Three Poems by Cliff Wedgbury

 

stac polly

 

 

wester ross 

a still april evening 

 

in perfect visibility 

i observed the four compass points 

 

no littered streets or lampposts here 

no graffiti tattooed walls 

no chimney pots or tower blocks 

 

the only blocks that towered here 

were sandstone 

home to hawk and eagle 

carved by the chisel of nature 

in acres of sky 

 

bereavement 

had drawn me like a magnet 

five hundred miles from home 

just long enough to stand in leave-taking 

and place on the cairn 

a stone 

Jennifer

 

I had a date with Jennifer, 

When I was just fifteen. 

We went to The Odeon, Erith, 

To see “Cliff” up on the screen. 

He sang about “The Young Ones,” 

And that included us, 

And when the film was over, 

Went home on the “99” Bus. 

I kissed her on her doorstep, 

She said, “I cannot go.” 

”Why…Do you love me that much?” 

“No…You’re standing on my toe!”

The Cost of Love 

Bereavement is the cost of love, 

and love it breaks the heart, 

when sickness or long years lay claim, 

as dearest ones depart. 

 

Remembering that last caress, 

before the day is lost, 

in a life of loving tenderness, 

where sorrow weighs the cost. 

 

A lifetime, perhaps a swift short span, 

our way is not to know, 

the mystery of each journeys plan, 

stray pilgrims we must go. 

 

But we are born to carry on, 

not knowing the scenes ahead, 

yet every tear holds a silver gleam, 

as we seek our daily bread.

Cliff Wedgbury is a Cork based poet, born in London in 1946. His formative years were spent in the folk clubs, jazz clubs and second hand bookshops of the Charring Cross Road area of London. He has two collections of poetry published by "Lapwing Books, Belfast" and has appeared in many anthologies, including "Che In Verse" published by Aflame Books, London.