By Stephen Kingsnorth First Fall My chassis sashay unreturned - I cannot rise from weeding bed; where couch grass spread, snapdragon split, I’m splayed, pride punctured by the blades, and love-lies-bleeding in the tilth. It’s not the autumn, falling leaves - progressive failing of my limbs, dyskinesia taking hold and tremor shaking confidence, but garden … Continue reading First Fall and Other Poems
Loaned and Other Poems
By Stephen Kingsnorth Loaned Genetic tree, pooled influence, that xylem flow from roots beneath, the tap that feeds, mycorrhiza, gives fibre to our feeble deeds, hard graft applied where stock is tired - these masks and manes that launch our path. But nothing fixes final mould, though zeitgeist seeks to overlay; our choices set by … Continue reading Loaned and Other Poems
Curl and Other Poems
By Stephen Kingsnorth Curl The rising shave of chiselled wood, the great wave off Kanagawa, the calligraphic curve of grace, or ringlet hair around the ear. The sabre swipe of crescent moon, the dancing turn of treble clef, the cosmic turn gyrating spheres, or circling cornet ice-cream filled. Plantagenet pods' twisting spring, turning water past … Continue reading Curl and Other Poems
Hedge Funds and Fine Line
By Stephen Kingsnorth Hedge Funds Where pastures, crops were once enclosed - remember acts from history days - we hedged our bets with layered edge, a folded hem, first tacked, then sown with berried seeds, gin-runny sloes. That edging served as travel routes, safe paths to navigate through space, for isolate, connected ways, where open … Continue reading Hedge Funds and Fine Line
Swaddling and Other Poems
By Stephen Kingsnorth Swaddling It was summer when she passed - we knew come spring she would not last. But as fresh buds broke from dead wood, the tree stump bark cork cambium erupted, unexpected growth, we set our minds to recreate, wrapped in those tie-dyes, student years, free spirited, our crazy route - wherever … Continue reading Swaddling and Other Poems
Notebooks and Other Poems
By Stephen Kingsnorth Notebooks The beetle carried rainbow, iridescence in the black; it scurried from my bootstraps, submerged, buried beneath muck. Colour frequent underground, stealing treasure from our eyes, good reason for us digging, to unearth the pirate’s horde. I notice it when talking to shy backward-stepping folk - reluctant rays from limelight, momentary centre … Continue reading Notebooks and Other Poems
Sacrosanct and Other Poems
By Stephen Kingsnorth Sacrosanct A lower middle class affair, though I knew nothing else; a serviette bound napkin ring, unrealised it taut. The cloth for granted taken ironed spread of shining white - swept after, brush and crumb pan, Edwardian no doubt. Place mats were blossoms blooming, japonica was mine, botanic chaenomeles - aka unknown … Continue reading Sacrosanct and Other Poems
Four Emptied Soles and Other Poems
By Stephen Kingsnorth Four Emptied Soles Wailing, she nestles four shoes, then lays them on poor brown earth, witness to total loss, for these the only graves for three. Rearranging the order, as if seeking for a match, but only one pair present - even shoes sustained a loss. A cloth scrap drapes unmoving, limp-hangs … Continue reading Four Emptied Soles and Other Poems
Body Language and Other Poems
By Stephen Kingsnorth Body Language Reflecting on Painting: The Woman taken in Adultery Why does he lower face, join the woman in down-cast eyes, when the other men point with their calculating, tricky, digit stares? They unbent, he questions, bends again. Why does he lower frame, join the woman's down-cast norm, when … Continue reading Body Language and Other Poems
The Eden Project
By Stephen Kingsnorth As a tourist board inspector, the closing hour approaching fast, pottering in the garden centre, I saw another in the crowd - God wandering amongst the shades. At gate closure, the lock-up time, I saw her in the coffee shop, chatting with the sweat-cooking staff, those table-waiting, poorly paid, dependant on … Continue reading The Eden Project
Academy of the Heart And Mind 