John Arlott

(Part of the Heroes and Villanelles Collection)

.

smooth gravel sifts through broken glass

none eluded that constant stare

the cutting voice, those knowing eyes

~                                             

two worlds spin, pitch perfect words          

be they sacred hymn or poet’s line

smooth gravel sifts through broken glass

~

gladiators white, some in padded armour             

battle bravely, thumbs up or down, before

the cutting voice, those knowing eyes

~

no boundaries held his ever-seeing eye

nor faults unpunished, unspoken, unrecorded

smooth gravel sifts through broken glass

~

his words were beautiful, coarsely put       

condensed and sculpted for our ears          

the cutting voice, those knowing eyes

~

Ernest Aujas Beaujolais and cricket teas

this, nature’s man, declared on seventy-seven      

smooth gravel sifts through broken glass

the cutting voice, those knowing eyes

*

© Graham R Sherwood 10/22