Tintagel - Birthplace of Arthur

by pete marshall

Perched high upon this jutting cliff

The flint felt hard upon my feet

I lay with lizards and basked in warmth

As waves rose high and swirled beneath

Across the bay the castle walls

That stand in time & in a time

Many have been and dabbled with myths

Whilst taking steps to do the climb

Below the surf strikes on the rocks

And hides the cave where magic lies

As people wait for seas to drift

And search for quartz beneath the tides

The rolling slopes and ragged crags

Engulf the isle that now lays calm

Where once was death and battles fought

And magic brought the golden one

My eyes search out the fabled tales

As colours blend upon this land

And birds that swoop in endless song

From grass & rock to sea & sand

Behind my back stands Barras Nose

Who’s clash is vain with battling seas

As heat comes down and warms my soul

I lower my head in prayer for thee

And those before and yet to come

Like beating drums within my mind

To find a place that brings you peace

Away from truths that take you home

*********

Originally published One Stop Poetry 21st August 2010

image courtesy creative commons flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/dysanovic/ 

The Wreckers by pete marshall

The Wreckers 

by pete marshall

The bells would chime as lowered heads

would march in line to pay their debts

but coppers weighed on ravaged hands

as wolves would bay in greedy clans

And nights would close on darkened rooms

where paths were chose that led to doom

and on the beach from tunnels deep

the ships would breach as wreckers meet

Among the brine the cries of men

that took to crime to feed their bairns

whilst sailors drowned in torrid seas

and booty found beseeched by pleas

They climbed the rocks and journeyed home

as hope would mock their tired bones

but death would lay upon the cliffs

when state would claim their laden gifts

****************** 

originally published One Stop Poetry 14th August 2010

image courtesy creative commons flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/cpieters/ 

The Dawn Chorus

The Dawn Chorus

by pete marshall

I felt the chill upon my face

that urged my mind to open eyes

I heard the tune of morning song

as light would waken from the night

I heard the wind blow through the trees

as children stirred and stifled yawns

I smelt the bacons wafting scent

that welcomed in a summers dawn

The ground was wet with morning dew

that glistened on a fallen leaf

and as I cupped my steaming mug

the coffee found my lost belief

I looked out far across the fields

and watched the crows that ruled the sky

I watched you slice the crusty bread

and let the time just pass on by

I heard a noise that brought me joy

as children laughed from deep inside

beneath the quilts and sleeping bags

they  wiped the sleep from off their eyes 

I laughed at hair and ruffled clothes

that sat beside and watched the dawn

and though the chill would keep us cold

the taste of bacon kept us warm

************* 

originally published at One Stop Poetry 31st July 2010

image courtesy creative commons http://www.flickr.com/photos/taivasalla/ 

Jack: A Poem from the Darkened Tales Series

Jack

by pete marshall

The sound of heel on cobbled stone

that stalked the streets of yesteryear

as sewage flowed with soiled dreams

Jack would walk bereft of fear.

His mind was caged and wrought with grief

as pain destroyed his inner eye

and cancers crept and clawed his soul

A lovers voice that hushed goodbye.

A nothing moon that held no light

on darkened paths and brick red walls

and staggered coves would leave their slums

to rest in doors amongst the gloom.

No bells would ring in East End homes

as night would fester cold and smog

and as his heels clicked on the stones

the hooves of carriages on would trot.

And on this night he saw her there

as charm would ‘tice a drunken Lord

who’s sword was stiff between her thighs

whilst shillings lined her wayward hoard.

But in the dark on hidden streets

the stench that reared on soiled paths

Jack lay down his leather bag

and drew the tools that played their part.

And as the Lord would hasten thrusts

her teeth bit deep on glistened vein

and then the whites within her eyes

would roll as blood was left to drain.

And as he pulsed between her legs

she drank the life he clung on to

but from the shadows Jack would walk

and drive his stake so hard and true.

The night was filled with eerie screams

as Lord fell hard and wrestled free

he turned and fled beyond the street

as Jack knelt down on bended knee

and with his skill he’d cut & slash

to take a heart of hardened stone

that led a path to darkened graves

for him to walk once more alone.

***************

originally published at One Stop Poetry on 2nd July 2010

Image courtesy of walraven @ flickr

Touched: A poem by pete marshall

Touched

by pete marshall

Touched by a walk through the bustling streets

lights that shine bright on the joys that we seek

laughter rings loud from the young & naive

yet darkness draws near on a cold Winters Eve

Touched by the wealth of those who walk free

unshackled by debt and goodwill to all thee

credit secured that brings forth some reprieve

yet darkness draws near on a cold Winters Eve

Touched by the brush of two lovers who speak

embracing in shadows in bars where they meet

dreams laced with passion as partners deceive

yet darkness draws near on a cold Winters Eve

Touched by the warmth of food that came forth

by fires that kindled and glowed in the hearth

of songs of our Lord and gifts we receive

yet darkness came home on a cold Christmas Eve

*************

This year has had more downs than ups, and some of you know what the last few weeks have brought to the Marshall house, and, as optimistic as I try to remain, Saturday I went to town and just came straight back home!!!

