Poetry

Goodnight


Sleep the sleep of mortals
In the slumberland of dreams
And open up the portals
To the land of Kings and Queens
Listen to the fairies laugh
And hear the harebells peel
Walk the soft and rambling path
Between the golden fields
Dream of what you want to be
And where you want to go
Of the beautiful green valley
And of mountains capped with snow
And when your wandering wondering soul
From slumber must return
And leave the wooded watering hole
As dawn's faint light doth burn
Come gently back with love in mind
For all your kith and kin
With care enough for all mankind
And harmony within.
--------------------


A Biker's Prayer


Lord, hear the lively engine roar
As I hit the road once more
Breathe the wind upon my face
As I gather up the pace
Make the surge of power give
Reason to the life I live
Doing all the things I like
Riding on my motor bike


Lord, guard me as I travel out
For the dreaded car watch out
Give the driver sense to see
It is a bike, it's really me
Keep me too from being rude
And lifting fingers very crude
Give me grace and sense to stop
Before my eyelids really drop


Know me Lord for what I am
A biker brash and not a lamb
Forgive me if I fail to think
Prevent me riding if I drink
Bring me safe back home at last
And Lord I know I shouldn't ask
But help me live now, if I may
To ride with you another day.
--------------------


Special Friend


There's not a single day can pass
Without before it's end
I've thought about you tenderly
My very special friend
--------------------


?

Eternal youth
Eternal flame
You both are growing old


And when I die
Where do you go
If I may be so bold?
--------------------


April the 1st 1995 was an eventful day. In the morning my daughter was thrown from a racehorse during an interview for a job, and in the evening our car was stolen whilst we were at friends in Bristol. The following day an attempt was also made to steal the same friend’s motorcycle.


April Fool


April came gently wrapped in shimmering haze
That did belie the tricks that it would play
And so we motored further south
Unsuspecting of the rampant April Fool.


Ah! Mortals durst you turn your back on this most cursed foe
And think that you'll survive
For you will surely perish at the tricksters fateful hand
And break the surface of life's limpid pool.


To horse, To horse and gallop frantic in the morning sun
And see the fields and hedges flashing by.
Ah! Cursed luck! The April Fool has charge
And you will tumble to the ground. Ungraceful pose.


But think you not the manic Fool by midday surely done,
For in these years of calumny and crime
The Trickster thrives and spreads his vile net
To taint the lives of people that he passes by.


Though heart of steel and made by man you were a friend of mine
Companion and support o'er many a mile
And now you're gone, wrested from my side at dead of night
By those abominable servants of the Fool.


Fickle fortune though you take a car you cannot take the man
And when the last of this poor day is gone
The Trickster surely will not have a grip upon my soul
For I am stronger than the April Fool and will survive.


Vile Jester are you such an evil and persistent malcontent
That you must try to influence another day
And send your servants out to steal the hard earned property of friends
Be off! No more!. Begone with you I say.
--------------------


A considerable volume of email messages were generated between myself and a friend on the subject of Twiglets, the details of which are far to voluminous to enter into here. Amongst the items however was included this poem.


Of Desire


Oh wondrous morsel fit to grace the plate of Kings,
Forgotten in the morning's light by me,
I seldom think these days of other things,
And dream the whole night through of eating thee.


Ah tasty snack, so cunningly devised to please,
And leave the unsuspecting man in love,
With your alluring shape and taunting smell
A mouthful surely born in heaven above.


What mortal soul could coldly and in truth resist,
Temptation in the splendid form of thee.
What person could in honesty desist
From crunching one, then two and maybe three.


I smitten am, with thee oh tasty bite,
And forced to eat thee 'gainst my will, and yet
Such raptures of desire released by marmite
Enamour me of thee oh Glorious Twiglet.
--------------------




A tree opposite our house was cut down. It was a beautiful tree and was in a position where it did no harm to any buildings. It’s loss caused for me a considerable impact on the visual environment and I still miss that tree some years later.


R.I.P. Tree


R.I.P Tree. Who cares you may ask?
You were splendid in purpose and lifegiving task,
A provider of oxygen, shelter and shade.
Fashioned by nature, like nothing man-made.


