29 POEMS
BY
BERNARD HEMENSLEY
UPDATED ON THE 22ND OF JANUARY 2019
=====================
POEM #1
UNTITLED
BY
BERNARD HEMENSLEY
UPDATED ON THE 22ND OF JANUARY 2019
=====================
UNTITLED
i'M IN THE SIDINGS
AS
CLOUDS COLLECT
AND
CLING & CURVE
AS
CLOUDS COLLECT
AND
CLING & CURVE
ALONG
THE RIDGEWAY HILLS
THE RIDGEWAY HILLS
DARK BIRDS GLIDE
ON
WIRE CABLES
ON
WIRE CABLES
THE SOUND
OF SONG
RISES ABOVE
THE TRAFFIC
AS TRAIN
PULLS-OUT
FROM STATION
PULLS-OUT
FROM STATION
*
18 / JULY / 2016
======================
POEM #2
WRITTEN IN SITU
ON NATIONAL POETRY DAY
AT AN EVENT
HOSTED BY HARBOUR POETS
AT WEYMOUTH LIBRARY
REGAILED BY POEMS
OF WIT
AND SOME REPUTE
WE CON(TRA)VENE
BOTH
TIME & TIMES
WHO RECALLS
DR.WILLIAMS?
i WOULD ASK
MAKE IT REAL
HE SAID
i LOOK OUT
A WINDOW
THO
MORE INCLINED
TO TAKE
A KIP
IT IS AS IF
i AM SAVED
&
BORN-AGAIN
BY A SPIRITED
BRIGHT-EYED BEAUTY
PASSING
WHO
WITHOUT GIVING
OUR POSTER
SO MUCH AS
A SECOND GLANCE
IF i READ
HER LIPS CORRECTLY
MUTTERED
IS THIS REAL POETRY
OR DID YOU
MAKE-IT-UP
YOURSELVES?
*
6 / OCTOBER / 2016
===================
Poem #3
after GRANDDAUGHTER OF A
CELEBRATED BUDDHIST MONK
by
KENJI MIYAZAWA
SOMETHING
LIKE APHRODITE
RISEN
FROM OCEANS
OF
DREAMSTUFF
TRIPPING
THRU
STRONGRAINS
&
STONES
&
SNOW
SHE ESCAPED
THE BEACHCOMBER
&
THE WINESOAKED THIEVES
WITH COKE
*
SHE WOULD SLEEP
BY DAY
&
NITE AFTER NITE
SMOKED RINGS
AROUND THE MOON
STANDING
IN LAMPLIT DOORWAYS
SHE BLEW
THE COBWEBS
FROM THESE
OLD BONES
TO FARAWAY STARS
*
SHE WOULD SNAP
HER FINGERS
&
HUMMED
A STRANGE MUSIC
HER SHINING
GEISHAFACE
FRAMED MANY
TWIRLING REVERIES
*
AS BUD
BECOMES FLOWER
WHO IS IT
THAT SITS
AND
CONTEMPLATES THIS?
*
October 2016 - February 2017
WRITTEN IN SITU
ON NATIONAL POETRY DAY
AT AN EVENT
HOSTED BY HARBOUR POETS
AT WEYMOUTH LIBRARY
REGAILED BY POEMS
OF WIT
AND SOME REPUTE
WE CON(TRA)VENE
BOTH
TIME & TIMES
WHO RECALLS
DR.WILLIAMS?
i WOULD ASK
MAKE IT REAL
HE SAID
i LOOK OUT
A WINDOW
THO
MORE INCLINED
TO TAKE
A KIP
IT IS AS IF
i AM SAVED
&
BORN-AGAIN
BY A SPIRITED
BRIGHT-EYED BEAUTY
PASSING
WHO
WITHOUT GIVING
OUR POSTER
SO MUCH AS
A SECOND GLANCE
IF i READ
HER LIPS CORRECTLY
MUTTERED
IS THIS REAL POETRY
OR DID YOU
MAKE-IT-UP
YOURSELVES?
