the Bat and Ball

this was heaven
the Bat and Ball
long after last orders

lights dimmed
curtains closed
drinks lining the table

tiger bitter
double glenfiddich
henri winterman cigars

talking
the death of god
whisky flowed

no thought police
no biblical literalists
just sally maclennane

so we muse
linda’s limitless intellect
the merits of moondancing

theological themes
replenishing our glasses
the beauty of fermented grain

this was heaven
the bat and ball
no fall from grace with god

copyright a shyvicar 2018

Charles Tomlinson

Mike
all good wishes
words
written on water

Obituary
with candid regrets
rippled
I didn’t know

Blue
leaden white lettering
shelfed
hard to find

Guilt
at words unread
overlooked
streams uncharted

Shipped
a reluctant letter
feared
affirmative response

Tepid
questions by rote
trickling
off the floor

Listened
swimming different strokes
wanting
Seamus Heaney

Broken
on youthful pomposity
shipwrecked
by jaundiced stares

Words
written on water
evoke
these former façades

 

copyright a shyvicar 2018