From the deep pit

They have no names

Their flesh is putrid

Who knows what now flows though their veins

They circle round

With such ghost like moves

And drag around their heavy chains

They howl at us

Eyes now empty stare

Tangled hair from their foetid manes

What ghosts are these?

Granite looks spell fear

I think they've emerged from the drains

Such sinful deeds

That have been tabled

Emerge now to weigh upon their brains

Image found at www.scientiasalon.wordpress.com

Abandoned

“Got to go” he said

Lisa thought that was so strange

To abandon her

“It must me his work”

She said walking to the bus

To take her back home

Once a week they met

Always in his hour’s lunchtime

From his job in town

They’d walk hand in hand

In the botanic garden

Near to the town centre

The shaded arbour

Where they kissed in secret

Their favourite place

In late afternoon

He gave her a call at home

She feared what he’d say

“Can we meet tonight?

We can go out for a meal”

Her heart now lifted

The table for two

Allowed him to hold her hands

And propose to her

So she knew at once

That he had little time midday

To arrange it all

Image found at www.oldnorthwestterritory.northwestquarterly.com

Mother tongue

It was fifty years ago

I left my place of birth

To furthest Australia I did go

It was best I thought for

They spoke the mother tongue

Up with which I had been brought

O then what a surprise

Hearing words, I was not wise

Friends were now in truth

“Cobbers” for they were your mates

“Bloody oath” in affirmation

or mild surprise may be “strewth”

When I was very busy

I’d be “flat out like a lizard drinking”

So don’t get in a “tizzie”

If that makes you upset

Its not only babies that drool

Who “spit the dummy” in Oz

But anybody that loses their cool

It is not always patriotic to see

Someone to give the “Aussie salute”

As they are brushing the flies away

You’re more likely to be “full”

When leaving a pub than a café

So it is part of my lingo now

So far from “Pommy land”

Driving along I might “Chuck a U-e”

When I’m going the wrong way

Tell the missus “to tart herself up”

She’ll smile, you’re taking her out

So will say “Ridgy didge” coz

She knows you’re a “Bonza” bloke

Expressions that may not be clear in the poem:

Full - drunk

Chuck a U-e – do a quick U turn or backtrack

Ridgy Didge – Genuine guy

Bonza - Brilliant

Image found at www.godavi.blogspot.com

Yes, the sixth line of the first verse is a dig at the rule of avoidance in (correct?) English of ending a sentence with a preposition.

The children were in bed

Rings under her eyes

Docile much like a rabbit

Fear her companion

Children were in bed

Long before he came home drunk

For his evening meal

He might be okay

Not inflict her with abuse

She could never tell

With some money left

He’d slowly eat in silence

He might not hit her

With empty pockets

She would be the one at fault

If she’d dared whimper

Nobody believed

Her excuse for the bruises

Even her children

They tried not to cry

Huddled together in bed

And kept dead quiet

Image found at www.zolaurbannews.co.za

Imagine all those writers

I love being a writer                        

I can leave my mundane life

And leaping on my keyboard                    

Go seeking adventures abroad

I walk the streets in my mind         

Meeting those I would avoid

Even fighting on pirate ships       

Or kissing that sweet girls lips      

Nothing is out of reach for me                              

Flying high or crawling a cave

Riding the rapids on a log

Having adventures with a dog   

But most of all I like the times

When romance is my theme

I look into a cute girl’s eyes 

Which ends of course in lovers sighs

Image found at www.campusghanta.com

The Heron

Ours was but a hopeless affair

I had loved you so utterly

This was a foolish thing to do

The storm of our bitter parting

Has left me with no umbrella

Not the tiniest shred of hope

Before I had glowed so brightly

Now I was a deep shade of blue

I thought you were so delicate

Like petals of an uncut rose

Now still yearning, it is clearer                   

Life is a river flowing on                            

You were a heron perched waiting         

Until the right catch came along              

But now it is me on that post
Lesson learned; I'm free as a bird  

                    

  

Image found www.bibio.wordpress.com

Beauty is in life

Sadness fills my heart

Cut flowers on display

As I tread the busy streets

Artificial Rose

Those dusty plastic flowers

I have seen enough

Give me my freedom

Walk though fields of lavender

and hear nature sing

Just where is your heart

To rip such children from home

The insects know you

The laugh is on you

Oh death just where is your sting?

You reap what you sow

Lilies on the pond

See eucalypts in flower

Bluebells in the wood

Beauty is in life

Not caged in a dusty house

Discarded at will

Images found at 1) www.organicauthority.com

                          2) www.patrickcomerfield.com

As I reminisce

I saw her standing there                

In the shopping centre

An old flame long extinguished   

I hesitated, then waved                  

She nodded in reply                                   

Our love affair was torrid               

She’s now lost in the crowd          

As I reminisce

I recall parting’s cruel pain            

But that was years ago                  

Yes, many tears ago

When sadly she saw the light      

Her long hair was so fair               

She was stronger than me

I even breathe in her scent           

I am an old man now                      

What strange sad dreams I dream 

Men are such foolish weaklings

Image of Rundle Mall, Adelaide found at www.adelaidenow.com

The perils of drink

So I let myself in

From a night at the inn

Content I laid my head down

On the mat by the door

The dog came to say hey

Sniffed, growled and slunk away

Then I heard a scream

That could be a dream

But next morn wife now shouted

“One day it would be good

to see you home sober for tea

I knew this would happen to me”

