little water takes away thought of home,
holds dear the feverish heat
of knowledge thrown down gauntlets
to a flow of sense, dries up gesture
not some dry salvages or straw men
who wait to be lit by celestial fire,
or prompt spiritual fertility in watery
decay, but have foreheads fire crossed,
and penny guys drowned in the flood.
blings a ring of quality spins
sparkle, blooms a spring
a rich pollen of rain glimmers
on season’s shoes and dressers
warm colours shimmer up and out
flowers that demand selfies with a pout.
when the wrinkles arrive. Life sped up,
like it’s been injected with giddy up
juice.
Your friends die off week by week.
Every day another pain in your legs,
arms, hands.
You eat less and less, nap more and
more. Life’s a rush like you wished
it would be in your twenties. Now
it makes you wonder how you found
time to go to work and bring up bairns.
And afore your watery eyes folk rush
past as if they rung see thee, like tha
invisible and its all tha can do to not
shart, “Aye up, av not gone yet tha
knows” and wake up middle of street.
“I am the voice of the people. Everyone who disagrees is an enemy of the people”,
“We are the voice of the people,” said the media.
The people were mute. They heard voices who said they were their voice. Their voice had been stolen, again. The people were mute, wooden and on stage in a little booth that said above it “The Punch And Judy Show”..
[trans-leyt, tranz-, trans-leyt, tranz-]
to turn from one into another
to change form, condition, nature,
transform; convert
ever in translate mode
along nerves five senses input
signals into messages,
make sense of senses.
never get up off your fat arse
to do owt. Leave it to some other
gullible sod to do your dirty work,
molly coddle your idle spine
in “Never mind, love. I’ll do it for you.”
while you ogle the goggle box
legs up on the soffee, hands in a bag
of crisps, or round a glass of cheap
plonk, or pawing choccies out of the box.
Let other sorry sods work and strive
and let you skim their profit and sweat.
What can you
in all honesty
within sound of your own
and take in the same air
and warm the same heart
and hold the same hands
where can you
put it that reason would
that common sense could
with conviction should
better the days breathed.
Updated When It Happens
17 May
Time Is A – kindly published by Julie in Sacred Chickens
Sacred Chickens http://www.sacredchickens.com/2/post/2017/05/time-is-a.html
12 May
“Cleaner” kindly published by Jason in Literati Magazine
View at Medium.com
09 May
Two poems kindly featured “Eclipsing Rainbows” and other poetic responses to last Wednesday’s prompt
https://jamiededes.com/2017/05/09/wednesday/ via @JamieDedes
08 May
“I Must Get Rid”. Thanks to Tasha for publishing in Inbetween Hangovers
https://inbetweenhangovers.wordpress.com/2017/05/08/i-must-get-rid-by-paul-brookes/ via @wordpressdotcom
06 May
“Her Life” kindly published by Ray Alez in Fiction Hub
View at Medium.com
05 May
“My Mam Is Nothing If” ever grateful for publication by Visual Verse
03 May
Many thanks to Kathy Kieth of Medusa’s Kitchen for featuring seven of my poems http://medusaskitchen.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/payment-is-always-due.html?m=1
“New Folk (From ‘My Maths’ chapbook #Dyscalculia)” featured thankyou to Jake in The Creative Cafe
https://thecreative.cafe/new-folk-from-my-maths-chapbook-dyscalculia-46d28d683bac
02 May
“Your Damned Anthropocene” kindly featured by Jamie G. Dedes
“Wonderlust Rain Forest” … poems and other works by readers in response to Wednesday’s Writing Prompt https://jamiededes.com/2017/05/02/wonderlust-rain-forest/ via @JamieDedes
“You Should Be” kindly published in The Wrytr. Thankyou Efe.
https://thewrytr.com/you-should-be-9b781920124b
“This Is How It Is (From ‘My Maths’ chapbook, #Dyscalculia)” featured in “Misplaced Identity”. Thankyou Zac.
01 May
“All The Girls” published in Poetry Under Cover. Thankyou Marika.
