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4 am under Annapurna

- to Angela

I woke to birdsong in the purple trees
and rose to start the day's machinery,
my traveller's pulse a-race.

For late last night I'd flown from Katmandu,
the dark concealing any mountain view
or Pokhara's smiling face.

Up to the waking terrace made my way
where perfumes hung, too deep in mystery
for France to emulate.

Across the fields, the trees, the greens, the golds,
my eye roved on and caught the planet's throne
aloft, its outline faint -

for as I scanned afar I saw the hills,
kind curves and tints of distant browns, until
I caught a change of tone:

above, an endless tower of grey so high
I thought its fingertips would touch the sky –
ah, Annapurna's dome.

The mountain, sleepy, made her morning stretch,
an image on my memory now deep etched.
I saw infinity awake.

She shrugged aside young cloudlets gathered there
who overnight had nestled in her care,
to ease her age-old aches.

She stared awhile, as if to stoop to me,
and whispered on the wind imperiously:
“Learn, my child, Our Law.”

The river's aires, the canvas of the sky,
the sculptured mountains, Nature's book of life.
These alone endure.

Poetry

  1. Publish and Be Banned. In Kerrie Pateman (ed.), Behind the Headlines. Poetry Now, May 1995, p.32, ISBN 1 85731 463 8
  2. Let Slip the Dogs of War. In Kerrie Pateman (ed.), Living in the 20th Century, Poetry Now, Sept 1995, p.194, ISBN 1 85731 621 5
  3. Nobody Asked Me! In Kerrie Pateman (ed.), Stirred but Not Shaken, Poetry Now, Oct 1995, p.128, ISBN 1 85731 676 2
  4. No Pain, No Gain. In Kerrie Pateman (ed.), Home is Where the Heart is, Poetry Now, 1995, ISBN 1 86188 451 6
  5. Better Red than Dead. In Kerrie Pateman (ed.), Poets Say Cheese, Poetry Now, Jan 1996, p.44, ISBN 1 85731 642 8
  6. Nine Lives. In Kerrie Pateman (ed.), Animal Matters, National Antivivisection Soc., Spring 1996, p.202, ISBN 1 85731 673 8
  7. Death Certificate. In Andrew Head (ed.), Euthanasia. Poetry Now. March 1996. p.1, ISBN 1 85731 623 1
  8. Brief Palinode - Piccola Palinodia, In In Other Words, J. Literary Translators, Soc. Authors, Spring 1996, ISSN 1361 911X (translation of Dacia Maraini)
  9. Italy the Courtesan, In In Other Words, J. Literary Translators, Soc. Authors, Spring 1996, ISSN 1361 911X (translation of Dacia Maraini)
  10. Choice Cut. In NightMares, Poetry Now, Spring 1996, ISBN 1 85731 659 2
  11. What in the World? In State of the Nation, Poetry Now, Spring 1996, ISBN 1 86188 470 2
  12. Bianca. In Andrew Head (ed.), The World of Horses. Poetry Now, Spring 1996, ISBN 1 86188 480 X
  13. How Now Brown Cow. In Andrew Head (ed.), A Paler Shade of Green, Poetry Now, Summer 1996, ISBN 1 86188 496 5
  14. 4 am Under Annapurna. In Andrew Head (ed.), Destinations, Poetry Now, Forward Press, Autumn 1996, ISBN 1 86188 423 0
  15. Snowblind. In Andrew Head (ed.), Good Times, Poetry Now, Forward Press, Nov 1996, ISBN 1 86188 438 9 / 433 8
  16. Eclipse. In Quiet Moments, Int. Library Poetry, Autumn 1996, ISBN 1 57553 180 1. Third Prize, Internat. Poetry Competition. Editor's Choice
  17. Eclipse. In The Sound of Poetry (tape series), Int. Library Poetry, Autumn 1996, ISBN 1 57553 180 1
  18. The Assassination of Physik's Companion, In Between a Laugh and a Tear, Int. Soc. Poetry, Dec 1996, ISBN 1 57553 179 8. Third Prize
