An old ploughman's view

They ask me if I miss
The jangle of the horse harness
The romance of the plough team
Now that tractors rule

They don't like my reply:
"Where's the romance
In staring at a horse's arse all day?"

The Gospel according to Martin

I have unconsciously been slowly creating an alternative Bible as a result of my returning to Christian (and Old Testament) stories in order to explore moral questions. Some are critical and perhaps heretical, but they represent the ebst and most serious poems here.

Creation: Diminuendo

Noah's flood: The raven's tale

The Massacre of the Innocents: Collateral damage

Nativity to Crucifixion: Mary's lament

Crucifixion: Stations of the cross

Acts: The gospel according to Thomas | A Monmouthshire hedgerow

Revelation: Seven cities | The cloud of unknowing

The new Shakespeare

Othello

"Jealous much?" asked Iago
"Totally" replied Othello


Hamlet

Hamlet's dad was all "Woo-woo, I'm dead"
Hamlet was all "To be or not ... whatever"


The Merchant of Venice

Shylock was so into bling it was untrue.


Macbeth

Wannabe king Macbeth was like "Is this a dagger, or what?"
Lady M rolled her eyes and said "Duh!"
Then he went postal


Romeo and Juliet

Romeo met Juliet at the prom
Their clueless parents were like "No way"
"Yes way" they said, and died.