I have lived in UK (London) for five years, previously I was in Philadelphia, PA. and am a US citizen. Poetry is different here. I had lots of contacts, performing opportunities, published a good bit in various mags in the US. Here I have not established any writer friends, except for my partner who is also a poet. I have only been here for 5.5 years, however and the jolt of switching cultures has been more disruptive than I imagined it would be. I have also published in a few magazines over here and for a while my husband and I published a magazine called SHRIKE. This was pre web days for us.
You tell me those in control are harming you
Tonight I will bring you my attention as a gift.
Even if you do not speak,
they will find me listening
still in the morning.
Silence! they will say,
trying to convince me there is no hope.
But I will
listen
until I should recognise you anywhere.
Will you trust me?
Please,
I will not lie. I do not know
how to keep you safe.
Or us all
keep us all
safe
minding our ways, unmolested.
I know to recognise.
I will remember.
Benediction for Philadelphia Pigeons and Their Lady
Pigeons the size of puppies
peck chunks of bread
scattered in my English garden
send sideways glances
and polite, deft bows
to the oil spattered
street-wise squabs
that cloak Philadelphia's
Pigeon Lady.
Long may she cast,
they cwoo cwoo
her seed spell.
They flap balance
on the slenderest twig
extract the plane tree's salute
ride it solemnly
until a slow wise nod
agrees, settles, stills.