George Last night I dreamt of Club Tropicana again. The pool house with inflatable donuts on the heated water, at the end of his garden in Highgate, with a view across Hampstead Heath. He’d wake late, smoke a joint, record demos. He loved throwing his acrobatic voice around the basement studio. After lunch he’d lookContinue reading “Poem: George”
Category Archives: Poetry
Poem: Me and Kenneth Williams
Me and Kenneth Williams We met over suds in the Russell Square laundrette. Afternoons, we lie together on his single bed slacks, socks, shirts and v-neck sweaters on. Watching or not watching each other’s closeness. The national anthem plays on the television. The Beeb keeps us in taxis and sensible shoes. I feel favourite forContinue reading “Poem: Me and Kenneth Williams”
Poem: The Taxidermist
The Taxidermist The squirrel had been in the freezer for weeks, wrapped up tightly in Tesco bags wedged between the frozen fish and quorn. His evening was just beginning, giving me a quick kiss whilst putting on his rubber gloves. The bathroom was soon heavy with blood and borax. He used a scalpel and nailContinue reading “Poem: The Taxidermist”
Poem: Vogue
Vogue Whitney Houston, Eartha Kitt Gladys Knight and Bessie Smith. Ellen, Björk, and Britney Jean on the cover of a magazine. George Eliot, Austen, Jane Intellectuals, eternal fame. Nicki Raps, Madonna’s grand Beyonce and Babs Streisand They have style, they have grace Nichelle Nichols explored space. Michelle Obama, Malala too, Hillary Clinton, we love youContinue reading “Poem: Vogue”
House Keys in Porridge Magazine
My poem “House Keys” was recently featured in Porridge Magazine. Porridge post interesting work with accompanying visual art and I feel like the match of this poem with a Jackson Pollock painting is perfect. Here’s a link
Poem: Behind the British Museum
Behind the British Museum The road is closed on Montague Place and a mobile crane has been engaged to sift through the contents of the lorry and hoist up particular blondewood boxes. Anonymous, they sail upward with a slow spin steadied by the neon orange safety straps. Bodies inside bandages inside caskets inside boxes, theContinue reading “Poem: Behind the British Museum”
Poem: Ex
Ex In time the standing water on the upside down mugs on the draining board will be gone, left to the atmosphere imperceptibly This poem appeared in a visual form on twitter here
Poem: Things I Miss
Things I Miss I The tug of another planet and that fraught approach across the empty. II Just when each thing has an equal answer and forces rest on a fair zero. III Being earthbound and whispering to him the secret to the science of falling.
Poem: why I’m scared to let go of the papers
why I’m scared to let go of the papers A folded boarding card from a flight long completed. The train ticket from the airport into Stockholm central station a stream of small print in Swedish. Suddenly: the clacking of the departure boards. How the American came up to me pointing in his guidebook and IContinue reading “Poem: why I’m scared to let go of the papers”
Poem: The Way Queenie Smokes
The Way Queenie Smokes Bunched up in the front of the white van he smirks tapping the cigarette, loosening ash out of the slit in the window, onto the road. Smoking is his excuse for delicacy. His long fingers are allowed extension, his wrists can move with grace. Still stained from the day on site.Continue reading “Poem: The Way Queenie Smokes”