WE LIVE IN HOPE!
No-one knows what's around the corner.
"We've lived through a couple of years like we've never known before
There were thousands who
did not survive
My condolences go out to those left behind
May time be the healer and keep us alive
That was 'Covid' (2020). We've moved on to ‘24’
There are vaccines that are giving us hope
Let's be kind to other
people and think less about ourselves
There are many of us here who are struggling just to cope"
So little do we realise that the glory and the power
of He who made the universe lies hidden in a flower"
A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion. 😄
This page needs a freshen-up, so here's a witty Aussie Poem to wake you up a bit!
The sun was hot already - it was only 8 o'clock
The cocky took off in his Ute, to go and check his stock.
He drove around the paddocks checking wethers, ewes and lambs,
The float valves in the water troughs, the windmills on the dams
He stopped and turned a windmill on to fill a water tank
And saw a ewe down in the dam, a few yards from the bank.
"Typical bloody sheep," he thought, "they've got no common sense,
"They won't go through a gateway but they'll jump a bloody fence."
The ewe was stuck down in the mud, he knew without a doubt
She'd stay there 'til she carked it if he didn't get her out.
But when he reached the water's edge, the startled ewe broke free
And in her haste to get away, began a swimming spree.
He reckoned once her fleece was wet, the weight would drag her down
If he didn't rescue her, the stupid sod would drown.
Her style was unimpressive, her survival chances slim
He saw no other option, he would have to take a swim.
He peeled his shirt and singlet off, his trousers, boots and socks
And as he couldn't stand wet clothes, he also shed his jocks.
He jumped into the water and away that cocky swam
He caught up with her somewhere near the middle of the dam.
The ewe was quite evasive, she kept giving him the slip
He tried to grab her sodden fleece but couldn't get a grip.
At last he got her to the bank and stopped to catch his breath
She showed him little gratitude for saving her from death.
She took off like a Bondi tram around the other side
He swore next time he caught that ewe he'd hang her bloody hide.
Then round and round the dam they ran, although he felt quite puffed
He still thought he could run her down, she must be nearly stuffed.
The local 'stock rep' came along, to pay a call that day.
He knew this bloke was on his own, his wife had gone away,
He didn't really think he'd get fresh scones for morning tea
But neither was he ready for what he was soon to see.
He rubbed his eyes in disbelief at what came into view
For running down the catchment came this frantic-looking ewe.
And on her heels in hot pursuit and wearing not a stitch
The farmer yelling wildly, "Come back here, you lousy bitch!"
The 'stock rep' didn't hang around, he took off in his car
The cocky's reputation has been damaged near and far
So bear in mind the Work Safe rule when next you check your flocks
Spot the hazard, assess the risk, and always wear your jocks!
As a glow-worm's never glum
How could he be unhappy
The Dog's Pledge
His service is complete
To live with man, his chosen God
And to worship at his feet
Cute Pussy
When I saw this little kitten
I thought, “Now there’s a Cutie!”
I have seldom been so smitten
She’s, for sure, a little beauty
Block out noise. You’ll hear her purr
Just look at her whiskers, so thin
Look, how softly she wears her fur
What a cosy, soft white chin
Such a cute little pair of ‘sticky-out’ ears
Her ‘tash, her mouth and her nose
Look at those eyes that shed no tears
She’s warm, from her head to her toes
This is a page that includes a variety of scripts.
A backward poet writes inverse.😆
We all get plenty of exercise in the normal course of our work' : -
Jumping ... to conclusions
Flying ... off the handle
Running ... others down
Flogging ... dead horses
Knifing ... 'friends' in the back
Dodging ... responsibility
and Stretching ... truth A. Nonymous
When He gave out legs I thought he said kegs and I ordered two
When He gave out chins I though he said gins so I ordered a double
There are little ears that quickly take in everything you say
There are little hands all eager to do everything you do
A little boy who’s dreaming of the day he’ll be like you
You’re the little fellow’s idol: you’re the wisest of the wise
In his tiny mind about you no suspicions ever rise
He believes in you devoutly and holds on to all you say and do
He will do and say in your way when he’s grown up just like you
There a wide-eyed little fellow who believes you’re always right
His ears are always open and he watches day and night
You are setting an example every day in what you do
For the little boy who’s waiting to grow up just like you.
In Memory of Lilian
We've just lost a second 'Mum'
But she wouldn't want us feeling glum
We'd known her over thirty years
But she wouldn't want us shedding tears
She was nearly ninety-five
Her brain, for sure, was still alive
She loved other people with her heart of gold
There's loads of good in many who grow old!
Here follows a rhyme from a set of poetry books that Lil gave me before she passed away. We emigrated to NZ, back in 1990. Frazer; Lil; Shona; Stu, with the foxy-dogs and horses on their ten-acre block in Matangi became our first neighbours in our adopted country. As well as playing her part as a second Mum to Sheila and me, we thought of her as our Kiwi Mum and were so fortunate to have got to know our New Zealand family.
Here's that poem, as promised.
