Gillian Commerford

I told my mother:
'I want to be a poet'.
She said: 'There's no money in it'.
I never was much interested
...

I have written poetry
since I was nine years old
and still I find that I must write
as others seek for gold.
...

I, although not beautiful,
have desired to mingle my dust
with all that is beautiful-
with rivers, streams
...

The truth of a circle lies in being round
The truth of a square is in its squareness
The truth of being lies in being
The truth of anything is in its truthfulness.
...

God said hello to me
just the other day.
I knew it was God
because he told me so.
...

...

Owl bringing death silently
looking wise
does wisdom lie
in bringing death
...

With a light in your eyes
you tell me lies
then turn the light off
as you leave
...

The most beautiful sound
is the sound of the sea
the most beautiful cry
is a new-born child
...

I've been thinking
a lot about me
and the art of good conversation
everyone talks and nobody listens
...

Dying
is the ultimate frontier
if I jump
I'll overcome my fear.
...

I remember going with my mother
to the butcher
in the days when the naked carcasses
hung on hooks in the front of the shop
...

A voice spoke:
'I am God,
there is nothing else.'-
And everything was swept away
...

You bring me love in a silver cup
and I bring you my hands that are worn
and a heart that's beginning to rust.
...

After love
we lie apart
separately sad
thinking our separate thoughts
...

Its like a magic game I play-
I draw a circle round myself
and no one must come in
and I must stand as stiff as a tree
...

When I was a child
and suffering
I wrapped myself in fantasy
like a warm cocoon
...

Not made for society
he lingers in the hall
he gazes on the well-fed ladies
watches bosoms rise and fall
...

...

Treading water
marking time
waiting for the flood
the smell of burning
...