All at peace

I always hurry home from work
All my married life with Maureen
Been together just a few years
Much work to do, no time for tears

Whilst wifey raised our family
Pushing pram to our village shop
We had babies Martin and Ruth
(I wanted more to tell the truth)

Our back garden fence on moor land
So took toddlers there for a walk
To see the pine trees and the lake
Wild birds flew up, we saw a snake

There we were alone on that moor
Kids loved it even a slinking fox
We sat down and watched all around
Nature at work, then homeward bound

Both kids now had sticks in their hands
They loved seeing this world up close
So back we went to lunch and Mum
All hungry, they'd eat every crumb

Wife was ironing when we got back
But stopped to hear the kids wild chat
My working week all released
I love to see us all at peace

Image found at https://pixabay.com/photos/moor-moorland-swamp-793619/

I woke from my dream

I woke from my dream, just where had I been?
Seems like three hundred years ago
I worked in an architects office
Drawing boards on benches by windows
Chatter of draftsmen, pencils in hand
Erasers sitting waiting for call

"Boss has gone on an inspection"
Says Matt, whose window faces car park
Relaxing now he now makes paper planes
Smallest models, snipped and taped up
That fly about the drawing office
For half hour or so; except one day

That was when the boss returned early
We believed we'd be safe for a spell
As we had just launched our fighter jets
Door opened and in he walked unaware
He looked at Pat then at me straight faced
"Forgot to pick up the Palmer flle"

Ignoring the paper plane on the floor
I walked to the drawer and fetched the file
As he left he gave me a small grin
"Might be a long time, it's already three"
Thirsty after that fright, tidy up
Tea girls trolley is a welcome sight

Now we really must get back to work
So cleaned scraps of paper slits off floor
Pat says "Must give him longer to go"
As he fills his fountain pen with ink
While I do my given tasks quietly
Dark now, wonder what Mum's got for tea?

Image found at https://art4clip.com/explore/Drawn%20planks20draughtsman

Curiously when I viewed the given words they allowed my to recall my very first job working in an architects office and my older workmate's passion for making paper planes in his spare time or when he was bored and this poem records the time when the boss caught us out by chance!

Spring's warmer days

The chill of winter shows it's face
No beams of greeting or of cheer
Heads now bowed against swirling wind
Umbrellas up for teeming rain

So we dream of spring's warmer days
We drive slowly in a downpour
Or throw sticks to our dog Bruce
Not just watching from window pane

How long 'til sweet Summer's song
First signs with Shrike Tit's sweet trill
Cold now gone, free to bare my knees
So dear Sun you do keep me sane

Image found at https://www.wombatbend.com/our-crested-shrike-tits-are-back/

Woke up early

Woke up early and it was already light
While I was shaking off effects of last night
Visitors came and lasted beyond their stay
Not that they knew it, but I'd had a long day

I looked outside to view our garden green
Wifey has the kids and all her chores unseen
Walks dog and tends each flower bed
Cooks like chef and pleases me; enough said?

She looks beautiful, sleeping peacefully now
I wonder if kiss on the lips she'd allow?
All at once she said these words "I'm not asleep
As I've checked on you now and then with a peep"

"I'd woke earlier, thought you'd left on the light
But the sun had beaten us by shining bright
So there's only one thing you can do for me
My dear, is go and get me that cup of tea"



Image found at http://www.turning-earth.co.uk/news/index.php/2014/05/06/springtime-in-the-garden-in-pictures/

So many years ago

With thoughts in my mind and hope in my heart
I set about walking to the top of the hill
So I could look down on the town I was born
That I had left so many years ago

It has gorwn of course and changed so much
With one way traffic and conjested roads
Which is no surprise as towns grow up too
But sang soft song of love from long ago

Why did I go back? I hear you ask me
With sand and cement in every town
Perhaps to see the school I once was taught
And roam the woods and streams of long ago

Or walk to the railway's station now changed
Steam engines have disappeared from sight
Now provides a carpark for hundreds of cars
Recall just six, seventy years ago

Perhaps relive the trials of growing up
Queuing at cinemas ticket booth
Kissing first girlfriend by the parks gate
What a mercy I recall those days long ago

Image found at https://keithpp.wordpress.com/2015/08/22/afternoon-in-farnham-43/

Riding the bike

"Good he's learning to ride the bike"
I'm home from work, wife son in hand
Leading him crying back indoors
"This is your job" She said sadly
"I feed him, clothe him and yours is
to teach him things that end badly"

Her sarcasm was not lost on me
So I went out to fetch the bike
No damage, so wheeled it back in
But sat down and showed him my scar
Son was nibbling at a biscuit
"That's from when I fell out my car"

"No it's not" said my wife, smiling
"My appendix scar is bigger"
By this time our son was grinning
"Now you have fallen off" she said
"You don't have to do it again
but can have a story in bed"

Image found at https://pixabay.com/photos/search/boy%20on%20bike/

My father-in-law

My father-in-law hated picnics
It wasn't his favourite activity
He liked his meals served up on a plate
At the table in the dining room
Eating out 'en plein air' he did hate

But he liked to swim did my wife's dad
At the sandy beach close to our home
But seeing that snacks were in the pack
He'd walk far away along the beach
Searching for round pebbles, shells and wrack

Not that he was a miserable guy
His sense of humour quite unique
Loved it when grandkids curled in his lap
Best of all swam in the briny sea
Then in the deckchair take a long nap

Image found at http://www.eguidetravel.com/articles/adelaide-beaches/

A baby's born

She lay on her back breathing
Her breasts heaving
Her thighs quivered
Her eyes watching
As baby's born
Midwife holding
New baby now being weighed

"That's a mountain climbed" she said
"Let's check you out"
Baby now wrapped
Placed in her arms
Murmurs her love
Singing a song
Now surging with emotion

"You've been nine months a'coming
I'm your Mama
You'll see Dad soon
All in good time
But I'm the boss
There's work to do
Clean the stains and tidy up”

"You and me will be tigers
My first baby
My little girl
All I wished for
Princess at home
Have no secrets
Now let's meet Daddy shall we?"