*
6 / OCTOBER / 2016
Poem #3
after GRANDDAUGHTER OF A
CELEBRATED BUDDHIST MONK
by
KENJI MIYAZAWA
SOMETHING
LIKE APHRODITE
RISEN
FROM OCEANS
OF
DREAMSTUFF
TRIPPING
THRU
STRONGRAINS
&
STONES
&
SNOW
SHE ESCAPED
THE BEACHCOMBER
&
THE WINESOAKED THIEVES
WITH COKE
*
SHE WOULD SLEEP
BY DAY
&
NITE AFTER NITE
SMOKED RINGS
AROUND THE MOON
STANDING
IN LAMPLIT DOORWAYS
SHE BLEW
THE COBWEBS
FROM THESE
OLD BONES
TO FARAWAY STARS
*
SHE WOULD SNAP
HER FINGERS
&
HUMMED
A STRANGE MUSIC
HER SHINING
GEISHAFACE
FRAMED MANY
TWIRLING REVERIES
*
AS BUD
BECOMES FLOWER
WHO IS IT
THAT SITS
AND
CONTEMPLATES THIS?
*
October 2016 - February 2017
====================
Poem #4
APPROACHING BRIDPORT
BLUE THRU BACK O' BUS WINDOWS
BUT BRIDPORT BECKONS
i GO NOT TO BROWSE
THE BARROW-BOYS' WARES
NOR DRINK BEER
ON MARKET-DAY
NOR WITH BAITED-BREATH
FOR BOOK-BIZ
OR BARTER OR BANTER
IN THIS SMALL TOWN
WHERE BOOZE IS ON THE BREATH
RATHER THAN POETRY
DESPITE THE BRIDPORT PRIZE
POETRY IS NOWHERE-BEING-BORN
BUT BUSY DYING
A FOOTNOTE IN SOME
BACK-O'-BEYOND
OF A FOREIGN FIELD
BEYOND AND BEYOND
IN AN UNTENDED CORNER
BUKOWSKI SOME CURRENCY MAYBE
BUT BUNTING OR BELTRAMETTI?
DOES BLOODAXE BRING-HOME THE BACON
IN THE TOWN OF ROPEMAKERS' BOOKSHOPS?
BEST TO JUST BREEZE-IN
AND BOW-OUT
WITH A BUDDHA-SMILE
AND RETURN TO THE BEAT
IN MY OWN BACK-YARD
*
23 / March / 2012
=================
POEM #5
WHILE WALKIN ON WEYMOUTH SANDS
RED SAILS
ETCHED
WAY-OUT ON
THE BAY'S
WHITE-CLIFF
BACK-DROP
PORTLY PEOPLE
WALKIN DOGS
i'M THINKIN
RED SAILS
i'M THINKIN
FATS
WAVES
KEEP-UP
A STEADY RIFF
OR IS THAT
SYNCOPATION
MR.WALLER?
SUN
SOMEWHERE
TWIXT SUNRISE
AND SUNSET
RED SAILS
MOVE
FARTHER
AND FARTHER
AWAY.
*
18 / OCTOBER / 2018
=====================
Poem #6
after MODIGLIANI
i WARM
TO YOUR
LONG NECK
&
DARK EYES
YOUR FLESH
IS PALE
&
SENSITIVE
AS IF
IN CHILL
REACTION TO
HAVING
QUICKLY UNDONE
YOUR BUTTONS
&
BOWS
UNTIL
YOU ARE
THE ARTIST'S
"SEATED NUDE"
*
13 / July / 2012
======================
Poem #7
THE ALICE POEM
ON A BUS
BOUND FOR WEYMOUTH
i CATCH MY BREATH
SPEEDING
FROM MOMENT
TO MOMENT
SPEEDING MADLY
*
"They're changing guards
at Buckingham Palace.
Christopher Robin went
down with Alice."
*
ALICE OF THE TEA SHOPPE
NOT A.A. MILNE
*
ALICE OF THE TEA SHOPPE
NOT ALICE NOTLEY
*
ALICE NOTLEY
ALICE NOTLEY
WHY DID ALICE
ORDER ME TO BE MADE
ALICE NOTLEY?
AND
HOW DOES SPRING COME
ALICE NOTLEY?
*
"You can get anything you want
At Alice's Restaurant."
