The Stillness Is Breathing

 

Walk 30- Wivenhoe Saturday 8 July- (Written in Streets Café, near the station, during the tea-stop. Note- this was written at the same time as Nicholasís untitled poem starting with the line: ëWeíre as quiet as a gaggle of Japanese schoolgirls..í Present were Steve, Nicholas, a chap called Jeffrey and Katrin from Germany.)

 

The Stillness Is Breathing

Twanging, sighing, up and down

Up and down goes the ferry-boat.

From shore to shore

Goes the music of a guitar, playing obvious facts-

There ís a space in the water

There ís an emptiness in my mind

-That faces a wood-burning stove

Tingling

The silence is behind the appearance

It s the unexpected moment of Trust

The child's eyes on the ferry-boat.

The Stillness is breathing US

 

The stillness is behind and around

Yet I sense a pungent odour here..

Jeffrey said 'it is just a grotty room' and I said

'it ís the recommended tea-stop- so how can you criticise?'

Then Nicholas said 'That's only because it was the only fxxxing place open.'

-And then 'I won't hear a word against it.'

'This chocolate is the most disgusting Iíve ever tasted'

'That doesnít matter, itís the atmosphere which counts.'

A stretch of silence where only the music speaks

Notes going up in steps.....

(Jeffrey again) 'Where do penguins go to dance?

-'Shut up, this is the Silent Writing period. To be quiet is your only obligation.'

Across the road from a Video Paradiso

Next to me a gigantic crossword

Steps going up to the Village Delicatessen

Movement of the rooftops- away, away

Sloping away

Patterns left in the chocolate cups

By the disdained residue.........