Author Archives: colinhopkirk

for J.P. I saw him again last week although it was raining and it had been a long day and tiredness and memory make uncertain companions so it could have been someone else of similar age and similar build who carried themselves like him upright and proud with silver-grey hair speeding into the distance onContinue reading “ELECTRIC BICYCLE”

His bright yellow tin digger digs and digs knocks down wooden blocks shifts them to one side grades a wide sand road that sweeps around a hill to somewhere new with bigger blocks and higher walls and watchtowers and wire

in less than budgie smugglers a sort of man-pouch experimental thong It takes Teutonic zeal to frolic in so little and to choose GOLD

And what is it they’re guarding these immaculate compadres? a fragment of the true-cross? the womenfolk and children? when they shoot at you with blessings it gets a man to wondering

sticks a little now and then which causes consternation among the righteous who watch the distant smoke and check their tickets

We tried the Church of Scotland all rain and sleet the Minister not even Scottish and soon gave up reverting to Scrabble and Wrestling on the telly laughing when we could even on Sundays

on its silver stand avocado and cream Perspex visor slightly foxed with heat On Fridays she sits under it to feel again the rocket’s kick the weightlessness the proximity of stars * The astronaut in American-tan tights and low-heeled patent shoes with golden buckles hair newly coiffed trailing scents of Bluegrass reminds me of thatContinue reading “My mother’s space helmet”

The child in the water could mean anything until I add the crowd and make them stand shielding their eyes

They mean you no harmnot reallyThey just want you goneYou are on their landand may be thievesor worseBesides whichthey have long memoriesand short fusesWhile none of this is your faultnot exactlyI would run

Several betrayals At least one death Curses, promises The moon The meaning of the moon Strangers, strange weather Love or hate, you have to admit God, or no God? A fox and hens A woman, women Foreigners, Gypsies How to build a wall straight The price of land What makes a good dog