Boxing Day at Centre Parcs

A lazy snooze in bed
Thoughts of presents running through their head
The gentlest of starts
Climb out to find some food
Everyone in a cheery mood
It's Boxing Day at Centre Parcs

Play games with a smile
We'll go out in a little while
All content for now
Adventure playground's call is loud
Explore their island, standing proud
We're the only ones there somehow

Air hockey next then pool
Potting the black daughter looked so cool
Doing her victory dance
Soft play while I sup a beer
And watch the yummy mummies wipe a tear
Kids don't give a second glance

Swimming soon, well, may be
Time's racing on, it's almost three
Bet the water's really cold
Rapids to race it's our aim
Play sharks, hunting, their favourite game
Well see if it unfolds

Then dinner out, hopefully
Burger and chips we'll eat happily
This place tugs at our hearts
Before we blink, the day is spent
Home to bed, all content
It's Boxing Day at Centre Parcs

Chill

Three types of transport
Start my day
Since the car's gearbox
Went astray

It's stuck in third
As far as I can see
So it's in the garage
For some TLC

So now it's bus
Next will be train
But one thing for sure
Is clearly plain

I've a nine o'clock
It's 8:35
No hope of making
That, dead or alive

So shall I fret
Panic and fuss
Not a lot I can do
Sat on this bus

Shall I worry
Make my heart strain
As I wait on the platform
For the train

No.
Don't think I will
I'll be like the weather
And chill, chill

If I don't make it
Or even if I do
Chilling is my plan
What about you?

Entertain

It's the middle of the night
Again
When will insomnia finally drive me
Insane

Strange noise outside
Again
Though thankfully this time it's not
The rain

Drip, drop, pitter patter
Clattering off aluminium ladder
Over and over, without end
When will salvation be my friend

Guess I should try to sleep
Again
Hope some pleasant dreams I can
Entertain

Slippage

Quick two-stop train ride
Off to Selly Oak
For some thing or other
That will probably be a joke

So my words here will be brief
On this misty morn
Don't get the idea though
That I'm moody or forlorn

I might be slightly off-key
That much is very true
My footings seem to lack
Their usual amount of glue

So slip and slide I will for now
You'd better hold on tight
Don't want it being too bumpy
Then you run off in fright

The here and the now

Phone rings
You know the news
What you hear
Still brings the blues

Hopes are dashed
Though you knew the result
No one to blame
It's all your fault

What was missing
From the pitch
Hard to identify
Anything which

Could have improved the delivery
Made more of this opportunity
Turned their heads a little more
Sparking their interest should be no chore

Back to square one
Pick yourself up
Don't be grumpy
No time for gruff

Something else
Lies in waiting
Pity here and now
Is so frustrating

Hypnogogia

Falling, falling
Then startled, awake
So hard to
Repeatedly take

Tumbling, dropping
As I start to relax
Then this strange malaise
Renews it's attacks

I can find you on wiki or anywhere on line
In dispassionate English, grammar just fine
But no amount of description can compensate
Or make me feel better, wipe clean the slate

Strange-named curse
I despise you so
And when I next close my eyes
You'll be waiting, I know

One hundred and four

Vivid dreams
Fill the night
Endless, taunting
Praying for light

Sheets are soaking
Body clothed in sweat
Temperature still rising
By this malady I'm beset

When will it all end
And normality return
For a taste of food and drink
I long, I yearn

Need to turn the thermostat
Down from one oh four
Then I can finally
Pick myself up off the floor

Crumpled paper

I wrote another verse today
It stares back up at me
Wistful, reflective, every word
Made me sound so unhappy

I'm not, you know, not at all
My poems just mirror a time
When I'm sat on a rumbling train
Trying to write in rhyme

It's a stop and think moment
When the world around me halts
I can delve in to the darkest place
That hides my wants and faults

And now looking at that poem
It doesn't look like me at all
So now it's crumpled paper
That I tossed against the wall

Yet it's still talking to me
Waiting to be unleashed on line
And you'll all think I'm sad again
When I'm absolutely fine

I pick up that crumpled paper
In my pocket it's safely stored
It's not chatting to me now
Knowing it's not being ignored

So I'll leave you this verse for now
The other will have it's day
When I'm being a bloody moody Three
And can't think of anything to say

Weight upon my shoulders

Gloomy day, delayed trains
Rain falls from the sky
Man-bag full for the task ahead
I heave a heavy sigh

It's packed full of useless stuff
Assorted crap and folders
Tugging hard on my right side
A weight upon my shoulders

My destination seems miles away
No way to get there quick
Time will be a burden
As it's hands will slowly tick

And as it winds it's hours away
I'm slowly growing older
What if I don't recognise myself
Will be a weight upon my shoulders

And what of all the other things
Friends and hopes and dreams
Languishing in the twilight
Of the day's endless routines

Wistful in my yearning
That through all it it still endures
And this burden on my shoulders
Won't be a weight on yours

Sign

Finalised the deal
Ready to shake hands and smile
This is the one you've waited for
For the longest while

Pop the corks and celebrate
As you mark the dotted line
Clinch what you've been wanting
As you finally sign

Is the bell ringing yet
That it will never be complete
No matter how long you've waited
Time to admit defeat

Raise the white flag, surrender
Time to give up and resign
The prize is out of your grasp
Take this as a sign

Reached the lowest ebb yet
Beyond hope and despair
Take a walk through those doors
Am sure you'll find more there

Turn up in smiles or disarray
Your presence won't be declined
As long as it's all in order
And on the dot you've signed

Break in the clouds

Everything's possible
Anything goes
Immerse yourself fully
Or gently dip you toes

What are you looking for
As you peer out of your shrouds
A new world or beginning
Or just a break in the clouds

Do you enjoy the heavy air
As the storm rolls in
The crash and roar of thunder
Creating such a din

Does the pressure bother you
Being squeezed by all the crowds
May be it's something you enjoy
Till there's a break in the clouds

Such enormous negativity
The air drips with distain
Why not do something about it
Instead of endlessly complain

It's getting to that turning point
When this burden I can't heft
So my break in the clouds
Will be exit, stage left

The clock

Time goes backwards
In this room
Of monotone words
And traffic boom

Time goes slowly
What did I expect
When in my soul
I've lost all respect

Veinte preguntas

Is it circumstance
Or that time in life
When the focus is inwards
And questions are rife

Am I just getting old
Said with heavy sigh
Looking in the mirror, asking
What am I?

The statement echoes
A hollow sound
No responses forthcoming
Or reasons inbound

I could list one or two
Sure, but is that enough
Or even the right answers
Given from off the cuff

Play twenty questions
Purely with myself
Try to work out my niche
And place on the shelf

It's a bit like a crisis
The identity sort
Each exam that is sat
Results keep coming up short

Churning over and over
Who, what, when, and how
It's staring to grate
A little, somehow

The absence of feedback
Is killing me so
What am I?
Wonder if I'll ever know

Design

Ever woke and knew deep down
This is the day for you
When all your planning pays in spades
And all your dreams come true

The excitement tingles every nerve
You're just raring to go
Head held high, a spring in your stride
Time to be your own hero

This was all your own design
Time to proudly stand and shine

You make your own luck
The story says
When preparation meets opportunity
On the best of days
The dice rolled your number
Magic 8 Ball agreed
You're getting your reward
Without gloating or needless greed
Remember
This was your design
No need to wait for fate
Or stand in line

Ever stopped and wondered
Why the hell you're standing here
Jaded, downcast, pensive
Without love, lust or career

The dullness shrouds you always
The only colour now is grey
Can't lift yourself, no motivation
It's the same chores every day

This was never your design
Sour like the taste of the cheapest wine

You make your own luck
The story says
But preparation missed opportunity
On the worst of days
The dice never rolled in your favour
Magic 8 Ball wouldn't commit
Nothing coming as a reward
Feel like you're in the shit
Remember
This wasn't your design
Screwed by fate
Time after time

