Sunday

Sunday

I wish you
A new morning
Among the flowers 
With a prospect
Of an ice cream
Pastel afternoon

JL Sept 30 12:39

Emmie 16

Dear Emmie 
All cool here.
Jenny will call and see you 
this week.
Yas 

The postcard had a picture of Seahouses.
The postmark was Northumberland.
Emmie slipped it in her blue exercise book and looked forward to the sound of the scooter up Chapel Walk.


JL Sept 29 13:02

Waking Late

Waking late,
Laid Low
By somnolence
And fateful fatigue,
Rose to see
Sunshine happiness
Dappling from leaf to tree,
Slanting through
Late fuchsia
Sheltered by the wall
Long to be there
Until the first hard frost of Fall.
Autumn now has come to pass
with daisy shades
Of Michaelmas
A patch of purple
By the wall.


JL. Sept 28. 13:12

Harbour Lights

With all the silver
Shine upon the sea
The moon has spilt
The lovers' shadows
By the harbour wall.

Touch for touch,
Step with step,
By silent
Coils and kreels,
They make
Towards the laughing
Lamplight
Of the quay side bar.

There they join
An anonymity of noise
Taking up
Their single lives
Once more.

JL Sept 27 15:38

On the strand

Come to me
You lovers
Of the sea.

Hand in hand
We lovers
On the strand.

Let me not feel
Your finger's loose
The grind of keel.

I stumble now
Toward the headland
Just to catch
A glimpse
Of your sail's retreat
No rhythm beneath
The gravel scramble
At my feet.

On the horizon
Wake in moonlight
You are gone.

JL Sept 26 14:18

Among the Dunes

I remain
In the dune slack
With wild and tiny thyme.
Some time asleep
With Creeping Jenny
Clover and the common vetch.

Above me
The high marram
With a touch of couch
Where from
The lark rises
All lift and tumble
Tossed upon a cloud.


Today I drown
From the plashing
Of the night rain
And my lips
Are tainted
With the rust
Of forgotten nails

What would it be
To live in clover?
Take away the sea
I could be yours.


JL Sept 25. 14:16

Wet Monday

May the morning
Find you
Touched by the gold
Of sunshine
The halo of the dawn
Setting you
Among the flowers
Of the field
To soar with the lark
Choosing the day.
Even with the thought
Of "Oh what weather"


JL 24Sept 12:22

Equinoxious

Here and there
Come and gone
The night lengthens
Winter drawers on.

Gather mufflers
Knit your scarves
Look out the gloves
No time for laughs

Have you seen
My wooly socks?
Autumn equinox.

JL Sept 23 3:22

Emmie 15

Dear Mrs Jacobs

Just a note to let you know that we are trying 
to get some financial  assistance for Yasmin
through special university funds. We are also in 
touch with a hostel for temporary accommodation.
It looks promising. Family relations no solution
as yet- working on it.

Regards

Margaret Evans

There was no sender's address which seemed odd. Emmie put the note in her blue exercise book and put them both in the welsh dresser drawer. She also made a note to have a bit of money set aside should it be needed.


JL Sept 22. 13:07

Dove Grey

This year's
Fully fledged,
First come, clumsy,
Collared doves,
Flap and dash
Themselves 
About the garden sycamore,
Lumber and bounce
Upon soft twigs
Flumble to the ground
And cast an accusing eye:
Cumbersome, who me?
And in a turn 
Of nonchalance 
Take flight
Into a grey
As dove like afternoon.

There will be rain later.

JL Sept 21. 14:18

Wishy Washy

Here it comes again
Marching 
With the tide!
Driven by a naughty wind
Umbrellas
Turning 
Outside in.

Every other day it seems,
Filling to the brim,
Urns and pots,
Capacious things,
Wished or not
Compelled to swim.

Hard not to feel
When it recedes 
To leave its mark
Just washed up,
Like Noah ... ... ........ ...

JL 20 Sept 11:18

From Time to Time

From time to time
I come and go
Along a bow
And swing softly
To a stringed adagio

To slide across a sea
With Rachmaninov in D
There above the grasses
Of the Russian plains
See the flight 
Of migrating cranes.