“Numbers” (From “My Maths” chapbook) kindly published by Jason Stelzner in Literati Magazine
Thankyou to Main Dude for publishing “Gabriel’s Hounds” on page 28 of the latest edition of “Typewriter Emergencies”
26 April 2017
“Don’t Know Zip” kindly published by Zac in Misplaced Identities
View at Medium.com
“Picked Apple Falls Hard On Him” featured by Jamie Dedes in
“Parable of the Red Birds” and other poems by poets in response to last Wednesday’s Writing Prompt
https://jamiededes.com/2017/04/25/parable-of-the-red-birds-and-other-poems-by-poets-in-response-to-last-wenesdays-writing-prompt/ via @JamieDedes
25 April 2017
“Fingers” Grateful to Terijo for publishing in new endeavour “Poetry Under Cover”
22 April 2017
Three Poems kindly published by Janet in the outstanding Communicator’s League
https://communicatorsleague.com/2017/04/23/three-poems-by-paul-brookes/ via @wordpressdotcom
18 April 2017
Many Thanks to Jamie Dedes featuring two of my poems
“One of My Tomorrows” and other poems in response Wednesday Writing Prompts https://jamiededes.com/2017/04/18/one-of-my-tomorrows-and-other-poems-in-response-wednesday-writing-prompts/ via @JamieDedes
Many thanks to Klaus at the great Outlaw Poetry for publishing five poems
https://www.outlawpoetry.com/category/paul-brookes/
15 April 2017
“The Bomb Baby” kindly published by Renee S in Literati Magazine
Three Poems featured in “The Bezine”. Thankyou Jamie and Michael
https://thebezine.com/portfolio/three-poems-by-paul-brooks/ via @TheBeZine
14 April 2017
“Something Is” published in “The Wrytr”. Thankyou Efe.
https://thewrytr.com/something-is-cdaf793fd7cc
“The Withered Stump” kindly featured by Tasha in Inbetween Hangovers
https://inbetweenhangovers.wordpress.com/2017/04/14/the-withered-stump-by-paul-brookes/ via @wordpressdotcom
13 April 2017
Grateful to Anisio for featuring “A Timely” on his website.
https://anisionogueira.wordpress.com/2017/04/13/a-timely/ via @anisionogueira
Very pleased that “My Strangers” has been published in Literati Magazine. Thankyou Renee S.
12 April 2017
“March (From ‘Word Hoard’ chapbook)” kindly published by Heath in Literally Literary
softly speaking … and other poems by readers features “Not Good” . Thankyou Jamie
https://jamiededes.com/2017/04/11/softly-speaking-and-other-poems-by-readers/ via @JamieDedes
11 April 2017
“Redemption Claimed” kindly featured by Renee S in Literati Magazine.
10 April 2017
“April (Word Hoard Calendar)” published in Literally Literary. Many thanks Jess
“This Desk Is A” kindly published by Efe in The Wrytyr
09 April 2017
Zombie Logic Review: Poetry For Outsiders and Outlaws: English Outlaw Poet Paul Brookes http://zombielogicreview.blogspot.com/2017/04/english-outlaw-poet-paul-brookes.html?spref=tw
“Let Go” kindly featured by Duane in Poetree.
http://duanespoetree.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none.html?m=1
07 April 2017
“You Are There” kindly featured in Visual Verse.
http://visualverse.org/submissions/you-are-there/
05 April 2017
“Fresh Rots Soonest” Thankyou to Heath for publishing in Literally Literary.
View at Medium.com
04 April 2017
Many thanks to Anisio for featuring “Prudent”
https://anisionogueira.wordpress.com/2017/04/04/prudent-poem-for-napomo/
“The Elephantquake” wonderfully featured by the talented Jamie Dedes in Poetry By Day
THE ELEPHANTQUAKE and other poems by readers …
03 April 2017
“Un Poems” Thankyou to Terijo for publishing these in Literally Literary
02 April 2017
“Unexpected Breath (Four Vacanas)” kindly featured by Rachel in Poetry In Form.
https://poetry-in-form.com/unexpected-breath-four-vacanas-b6c67e5889b5
Poetry Month #2: “Firewedding” Kindly published by Miriam in Miriam’s Well
https://miriamswell.wordpress.com/2017/04/02/poetry-month-2-firewedding-by-paul-brookes/ via @MiriamSagan
01 April 2017
Many thanks to Frank Murphy for featuring four of my poems in Home Planet News Online 4
http://homeplanetnews.org/AHPNONL4-PaulBrookes.html
31 March 2017
“The Symbolism Isn’t” published by kind Terijo in Literally Literary
“We Shouldn’t Wonder” Warmly grateful to Renee S for publishing in Literati Magazine.
