Life's spiral

What a spiral life is
With all its ups and downs
Now twisting and turning
Sometimes settled in love
Content with idleness
Happy singing with joy
Now itching for success
With wish lists a mile long
Running out of control

Running out of control
Prayers to all the saints
Then running out of steam
Or bored out of one's brain
With a chip on one's shoulder
Itching to do so much more
For life is just like that
Complex as tatting lace

But to sum it all up
Enjoy it while you can

Image found at www.https://medium.com/

Young love

I remember the olden days
Bonfire burning in the backyard
Daffodils blooming under the trees
You on a branch with your dirty knees

Were the daughter of the man next door
We'd walk to school but not say much
Didn't mingle with the other boys
"Cept for me, you'd play with my toys

First we were shy and didn't touch
We'd go for walks in the forest deep
In the creeks we'd splash and play
You could point out Larks and the Jay

We found a rope on a tall branch
You were the first to try it out
We spent hours whizzing in the air
Laughing, shouting without a care

But life's calendar ticks away
Time came when we did more than play
We found a place to love and kiss
Woven lives of raptuous bliss

Then your family moved away
I wonder where you are today
Mingled emotions they do smart
As now I nurse a broken heart


Image found at www.istockphoto.com

Her dark eyes

I looked into her dark eyes
There was no hint of surprise
But just a nod from one wise

For she did know me so well
Of my longing she could tell
T'was just like a tinkling bell

Told me her name was Candice
Being with her was just bliss
She gave me the sweetest kiss

Image found at www.models.com

Grandpa's house

Us young kids were all playing outside Grandpa’s house after going to Grandma’s funeral while our parents and other visitors chatted inside as adults do after occasions like this in the country.

So we were tearing about the garden, seeing if the fruit was ripe on the trees which it wasn’t and trying to prize open the lid to the old well and while we were doing that Grandpa must have come outside without us hearing to have a smoke or use the outside toilet which he still had.

By this time I had crawled on top of the well cover and was trying to open it up when he must have seen me he shouted, “Keep off, I don’t want you to go near there”  waving his stick at me. I stiffened with shock and confusion and blurted out, “Why, is Grandma down the well?”

Hearing this Grandpa just collapsed in a heap bawling his eyes out causing my sister Win who had been watching us to run inside to fetch Ma. All this happened many years ago and here I am nearly sixty and as I recall that incident my eyes are wet with tears too..

Image found at www.pinterest.com

Schooldays remembered

Young Ted was a rebel
And always up to not much
Hiding in the corners 
To keep from teachers touch

When on the sportsfield
He'd find a shady bower
Open up his fag pack
To wile away that hour

I'd join him once or twice
To share a cigarette too
Were the the plucky twosome
But got the cane, Boo Hoo!

Image found at www.dazeddigital.com

Sand through my fingers

Little did I think playing on the beach
A child many years before
Those sand castles, moats and dams that I built 
Were mountains in days of yore

As the sea washed over my little toes
I knew not what came before
That my ancestors had crawled up on this beach
A new place to live they saw

For as I hopped and skipped without a thought
As I grew each year by year
We had once feared wild beasts and birds around
Pets now that I hold dear

Did they stay close or forsake Mother Sea?
To find a safe place to hide
Live in a cave or construct a wood hut
Safe from predators abide

Mankind has struggled many years thus far
Now to reach this point in time
But found it best to fight in bloody wars
And to trash this Earth sublime

As the sand through my fingers now does run
A tear runs down my face
This paradise in which we once lived
Has been made hell in its place

Image found at www.warmaspie.wordpress.com

Mind in turmoil

How my mind is in turmoil
As midnight's pale moon looks on
As bastard minded statesmen
Cause peacetime hopes rot away

The blind buggers now rule us
Speak such candy coated lies
Seldom in my memory
Have the world's hope looked so grey

So play some calming music
I'll imagine maidens dancing
Liting sounds of soft singing
May well ease my mind this day

Image found at www.nytimes.com

The Wait

I waited long my lovely
On that summer's night
All neat and smart and longing
For your presence to light
My fire, my passion
And promise you my life

I waited long my princess
As the air turned chill
My plans went all asunder
And much against my will
Wept some tears of doubt
That you would be my wife

I waited what seemed like ever
The gifts I held seemed poor
Could  lose my precious who
To me meant so much more
Sadly I left that place
And trod my way back home

You didn't ring to tell me why
Or even write a letter
I lost you on that summer's eve
To a boy who was surely better
But as the past is past
I think I'll ring young Cindy

Image found at www.pixabay.com

This poem was originally written in 2010

You are my springtime

Through a dark mirror
You are like a lethal drug
That makes my heart thrum

At times you melt me
With those dark eyes that promise
Key to your treasure

As I lay my head
In the hollow of your breasts
Let me stay always

We will never row
A plit would cause disaster
We need each other

Strip all your clothes off
Let me deck you in flowers
Springtime you are mine

Image found at www.pixabay.com

The Fruit lady

Staring now out the window
Looking at the market place
A bustling scene below her
She shed just one tear

She remembered long ago
When standing by her fruit stall
Shouting out "Ripe Bananas"
For them all to hear

