POEM : THE GARDEN WITH GAPS IN THE FENCE

LYRIC : SATURDAY NIGHT IN JONESTOWN

FROM 'BELL CANTOS'

THE GARDEN WITH GAPS IN THE FENCE

 

Wind chimes and small bells and sedge-grass.

A garden with gaps in the fence.

The boards from a never-used coffin

Keep the dogs out that have any sense.

The wind doesn’t blow here.

It’s too scared to snow here.

The garden has gaps in the fence.

 

Coriander and rusted old wrenches.

A brass hare hangs over the door.

Rotted wood from some old garden benches.

Molasses spilled right on the floor.

The garden-swing squeaks.

The rocking-chair creaks.

And the garden has gaps in the fence.

 

There is silt in the ill-bevelled gutters.

Iguanas leave tracks in the dirt.

The cracking paint floats from the shutters.

A new coat of paint wouldn’t hurt.

There are spider-webs, son,

With the spiders long gone,

For the garden has gaps in the fence.

 

Wherever you set up your homestead,

Wherever your kids get to play.

Make sure that the stanchions are grounded,

And the earth is more root-soil than clay.

But be still as a mouse,

And don’t buy that house,

If the garden has gaps in the fence.

SATURDAY NIGHT IN JONESTOWN

 

Here comes Manny with Consuela.

Spending money like a shore leave sailor.

Here comes Jimmy with his mother.

Just don’t ask either of them about Jimmy’s brother.

You know, he’s doing time for one last caper.

He tried to sell cocaine to a gentleman from a newspaper.

Now don’t tell anyone I told you.

And just wait ‘til you get outside before you see what I sold you.

 

Saturday night in Jonestown.

 

Well, here comes Gelly on a white line vacation.

Now if you ask Manny that’s the state of the nation.

And on the subject of Manny, some say he got lazy.

But when he walks in the room, well, the whole damn place goes crazy.

Now he’s got money whichever way you call it.

He keeps pulling them big old bills from his eel-skin wallet.

Now watch what you say, watch what you do there mister.

That girlie in the push-up bra, well that’s Manny’s sister.

 

Saturday night in Jonestown.

Bell Cantos by Mark Gullick can be purchased here https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08CHJ9SL7?pf_rd_r=WEAHT9QSCNKYRC21F4SD&pf_rd_p=e632fea2-678f-4848-9a97-bcecda59cb4e