Screwed by fate
Are you going to resign
Time to make your own luck
Or just stand there and whine

In motion

Gazing at the puddled floor
Light reflects back to me
Shimmering, moving as I watch
And all so hazily

My world is in motion
Though I'm sat very still
Everything around is shifting
Giving a heady bizarre thrill

The air burns my nostrils
With every single breath that's made
Take in slowly to the lungs
No outward panic displayed

Swirling, whirling
Heat in the extreme
Mind drifting endlessly
Caught in a strange daydream
Silhouettes surround me
Though their conversations stream
Taking in the pleasure
Of a room that's filled with steam

Eucalyptus oil penetrates
Each pore and inch of skin
Sweat bubbles cover me
Heat escaping from within

Stretch out every muscle
Let the heat penetrate and soothe
Draining away the weekend's excess
Making my stubble soft and smooth

The room's still spinning
Or is that in my head?
The mist totally blankets me
Turns my skin bright red
Valve pumps out more
I can't stop it's spread
Steam's endlessly in motion
And I'm losing the thread

Exit and a cold cold shower
Brings back reality
Looking forward to the next visit
So the steam can batter me

Based on a true story

Wanting a signature
Was the purpose of his game
Nothing more he bargained for
Than the writing of a name

His tactics failed to shock
It took him by surprise
Before he knew he'd gained a job
With a sparkling bathroom prize

Watching the relationship
Like a seedling grow
Built out of a strange respect
Or something we'll never know

Was it because no kid gloves
Were donned right from the start
That the walls came down with ease
Tugging at each other's heart

Midnight walks
Along the Seine
Tenderly
Easing phantom pain
Racing the Maserati
Police in tow
Earth, Wind and Fire
Blasting as they go

Opera visit
Laughter filled
Paragliding trip
Scared and thrilled
Dunkirk drive
When love was dearth
Prove to the man
Still held worth

The tale of friendship
Played out for us on screen
But in real life
They held each other's dream


Inspired by the film 'Untouchable'

Absorption

Are you taking it in
Each word, every phrase
Not put off
By the sun's morning blaze

Not disturbed much
By the noise all around
Of passenger's chatter
And the train's rumbling sound

But you looked up, I noticed
When we sat opposite you
And I scanned the title
Of your book, greyish blue

It is having any effect
As the journey goes on
Digesting the pages
Filled with love and passion

You look outwardly calm
But are you stirring inside
Sunglasses stop me seeing
If your eyes go a little wide

Book's packed away now
This must be your station
But did the book take you
To your destination

But before you depart
One question, if I may
Have you absorbed everything now
After reading Fifty Shades of Grey

Where sky and earth meet

Watch as the light fades
Clouds sucked to the ground
Closing in on everyone
Darkness wraps around

Save for the smallest sliver
Of radiance so complete
My heart wants to journey to
Where sky and earth meet

Let's travel there together
You and I
Battle wind, fight dreadful rain
And lightening bolts in the sky

Promise you, it's worth it
A place to rest, relax, retreat
Love and endless warmth await
Where sky and earth meet

Hold my hand
It's all been planned
Every detail, just for you
In this promised land
Of sun, sea, sand
Any wish here can come true

Let's stay a while
It's charms beguile
All your passions re-inflame
It's all worthwhile
When you wear that smile
And remember your own name

Here nothing ever fades
All your thoughts are crystal clear
Recall those you're closest to
And watch them all pulled near

Choose your favourite memory
One you've long yearned to repeat
Then spend forever in that time
Where sky and earth meet

What lies beneath

Suit up
Final buddy check
Take your tiny timid steps
Across the soaking deck

One last look
Hold tight and grit your teeth
Take the step and discover
What lies beneath

Senses bombarded
Each and every one
Bobbing at the surface
The adventure's just begun

Drop below the waterline
Listen to the sound
Of your heavy breathing
Echoing all around

The cold lasts a second
Till you're distracted by the sight
Of fishes swimming at your side
Surface distorting the sunlight

Drop your head
And fin towards the deep
Feel the pressure wrap you tight
Over the precipice I want to peep

Noises carry to you
But are distorted all the same
Refraction plays tricks with distance
Laws of physics I can't explain

Want to stay here a while
As soak up every detail
But the water's getting murky
When I kick up silt and shale

And when I check my gauges
I see I'm low on air
Time to head for the surface
But I'll be back, on that I swear

Dive day

Alarm clock shakes me noisily
At something past four
Food to make, stuff to pack
Before bolting out the door

Darkness still reigns here
The sun is yet to shine
Cup of tea and shake my head
Clears remnants of Friday's wine

Butterflies swirl around inside
The adventure's not far away
M6, then M69
Stoney Cove for me today

Park up, join the queue
Hear laughter up ahead
Is it fake, bravado
Covering up their nerves instead

I am nervous, I'll admit
This is a new world for me
Plummeting in to the deep
Wonder what I'll see

There's all sorts, apparently
In this big hole in the ground
Hope I get to take a look
And have a swim around

Want to gaze in to the depths
Held down by tank and weights
Float, and watch my bubbles rise
The underwater world awaits

Tunes

I've stopped listening to music
I wonder why
When tunes were for as long as I can remember
The apple of my eye

Loud songs, mellow melodies
I truly like each one
Yet now they've fallen by the way side
From my memory they've gone

I blame a short commute
Five minutes my route
Listening to 'Today'
With no trips planned
Can understand
My music-less dismay

I'm taking stock
Of broken iPod dock
My assistant when I cook
Bin it today
Without delay
Or a second look

But how can I relieve my malady
This tuneless world of mine
For it used to accompany me in all I do
Decorate, relax, drink wine

And, somehow, I don't see an end
To this cycle that I'm in
May be, music's lost it's hold on me
Time to throw it in the bin

Dear Diary: Friday Friday

Dear Diary
I must be brief
My day starts in eleven
A few hours of work and grind
Then it's weekend heaven

Well, Diary
I say heaven
But it's a busy one
Flat-pack building all day long
Before I know it, it will be gone

So Diary
Hope you have fun
And some smiles along the way
See you bright and breezy
On Monday Monday Monday

Dear Diary: Thursday Thursday

Dear Diary
My apologies
I neglected you yesterday
Have been far too rushed
To gather my thoughts, ok?

Dearest Friend
All the recent days
Just melt quickly in to one
No sooner do I look
Than the whole week's come and gone

Time for work
Little time to play
Eat then sleep, then sleep then eat
Is on continual replay
Get up, rush round
Don't stop to see
The beautiful things
I'm just grumpy

And, my Silent Friend
The weekend
Will be much more of the same
It's a laugh, isn't it
This decorating game

So apologies again
My Diary
If I'm short or a little terse
May be Friday will bring forth
A happier, jollier verse

Dear Diary: Tuesday Tuesday

Dear Diary
Sorry if I woke you
It wasn't my intent
I'm just very restless here
Forgive me, no harm meant

You see, Diary
I'm not one for sleep
Always been that way
Once awake, it's up I get
And start a brand new day

But it's quite difficult
My friend
When you're waking around four
Trying not to disturb the others
With clicking lock or creaking floor

So dear Diary
I most often lie
Quite restless in my bed
Phone in hand, verses planned
Thoughts running through my head

And sadly, Dear Diary
Insomniac Club's customers
Have worn quite thin
They've seen the errors of their ways
And managed to sleep in

I'll try, Tired Diary
Not to be jealous
They manage the night through
I'm up in forty minutes anyway
Got more varnishing to do

Some would say
My Learned Friend
I wake from anxiety
In truth, I think it's just habit
That I can't break easily

Well, I'd better
Dear Diary
Leave you to your sweet repose
I'll have a coffee waiting
For you, at six, on the nose

