Jerry Collins - and Midi poems
“Consolamentum”
- for O.Ch.
the town locks itself in
the town locks in the houses
the houses lock in the secret
the secret locks in the people
your bed is a treasure -
the secret unlocks the song
the song unlocks the bed
the woman locks up
her bed again
the young man bolts his song
for the street is watched
the town is watched
and only strangers
watch the town
the Jews are locked up
the Muslims are locked up
yes go lock up the Bible
I will give you the keys -
look out
for the sky of Spain
you are one thing
on the street
casting shadow -
someone else at home
you’ll be torched
the moment you’re caught
inside my orchard
seraph
you will burn
in the tree of fire
blind man in much light
poor man of Lyons
be perfect
you are perfected
25 August 2014
Oxford
“Cordes sur Ciel :- Albert Camus”
for O.Ch.
colon
here’s your colony
give up
the other land
leave it
to its people -
go trace
the mystic streets
embed
the gates forever
raise
the hidden houses
devise them
narrow ways
set it in the sky
and wrap it round
a mountain
coil it
dragon walls
that scala santa
will bring you
to your knees
- men of Albi
plant the secret
in the open
let mystery
have its market
new people
come by chance
then take your place
upon the ladder
endure
the consolation
the citadel
of the just
will have its
rue of Paradise
12 June 2015
Oxford
“Conques”
for Simon Upton
easter vigil -
the church downstairs
fastens its
doors of last days
entrance is by the apse
through a cold compress of tombs
the candles are small
in the huge dark
the moon roars
in the river
next day -
the eleventh century
all empty and clear
a light aircraft
hums in the dome
24 August 2014 and 12 June 2015
Oxford
“Jerry Collins” :- in memoriam
rugby and the tears
at Cannons Creek
when you were brought
from the long bridge
at Beziers -
you never got to
the long bridge
at Beziers
it never ended
our long bridge
of people
it went on -
the cheering
and the weeping
of Cannons Creek
the winter sky clear
the horizons opened
the rugby like the wind
going on
14 June 2015
Oxford