“Vincent” kindly published by Renee S in Literati Magazine
30 March 2017
Kindly Renee S. published “The Template (Seven Poems)” in Literati Magazine .
29 March 2017
“O, Lady Of The Breath (Four Vacanas)” kindly published by Rachel in Poetry In Form
https://poetry-in-form.com/o-lady-of-the-breath-four-vacanas-44d48200b21
Terijo kindly published “Galileo” in Literally Literary
https://medium.com/literally-literary/galileo-73f5e5dc8ce3 Thanks to @Darrieb
28 March 2017
“The Moon” kindly featured by Jamie Dedes: Dreaming of the Moon … poets respond to last Wednesday’s Writing Prompt
https://jamiededes.com/2017/03/28/dreaming-of-the-moon-poets-respond-to-last-wednesdays-writing-prompt/ via @JamieDedes
27 March 2017
“Our Mam’s Potpourri” warmly grateful to Heath of Literally Literary
View at Medium.com
24 March 2017
“The Orcud Sod” kindly published by Tasha in Inbetween Hangovers
https://inbetweenhangovers.wordpress.com/2017/03/24/the-orcud-sod-by-paul-brookes/ via @wordpressdotcom
23 March 2017
Krishna kindly published “RSPH OldMoor” in “Thoughts And Ideas”
Many thanks to Reuben for publishing “A Bridge” in “I Am Not A Silent Poet”
https://iamnotasilentpoet.wordpress.com/2017/03/23/a-bridge-by-paul-brookes/ via @ReubenWoolley
“Rain Is Sweat (From ‘A World Where’ chapbook)” kindly published in Literally Literary by Jessica
22 March 2017
Thankyou to Anisio Luiz Nogueira for publishing “Minimal”
https://anisionogueira.wordpress.com/2017/03/22/minimal/ via @anisionogueira
21 March 2017
“Work For The Answer” featured in DELVING DEEP … Poets respond to last Wednesday’s Writing Prompt. Many thanks Jamie.
https://jamiededes.com/2017/03/21/delving-deep-poets-respond-to-last-wednesdays-writing-prompt/ via @JamieDedes
20th March 2017
“Unlife” kindly published in Literati Magazine by Renee S
19th March 2017
Thankyou to The Bees Are Dead Triumvirate for publishing my “Disease”
18 March 2017
“A Black Bead I” kindly published by Jake in The Creative Cafe
https://thecreative.cafe/a-black-bead-i-4ca3d9cb5d89#.rbifh55sm
16 March 2017
Ever grateful to Jake who has published “Spring Of Breath” in The Creative Cafe
https://thecreative.cafe/spring-of-breath-ca2e8b35ad27#.8q2nnt30l
14 March 2017
“We Must Avoid” kindly featured by Jamie Dedes.
From Older-Self to Younger-Self … Four poems in response to the last Wednesday’s Writing Prompt https://t.co/wZMOfedF7k via @JamieDedes
Thankyou to Scott for publishing at Wish Poetry three of my poems: Low Murmur Rising
https://wishpoetrypress.net/2017/03/13/low-murmur-rising/ via @NostroviaPoetry
13 March 2017
Very grateful to Dai for publishing “Taught To Treat All” in Your One Phone Call
https://youronephonecall.wordpress.com/2017/03/13/taught-to-treat-all-by-paul-brookes/ via @wordpressdotcom
Many thanks to Julie of Sacred Chickens for publishing “Liberation”
Sacred Chickens http://www.sacredchickens.com/2/post/2017/03/liberation-by-paul-brookes.html
07 March 2017
“Would It Were That Easy” in response to last Wednesday’s writing prompt featured by the remarkable Jamie Dedes in “The Poet By Day”. Ever grateful, Jamie.
https://t.co/JL40WNKVrA via @JamieDedes
06 March 2017
Grateful to Rachel for publishing “Evening” in Poetry In Form
https://poetry-in-form.com/evening-fde8b8ee8cfa#.hem2tsg1q
Jessica has kindly published “She Is Seen As Unseen” in Literally Literary
https://medium.com/literally-literary/she-is-seen-as-unseen-2cc1d004eb25#.1bia06eqz Thanks to Jason Stelzner too.
