Poetry Magazines - The best collection of poetry magazines online - Simon Armitage

Casting fortunes     at New Year round the table     the glass moves
It takes resolution     to ask straight out
The young couple     walk home through the hillocks     among the stars
Retired and reminiscing - on what was frightening then
In wartime     stooking sheaves, machine tied,     under the moon

A boy crosses the river     with sack of stolen apples
Mist in the hedges     holly berries already     ready for Christmas
Surprise guest, out of season,     threading country roads
Free-loader!     thinks it payment enough     to read me his poems
An intricate involvement     I wish I wasn’t here
A woman in tweeds     argues with her ghosts     on a City pavement
Sir Galahad offers     to bring her a cup of tea
Staring icily     at her stall in the Summer Fete     the chairman’s daughter
A polo match on the Island     a high field and wide skies
A gentleman     who fails to pay     is permanently excluded
Get a stamp on your wrist at the door     or you can’t come back!

The village hall     is dressed in flowers     for a farmers’ wedding
A long Easter sermon for the larger congregation
Spring Rites     up on the Beacon:    we’re thinking of bringing them back
Running to circumcision     the cutter mustn’t fall
An African doctor carnation in cream blazer says my worms are healthy
The monkey cloaks for Macbeth     are tribal heirlooms

Two comedians     exchange a few words     of the original script
The Pantomime matinee     tones down the jokes - for the mothers
Wind in your face     the pavement hardens     as cold sinks in
Kicking a stone around town     for a week - no goals
We're Triple Champions! - fixing up a super-league with the extra-terrestrials
Long boats from Space     let’s hope we’ve nothing they want

Lovers think     the moon has no longings     and doesn’t bite
Peace in the house     where all have a place secure
An old cat     puts head on paws in the window     ignoring the flies
Children dash in     dump their schoolbags, and out
The Town Council     discusses further provision     for youth employment
A thinker heroically wrestles     with problems he can’t define
Consider the snowdrops     arrayed beside the lake     in fragile beauty
You’re going on the hike? - Remember to wrap up warm!