Larkin 25 - The Sound that the Librarian Heard By Amber Goodwin

It wasn't until the librarian was quiet, Seated comfortably in a chair and Waiting, that he heard it That particular sound. It encircled the empty hall, Seeping into the chair, the air, Moving through the house, its wall A sound that could not be snared. Shadows of knights and ghosts appeared, Shifting in the beams where, fragments Of dust swirled glinting as gold to the floor As the warmth caught them. The librarian jumped sharply, Frantically running hands along the spines, Feeling each kind of leather, A candle dripping hot wax. No longer blind to the internal beauty, Words on the surface, consonants and vowels, Gave way to emotion and crisis, imploding in his mind, It could never be too much. The usually quiet man, Tore hungrily at the pages with his eyes, Sacrilege! Only a few have the privilege of Insanity, grimacing, eager. The shadows dropped as a curtain on the late sun, Orange to grey, words to mist, fire to ice, Sinking to his knees, surrounded by the obsession, The unbearable silence the librarian heard, Receded, into the library's deadly attraction.

Copyright © Amber Goodwin 2010

Poetry Larkin 25 - Burns Night Hangover By Pamela Scobie

Rabbie came hame frae Burns Night In two thousand and three, Pissed up and looking for a fight, So he picks on me. Put me in casualty. I've never liked poetry. Rabbie came hame frae Burns Night Read more...

Poetry - Larkin 25 - Air Messiah By Ashley Fisher

Welcome aboard to Air Messiah's Flight 666 to Jehovah's Pearly Gate Airport. Prophecies are good and we pray for a smooth ascension. To ensure a pleasant passing over for yourselves and other passengers please observe the following rules: Read more...

Poetry - Larkin 25 - Larkin About on the Streets of Hull By Ray Warrington

After you passed that shining gull-marked mud By the widening river where a large town stood, Did you stop for a pee in Waterworks Street? Did you ever bool a barrow down Trundle Street? Were you ever cowardly in Craven Street, Or ride your bike in Carr Lane, Or drive a horse and cart in Chariot Street? Were you hip in City Square? Read more...

Poetry - Larkin 25 - I Came Back to You in September By Ray Moody

I came back to you in September you were quiet then still like you used to be when men were men and I was just a child When the smell of the fish docks mingled well with the stench of the slaughter from the cattle market Read more...

Poetry - Larkin 25 - Lennon By Rivelino

The cold earth released Lennon Jesus removed his bullets and compared their wounds, measured cadences of earthly and heavenly sounds. John busked on heaven's streets, Jesus wandered earthly grounds. Read more...

Poetry - Larkin 25 - Coulda Woulda Shoulda By Brian Cotton

This life of ours there is only one A blink of the eye and then its gone They said I coulda been a contender for the prize A great big house and fancy car, excellent prospects could go far. Trophy wife hanging off my arm, fancy restaurants drinking pink champagne, Read more...

Poetry - Larkin 25 - Life (Inspired by Money) By Bronwyn Ellis
	Seldom is it, that life visits me: 'Why do you let me lie here wastefully?' I am far from what you could have produced, I am far from just a bad excuse. So I look at others, what they do with theirs, They bumble along with personal affairs, Making a mess of the time they are given, Read more...

Poetry - Larkin 25 - Immediate Incapacitation By Robert Swan
	'Immediate Incapacitation'? What the hell can that be? Other than more 'News Media Terminology'? A special new benefit? That doesn't sound right. Lets re-open the case-notes just for tonight. Read more...

Poetry Larkin 25 - Paris Versus Hull By Catherine Scott

I visited Paris recently There was lots to do and lots to see Like the Arc de Triumph and the Eiffel Tower Where I queued up for over an hour Just for the opportunity to scare myself witless And pay over the odds - it was just ridiculous Then there's the museums including The Louvre Fighting my way through was quite a manoeuvre Read more...

Poetry Larkin 25 - As I Come Down By Pamela Scobie

As I come down from Sewerby, Higher than spire or tower or tree Before me hangs the sea, Sparkling like laundry on a line Fresh-washed in sunshine. And all the daffodils stare back at me With meercat curiosity, A mad old biddy skipping by. Read more...

Poetry Larkin 25 - Poetry or Prose By John Fewings

There's a very fine distinction Between poetry and prose: It's such a fine dividing line And no-one really knows. You once could tell the difference 'Cos poetry would rhyme But poets just don't bother now; They haven't got the time. Read more...

Poetry Larkin 25 - Drifting By Malcolm Wilson Bucknall

Shadows of the night are drifting Across the shores way out to sea Sedated passions of the long day Resting now contentedly Gentle ripples skim the waters Burnished by the pale moonlight Echoed words are softly whispered Read more...

Poetry - Future's End By Bernard Franklin
	To the people of the past, Mother nature's had a breakdown our radioactive oceans smell, so the world that we've inherited is a form of living hell. There's no ozone layer up there to protect our precious skin, and the pollution in our water Read more...