*
ALICE OF THE TEA SHOPPE
NOT THE RESTAURANT
*
ALICE OF THE TEA SHOPPE
NOT ARLO GUTHRIE
i TELL YOU!
*
ALICE OF THE TEA SHOPPE
MENTIONS FRENCH PHILOSOPHERS
OF WHOM i HAVE NOT HEARD.
ALICE OF THE TEA SHOPPE
READS NIETZSCHE.
EVERYONE HAS READ NIETZSCHE
EXCEPT ME!
*
ALICE INDULGE ME A LITTLE
MY SIBLINGS AND i
WERE PULLED-OUT
BY OUR TONGUES
AT BIRTH
*
ALICE
YOU MAY ASK
HOW DO WE KNOW
WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW?
*
ALICE
IT STARTS WITH
PUTTING YOUR SHOES
NEATLY
TOGETHER
SIDE-BY-SIDE
EACH TIME YOU
TAKE THEM OFF
THEN YOU WILL
HOWL YOUR OWN HOWL
RUN EASILY AMONGST WOLVES
AND
FIND YOUR WAY IN THE DARK
TO THE HEART OF IT
*
2 / NOVEMBER / 2018
===========================
Poem #8
STATEMENT
i AM NOT AN ARTIST - i JUST PLAY WITH COLOURED CRAYONS, CAMERA, PENS AND INK - i AM NOT A POET - i JUST ABOUT MANAGE TO STRING SOME INTERESTING WORDS TOGETHER - i AM NOT GIVEN TO MEDITATION - i JUST SIT-DOWN, SHUT-UP AND FACE A WALL - SOMETIMES i JUST GAZE AT STARS TO KEEP A CLOSER EYE ON HEAVEN - AND GOD? - GOD IS WHERE THERE IS NO BOUNDARY BETWEEN YOU AND ME OR SKY AND SEA.
*******************
******************
Poem #9
(1)
WITHOUT WORDS
SMALL LIGHTS
LEAD THE WAY
(2)
QUIET STEPS
IMMENSE INTERVALS
ON STAIRS
(3)
SPRING NIGHT
CONSIDERING
BIRDSONG & RAIN
(4)
MOMENT BY MOMENT
EXCURSIONS INTO
THE NIGHT SKY
(5)
HERMIT DAYDREAMS
NOT LOOKING
NOT LISTENING
(6)
ONLY GOD COULD
STOP THESE THOUGHT
STOP THIS MUSIC
*
April 2012 - April 2013
=====================
Poem #10
HUSH MY HEART
*
EACH
BREATH
TAPERS
INTO
THE DARK
*
EVERY
WHISPER
NEGOTIABLE
IN
THE
STILLNESS
*
MY
SPIRIT
WOULD
DANCE
IN
THE
LIGHT
RAIN
*
SIGHS
ESCAPE
AS
DAWN
APPEARS
*
HUSH
MY
HEART
*
1st NOVEMBER 2012
*******************
POEM #11
i'M GOIN-OUT IN A STORM
i'M GOIN-OUT
IN A STORM
WHEN THE TIME COMES
i'M GOIN-OUT
IN A STORM
*
i'M GOIN-OUT
IN A STORM
B4 i GO-OUT
LIKE A LIGHT
IN THE NIGHT
i'M GOIN-OUT
IN A STORM
*
i'M GOIN-OUT
WHATEVER THE NIGHT
NO TEARS
NO FEARS
i GOTTA GET-OUT
AND INTO A STORM
*
i'M GOIN-OUT
IN A STORM
i'M LIGHTIN-OUT
INTO THE LIGHT
OF A STORM
WHEN i GO-OUT
IN A STORM
*
i'M GOIN-OUT
WITH KISSES
AND KISSES
CARESSES AND KISSES
WHEN i GO-OUT
IN A STORM
*
i'M GOIN-OUT
i'M STORMIN-OUT
GONNA KICK-UP
A STORM
IN THE STORM
*
7 / JUNE / 2014
TO
25 / JULY / 2016
********************
POEM #12
FOR GENEVIEVE
