011

Gained in translation

Delighted by this translation of one of my haiku by Serge Tomé on temps libres

Satie -
the rain
eases

Satie -
la pluie
diminue

Friday, April 01, 2011

Haiku found on my bookshelf



embracing the firebird
in the ship's wake
summer dreams

White

rain turns to snow
it's unclear now what lies concealed
within the radius

without, we suffer nocebo
unless we can
in rational clarity
disregard
the insidiously subtle flow

in air, water, milk
in the frost-white steam
in rain that turns to snow