She had a problem to solve

Of how her brain could evolve

To make me fit for the family at three

They came right on time

My daughter Pam and children too

Young Jimmy and toddler Sue

The little one came, sat on my lap

Cuddled up and went for a nap

Which I thought was good idea too

When I woke up all was a blur

She’d woke first, my specs had took

And then pretended to read a book

Image found at www.imperfectlyordinary.com

Dum cuts it (No. 29)

I stumbled across Dum the other day and he told me what had been going on his life. For previous episodes click on Cavemen in the labels bar.

Dum and Yum were now quite settled in the village life, hunting fishing and growing vegetables and harvesting wild fruit in season. Inside their hut they kept all they needed but everything was placed on the floor or hung from the walls of the hut.

When they ate they sat on the floor, when they slept they laid down on the floor and when the children played indoors when it was raining they played on the floor getting in everyone’s way. At last after a particularly wet period Yum could stand it no more and hit Dum on his arm and pointed to the mess everywhere inside their hut. She didn’t need to say anything; Dum knew exactly what the problem was as the children played a game of chasey around his legs.

He nodded his understanding to her and went outside in the pouring rain with his axe, knife and twine. Yum nodded for she knew he would solve the problem or if not there would be at least one less inside their hut. The children wanted to go with him but she shook her head so they ran round in circles again.

Meanwhile Dum strode off to the forest and the trees cover allowed him to rest in the shade and have a good think. Before long he had pieced together a few ideas but knew he would have to take them home to continue working on them.

The weather was starting to brighten up as he returned to the village with his pieces of wood and tools in his bag and ideas in his head.

He could now see the children of the village all playing together in the puddles and in the sunshine and Yum greeted him with a gentle caress to his face this time and looked at him with a smile. Then raised her eyebrows at the bits and pieces he had brought home. She was almost going to say it doesn’t matter any more but could see in the look on his face he had an idea.

For the whole afternoon he fiddled and cut, and shaped the wood pieces and the set about fixing them together with a bit of cutting here and whittling there until he had just about finished one piece. It was a three legged stool, not big enough for him or in fact for Yum but one the children could sit on. It was quite stable on three legs and he called out to Yum to come and see it.

Immediately she could see the possibilities and started chattering about making one for each of them…and one to put things up off the dirt floor.  Her mind was clicking over as she began to think of other things he could make for inside their hut. She even spread her arms wide to indicate a huge one so that nothing was on the floor at all. And why not boxes to put things in, big seats for the adults to sit on and even shelves on the walls.

Dum looked shocked, far from coming up with a simple answer to a simple request for a seat for the children on a rainy day he now had to make furniture for whole house.

                                                How I imagine Dum's stool looked

Image 1 found at www.rvwest.com

Image 2 found at www.ebay.com

Colour my life

I love the clouds                                                        

Playing with this my mind                                        

Matching my mood                                                  

Telling stories                                                           

That none can hear

They're busy today                                                           

And scud across the sky                                        

Others don’t look

Such busy bees                                                        

But I watch them

Dark, dismal clouds

Stratus squats over us

Long faces now

As rain drizzles

On umbrellas

All have coats on

Wispy cirrus so high above

Gloves and scarves

As people freeze

But I still smile

It’s evening

The mackerel sky woos us

Who knows what comes

All clouds thrill me

And colour my life

Image found at www.flickr.com

Memories of Jill

I remember Jill

She used to collect pebbles

On the beach near us

She lived close to me

We went to school together

Never held my hand

Called her my angel

That made her so very cross

She would wrestle me

I acted the fool

She was so good at science

Me? Empty headed

I lost track of her

Would like to take a crack at

Her saintly armour

I’ll see her again

Perhaps! But I’ve got to go

Bus is right on cue

Image found at www.theguardian.com

Why do I feel sad?

Why do I feel sad

They’re pulling the Folly down

Memories gone by

I was just a boy

It should have been our springtime

For Candy and me

That wasn’t her name

Asked if she was sweet on me

All those years ago

“You mean like candy?”

I nodded so we were friends

And played together

We walked in the woods

Then paddled in the river

She held my hot hand 

We found the Folly

A dark deserted building

Climbed in a window

Dead quiet until

The rooms echoed with laughter

As we ran about

I found the body

Poor Candy screamed with terror

Then we ran away

Our parents were cross

Never played with her again

She went far away

I so loved Candy

Wonder if she remembers

Holding my hot hand?

Image found at www.bermuda-triangle.org

Road Trip

Candy sighed deeply

He wasn’t the same anymore

Something wasn’t right

He was more offhand

And now this perpetual frown

Yet he wouldn’t talk

But now there was worse

All his words were venomous

They were meant to harm

Inwardly she cried

But still she showed the brave face

Frightened he’d hurt her

Could she get away?