SHE WANTED MASTS AND NETS
SHE WANTED WAVES AND SPRAY AT SUNRISE
SHE WANTED A FISHERMAN
TO CATCH
AND BRING HOME HER DREAMS
SHE WANTED TUNA AND SWORDFISH
SHE WANTED BASS AND TARRAGON
MACKEREL AND ROSEMARY
SHE WANTED GARLANDS OF FLOWERS
ROSES
SHE WANTED ROSES
SHE WANTED TO PLAIT LAURELS
AROUND HER LOVER'S HEAD
SHE WANTED ITALY
ESPECIALLY SICILY
IDEALY SHE WANTED TO LIVE
IN A HUT NEAR THE SHORE
TO BETTER SEE THE COMINGS AND GOINGS
OF HER FISHERMAN
SHE WANTED TO GO TO CHURCH
WITH THE OTHER WOMEN
AND LIGHT CANDLES
FOR THEIR SAFE RETURN
SHE HAD NURSED A DREAM
OF MAKING LOVE TO A FISHERMAN
MAYBE A PHOENECIAN
A GREEK
OR A CARTHAGINIAN
SHE WANTED HIS BABIES
AND TO SLEEP SOUNDLY
ALTOGETHER EACH NIGHT
SHE WAS DETERMINED TO HOLD-FAST TO HER DREAMS
SHE WANTED SICILY
FAIREST GARDEN OF THE MEDITERRANEAN
SHE WANTED
THE BAY AT TAORMINA
SHE WANTED ETNA'S ETERNAL FIRE IN HER VEINS
SHE WANTED MASTS AND NETS
SUNRISE AND SPRAY
TUNA SWORDFISH ROSES
AND GARLANDS OF LAUREL
SHE WAS NOT GOING TO SETTLE FOR LESS
***
===================
POEM #13
WHILE RIDING MY BIKE
AROUND A ROUNDABOUT
SOME LOUD-MOUTHED BOY-RACERS
SHOUTED AT ME
FROM THEIR CAR
"GET-OUT OF THE FUCKING WAY
YOU STUPID OLD MAN"
i GUESS THAT WAS ON ACCOUNT
OF THE BIG BEARD
i WAS SPORTING
WELL
ACCORDING TO ROB SCHACKNE
THERE'S GONNA BE
A BIG LUNAR ECLIPSE
AT THE END OF THE MONTH
THAT COINCIDES
WITH THE EVE
OF MY SEVENTIETH
AND i'M FEELING SPRY
SO
IF i SEE
THOSE BOY-RACERS
CHARGING AROUND TOWN AGAIN
i'LL GIVE-EM
STUPID OLD MAN
i WANNA
KICK THEIR ASS!
HA!
THAT WAS SOME THIRTY YEARS AGO!
COME-ON NOW
AT MY AGE?
CUT ME SOME SLACK
******
JANUARY / 2018
===================
POEM #14
NIGHT SITTING AT THE HERMITAGE
after KRIS HEMENSLEY / for KRIS HEMENSLEY
WHAT IS TRAPPED IN THE STREETLIGHT
IS A SOLITARY FIGURE
YET HE SITS WITH ALL BEINGS
IN THE TEN DIRECTIONS
THERE ARE NO SUDDEN MOVES
OR GESTICULATIONS
OTHER THAN THE OCCASIONAL
TWIRLING OF A FLOWER
IN THE HERMITAGE
WE SIT BY DAY
AND BY NIGHT
WE ARE AWARE OF OUR BREATHS
BUT WE DO NOT COUNT THEM
TODAY i
WENT TO THE BEACH
IN CASE THERE WERE FISHERMEN
i DID NOT HAVE A LADY BESIDE ME
BUT i HAD MY BICYCLE TO LEAN-ON
TONIGHT i
SIT QUIETLY
THERE IS A FULL MOON
AND A SKY FULL OF STARS
i LONG FOR MY BED
TO SLEEP AND TO GIVE
MY DREAMS FREE REIGN
i LIGHT MY LANTERN
AS THEY DO IN ANTIBES
AND CLIMB THE STAIRS
*****
2 a.m.
