Unhooks

memory keys from behind the cellar door
and retrieves the wheel of gratitude
from the landing of the unforgiving cellar steps,

places its plug into paid electric socket
his furry comfort slippers under a chair
puts on molded plastic sandals of consideration

opens the porch of opportunity into the garden
of undelight, ravaged by weeds of disconsolation
And the onset of unchecked abundance

turns memory in the lock of occasional visits
enters the garage of the unessential, but not
urgent to collect the editor of excess.

carries the cutter down steps of ill repair
unreeling the calculated wire of generosity
unreeling the cutters wire of restriction,
connecting both and pressing the plastic button

of limited destruction to start sharp blade
of reinvention around the edges of wildness,
Then manoeuvring in straight lines across the body

of untidiness and unwanted refuges and dumping the full bucket of them in the green recycling bin of official response. Editing complete wires reeled in,

a managed garden is admired by onlookers as cared for and the gardener as attentive to their design.
He tidies the edges with blades of definition

Hot Jolt

sight as she sips her cold prosecco watching him mow his immaculate lawn inhales cut grass like weed and sees a meadow years back and sucks a ripe corn stalk in her mouth frissons at a naked torso above her recently stripped of its flowery shirt little beads of sweat on his neck like rain droplets off the raised black umbrellas at his funeral when he overdosed on too much freedom.

 

via Daily Prompt: Jolt

Our Climbing (Poetry Month #16)

into the sun out of the dark and cold grey shorter days when flickers sustained now fill with light inhale sweet green growth touch warm stone taste ripeness hear bough and roof chatter as homes are built or reoccupied, and prey multiplies a moving feast of lively skin and blood.

 

 

via Daily Prompt: Climbing

A Cranky (Poetry Month #15)

don’t get me wrong a niche twist your hand works into angular hole, ram skin against stone grain secure one hold of three above roll of water below fist into the dark unafraid of unseen more concerned with death drop riverside, pinioned a search for a higher hold and loosen fist in face of rock, a slight surface for feet or toes, remember to use your thighs, not arms to lift, and reach climb top a weight raises from shoulders, elation at achievement.

 

via Daily Prompt: Cranky

Thankyou to Anisio for featuring my Three Poems published in “The Bezine”

Originally posted on The Wombwell Rainbow: Three Poems featured in “The Bezine”. Thankyou Jamie and Michael https://thebezine.com/portfolio/three-poems-by-paul-brooks/ via @TheBeZine

via Three Poems featured in “The Bezine”. Thankyou Jamie and Michael — O LADO ESCURO DA LUA

Three Poems featured in “The Bezine”. Thankyou Jamie and Michael

Three Poems featured in “The Bezine”. Thankyou Jamie and Michael

https://thebezine.com/portfolio/three-poems-by-paul-brooks/ via @TheBeZine

Measure (Poetry Month #14)

All we have is measured so it may fit and be fit. As a child stood against a wall as if height was growing up. As a teenage boy admiration at the size of others who got less bullied, it seemed. As a man balance my learning and experience against what an employer requests and my family’s needs. Bosses measure you against their profits. Family’s gauge you by what you give. Once an advert advertised a product as the measure of a man. Am I but a product?

 

via Daily Prompt: Measure

“The Withered Stump” kindly featured by Tasha in Inbetween Hangovers

“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