  19. The Other Side. In Blaze of Glory, Poetry Now, 1996, ISBN 1 86188 402 8
  20. Seven Deadly Warriors. In Seven, Poetry Now, 1996, ISBN 1 86188 497 4
  21. Diagnosis. In Turning Points, Poetry Now, 1997, ISBN 1 86188 427 2
  22. Out of Time. In Teaching and Learning, Poetry Now, March 1997, ISBN 1 86188 575 X
  23. Freedom Fighters. In Precious Thoughts, Poetry Now, May 1997, ISBN 1 86188 557 / 552
  24. The Lie. In From the Heart, Poetry Today. April 1997. ISBN 1 86226 009 5
  25. La Dolce Vita. In Poets' Platform, Arrival Press, March 1997, ISBN 1 85786 551 0
  26. My Seventh Day. In A Day in the Life of ..., Poetry Now, Forward Press, Jan 1997, ISBN 1 86188 469 9
  27. Passion – A Plucked Flower. In Heather Killingray (ed.), Poet's Platter, Anchor Books, May 1997, ISBN 1 85930 429 X / 4249
  28. The Garland-Maker. In Candid Verse, Arrival Press, May 1997, ISBN 1 85786 523 5 / 518 9
  29. Above Katmandu. In Light of the World, Internat. Library of Poetry, June 1997, ISBN 1 57553 413 8
  30. Above Katmandu. In The Sound of Poetry (tape series), Internat. Library of Poetry, 1997
  31. Go Quietly. In International Poets, Arrival Press, 1997, ISBN 1 85786 520 0
  32. Cow Hide. In Respect Too, Poetry Now, 1997, ISBN 1 86188 459 1
  33. The Blackbird's Melancholy. In Heather Killingray (ed.), Whispers in The Trees, Anchor Books, June 1997, ISBN 1 83930 469 9 / 464 8
  34. The Girl from Mesopotamia. In With Love, Arrival Press, Sept 1997, ISBN 1 85786 560 X
  35. David. In Words of Praise, Triumph House, Sept 1997. ISBN 1 86161 355
  36. Nostalgia. In Tim Sharp (ed.), Poetic Destinations, Arrival Press, Sept 1997. ISBN 1 85786 611 8 / 611 7. Commended by Editor
  37. The Isonzo River. In The Star-Laden Sky, Internat. Library of Poets, Dec 1997, ISBN 1 57553 414 2. Third Prize, Internat. Poetry Competition
  38. The Isonzo River. In The Sound of Poetry (tape series), Internat. Library of Poetry, Dec 1997
  39. Macho. In Andrew Head (ed.), Cardboard City, Poetry Now, 1997, p132, ISBN 1 86188 516 4 / 511 3
  40. Istrian Paradise. In Andrew Head (ed.), My Pleasure Is..., Poetry Now, Dec 1997, ISBN-13 978-18578 662 30 / ISBN-10 18578 661 86
  41. Bordering on Insanity. In Forward Press Poets 2008 - South & East England, Nov 2008, ISBN-13 978-1844184798
  42. Abingdon's Alder. In Forward Press Poets 2009 - UK Inspirations, Jan 2010, ISBN-10 1844185176, ISBN-13 978-1844185177
  43. Down Carcassonne Way. In Forward Press Regionals 2010 – The South & South West of England, Dec 2010
  44. Bulletins from the East-West Border. Collection of 60 poems. Biggin pub., 2011, ISBN 978-0-9568412-0-9
  45. Dreamshreds. In Under Your Spell, Forward Press, Jan 2011, ISBN-10 1844185648, ISBN-13 978-1844185641
  46. The Dunes near Dunkerque. In The Colour of War, Poetry Now, June 2011, ISBN-10 1844185680, ISBN-13 978-1844185689
  47. School for Scandal. In Schoolyard Secrets, Forward Press, Oct 2011, ISBN-10 1844185737, ISBN-13 978-1844185733
  48. Tea-Time in Le Marche. In Forward Poetry Regionals 2011 - A World of Verse, Nov 2011, ISBN-10 1844185893, ISBN-13 978-1844185894
  49. Diminishing Returns. In Uplifting Moments, United Press, Winter 2011
  50. Chasing My Tail. In A Symphony of Life: A Collection of Poetry, Forward Poetry, Jan 2012
  51. Windbag - To Aeolus. In In The Mind's Eye, United Press, Spring 2012

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