Vindicated

Quite quite still, not a sound

No bother, no trouble

Laying cold on the ground

The body angular, inert unfound

Soft wind blows  slowly past the rubble

Quite quite still, not a sound

A transgression taxed pound  for pound

Paid  for on the nail, not in the round

Laying cold on the ground

Pride vanquished. Hubris downed

Crowd gathered, awkward huddle

Quite quite still not a sound

Justice had at last been crowned

Amidst that fraught unequal struggle

laying cold on the ground

 Vindication has been found

Not deferred but at the double;

Quite quite still not a sound

Laying cold on the ground

 Gurindam- MalAY

Do not invade Greenland that is unwise

Always talk, persuade don’t prise

The same is true of the Panama canal

Never treat a treaty as trite, or even banal

And as for Canada. It realy is quite big

A maple tree far larger than a fig

Whisper don’t trumpet for words linger longer

The message clearer, brighter and stronger

Poetry isnt

    poetry isn’t painting

            poetry isn’t music …

            nor is poetry psychotherapy

          Nor religion

            yet each might learn

            from each other            

            but not become the other

Dangerous Poems

A list poem of trump’s banned words

Trumps banned word List

abortion           ideology

accessible      immigrants

accessibility   implicit bias

activism           implicit biases

activists           inclusion

advocacy         inclusive

advocate          inclusive leadership

advocates       inclusiveness

affirming care inclusivity

all-inclusive    Increase diversity

allyship             increase the diversity

anti-racism     indigenous community/ people

antiracist         inequalities

assigned at birth         inequality

assigned female at birth        inequitable

assigned male at birth            inequities

at risk  injustice

autism institutional

barrier intersectional

barriers             intersectionality

belong intersex

bias      issues concerning pending legislation

biased key groups

Biased toward              key people

biases key populations

Biases towards            Latinx

biologically female    LGBT

biologically male        LGBTQ

bipoc   male dominated

Black   marginalize

black and latinx           marginalized

breastfeed + people  marijuana

breastfeed + person  measles

Cancer Moonshot      men who have sex with men

chestfeed + people    mental health

chestfeed + person    minorities

clean energy  minority

climate crisis minority serving institution

climate science          most risk

commercial sex worker          msm

community     multicultural

community diversity Mx

community equity      MSI

confirmation bias       Native American

continuum      NCI budget

Covid-19          non-binary

cultural competence nonbinary

cultural differences   obesity

cultural heritage         opioids

Cultural relevance     oppression

cultural sensitivity     oppressive

culturally appropriate             orientation

culturally responsive peanut allergies

definition         people + uterus

DEI       people-centered care

DEIA     person-centered

DEIAB  person-centered care

DEIJ      polarization

dietary guidelines/ultraprocessed foods     political

disabilities      pollution

disability          pregnant people

disabled           pregnant person

discriminated pregnant persons

discrimination             prejudice

discriminatory             privilege

discussion of federal policies            privileges

disparity           promote

diverse              promote diversity

diverse backgrounds promoting diversity

diverse communities              pronoun

diverse community    pronouns

diverse group prostitute

diverse groups             race

diversified       race and ethnicity

diversify           racial

diversifying     racial diversity

diversity           racial identity

diversity and inclusion            racial inequality

diversity/equity efforts            racial justice

EEJ        racially

EJ          racism

entitlement     science-based

equality            segregation

equitable         self-assessed

equitableness              sense of belonging

equity  sex

elderly sexual preferences

enhance the diversity             sexuality

enhancing diversity   social justice

environmental justice             socio cultural

environmental quality             sociocultural

equal opportunity       socio economic

equality            socioeconomic status

equitable         special populations

equitableness              stem cell or fetal tissue research

equity  stereotype

ethnicity           stereotypes

evidence-based          systemic

excluded          they/them

exclusion         topics of federal investigations

expression      topics that have received recent attention from Congress

female topics that have received widespread or critical media attention

females            trans

feminism         transgender

fetus    transexual

fluoride             trauma

fostering inclusivity   traumatic

GBV     tribal

gay       unconscious bias

gender under appreciated

gender based underprivileged

gender based violence           under represented

gender diversity          underrepresentation

gender identity            underrepresented

gender ideology           underserved

gender-affirming care             under served

genders            understudied

Gulf of Mexico              undervalued

H5N1/bird flu vaccines

hate     victim

hate speech   victims

health disparity           vulnerable

health equity  vulnerable populations

hispanic           woman

hispanic minority        women

historically      women and underrepresented

identity       

     Southampton

The  brass band played

Streamers cascaded

Klaxons blared

We lined the rails overlooking the quay

New York far off,

Distant

Rule Britannia,

 A life on the ocean wave

The British grenadiers ,and ,as we cast off

God save the queen

White gloved stewards fussed

The horn blasted  farewell from the funnels

As we headed for a new life

And Cowes slipped sliding  away

Our bows submerged under grey  green tumult

Until Brooklyn bridge framed a horizon broken by giant buildings scratching at the skies

And Liberty beckoned

Boing

Zeberdee liked to spring in

Mais, Pourquoi tout le monde parle-t-il français ? he asked

Parce que nous sommes en France. Brian replied

Dylan was away, on tour

He was always on tour

He looked at Dougal whose hair needed brushing

He remined him of Boris Johnson, but much grumpier

Florence smiled like Rachel Reeves smiles when she days she isn’t going to put up taxes

Brian held  a piece of  paper

Keir Starmer had asked him to put together  a plan to stop boat people

Brian hadn’t thought about it.