"When I quit this mortal shore
And wander round this earth no more
Don't weep, don't sigh, don't ever sob
I may have found another job
Don't go and buy a large bouquet
For which you find it hard to pay
Don't mope about and feel so blue
(I may now be better off than you)
Don't tell folks I was a saint
Or anything else for sure I ain't
If you had jam like that to spread
Then you should have before I was lying dead
If you have roses then bless your soul
Just pin one in my button hole
I'll still be with you all today
I won't be very far away."
You may have looked through a microscope at animals, so small we can’t see?
Have you ever considered perspective? “What
giants we really must be!”
Have
you sat your bum on a rock at the beach? Have you looked, where the sky
meets the sea?
If
so, have you found yourself thinking
…
the truth is … “How tiny are we?!”
When in bed, I bet you’ve heard noises that may have made you wary
You've shut your eyes and seen colours
And have found that somewhat scary?
Outside, have you looked up at
night-time
And
tried to comprehend
The
meaning of this universe?
Just
where does it start and end?
'Man' was first born ‘equal’
But it was he
who erected fencesThen some became richer than
others
By making
best use of their senses
Have you visited America ’s Grand Canyon
Or
sniffed cut grass, freshly raked?
Have
you seen the Great Pyramid of Giza
And
smelt hot bread, freshly
baked?
By making best use of their senses
Have you visited
Have you seen the Great Pyramid of Giza
And smelt hot bread, freshly baked?
And have tasted Chinese Chop Suey?
You’ve listened to Handel’s Messiah
And the amazing sound of the Tui
You will have stroked a well-groomed puppy
And a rich green velvet, felt?
Do you know how many light years away
Are the stars in Orion’s Belt?
This world is full of wonder
Like
the symmetry of birds in flight
In
a gale have you heard sails flapping
As
your child flies his kite?
Go back to the sea, then look
at the stones
Some
sharp, some round and some flat
How
long do you think they’ve been there?
Stop,
and think about that!
Look up again at the clouds in
the sky
Then fly in a plane and look
down
Before the sun sets, see the
fields of green
And
the river that runs into town
Return to bed and dream again
You
may recall things of the past
You
may meet up with friends of yore
But
why don’t those images last?
An
army of ants working hard on the ground
Each one has a life of its own
How
big we must seem, as they look in awe
They’re
tiny, though fully grown
This TV box is full of magic
But
I don’t feel full of wonder
As
I do when the sky above me
Is
filled with lightning and thunder
With just a modicum of
knowledge
We
build bridges, houses and boats
But
that does not inspire me
Like a bubble does, as it
floats
We build for our own protection
We’ve dug large pools, full of water
But we can’t make a reflection
When I believe I really make a difference
When I stop trying to wonder, why?
Then it’s time for me to go outside
And take another look at the sky
Look away from the sea, at the
mountains
At
the clouds that hover above
You
may see a bird in the distance
An
albatross, eagle or dove
Before you become unconscious
As
you lie awake and muse
Try again to perceive your
existence
Relax
… and let your mind cruise!
As kids we'd discussed 2020
As teens it seemed so far away
By then we'd all have walking sticks
And we'd all be bald or grey
'twas a year when many lives changed
We're still suffering the effects of Covid
Many futures were re-arranged
With nature in control
Mankind thinks he can beat it
Forgetting he's just body and soul
We all have rellies who are dying
Investment could be a solution
But we're launching rockets into space
How will that help evolution?
We neglect opportunities we've been given
Talents we have but are wasting
Distribution of wealth is out of control
Consequences we're only just tasting
Economics is a specialist subject
'Distribution of wealth', its concern
There is too much greed and grabbing
With too much money to burn
'Success' is not just about money
There are two generations confused
Possessions alone are meaningless
Our kids are just being abused
I wish I knew the answers
But, believe me, we can't just buy health
We need to find a new balance in life
New meanings for 'richness' and 'wealth'
If you are happy, content and comfortable
If you consider your conscience is clear
Then you have fertile soil on which to build
A richness of your own to hold dear
As 'Young'uns' we were nurtured by adults
They had only concern for our health
Treat others as we'd like to be treated
Integrity, in abundance creates wealth
In recent years our views have changed
Personally, I do far more thinking
I try to keep my two feet on the ground
(After cutting out smoking and drinking)
All our 'Rellies' still live in the Motherland
We see them on the 'Magic Box'
But time spent now with our children
Has recently taken some knocks!
After thirty-two years we're going home
We had found a piece of paradise
But just lately our glass has been emptied
We've been spoiled by living Down Under
We shall start a brand new chapter
Which we hope will fill us with wonder
We've been missing our children growing
Our final years are approaching fast
Time only moves one way
We've had a wonderful time on Kiwi shores
But we're moving home today!
A is for Arthritis … with painful inflammation
B is for Bronchitis … which affects all our
inflation
C is for Chest pains … which can happen
any day
D is for Dental … Decline and Decay
E is for Eyesight … so important to
mention
F is for Fluids … and Fluid ‘retention’
G is for Gas … when we need a good fart
H is for High pressure … not good for the Heart
I is for Incision … sometimes leaving scars behind
J is for Joints … that can really be unkind
K is for Knees … that creak when they
bend
L is for Libido … with lust at each end
M is for Memory … “I’ve forgotten again!”
