Auckland Poetry

Never Look Back.

The hamlet was quiet, dogs asleep,
on this rainy afternoon’s spring day
when I said adieu.

Ten years I dad spent here, good
sad and lonely days, whitewashed
walls and green weed in sunlight

An abundance of flowers in pain
pots and rusty buckets by doorways
their beauty…a sad heartache.

I lingered, so did the day, hoped
someone would come out and say
no one did, the silence dripped.

I drove through the dreamy vale’s
Scented air and reached the coast
as night fell. The sea was calm.

Le Grand Duc

Is a café in Brussels where everyone know each
other and there are kisses and handshakes many
times a day. I sat reading my newspapers when
I remembered that the brother of the queen of
Belgium had been a playboys and a pianist, who
didn’t get to be famous before his sister married
the king. I thought him a sad man, with a thin
mustache, he smiled often, but the humour never
reached the eyes. Then he faded out of the picture
I don’t know why, he wasn’t really the material
of a man linked to easy women and platitudes, he
knew he was only a mediocre given engagement
through his connections. So he died then a man
who never got to live the life he wanted to.

The Wedding

Brussels national airport is designed by a fitness fanatic
or a sports committee, I walked for miles to find its exit
I needed a whisky after all this travail but they had none,
settled for a beer, and yes, it was cold and refreshing.

I took a taxi, expensive, the journey ended at a small inn,
near the national Basilica, the inn was still serving food
I had a sausage and drank a few more beers went to bed
and dreamed about the summers of my childhood.

Brussels in summer light is attractive, mainly because of
its architecture and many trees which make any citycape
more beautiful, glad the Belgians like trees, but I would
have liked to see the trees look more natural and at ease.

In the morning next day I visited the basilica. It was built
after the second world war in honour of the war dead, it
is the most impressive religious edifice I have ever seen,
and it represented all that is good in our hearts.

Tomorrow I’m going to a wedding it’s an African affair,
people will be in good mood, food laughter, music and
and plenty of wine; but today I will walk around, look at
houses and people… and, of course, drink a few beers