Here are some poems sent to us here in Wildlife enquiries, they are the wonderful work of Nick HallamStormThunder’s Bofors – That shrapnel swallows swarf and shriek,Fall, scoldingScalding the very air;FallWould be caltrops underfootBut, at the last, spike skyward again,Rain hissing aerofoils: fins, wings – As if little Lightnings, nothing spare,All business – Ramjet beaks agapeCram midge, may-, maybe damselfly,Cry, seeming of boundless satiety.15th Aug 2010 OwlTawny owl upon a poleWinds a ratchet neck, no click;Welds me with a torching stare,Grips the perch as pincers crackWhat skull, what wreck of mouse or mole;What drop-forge stamps the lives that kick,What screeching crucible is there,What fire-storm, after which – what lull?31 March 1993
Wansford
Cows watering – At once, disturbedPicked up their limbs towards some height;As if Victorian ladies bathed,percieved some impropriety andFearful of unseemliness,Decided upon withdrawal then – That swallows swheeled about their skirts Mud mortaring,Packed black, their beaks,Eager of summer’s latest brood – Sweft lily-pads, pink profligates,Swift-swafting, importuning then,Wide wantons, wooers of the sun
Outside LaneSixty on a seventy max’Who could complain?Yet a radiator fills my mirror,Headlights fisting morse to kill – The rest meanwhile make ninety plus,Non-stop stop-lights, on, off, on, onNot one concedes one second’s loss,Enraptored faces – My face, nearside, some Sunday driver’s,Some waster's blocking up their roadWho sees howeverLong and slow, this other traveller,In wholly other outside lane;I wonder if she sees them go, this lady driver?This heron, whoFills windscreen, roof-light, offside wing’-Wings hedgerow, reedbed-bordered pool,Salves, eases this morning's hard shoulder.2 Nov 2006Above AncasterOh! The skylarks –
Copses crowd like cottage loaves,Woodpigeons count them, fives by fives,Cow-parsely scents their leavening;There, rising, proving, wheat in waves –Nine-thirty-two from Grantham leaves,Making for summer’s evening;Oh! The skylarks.5 Feb 1995
Red KiteTo sudden flame,To afterburn,Bush, brash and briar, to pulling ‘g’Heels, peels belief in orange fireFrom eyes unbidden, unblinkingly;Fells frond, through falling leaf, the byBeyond and on again, beyond –A fork-tailed, single seat fast jetHeads thunder under radar, yetTo hedge-hopping far valley floor,Flings spinney, flicks out – Follows perhaps, at fancy’s spur,Some luckless ammunition train;Carrion – Calls “Target acquired”Sets gatling gaze andOut from sunTo strafing imagination.26 Apr 2010 MirrorLying back from concentrated workAnd, looking perpendicularly upThrough skylight, seeLying back in concentrated workAnd looking perpendicularly down,Apparently through skylight, straight at me,Milvus MilvusWhere, as cirrus cloud ensilvers sky,Red kite ensilvers since my inward eye.21 Apr 2010
Why not check out the news from the wildlife enquiries team?
Kind regards Jane.
Thanks for adding them to this thread Tom - as Jef says, they are indeed very powerfully written. The sort you need to re-read to get the full impact. Wonderful.
Yes, unusual style. I've not come across him before - unless he's the Nick Hallam from Stereo MC??
Pipit
Hi Tom
Thank you for posting the thought provoking words from this author. Very deep and with realism attached to every word - wow indeed.
I have to confess I have not heard of this poet before so it is another learning thing for me. I have not be a great reader of poems more of an avid reader of stories so it is another thing to find out about - in life - sooooo much to think about and do in a life time!!!
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Thanks Tom for printing these poems from Nick.
They do need reading over and over again, to gain the real in depth feeling of the composer.
I have not heard of him either but perhaps he has not published any of his poems.........yet.
I have re-read them several times and found them even more impressive. He creates such strong images as in
Tawny owl upon a poleWinds a ratchet neck, no click;Welds me with a torching stare,Grips the perch as pincers crack.........
which describes the strength and hypnotic power of the owl beautifully.
I only wish I had the ability to express my appreciation of these poems and do them justice. Is there anywhere we could learn more about the poet?
Hi Guys,
Thanks for the nice comments. You're right Jef I love the Owl poem too. Nick is a nice talented chap I talk to now and again, I don't think he has had any of his work published but hopefully he will do soon as they are obviously very popular.
Kind Regards
Tom
I do hope he is published he is obviously a very talented chap.
I agree Jef. I would certainly buy a copy of his published works.
The poems are beautiful - such powerful imagery and sentiment. Nick's poems deserve to be published, hope we see them on Amazon soon.