INTRODUCTION

The following selection includes poems written for adults, for young adults and for children.
I hope you find something to savour in each one.

If I go west from here

If I go west from here
surf into the sea’s blue mine
each wave a coalface

if I go west from here
crossing the bar and on, to where
the waves themselves are mountains

if I go west from here
beyond the land’s shadow
beyond the black backed gull

beyond even
the edge of breath

when I go west from here
travelling with all
the travellers

you will see me
in the seams of the sea

feel me
in the arms of the sun

know me
in the form
                  of every unfurling line.

Greg O’Connell © 2010

On Spaceship Earth
A Rondeau

On Spaceship Earth it’s plain to see,
We’re unmatched in the galaxy,
In terms of living things that fly
And swim and run; who could deny
That we’re as lucky as can be.

Beijing to Washington DC,
We treasure our technology,
And everything that it supplies
                           On Spaceship Earth.

But wait, the crew has made a plea
To treasure water, treasure trees,
They are our life support. That’s why
Our planet’s passengers must try
To safeguard sky and land and sea
                           On Spaceship Earth.

Greg O’Connell © 2010

Fatherhood

is gazing at a a soft head
squeezed from the womb
the appearance of a pudding top

grinning at early open questions
why & why & why, as though
the universe were a pet

forming that familiar nest
that huddle of arms & faces
pausing       like a warm landscape

holding the weeping adolescent
who knows as only the growing know
that once upon a time       the world will end

all the while, seeing with a father’s eye
this amniotic planet, its crust
wet with birth.

Greg O’Connell © 2010

Blue Whale

I am the whale, which swims with graceful mass
   Electric shining skin, a neon blue
No enemies but ships and greenhouse gas
   My numbers all too few

Guardian of the oceans, you could say
   The largest and the loudest of all time
Dissolving like my high-up spouting spray
   No reason and no rhyme.

Greg O’Connell © 2010

Which writing is it?

This lilting writing,
mimicking bright birds in flight,
is vivid ink,
                  singing.

Greg O’Connell © 2010

This riddle is a univocalic. It uses only one vowel.
Answer: In the comments section below.

The Writer of this Poem

The writer of this poem
is faster than a flea
as handsome as a movie star
as clever as can be

as tall as a ship’s mast
as strong as a sail
as bold as a monkey
as useful as a tail

as tricky as a skateboard
as handy as a glove
as wicked as hell
as holy as above

the writer of this poem
to the highest degree
is as good as his word -
take it from me!

Greg O’Connell © 2010

The Reader of this Poem
after Roger McGough

The reader of this poem
is common as a pea
as empty as a biscuit jar
as crazy as can be

as plastic as Hollywood
as smelly as a bin
as difficult as holiness
as ugly as sin

as unlucky as a dung beetle
as hairy as a spider
as sweaty as an armpit
as prickly as barbed wire

the reader of this poem
(according to the rumour)
in spite of it all, has
a winning sense of humour!

Greg O’Connell © 2010

Cool Poem

This poem’s cool

tattoos on every limb
loves to act the fool

drives a red dragster
filled with rocket fuel

hangs out at the mansion
parties by the pool

number one in the charts
born to rule

lead singer in the band
called it: Equinox

this poem rocks.

Greg O’Connell © 2010

Trampoline John, Trampoline Jean

Trampoline John, Trampoline Jean,
The bounciest we’ve ever seen;
They put electrodes in their pockets,
Fitted out their shoes with rockets.

Trampoline John, Trampoline Jean,
Bounced themselves to smithereens;
Launched themselves into the air,
Then one day simply disappeared.

Trampoline John, Trampoline Jean,
The undisputed king and queen;
Their motto echoes through the town:
“Live it up! And never come down!”

Greg O’Connell © 2010