Dreams

I dreamt last night that I was killed
Shot, some way to die
I saw it all, watched it all
From the safety of my mind's eye

I was caught up in something
A robbery or crime
The culprits went and captured me
The rest played out in mime

I watched as they shot her
The lady by my side
Her body fell, a crumpled heap
With not an ounce of pride

Then they turned upon me
Unsure of what was next
One of the assailants was quite calm
The other truly vexed

They grabbed me tight
Gun to my ear
Trigger pulled quick
No time for tear
I felt it all
Or so I thought
In the dream
My brain had wrought

Vibrations filled my body
Electricity ran to my toes
Body wrenched with spasms
Mind free of all woes

A thorough and total numbness
Quickly then ensued
Then blackness approached quickly
Matching my dark mood

My eyes opened at that point
Body shaking, 2:53
It seemed all so very close
To some strange reality

Wonder what will come tonight
When I'm tucked up in my bed
Hope it's something gentler
Than a bullet in the head

Dear Diary: Monday Monday

Dear Diary
I'm lost for words
Here we are again
Dull and grey
Come what may
Travelling on the train

Say Diary
Have you ever felt like
You are all alone
Surrounded but
Isolated
As you tap in to your phone

And Diary
Ever felt like
You are waiting, waiting
And everything you do
In life
Is simply annotating

Write a verse
Don't make it terse
Simply, there's no need
Type your tweet
And life's complete
I'm sure we're all agreed

Tumblr or blog
Faces agog
What's the point at all
Write yourself down
Remove the frown
Prepare for the long haul

So, Dearest Diary
I'm done now
My words are spent
I bid goodbye
I'm off to try
Myself to reinvent

A day of white

People gather
Chitter chatter
Donned in Sunday best
Pint in hand
Seating planned
All at their bequest

Take your seat
All hearts beat
Bridegroom takes his place
The lady of the day
Makes her way
Watched by every face

Vows and tears
Smiles and cheers
Tissues kept close by
Laughs and more
Speeches no chore
Barely one dry eye

Day shared with friends
Signed with pens
Evening danced away
One day of white
And future bright
A lovely wedding day

Dear Diary: Friday

Dear Diary
What can I say?
It's the end of the week
Finally Friday
The weekend's ahead
No time for bed
Get get, get up
Lazy head

My Diary
It's a busy old time
Thinks to paint and see
It's such a crime
Want to be in the sun
Have some fun
Get up, get up
There's jobs to be done

My Objective Friend
I hold you dear
Want you to stay close
Keep my head clear
Because I belong
In the words to your song
Help me get up
Don't let me scrape along

Dear Diary: Thursday

Dear Diary
This will be brief, a sonnet of fourteen lines
First eight, then six, to be complete
Before the sun rises and shines
And what then will be contained
In this not-so epic ode?
Truth is, I am at a loss
For myself, I can't decode

So, my Silent Partner
Want to switch places for a while?
In each others shoes
We could walk an hour, or mile
Then I'll be you, and you'll be me
And I'll be rid of Mister Three

Dear Diary: Wednesday

Dear Diary
It's drizzly
And grey
There's no sun or smiles
To warm the day

Dear Quiet One
I'll be
Quiet too
Another full day
To drag myself through

Twists and turns
Aches and yearns
Coffee's not gonna be enough
Stress and pains
And painting strains
Is making me quite gruff

So my friendly Objective Ear
What lies
Ahead for thee?
Hope it's grand, and all you planned
And I'll be filled with jealousy

Dear Diary: Tuesday

Dear Diary
I'm feeling quiet
Not got much to say
But I guess you know that feeling
Each and every day

Dear Silent You
Don't you get bored
Always being mute?
Want to tell me all about it?
Release the pain that's so acute?

I'm a good listener
Or so I'm often told
Come on, come in to the warmth
Get out of the cold
I'll take in every word you say
Consume each note and pause
Spill it out, spit it out
You're not a long lost cause

Dear Quiet Friend
This day's for you
Release that pent-up energy
For every word you say, on this grey day
Saves me talking about me

Dear Diary: Monday

Dear Diary
Monday's come
Around again
It's gonna test me to the limit
Please help keep me sane

Dear Friendly Ear
I rely on you
A lot
Sometimes chatting endlessly
Seems everything I've got

Do you ever tire
Of listening to my rant?
Does the babble I spill out
Make your bored or hesitant?

Do you ever long, my friend
To scream or yell at me?
Or are you too kind-hearted
And relent easily?

Sorry for all the questions
My silent
Travelling aide
But often from the negative
You easily dissuade

Until, dear Dear Diary
The very worst
Has come and quickly gone
Thanks for staying with me
Thanks for holding on

Belt and braces

Purple coats
Pointy shoes
All manner of shirts
Patterns confuse

Bags over shoulders
Papers in hand
Voices chatter
About evening's planned

Take a seat
If one's to be found
Stop and simply
Glance around

I watch the people on the train
Their dress, demeanour, never the same
Guys on phones, just like me
Ladies read the paper, elegantly
Watches, rings, catch my eye
Passengers bump me as they walk by
I wonder who, what, where and how
But I'll just stop and watch for now

Flowery umbrella
A pretty thing
Unshaven man
Shades of Mr Gosling

Suit and trainers
Seems so odd
Does he really have
That far to plod

Smiling redhead
Hair pulled back
So many people
Clothed in black

I watch the people on the train
As they stare outwards at the rain
Lady sighs so heavily
Sparkling pendant, so pretty
Eyes of blue bore right back
Catching me, I lose my tack
It's the little things that intrigue me so
We've arrived in town, time to go

I watch the people, all the while
It's something to do, it makes me smile

Wistful

I'll tell you a yarn
Of a summer's day
Where the sun shone bright
And we had time to play

Climb high mountains
Paddle through streams
Did all those things
We promised in our dreams

Jumped out of
A perfectly good plane
Landed with a bump
Then did it all again

Took a bungee jump
Off a bridge so high
It felt for a lifetime
That I could fly

Sat by the fire
Shared stories and more
You never once told me
That I was a bore

Raced in fast cars
Through winding hills
Wind in our hair
Loving the thrills

Visiting places
We'd longed to go
Carefree as the rain
Or a flake of snow

But those are just stories
Something in my head
May be pictures I've seen
Or stories I've read
Not a drop of truth
Just a heap of desire
Which life has seen fit
To disrupt and conspire

To consign it all
Forever and a day
To wants and wishes
And lacklustre dismay
May be it's time
I realised the truth
That wants and wishes
Belong in my youth

Dawn sketch

Grab with both hands
The blanket of night
Trick the sun
In to withholding it's light

Give the birds a banquet
So they won't sing
About the break of day
Or anything

Turn all alarms
To a twenty-four hour snooze
The warmth of my bed
I'm not ready to lose

Let me find sleep
Not writing words here
Bring comfort and safety
As if you were near

Breathe

Heart starts to race
As the cross-trainer pounds
Legs endlessly
Circling around

Sweat pours from pores
As the effort grows
Every sinew burns
From head to toes

Straining hard
Lungs on fire
Climbing the hill
I quickly tire

I gasp, I wince, grit my teeth and seethe
Can't find the breath to breathe, breathe

Smoggy air
As the traffic waits
Fumes rise up
As the light dictates

Who can race off
With foot hard down
As the rush hour builds
Across the town

The misty haze
They leave behind
Covers everything
And clouds the mind

I cough, I choke, try as I need
Can't find the breath to breathe, breathe

It closes in
Surrounding me
An air of distrust
Perpetually

Looks and glances
Silently question
Motives and purpose
Every intention

Straining hard
To reign myself in
Find some space
Amongst the din

I'm lost in the tangled web I weave
Can't find the breath to breathe, breathe

Familiar

Fabio Capello
Was on my train today
Writing, pondering
At least it seemed that way
Taking note
Of those around
A defiant stare
He held his ground