What a young girl she was then
Coaxing all the customers
To buy all their fruit from her
As she called them near

She polished fruit on her smock
As she waltzed around her stall
Welcoming every buyer
Always with good cheer

Then one stall holder noticed 
She wasn't in the window
Gone to her orchard in the sky
That was very clear

Image found at www.keyword-suggestions.com

Scribbling Poetry

I'm an oafish fool
Meandering through this life
Head in a whirlpool

Scribbling poetry
Head bent now over the words
Seeking artistry

Getting words to rhyme
I must of lost my reason
Surely that's no crime

Image found at www.samadhisoft.com

Just like my dog

God so loves this our world
But man sadly hates it
God gives us all we need
But man wants so much more
There is enough on Earth
To satisfy us all
But we must now fight for 
Every drop of water
Every grain of corn
Over every stone
We are urged to covet
All that our neighbour has

Sunday's we go to church
On Monday we buy stuff
Much made with slave labour
Walk past homeless people
Begging on the sidewalk
As we purchase these goods
That we don't really need
Covet other men's wives
Carry weapons, secrete knives
Yet despite all of this
Somehow God still loves us
In his strange holiness

I think I should love him
Just like my dog loves me

Image found at www.companionanimalpsychology.com

In each other's arms

Waking from a nightmare
I leave those nameless demons
In the insane world of dreams
Trying to relax by your side

What madness calls me there
Pulling me away from you?
I softly touch your warm back
As you make mumuring noises

You wriggle your body
Considering the offer
These devious devices 
Usually setting the scene

We are so similar
Products of a darker past
Knowing, loving each other
Always safe in each other's arms

Image found at www.hyperlino.com

Nail in the coffin

Come put you ear to my trunk
Listen to the sigh of the trees
As the breeze ruffles the leaves
Their message reaches up to heaven

Follow me to watch the sea
Wash over rocks, pebbles and sand
Listen to the seashells tell
From whence all life's gifts have come

Turn, turn from searching the stars
Preserve the Earth that we have now
Many scrape poverty's bowl
Few prosper wallowing in greed

Save the forests, save the trees
Listen to the call of the wild
Time to break down the barrier
Foolish man no more will be king

Imag found at www.shutterstock.com

Time ebbed away

The sun's kiss was warm
They lay on the beach that day
Just seagulls and them

With his warm fingers
He drew patterns on her skin
She sighed happily

The sea waved at them
Their secret safe with him
As time ebbed away

Image found at www.shutterstock.com

A lucky lad

I was such a lucky lad
Sometimes good and sometimes bad
Roving outside in the wood
Or back at home being good
Then I'd find a cosy nook
And put my nose in a book
Reading lasting in the night
The "Faraway Tree" a delight
But the best for many years
Was "Mary Plain" that brought me to tears

Library gave Mum a job
Great place to escape the mob
Where I wandered down each aisle
So became a bookophile
Before adult read "Cruel Sea"
Expanding my library
With rude words I should not look
Found Neville Shute's many books
"Pied Piper" to "Legacy"
Such sad tales of times relevancy

Books like these I did collect
They had such lasting effect
Classics from Greece and of Rome
Still fill a place in my home
I like Murikami now
And do give Jonasson a go
Living in a world of books
You kiss girls and wade in brooks
Knowingly live in a strange land
As you're equipped with novel in hand

Image found at www.pinterest.com

Information on books referred to:

Faraway Tree - by Enid Blyton
Mary Plain - by  Gwynedd Rae
Cruel Sea - By Nicholas Montserrat
Pied Piper, and Legacy - by Neville Shute
Haruki Murikami - wrote 'Norwegian Wood' and others
Jonas Jonasson - wrote 'The Girl who saved the King of Sweden' and others

The Picnic

I could never understand

The logic of eating “en plein air”

A habit for which I had no care

My little heart would fall

When each event was planned and

Preparations made and put in hand

All but me were so excited

As hampers filled with food and drink

And even Dad would nod and wink

The trip was hell as discomfort reigned

Brother and sister jumped and played

In the car as I sat dismayed

And when we found the spot to sit

Far from home and comfort’s bliss

I would more and more my teddy miss

Parents sat and children scattered

But soon this changed as did the weather

As ants attacked and wasps did gather

Our food was clearly the attraction

As crawling emmets were pulverized

And wasps were flicked away from eyes

The clouds that up to now had taunted

Now let loose their fury wild

And Mum was no longer mild

With hasty packing we left the field of dreams

And turned my day from a nightmare

To head for home without one care

And when that night with Teddy tucked

Picnics I prayed from me please keep

and slept that night in blissful sleep

This poem is an oldie of mine from 2012 that deserved an airing. PS: Emmets are ants

Image found at www.adeptpest.com

Boys night out

Cheers he said throwing the beer can
A stupid grin on his wan face
Giving vent to unknown anger
Not wanting to undo his past
And with no thought for tomorrow

The lads night had been ruined
As he couldn't handle his booze
The single line of youths walked on
Hoping the next bar would let them in
Perhaps cut them a bit of slack

They went in pairs but no luck there
But one of them got a carton
So we all went down to the beach
To sit by the sand and the surf
Larking with the pebbles and shells

