.

Claudius gathered together a formidable army.

.

The troops were indignant at the prospect of campaigning outside the known world.

.

A lighthouse was built at Boulogne by Caligula, to act a beacon for the craft passing across the channel.

.

As a monument to his success, he built a lofty tower, upon which he ordered lights to be burnt at night-time, for the direction of ships at sea.

.

www.roman-britain.co.uk/the-roman-conquest-of-britain/the-claudian-invasion-of-britain-43-ad/#google_vignette

Cassius Dio Cocceianus: The Histories of Rome, Book 80, Chapter 19.

Suetonius: The Twelve Caesars: The Life of Caligula, Book Three, Chapter 46.

.

(Claudio from Latin, Claudius)  

For Hugh’s son, who is now 22. Claudio is severely disabled.

.

Above the stars

But beautiful 

Concealed

Darkness

.

…heard the most perfect music I had ever heard in my life. It was directed by the most famous Claudio Monteverdi … who was also the composer and was accompanied by four theorbos, two cornettos, two bassoons, one  basso de viola of huge size, organs and other instruments…

.

Like a child

Waiting

.

For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. Matt.18:10

.

Giovanni e Lucia, Wistreich (2007), p. 261

.

All the music is lost

.

.

For Hugh’s son, who is now 22. Claudio is severely disabled.

.

Grey clouds at a tyre repair

Concrete blocks a distant wall

Flocks of birds spiralling

The kindness of a boy

Pumping tyres and blackening them

Working patiently

I wash my hands in an old bathtub

Grandchildren now not children

Owner different but somehow similar

Light shining

.

.

People on a railway station

I am one

.

A lady sings as she walks towards me

.

A train appears and disappears

.

A driver smiles a greeting

I smile back

.

I realise this was my train

.

.

I

.

Steps up

Steps down

Shadows

.

Sun

.

.

each day

the light returns

.

immune to

sadness

.

wondrous

.

.

Night has come

Outside the stars

.

Imaginary

Inside

.

Distant trains

.

Each room

Lit

.

.

sky

descent

.

one

by one

.

influx

eternal

.

pillars

cold

.

.

Eden

viewed

eternal stars

.

For my daughter Eve’s birthday

.

Kathexes is the thirtieth word

in the Gospel of Luke.

in order, in a sequence.

.

Celebrating my son Luka’s thirtieth birthday. His passion is mathematics.