 His home was on his back ,  

Why doesn’t everyone do that he thought?

Ermintrude thought that we should be kinder to everyone

Florence agreed

Zeberdee bounced up high again

It was then that he noticed it

Someone had painted a red cross on the Magic Roundabout

Florence looked at it from a ladder

“Some people are so silly” she said

Everyone nodded their heads’

Apart from Dylan

– because he wasn’t there

Fashion

For ev’ry season

Different colours, shapes,  styles

Omnipresent change

Bars

Thirst quenching relief

Manmade spring helps you forget

Until the next time

Poems Charlie

Drifting through next doors open bedroom window

Summer 1972

Wafting on an indifferent breeze

The sound of another world

Transported

I knocked on their door

“David Bowie

Moonage daydream- the rise and fall of Ziggy stardust and the spiders from mars

Had landed

I still have the album

Fjords brochure

Towering cliffs

Ebbing tide

Part of something much larger

Helpless, overwhelmed

I think I will like it here

Advice to a novice poet

Do not conform

Do not listen

Do not polish words

Until they glisten

Make them count

Make them shine

Make sure they are your words

And not mine.

Morecambe 1

Wind lashed

The bay unfolds

bright Light palette Splashed by God

Eric watches jauntily, his coat

Wrapped tight

Morecambe 2

Vista

of mud and sea

reaching out far beyond

Erics’ jacket wrapped round tightly

Protects

Ode to the Ambiguous Ten

I run a race, then run a meeting,

I run out of patience—no retreating.

 I set the stage with props and flair,

Set my mind, fetch your twin set after your hair.

I put a hat upon your head,

 Put the kettle on, or put your fears to bed.

 I go for gold, then go bananas,

 Go with the flow, its all quite harmless.

I take a hint, I take the wheel, I take offence,

 then take a meal. I stand my ground, or stand corrected,

 watch from the stands while comfortably seated

I get a gift, or get the sack, I get the picture, then get back on track.

 I turn the tide, I turn a frown- at a comic turn

 Turn the tables,  then  turn around.

I fall in love, then fall from grace, fall asleep, or fall  flat on my face.

 I break a vow, then break for lunch,

Or brake my speeding on just a hunch

Ten words, ten follies—English, you   beguile

whispered in riddles same words, different style

Sea Swimming

( after Jan)

You said  id feel amazing

You said id feel refreshed

Bt its been twelve hours now

I still cant feel my toes

Ive only just caught my breath

Im eating all the biscuits

Im drinking all the tea

Ive added a shot of brandy

Anything to make me feel

Like the time

Before the sea

I jumped in feet first, no messing

I committed heart, body and soul

But you nevertold me

That to feel so good

Myrmidons

You have to get this cold

The flaneur

What if?

Farewell

Waving goodbye he left his head on the park bench

Strode purposefully into the lake

He had a choice of what to carry

Obsidian black

Pink parasol ( with lace frill)

Dumbo print with flappy ears

Not all umbrellas are the  same

Would it be sunny?

Would it rain?

would they float?

Would he float?

Who knows?

The Park

Out in the park two children are digging

Two girls,Their long hair wind tossed, and free

Close by, a bulldozer, scores the earth

Its driver bare chested, his arms have naval tattoos

Spades competing with a large yellow bucket

Both searching for their prize

Above, vultures circle in mazy motion

Waiting to swoop for their prey

On whomsoever succeeds

First

Umbrella

Sleek, firm, erect

Flares at the end

Sometime useless

But handy when it is wet

Growing when it needs to

As fingers grip the shaft

Then put away

Until the next time

Left Out

I was left out

In a polished antique stand

On the porch

Just in case

Of too much sun

Or too much rain

Or too much snow

I was left out

British Weather

It had stopped, canopy collapsed

Drippy drops all that remained

Of the onslaught

fabric clip fastened

Dry once more

It began

Canopy opened

Dousing drops draining

Fabric clip unclasped

Against the onslaught

It had stopped, canopy collapsed

Drippy drops all that remained

Of the onslaught

fabric clip fastened

Dry once more

Paper

Waxed and lacquered

Ladies’ accessory

Until Jonas Hanway changed that

For men

Jonas Hanway

China

Invented them

Persian women loved them

But Hanway placed everyone in

The shade

The sea.

turns its dark pages

Time

Helen Mort

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‘Time is inferred from place.’