R.I.P Tree, but does anyone care?
Do passers-by notice you no longer stand there?
Do they miss your fine shape, and the wonderful hues,
of your bright autumn mantle enhancing the views?


R.I.P Tree, unthinkingly cut,
And carelessly burnt by those who care not.
Your stump a reminder of what people do,
To kill off our planet, by killing off you.
--------------------




Of You


By playful streams and laughing waterfalls,
And soft green ferns in moisture gently bathed,
I think of you.
In summer meadows filled with sun and flowers
While listening to the cheerful lark's bright song
I think of you.


Warm and cosy in my bed of sleepy down
Locked pleasantly away from all my cares
I dream of you.
And as the clouds drift slowly 'cross the timeless sky
My weary soul is lifted up as ceaselessly
I dream of you


In the lonely quiet before the dawning of the day
As to the world I now return again
I long for you.
And in the evening as I linger on our favourite songs
And reminisce beside the crackling fire
I long for you.


In everything I do each day, in every simple task
I make it something specially for you and thus
I live for you.
For all that has between us passed, is passing now
And in the future far before us lies
I live for you.


Firm in purpose, strong in spirit, loving in your way
I hear your voice and see your face and know
I love you
Because you are the person that you are, and care,
And fill my heart with joy and soul with light,
I love you.
--------------------


At a point of some difficulty in my life a friend was of invaluable help just by being there. One starlit night at the time I looked up and saw one particular star that seemed to shine out over the rest. It brought this poem to mind.


Stars


Stars like a myriad of friends look down
As I look up to them in sense of wonderment
And as I gaze upon the great celestial round
There’s only one that holds my attention of the moment


And so on Earth it is with you my friend
A singular person in the teeming world-wide throng
A point of constancy when my life’s on end
A burning brilliant star that carries ever on and on.
--------------------


Written after a particularly frustrating day on the motorways of Britain!


The Gap


Beware the dreaded gap, my friend, and never let it stretch
To some safe stopping distance for some unfortunate wretch.
If you see one fill it now, with alacrity and speed
And close it down to inches, with all the brainlessness you need.


Don't stop to think, just do it, before it starts to grow
For if it stretches out too far, the consequences you know
You'll lose a precious second in the journey of your life
So just ignore the spectre of the bloody surgeons knife.


Darn it all just do it now, that bumper's got too far
You're not a man if you can't pull out within inches of his car.
Feel the adrenalin pumping, see the terror on his face
Oh God, he's now moved over and left another space.


Fill it, fill it, fill it now, it's all become a game
Don't you wish you knew the other silly bastard's name
By just what right does he presume to drive upon this road
You've paid your road fund licence and earned the right to goad.


Look at that stupid woman driver blocking up the lane
You'll show her who is boss right now, she won't do that again.
What cheek, she's trying to race you, you can't have that you know
Oh wounded pride, just look at that, her car can really go!


What's this, another stupid driver coming racing up behind
Flashing all his lights at you, I'm sure you know his kind.
But listen what's that funny sound, a blaring twin tone horn
Oh no, a big jam sandwich! Bet you wish you were not born!


Good evening sir, we stopped to ask if you have got a brain?
You were driving like a madman, swapping 'cross the lanes
And don't you think excessive speed, 130 on our clock
Was just a little fast for you when the road ahead was blocked.


My number? Not a problem Sir, it's 10629
The Heavenly Constabulary, from Paradise sublime.
What's that? You didn't notice? You left a ten yard gap!
The chap beside you filled it, before you hit him up the back.
--------------------


Love through Nature            1971


The day comes, wrapped in a misty mantle
Ebbing the night with her star decked brow
Flowing softly as though borne by the breeze,
And telling the world that it still turns round.


Each day’s an experience unlike another,
As Nature performs her most marvellous tasks,
Changing the clouds in their billowing patterns,
Tending the flowers and the birds in our parks.


Oh would that mankind could learn a quick lesson
And stop his mad race for riches and wealth
But instead take a stroll in the countryside round him,
And learn once again about beauty and health.