Its hard being cheery all the time and at Christmas this is emphasized more. I felt low but so do so many others and whilst I had my reasons I was able to come home, talk to my wife, embrace my children and was back on track again, but for so many others this is not possible and with that in mind I dedicate this poem to those souls that are lost & lonely.

**************


Today I also share this poem with dverse, especially my old friends from One Stop Poetry days, brian miller, claudia schonfeld, gay reiser-cannon who along with my brother, adam dustus and a very special friend in shan ellis, a collection of poetry, In The Presence of Poets, has been released.  For details of this publication please click on the following link


In The Presence of Poets

**************

Winters Blues by pete marshall

Winters Blues

by pete marshall

Leaves still cling upon the trees

as cloudless skies embellish rays

of sun that hovers low beneath

the Winter blues that shorten days

Breath encircles worried minds

that hang from spiders silken threads

that shimmer bright in morning light

yet in the shadows harbours death

Damp that settles on the ground

where grass & weeds are mulched as one

that sees the snakes go slither by

whilst Summers work is left undone

A child’s bike lays on its side

left alone to play no more

its wheels entwined with Winters grief

abandoned, broke, upon the floor

A veil is drawn passed waiting eyes

that looked beyond these changing times

where man once walked the beat of life

yet turned his back, we missed the signs

Where hope is lost to those that deem

when Winters wrath sunk Autumn dreams

and storms have battered withered souls

who slip from life before they go……

*************

Elements in the news this week rekindled the pain of losing someone close. Depression is an illness, something that should never be taken lightly, something that is very close to my heart.

Removed by pete marshall

Removed

by pete marshall

From deep inside she felt the heat

of scars that stained her swollen flesh

that burned upon her ravaged throat

upon a mattress soaked in sweat

An ashen face that looked beyond

the pale of hope and lost respect

a fetid breath that spoke of death

that uttered words yet felt regret

Sleep would fall upon her face

as eyes would flicker gently tight

a kiss that sealed a warm embrace

that kept her safe throughout the night

And moments pass despite the hour

as coughs awake her silken dreams

that flow with grace & dampen fires

that quell her fear & stem the screams.

*********************

My 7 year old daughter has had problems all her life with her tonsils, having been hospitalized for a week in August with a severe infection. Today they were finally removed. She is fine & doing well.


Today I also link this poem up with a wonderful community of poets, D'verse

A Broken Home by pete marshall

A Broken Home

by pete marshall

I walked around an empty home

Despite the toys that laid upon

An unkempt bed with duvet drawn

Where Mickey sat withdrawn, alone

Beneath the bed a comfy den

Of cushions , sheets & cuddly friends

Yet mum has gone and taken him

The room lays cold, unwelcoming

And dads alone, beside himself

As tears pour down his reddened cheeks

The life he’d slaved to bring them wealth

Just gathers dust whilst mother weeps

***************

image care of wikipedia

The Gathering by pete marshall

The Gathering

by pete marshall

As mice ran forth across the floor

from open boards, through rotting doors

where damp would crawl and spread upon

beyond the course the plaster blown

and sweats that chill the very skin

would soak the sheets of darkened dreams

hope would see the morning in

yet droppings lay by ravaged bins

amongst the crumbs of sweetened things

& faeces shared from deep within

upon the floor, across the beams

for hours count the gathering

Outside the mist a swirling screen

that creeps along and slips between

the leaves that fall from autumn trees

the taste of salt from off the sea

and sweats that chill the very skin

would soak the sheets of darkened dreams

hope would see the morning in

from out their nests they rode the wind

the rooks would kaah whilst circling

then swoop upon the menacing

across the paths and dew soaked green

for hours count the gathering

Within a damp and blackened cask

a heart would beat behind a mask

where eyes are wide & pained with fright

beneath the earth this fearful night

and sweats that chill the very skin

would soak the sheets of darkened dreams

hope would see the morning in

upon the boards you scratch & scream

your nails are spent and blistering

the blood is rushing from within

cries are echoes for your sins

for hours count the gathering

***************

A new Darkened Tale

image courtesy creative commons flikr http://www.flickr.com/photos/emmanuelamador/

waves by pete marshall

Waves

by pete marshall

I saw you look across the bay,

A distant mast, the raging waves

Your ocean gaze that never strayed,

A recent past, the taste of spray

The brine upon a twisted lip,

A bitter taste, a sunken ship

A Wind that blew through auburn hair,

A tidal swirl, a silent stare

I saw a tear caress your face,

A smudge of kohl, a yearned embrace

A storm that blew and tossed the waves,

where love now lies in watered graves

****************

Been a while since I have written but a yearning grabbed me today resulting in this. I hope that yearning stays!

image courtesy creative commons flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/smb_flickr/