Remembrance Sunday 2018

This is all Saints Church in High Wycombe, the scene for the annual Remembrance Day march and wreath laying ceremony.  There is something about the place,  about the day and about the people that stirs the creative juices.  By simply observing, by simply listening, by simply being quiet and introspective, thoughts flow out.

The previous post ' A Minute's Silence' (see below) was written on the same day at this service three years ago.

If I am lucky, I quickly capture them on paper, make a few adjustments and send them out.  Apologies to the non linguists among us; the second poem 'Amy'  is written in Spanish as the encounter with her father as his daughter played with the 'fallen leaves' while other listened to the 'live' service   - he was Spanish.  It just felt right to pen it in his language.





'Amy'

Amy; no te sientas mientras los demás están parados

Amy; no te cojas las hojas caídas mientras las almas han sido llevadas

Amy; no te pongas las hojas por el fondo del árbol mientras entregamos las coronas por la cruz

A Minute's Silence

High Wycombe, 8th November 2015

 



Stand here a while and I'll tell you
If the guttering's clogged up with grass
Or if a shower of pigeons passed
While those two still necking on the ridge

The fox is sleeping

At the side of the road the fox lies sleeping
In the heart of farmland and homeland
Stretched out as if at ease
Legs obediently paired
Tailed tucked in, snout out in relief