Liar

Is it so very strange of me

to hold this burning wish to see

the great church spire in Salisbury?

I hear it is the tallest spire

(we have no spire in Russia higher!)

I’ll go all the way to Wilt-Shire.

But sadly I have little time

and doubt I’ll have enough to climb

the spire (they say the view is fine).

Indeed, if I can only see

it from a distance that may be

enough - I so love Salisbury!

My Great Uncle Stalagmite

used to read to me each night

by smoky yellow Moscow light:

“England’s Great Churches And Their Spires”

instilling in me this desire

that sets my heart and brain on fire

(much like a dose of Novichok

or a red hot bullet from a Glock...)

Oh - is that the time? Just seen the clock!

Must go, things to do, plans to hatch

- just leave the front door on the latch

but mind the handle - who knows what you’ll catch...

© Marc Woodward

Salisbury novichok suspects say they were only visiting cathedral

Marc Woodward lives in rural Devon and has been published in a number of magazines and websites including The Poetry Society, The Guardian, Ink Sweat and Tears, The Broadsheet, Forward Press, Otter etc. He blogs at: http://marcwoodwardpoetry.blogspot.co.uk

Poppies

If poppies grew uncontrolled

and choking not on wasteland

but on the walls, doors, machinery

of armaments factories;

not in a fake haemorrhage 

around historic buildings

but on the benches of parliaments;

if they crowded into disuse such places 

where wars are dreamt and manufactured,

then there would be no need

to stand up straight,

pin scarlet paper on our chests,

listen to politicians sermonise 

- then watch those 

same swift hypocrites forget.

Marc Woodward

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-29980441

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-one/11220123/Sheila-Hancock-Mow-the-Tower-of-London-poppies-down.html

I'm Marc Woodward, live in rural Devon and have been published in a number of magazines and websites including The Poetry Society website, The Guardian site, Ink Sweat and Tears, The Broadsheet, Forward Press, Otter etc. My blog:  http://marcwoodwardpoetry.blogspot.co.uk