31 / JULY / 2015
======================
POEM #15
THRU & THRU & THRU
(1)
RAIN & RAIN & RAIN
THRU COLD LATE-WINTER NIGHTS
BURSTING WITH INTENSITY
AS IF ON A
HOT-TIN-ROOF
DECIBELS THAT
COMFORT & IGNITE
(2)
GIVE SLEEP THE ELBOW
THE BLACKER THE NIGHT
THE BETTER THE NIGHT
JUST ONE STUD
IN ORION'S BELT
THRU SLOW-MOVING CLOUD
(3)
LIGHTS & CANDLES AT BAY
MY VOODOO CHILE
THRU A BLUR OF RAIN
FORGET YOUR BREATH
& TUMBLE OUT OF BED
*******
====================
POEM #16
THE MARY OLIVER POEM
THE LITTLE MOUSE
FACE-TO-FACE
WITH AN OL' GRIZZLY
ON THE COVER OF
MARY OLIVER'S BOOK
REMINDS ME OF
THE LITTLE ONE
i SAW
ON MY WALK
YESTERDAY
STRETCHED-OUT ON
RADIPOLE'S PERIMETER PATH
A BEAD OF BLOOD
LIKE A REGURGED REDCURRANT
LODGED BETWEEN ITS LIPS
MARY OLIVER
WOULD'VE STOPPED
STOOPED
PICKED IT UP GENTLY
IN THE FOLDS OF
HER SOFT SCARF
AND TAKEN IT HOME
FOR BURIAL
IN HER GARDEN
UNDER AN APPLE
OR
DAMSON TREE
SHE WOULD'VE TAKEN
THE TIME
i DIDN'T
AND THAT IS
WHAT SEPARATES
GREAT POETS
FROM THE REST OF US.
*****
24 / NOVEMBER / 2008
=======================
POEM #17
IN ROSE'S SHOP
i TRAVEL FROM
CAIRO TO CASABLANCA
FROM
WEYMOUTH TO ALEXANDRIA
AMONGST THE SHOPS
AND SOUKS
WITH ENDLESS SONGS
AGAIN AND AGAIN.
IN ROSE'S SHOP
THE MUSIC IS ALWAYS PLAYING
AS IT DOES AT HOME
SINCE MOTHER'S PASSING.
RACHID TAHA
AND
ALI HASSAN KUBAN
STILL SING TO ME
IN MY MOTHER'S TONGUE
WITH A CHORUS OF VOICES
FLIGHTS OF STRINGS
OUD TAMBOURINE AND TABLA.
THEY SING SOMETHING ABOUT
"A HUSBAND" AND "A BRIDE"
OF
"BLESSINGS" AND "GOOD LUCK".
MABROOK! MABROOK!
IN ROSE'S SHOP
THERE IS INCENSE
OF
JASMIN AND SANDALWOOD.
IN ROSE'S SHOP
ROSE PLAYS
THE SONGS THAT i LOVE
MUSIC OF MY ANCESTORS'
BEIRUT DAMASCUS
AND BEYOND.
IN ROSE'S SHOP
A SONG IS ALWAYS PLAYING
TO STIR MY HEART.
INSHALLA!
*******
2010/2018
===================
POEM #18
UNTITLED
PRIMROSE, DANDELION OR
FORGET-ME-NOT
IN DEWY AIR
SPRING ENERGIES SURGING
WITHIN SECONDS
SUN COMES UP
NETTLE, LAVENDER OR
LIME BLOSSOM
VIENTIANE, MELBOURNE OR
WEYMOUTH
1 DAY, 10 YEARS OR
100 KALPAS
WHAT DIFFERENCE
ON HEAVENLY ROAD?
*****
13 / APRIL / 2011
*************
from OVER THE GATE
Stingy Artist, 1979.
