This is just to say…peace to all today on international peace day and every day

 

When They Sleep      by Rolf Jacobsen (English version by Robert Hedin) All people are children when they sleep. there’s no war in them then. They open their hands and breathe in that quiet rhythm heaven has given them. They pucker their lips like small children and open their hands halfway, soldiers and statesmen, servants and masters. The stars stand guard and a haze veils the sky, a few hours when no one will do anybody harm. If only we could speak to one another then when our hearts are half-open flowers. Words like golden bees would drift in. — God, teach me the language of sleep.

photo Rose Cook

 

Thanks to summer

 

Holiday Tuesday

 

 

Thanks for this day, which woke with sun

and rabbits in the field,

thanks for sleep and toast, surf spray, sandy towels,

children running to the sea light-footed,

my family playing in the waves,

all the people loving a wide beach,

the space, warm air,

our baby asleep in the shade.

Thanks for her hand, clenched,

for apples, pitta bread, juicy tomatoes.

Thanks for stones and shells, rock-pools,

blue umbrellas, buckets, joy.

The sand martins fly into their holes,

a plane tugs a banner along the sky.

It should say: Thanks for it all. Thanks.

 

poem and photo Rose Cook

August is here

My next event will be Forked @ Sea Change Festival on August Bank Holiday Weekend (26th & 27th August 2016!) This is going to be a HUGE event in Totnes with films, literature, talks and plenty of music across five venues. The weekend pass is £45, or £35 if you’re a student. You can see the line up here: http://www.seachangefestival.co.uk/line-up/ – as well as seeing the fantastic spoken word and poetry event, Forked! Poetry to inspire, delight and provoke! Stand- up performance poetry and spectacular spoken word from across the South West, hosted by jazz floozy and poetess Mama Tokus. Join Apples and Snakes for this special one off Forked on tour at Sea Change Festival, bringing its unique mix of styles and genres from the absurd and comical to the heartfelt and inspiring. PERFORMING POETS INCLUDE: Kayo Chingonyi / Rose Cook / Rob Barratt / Jackie Juno / Mama Tokus. August 27th @ The Gallery at Birdwood House, 44 High St, Totnes, Devon TQ9 5SQ    7.30pm

photograph Rose Cook

 

 

 

Living, what matters

 

Living                         by Denise Levertov

The fire in leaf and grass
so green it seems
each summer the last summer.

The wind blowing, the leaves
shivering in the sun,
each day the last day.

A red salamander
so cold and so
easy to catch, dreamily

moves his delicate feet
and long tail. I hold
my hand open for him to go.

Each minute the last minute.

 

 

 

photo Rose Cook

Reading on June 27th