Wonder how many people ask
'Is it really you?'
'Or are you a stunt double'
How oft' they misconstrue

Because he looks familiar
At least from the outside
They expect him to be similar
On the inside
I'd be insulted
If it were truly me
Being judged at face value
So readily

Mister Hugo Weaving
Stood in the train doorway
Matrix-type shades fixed in place
'Mr Anderson' he'd say
Staring at those
Who caught his view
Playing the part
As you do

'Man, you're just so alike'
He wants them to exclaim
'You and horrid Agent Smith'
'Really are the same'

Because he looks familiar
At least from the outside
They expect him to be similar
On the inside
I'd be insulted
If it was me
Being judged at face value
So readily

I'd be disappointed
If their outlook was so thin
That they could only view me
From the appearance of my skin








Tuesday 24 July - on the train were Fabio and Hugo look-a-likes who were the inspiration for this verse

Shine

Wake up before five
Light streaming through
Windows that need cleaning
But that's between me and you

Lift myself up and out
Duty calls aloud
Saddle up, don the shades
And head in to the crowd

Sunbeams blaze
A misty haze
Makes it hard to see the way
Flickering through trees
And whispering leaves
A gorgeous start to the day

Head to the station
Gather with the throng
Hear complaints about the weather
Now that's so very wrong

Why can't you simply stand there
And bask in all it's glow
Enjoy the moment while it lasts
You know?

No train delay
Shadows play
Distorting every view
Lift your eyes
Up to the skies
Of glorious, glorious blue

Make hay, they say
While the weather's fine
So like the sun
It's time to shine

Silver

A sliver of grey
Delivers me on
Through tunnels and cuttings
Till most travellers are gone

Papers are strewn
Across now empty chairs
Smoky reflections on windows
Cast ghostly stares

Dark looming clouds
Fill up the skies
Their leaden umbrella
Stretches so wide

I long for a silver
That sparkles bright
That lifts up the spirits
Not hampers delight

Not ashen or granite
Nor somber or stone
What around me now
Can atone

The shiny heart necklace
Of the lady near me
The platinum rings
Of those in my company

Earrings that shake
As the train flies by
The glittering powder
That shadows her eye

Whispery highlights
All pearly and light
Carry me to
Where I must alight

Destination reached
Empty carriage I depart
My colours all sorted
My day set to start

Longing for the sun

No matter the day
All remains grey
Gloom covers everyone
From morning's first light
To commencement of night
We're longing for the sun

Work through the grind
The duties that bind
Shame there's an absence of fun
Until we escape at the end
Hoping to greet our friend
But we're longing for the sun

To walk on the beach
Have the waves lap your toes
Put factor thirty
On your blistering nose
Go out in just shirt sleeves
Or the tiniest dress
And never end up
A goose pimpled mess
To bask in the heat
As it pours down on you
To look up to see sky
Of glorious blue
Watch flowers bloom
Not pelted by rain
Please, please, can you
Wipe away all this pain

As August looms near
Can't help shed a tear
Summer's course is almost run
And is there anything worse
Than writing a verse
Longing for the sun

Costa Composition

Kicking back
Espresso in hand
Taking time out
A moment unplanned

Feeling slightly grown up
Spreading my wings
Reading papers, relaxing
All those adult things

Amazingly easy to forget who you are
When you ferry kids endlessly by car
Strangely simply to stop being you
When every minute there's a chore to do
Complacent, complicit, in my demise
Lost who I am when I wear this disguise
Doubting, daunted, by what lies ahead
May be I should just be in the now instead

My cup's drained
Only tide marks remain
Was lovely to feel
Vaguely human again

All it needed
Was the news and coffee
Then I stop being 'Dad'
And start being Three

Unplanned outage

It just stops dead
Nothing at all
Quiet descends
Life slows to a crawl

Communication
Ceases immediately
Friends are cut off
Seemingly

No way to make contact
Can't wave or say hello
To those in your virtual world
The ones you think you know

Imagine if this lasted
Beyond a single day
How ever would we manage
We could never say

Those little tweets
About haribo sweets
That we've got the blues
Oh, I've bought new shoes
Had to journey alone
No friends in your phone
That you're happy or sad
And you'll be eternally glad

When the signal's repaired
And connected is made
All the gripes and the moans
Can now be displayed

Think of a world without me and you
Is that how it feels when there's no O2?

Day two dawns
And nothing has changed
Wi-fi's the saviour
If it can be arranged

There's anger, frustration
The shedding of tears
Time to use a phone box
You've ignored all these years

Still no way to make contact
Except face to face
But you know that's not possible
Isn't it a disgrace?

No FB pokes
Or twitter jokes
From Delaney or Cheggers
About who's now preggers
No sharing of news
Or those damn shoes
It's like everything's at an end
Without messages to send

Think of a world without me and you
Is that how it feels when there's no O2?

Request

I have a small favour
Of which I'd like to ask
It's something only minor
Not a major task

It's starting to unravel
Right before my eyes
What was fine has turned the corner
The results would be unwise

Detriment, embarrassment
Explanations to be made
Don't want it to drag on
Or to find myself mislaid

To my chagrin, a rueful grin
Won't cancel it all out
But before I lose you in detail
Let me tell you what it's about

I need a tiny helping hand
A nudge in the right place
To ensure the success of the day
And to help me save my face

Before you give me your consent
And we firm up our accord
Know there's nothing in return
No prize, and no reward

And now we are all agreed
Your task can be revealed
Please, as the train rumbles on
Wake me up at Sutton Coldfield

People on the platform

The commuters slowly gather
For the delayed eight twenty-seven
The chill of the morning
Wakes those still in slumbering heaven

All manner of colours adorn
North-bound Platform one
It compensates slightly
For the absence of the sun

Zebra print shoes
Matches zebra print top
A variety of heels
Go 'clippety - clop'
A traveller calls out loud
In a guttural way
All heads raise in surprise
That's not the commuter's way

Bags are hoisted on shoulders
As the carriages approach
On each other's personal space
We ignorantly encroach

People on the platform
Barely notice passers by
Except for short skirts or cleavage
That catches their eye
People on the platform
Why are you so blind?
There's a million tiny details
To notice, to find

On the train it's no different
Everyone sits in solitude
Not even acknowledging my 'bless you'
Really, how very rude

Totally blind to everyone else
Lost in their smart phone world
Just as is the writer here
As this poem unfurls

An impatient lady
Continually taps
The sneezing continues
As newspaper flaps
Father and son by me
Exchange words and looks
As we stop at a station
Heads are raised from books

People on the platform
Make their way up and out
Headed towards whatever
Their day is about
People on the platform
See you when it's home time
And then may be you too
Will appear in my rhyme

Back to reality

Numbers flash up on the noticeboard
Train is bang on time
Being whisked away to a different world
With a friendly chime

Passengers embark for another day
Of grime and sweat and toil
Computer screens and ringing phones
While kettles and tempers boil

And yet for so very long
This world has not called to me
Free to do all manner of things
No daily grind for Three

School runs and praise assemblies
Made up my routine
Add hoovers and tidying to the mix
Making sure it's all clean

But now those chores have ended
Or rather banished till weekends
There's other tasks set before me
With which to make amends

And three six five it totalled
To the very date
Snap, add one year on
But in my head it doesn't equate

Where did all the time go
It just vanished in to thin air
No burden on my shoulders
Seemingly free of stress and care

But now it's back to reality
Nine to five straight through
Hold tight, let's go together
And may be I'll feel brand new

Reflections

The car races along
The weather stays fine
No driving duties for me now
My thoughts are all mine