03 March 2017
Rachel kindly published “Selfied (Senryu)” in “Poetry In Form”
https://poetry-in-form.com/selfied-haiku-64e8bbce68cb#.awm5ecwtv
“Our Mobiles” kindly published by Reuben Woolley in his “I Am Not A Silent Poet”
https://t.co/F8NsCsiLWa via @ReubenWoolley
Thankyou to outstanding @visual_verse for publishing my Ekphrastic poem “The Hand”
http://visualverse.org/submissions/the-hand/
“What’s My” kindly published by Tasha of Inbetween Hangovers
https://inbetweenhangovers.wordpress.com/2017/03/03/whats-my-by-paul-brookes/ via @wordpressdotcom
02 March 2017
Thankyou to Jake for accepting “The Knit” into The Creative Cafe
https://thecreative.cafe/the-knit-cfefb9f5729e#.gk230572d
27th February 2017
Jessica kindly accepted “Death Is (From ‘A World Where’ chapbook)” for Literally Literary
26th February 2017
Thankyou to Fiction Hub for accepting “Bro Ken Wa Tch”
25th February 2017
Thankyou Jake for publishing my “The Killed Give Birth (From ‘A World Where’ Chapbook)” in The Creative Cafe
https://thecreative.cafe/the-killed-give-birth-from-a-world-where-chapbook-c73d6a890de2#.d7nztym6z
21st February 2017
Thankyou to Jamie Dedes for featuring my poem “To Biddy”
Jessica kindly accepted into “Literally Literary” my “The Celestial Hovel (An Illustrated Folktale In Seven Poems)”
“The Coffeelicious” has kindly accepted “A City In His Pocket”
20th February 2017
My Ekphrastic poem “I, Upside Down” appeared in February edition of Visual Verse.
http://visualverse.org/submissions/i-upside-down/
Renee S published “Afternoon Like Half A Pint Of Mild” in Literati Magazine
https://medium.com/literati-magazine/afternoon-like-half-a-pint-of-mild-678981f04bb0#.99hptho2t Thankyou Renee
19th February 2017
Renee and Jason kindly published “Bairns Are Old Codgers (From ‘A World Where’ chapbook)”
https://medium.com/literati-magazine/bairns-are-old-codgers-from-a-world-where-chapbook-81c676a985b1#.1mubl66ne Thanks to Jason Stelzner
Grateful to Krishna accepting “Order Of My Senses: My Senses Day (From ‘A World Where’ chapbook)” into “Thoughts And Ideas”
17th February 2017
“Biddy And The Young God” kindly published by Kate in Issue 12 of “Three Drops From The Cauldron”
Three Drops from a Cauldron: Issue 12 (February 2017)
Andy published “My Bird’s Edge (Advisory: contains language that may offend)” in “Chalkboard”
https://medium.com/chalkboard/my-birds-edge-advisory-contains-language-that-may-offend-bd7e938f09c4#.sf7vrugd0 Thanks to Emily Roberts
16th February 2017
Many thanks to Renee S . who has published “In Answer To His Question” in Literati Magazine
Andy kindly accepted “Spindle” into “Chalkboard”
15th February “Married”
“Married” accepted by The Creative Cafe. Thankyou, Jake.
