The long awaited new collection of poetry and prose which in many ways is both a sequel and a prequel to the acclaimed 2011 volume “In Violet”
And special thanks to one of Englands great singer songwriters Judie Tzuke for allowing two of her songs to feature as a prologue and epilogue for this collection of work.
Many of the poems are autobiographical and recall true life events and the characters featured really did exist.
Scattered throughout the book are a selection of Haiku works inspired and woven by our natural world of sensual humanity, remembering that poetry is often written to stir emotion or passion. And “Zig Zag Road” … you will finally get there in the end … and yes, it really does exist as well.
From the Book:
All for an Empire - Part II
All for an empire
conscripted to hellfire
those who fought
and thought
and died for a king … for peace … for freedom
honourably remembered and rightly so
on some memorial obelisk
within in a quiet country parish green or churchyard
victims of deception and death
But beneath these glorious trees of an English Eden
buried deep lies
the scandal of those who lied and died
and left behind their teenage brides
for what Haig termed ignoble crimes
and shame on Major too
to deny the final rights so due
Shell shocked fatigued and weary worn
from mental shrapnel all around
execution for the coward
dishonourable death their fair reward
to perish on another tree of staken oak
murdered there by friends not foes
Given twelve hours to write and pray
a scandal dammed to disobey
six armed men at break of day
set before the seal of fate
tied blindfold to the oaken stake
The echo of their rifle shots
dawn chorus fearful flies the lark
mainly conscripts manly boys
the 6.00am innocent sacrifice
all for an empire
loyalty and lies
Avalon
The sceptred stone sits
beneath the snowy peaks
ravaged raw
waiting for its King to come
For winter mists
hasten into spring
when a poor sovereign in disguise may pass this way
to draw a sword
from beneath the skies of Avalon
Fair now fades the phlox cyclamen
winter’s old cold flowers
ringed round the rocks
for glinting icy cut steel pulled for a dream
beside the turquoise stream
under a setting sun
stealing shooting stars
before the black nights dawn
of Avalon
A barren stone now stands
under silent fallow clouds
and witch hazels
once burst with copper ovate wispy finger blossom
now perfume the new seasons boreal divine air
and the saffron yellow aconites carpet spread
before the King of Avalon