Southampton poet Alan Gilbert.: May 2012

Wednesday 23 May 2012

Caravan

This crisply muted

Calm Sahara night,

Belies the advent

Of the furnace sun.

Amid our bivouac

Of coloured beits

We stir from dreams

To sweet oasis dates.

Our caravan decamps

To race the dawn,

On ancient trading routes

Towards the sea.

By Adrar, Timimoun

Proud In Salah,

Hence we shall follow

Our nomadic star.

You wear an abaya

Of damask black,

Your mouth is veiled

In lattice woven silk.

Your beauty glows

Lit by the purple sky,

Now overwhelmed:

I turn from you and cry.

Monday 14 May 2012

Way Beyond Words

Written and video poetry by Southampton poet Alan Gilbert.

Alan Gilbert's new poetry book is now available from iUniverse, Amazon and all on line bookstores. See customer reviews on Amazon.

Title: Way Beyond Words. (Poetry on reflection)
Author: Alan Gilbert.
Published by iUniverse.
Paperback. 978-1-4697-5163-4
Hardcover. 978-1-4697-5165-8
eBook. 978-1-4697-5164-1
Available from amazon, iUniverse and all on line bookstores.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Way-Beyond-Words-Poetry-Reflection/dp/1469751631/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1336568198&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/Way-Beyond-Words-Poetry-Reflection/dp/1469751631/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1336568535&sr=1-1
http://bookstore.iuniverse.com/Products/SKU-000542557/Way-beyond-Words.aspx

Saturday 5 May 2012

Élan Vitai

So pervades the heart

That never could grow old,

A sanguine stream on fire

Unquenchable amour

Unwilling to withhold.

How the spirit flows

Impervious through time,

Insatiable desire

Restless in restraint

Yet quietly sublime.

Tuesday 1 May 2012

Me and you and Kerrie Ann

We sailed out on that summer’s day

Just me you and Kerrie Ann,

Out to the islands in the bay

To where we knew the dolphins ran.

And as the wind blew from the west

For me and you and Kerrie Ann,

It gave each wave a silver crest

And billowed sails with natures fan.

We stopped and anchored out at sea

Did me and you and Kerrie Ann,

The day was peaceful as could be

Most tranquil backdrop for our plan.

But as we watched the dolphins play

For me and you and Kerrie Ann,

We never saw the sky turn grey

Or noticed how those currents ran.

You never made the slightest sound

Just slipped from me and Kerrie Ann,

And now you never will be found

Out in the bay where dolphins ran.

Now every summer’s day I sit

Down by the quay with Kerrie Ann,

Though all her timbers rot and pit

And all her sails are torn and wan.