https://thecreative.cafe/married-9c5100fff0e4#.vn28ou9of
14th February 2014 “When Beaast Comes Over Thee”
Thankyou to Jamie Dedes for featuring my response to The Poet By Day Wednesday Writing Prompt
13th February 2017
Rachel has kindly accepted “How To Cope With Everyday Stress Haiku” for “Poetry In Form”
https://poetry-in-form.com/how-to-cope-with-everyday-stress-haiku-f62370c94df#.j0zfmsrv7
Jake kindly accepted “I Can’t Make Neither” for The Creative Cafe
https://thecreative.cafe/i-cant-make-neither-d99e3631b9c8#.cpmv2z2tu
Jessica has accepted “In Full Light She Asks Every Lover To Read Her Skin Differently” for Literally Literary
“Starved”
Thanks to Renée S “Starved” has been published in Literati Magazine
https://medium.com/literati-magazine/starved-eeeed5872fca#.b99u0sn6a Thanks to @ThePoetryTree
“Biddy And The Young God” to appear in issue 12 of “Three Drops From The Cauldron”
11th February 2017
Krishna accepted “Age Is Youth (From “A World Where” chapbook into “Thoughts And Ideas”. Thankyou, Krishna.
View at Medium.com
Paul Brookes’ ‘We Wait for Sick Sunblaze to’ is an ode to darkness – and a critique of light in comparison – which manages to transcend the usual tawdry and overtly-gothic glorifications that poets often sink into. Brookes speaks of darkness in a way that makes the reader feel as though it were usurped; deposed and bereft of the credit it deserves – for life and love’s intensity are born from dark rooms; where light brings pain, age and death.
The last third of this poem is particularly poignant, I feel; when Brookes’ Copernican revolution of the light/dark dichotomy takes a turn for the theological that could be taken as either highly blasphemous, or a profoundly pious and honest form of doxology…
Let us know what you think below!
– The Bees Are Dead Triumvirate
Many thanks to the superb “The Bees Are Dead” for publishing my “We Wait For Sick Sunblaze To”
9th February 2016
Thankyou to Duane for publishing my “A Competence” in his stunning “Poetree”
http://duanespoetree.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/paul-brookes-writes.html?m=1
24th January 2017 “The Says”
Thankyou to Rachel for accepting three of my poems using cinquains for Poetry In Form
https://poetry-in-form.com/the-gust-says-four-cinquains-10e40f1bcb1d#.jq0jr3c4h
https://poetry-in-form.com/the-skies-say-505059cc0d90#.fqkdrtvgn
https://poetry-in-form.com/the-rocks-say-6723a01cb615#.jigxj9yru
19th January 2017 “Delicious Concrete”
Thankyou Tasha for also publishing this
https://inbetweenhangovers.wordpress.com/2017/01/19/delicious-concrete-by-paul-brookes/ via @wordpressdotcom
14th January 2017
Thankyou to Julie for publishing my illustrated six part poem “His Fridge Door Their Mausoleum” in Sacred Chickens
http://www.sacredchickens.com/sacred-chickens-blog/his-fridge-door-their-mausoleum-by-paul-brookes
12th January 2017
“Hawthorn Blossom Scents Air” published by Visual Verse.
http://visualverse.org/submissions/hawthorn-blossom-scents-air/
8th January 2017
Very grateful that Robert of Poems-For-All has agreed to publish “In The Nod Of This” It’s PFA #1573.
3rd January 2017
” Her To and Fro” kindly published by The Drunken Llama
https://thedrunkenllama.com/2017/01/02/her-to-and-fro/ via @wordpressdotcom
2nd January 2017
V. grateful to The Drunken Llama for publishing my poem
“You’re Always Where I Want To Be.”
https://thedrunkenllama.com/2017/01/02/youre-always-where-i-want-to-be/ via @wordpressdotcom
1st January 2017 Thankyou to Eratio for publishing “Gustbrain, gustmind” on page 72 of their issue 23.
