Caravan

This crisply muted

Calm Sahara night,

Belies the advent 

Of the furnace sun.

Amid our bivouac 

Of coloured beits

We stir from dreams 

To sweet oasis dates.

Our caravan decamps

To race the dawn,

On ancient trading routes 

Towards the sea.

By Adrar, Timimoun 

Proud In Salah,

Hence we shall follow

Our nomadic star.

You wear an abaya

Of damask black,

Your mouth is veiled

In lattice woven silk.

Your beauty glows

Lit by the purple sky,

Now overwhelmed:

I turn from you and cry.

Copyright© Alan Gilbert 2012.

Way Beyond Words

My new poetry book is now available from iUniverse, Amazon and all on line bookstores. See customer reviews on Amazon.  Two five star customer reviews on amazon. 


Title: Way Beyond Words. (Poetry on reflection)
Author: Alan Gilbert.
Published by iUniverse. 
Paperback. 978-1-4697-5163-4
Hardcover. 978-1-4697-5165-8
eBook.       978-1-4697-5164-1
Available from amazon, iUniverse and all on line bookstores. 
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Way-Beyond-Words-Poetry-Reflection/dp/1469751631/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1336568198&sr=1-1 
http://www.amazon.com/Way-Beyond-Words-Poetry-Reflection/dp/1469751631/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1336568535&sr=1-1
http://bookstore.iuniverse.com/Products/SKU-000542557/Way-beyond-Words.aspx

Tempest

Alert the watch all hands all hands on deck

Aloft and set the storm sails, make them fast,

Then rig the ratlines tight from stem to stern

The seas are up we're heading for a blast.

Unfast the boats and toss them to the storm

The dervish wind will crush them into splints,

Then lash the forty cannon to the deck

No man will rest so each surpass their stints.

You surgeon's boys now to your station go

Make keen each edge and mark your master well,

If God has grace to gift to you the dawn

You will no longer fear the wrath of hell.

There is no time to pray no place for fear

No tine to ponder on the hours ahead,

Now everyman must make his peace alone

I fear that fate has marked us living dead.

Copyright© Alan Gilbert 2011.

Élan Vitai

So pervades the heart

That never could grow old,

A sanguine stream on fire

Unquenchable amour

Unwilling to withhold.

How the spirit flows

Impervious through time,

Insatiable desire

Restless in restraint

Yet quietly sublime.

Copyright© Alan Gilbert 2012.