Upon meeting a man ordering five gin and tonics

G&T


That bitter slice of lime,
                                       of life
becomes a knife
A wedge
A spade
Pervades
               a
                   life
and splays
and cuts asunder

I have to wonder,

                                  ponder
the power of you.

This foul drink,

this bitter
               sweet
                        unnecessary
                                           necessary      



                                                                      ness

POP
Bang
fizz,

                 a gin and tonic,

to keep the dogs at bay,
        appease,

to hold,
to hold,
to hold,


to tease.

to sway
my heart, my mind,
for one more day
                             
                             
I drink a Gin and Tonic

A you.

Alone

Alone,                                                                        (after Wang Wei)

the brushwood door behind.

I watch the brilliance fall.

Pine trees gossip with cranes

nesting for the night.

Few men visit now.

The wicker gate is silent.

Bamboo cradles its new powder,

lotuses shed their red robes.

You can see the lanterns rising-

jewels for the ford.

A call to chestnut pickers everywhere:

Come home.

By NLMcD

Permanence

I found you on the landing
Worried spilt red wine

I found you in the day’s post
A2 speeding fine

I found you in the kitchen
Burnt fags out of time

I found you on my tea mug
Your lips next to mine

I found you in all these things
I find you all the time




By NLMcD

Awake. 5 a.m.

Quietly you snore
Rising and falling
My hibernating bear
and I know something you don’t

It has come.

This lonely hour of morning
When the leaves are asleep
The flowers tucked in

Angels fall from heaven

By NLMcD