With each wing beat
They repeat 
The rhythm
Of the softest spring adagio.
While we are pinioned
Discordant
On the  Earth below.

JL Sept 19. 11:38

Flames

Flames
In clouds,
As to my back
A dark chill
Slips the sun
Beneath the sea.

Recall 

Lace curtain
Shadow shapes,
Dance with moths,
Around the lamp,
Create a  scene
Of mystery.


Kings  and castles
Crowns and crenellations
Of bedtime stories
Long ago
And friendly voices
Drifting me to sleep.

JL Sept 18. 11:17

Migration

Above my head
A sycamore 
Scratches cloud
And swallows swoop
To settle on the wires
And telegraph  their teams
To seek the south.

As this westerly 
Turns north
It tips their tails
Towards the pyrenees. 

Martins pause at sunset 
Kissed with gold
Above the Alcazar
Until they reach
Their winter perch:
 A Moroccan minaret.

Will I have the grace to see
Your swoop and chatter
In the Spring return?



Written distracted by the Ladies British Open golf in Hoylake dashed by driving rain but from the comfort of my sofa.

JL Sept 17 11:46

Voices

The ears,
Being more important
Than the mouth,
I listen to the wind.
Its
High voice 
Along bare branches,
Basso profundo 
Down chimney stack
To hearth,

Plaintiff moaning
Under doors,
Staccato rattle 
Along ships' sheets,
Its flap and crack
Among loose sails.

A dour warning
to those who venture 
Out of harbour,
Or on open fell

Better far
To stay bunked up,
Blanket bound,
To hear
And not be part
Of such cold and chilling
Tittle tattle.


JL Sept 16. 12:58

Emmie 14

Dear Emmie

Hope you are ok and there wasn't 
any trouble with the police. The place
to stay is fine. Job in ice cream van
with a guy called Alan for the summer/
Uni organised will keep you posted.
Luv 
Yas.

The picture on the front was Bridlington harbour.

Emmie remembered  a song from the past. 

oh oh oh Antonio he's gone away
Left me  alone ee o , all  on my own ee  o
I want to met him with his new sweet heart
And up will go Antonio and his ice cream cart.

Music Hall Florrie Forde she thought.

The one she remembered was on a sunny afternoon at the park gates. "Granelli's" Ice Cream,,red and white with big blue letters.

JL Sept 15 11:55

Old Knees

Sitting down to pray Is so demeaning
Thought Jeremiah
Grappling to his feet and wobbling down
The dusty choir.

Pausing by the rood screen to take 
A laboured breath
Looked up high to contemplate 
The tortured face of death

A voice beside the sanctuary lamp
Caught his vague attention 
"I heard every word you said
Was that your intention. ? "

Better watch my language
Jeremiah thought
Kneeling, standing, sitting 
It seems to matter nought.

JL Sept 14 11:49

The Burning of Leaves

Time for the burning of leaves
The heady spiral smoke
Above the whitewashed cott.
The turf smoke scent
A memory of smiles.

Now
The dog rose
In the dune slack
Turns to hip.
The willow whip 
That bends its back
Before the lash of hail.

I see it all
And wish my part 
To play with it again.
To taste the salt 
Of sea upon my lips
And shed those tears
Caused only by the bite of wind,


JL Sept 13 13:55

Shirley

There it is 
The flame
In the picture,
Between them 
Jesus and the high priest.

And you 
Sending the note
Composure
In a neat 
And steady hand.

A week today
I hold the picture
The candle 
Without a flicker
Between them.

Of your flame
Many pictures
Held in memory
Before me 
Carried to me 
From the past
Without a flicker.>

JL Sept 12 11:34

Jervaulx

Old stone buildings
Ruins from an age
So long ago,

And this lichen,
Smudged  upon my sleeve
Seven centuries 
Of sacred dust

The tracered 
Gap toothed edge
Of this colonnade 
Gone west,

A grassy mound
Of sanctuary
De-sanctified,
Today the spiral incense
Only that of burning leaves.

On this holy ground
Where lambs
May safely graze
White cowled monks
Once hourly
Sang their praise.