Poetry - To Conrad's Horror By Steve Rudd

	The ocean is so blue as to be meaningful. It's only in the dead of night, right at the end of the pier where dreams can be analysed and swept aside into the dark, cold grave from which they first came. Read more...

Poetry - Rhubarb Rhubarb By Catherine Scott

Doug and Blair's programme is my Sunday treat Their advice and humour would be hard to beat Blair tries hard, he's developed the knack Of skilfully keeping Doug on track Doug offers guidance which is easy to follow I say, 'I'll remember that and do it tomorrow' He really is an inspiration Read more...

Poetry Larkin 25 - Men With Books By Holly Roach

	I sat and studied your words. Was told what you meant by a stranger to you and I took it as proof that the saying was true about the pen above the sword, and men with books will be adored Read more...

Poetry - Larkin 25 - Once Bitten, Twice You Die! By Bronwyn Ellis
	It'll be fine, He said with drink in hand, As his silent mousy lover, Looked helpless at her man, And as he contemplated where to sip another beer, His misses wondered if tomorrow she would still be here. Read more...

Poetry Bring It On! By Mike Watts

I cracked open Two double-yolkers Sent them sliding Across the pan Then I began to butter Some bread cakes To the left of me Read more...

Poetry - Larkin 25 - Pigeon By Terry Ireland

I am one of the pigeons that live on wilberforce's head which in pigeon meritocracy puts me near the top between those on the city and guildhalls and those on the better type of shop. I got this position by birthright we've been here since 19 and 10 in spite of attempts to remove us Read more...

Poetry - Somewhere In Between By Jody McKenna

In the darkness of the room I feel the melancholy gloom. I'm just a loner in a tomb Making a bold step on the moon But no-one gets me. Whereas, the light beneath the sun That makes the rest of us become The mundane workers on a run Read more...

Poetry Larkin 25 - Scatter Me (for TFG) By Pamela Scobie

Oh, scatter me over the umber Humber Under a hurrying sky, On a dark day in December Or a turbulent July. For longer than I can remember I've been preparing to die. I want to go back to wherever it was I came from in 'forty-nine. Read more...

Poetry Unblinking Moon By John Horsley

There are tears in the eyes of the man in the moon For he fears he may lose his loved one soon - She is Earth, his only friend in space, And for millions of years he has looked on her face. How plain and ordinary he feels As round Earth's horizons the sunrise steals, And floods his beloved in dazzling light Read more...

Poetry M.S By Charlotte Bartle

It was your smile I noticed first, Drawing me in To unchartered territory - Unknown to not only me, But I think To you as well. I said Read more...

Poetry - The Liver Poem By Joe Hakim

C'mon mate, why do you treat me so bad? I mean, look at the state of you, how many have you had? And what's the plan tonight - ten pints, twenty fags, a kebab? If you keep this up, we'll both end up in rehab. Why are you being like this? We're supposed to be friends, I'm one of the things on which your life depends, Read more...

Poetry - Hull By Laurenceaux.

Hull is not a rat-race. Hull is a nice place. Hull is not chav-town Hull has thrice a crown: a king's town. Kingston Upon Hull; Larkin land, full or Tigers, Robins and Airlie birds, Read more...

Poetry - I Love You in that Jumper By Catherine Scott

I love you in that jumper The fitting is just right It's not too long and it's not too tight And the colour's not too bright. I love you in that jumper You look so snug and huggable So gorgeous, warm and lovable Read more...

Poetry - Dandelion Wins! By Cathie McCarthy

I, the dandelion Blowing in the gentle winds Floating seeds Cascading on the spring air Finding pastures new Settled on April's wet soil Waiting to start anew Read more...

Poetry - Matriarchy, or Suitable Male Heir Lacking By Ruth

Just a girl running home after school. Bounding up stairs in sensible shoes. Responsibilities few: Be seen and not heard! Wrestling Elders' expectations; Not comprehending 'cultivation'. Read more...

Poetry A Yellow Ball By Mike Watts

Kneeling beside him On the tiled floor, My throat tightened. This was it. Whispering stuff, I buried my face Into his neck. That smell - Old, arthritic loyalty: Read more...

Poetry - Dying Forests By Dayne Coyne
	Dying Tree Dying forest Dying planet No life upon it There are no futures for this world Sorry Dying trees Dying forest Read more...

Poetry - Lining Rhymes in Hell By Paul England

Back in 96 damn I lost my head shit I fell apart when I found a brother dead Friends they sold me out while fools they sold me short well tell them fools I'm back cos the devil won't be taught Read more...

Poetry Larkin 25 -The Hands of Time By Malcolm Wilson Bucknall

Etched and wrinkled by the winds, Tormenting as they drift. Elements of time have scarred Faces of granite cliffs. Whipped and lashed by angry crests That leap up from the sea, Faces of gaunt granite rocks Grimace their misery. Read more...