I watch the clouds
As they stream by too
Dark grey shapes
With glimpses of blue

Reminds me of me
And the moods that flow
From highest high
To deepest low

It's like looking in
And I'm on the outside
Feelings unprotected
Eyes open wide

And I look in the mirror
Unsure of what I'll see
Friend or foe
Companion or enemy

And though my reflection
Is not always happy
Guess it's what makes
Up this man called Three

Slope

Mind if I slope away? Don't feel in the mood today
Can't seem to find my way. Or any words I want to say
Care if I disappear? Won't go too far but won't be too near
Please don't come and bend my ear. Give me time for my head to clear

I don't mind if you tag along. Sing the words to your favourite song
It doesn't matter if you get them wrong. Just find a place where you belong
Let's play pooh stick on the stream. Pretend it's our favourite dream
Then everything around will seem. Like we're the cat that got the cream

Now I've sloped I want to return.  Retrace my steps, about-face turn
Don't want any more time to burn. And inside I pray and yearn
That myself I won't confine. And each time I'll recognise the sign
When I'm crossing my own fault line. And never to let it myself define

Heat

Blazing in all it's glory
Clouds dissolved
Brightness surrounds
Problems seem resolved

Drinks gulped in earnest
Clothing eschewed
Sunglasses donned
Tan lines renewed

After all the rain
Dare you complain it's too hot?
Get out there and soak it up
With all that you've got
Feel the energy
Return to your soul
Like the rays fill every inch of you
Complete you, make you whole

Skin tingles
Almost as if it's cold
Like the seasons melt in to one
But we're not getting old

Light stays
Evenings stretch further out
I love the winter
But the sun makes me happily shout

After the cold and rain
The heat melts my heart
Don't want the warmth and light
Ever to depart
I feel the energy
Widening my smile
Think I might stop here
For the longest while

Muffled

Grey overhead
Clouds blanket the sky
No rays shining through
To brighten my way

Lacklustre in my head
And body follows suit
No energetic movements
And sounds are mostly mute

Waiting
For the sun and summer
To come bursting through
Wanting
The warmth and heat
To make me feel brand new

No cycle ride
Can't lift myself enough
To battle the tow paths
Through mud and rough

Rugby season's
Long-since complete
Now there's only me
With whom I have to compete

Maybe
I should be like the blossom
Ready to bloom
Regardless
Of strong wind or rain
And torrential monsoon

May be
I need to stop waiting
Stop hanging about
Perhaps
Give my body motion
And let my voice shout

Outside

Take a walk in the wind

The rain and hail

No need to take shelter

Don't scream or wail

Step by step

Breathe in every sight

You'll miss it all

Come the dark of night

It's bracing out there

Without a doubt

Only a fool 

Would be out and about

But stop, look up

The clouds are streaming

Silence reigns

Can't you hear them screaming

Halt, stand still

Watch them fly

So beautiful

How they stream across the sky

In any second

They might pour out their woes

Hit you quickly 

And then it goes

But what ever you see

Before your eyes

Isn't it better 

To just be outside

Elmhurst expects

Clean cut lines
Of the buildings new
The air inside carries
An excited hue

Limbs are stretched
In preparation for
Hearing the directions
Or musical score

Expectations rise
As group 3 runs out
It's almost their turn now
This is what it's all about

I don't know who's more nervous
The dancers or me
One amongst other parents
Chatting supportively
I don't know who's more worried
About what lies ahead
Could dreams be shattered
Or brought to life instead

A burst of noise and chatter
Breaks in to the room
Eyes check quickly
For smiles or for gloom

Calls of 'how was it?'
'How did you do?'
Fill the room with energy
Now the tension is through

She chats in her usual
Excited way
Wanting to relay every detail
So we share her day

I don't know who's more relieved
Now the audition is done
Costumes ditched for play clothes
Time to enjoy the sun
I don't know who'll be more tense
When the envelope arrives
To hopefully bring good news
Or she'll not be the only one that cries

Roundabout

Back and forth the swings steadily fly
Hear the laughter as the children cry
Leap off the seat at the highest point
Giving stress to the heart and ankle joint

Push yourself harder when you climb back on
Ride ever higher, graceful as a swan
To and fro, never going anywhere
Do you mind though, do you care

I never liked just forward and back
Up and down the same old track
Whilst I'd occasionally ride on the odd swing
They were never truly my thing

Spinning faster and faster, world just a blur
Screams melting in to one long loud slur
As it slows down, the laughter bursts out
Relieved you survived, which was always in doubt

Look up at the skies to push yourself more
And the clouds twist even faster than before
Whirling and twirling, never going anywhere
Do you mind though, do you care

I've always loved going round and round
Feet dangling over, skimming the ground
I can't wait to ride every roundabout
Just listen as I spin, I scream, and I shout

Sins of the past

Things best unremembered
Or held fast to today
Do you have a choice
Anyway

Putting things right
That once went wrong
Does that sound like
A familiar song

Does the chance lie
In your hands now
Or are you sinking
Fast at the bow

Breathe it in
Every crime or sin
Don't take it to heart
You did play your part
Never guilt free
Don't you, don't you see

The noose is tight
It will always be
One slip
Is all it takes, honestly

What's gone is gone
And should be forgotten
But is this all
Misbegotten

The sins of the past
Are a long time dead
But yet they still echo
Through my head

Ponder and poem

It's a word or a term
That catches the eye
That kicks off the process
Don't ask my why

Something about
The expression or phrase
That resonates inside
For any number of days

When it's been mulled
Over for long enough
It's paraded out here
Occasionally neat, often rough

And that's the 'problem'
With distilling the thoughts
Sometimes it's all clear
Other times like cloudy quartz

As my mind ponders
The things to say
Sometimes the meaning gets diluted
Or things get in the way

Impacting or reflecting
As the thoughts grow
Never guaranteed where
The train of thought will flow

But I quite like that
Surprises me reading it back
When it's not what I was expecting
More grey than white or black

Verse free

I've sat now for so long
This sunny spring night
To document a word or two
That'll make me feel all right

Draft after draft I've saved
None punished to the web
Can't get the meaning right
Too much flow not enough ebb

Sky is blue
And that makes two
Sun fading slowly out
Raindrops linger
No hope they bring here
All that's left is doubt

Ducks come for feeding
Hope they get their fill
Tapping on the window
With brightly coloured bill

Are they the only hungry ones
Needing something more
To make their day a small success
Rather than a chore

Sky is dark
Time to park
Emptiness inside
It's all gone
Time to call on
What's left of my pride

Confession

I have an admission
That I need to make
I've kept me to myself
And that was a mistake
Wrapped up tight
There's no chance to explain
The silence within
And that is a drain

On my resources and energy
Everything I do
Keeping all doors closed
Instead of letting through
The ones that are closest
That hold the key
To all that there is
And all that there'll be

So this is my admission
And apology too
If I'm ever quiet
It's me, not you

I have a confession
And I'm glad I can say
That talking, talking
Is the only way
Hold nothing back
Let it all fly free
You'll be understanding
So easily

And that gives me energy
That springs from inside
Helps me ensure
The doors are flung wide
Put down that key
It's not required, I'm sure
This lock won't be shut tight
To you, anymore

So this is my confession
And a promise too
If I'm ever quiet
I'll turn to you

Slow burn

Fools rush in
As the saying goes
Leading to worries
Troubles and woes
Fools race in
And never learn
Don't they know
It's better a slow burn

Don't get to know them
Take what you see
Simply at face value
So easily
Don't get to understand them
Each opportunity you spurn
Don't you know
It's better a slow burn

Take your time
Write a rhyme
Let it happen casually
Don't force the pace
It's not a race
It'll come gradually
This can't be planned
Something so grand
And more importantly
If it comes through
You'll know it's true
And it was meant to be

Stop, look, and listen
Breathe in every scent
Make sure not a moment
Is wasted or misspent
For getting under the skin
Really makes the heart yearn
Then you'll know
It's better a slow burn