N is for Neuralgia … when your nerves give you pain
O is for Organs … working hard, without question
P is for Pancreas … which helps with digestion
Q is for Queasy … when we’re far from
our best
R is for Respite … with close attention
and rest
S is for Sickness … when we ail and we’re low
T is for Tension … when a headache won’t
go
U is for Urologist … and Urinary
infections
V is for Valves … steering blood in all directions
W is for Weakness … when we may lose our drive
Y is for ‘Yet another Year’ … which once again has fled
Z is just for Zest! … (and above is what Medics have said!)
This poetry page does not contain only my own scripts. Much credit goes to other sources. Some is selected from stacks of books I've acquired over the years.
😋
Sunday, September 13, 2020
We battle stress
while the world’s a mess.
White is black,
and what is right
as honesty walks.
and short is long.
Strength can be weak,
Bright can be bleak
I go to bed to go to sleep
then I shut my eyes to take a peep.
I often forget what’s in my head
or what I’ve seen or what I’ve said.
At half-past two or four a clock,
I may wake up in a state of shock
but if nothing’s there then it’s not to be,
so I’ll go back to sleep, to be set free.
Just last night someone said,
“Write this down! … Get out of bed!”
I leaned across and flicked on the light,
thinking, “This idea … grab it tight.
Get a grip man or this will cost.
Don’t ignore it or a gem’ll be lost.”
I’d be cursing myself, as I'd been a fool!”
L&P
Serenity Prayer God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know
the difference
Though I'm getting more forgetful: and mixed up in my head
I'm getting used to my arthritis: to aches and pains I am resigned
I can manage, wearing spectacles: but my God I miss my mind!
As I sit and write this letter: though I know a text is cheaper
Young'uns won't reply by post but I am not their keeper
They'd be rewarded for their efforts by He who rules above
I'm standing beside my mail box now: my face has gone quite red
This will be me before I know it! L&P Correction. This is me!
But, and there is a but - I am finding it very difficult, as I age, to accept high-profile, or even lower-profile same-sex partnerships. I realize it is one of those things about which I need to be more serene ... and I am trying hard but the harder I try the less serene I feel! I truly can see no reasoning or common sense for this 'trend'. (Wrong word, I know!) Again, nature might have good reason for this but it 'confuses' my age group in particular. I'm sure this issue is close to everyone's heart. We must all know lovely people who are 'on the other bus'. (Wrong quote again, I know!) I, for one, certainly do and have done since as far back as I can recall but I need to hear a logical explanation from somebody qualified and would be very prepared to listen ... to anyone who may be able to help me, politely: without a confrontation, to understand this topic. I know it is not 'new' to society, so I am not 'blaming' any particular generation. Maybe this subject does need to be broadcast rather than continued to be hushed-up, as it has been in the past. Even so, I cringe when a fella kisses another fella, or when two girls stroke each other like pussy-cats. During the days of my youth there was always a stigma attached to this topic, which, thankfully (I think) is slowly being eliminated nowadays. I do not deny that this must be a good thing but I still don't understand it. What doesn't help me is the simplicity of teaching the 'birds and the bees' to twelve and thirteen-year-olds, as I did as part of the Human Biology syllabus at St. John's High School, in Sittingbourne, during the seventies and early eighties. (1C2 boys were so lucky to have me!) 😁 Some teenagers of that era were totally unaware of the details involved in 'animal and plant reproduction', as a topic. I enjoyed enlightening them, as television and cinema had not already done so: but they did, don't worry, very soon after that 'period' (excuse the pun).
Grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway: the good
fortune to run into the ones I do and the eyesight to tell the difference.
I'll lighten up a bit now ... but before I do, I'll digress ... again!
The pie was too sour and the pudding too sweet and the roast was much too fat
The soup was too hot and salty too … and hardly fit for the cat
"I wish you could eat the bread and pie that my mother used to make.
They were magic and ‘twould do you good just to look at her loaf cake."
Said the smiling wife from the kitchen, “I’m aware that I’m just a beginner ... but it’s been lovely to welcome your mother today and she’s kindly just cooked the dinner!”
"I'm dreading this weekend. I've got to go to my mother's cremation.
Well, she calls it Sunday lunch!"😅
See what you think?
Rest assured, that I mean well and I don't intend to sound rude, or insulting, or clever, or knowledgeable.
He maketh me drive straight down the green fairways
He restoreth my approach shots
I fear no lost balls, for his advice is with me
He prepareth a strategy for me in the presence of my opposition.
He anointeth my head with suncream
The cup will not runneth over
Surely birdies and eagles shall follow me all the rounds of my life
This apparently happened just over 2000 years ago. Some people believe in Jesus and his Father, while others don't. I find the whole topic very confusing but I certainly believe that there has to be 'something' or 'someone' out there, or 'up' there, which is far bigger than Earth and the people who currently live on this planet, or in this Universe.
A question on a T.V. quiz (this week) asked how many Earths would fit into the biggest star of the Universe i.e. the Sun. The answer to that question was 1.3 million. (I wondered who was responsible for counting them and I hope he had plenty of cream on his face.)
