War, Claudia War, Claudia, What is it good for?   Well, absolutely everything really: the economy, science, social progress and poetry, and then there’s engineering and unemployment, and did I mention, poetry?   So, chlorine or whisky? A toast to … Continued

Beep, Beep   She glides down the catwalk Confident in her African beauty. Her dress an African sunset, Swirls of purple, pink, orange and blue Catch the light, shimmer in the photographer’s glare. She wears her chains with ease They … Continued

Dress Code Gritty Manchester, King Street, 1977. Stripy tie, black and white, Silver and black, lots of stripe. Cans of drink, cigarettes and shades, Short cropped hair, standing up on top. Leather jacket Black leather gloves. Shirtless, sleeveless Wearing a … Continued

Bouquet My dictionary curtly defines the word ‘bouquet’ as a ‘bunch of flowers!’ Yet, over the years I’ve seen people channel their artistic tendencies into the creation of colourful, balanced and delightful floral displays. Those dedicated souls who arrange the … Continued

Portrait of Mrs Betsey Chatfield Her eyes are the most liquid pools of hazel with glints of tiger-yellow in the iris. She knows this. She knows the effect her eyes have on all of them. And they all want to … Continued

Punk Johnny Rotten rips his shirt, Sid Vicious covered in safety pins, Vivien Westwood says to Malcolm McLaren: ‘I’ll use the pins on you, to show my love, my aesthetic invention, a gift to you.’ Was it? And I didn’t … Continued

The Nymph They’ve asked me to take the part of the nymph in the forthcoming production of “The Nymph and the Prince,” written by Hermione Threadgold, and last performed on a London stage in 1920. It brought the house down … Continued

Pot Oiseau Shall I sing my song now. Does it sound of soft liquid purlings. Could this be the beginning. Where was everything. Was it just a void, a nowhere, an absence. Did you see a shapeless form appear. Was … Continued

The Rebellious Octogenarian (A Reply to Jenny Joseph)   Oh Jenny Joseph, you’ve a lot to answer for! I thought old age could be endured, by simply wearing purple, and unsuitable footwear, eating large quantities of sausages and not caring … Continued

Haikus for a High Street trade flyers pile-up on the abandoned door mat: two-for-one pizzas   haberdashery: once family business lost the thread sometime   no competition with Tesco & Sainsbury’s, Amazon online…   plastic bouquet fades on shopfront’s dust-thick … Continued