"The title poem marks Mike Jenkins transition from the teaching profession to a free-ranging life hereafter"

I n this new collection of his work, there's a wide variety of subject matter and approach. His longer poem, 'Journey of the Taf', traces the river's journey from watershed to sea; a sequence of poems on the Troubles of Northern Ireland takes many viewpoints, including that of a car and a chair! He pays homage to poets, dead and alive and there's verse voicing concern about threats of a seagull (see below) on Cardiff Central station. Through all his work the poet's wit and passion is pervasive."

Kairdiff Central Seagull

I've never felt threatened by a seagull before,

but this one's got 'STREET'

written along its beak,

which suddenly looks sharp

as a Stanley knife.

...

I wouldn't be surprised

by its swagger and attitude

if it wasn't into NWA or Tupac.

...

It eyes up my food

as if it already owns it

and I recall those stories of seabirds

snatching pasties or putting eyes out.

...

Those days spent by Aber pier

throwing crusts to balletic birds

seem a century away,

this creature's Kairdiff Central

born and bred, could pick

a packet from the rails

just before the inter-city's in.

...

It struts around me:

I am surrounded by a single bird!

Its pupils are two barrels

aiming straight at my cheese and celery.

...

I gulp the sandwich whole

like a heron with a fish.

Bro seagull saunters off

to mug a kid with a burger.

...

© Mike Jenkins 2015 (reproduced by kind permission of the author)