I don't claim to know much more than that but I am 'a believer', from what I have been informed, so far. ('Far' is not only the distance we can see but is an unimaginable distance past that, plus more and more that we can't even dream about, to make any sense to us! We need to have 'Faith', which is 'absolute trust' in something / 'complete belief and confidence'. That is my dictionary's definition, in which I constantly have to trust.
I'm still waiting!
I went through Sunday Schooling, attending a variety of teenage study groups and socialised with other children who had the same upbringing as I did. One word always appeared to me to be missing: 'Humour'.
Jesus said to John and Peter, "Come forth and I'll give you eternal life. They came second and fifth respectively, so one got a toaster and the other a voucher for 'Fresh Choice' ... or maybe it was 'Tesco'.
Having relayed that joke am I less likely to find eternity myself? Am I shooting myself in the foot? On the other hand, maybe I could be saving a few strays by telling more religious jokes? I am not meaning to sound insulting to anybody. . . I'm juss sayin'.
My Sunday School teacher asked us, "Why did Mary and Joseph take Jesus with them to Jerusalem?" I put up my hand and said, "Because they couldn't get a baby-sitter!"
Anyway, enough flippancy for one session. Now, it's onward and upward!
I do not apologise to anyone, for this 'outburst' of mine. I am not preaching but I would not be apologising if that's what you were thinking, as some readers may even get something from this lengthy spiel of mine!
Now, where was I? Never mind!
Try this for a piece of poetry!
"Maybe, Boss, but hang on to it a bit longer.
Some poems had been found in the archives and I thought I would publish segments of one or two of them here, for those outside our 'Town of Trees and Champions'. At the time I made a precis of a variety of reports. My intention was to encourage locals to keep up the good work, creating scripts for other locals to read. I received complimentary feedback but I stopped donating my entry of poems to the paper, as they kept re-editing my offerings to suit themselves but nobody else, including their readers. Sales / money / came first. "People don't like poetry." In a small town bad vibes travel fast, so I found other things to do with my spare time, which was not very much during that particular era.
I'll include snippets of these before they go to their final resting places. After all, this is a poetry page. If I get no positive feedback, so be it. If not, no worries! This source has a much wider following than a small, or very thin, local rag.
"Flicking through the papers I can't mention all the news
A 'representative democracy' needs input from its folk
Because if our thoughts were all the same then that would be no joke
As a rate-payer I may empathise with others writing in
With plenty to be proud of, financial losses smudged a win
'cos we locals are just mortals without billions to spare!"
Local Council decisions at the time were not all acceptable.
I can't remember what these projects were but my own ideas took second place, as I was just drafting opinions on behalf of others.
'Leamington Rugby Sports Club' held a fishing trip and raised
Thousands of bucks for cancer, for which they should be praised
Now get along to training to harden up for rugby matches!
Two young Cambridge talents: Jaden Grinter and Brooke Kirkbride
Have set us good examples by working hard, with pride
Whether tennis, cricket or rugby: whatever sport you try
You reap just what you sow by working hard and aiming high!
Sheila and I currently live among a network of roads in Leamington that were named following a specific theme: i.e. 'Famous Poets and Writers'.
Horatio Walpole was the eldest son of England's first Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole. Living in the 1700s, 'Horace' was renowned for some of his writings but not for his poetry. Over a period of time we lived in two different homes on Walpole's Street.
(I just thought I'd mention it!)
Not to mention ‘The Bard’. (Whoops, too late!)
Between 'Coleridge' and 'Tennyson' is 'Shakespeare' Street, which runs through the heart of Leamington.
The following examples of work from these three poets brings home to me how futile it would be for anyone to try to preserve 'Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II's English Language', for any length of time, over nearly 500 ('Half-a-Millennium') years later.
Some new words being promoted to the 'dictionary' these days are really 'acronyms'. (I've heard them called pneumonics? ... numonics? ... neumonics? but not one of those three spellings is in my 'C.E.D.' Collins English Dictionary'.) Maybe someone 'out there' can educate me sometime. I would appreciate that.
Words, correctly used, as we know (knew) them, are fast going out of fashion, since the 'intrusion' of Smart Phones and 'Social' 😔 Media, to use collective terminology.
'In fashion' nowadays are plenty of 'F' words (from any age group, frequently 'Under 10 year-olds', who don't chat much but certainly know which buttons to press and have an extensive range of obscenities to use!)
(Sorry, Readers! My mistake, which I intend to leave here, 'unedited'.
The dictionary does in fact describe 'acronyms' as being 'words'. Not when I went to school, which only seems like yesterday, which was well after Adam was a boy, when 'grunting' must have been the language in vogue.)
The works of the following scholars were 'published' largely during the 17th, then latterly during the 19th century ... up until today ... and onwards?
THE ROSE GARDEN
(A, L T)
(W.S.)
We came to an extended Open Home
As 'kids' we'd discussed ‘2020’
L&P
I enjoy publishing other poets' rhymes, as they help to provide variety on my blogsite, rather than it becoming a 'one-man', very mediocre show.
It was written to give those interested some idea of the origin of my website.
