The Edge of Dawn

I’m waking on the edge of dawn, shadow-lit and milky-grey, diffused by pigeon’s wings in sun as they ascend into the day. I’m clinging to the edge of dawn, a sparkling morning has arrived, and the magic’s only just begun: mist clears from heaven’s eye, leaves snowdrop-scented dew on lawn, and daffodil trumpets breathe a […]

Invitation to the Tyburn Jig

In the shadow of the gallows, not far from the hangman’s noose, the young pick-pocket drowns in the shallow murk of a blindman’s holiday, once the jailer’s doused the glim. He was born under a threepenny planet, dipping wipers for a tot of lightning, dodging charlies and soul-drivers. Holed up in a gospel-shop, pot-valiant, he forgot […]