Eremos

In a hole, concealed, inwardly satiated
one eye panning, then acutely fixed
on easy prey, parading before
his fang-like claws,
and bullying mandibles that rip and tear
pull and jag,
bruise and cut
just enough to mark then,
as if cowardly,
a slow but cautious reverse,
perhaps ashamed, remorseful
of this frightening violation



© Graham Sherwood 07/2015

The place 1/50

Two roads cross at an ancient obelisk,
crumbling red stones,
anonymous tomb or local myth,
thoughts of a highwayman’s fancy.

Down the older-end, of similar build,
cottages, moneyed folk, incomers, posher
than the new top shop post-war boxes,
thrown up quick,
young families in new shoes, with old tongues
clickers, pullovers, finishers
tacks in teeth and the reek of leather pong.

But there is disease here,
an ambivalent melancholia
“a watch it die and then moan” malady,
virulent, as each factory wizens, and folds
blown into the wet gutter
with the daily mirror chip paper.


© Graham Sherwood 07/2015

Koan on knowledge

To answer the questions of life
a man must first allow the question
or how can he know anything
of life


© Graham Sherwood 07/2015

A theism

must faith be blind?
for
faith cowers under fear,
and
reward requires one's faith
so
ignorance is faith itself
but
martyred faith is celebrated
when
faith pulls a trigger
on
those of little faith
how
can this faith endure



© Graham Sherwood 06/2015

Class of 2015

There was a distant time of yore
when rich meant fat and thin meant poor
but that doesn't figure anymore
The fat wear sports clothes every day
but this doesn't keep the lbs at bay
it's not our fault they always say

The thin are wealthiest now I guess
live on rocket and watercress
nothing more and nothing less
The poor seem resigned to benefits
buy huge tv's, get tatts on tits
and pitbulls rip their kids to bits

The rich stay smug behind strong gates
but moan about poor savings rates
posh pensioners all in dire straits
So life’s not always what it seems
fat, thin, rich, poor we all have dreams
but suffer from insomnia it seems



© Graham Sherwood 06/2015

Koan on Boredom

At sunrise
the man asked the boy
to hold his bag

It is very light,
the boy replied.

As the sun westered
the boy complained
of the bag’s
unbearable weight.

but there is nothing
in the bag
the man replied.



© Graham Sherwood 06/2015

Early Morning with BB

We startle unseen pigeons
that ask who? Who?
from their camouflage
then wince at the
slap clap flap
of their ungainly launch
clattering through broad leaves.


Through the old village
quiet still, just
the smell of fresh toast
and the whistle of a kettle,
Damp moss steams
on the old cemetery wall
BB points a finger, frowns and says oooff!.


On the quieter path
the lake breeze exhales
to make the teasels bristle
leaning in unison
to whistle and hum
brown heads tilted
in a gospel choir rhythm.





© Graham Sherwood 06/2015