As a virtual 'Townie' from 'Pommie-land' I always knew that rain was plentiful and that it helped the plants to grow. Not living right out in the sticks, I seldom gave much thought to rain, apart from it left muddy football (soccer) pitches behind, when it eventually stopped. That, in my mind would have been 'bad rain' because it will have increased the chances of our game being cancelled on a Saturday morning, while all-kitted-out and raring to go! 'Good' rain for us will have been a light drizzle, keeping us cool during a tennis match or a *lengthy cricket innings. (* OK Imbibers. I didn't have many of those. Just an occasional ball that found it's way off the square!)
😆
But, I was behind the sticks, if I remember rightly, on that infamous day when, without a doubt, Frank was out! .. This is the 'Poetry' page, isn't it?)
Just a quickie … Nothing too clever!
For Farmers and Lifestylers, who now
This next introduction is not really a poem. It's what it says: an 'introduction' ... in prose!
It was a very wet one outside one night,
👴
Good rain!
Bedtime Story 2020
** While liaising with local Maori here, trying to share the things they knew
Fights were occurring further north and
intolerances grew
There were many nasty clashes with
differences of opinion
The British army chief had to assert his
own dominion
** Opposition was increasing and this wasn’t just word of mouth
A fort was needed on the river, to defend
land further south
The location duly chosen is now our
rapidly-growing town
General Cameron of the army couldn’t
let Victoria down.
*** The 3rd Waikato Militia set up its own defence
The soldiers and their families pitched a row
of tents
The original hub of Cambridge is where Senior
Citizens now meet
Just an estimated two hundred then but they
weren’t growing wheat
**At this early stage of feuding, many
lives had already been lost
Many boundaries made by then had
certainly been crossed
Our town was named to remember him and to
mark where he had been
** The
region thrived from farming, with its population growing
A council was formed and rules were made to
direct where this town was going
Voted in and very proud was our first New
Zealand-born Mayor
William Buckland was one of kind … with vision
extremely rare
**** Around the turn of the century, while this 'prophet' had the reins
The foresight of this caucus revealed many active
brains
The town soon had
A court, a library and a cinema and many more
attractions
Our Town Hall now is standing where farmers
used to sell their stock **
The ‘Guvvy’ was a plot of land, right opposite
this block
**** Oaks
and Planes were planted there, where locals went to chill
Cricket now is played there and some relax just as they will
**** Family
business interests helped our town to quickly grow
The Hallys and the Souters are two of whom
we know
Farming, milling, brewing, shops for retail
too
Hotels, restaurants, garages: their
ventures grew and grew
**** George
Calvert: (nineteen hundreds) owned some buildings right in town
His name’s still on the wall there, so they
haven’t pulled them down
The Masonic and the National hotels had
rails to tie the horses
A big town clock and an office for post,
all became well-used resources
***** Time has flown and Cambridge has
grown and tourists are urged to call
It’s now become the ‘Town of
Swimming, rowing and cycling … along
with equine competition
Have each played a massive part in
Cambridge’s fruition
***** As you travel north you’ll see we have a
brand new acquisition
The Avantidrome in Cambridge is used for
pedalling competition
Leaving town the other way, on
Many boats and rowers … at a world class facility
***** We residents of Cambridge are
encouraged to have our say
We are notified of future plans, with the office open by day
The local papers are weekly and they publish
letters from locals
They’re delivered free to those in town and distributed to the yokels
** We had a big pink church once ***** but
it’s now a busy bar
Catering for visitors: for those who
like a jar
***** Restaurants are rife here now and hotels are springing up
***** We’ve recently had a census to count the
population
With most of us accounted for we should
reach our expectation
More than 20,000 people now share this
piece of ground
With developers constantly searching for spare land to be found
We’ve been promised that the green belt,
which surrounds our little town
Will stay and that future councils won’t
renege and let us down
I believe we have the nicest spot in this
planet’s nicest Nation
I may sound a little biased but it is a nice location!
***** On pavements in town there are tiles of
pride, naming many well-known people
As you take a drive towards
A pretty place, and friendly, with occupants
from everywhere
You should take a trip to
* 1837 - 1901
** Mid
1800s / During the
*** 1864
**** Early
1900s
***** 2000s
This next script, for want of a more descriptive word, came to me during one 'stirring' night.
Not wishing to get out of bed in order to scribble the gist of it down I decided to do so the following morning, after three or four more hours of sleep. (Yeah! Right!)
My mind told me otherwise, so after shuffling around for another forty minutes, without any more 'useful' sleep to be had, it was made up for me (my mind)! I got up, shook myself, crept into the kitchen, boiled the kettle (jug) and nourished myself with a cup o' tea and the nearest I could find to a Hob-Nob biscuit. After probably 'the length of a game of 'Footie' ('Rugby' in 'Kiwi-speak) I had the complete transcript of this garbled message for my future readers, although at the time I was unaware that a 'Blog' (A what?) was in the making. Just one or two 't's to be crossed and 'i's to be dotted and there it was ... almost a 'song' for a Rapper, except that Rappers don't sing, do they? Sorry, M&M. I didn't mean to be so rude. Please don't start any legal proceedings against me.