JL Sept 11. 14:15

Rambling

On shining days
This time of year
The heather blooms
Across the sun filled moor.
Tussock  islands
Patched in purple
Over peat bog black.

Rambler beware
The boot clutched
Suck of mire.
Keep to the worn
And gritty path
Gauged by torrents
Rushing from the fell.

They do not have
The soft adventure
Of the heathered way.
Where one light  step
Will  fill your boots
And bring a soggy end
Unto your rambling day.

Take the plain and flinty road
And end up home and dry.

JL Sept 10 12:41

Stubble Fields

As  mist gathers
Over stubble fields
The far monastery
Vesper bells aspire
Treble, alto and bass
Call hooded shapes
Clasped in shade
Gathered from their tasks
To praise the end of day.
In their cloisters
Shuffle one by one 
To pray.

As the sun descends
The rising of a golden moon.

JL Sept 9 12:34

Emmie 13

As Emmie moved towards the shadowed door she made up her mind what to do or rather what to say. "Tell the truth and shame the devil," had run through her mind from childhood and she saw no reason to depart from it now. 

As she opened the door she was taken aback by how much the two police officers blocked out the light and how menacing they seemed. She told herself that she had nothing to fear.
"Mrs Jacobs ?"
" Yes ." They did not show any identification as in the TV dramas she had seen but there was no need. They were  obviously police officers. However they did not, at first, give their names,  although their numbers were plain to see. There was a pause. 
" We are making enquries about a missing girl."
" I see, and would you be kind enough to tell me your names?"
There was a brief exchange of glances and the WPC said, " I am Anne Jenkins and this is police constable John Ryder and we would like to ask you about Yasmin Khan."

" Ah yes, do come in," she said, and led them into the kitchen. " This may take a little while. Would you like a cup of tea? The kettle has just boiled. Perhaps you would like to take off your caps and sit down." She was aware their extreme youth and they seemed to be quite reticent.

They took ther seats with a rather embarrassed shuffle.

" I would not like to think that this was an interrogation," she said as she took a blue exercise book from the drawer of the welsh dresser and placed in front of WPC Anne Jenkins. " It's all in there with dates and approximate times, apart from today. I left for work this morning leaving Yasmin in bed at about seven thirty. I have just returned to find that Yasmin and her belongings are no longer here. As I said to myself, ' The bird has flown.' "

" WOULD you like a cup of tea?"
" No thanks," they chimed in unison. They began to take down the details from the exercise book.  " Would you  like to tell us how and why this took place? What is your connection with he girl? "

" First of all she is not a young girl. She is a young woman. She is not a minor. She is eighteen years of age and I saw her  passport as proof. As such, I would say she should be free to make her own choices. She came here because her friend asked me to take her in.
" Did you know she had been reported as missing?"
" No not until I saw a headline in her local paper. To me she was a young lady who had left home to escape possible abuse."
" Why didn't you get in touch  with us when you saw the article?"
" Firstly she did not want me to and furthermore her friend knew, her school knew and Social Services knew that she was safe. Also I only saw the paper yesterday lunchtime and I didn't notice a telephone number. In the circumstances I did not want to phone 999."
" And where is she now?"
" I don't know. She just left a note. I'll  get it for you."  Emmie went to the sitting room and returned with the note, handing it to the WPC. " You see she just thanks me for the care and attention and says she will be in touch  when everything is sorted out."
" Do you mind if we keep this?"
" I think I'd like to keep it for the time being. You just make a note of the contents. If she gets in touch, which is quite likely, I will advise her to go to her nearest police station and show them that she is safe. Then it's up to her."

Emmie made it clear that Yasmin intended to take her place at university and at that time she might need protection, particularly if there was no reconciliation with her parents. 

" I will contact you if hear from her. That's all I can say."  Emmie got up from her chair and surprisingly her visitors took the hint and gathered themselves up.

" Well just make sure you let us know!"
" I most certainly will," she said and led them  to the door.