http://www.eratiopostmodernpoetry.com/issue23.html
1st January “Weather” kindly published by Tasha at Inbetween Hangovers
https://inbetweenhangovers.wordpress.com/2017/01/01/weather-by-paul-brookes/ via @wordpressdotcom
Many thanks to Nixes Mate for publishing two of my poems in their latest issue: “You Find Yourself” and “A Winter”
http://nixesmate.pub/you-find-yourself/
http://nixesmate.pub/a-winter/
31st December 2016 “The Elephant”
Many thanks to Lorette of The Ekphrastic Review for publishing my poem “The Elephant”
http://www.ekphrastic.net/the-ekphrastic-review/the-elephant-by-paul-brookes
27th December
Thankyou to Silver Birch Press for publishing my poem “Flatcap”
https://silverbirchpress.wordpress.com/2016/12/27/flatcap-poem-by-paul-brookes-me-in-a-hat-poetry-and-prose-series/
26th December 2017
Thankyou to Ray of Fiction Hub who has just published my poetic prose “The Gift”
26th December 2016
Many thanks to Effervescent for publishing my poem “Late Sweetness” in their third issue
19th December 2016
Thankyou to Hannah and Rusty for publishing my poem “She Is Forgetting Him”
http://www.livenudepoems.com/2016/12/paul-brookes.html?m=1
Thankyou to Duane for publishing my poem
“On The Face Of It”
http://duanespoetree.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/paul-brookes-writes_19.html?m=1
6th December 2016
Thankyou to “Open Mouse” for publishing my poem ” A Wonder”
https://theopenmouse.wordpress.com/2016/12/06/paul-brookes/ via @wordpressdotcom
6th December 2016
http://www.ekphrastic.net/the-ekphrastic-review/her-horse-fair-hung-by-paul-brookes
Very grateful to Duane for publishing a poem of mine: Subtext
25th November 2016 Chanter
Three Drops from a Cauldron: Issue Eight
24th November 2016 Immigrant Tongues
https://iamnotasilentpoet.wordpress.com/2016/11/24/immigrant-tongues-by-paul-brookes/
22nd November 2016 I’m Just About
https://iamnotasilentpoet.wordpress.com/2016/11/22/im-just-about-by-paul-brookes/
13th November 2016
Red Fez published “Am I Made”
https://www.redfez.net/poetry/sand-am-i-made-2447
10th November 2016 Mrs. Anon
http://highonpoems.com/36314/english-poems/short-poem/mrs-anon
8th November 2016
Thankyou to Ben Banyard for publishing three of my poems on his site Clear Poetry
Jack
7th November 2016
Thankyou to High On Poems for publishing my poem “A Winter”
http://highonpoems.com/36224/english-poems/short-poem/a-winter
4th November 2016 After Receiving Your Hot Note
26th October 201 Cremains
Limbs With Pears
Some Days I Am Young And Rave
13th October 2016
Cadair Lodge recommended “The Gold”
10th October 2016 Poem published by Cadair Lodge Magazine
Hallowtide
6th October 2016 “My Hubby Has A Prince Albert” and “Man Enough” published by Beatnik Cowboy
4th October
Thankyou to “The Beatnik Cowboy” for accepting my poem “A Handshake”
26th September 2016 The World Is An Abbatoir
https://iamnotasilentpoet.wordpress.com/2016/09/26/the-world-is-an-abbatoir-by-paul-brookes/
Thankyou to Kate Garrett for publishing my poem “Chanter” in Vol. Eight of “Three Drops From The Cauldron”
22nd September 2016
Received this message from Chris Butler, an editor of “The Beatnik Cowboy”
“We have decided to publish all 3 of your poems – “Beside Yourself” and “Immortality” are currently on the website. But “Spermbot Blues”, one of my favorite submissions this year, will be featured along with your other poems in our 2nd Best Of print issue.”
21st September 2016 Burning Issue
https://iamnotasilentpoet.wordpress.com/2016/09/21/burning-issue-by-paul-brookes/
21st September Beside Yourself
15th September 2017
Poems “Rabbit’s Head Winter” and “BEATMASTER DROOPEE’S TOP TEN” are currently published online at The Beatnik Cowboy
14th September 2016 Why, Dad?
https://iamnotasilentpoet.wordpress.com/2016/09/14/wht-dad-by-paul-brookes/
Krishna accepted “Age Is Youth (From “A World Where” chapbook into “Thoughts And Ideas”. Thankyou, Krishna.
it is said make us more aware than ever
of happenings in the world. News
is ongoing, a stream we choose to stand
in, our senses edit the edited flow, step
out when we choose. Heraclitus
is ascribed, “You cannot look twice
at the same river; for fresh waters are
ever flowing in.” and “We look and do
not look at the same rivers; we are,
and we are not.” Awareness, it seems.
The Wombwell Rainbow 