Friday, June 06, 2014

The All-Smiling Man

I am the all-smiling man
I am smiling for you, the trees
You are losing your leaves
and withered winter branches
I am smiling for the last leaf


I am smiling for you, the clouds
covering the blue sky like similes
or with slate grey metaphors
I am smiling for the last cloud
as it wisps beneath the departing moon

I am smiling for you, the stars
the final stars of a false dawn
And for the morning star

 And I am smiling for you, the new sun
I am the all-smiling man

Tuesday, June 03, 2014

Arrival

I can’t remember arriving
At Coventry station
Or how I found my way to the pub
I found a place to stay
From a card in the newsagent’s window
Left my suitcase and guitar
In the large, shabby room
Full of cold space
I can’t remember what was in the suitcase
Or what I wore
Headed for the college
I do remember thinking
That the art students
Would have claimed a pub for their own
And would now be in out
Renewing acquaintances
Swapping stories of summer conquests
And finding the pub
I do remember
Talking to the new second years
Exotic, long-haired
Bright colourfully-clothed
About the college
What I could expect
Drugs
The noise. The music was loud
All Along the Watchtower by Jimmy Hendrix
Was that then or later
It featured heavily that year I’m sure
But some things seem so vague now
I don’t remember how the evening ended
I don’t remember returning to my room
Or how I slept
Or if I dreamt
I know I only slept there once
In the morning I lifted the mattress
And watched the bedbugs

Scurrying from the light