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Brian Taylor has been a Poet and Philosopher in Cornwall, England and the Far East.
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Category Archives: Oxford Blues
WAITING
Magdalen’s groundsare full of life,full of space. Space, which is mownand cleared,tended and enclosed,its waterways unchoked,brown and sparkling clear. It is home to ducksand coots,to dragonflies and deer. Grass and paths and gatesand streamsand yesterday’s undergraduatesare waiting. Not for the … Continue reading
Posted in Oxford Blues
Tagged being, dragonflies, ducks, future, Magdalen, Oxford, Oxford Blues, past, peace, space, undergradutes, waiting, waterways, Yes!
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AREOPAGITICA
The Vice Chancellor is leaving!And the mourners go about the streets,throwing their mortar boards in the airand waving their gownslike bullfighters’ capes. In the Vivisection Laboratory,the faintest of grey lightsslants through the bars of cageswhere animals waitto be scientifically torturedfor … Continue reading
Posted in Oxford Blues
Tagged Chancellor, God, laboratory, makind, Oxford, Oxford Blues, scientifically tortured, Vice, vivisection
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TRUTH IN THE BOTANIC GARDENS
Thousands of magnolia flowers,by Danby’s gateand yellowstone walls,test vernal powersagainst the winds of March; and wait. Slowly, blossoms fall,like heavy snowflakes, one by one,lit by a dull and clouded sun. Tourists have gathered here to seethe wonder of this snow-blossom … Continue reading
Posted in Oxford Blues
Tagged blossoms, Botanic Gardens, harvest, inner eye, magnolia, Oxford, photography, snow-blossom, snowflakes, tourists, winds of March
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T.S. ELIOT AT 4.00 PM
Ten thousand pieces on the floorreconstruct his own jigsaw,each one shaped at the five sense doorsto compose the picture he is looking for.Achensee with snowflakes?Earl Grey tea and cakes? He cannot hide.He cannot escape into the seascape’s swell,nor is the … Continue reading
POST IMPERIAL BLUES
A terrorist gets his way by violence. Like Alexander,he would prefer a city to surrender peacefully.Like Alexander,he will destroy it if it doesn’tand enslave its population. A successful terrorist,like a successful leopard,does not change his spots. A pugilist can break … Continue reading
Posted in Oxford Blues
Tagged Alexander, Congo, don, footprints, leopard, lions, massacre, Nigeria, Oxford, post imperial, poverty, Rwanda, statistics, student, terrorist
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GUESTS
Who are the deadI have not reached(or been unable to find)who wait with such patiencein quiet corners of my mind? Seek with the mindyou get thoughts.Seek with the heartyou get understanding.Speak with thoughtsyou reach a man’s mind.Speak with understandingyou reach … Continue reading
Posted in Oxford Blues
Tagged dead, guests, heart, mind, patience, quiet corners, seek, thoughts, understanding
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CHINA BOUND GIRL
China-bound girl,not-yet-happiness-made-her-found girl.Airport-station-taxis girl,brand-new-outside-sensations girl.Three-plus champagnes-anything can-do girl,anywhere-go preferably-Katmandu girl.From-past-sadness-ever-fleeing girl,balanced-on-the-very-edge-of seeing girl.Wonderful-from-the beginning girl,so-afraid-of–losing-she-must-be-always-winning girl.So-shy-her-confidence-is overwhelming girl,she-keeps-her-captains-firmly-at their-helms-ing girl. China-bound girl,Love at her heels, how does she think what she knows she feels?Glides like an image one flower ahead … Continue reading
Posted in Oxford Blues
Tagged Airport, China, China-bound girl, confidence, happiness, Katmandu girl, love, Oxford Blues, sun-mist, winning
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HALLOWELL
The tide that started flowingall those endless years agohas eddied round and doubled back,has shadowed our diverging tracksand monitored their going. It sidles in and splashes at our feetleaving us very little common groundfor if and when we try to … Continue reading
Posted in Oxford Blues
Tagged Brian Taylor, Euro Express, light, Nature, Oxford, Oxford Blues, Painted Veil, sailing ships, sunflowers, tide, Tuscany, Van Gogh, watercolour master, woodlands
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MAKE THE MOST OF IT
Said the Junior Dean. What is “It”that we should make the most of it?What have wethat we can justly boast of it? We have inherited our share of wealth;and karma and good sensehave brought us health. Time weighs not on … Continue reading
Posted in Oxford Blues
Tagged ashes, Brian Taylor, Desires, good sense, health, It, karma, Oxford, Oxford Blues, parable, shadows, talent, Time, too late, wealth
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