Geoffrey Brewer

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

PRESENT PERFECT - poem for a summer school teaching English CONJUGATION I have returned Thou hast come He has set off She has kissed and waved We have greeted You have gathered They have assembled The young ones the old... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

I have observed that Jackdaws, smallest of the crow family, seem to favour the old established British residential schools with their well tended lawns and playing fields. I hesitate to infer that their selectivity is related to class... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

Grammar Series: THE PASSIVE VOICE In Italy a glorious Voice was employed by Pavarotti In England we've a different voice we employ with verbs of action But the way we do, the logic seems not a little dotty For the verbs can be v... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

The local 'Balancing Pond that buffers the various tributaries feeding the Blackwater River, is a haven for varieties of water fowl. Resident or sojourning there you can see: mute swans, raucous Canada geese (these North Americans!) m... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

FEBRUARY ON WILDMOOR HEATH Across the Heath the chill'ed land is sleeping The cyclic pattern of seasonal life bespeaking Bushes hunched, bare trees holding themselves still Not restrained by death but life's farseeing will Th... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

Sonnet for Dr Izabela From Baltic coast you ventured on a quest As England's forebears came in ages past From Hanseat haven voyaged to the west But not in conquest save perhaps of hearts You brought no strife but tender lov... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

POETRY PLEA There was a time when every word and phrase Each sentence stanza paragraph and verse Was written, offered with clarity to our gaze Whether simple, complex, extravagant or terse Crafted in empyreal structure did they... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

THE ARTICLES In the field of physics and chemistry Out of every jot and tittle The atom was smallest there could be It was so very little But we found a way to split it Now that we are so much wiser Even tinier bits emitte... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

DIAMONDS ON THE GRASS This morning there were diamonds on the grass Spreading across the field their bling and glitter Look away and in an instant they would pass These jewels had no price, no use in barter Unlike the other g... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

THE THREE STOOGES With their lunatic style of slapstick These old favourites made their mark Bangs on head, eye pokes and arse kicks Were transformed to works of art But it's not of this trio I speak Three more egregious, ... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

PHONEY BALONEY They said: "We've come here from head office, to help you reach your quota It's a selfless act on our part and we're going to devote a Day or two to set you right and get things under control" I thought: "Phone... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

Connoisseurs of riparian worlds will be familiar with the apparent affinity between rivers and willow trees; an attraction that can, in the normal course of events, prove fatal. THE WILLOW AND THE RIVER Along the river the willows... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

SONNET FOR RAINMAN What is art? Is a question subject of much conjecture And one musical part has had simple response laid on it While the general subject is suited to academic lecture For Jazz (or all art) - "If you has to as... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

THE STRANGE CASE OF THE PREPOSITION The preposition is a peculiar case No use on its own by itself with no function It needs an attachment to have any place Alone it would decease, be due extreme unction Now some words may a... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

ARDINGLY SONNET * As English season moves into transition From bone chilled misty days of meagre light We begin to feel a warmth of sun's benediction And come to days when daylight matches night It's then we once again will heed ... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

JACKDAW DOWN As I approached, the the flock of jackdaws which had been grazing peacefully on the grass burst into a sudden noisy flurry of motion. It soon became apparent, as the little drama was played out, that a predatory haw... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

BLACKBOARD BLUES I woke up this morning and I had the blues And the blacks and the Reds and greens whence to choose In days gone by when boards were black And teachers weren't wary but on the attack Chalk was as ... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

They told me about God, his name, essence, demeanour Men of knowledge, wisdom and inside information But I, lacking such esoteric wit, just a gleaner Inspecting what I discerned from my simple station Found that what I 'knew' of G... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

THE PALMS As dawn child brings a gradual illumination Among the palms are hints of gentle motion Their fronds now stir in elegant activation Like ladies with refinement: a devotion Their fluent gestures smoothing interaction Smi... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

THE KINTA VALLEY OR : Dreams of the Sleeping Man (Anthropomorphic name of a mountain profile viewed from The Valley) The sleeping man dreams on in calm detachment While in valley below activity's frenetic, prolific Such... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

YES DEAR! I have here an old solution For conflict resolution Not to mention domestic pollution I say 'Yes Dear!' When the situation is tense And The subject is pounds and pence To a void sitting on the fence I say 'Yes D... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

