The Work of Rodney Noon
Rodney Noon has been writing poems since he was about 6 years old. He hopes that the quality has improved. They certainly seem to take much longer!
Born in Skipton, Rodney is a Solicitor-Advocate practising in Harrogate in the field of family law with a particular interest in cases relating to children. He lectures nationally on current issues in the field of family law. He is a former chairman of the Harrogate Writers' Circle.
His poetry has been published in various 'small press' poetry magazines in the UK, Canada and the USA. He enjoys taking part in poetry readings in North Yorkshire and a wider range of his work can be found on his web site at www.hitchingstone.co.uk
In addition to poetry Rodney also writes articles, both for the legal press and for a wider readership, usually on historical matters. His work has appeared in Amateur Gardening, The Justice of the Peace, Web Mystery Magazine, Solicitors' Journal, Family Law and Family Law Week.
Born in Skipton, Rodney is a Solicitor-Advocate practising in Harrogate in the field of family law with a particular interest in cases relating to children. He lectures nationally on current issues in the field of family law. He is a former chairman of the Harrogate Writers' Circle.
His poetry has been published in various 'small press' poetry magazines in the UK, Canada and the USA. He enjoys taking part in poetry readings in North Yorkshire and a wider range of his work can be found on his web site at www.hitchingstone.co.uk
In addition to poetry Rodney also writes articles, both for the legal press and for a wider readership, usually on historical matters. His work has appeared in Amateur Gardening, The Justice of the Peace, Web Mystery Magazine, Solicitors' Journal, Family Law and Family Law Week.
|
BLUES FOR BUNNY
Nature designed you to run free. Threading the hawthorn hedge and crossing the open field like an olympic sprinter vanishing into the burrow's womb-like gloom. You were born a prisoner. Sentenced to life in a four foot cell you have no need for lightening speed or ears that hear a wing beat. Your all round vision only confirms the totality of your cage. But you will never know the burning pains of hunger or the stab of fear; or the smell of dawn in a summer meadow when the blackbird sings for joy. I could set you free right now and by that kindness I would surely kill you by cold, starvation or the stoat's sharp tooth. You believe that I am free because you cannot see the bars of contract and covenant and the chains that I have made from obligations. I shall not be in the meadow to hear the blackbird sing at dawn tomorrow. My cage is no less strong than yours and just like you ometimes I pace the floor and dream of freedom. But I can no more hunt or set a snare than you could dig a burrow to live through the freezing night. Both prisoners we accept our cells because they also keep us fed and warm. We shall not die of freedom, you and I. |
THE CLERK'S TALE
I am a clerk within the Court of Love. Come with me, I can explain as we walk. A courtier...? No, that would be much too grand; I am a man of papers, diaries and lists; inviting, greeting, seating and leading petitioners along the corridors and labyrinths they hope may lead to joy. I do not attend upon the Queen herself and yet I saw her once, you know. I was in that anteroom - just over there - cross-referencing and filing as I do when suddenly, straight through the door she came with lords and ladies glittering in her train. She did not speak, I never thought she would, but as she passed she turned and smiled at me. At me alone she smiled - you understand? For that brief moment, true love smiled at me. She can be cruel as well you know. They say when she gives them sealed packages, her smile lights up the wrapping and the bows. I send them home aglow with expectation, though I know half are filled with ash. I sometimes hear her laughing as they go. But I should not be talking out of turn. We have arrived. You must sit there and wait. You may be called. Today perhaps tomorrow, if not you will be on my other list and shall bring you back to try again next year. |
