Had nothing to do
Need somewhere to be
So I went for a walk
Just where could I go?
Perhaps down the beach
Breathe in the sea air
The walk was not far
With stick in my hand
Not many around
Watchng clouds and sand
Soon standing at prom
Kids play without care
Did I bring wallet?
I fancy a sit
At café for drink
So walk a long way
To find the right place
Kath's Kafe by name
Girl behind counter
Smiles sweetly at me
Took order, that's done
A 'cappo' and cake
Grabbed paper to read
Do a crossword game
Found table with view
People watching's good
Better than the news
Coffee came along
Waitress smiled at me
Life's a poem dear
Age sees world anew
Fold hands to relax
Spilt coffee down shirt
Woman grins at me
Matters not, I'm old
I welcome each year
Image found at https://pixabay.com/images/search/old%20man%20%cafe/
The beauty of marriage
Is that we both become
Whole, not less in union
I'll love you always
When we are alone
When the children steal you
When they leave home
Now that you have gone
You'll always be
A part of me
Image found at https://pixabay.com/photos/family-beach-fun-seaside-summer-2025594/
I'm not fond of the word glory
That sly, smug feeling of success
Just who do you please but yourself?
Are you person of some renown
Why not shy with some muted pride
Or is it about gaining wealth?
Once winning was satisfaction
But now one must gain more that this
Hard cash plus trophy on the shelf
So this flower uses the word
Morning Glory just says it all
Takes over fence with pride and stealth
Beautiful, impressive to see
It can make my day quietly
Such pleasure even buoys my health
Image found at https://www.outsidepride.com/seed/flower-seed/morning-glory/morning-glory-royal-ensign.html
We are ignorant and flawed creatures
Greedy, wasteful, blind in a crisis
We light fires to that which gives us breath
No belief that climate will change
When oxygen disappears from Earth
Earth is of course constantly changing
But it will remain it is not the end
Unless you need oxygen to breathe
We and all other creatures will die
Then green trees willl again conquer Earth
That is of course if the rain still falls
So the trees and plants are watered
Perhaps oceans can then recover
But for our plastic waste choking life
From living in the sad wounded Earth
But mark my words all you readers
Mankind will not be number one
The impact will be great, that's no lie
Loss of breath, loss of lives, we have failed
Escalating our demise on Earth
Image found at https://sea.mashable.com/culture/5813/the-amazon-forest-is-burning-to-the-ground-heres-how-it-happened-and-what-you-can-do-to-help
You always make me welcome
On arrival at your home
Your face lights up, and seize me
Lovingly you pull me in
You gather up odds and ends
Hiding other girly stuff
"Like a drink?" I hear you say
I hug her close with a grin
"Can't stay long" I tell her now
"Currently I'm on a job"
She looks sad pouted her lips
So I kissed her nose and chin
Got me a glass of water
"I could come tonight, okay?"
She screwed up her pretty nose
Face eases "I may be in"
Who knows what goes with us two?
What fate has for us in store
Know we are a perfect match
But enjoy pursuit we both will win!
Image found at https://pixabay.com/photos/young-couple-fall-in-love-with-1760184/
It is the look in their eyes that counts
She returned my glance the trap was set
Lowers hers so I can reel her in
She wriggles a bit, but I still win
Her name is Roseanne my sweetest rose
Those soft warm hands they belong to me
Kiss her, she murmurs contented sigh
Opens her eyes, looks up says "I must fly"
She drives off to work, I work at home
We make love each and every night
I grab a coffee, get down to work
I'm self employed so can never shirk
I get a call about half past ten
Been an accident, she's had a crash
Hospital advising of the fact
She is injured from the cars impact
So I say I'm coming right away
Have to cancel a late visitor
It took me half hour to make the trip
She'd died and my sad tears then let rip
She told me once why she loved me
She could find no other any place
Once recalled snuggled up brow to brow
She'd said, "What you love you must love now"
Image found at https://pixabay.com/photos/search/patient
What I do like about travel
Is that some places you visit
It's like entering a museum
One is entranced by unique views
As you leave crowded airport
The buildings are all different
In Holland windmills wave at you
And you get lost in Amsterdam
For not one road seems to be straight
In London and Paris museums
Hide from traffic and tall buildings
Spires, domes and bridges and transport
Whilst in Rome and and wet Venice
Seem to be like museums themselves
Where time appears to stand stock still
Why do we revel in long gone past
For we don't really learn from it
We make mistakes over again
And when we progress, we still fail
to anticipate the future
Or live peaceably with others
Of all the mammals on Earth
We are the ugliest there is
Love profit whilst ruin our home
For now our climate is changing
To endanger our existence
And even balance of nature
Just how stupid to have done this?