It's Jim's wedding day tomorrow
Let's hope he remembers who to
Looking all trim for the next day
Strapping lad is Jim; she's beaut too
At least I've got the ring for them

Image found at www.boldsky.com

Wind whistles sadly

The desert's waiting
It's in no hurry
You're welcome each day
If you come by chance
And quite unprepared
You'll probably stay

Beauty and quiet
The circle of life
But moisture is scant
Come without water
Your life may be short
With thirst you will pant

What is that stirring?
Some creatures out there
They're waiting for you
A circle of stones
Bones in the scrubland
All elbows and toes

Wind whistles sadly
Be wary at night
A picturesque scene
Like a mournful flute
Best hide at noontime
They know where you've been 

So hard to find shade
Distance deceptive
Could be farther off
What is that panting
A creature out there?
I've just heard him cough

Image found at www.likesuccess.com

Recalling the past

Remembering all
The life from my young childhood
Recalling the past

Wading the river
Catching tiddlers in glass jars
Mum's face was aghast

Bright sunny morning
Racing our dog up the hill
He won, he's so fast

Then I broke my arm
Falling out of a tall tree
It's now in a cast

Spying young Sylvie
In the classroom one Spring day
So notes were then passed

But she broke my heart
As Jimmer Travers she chose
I was so downcast

Soon I was smiling
I met Jill at a party
So happy at last

Memories I have
Those days of childhood there still
As the years fly past

Image found at www.shutterstock.com

Dreaming of the past

Her name was Ingrid and she had long blonde hair that she flicked from her face as she grinned at me in class as I tried not to respond as I knew the teacher watched us like a hawk.

When we got out of school she wanted to take me home and show me her house and meet her mother so she held my hand which was soft and warm as she eyed me all the time as though I belonged to her.

Theirs was an old cottage with a beautiful garden and she told me her father worked on an estate as the head gardener and I could see why because it was immaculate.

So we burst through the front door and I was introduced to her mother who smiled with pleasure that Ingrid had brouight home a friend from school so gave us a drink and told us to go out into the back garden.

It was magnificent there as we made our way through a thick conifer hedge with an arched entrance that led into a wonderland of winding pathways, ornamental ponds, shaded bowers and flowers blooming everywhere.

It was magic; bees were buzzing butterflies flitting amongst the flowers and Ingrid was still holding my hand as she then turned to me and out of sight of the kitchen window she kissed me on my lips and that kiss I have remembered for the rest of my life as I sit here in my retirement home dreaming of the past.

Image found at www.pinterest.com

The jokester

The stare was intense
His eyes decried his spirit
So haunted were they

Furrowed brow, dark looks
Beneath this gloomy facade
Was a funny man

Who can ever see
The person under the mask
What they really are?

So it was with Jim
Sullen, hardly said a word
What a jokester he

Even then his face
Didn't cracked even one smile
While we laughed out loud

Image found at www.photocase.com

My favorite month

Ah! April's fresh and breezy smile
So leave my umbrella behind
I'd rather be kissed by spring's rain

The sun peeps in and out of sight
Clouds chase across the morning sky
Like a horse with a flowing mane

Anxious people they now look up
As raindrops fall they scurry on
And water washes down the drain

I smile as eagle soars above
Blown blossom now catches my eye
Train's gleeful whistle on the plain

Farmers busy ploughing their fields
Fat cattle mooing in the byre
Horse in paddock flicks his mane

April is my favorite month
It tells me that I am alive
And now I'm rid of winter's pain

Image found at www.au.pinterest.com

Shedding tears

I'm sad now you've gone
For April is a lonely month
Shedding tears for me

I miss your dark eyes
For they glance at me no more
Who now do they see?

Your soft hands don't touch
Just who now have they beguiled
Why did you run free?

Doves they coo no more
Falling blossoms everywhere
But I have ennui

I'm sad now you've gone
For April is a lonely month
Shedding tears for me

Image found at www.pathfindermag.com

Just hold my tongue

Just hold my tongue
Swallow my words
Erase my thoughts
But my heart will still sing with love always

Quench my spirit
Shred my letters
Claw my eyes out
But you will stay in my heart forever

Crawl in a hole
Cry in the hills
Shriek from your throat
But you're my homeland and will ever be

Image found at www.lifeafterdivorcerocks.wordpress.com                         

Who cares?

Your sweet brown eyes they urge me on
With a primal urge to kiss you
I confess I just have no shame
For as soon as I am near you
Be it in town or the garden
Even while walking on the beach
Whichever place we happen to be
Who cares whether 'tis love or lust
If I never get past first base
But I'll follow you to the moon
Or rise to the stars in the sky
To reach you, for you are perfect


Image found at www.pixabay.com

When they are alone

Each room I enter
I will glance at the bookshelves
To read the titles

Is it wrong to judge
Someone by the books they read
Rather than their face?

Some check the kitchen
Or look out at the garden
Where their hearts would be

Some would be happy 
To be greeted by a pet
Where their love may lie

But I like to see 
What adventures they have
When they are alone

Image found at www.ourdailybreadalbany.com