Uploaded November 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
S AND K
By P B Taylor
I
We had run down to the sandy sea
To rusty ships now desolate
We had tried to set us free
Amongst the tall trees and the free
II
But we could not do that
That which was all we had had
Then we could only do one thing
One thing which no one loves
III
And we set our windless sails
Upon the wide blue loveless sea
Your father looked upon us
But he would not see the sea
IV
He saw instead a vast grey ocean
Our ocean of despair
To dispel his own inflicted unhappiness
In your own aurora of drunk despair
V
And we limped out and sailed
Unto an inglorious sunset mild
It changed as mixed light colour
With our match still so taut
VI
I loved you of course as I sailed
And you did it – always that difference
I still love you now even far away
Gone what a shame – that difference
Overseas 1982
Phillip Taylor MBE was born in Amersham and educated at London University and the Inns of Court School of Law. His working life was spent, firstly at the BBC in London, in the Ministry of Defence and the Army, and then as a barrister at law and mediator at Lincoln’s Inn after he was called to the Bar.
He was Chairman of the Society of Civil Service Authors Poetry Workshop from 1982 to 1986 and contributed to their annual anthology FOCUS. His poems and short stories have appeared in journals, magazines and newsletters and some have been broadcast by the BBC. He has produced several poetry collections since 1972.
The Poetry Workshop was founded by Bill Barnes in 1970. It was a part of the Society of Civil Service Authors (founded in 1935) which now known as the Society of Civil and Public Service Writers.
S AND K
By P B Taylor
I
We had run down to the sandy sea
To rusty ships now desolate
We had tried to set us free
Amongst the tall trees and the free
II
But we could not do that
That which was all we had had
Then we could only do one thing
One thing which no one loves
III
And we set our windless sails
Upon the wide blue loveless sea
Your father looked upon us
But he would not see the sea
IV
He saw instead a vast grey ocean
Our ocean of despair
To dispel his own inflicted unhappiness
In your own aurora of drunk despair
V
And we limped out and sailed
Unto an inglorious sunset mild
It changed as mixed light colour
With our match still so taut
VI
I loved you of course as I sailed
And you did it – always that difference
I still love you now even far away
Gone what a shame – that difference
Overseas 1982
Phillip Taylor MBE was born in Amersham and educated at London University and the Inns of Court School of Law. His working life was spent, firstly at the BBC in London, in the Ministry of Defence and the Army, and then as a barrister at law and mediator at Lincoln’s Inn after he was called to the Bar.
He was Chairman of the Society of Civil Service Authors Poetry Workshop from 1982 to 1986 and contributed to their annual anthology FOCUS. His poems and short stories have appeared in journals, magazines and newsletters and some have been broadcast by the BBC. He has produced several poetry collections since 1972.
The Poetry Workshop was founded by Bill Barnes in 1970. It was a part of the Society of Civil Service Authors (founded in 1935) which now known as the Society of Civil and Public Service Writers.