SONNET FOR A WINDY DAY Across cirrus sky swift brush strokes paint mares' tails While o'er restless tree tops in anxious susurration, Trains of cumbrous clouds traverse on vaporous rails And below, meadow grasses align in wild ... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

SOLSTICE SONNET Along the summer stream at solstice noon Calm flow shapes flexile reeds in waves viridian Thus born, Ophelia sang her final tune Before she was enclosed in cool oblivion Above the brook blue Damsels flit in danc... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

Sonnet: SONG OF A PROTESTOR How sweet to have a conscience that is clear I approve myself for righteousness conspicuous And support all worthy politics, no fear That I’d be charged as fascist or avaricious Equality and fai... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

SONNET(S) ON WISDOM and AGE When I was young my folly knew no bounds. Though some may say the perimeter’s been extended. I now confess my ignorance, giving me grounds To think that some false knowledge has been amended Ful... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

SONNET FOR ALL CREATURES Oh! No! No all things are not bright and beautiful There is a darker aspect to creation Must it be ever so in this holy alchemist’s crucible? At least for the span of current iteration The coc... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

OCTOBER TALE Go south and follow the sun’s traverse As it heads t’ward Capricorn When days and nights are in equipoise And slight chills happily born Go beyond the wide stream where Siegfried roved Past the dark forest’s... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

THE GIFT Proffer no gift if I may not give you an equal measure But if thou must to me entrust an item I may treasure Let it not be a thing to keep, protect and hide away But grant me leave to be and choose: my own free will obey ... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

Lake Isle of Dreams There’s something magical about an island on a lake A transient mooring, free to float adrift in space and time To these small worlds we’re drawn to seek respite from deep heart-ache Where pea... Read more

story by Geoffrey Brewer

The street dogs of Ipoh, Malaysia, in contrast to the owned pets, are the coolest and hippest of animals. They stroll around, never hurried, in their own good time. If a vehicle approaches, they will move, but no more than is necessar... Read more

story by Geoffrey Brewer

So you see lah! dese three big noise fellas come long last time from outstation to Judea (dis now got Israel - dunno how dey got visa already. We cannot. Dey pretty dam clever fellas also high class - got top degrees, not cheap stuff... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

SUNDAY BEST: Sonnet in 100 words Always smartest one in his brigade He took painstaking pride in his appearance Though beach at Dunkirk was no church parade Upheld standards with dogged perseverance In stony desert - Tobruk a... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

LIFE STORY "Who wrote dese legs?" Said Milligan in Puckoon * As he surveyed his nether limbs with disdain and dismay While Jessica Rabbit gave the protest of every 'toon' ** "I'm not really bad. It's just that I was drawn this w... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

OLD TOWN ELEGY The bridge still arches the road but with what design? The railway that once crossed Ridgeway and vale to the sea Is erased and gone, with now scarcely residual sign And barely more trace than near roads of Ro... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

[There is a history of the world, parallel with that which we know - or is it?] Then Horatius slew no foes to defend the bridge But invited Lars Porsena across for tea and crumpets With our English dead did we not close up th... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

SECOND CONDITIONAL If I were a gambling man; as it is I have only an occasional flutter And if I had a big win, I would eat a good meal, and buy myself some new schmutter * Note: this would make more elegant prose... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

The Great Meadow Beyond the high hedge the great meadow extends to the sky Its fallow grasses fanned into waves by a breeze. While down the slope the bearded barley and rye Make a downy golden fabric that clothes the leas ... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

I wrote this as an exercise in the use of modal verbs (22 times). Its theme is the eternal struggle of parents to persuade their offspring to eat good food. Incidentally,I quite like cabbage now, though I hated it as a child. Savez... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

OLD TOWN SONNET On either side the River rise high banks protecting valley and town Neath ever-changing tropic skies From brow of ridge where we gaze down The ancient village spreads below Just waking in the morning light... Read more

poem by Geoffrey Brewer

SPARSHOLT SONNET A poem about a summer school at Sparsholt College, Winchester, teaching young people from all across the world In Sparsholt skies red kites are flying over The downland grasses rich with fragrant clover ... Read more