With other folk I know, who care
Although, I suppose, I’m a bit of a yapper
I was born too early to become a rapper
These thoughts prevented me from sleeping recently: -
Just been doing some thinkin’
I’ve not been drinkin’
Pouring with rain
Then sunny again
Shitty weather
Share it together
Par for the course
But where’s its source?
Don’t get mad
Not everything’s bad
Out of luck?
Who gives a fuck?
Time’s flyin’
We’re all dyin’
Different creeds
At different speeds
We all know
We have to go
Many can’t keep up
With the cost of livin’
Too many are takin’
Too few are givin’
Lossa gluttons
Pushin’ buttons
Bizzy bees
Collectin’ fees
Makin’ honey
Countin’ money
Too much strife
Livin’ life
Little interaction
Or satisfaction
No real chat
Too much fat
Sleazy
Easy
Liaise with others
Sisters; brothers
Respect humanity
Neglect vanity
We take our pills
To ‘cure’ our ills
Each generation
Creates frustration
We get old for a reason
We all have a season
Gone are tutors
Now we have computers
Lots of nerds
Too many turds
Geeks
Freaks
Older buggers
(Not all tree huggers)
Life’s a search
Some go to church
Trying to find
For peace of mind
What went before us?
We can sing the chorus
Who created the birds?
Who knows the words?
Life is a mystery
We all have history
God and science
Some alliance!
Don’t go together
Who sends the weather?
We all have a face
Should know our place
We might find out
What it’s all about
When we get the call
Is that all? ......
...... Or do our spirits live on
When our bodies are gone?
What’s it worth
Our time on Earth?
We all have the chance
To sing and dance
To think ahead
Before we’re dead
But there’s too much fighting
Instead of uniting
Is it right or wrong
That we’re not here long?
Try to think
Let’s find a link
Why is it funny
That sharing money
Could be one’s passion
But is not in fashion?
We hold on tight
With all our might
Not many care
Even fewer share
Take a peep
At all the sheep
‘Grab’ what we need
Without the greed
Take the blame
If you lit the flame
Live by example
Be a sample
Take it on the chin
Let others in
Too many rules
Too many fools
There are too many 'Tools'
Kicking different-shaped balls
Different faces
At different places
We live our lives
In various hives
We eat our greens
We use our genes
We do what we can
To preserve our clan
Life is history
‘said, “A real mystery”
Live it well …
Come heaven or hell!
If this is not really up your street
Don’t muck about … just press ‘delete’!
L&P
By train to Collington Avenue
We’d been to Manchester and Bradford,
to Liverpool and back to Leeds
Then to Sheffield and to Lincoln, to satisfy our needs
From there we went to Thetford,
then (“Hang on … I’ve just forgotten!”)
Oh! Yes! We were taken to
Buntingford by family back in Watton
Then we were driven to
Ipswich, where more family members dwell
And we shifted on to London,
as a branch lives there as well!
All our travelling
arrangements, the ‘girls’ had previously ‘sorted’
Our tickets had been prepared
for us, so we both could be transported
Next, from the big smoke of London,
we were off by train to Bexhill
We had a wedding there to go
to: a commitment to fulfil
From Streatham our hosts in
the city dropped us off at Clapham Junction
Our final railway journey, before
we went to our family function
We were scheduled to be on
the train going south, setting off at ten fifty-five
We’d arrived and found the
platform and it was 'good to be alive'!
At Haywards Heath the train
would split, so we had to get on the right carriage
When the train pulled up, what
happened next, could easily have ended our marriage
We each were laden with luggage,
as we climbed up on coach 'three'
Sheila said, “no room
for cases” so I said, “Leave that to me!”
I stepped back onto the
platform and for space in carriage ‘two’
Then the sliding door shut
between us and I wasn’t sure what to do!
I waved ‘Goodbye’ to the
missus. (We were both in a state of shock.)
I wandered back to the
‘office’ and I glanced at the station clock
I told the guy in the window what had happened. (He said he knew.)
He told me I wasn’t the first
one and he told me what to do.
The next train was leaving in a hour, or so. He said, “Time for an ice-cream cone”
But I had no ticket or
plastic cards; no change; no notes nor phone
I had nothing at all in my
pockets, ‘cos when we travel the ‘Boss’ has ‘the bag’
If I hadn’t given up smoking I'd have mugged someone for a fag
Next thing our city dwellers
returned, ‘cos the ‘Mums’ had been on their phones
Theresa had turned her car
round and came back to hear my groans
She bought me a coffee, with a chocolate bar. (As you know, I had no money.)
Whenever things happen to
Grandpa, everyone finds them funny!
A train arrived at eleven-twenty
and I witnessed another scene
As a young girl was waving
goodbye to her mates she dropped her phone, where we’d been
Her train shut its doors and
pulled away, so lightning had just struck twice
We both looked down on the railway
track and there was her device.
I asked if I could help her,
as she seemed to be upset
She said she was on Home
Leave and hadn’t phoned her Parole Officer yet
I explained that I’d done
time myself, and I could see she was in trouble
I asked a ‘Paper-Picker-Upper’
to salvage her phone at the double.