Front

Does it look all pretty
Have I done it well
Repaired the facade
So that no one could tell

What it looked like before
How it fell in to disrepair
Unkept and unwanted
No one showed it love or care

Are there any cracks still showing
Do the doors look grand
Strong and resistant
To the abuse that is planned

I think so, and I hope you do too
They've turned a corner, all brand new

Does he look better
All fit and well
Repaired the facade
So that none could ever tell

What had happened before
How it almost came to an end
Save for the actions
Of a devoted friend

Are there cracks showing
Yes, I'm afraid that there are
Can't be filled with love or mortar
New house or a new car

Can't be repaired easily
And the damage won't fully go away
Looks like some remnants
Are forever here to stay

I think so, though I'd hoped it wasn't true
Wish you'd turn a corner and be back to you

Places please

Where do you go
When assistance calls
Front of house
Or the orchestra stalls

What do you do
When you've spotted a niche
Shout from the rooftops
Or slip quietly underneath

The slings and arrows
Run and hide from the gallows
Avoid the mirror looking back
Know you're a sheep so black

Put them in their place
Is what I recommend
Bring all the tears and
Anguish to an end
Put them in their place
Make them all see
That what it was
Was simply not meant to be

Phone's ringing loudly
Can I just ignore
It's shrill tone of calling
For evermore

Want a little space
Where I alone can reside
Call it my sanctuary
Or the place that I hide

From the slings and arrows
I don't fear the gallows
And in the mirror looking back
I see that sheep so black

Put me in my place
Is what I recommend
Bring all the longing and yearning
To an end
Put me in my place
One day I'll see
That what it is
Is just not meant to be

Round

I like the theatre
Especially in the round
It shows everything, you see
It never fails to astound

There's no fancy sets
Or sparkles to distract
You closely watch every move
Each sound and every act

It feels more....honest
Everyone's laid bare
It's almost as if you're held
In a glaring, intense stare

You see the front and back
All sides on display
I like the theatre in the round
Come what may

I like people
Especially in the round
So you can see simply everything
They never fail to astound

You see the good and bad
A person as a whole
Nothing hidden from your view
As you gaze in to the soul

It feels more .....honest
You can say 'I know you'
When a book is opened wide
And each page you flick through

And it makes things closer
When walls don't keep you at bay
I love people in the round
Come what may

Singing

The song plays on the radio
As you drive along
Happy, bouncing melody
Nothing could be wrong
No traffic lights, or lack of flow
Can halt your mood, it's green for go
The words or meaning pass you by
It's the tune that makes you fly
In your step there's a definite spring
As you let the music sing

The ditty plays in the supermarket
As you stroll around
You're not yourself at all today
Echoes of strange thoughts abound
Just like the queue, you're moving slow
Absorbed in yourself, a private show
But the tune resonates inside
A connection in which you confide
In your mood there's a small upswing
As you let the music sing

The iPod picks a random track
Doesn't matter where you are
The words stop you cold, stone dead
As the solo's belted out by guitar
It's like it was written just for you
A very personal point of view
Memories brought up from below
Of something, or somebody that you used to know
Each word and line is jarring, stinging
Brings an end to all the singing

Deep

It's two fifty-three
And I'm writing this verse
In slumber it seems
I can't fully immerse
It's the same every night
But in truth getting worse
And in all honesty
It's making me terse
Sandman
Please bring me sleep
My rest is so shallow
Not deep

When morning brings light
And the sun rises again
The battle will commence
On the same old campaign
Though my interest
I'm trying to maintain
And in all honesty
I know I shouldn't complain
Everything
Just falls in to a heap
Time seems so shallow
Not deep

I hear the clock ticking
And I'm approaching that age
Where one often takes stock
Tests their years on some gauge
Do you measure it all
By your wealth or your wage
Or where the spotlight finds you
When you stand on the stage
Achievements
Barely make an audible peep
My vocation seems so shallow
Not deep

It's three fifty-two now
Time to stop banging my drum
I'll be tired tomorrow
Guess I should try to sleep some
Sorry if tonight
I've sounded rather glum
May be I can dream of
What I could still become
Ha!
What you sow you reap
May be it's me that is shallow
Not deep

Shiver

Falling softly from the sky
Each flake is unique
It makes adults groan with despair
And children scream and shriek

What is this magic substance
That changes our whole world
In one fell swoop a pretty blanket
Has been gloriously unfurled

Don our wellies and snowballs make
Or stay in front of fire and bake
Gather up your carrot and coal
Complete your snowman, make him whole

I love, love, love the snow
Don't know if I've ever told you so

Can we get to the Lickey Hills
It's the perfect place to sledge
A chance to test our mettle
As we push over the edge

Racing down, fast we go
Screaming out so loud
Watch others laughing as they go
As one, a joyous crowd

Leave a snow angel where you lie
Giggle endlessly as you look up at the sky
It's more precious than diamonds or gold
I rarely notice that it's cold

I love, love, love the snow
Don't know if I've ever told you so

Spring is due now, any day
Our last chance of snow has gone away
But I hope next winter the clouds deliver
When I watch it fall, in delight I shiver

Subterfuge

Without drive
Without purpose
Everything is
Superfluous
Without drive
Without purpose
What's the point
In being pointless

To disguise the fact
You'll have to use
Well placed lies
Subterfuge
To cover up
The cracks inside
Or there'll be
No place left to hide

Without drive
Without purpose
All of this
Is just a circus
See the ringmaster
Resplendent in red
Watch his soul
Turn to pure lead

Post

Letterbox clatters
Mail falls to the floor
Footsteps race loudly
To collect it from the door

Faces look so happy
Excitement in their eyes
What could have landed
It's all a great surprise

No matter the occasion
What ever is the day
Everyone is galvanized
It's always been that way

Everyone, except for me
The writer here, Mr Three
Even if I'm the addressee
There's no interest or energy
For now can we all agree
The post is not my cup of tea

Envelopes torn apart
What lies inside
Is it a bill or a statement
Or something else besides

Could it be a party invite
A piece of genealogy
A little fact or snippet
To help build the family tree

Have we won a competition
Go on, what is our prize
There's no containing them now
Listen to their cries

Everyone, except for me
But then you know that already
This is the way I'll always be
I tell you all now, honestly
And before you all I do decree
The post is not my cup of tea

Hard

Five steps back
One more to the right
Everything's lined up
Ready for flight

Focus, concentrate
Eyes on the ball
Take a deep breath
Stand tall, stand tall

But it misses again
And not just by a yard
Why is it suddenly
So hard, so hard?

Reset everything
Just like before
Come on man, think
And try it once more

But it misses again
And it puts me on my guard
Why am I making this
So hard, so hard?