But he was so controlling

She was his puppet

“My Mum is not well”

She said so deviously

“I’ll see her today”

A grunt his response

By noon she’d gone for ever

Leaving all behind

She’d phoned her cousin

The one in Tallahassee

They were always friends

Image found at www.somsi.com

Lost Love

I dream of you

Of days long past

I’d touch your face

Your eyes downcast

I'd kissed your lips

You looked away

My heart was sad

I knew you’d stray

You said goodbye

I‘d not give up

There was for me

No loving cup

Years have passed

Times cruel wand

Your eyes I see

I’m no less fond

I know you’re there

But cannot see

Though loves sweet call

Still beckons me

image found at www.justinfoline.com

You just don't get it

“I don’t think this is working”, she said staring him in the eyes              

Puzzled he recoiled from the blow that was not physical

It hurt and it was not even expected, where had he been?

She sighed and whispered softy, “I feel so sorry for you”                               

He tried to collect his thoughts, but they were so jumbled

She was ditching him! That was a first and it peeved him                  

He was hurt of course and now he wanted to hurt her                                   

She felt sorry for him! Who the hell did she think she was?              

For some reason he thought of his mother at breakfast

Serving up oatmeal on to his plate, just a lot of mush

Which was just how his brain felt at that very moment                        

Because of that he couldn't hear the words she then spoke

What was it again? Moving out; Gone by the weekend

She would pay the rent and then he would be on his own

“So you found another guy have you; thought as much” 

She shook her head sadly, "You just don't get it do you?"

Image found at www.citifmonline.com

Have you not heard?

Malala  

Have you not heard?

Speaking with passion

She speaks for you

As well as her own

I was inspired

For in our world

She is but a child

An item of news

But in hers, hope

In the Swat valley

Their children’s choice

is “Cook, clean, serve”

What she wants is

“One child, one teacher”

“One book, one pen”

“Education first”

She said her father

“Did not clip my wings”

One day on a bus

A shot to her head

“I was stronger

than I was before

for fear and hope

and weakness died”

Are you not moved?

She said “Do not wait

for someone else”

“You must risk your life”

“Speak for yourselves”

and “Do not wait”

For she is Malala

Have you not heard?

N.B. Malala's own words in italics

Image found at www.abcnews.go.com

A Drenching

Weather is changing

Another burst of thunder

Like a wounded beast

The fleecy grey clouds

Now fill the afternoon sky

Turning black with anger

Like a mime artist

Barometer glass has dropped

A clown’s long sad face

Thor in his heaven

Emits his sound of loathing

Instills fear in our hearts

Without protection

Rain tumbles down around us

Now sealing our fate

Image found at www.forwallpaper.com

Delight in your kiss

Desire’s first moment

Surprise at the feeling

Of joy when we met

The need to begin

Our urge for togetherness

Soft touch of your skin

My passion to win

Your desire for victory

Our scent of success

The spark of delight

The beauty in your dark eyes

Delight of your kiss

                                   

Then our first quarrel

Of reconciliation      

Such hugging of friends

To be not alone

Such a delight in our bond

Always together

Image found at www.for wallpaper.com

Her bare arm

I ran my fingers

down her bare arm

she moaned and then

shivered with delight

looked me in the eyes

sadly shook her head

Oh, forbidden love

such excitement

one day soon perhaps

still she was doubtful

the seed in her mind

now struggling to grow

I will not push her

let her think anon

beautiful flower

surely will not wilt

she’s tempted I see 

that will do for now

Image found at www.misskweensworld.blogspot.com

On that lonely beach

Ah! Another great day

I miss our walks on the beach

You, me, paddle, shells

Now and then I go

It’s not the same without you

But you are still there

You ran off somewhere

For years you refused to go

With the big cruel sea

Happy to be here

So you fought like a demon

Blood, sweat and needles

You left me alone

To watch the tides come and go 

On that lonely beach

Image found at imgarcade.com

Climbing up the hill

The wind tangled her hair

She has not yet seen me

Still climbing up the hill

She skipped and danced around

Free just like a wild fawn

And just so beautiful

Yet soon she will be mine

Precious jewel among many

For I am so lucky

What does she see in me?

Do I make her feel safe?

Can I make her happy?

Is she singing up there?

Telling the world of our love

Yearning for me to come

She stops as she sees me

Then comes running to my arms

Hair streaming behind her

Image found at www.boro.gr

My worn old hands

Now I look at my worn old hands

I wonder at time’s moving sands

Marvel at all they and I have done 

With such countless rounds of the sun      

I sought comfort at my mother’s breast

Pointing to what I wanted best

Then touching my fathers nose

Or pushing away a medicine dose

My childish digging the beaches sand   

Splashing in the sea hand in hand        

Patting and stroking the family dog 

Or catching a bewildered frog        

Sneaking a touch of my classmate’s curls

Forgetting I didn’t like such girls

Then later after holding one tight

Started thinking of our wedding night

Touch is such an important gift

The heart then soars with such a lift

These hands drew and wrote so many words

Setting my mind free to fly as the birds

They wrote of adventure and of fable

Of love and honesty as I was able

I wonder at time’s moving sands

As I look at my worn old hands

Image found at www.somewritingspace.wordpress.com