Gillian.E. Shaw Poems

Can one believe the artless truth
how much love costs with illicit youth?
Cast felons must pay as pay they did
legitimate choice once made well hid.
...

Prophetic words sung of 'Maggie's Farm'.
Remembering the horror and harm.
Squandered production so undeserved.
Resilient stronghold was 'the word'.
...

They waited on
a chill wet day
for the Bedford
train while it rained,
...

Suddenly, through a veil of tears I saw the knave.
Wearing guilt across a blighted face:
Like the ambitious wife hiding wrong and blood;
vile stubborn stain, longing to vanish.
...

Upon a time a grail Queen said
'Keep this until you know I'm dead.'
Of sacred oaths, twice a mother;
lily livered, watched her suffer
...

There was a wildness to the man
whose hand hammered at the door;
an old familiar order, a command
recognition on demand:
...

I'll tell you of the Jacobite
who cuts right through my heart;
heed the call of the drums and pipe
a hand on hilt ready to fight
...

To seek a bright and perfect light.
We walked along our chosen way
behind that hallowed twisted site;
to seek a bright and perfect light
...

The knowledge acquired by the gravedigger
slowly troubles and plays on the mind:
So old great-grandpa Marcus Woods
without illusions endevored to find
...

On, through the necropolis;
Grave or crypt or tomb?
Varied form once chosen - housed
for the time to come;
...