I've done it a million times
I can do it eyes closed
But all of a sudden
I'm completely uncomposed

And it misses again
But I've played every card
Why am I making this
So hard, so hard

It's not the technique
I've got that down pat
It's upstairs that's the problem
Don't know how to handle that

Let's go back to basics
All the fancy stuff discard
And may be then this won't be
So hard, so hard

A couple fly through
My shoulders sigh in relief
There's a glimmer of light
And a drop of self belief

But I won't get too cocky
For it's only a shard
Time to stop making this
So hard, so hard

Soft

Some things are hard
Diamonds or stone
Their toughness, robustness
Is very well known
It takes something special
To break them in two
And render them useless
They're not easy to get through
But still it can happen
You can burst through their wall
Then even the hardest
Will eventually fall

Some things are soft
And pliable too
Warm smiles or fair skin
Or a friendship that's new
It's ever so easy
To just tear them to shreds
With a harsh word or bad look
Ending with tears in their beds
But still it can happen
And with little remorse
And sometimes the softest will
Then turn somewhat coarse

Some things are neither
Or both soft and hard
A heart that beats for new love
Or one that's lonely or scarred
It's ever so difficult
To get some to open up
Or heal ones that are hurt
Even when you're close-up
But still it can happen
Just needs someone to care
Keep on trying, it'll happen
I promise, I swear

Dadosaurus

Who's that beast
With the terrible growl?
Don't make it cross
It'll give you a scowl
Please, please, shush
It's got a horrible mush
It's the Grumposaurus

Quietly, quietly
Am sure it's here
That dreadful thing
That makes us disappear
Up to bed
Making our tears shed
It's the Moanosaurus

It's tummy is round
It's burps a truly horrible sound
With a hairy body
And DIY that's shoddy
It burns the dinner
Making us much thinner
It's blind as a bat without it's specs
And growls more than a big T-Rex

Where's the beast
When we want to play?
Probably necking
Some cabernet
It screams at the telly
Just look at it's belly
It's the Shoutosaurus

It loves it's girls
With their straight hair and curls
Even when they make a mess
And cause much stress
It wouldn't change a thing
They're it's everything
From the first light of day
Till the sun drifts away

Who's that beast
So soft deep inside
Telling everyone
They're it's joy and pride
No shouting tonight
Because they're gorgeous and bright
It's the Dadosaurus

Applause

Stop to listen
Hold the thought
Imagination's
Captured, caught

Wait for a response
Eye meets eye
Connected again
You can't deny

The role was played
Beautifully
Beyond compare
Exemplary
Lines delivered
Without a pause
So stand and wait
For your applause

But nothing's heard as you bow
Tell me, what will you do now?

Curtain rises
On another show
Time to act
It's all you know

Does the crowd smile
When you play this part
Do you feel them tug at
Your intellect or heart?

The role was played
Dreadfully
Beyond contempt
I pity thee
Lines delivered
Without a pause
So stand and wait
For boos from the stalls

They won't listen as you bow
Tell me, what will you do now?

The sound of Sunday

Pitter patter rain drops
Coffee cups clink
Tired eyes open slowly
And give a little blink
It's the sound of Sunday

Tv plays far too loud
As they're tucked up in their bed
Tweets ping quite a few times
Some things must be said
It's the sound of Sunday

Key turns, engine thrums
Empty seats are filled by bums
Dash, splash, the morning's cool
Off to dancing, acting, singing school

Trolleys rattle endlessly
The supermarket's full
People jostle in the queue
There cries are oh so dull
It's the sound of Sunday

Cooker beeps, the roast is ready
Pour the gravy, keep it steady
Peas, please, pile it on
They'll loudly munch till it's all gone

Then Monday morning
Rings a loud bell
It's everyone's
Idea of hell
It's the sound of Sunday

And finally we head upstairs
To toss and turn and snore
The weekend's passed so quietly
When we'd hoped for something more
It's the sound of Sunday

Morning after

Daylight calls
With stomps on floor
Bangs and rattles
Just like before

Do they not know the time?
Or volume control
I just want to stay
Sleeping in my hole

But alas dear reader
It's not meant to be
Look at the clock
It's six thirty

They never wake
This early for school
Is this some unwritten
Torturous rule

Created by
My good friend Sod?
I know him well
He gives a friendly nod

The morning after
The sleepover before
Doesn't bring an end
To task or chore

Hungry tummies
Need filling you see
While Zack and Cody
Play on tv

Best leave here now
There's things to do
Enjoy your lie in
Wish I were you

Practice

It makes perfect
So they say
But who wants perfect
Anyway?

It's the little flaws
That makes us unique
The chinks in the armour
That proves we're weak

That little blemish
On beautiful fair skin
That shows the flaws
That reside deep within

Who wants to become seasoned
Polished or prepared
When there's a myriad of blind spots
That need to be shared

And must be explored
Without malice or intent
Then as friends together
We can better compliment

Our moods and dispositions
Melancholy or glad
Can be better prepared
For happy or sad

So let's practice together
Share all eventually
But who wants perfect?
Not me.

21 Minutes

In twenty ones minutes
The bell will ring
Smiling faces
From school will spring

Jubilant to escape
At the end of the day
Well, that's probably the teachers
Anyway

So can I write a verse
In that short space?
Make some sense
In all that haste?

Especially as
I'm not feeling so chatty
Truth be told
I'm off-colour and ratty

Don't know what's
Led to this strange mood
Probably lack and sleep
And an absence of food

My hunger goes
When I don't feel all tip top
Not sensing I'm Three
And not looking like Drop

Six minutes are gone now
With fifteen to go
Considering I'm so quiet
It's got a good flow

May be I should come here more
When things are 'off'
Not at the top of my game
With some cold or a cough

Yes, I do think so
I shall visit the place
When I'm missing my smile
And seem off the pace

Cause it's easy to talk
When no one replies
My words just fly off
In to the grey skies

It's comforting to know
There's an outlet for me
Where everything's safe
And I can be Three

Fifteen twenty one now
I'm ahead of the game
If only in verses
Pity not everything's the same

Time to lock up
Both my voice and the car
May be tomorrow
I won't be so below par

Stop to listen

What are you thinking?
What crossed your mind?
There was a look in your eyes
I'm struggling to find

An answer to. A response
To unlock what's inside
Nothing to do with
My selfishness or pride

Want to know, understand
What makes you tick
Apologies if you
Consider me thick

But I have a small flaw
In this armour of mine
And it's always reoccurring
Time after time

I don't stop to listen
Just get carried away
Excited, enthused
Call it what you may
I don't stop to listen
As much as I should
Don't often hear bad
And never hear good
So make me stop and listen
Please, I implore
It's the only way
I can be certain, or sure

I didn't understand
That message you sent
Can't read between lines
Or pick your intent

I rarely get the message
Unless you tell me straight
I'm useless at subtle
I need a bull at the gate

I have such a flaw
In this armour, I know
And only one thing
Will channel the flow

I don't stop to listen
Just get carried away
Excited, enthused
Call it what you may
I don't stop to listen
As much as I should
Don't often hear bad
And never hear good
So make me stop and listen
Please, I implore
It's the only way
I can be certain, or sure

Please make me stop and listen
I'll never learn otherwise
Don't want the depth of your feelings
To be a surprise

Aisle

I wander along
Singing my song
Don't get the words right
And sometimes the tune's all wrong

But it belongs to me
Each verse and melody
Mistakes will often be made
And there'll be plenty, you'll see

And here's where you come in
Through thick and thin
Help me make it better
Show me where I should begin

Walk in my aisle
Show me a smile
Spend a little while
Please, take my hand
Play in my aisle
Free from guile
And sooner or later I'll
Start to understand

I'll stop to browse
For as long as time allows
Your patience is appreciated
I'll try to keep my vows

Help me up when I fail
It's a learning curve, a steep scale
And with me common sense
Doesn't always prevail

Walk in my aisle
Just for a while
And I promise that I'll
Try to understand
Play in my aisle
Hope I don't rile
You and spoil that smile
It's not what I planned

Walk in my aisle
Be it wrong or be it right
So that I finally understand
And sleep better at night

Whisper

Don't know what I want to say
But I'll type here, anyway
Not sure what words I need
To cast my line or plant a seed

Everything seems in limbo
Don't know where to turn or where to go
Everything seems in limbo
You know?

I stopped and took a breath or two
But nothing's clearer, it's not shone through
That beam of magic, that shining thought
Can't be begged, borrowed pinched or bought

Everything seems in limbo
Unspoken words never flow
Everything seems in limbo
You know?

So whisper to me
Let's talk, let's see
Where the path takes us
What we'll be
So whisper it all
I'm prepared for the fall
Let it go softly
Set out your stall

Still don't know what to say
Can't bluster or babble, not today
Gonna sit in silence, internally
Find the essence, hopefully

Everything seems in limbo
Time to put it all in stow
But I'll still be here in limbo
You know?

