The major event that occupied me most of May was a celebration of Gerry Loose – my oldest and one of my dearest friends who died in April 2024. He was the Poet-in-residence in the Glasgow Botanic Gardens for a few years around the millennium, so it was fitting that we did a walking renga around the gardens, stopping at places where Gerry had left his mark such as a two-word poem flames flower 3 carved in stone by the Khaki (persimmon) tree we planted. The tree was grafted from a Khaki tree that survived the Nagasaki atom bomb. As a movement towards peace, every school in Japan has a Khaki tree grown from the original tree. I’ve known Gerry and his family since 1969. For most of his life, he was a whacky-zen practitioner, but he did go for refuge at SamyLing with Akong Tulku Rinpoche.
Gerry grew a small sapling oak and gave it to me to plant above Dhanakosa retreat centre in memory of Manjusvara. The tree is strong, now over 12 feet.

He published my first poems in byways. Gerry edited Haiku Byways (later called byways), It was the first haiku magazine in the U.K. I’ve read most of Gerry’s writing in draft before they were published and often sent in letters before the internet. Until 1972 we lived in the same house in Frognal, London borough of Camden. He & Cate moved to Hedda’s thatched Cottage in Essex where Nancy was born. That’s when our letters began – hundreds of letters often with draft poems enclosed.

Our children played together. He & Cate moved to Scotland in 83 when I found a place where they could live: in a tied cottage and where Gerry worked with Echo Mackenzie’s organic box vegetable scheme and that’s where Mairi-Beatrice was born . . . Our children played together. We started Project Ability at the Third Eye Centre with Veronica Matthews, and Forest Alexander, Job-shared as “Skills Instructors” in the Gorbals at the St Enoch Centre for addictions. We collaborated on many writing projects and always letters: Yuga Night, Vegetable Talk, I-Ching. . . For Survivors’ Poetry Scotland (I edited the first three issues of Nomad Magazine for SPS, then Gerry edited the next 27 issues. We led residential training courses and were side by side on many Lapidus Scotland projects.

He & Cate moved to Byres Road then to Glendaruel, Colintraive, Argyle – back to Glasgow, Carment Drive in Shawlands. . . . They moved, oh boy did they move! Gerry & me we lived together again for a short while in West Bank Quadrant overlooking the river Kelvin. You can read between the lines. Mairi and Gerry moved to Cedar Court a high-rise in Woodlands. Eventually he moved in with Morven to live on a canal boat – the “Mary Jane” by Bowling. Finally settling on the Isle of Bute in Studio Gadelica, an old free kirk with Morven and their Scottish deer hound Livingston “Livie” for short . . .And so much more to tell, not now not now – Livie was with him when he died in the woods.

I finished my tribute with an extract from a longer poem about a time when I visited Gerry and his family in Ireland and we climbed the tallest mountain in Ireland. Here’s a wee bit of the poem:

below grey sky common blue butterwort
dead weather

with a storm brewing on the summit of Carrountoohil we leap from mossy ledge to ledge racing down followed by thickening cloud
pausing halfway for an energy break – brambles are riper on Dingle than up Conor Pass . . .

Even a year after Gerry’s death,water behind my eyes began to flow and flood as I paid a tribute to my friend. Grief is always with us. . . . easily triggered.

The Poet’s Way 2025 – Sunday 6th July 5:15pm.

2025 dates: 3rd August, 7th September, 5th October, 2nd November, 7th December. Doors open at 5:15pm for a prompt start at 5:30 – ending around 9pm Venue: Glasgow Buddhist Centre: 72 Berkeley St (G3 7DS),

The Poet’s Way awakens to the power of poems to compliment & enhance our spiritual practice. Bring a poem to share, your own or a favourite published poem. Please bring 4 copies of the one poem you want appreciated. Also please bring writing materials and vege food-to-share during a comfort break. Our programme includes a guided meditation inspired by poetry, and small groups for close reading and appreciation of poetry.