KILNER BANK
Convolvulus strangles
cow parsley and nightshade.
Its pure white trumpets plead:
Forgive us! Look how lovely we are!
Behind the birch trees
the hum of industry
is punctured by the staccato clack
of squabbling magpies.
Off the track
there’s an abandoned nest:
a mess of bin liners, sodden cardboard,
a stained sleeping bag.
The owner crouches
shin-deep in the river,
glances left, glance right,
bows his head to wash.
Nigel King is originally from the badlands of South Essex (well, Billericay), but now lives in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, where he is a member of the Albert Poets group. His poems have been published in a range of magazines; his first pamphlet – What I Love About Daleks – was published by Calder Valley Poetry. For many years he lectured in Psychology at the University of Huddersfield, but is now (semi) retired and enjoying a part-time MA in Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University.