Canada, late October

Helen Mort

Oct 30

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I am in Banff, Alberta, reading Leanne Betasamosake Simpson’s ‘Theory of Water’. Travel has made a mockery of the clock. I wake up at 1am and 2am and look out of the window for snow and then I pick up the book again. I read:

“I don’t think I understand a clear division between time and space; rather I understand time as a function of the networks created by space. The passage of time within Nishnnaabeg thought is not linear, and it comes from non-living systems that make up the land. Time is inferred from place.”

Does time come from the light over Sacred Buffalo mountain? It feels inevitable when I run there at sunrise: the arrival of our sense of day itself. Apricot sun, eager. A fox loping off under tree cover.

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We don’t know what to do with the nights, sometimes. They are ungainly cardigans our mothers always told us we would grow into.

The mountains don’t fear the dark. Huge densities. Huge objects of certain desire. I know they’re there, even with the blind pulled down.

Time is inferred from place. A room is a small, built space. A geographical stanza. So many hours under sheets and blankets, stirring and waiting for the acceptable moment to be awake, as if anyone was in charge. As if anyone cares what we do.

Leanne Betasamosake Simpson:

“I’m thinking about this in Denendeh in June, where the sun is seemingly always out, high in the sky. Darkness comes for a few hours after midnight, more muted daylight than actual darkness. This contrasts with the dark of December and January, when the sun only appears for a few hours each day.”

Muted daylight – yes. A turning of the dimmer switch. Why can’t I shake off metaphors that centre the human, make hapless gods of us all?

I am thinking of the volume control on my parents’ record player in our living room in Chesterfield, the great wheel of it, the power it represented. In my memory, the days were twice as long and I was very close to the grey-and-purple patterned carpet. Infant time. Time in the eye of a child. I never dared to touch the volume dial.

“Cyclical time comes from land. Linear time is a European construct that overlays cyclical time – a mechanism to organise the world in a homogenous way to facilitate, of course, capitalism.”

Does time pass slower back in Sheffield? Moorland time. Heather time. Post-industrial time. When you climb out of the city and look down, are you out of time itself? Does an aeroplane climb above it? Does a whale dive below?

Betasamosake Simpson:

“Time is a mapping of cycles. A mapping of liminal space. I think of a child in the time before colonisation, in the darkness of December, measuring light on the snow with a stick and sinew…”

There will come a point – maybe this week, maybe next – when the first snows will arrive in Banff in earnest, bringing greater silence. Flurried hours, all walks made indefinite. I’m waiting for it, as I am always greedily waiting for something. I’ll walk down to the bridge above town and see the same man I always see on a bench there, white beard and patched up coat, fisherman’s beanie, not quite sitting but not quite lying down either. He’ll ask me if I saw what happened in the sky last night and I’ll say no and he’ll whistle, low, under his breath and shake his head.

Time in the gaps between elk antlers (don’t get too close!)

Time needled by the tips of trees.

Time bullied along by the beautiful surge of the Bow river.

Tanka#1

Now that you have gone

The ground no longer shows my

Imprint underfoot

Too much for the earth to bear

 It lies frozen forever

A First day back at school

It was Harry’s  first day back

At his new school

How did it go?

I asked

“Fine”

 came the reply

A bored sigh accompanying this  concise verbosity

He said fine in the insouciant,

 disinterested manner

Of a Foreign Secretary

 Being given  an Middle east

And for once, I experienced an emotion I rarely feel

Jealousy.

I want a  stiff shirt that will soften with dozens of washes

I want to believe that nothing matters because today is just another day

I want a new locker, new loos, new smells

I don’t want to know where everything is

I want to have to look for it.

I want  squeaky new shoes, and bright white  new trainers ( Nike Airs obviously)

I want to throw out the old, the worn out, scuffed and scruffy, the too tights ,  into a charity bag

( for someone else to take to the shop)

I want a new haircut that doesn’t reveal more grey

I want a new desk with a different view

I want new friends

With my enemies moved out somewhere else

I don’t want my next new friends to be in a care home

Or whist drive

Or poetry club, or pub ( heaven forbid)

I want a new pencil case that I can stick stickers on

 I want a new sports bag with equipment for

Sports I haven’t even tried yet

I want new people to tell about my summer holidays

Not post about it on facebook to people who don’t care how I fare,

I want to put behind me all the stupid things I did and said before

I want to be better, and different

And I want that chance every year

I want to learn new subjects

Russian,compter programming and economics

Well maybe not economics, anyone can make a mess of that, cant they Liz?

And I want fresh new, unused exercise books, and a new pen

And a pack of coloured pencils

And a new Coat peg that I can write my name on

Not, Gary, I’m bored with that, Sparky perhaps, maybe it will catch on?

I want butterflies in my tummy

And less tummy

It simply isn’t fair that when you are young you get a fresh start every year

Then when you are an adult get stuck with the same timetable

I want a new timetable, while I am still able

But without the homework

L’horloge Parlante va disparaitre  le 1er Julliet vingt vingt deux

France is not a place to feel rushed

There is always time

For a glass of fine wine.

For a baguette

For moules mariniere

A fine sancerre

A place where time runs amock

No need for a hovering speaking clock

But no more that mechanical spoken chant

C’est l’heure de la fin pour l’horloge parlante