we were never enough.

Joseph Coelho

A Blessing

A Blessing

Just off the highway to Rochester, Minnesota,

Twilight bounds softly forth on the grass.

And the eyes of those two Indian ponies

Darken with kindness.

They have come gladly out of the willows

To welcome my friend and me.

We step over the barbed wire into the pasture

Where they have been grazing all day, alone.

They ripple tensely, they can hardly contain their happiness

That we have come.

They bow shyly as wet swans. They love each other.

There is no loneliness like theirs.

At home once more,

They begin munching the young tufts of spring in the darkness.

I would like to hold the slenderer one in my arms,

For she has walked over to me

And nuzzled my left hand.

She is black and white,

Her mane falls wild on her forehead,

And the light breeze moves me to caress her long ear

That is delicate as the skin over a girl’s wrist.

Suddenly I realize

That if I stepped out of my body I would break

Into blossom.

James Wright

Paintings that Move

Paintings that Move

Across the sand or through the gorse,

leaping over Aintree’s course

rides the wonder

called the Horse.

Royal duty, on parade,

gazing in a Sussex glade,

Gymkhana day

with tail of braid.

Plumed and brushed with chestnut sheen,

carries all from waif to queen,

and everyone

that’s in between.

Galloping with Mustang fire.

Steaming still in Highland byre.

Filly, stallion,

Shetland, Shire.

Hear its heart and kiss its chin,

stroke the mane

and smell the skin,

neighing poems from within.

Athlete, best friend, loping grace.

Pegasus that knows its place.

Servant of

the human race.

Stewart Henderson

Heroes

Heroes

Heroes are funny people, dey are lost an found

Sum heroes are brainy an sum are muscle-bound

Plenty heroes die poor an are heroes after dying

Sum heroes mek yu smile when yu feel like crying

Sum heroes are made heroes as a political trick

Sum heroes are sensible an sum are very thick!

Sum heroes are not heroes cause dey do not play de game

A hero can be young or old and have a silly name.

Drunks an sober types alike hav heroes of dere kind

Most heroes are heroes out of sight an out of mind,

Sum heroes shine a light upon a place where darkness fell

Yu could be a hero soon, yes, yu can never tell.

So if yu see a hero, better treat dem wid respect

Poets an painters say heroes are a prime subject,

Most people hav heroes even though some don’t admit

I say we’re all heroes if we do our little bit.

Benjamin Zephaniah

Cats

Cats

Cats sleep

Anywhere,

Any table,

Any chair,

Top of piano,

Window-ledge,

In the middle,

On the edge,

Open drawer,

Empty shoe,

Anybody’s

Lap will do,

Fitted in a

Cardboard box,

In the cupboard

With your frocks –

Anywhere!