These poems are from a little book that I am writing and illustrating, about my holiday last week with my lover, Dónall, on the Amalfi Coast. We had a lovely little cabin on the side of the cliffs in Praiano, with a wonderful private balcony. Most of the eleven poems I wrote last week were composed there, in our own little Garden of Eden. This was not a honeymoon but it sealed our feelings for each other and confirmed Dónall as the love of my life. br br 1. On the Balcony: br br Twined our hearts and bodies br twined like vines br and morning glory leaves... br br Fragile blue stars peer br Into sparkling air. br Calm and clear, br the sea washes with love br our summer shore. br br br 2. Travellers: br br You read, I paint... br you away, in Pompeii, br I here, but far out to sea... br br You bring me news br of goings-on in Napoli br in a distant century... br br I nod, store information... br you admire my evocation br of our here and now... br br 3. Towers br br Along the coastline of Amalfi stand the towers br beckoning with ever-open arms br barbarians, or tourists as we're called today, br Tempting us with sun and sparkling sea br to come and play..... br br 4. haiku br br sky's eye passionate br gazing on land the sun loves... br white noon heat pours down. br br 5. Seascape br br Sapphires scattered on silver satin br diamonds seething on steel br under the burnished sky. br br Sun's furnace strong br after last night's storm, br glares on the bright sea's pathway br br crossed by grey-blue shapes of boats br which we view past vines br and our own lazy feet br propped on rails of olive wood.