Neil, I was there!
You and Buzz lit up my dreams.
So why the long wait?
copyright Leofwine Tanner 2019
Haiku: The Moon Landing
Category: poetry
Celebrating English and Lincolnshire Churches – Apley: Small is Beautiful
Apley’s church of Saint Andrew really is a little gem.
When we arrived there we were astonished to see just how small it was. There were cars outside, but was there really anyone inside? I mean, how many could you get in there?
Well, it turns out that, on occasion, there are up to 15 worshippers, and there are often christenings too. So as far as the Apley community and ourselves are concerned, small is beautiful.
Apley is a small hamlet between Lincoln and Horncastle, nestled in the gently rolling hills of north-central Lincolnshire, the historic riding of Lindsey that used to be a kingdom in its own right about thirteen hundred years ago.
That said, it was not too easy for us to find, but it’s well worth a visit. The church, for such a limited space, could boast many items of interest, see photographs.
And once more, we were treated royally by our hosts!
copyright Leofwine Tanner 2019
Haiku: Nature 1
Nature is complex
Beauty’s indefinable
Enjoy what it is
copyright Leofwine Tanner 2019
Haiku: The Rear Gunner
Trapped in a tail spin
shot up and bleeding, no hope
What went through your mind?
copyright Leofwine Tanner 2019
Poem: ‘English Blue’ (for the fallen at Hastings and beyond)
Walk with me
into the grey breaking dawn
where that sticking ridge of blue –
an English blue
rolls on into soft distances
and strange dancing names
Stand with me
by those set whispering stones
in a steadfast line –
a sore English line
of rasping pipes and howling socks
mouthing our memory
like a warning to tomorrow
a land forlorn to all but itself
Then help me to bury him
not on some crying strand –
in firm English land
where hallows’ calls are grounded
our grief laid open
in the whitening bones of heroes
on this high scoured hill
copyright Leofwine Tanner 2019, 2011
first published in ‘Poetry 24’ June 23 2011
Ciscography 