She phoned the appropriate
number and explained the situation
She told her man that she’d
missed the train and was stuck at Clapham station
I took her over to where I’d
been, ‘cos by then I was ‘in the know’
The same man sorted this lady
out, like for me a while ago
Arrangements were made by the
platform man, so she brightened up a bit
She told me she had ‘Mental
Health’ and wasn’t very fit
I told her I was on her
wavelength and she thanked me for being kind
Then, we went our separate ways,
both trying to unwind
Sorry I’ve rambled on a bit …
but I haven’t left much out
When I tell a story I like to say what it’s all about
I was picked up by my sister, at Collington, near Bexhill
She saw the funny side of
things: she always has and always will.
We had fun at the wedding and
there were plenty of folk we knew
We had one last drive to Horsham
to see another friend, or two
We left from Heathrow Airport
and the journey home was fine
I was relieved to be back in
New Zealand and to sup on a glass of wine!
As we age, birthdays become less noticeable and 'celebrations' minimal! However, from time to time, we use them as excuses (not that we should need them) to go out together, in order to catch up with friends.
The 'occasion' prompted me to write a quick poem, which reads as follows: -
A Walk in the Park
Another birthday’s been and gone
I’ve survived another year
Being that of Covid
I must be thankful I’m still here
Since we’ve been ‘retired’
We’ve acquired a number of ‘mates’
We’re now part of a new village
(Next time: ‘Pearly Gates’) *** No longer true
As time moves on, as we know it does
Temperatures feel much colder
By observing others in my peer group
It happens by getting older
I notice by listening to others
That we can’t tell a gale from a breeze
When the air is calm and the sky is clear
We still manage to shiver and sneeze
What used to be jogging round the neighbourhood
Has become just 'a walk in the park'
At least we know Summer’s arriving
So the evenings won't be so dark
Our visits to the city are more frequent
But we don’t go there just for shopping
We go to see our ‘Specialists’
Some trips show no signs of stopping
On a much larger scale, looking down from above
At our planet ... why (on ‘Earth’) ... do we groan?
We must look at what’s happening around us
And be grateful we live in ‘Godzone’
When you’ve reached the top of a mountain
Enjoy your time at the summit
But go easy as you return to base
Be careful not to plummet
Achievement is essential
Reality begins with a dream
We all have an ego to satisfy
To preserve one’s self-esteem
The mind plays games in semi-sleep
The brain is a weird machine
Certain images remain 'til morn
Others no longer seen
... and from within our retirement village: -
‘CARVIDA 20’ (To explain the play on words …
the owner of Lauriston Park is ‘Arvida’.)
Please don’t think I’m being
flippant
What we’re dealing with is
not just a rumour
We’re doing our best, as we’ve always tried
Not to lose our ‘senses of humour’
We’re giving it thought
but how may we help?
How can each of us keep out
of trouble?
"Stay two metres wide and wash your hands
Remaining inside your bubble."
We thank the staff at
Lauriston Park
For showing such concern
We should all comply with pleas
we’ve been given
Saluting Jacinda Ardern
Stay at home and do our bit
Venture out … but with
good reason
Flaunting ourselves at such a
worrying time
May be deemed as committing
treason
We each have our own opinions
But no-one is always right
Instead of ‘whining’ at every
chance
Our tongues we should sometimes bite
Nothing makes us more anxious
Than symptoms we don’t
understand
Like this virus, which seems
to be moving so fast
Like gales crossing beaches
of sand
So far this is unprecedented
Even ‘Oldies’ haven't seen
the like
We must all spend time hibernating
If not ... then jump on your bike!
'Time for us girls'
I'm normally a social girl
I love to meet my mates
But lately with the virus here
We can't go out the gates.
You see, we are the 'oldies' now
We need to stay inside
If they haven't seen us for a while
They'll think we've upped and died.
They'll never know the things we did
Before we got this old
There wasn't any Facebook
So not everything was told.
We may seem sweet old ladies
Who would never be uncouth
But we grew up in the 60s -
If you only knew the truth!
There was sex and drugs and rock 'n roll
The pill and miniskirts
We smoked, we drank, we partied
And were quite outrageous flirts.
Then we settled down, got married
And turned into someone's mum,
Somebody's wife, then nana,
Who on earth did we become?
We didn't mind the change of pace
Because our lives were full
But to bury us before we're dead
Is like a red rag to a bull!
So here you find me stuck inside
For a month or even more
I finally found myself again
Then I had to close the door!
It didn't really bother me
I'd while away the hour
I'd bake for all the family
But I've got no flaming flour!
Now Netflix is just wonderful
I like a gutsy thriller
I'm swooning over Idris
Or some random sexy killer.
At least I've got a stash of booze
For when I'm being idle
There's wine and whiskey, even gin
If I'm feeling suicidal!
So let's all drink to lockdown
To recovery and health
And hope this awful virus
Doesn't decimate our wealth.
We'll all get through the crisis
And be back to join our mates
Just hoping I'm not far too wide
To fit through the flaming gates!
try to overcome manageable problems?