Image found at https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/45106433746836216/?lp=true

It was her birthday

It was her birthday and he had been busy all week and still hadn't bought a gift for her and they were meeting after work so it was lunchtime or never. So Joe trawled through the arcades and speciality shops but couldn't make up his mind between, jewelry, perfume or a watch or anything really that would a smile on her face and that special look in her eyes.

"May I be of assistance?" The elegant shop assistant said as Joe wandered around another boutique shop. Joe plunged right in desperately saying "It's my girlfriend's birthday and I just can't make up my mind" he said shyly. "Let me walk you around and show you a few things" she said reassuringly as she proceeded to present him with possibilities after tactfully extracting his budget for the purchase. 

Finally after indicating that there was plently to choose from she then said "I do have this opal ring that I'd love to have my boyfriend give me." Joe looked at the ring then at the girl, nodded  and pulled his wallet from his pocket..

It was her birthday

Joe looked at the opal ring

And said "I'll take it"

Image found at www.opalringloveits much.com

Of course a there's a backstory to this poem because back in 1969 when my wife Maureen gave birth to our third child and we decided to name her Robyn; I bought her an opal ring similar to this which Robyn has to this day.

In the forest

Ahu and Hoata had gone to the forest to find a Hirau tree. Both mothers babies in slings on the backs and Hoatas step daughters with them too. Hinewai flirted with everyone but Hatiti confessed she wanted a husband like Ahuahu, Ahu's husband. Ahu and Hoata laughed at the teenagers innocence searching for the Hirau tree while gathering berries too. The girls wandered off talking about men!

Hoata said they needed a man's help but Ahu said "No, let the men feel good fishing together".
"...and talking" replied Hoata "...that is all men do. When they fish they talk, when they return they talk. However I'm glad Kamaka has Ahuahu as a friend because they laugh a lot"

"We laugh a lot too" said Ahu, looking down so not to convey the true meaning. Hoata noticed the look straight away saying "I could laugh more without two girls at home!"

The women had by this time found the tree cut and packed several pieces of the wood in their baskets. Hoata was about to call out for the girls when there was a scream and crashing through the undergrowth.

"Pakeha!" screamed Hinewai, The two mothers froze at the words pulling the teenager into the dense vegetation and telling her to be silent. 

"Where's Hatiti?" Crying, Hinewai just shook her head. They lay still before they heard movement close by as two stangers slashed the bushes with their weapons. The three stayed quiet and luckily the babies slept on as the men passed by deep into the trees. 

"Go home Ahu" Hoata said handing her baby to Hinewai, "I'll find Hatiti" Ahu nodded her head and handed her the machete and started off with Hinewai with the babies to the village.


This story is part of an episode from a serial I posted many years ago somewhat altered to fit the maximum word count. If you want to read the whole series click on Ahu in the labels link where there are another 108 episodes plus flow on stories as well of Maori life and legends. Total 306 words in above story. 'Pakeha' means 'White man' or 'Stranger'.

Image found at https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin6403624443835370/?lp=true

Reading and writing

It's hard to lose one's best friends
That's how I felt with boxfuls
Of second hand books in car
Moving house for one more time

Borrowed trailer helped a bit
My fault to have so much stuff
With each move a slash and burn
While getting poems to rhyme

I'm stupid, purblind, trust all
Sheets, blankets all in first trip
China rattles in the back
To new home the car did climb

Passed one hotel so that's fine
Writers need to taste this world
Scribbling poems and ditties
Sheets of love tales so sublime

Fine to put them on the web
Readers pleased comments galore
Print editions would be best
Not yet made a single dime

What I'd really like to see
My face and book in window
Of the best bookshops in town
Even for a single time

Image found at https://storeandmore.com.au/heading-overseas-extended-period-tips/packed-car/

My office window

I look from my office window
At faux charm of city below
Buses, buskers vendors galore
Doves fly down and dust floats up
In long summer's stifling damp heat

Sensing her perfume close to me
The winsome smile of the office girl
Her sighs viewing the street below
Wishing she was off shopping now
Browsing the view near to my seat

Heard her sing in the kitchen once
As I walked by one winter's day
Stopped and wriggled when she saw me
Looked like an orphan, 'til I smiled
How both her and my hearts did beat

Office affairs are hard to hide
We tried, we tried so very hard
I scarcely touched her yet some see
Our eyes betrayed us every day
But we married, lives now complete


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

Talking to some friends

Talking to some friends of mine
The birds, the beasts and a fish or two
Wondering what we should do

Clearly climate was in strife
Surely the creatures who were to blame
Would forfeit their lives in shame

They looked down as they discussed
And avoided glancing in my eyes
Who was at fault? No surprise!

Clearly the Earth would not survive
If the most destructive creature stayed
"Sorry sir, it's you I'm afraid"

Trying to soften the blow
They said "It's not you but all your mates"
"For you it's the pearly gates"

I tried to plead for a stay
They said "Use your brains, rocket away"
"Bio-diversity is the only way"

Then I awoke from that wild dream
For they were right and we were so wrong
We must change before that gong


Image found at https://photos.com/art/tranquility