POEM #19
WHILST LISTENING TO PERCY GRAINGER
(1)
OVER A FLAT ROOF
THE CRACKLING PITCH
AND MELODY
OF BRICC FAIR
(2)
A PHONOGRAPH
SHADOWS AND BICYCLES
HOEING THE LAND
GENTLE FURROWS
(3)
THE TABLE
IN HALF-LIGHT
AN EVENING AWASH
OVER STONES
*****
POEM #20
RIBBONS
(1)
HOP-SCOTCH &
LONG SHADOWS
OF HER
ACROSS TARMAC
STOOPS TO PULL
AT SOCKS
RIBBONS FALL
PATTERN OF
HELD HAIR
UNCOILS
(2)
SOMETHING TO KEEP
WITH ME
ALL DAY
TWIRLING THEM
AROUND & AROUND
IN THE POCKETS
OF MY COAT
RED & BLUE
*****
POEM #21
for LARRY EIGNER
VIEWS OF THE
WORLD CLOSE-IN
A MORNING OF MISTS
& CHIMNEY-SMOKE
A POET'S PLAN
TO GO TO SWAMPSCOTT
&
PEEP OVER THE GATE
*****
======================
POEM #22
PARAPHRASING SOME HAIKU
QUOTED BY GARY SNYDER
ON A BUS TO BRIDPORT
(1)
BETWEEN STOPS
GREEN FIELDS WITH PYLONS
IN THE MIST
(2)
RAIN AND MIDGE-SPATTER
CAMERAS AT THE READY
JAPANESE GIRL
(3)
BUSES ARE USEFUL
CRISS-CROSS COUNTY
IN THE TEN DIRECTIONS
*****
SEPTEMBER / 2012
====================
POEM #23
SOME GIRLS (1)
SHE WAS
NOT UNLIKE SPANISH
SPRAWLED
ON BOARDWALK
IN THE SUN
HIPSTERS
BARE MIDRIFF
DEEP-SET BELLY-BUTTON
IN SALLOW SKIN
HOT JULY
AFTER 35 YEARS
i CAN'T
REMEMBER HER NAME
******
POEM #24
SOME GIRLS (2)
ALL NIGHT
NOT TOUCHING
A BIRD OF PREY
MAYBE AN OWL
NEAR
THE OPEN WINDOW
A BOWL OF CHESTNUTS
TO KEEP SPIDERS AT BAY
i TOLD YOU
WAS IT JUST
A BAD DREAM?
WHY DID YOU
FLY AWAY?
*******
POEM #25
SOME GIRLS (3)
FACE-TO-FACE
GOODBYE KISSES
AT
BRIDPORT
BUS-STOP
LIPS-TO-NOSE
AND
LIPS-2-CHIN
MAHAKASHYAPA
SMILES ON
VULTURE PEAK
i
TWIRL A FLOWER
IN THE STREET
*****
===============
POEM #26
THIS APRIL
SNOWSTORM
SO ABLY MIMICS
PLUM BLOSSOMS
ON A BREEZE -
WHY OH WHY
DID i NOT
WRITE OF THEM?
*
************
POEM #27
WEATHERED GARDEN SHED
LOOKS SO RIGHT
NO NEED TO PAINT ANEW
********
POEM #28
SWALLOW
SWOOPING
IN AND OUT
THE STABLES
IN AND OUT
MY HEART
*
***************
POEM #29
RENDEZVOUS MORNING
CLOSE TO TEN
GET 'EM IN
GET YOUR OWN.
AT ONE-TWENTY-FIVE
A PINT
YOU LINE 'EM UP
ON A THURSDAY
AND NO NEED
TO TAKE BREAK
TO PEE
TIL AFTER FOUR.
AROUND MID-DAY
A ROLL-UP
REMINISCENT
OF PACKS OF PLAYERS
SHARED WITH
SEVEN BROTHERS
BEHIND THE BIKE-SHEDS.
WHO CAN PEE HIGHEST
UP THE WALL?
OR
OVER THE BUSH?
OR
INTO THE HARBOUR?
WHO'D'VE THOUGHT
THERE WOULD EVER BE
NO SMOKING
ON LICENSED PREMISES
*
SMOKING
IN THE FRESH AIR
GIGGLING OFFICE-GIRLS
PASS
OVER TOWN-BRIDGE
INDIAN-SUMMER-CHIC
AND SUMMER BREEZE
MMMMMMMM
BREATHE-IN BREATHE-OUT
INHALE
EXHALE
ON THE STAIRWAY
TO HEAVEN
AT ONE-TWENTY-FIVE
A PINT.
*****
2017-2019
**************
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