When they had gone she sat down for a moment. She felt herself start to tremble. She had surprised herself on how calm and composed she had been, but  she did not feel calm and composed now. She felt distinctly nervy. With sudden determination she pulled herself together and went to the cabinet in the front room and produced the bottle of Amontillado  Sherry. She gently poured the golden liquid into a wine glass. Her hand had stopped shaking and as she sipped, so she felt her confidence return. 

She went to the telephone and phoned Dorothy and brought her up to date so that  she would be prepared if a police visit should occur. She was not sure how Mrs Evans would respond but that was not her problem.  She returned to the kitchen and placing the glass before her, smiled and took another satisfying sip. 

She wondered what the weather was like in Filey!

JL Sept 8 13:59

Ps. Future episodes will be shorter as my wrists grow weaker and extended typing grows ever more difficult. Jeff

Friday Prayer

<

Benedicamus domino

This morning
Against sharp stones
On our road
May the lord protect us.
And may our tears 
Be counted
On the pilgrim's way.
With our frailty of faith
And suffering soul
May the Lord
Make haste to help us.

And

In the silence 
Of our hearts
May we welcome
And give place
To the Spirit 
Of grace and kindliness.

Deo Gratias

JL Sept 7 08:29

Leaf Fall

First leaf fall
Silent on the lawn,
Soon to hear
The dark wing beat
Through the twilight
Cross the marsh,
The weary wind 
Keening through 
The bleached bones
Of forgotten sailors.
On the coming tide
The steaming shrimpers come
Along the edge of dawn.

JL sept 6 14:37

Clinic

The distant fells
Are dark grey mounds
All rounded, 
Set against the clouds
The grouse
Still heathered
In the evening sun
And me just
Westering home
From the breathing
Clinic

JL Sept 5 17:34

Left on he Shelf

Saw single
Silver shoe
In shop window.

"Are you
Going my way?"
She said.
"Sure" I said.

Made
Sole music
Together

Never been
So happily
Lost again.

I  call it
Whimsical 
Widow shopping.

P.S.
Written on the sole
"Someday my prince will come."

JL September 4. 13:35

Dangerous Corner

A place of encounter,
At the crossroads
When that sense of the spirit
Took my hand,

Was it the shrine on the bend
Or the flowers tucked into the fence
The wayside crucifix
Gone in a glance?


I knew you were there
For the journey 
To bear in mind,
But somehow
I failed to keep a hold on you.

JL September 3rd 12:51

Summer Fruits

Late summer colours
A panoply of shining lights
Of dahlia delight,

Dark riches of fat damsons
Just across the hedgerow ditch
Blood squeezed brambles
Dripping juice  through every stitch,

A flush of late dianthus
Lights the garden path
And spreads its sweetness 
By the garden gate
And amidst it all
A child's expectant face,

Waits for Mummy 
Coming home.

JL Sept 2nd 12:37

Emmie 12

On Wednesday morning Emmie and Yasmin caught the nine forty seven bus into town. Jenny had made an appointment at the hairdressers for eleven thirty so they were in good time.When they  arrived at ten thirty five Jenny was already waiting at the 137 bay. The arrangement was, that the two girls would meet up with Emmie at a quarter to one at the Criterion Grill for some lunch. The two girls embraced and walked briskly off in the direction of the town centre while Emmie waited for them to disappear and she slipped into The Copper Kettle behind the Bus Station for a quiet cup of tea.

She had just settled herself down when she noticed a discarded morning newspaper with the glaring headline " Local Girl Missing". She discretely moved to the adjacent table and took up the paper. There was a small picture of Yasmin in a dark jacket, probably school uniform, wearing her hijab. She could have easily been mistaken for a local nun. The paper was not local and had probably been brought in on a bus. Emmie now realised that the police would have been informed and there would be a general alert. Emmie finished her tea, put the paper in er bag and left the tearoom. 

She made her way slowly round the shops, stopping here and there to look at items of interest. She visited a speciality cheese shop and purchased a small piece of Stilton. She was very partial to the traditional Cropwell Bishop which  she thought had a particularly creamy texture. It was not cheap, but there again you get what you pay for. She also noticed an end of season sale at a rather posh shoe shop where a pair of rather stylish navy blue casual shoes caught her eye. She decided to try them but to her disappointment they were the only size left and they we're too loose, being a half size larger than her usual fit. There was some time left and she found a seat just by the central library and sat there in the late summer sunshine to have another look at the newspaper.

