Her cage empty the parrot has flown away, grey in the sun, prizing freedom above security risk above lockdowns She leaves Chwilog behind disdains the narrow lanes and crosses forbidden fields dodging the farmer’s guns Heading for Pwllheli, she has…
Read: Parrot on the run
Maybe the lockdown has softened me up, but it struck me that I was taking on two rather risky adventures in a matter of days when I put myself down for canoeing on the Wensum and then crossing the border…
under the green cliffwhere the red house hunkers downold sand is silent we take off our masksreveal our smiling facessurprising the ghosts on the narrow patha man with a blue suitcaseleaves his bed behind the hill fort stands highas history…
Read: A few Welsh haiku
I am just back from Wales. Normally I would be just back from Scotland, but that seemed too far away. I mean, you don’t want to be quarantined by Nicola Sturgeon, do you? And if the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital…
Pale waves nibble at grass and sand,tired riders complainingof years in the saddleas water-coloured land licks into the ocean and there is no edge,no borderjust a man singinginto an angry crowdwhile the band leaves the stage Footprints are blurred, then…
Read: Careless rain
Beyond the masks and the skulloutside the walled gardenthrough red and yellowtoward sky space you walk across endless greenand into blue:the ancient hall lurks in the backgroundbehind distorting mirrors You do not age at all:you are as I first saw…
Read: Beyond the masks
I don’t know very much about Covid, and I’m beginning to think that nobody else does either. I’ve been told a number of things about the dreaded virus – by apparently sane people – that don’t make an awful lot…
I have recently instigated a couple of surveys, put together and carried out by an intensive group chaired by Henry (Fred) Houseago (93), a former diarist linked to several universities. The first piece of work carried out by the Houseago…
Read: Houseago surveys reveal disturbing facts about … well, surveys
It’s too late now:I can’t get him back,reach out my royal arm,keep him from harm stop the Land Rover,order a rethink There is no-one beside me – no nudge, no wink –just practitioners of sorrow out front, too visible, no tomorrow I…
Read: Funeral of Prince Philip
I live a few yards from the river, so I’m tempted now and again to grab one of those “Flood” signs that litter the highways in random fashion and put it at the bottom of our road. It wouldn’t do…