The only thing left is man’s love for woman,
But even that now means far less than it did,
For love cannot cope with the pressures of living
In future generations that too will be dead.


Now listen quite carefully, I’ll tell you the answer,
Appreciate Nature in every way,
And in loving a woman, love so gently,
And she will stay with you the rest of your days.


Woman can truly be likened to Nature,
She’s gentle and kind ‘til her wrath is aroused,
And then she will strike like a cobra or lightning
And keeping your distance is strongly advised.


The power of Nature will always be with us
Displayed in thunder or the flight of a dove
So pray that we treat Her with gentle affection
For She gives us an insight to the power of love.
--------------------


The Red Knight


The Red Knight stood with steely eye
His sword held by his side
The path to Paradise was blocked
His horse he could not ride


"What is this stuff?" the Red Knight said
Slashing strong and fast
But making small impression as
The green fronds grew like grass


"The choking weed, most gracious Sir"
A small voice ventured say,
"Is all the things you should have done,
Left for another day."


"See yonder, there's that kindly word,
And there the selfless gift.
Oh look, the proffered helping hand
And wastage saved by thrift."


The Red Knight spluttered, "What d'you mean
Are you suggesting that
I wouldn't help my fellow man
If I had found him trapped?"


“I speak not Sir”, the small voice said
“Of things you would have done,
But of the many thoughtful deeds
You sadly left undone.”
--------------------




Thoughts of a friend
2nd Oct 1995


You are indeed my friend, you know, my best friend dare I say
And if I stop to think of you, it’s in a special way.
And if I stop to think of you, as I so often do,
I know that in your heart of hearts you’re thinking of me too.


You are indeed a pal, you know, a special sort of chum
Lively and invigorating, always loving fun.
You are the quintessential essence (what a lovely phrase!)
Of all that friendship has to give, and more in many ways.


You are indeed a buddy, yes, a special sort of mate
In ways that you may never know or e’en anticipate
And all that matters, may I say, is in the very end
We to the other both can turn and say, you are my friend.
--------------------


The Ride.


Dawn breaks and as I face the rising sun
The birds break out their morning song.
I’m ready for the ride, and know I am at one
With Nature. To the earth I now belong.


The fields cloaked in a soft mantle of mist
Gently prepare their sleeping charges for the day
And as I pass the speed is slowly building
I know the ride is really under way.


Now landscape smudged with an airbrush
Races past my bobbing head at restless pace.
The world is gathered up in one great headlong rush
And concentration primes me for the race.


Faster! Faster! Heart pounding, engine racing
Feel the fire in my breast and have no pity.
Ride the beast as if there isn’t a tomorrow
Throttle open, cruising at light speed to eternity.
--------------------


Eric was a horse stabled in our yard. One day his owners moved him elsewhere as they were leaving the area.


Where my friend used to be


Orion stands above the spot where my friend used to be
His look is stern, he does not speak, as Erik spoke to me


No gentle whinny greets my footsteps as I leave the car
No head is hanging over doorway, neck craning, reaching far
Where the greeting on my cheeks from gently exhaled breath
And gently chiding ‘feed me now, forget about the rest’?


Orion stands above the spot where my friend used to be
His look is stern, he does not speak, as Erik spoke to me


Tall and proud, and big and handsome, such a horse was he
Now he’s gone to newer pastures many many miles from me.
Gone, my friend, but not forgotten is the staring beady eye
Where’s my carrot, what’ you doing, Oh I say, hello, good-bye


Orion stands above the spot where my friend used to be
His look is stern, he does not speak, as Erik spoke to me

9th February 1996


--------------------



Fleeting Moment


A fleeting moment of sheer perfection appears and then is gone,
As though a ray of sunshine peeps out from behind dark clouds.
And sweetly in my pounding breast this vision of beauty lingers on
As happy memories of such tenderness flit across my furrowed brow.


You have your moment of fame, without the fortune, now my love,
And are there in your resplendent beauty for all the world to see,
Encapsulated in a second or two of time like a gift from above,
To be kept and savoured, and treasured by mere mortal man as me.


29/07/96