The report mentioned all the details; Yasmin Khan , eighteen, Asian, but also added the possibility that she may be trying to leave the country as she had taken her passport and her  savings. There was an intimation that an older male was involved but there was no real evidence. She closed and folded the paper and popped it into a waste bin on her way to the town centre and The Criterion Grill. The girls were waiting outside already. Yasmin was carrying a large Army & Navy bag and she looked quite  different.  The short haircut had  made  a profound difference to her appearance. She now bore little resemblance to the photograph in the paper.

They placed their order: Ham pineapple and chips for Jenny; Sirloin steak and chips with grilled tomato; and for Emmie Steak and kidney pie, chips and peas. While they were waiting Emmie told the girls about the newspaper article and they were duly surprised. Yasmin did not think her  father  would have allowed the news out so soon, or perhaps he had already sent people to search for her. She was afraid now because she could expect a beating if she was found and brought back. The secret must be tightly kept. Yasmin had also done some shopping, a pair of Wrangler jeans, Nike trainers, some undies and a cheap rucksack from The Army & Navy for £19,99. 
"Being prepared! ", thought Emmie, but she said nothing, preferring to wait and see.

Having eaten, they made their way to the Bus Station. Jenny just saw her bus beginning to board at he other end of the station. She made a hurried farewell and said she would be in touch tomorrow with the A level results. The 137 came just ten minutes after and they set off back. Reaching home Emmie tidied up and got her things ready for tomorrow. As it was results day she would have to get in earlier. She got out the ironing board and ironed her cream silk blouse which seemed to get itself crushed even when hanging in the wardrobe. Yasmin went upstairs taking a large slice of fruit cake and mug of tea saying that she was going to write up diary and have an early night.

Emmie opened her packet of Stilton to find that it had become rather moist. It had a tendency to sweat if kept wrapped and away from the fridge,  but at least,  it made it easy to  spread, without breaking the cream crackers. There was a tomato left in the fridge that would go nicely. She brewed herself a pot of Earl Grey and settled down to a distinctly favourite munch. David would have enjoyed this although he would have preferred a glass  of tawny port to go with the Stilton. She paused in reverie and smiled with the reminiscence. Shaking herself, she got up from the table and took the blue exercise book out of the dresser drawer. She began to make a list of the events as they had developed over the past few days.

At the end of this busy day she brushed her teeth and  prepared for bed, setting the alarm for seven thirty. 

When she awoke all was silent. She had a shower and put on a hint of make up, blusher and a suggestion of eye shadow and a touch of mascara. She believed in subtle decoration of her construction rather than wholesale construction of her decorations. Thus prepared she had a slice of toast and a cup of coffee, applied a smidgin of lipstick, donned her lightweight top coat and made for the door. She paused momentarily to consider whether to give Yasmin a call but thought  better of it as Jenny would probably call later with the results.

The atmosphere at school was electric with tension and by the time Emmie arrived, there was a long queue at the front door, not usually  used by pupils, unless late arrivals waiting to sign in. This was early. Emmie's  'excuse me' caused a slight parting in the crowd and she made her way to the office. The sense of urgency was palpable and Emmie immediately started to put the remaining printed results sheets in the named envelopes. The reception of the results was met with the whole gamut of adolescent responses through tears of joy to moans of disappointment. Once the results were through, Emmie's help was no longer needed and she got off home.

As she put her key in the door she felt a real flutter somewhere below her navel. The house was silent. She went into the kitchen and on the table was the note.

Dear Emmie 
A & 2 Bs, enough for my place. Thanks for everything. I have borrowed the brocade bag and will post it back with news. Thank you again.
Yasmin. X

Emmie walked slowly and rather sadly upstairs. Yasmin's room was clean and tidy and empty of any vestiges of occupancy. Emmie thought  of Filey.  Just as she turned to go downstairs the front doorbell rang. She could see two dark shadows through the glass. She opened the door to a policeman and WPC.

The bird had flown.

JL Sept 1st 17:53