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