I don’t claim to be an academic
Though years ago I went through college
I write what I write on hearsay
Not really general knowledge
I’m sure I represent others
Who interpret daily news
The headlines we hear are contradictory
Taken literally they’d give us the blues
Jacinda will have felt the pressure
She couldn’t have done better if she'd tried
Now a U.S. film crew landed
So someone must have lied
It’s my intention to leave out details
What I say is what many think
If we believe all we hear from the ‘Powers That Be’
We’d soon be driven to drink
Exceptions to rules have surely been made
As we head for an unwanted fall
We’re told barriers must close for longer
Then our country will surely stand tall
We were given ‘not many’ details
But this film crew came from the States
From L.A. (Its worst-affected city)
It appeared we’d opened the gates
A chain is as strong as its weakest link
(We’d done so well for so long)
It seemed like our chain had been broken
Will America’s germs make us strong?
‘They’ want to film as quick as poss
To capture our scenery
With everyone here patiently waiting
… where’s it going, our greenery?
(Nowhere!)
Rules were made and we watched the levels
Keeping crap out … but money talks
Financial ‘experts’ doing deals
Say “Profit” and in it walks (the crap)
Some things, we know, are beyond our control
Like a volcano’s sudden eruption
We’d be far better off to rid ourselves
Of dishonesty and corruption
Well done Jacinda! ….. so far!
(Written, by me, on June 2 ’20 - before further breaches were made, at other Kiwi airports.)
'Banged up' in a Retirement Village, on Level 3 for a few weeks was indeed a challenge. Communication through lap-tops became a good way for residents to kill time. The beauty of the 'Magic Box' is that it has a 'Delete' button! Mine is half-an-inch lower than its fellow buttons.
Experimenting, as a Blogger, I must expect a few teething troubles with regard to such things as 'font'; 'spacing'; 'mouse-trouble' and in particular, 'memory' (largely, my own!)
I won't have too many punters at this point, so I ask those who may be on board already not to look too hard to make adverse criticism.
One option that I have is to pester my IT man every ten minutes or so but I am reluctant to do that every time I have a hiccup.
Anyway, here's a little additional poem for you, free of charge.
I'm trying a different font
It's not quite what I ordered,
Nor is it what I want.
OK, for all you geeks out there,
Sorry, Gary. Just fooling around!
Here's a rhyme that I composed during the Lockdown in our village.
All Banged Up!
We’re all locked up and doing
time
Trying hard to stay out of
trouble
Our poets are searching hard for rhyme
Focussing inside our bubble
Maybe washing cupboards or just shifting grime
Our brains are working at the
double
Maybe supping on a gin and
lime
Not shaving but growing
stubble
A pandemic not witnessed before
It's futile to try to measure its girth
A situation we just can’t ignore
Our leaders are trying to show
their worth
As they did during times of
war
Our younger generation is still
giving birth
While no-one knows what’s in
store
Jacinda is coping pretty well
Her reputation is growing world-wide
We should all be grateful,
though only time will tell
Let’s hope we can stay on her
side
She hasn’t had long to come
out of her shell
But we all know how hard she
has tried
She wants New Zealanders to
continue to gel
Let’s give her our support,
with pride
I’m not really sure how to begin
My doctor rang me, so I ditched my coat
I was glad that for once I was in!
Stay two metres apart and just grin
If we all attempt to stay afloat
We can take this on the chin!
DELINQUENTS
We read in the papers and we
hear on air
Of killings and stabbings and
crime everywhere
We wring our hands as we
notice the trend
“This generation. Where will
it end?”
Can we be sure that it’s
their fault alone
Maybe part of it is our own?
Are we less guilty, who place
in their way
Many things that lead
them astray?
Too much money and idle time
Too many movies of passion
and crime
Too many books not fit to be
read
Too much evil in what they
hear said
Too many children allowed to
roam
Too many parents who won’t
stay at home
Kids don’t make movies and
they don’t write the books
They don’t paint gay pictures
of nudists and crooks
They don’t make the liqueur
and they don’t run the bars
They don’t make the laws and
they don’t sell the cars
They don’t peddle drugs
that addle the brain
That’s done by older folk,
greedy for gain
Delinquent teenagers. (They’re
the ones we condemn)
The nation’s sin, we blame on
them
By the laws of the blameless,
it’s very well known
Who, among you, will cast the
first stone?
For in so many cases, it’s
sad but it’s true
The title, 'Delinquent' fits
older folk too!
This talented and observant author was
certainly on my wavelength.
My thanks to that person,
wherever you are now.
Many thanks to Lil (Rest in Peace) who was one of my 'nonagenarian' followers. I'm guessing that these rhymes have been around for a while!
1 1
was a racehorse
2 2 was 1 2
1 1 1 1 race
and 2 2 1 1 2
2 Ys U R 2 Ys UB N IC UR 2 Ys 4 ME!
... and I know of thirty-year-olds who 'can't be bothered' (in their own words) to 'do' blogs! Maybe they should start here, as this ... I am certain ... is not a 'typical' blog? Does a blog have rules? Is there such a thing as a typical blog?
'Age' is not really a prerequisite, as to whether you'll enjoy bits and pieces of this blog.
1 comment:
All new items read and I'm now up to date. Well done Al.
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