Whisper to me
You know I'll be
Just what you want
Eventually
Whisper without care
Be firm, of fixed stare
Take a moment, deep breath
Give those thoughts air

Whisper to me
Honestly
And all will be fine
You'll see

Clear air

Step outside in to clear air
Feel the wind blow through your hair
Take a second to stop and stare
Internally, forget every care

What do you feel when there's just you?
Is it something you never do?
Clear the clouds to just leave blue
Everyone should feel brand new

So close your eyes, let yourself fly
Dare you dare to ride so high?
To the place where you can't deny
The dreams that sparkle in your eye

It there a voice, a word or sound
That brings you back down to the ground?
That swallows your dreams that fly around
Till all are silently sadly drowned

Can I help to find your wings?
Pull just one or a hundred strings
Fight battles with a thousand kings
Face arrows and their stones from slings

For something now just must be done
So your dreams from thread are weaved and spun
Till all that's left is just the one
You keep in your heart till forever's run

Interval admission

Curtain falls
A break in proceedings
The actors depart
The end of dancing or readings

Audience stay seated
Or stand and take a walk
The room fills with chatter
And excited talk

Mini-reviews
Can be heard all around
'That was exciting'
'That made me frown'

'His dancing was exquisite'
'He flew through the air'
'Was that meant to happen
When he fell from the chair?'

Ice-creams appear
Folk head to the bars
Others drink in the ambience
Left by the stars

The energy created
From the bright stage
Makes it very simple
For us all to engage

With each other and them
Those playing the parts
Tugging at our intellect
And sometimes our hearts

With their softly spoken words
Or footfalls so sweet
Lighting all so subtle
Sets splendidly replete

I love the theatre
Musicals and ballet too
From grandiose production
To back-room revue

I love the theatre
And really should go more
Why don't you come with me
And I'll show you the score

It doesn't matter

It doesn't matter
Is what I'll say
Because 'it doesn't matter'
Is just a phrase anyway
Like 'fine' or 'ok'
Or 'I'll be alright'
Things you think to yourself
In the dead of night
It doesn't matter
Is what I'll say
Because it doesn't matter
Anyway

What wrong with you
Are some words I'll ignore
Pretend I'm distracted
Or being a bore
Locked in my own world
For an hour or three
Want some quiet time
Am just not feeling me
What's wrong with you
Are some words I'll ignore
Because it doesn't matter
That's for sure

Debt of words

There are many

There are a few

Words that I'm torn

On saying to you

So many thoughts

Each day I see

Floating in my head

Endlessly

Round and round

No noise, no sound

Without beginning, and no end

Know that I should have penned

Every drip, every drop

That ran non-stop

Through my heart and my mind

In which you're entwined

Days breaks slowly

Awake I've long been

Many different scenarios

I have seen

Some good, some bad

Flashed before my eyes

Have I won or lost

What was the prize

Round and round

No noise, no sound

Without beginning, and no end

Know that I should have penned

Every drip, every drop

That ran non-stop

Through my heart and my mind

In which you're entwined

Find myself

In no man's land

Don't always

Genuinely understand

Where it's all at

As the day grows

With the beats of my heart

And how my blood flows

Para mi

Sometimes
I write a line
For him or her or you
Then other times
I scribe my rhymes
Because I'm feeling blue

Or strange, or tired
A little wired
Hung out on a ledge
A bit in doubt
With no way out
Save for jumping off the edge

If a verse
Seems a tad terse
Doesn't mean it's about you
If full of love
From on high above
It's not for you-know-who

I like to say
What makes the day
Or catches my mind's eye
What stirs the soul
Or makes me whole
Don't know the reason why

But I understand
It won't read as planned
In a different light
I mean no harm
Can we be calm
Please, let's not fight

For every word
That's read or heard
Is selfish, can't you see
For every dotted i
I can't deny
Is mostly para mi

Call

In the depths of winter

When the snow doth fall

The sun seems lost

And ever so small

One thing alone

Can bring me round

Lift my spirits 

Up off of the ground

When the blossom blooms

And the flowers grow

When Spring brings life

To all we know

One thing keeps me rooted
In the right place
In the madness around me
It's my breathing space

It's the voices of
The ones I trust
Those that are closest
The ones that are just
Always there for me
And I'm in return
Theirs, ready and willing
Waiting at every turn
It's the voices of
That ones that I call
When things aren't quite right
And I've hit the wall
And they're always there for me
So why do I find
Making that first move
Such an uncomfortable bind

When the leaves start to turn
From green to dark brown
And all of nature
Begins to slow down
One thing I find missing
That I need now it's fall
Is a friendly sound
On the end of a call

The voices of
The ones I trust
Those that were closest
But have turned to rust
They were always there for me
As was I in return
Theirs, ready and willing
Waiting at every turn
The voices of
That ones I don't call
Because things aren't quite right
So I just stare at the wall
They were always there for me
So why did I find
Keeping that friendship
Such an uncomfortable bind

Though the phone doesn't ring
And the texts no longer chime
Doesn't mean I don't think of you
All of the time

Waiting

Seconds feel like minutes

Hours seem like days

Time twists the knife blade sharp

In so many ways

Caught in a perpetual loop

Round and round we go

Can't find the switch to jump the rails

Break the current's flow

Sweeping into day from night

From the roundabout there's no respite

Frozen hard, can't defrost

Paying the price

At such a cost

Running on the hamster's wheel

My sentence is

Without appeal

Long and lonely view ahead

Fills my mind

And heart with dread

My cries are soundless, totally mute

And there's just

No escape route

Autumn becomes winter

In a gradual change

But the season's gentle switch

Brings feelings no less strange

The skies may be blue clear 

And the frost may bite

I only see darkness ahead

Though the view is white

Sweeping into day from night

From the merry-go-round there's no respite

Frozen hard, can't defrost

Paying the price

At such a cost

Running on the hamster's wheel

My sentence is

Without appeal

Long and lonely view ahead

Fills my mind

And heart with dread

My cries are soundless, totally mute

And there's just

No escape route

Perchance......

Myriad of moments
Sleep-deprived
Things seem backwards
Dreams can't be revived

Endless situations
Turned on their head
Was it something
That I did or I said

Lost mid-sentence
My train of thought
Precious moments
Can't be begged or bought

Frontal lobe cries out in pain
Another sleepless night again
Take me from this wretched place
Smooth the lines etched on my face
Hold me, calm me, soothe me so
You know the place I need to go
The land of giant slumbering snores
Give my whole self time to pause

Two twenty eight
The clock ticks on
In some strange blur
An hour has gone

Pushing closer
To the dawn
To be filled with coffee
And stifled yawn

The day, the night
No line between
Where sleep and wakefulness
Should have been

Frontal lobe cries out in pain
A sleepless night yet again
Drag me from this wretched place
I surrender whole, there's no disgrace
In wanting the night to be just so
Where silence reigns and words don't flow
Let me have my giant slumbering snores
Give my whole self time to pause

Blanket

Sparkles shimmer everywhere

Covering the ground

Silence rings out loudly

There's barely a single sound

The day seems very slow to start

The coldness grips so tight

The sun climbs weakly in the sky

Finally ending the night

Frost covers all

From plants so low

To trees so tall

Water frozen in many ways

Reflects all

The sun's cool rays

Footfalls noisy as they go

The sounds, the sights

A spectacular show

The splendour of winter's here

Enjoy it

It will soon disappear

Grass and mud turns solid

No matches will be played

While the air remains so cold

Team mates are dismayed

But the views are beautiful

Crisp and clear and blue

There's something special about winter

Gets me through and through

Frost covers all

More beautiful

Than the colours of the fall

Water frozen in many ways

Dazzles all

In a shiny haze

Footfalls noisy as they go

To make this perfect

We just need snow

The splendour of winter's blanket's here

Enjoy it

It will soon disappear