Bridgetjanejone• Show poetry

I would like my poetry to be contemporary and make people think and smile (sometimes at the same time!) If you would like to check out a few of my poems may I suggest you try dipping into my collections rather than go from recent --- backwards. I have rather a lot of haiku on at the moment and I wouldn't blame you if you took one look at the last 20 poems and then didn't bother!

If you like my work please check out Roger McGough as I know some people have. He's a cool poet from Liverpool (two poems below). My poetry seems to have evolved into the style of his (I say that humbly, I don't for a minute suggest it's as good!) My other favourites are Bob Dylan - how he can write such poetry AND set it to music never fails to amaze me. Also, Dylan Thomas ... A Child's Christmas in Wales is probably only marginally my second favourite poem... "do the fish know it's snowing?" If that ain't "contemporary" senryu (without him even knowing it) I don't know what is! Actually, it's probaly "jue ju" (I give up with these zen poetry styles). Also, Michael Stipe writes such cool lyrics they really are poetry... "I count your eyelashes, secretly". Beat that. I'm not in love but I was, recently, hopelessly.. you know the deal.

Cake

I wanted one life
you wanted another
we couldn't have our cake
so we ate each other.

Roger McGough
(A classic "shortie"!)

You and I

I explain quietly. You
hear me shouting. You
try a new tack. I
feel old wounds reopen.

You see both sides. I
see your blinkers. I
am placatory. You
sense a new selfishness.

I am a dove. You
recognise the hawk. You
offer an olive branch. I
feel the thorns.

You bleed. I
see crocodile tears. I
withdraw. You
reel from the impact.

Roger McGough