O My Beloved

you’re stunned – as Adam must have been –with the miracle of birth;They come as miniature perfection –who reads the small-print warning clause?‘These goods come without a life-time guarantee…’But you don’t pause to dream their own world for them –except to count, in wonder, fingers, toes;they come as answer to your whole life up to…

but now it seems it has. And nowI’m writing it. Or trying to. Big mistake?So do I haveanything worth passing on?You know, the Polonius Balonyus stuff:If I were your age, boy,this is what I’d be and do, yawn zzzz….Let’s think instead, of some more lively headin Sunday supplement style –‘Old Age – Tragedy or Comedy?…

you will remain –I’m not sending any cards this year –so of course, I do not deserve to receive any,by the human law of tit for tat…So if you’re sending me a cardbecause you sent me one last yearand think I’ll notice if you don’t –don’t bother.If you’re sending me a cardjust because I sent…

smiled, joined hands,danced in a ringand as they danced around and roundthe space inside the circlebecame magicthe earth flowedinto a brightness in the airwhich in its spacebecame soundthe words dancingleft a ring in the grassin the sound of a poemthen returned hometo where words restin stillness and in silenceuntil called uponto waken fresh

Two hours before the usual time for attack.I wonder what they’ve got up their sleeve for today.A bit too quiet right now, I’d sayCareful how you breathe or talkthis chilly night, out there in the open trench;frozen breath will draw the sniper’s rifle sightThe sharp nose of some human terrierpassing over the familiar smells –cordite,…

you could say thatthis is like a lotusfor it floats on the surface of the waters of lifeand opens its petals to the heavens,rejoicing to be alive.or you could say thatit is like a housefor it is where you return for rest and re-creationwithin the love of family,within the safety of its walls.or you could…

if you can’t tell anyone? …)Mariah Careywas never a member of theMickey Mouse Clubwhen young, er, younger…to whichsome will say, wow, don’t you know a lot.some will say, who’s Mariah Carey?or, who the chic black rock chick cares…or, smartipantsly, well you could guess couldn’t you.or just, cool –…and go on with what they’re doing.or, didn’t…

to bow down, look up, to the Lord in youwhat more perfect, easy, pure,than to fill a ritualthat needs no thought to planwith all the heart may present offer; .to join my hands and bow my eyesthat see now only Him,raise them to see Him in you;only perfect then remainsnamaste

there in your heart,there in front of your eyes –the mossy glade within the woods,the sunlight filtering through the trees,or in the pure air of the highest hills,or among the tossing white-topped waves –or at the quiet times –as the dawn sunlight makes the world anew,plays to make diamonds of the dew,or as the peace…

eccentricity which the English do so wellwent beyond the bounds that others set…I only write obituaries, dear Margaret,when asked; somehow the others can be messy;but now of course, I wish I’d known enough…forhow do we know, when we’re so busyenjoying their company, their joyously,modestly eccentric company—no showing off –that we’ll so miss them, when they’re…

dew as diamonds on the grass stems;sunshine on the hills across the river valley;outside the rabbit hole, a terrier, crouchedon the scuffed reddish run-dust of a hundred paws;focussed, completely still, every muscle ready and alert;ear occasionally twitching at some movement underground;now, all things are praise.To live with praise, to live in praise,to know; be blessed;…

the bank managerthose extra three inches,that 20% increase in girth,those 18 hours ofchemically inducedextended pleasurecome courtesy ofthe overdraft sanctioned bythe bank manager whosesmug image comes to mindat the most ecstatic andinappropriate moments

in which you were fathered, mothered,fed, grow up, and swim with all your friends…and then one day, you see them disappear from view –a powerful twist of tail… their body’s gone…gone where? … you find that air, whichyour nostrils have already breathed, is more…a lighter, unsupported worldin which all dolphins leapto celebrate their joyin being…

lasted that little bit longerlike an unexpected, perfect Christmas presentthat got delayed in the mailand I’m filled with a sheer gratitudethat somehow passed me byin long, hot, lazy, selfish, glorioussummer

if you love your neighbour as yourselfdeal?

a ray of morning sunlightlighting the dewdrops on the mossy grass;or galloping, white mane flying in the wind,over the high green hills;or briefly glimpsed, shining-eyedbetween the white-spumed waves –they bring back with them, the experiencewhich always will be theirs;some place of inner peaceto which they may refer all the eventsof life; so that, like some…

and yet their speech so ardent in its truth,not sound but rather silence seems to reign.These silent lovers are the soul and God;their silence, prayer, which brought them, joins them, here;they talk of all that lovers ever speak,and plight their troth as lovers ever swear:‘Yet nought I have to give you, but myself;and that I…

in a thousand thousand gardens,in a million fields and valleys,the lilies grow.the lilies of the field – proudyet modest in the grass, proudthat Jesus spoke of them;lilies of the valley – proudyet modest as their scentsings and calls, amongst allthe heady scents of nature,the scent so closeto the wild cyclamenin the hillside grass;the regal lily,…