Over thousands of years living
To leave none to visit museums
Image found at www.inexhibit.com.locations/london-museums-exhibitions
Just what is love? I hear you ask
My mind goes back so many years
Fragrant gardens and holding hands
Kissing under the old oak tree
Your sweet eyes now light up for me
The years have passed, fragile is love
It does not have a fighting chance
Have we strength to fix things up?
We spoke much but did not agree
We are not who we used to be
But we can't give up everything
No way I want to see you sad
I do love you, must make amends
We'd both be lost, we are a pair
Let us make up, it's only fair
Image found at https://pixabay,com/photoes/moon-couple-blue-live-in-love-3059324/
I saw you once again
My, how strange, I saw you standing there
At busy Victoria tube station
On London's Underground yesterday
You had got off the other platform
Didn't catch sight of me boarding here
They gave the all clear and we moved
You took the exit way unaware
How bizarre, you were my first true love
We had spent so much time together
Doubt you'd worry now or even care
I'd made my offer to you after school
A couple of dates; you played the field
Clear you didn't want ties at that time
Or thought I was a shallow man then
Wonder if she'd fancy an affair?
Nah! I'd only crash again
Image found at https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4214503
I wondered if you would remember me
We were always absolute friends
Heartbeats in such synchronicity
Until sadly the kiss spelled the end
We all walked home after school each day
You and John had always been best friends
We were all in shock the day John died
You cried in my arms, strange message sends
We did connect after both left school
When I met the husband of your choice
Was glad that you did not make it last
Could even say that I did rejoice
It wasn't long before we did date
To find we fitted hand in glove
No secrets just joy and the good times
A relationship based on true love
Books in order of use:
Remember me
Absolute friends
Heartbeats
The Kiss
The day John died
Connect
The husband
Make it last
The secrets
The good times
Image found at https://thezebra.org/2019/04/30/alexandria-how-far-should-the-walk-to-school-be
We didn't have television
Not before the coronation
Way back in nineteen fifty three
The Queen got crowned but poor were we
Were invited, parents and us boys
Watch with friends, quite a lot of noise
All day affair and food galore
Us boys could wish for no more
Their son and us had lots to do
Boring TV shown all day through
So we went in other room to play
Brother found booze, hip, hip hooray!
Not that I ever touched a drop
Brother took sip, could not stop
Not long before he was asleep
No single word did that boy peep
By that time I was watching Queen
Now with crown upon her bean
Hosts now thought TV should rest
Food they now served, was the best
Dad said "Where is your brother lad?"
I kept dumb; as knew things were bad
Dad found him, he was drunk to the world
On the floor and with bottle curled
So we had to wend our way home
He was put to bed and left alone
But that boy was caught in the net
Did not forget Mum was upset
We did get TV later on
But now was dating girl Yvonne
So had much better things to do
TV no match for kissing you
Image found at https://spunout.ie/opinion/article/romanticising-alcoholism
Note V4: 1.Letting the TV have a rest was quite a common habit in the 1950's in case it overheated!
2. Bean is an old slang word for head
I was never one for opening nights
Bystanders gawping on the busy road
Crowding out a stoic regular crowd
Fashionisters, press and some invites
On that night the film mattered not one hoot
As the celebrity scene conquered all
Who cared if film was good, bad or awful
We'd hear later who was given the boot
We'd finally get to see the film ourselves
After this crowded show of publicity
At local flick far from the lights of the city
With cheap candy and drinks like happy elves
We'd tell of our opinions good and bad
Taking each scene and location in mind
Not missing all the parts cut out we find
Reviews later write of this which is sad
Movies are of course still creative art
Actors are the workers that make it so
The story, format and location too
Turning backdrop so you become a part
Image found at https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/5/16/15508284/cannes-fim-festival-2019-dates-pronounce-netflix-jury.
Summer's sun and birds sweet song
Scent of flowers with bees hum
As they work hard for their queen
To make honey from the juice
Which they store for winter long
While she finds drone which to mate
He idles round with his pals
To see if they can be next
To mate with queen, to be best!
Then find he has sealed his fate
Let's hope it was all worth while
Not that he will ever know
That many kids he would make
To be workers in the hive
Or that he was quite virile!
Image found at https://pixabay.com/photos/bees-beehive-honey-bees-on-approach-157826/
I still dream of her
But she is long gone
There was a war on
I crossed the border
She stayed, my Evonne
Would not leave her kin
'Suppose that was right
I cried that cold night
Just to save my skin
For a future bright
What a future is this?
Without one I love
We were hand in glove
Living life of bliss
She my turtle dove
I still dream of her
Safety sucks you dope
I fret and I mope
She was my true love
I have lost all hope
Many years later
We met up again
Seeing her was a pain
She's safe but not mine
My loss, other's gain
Image found at https://pixabay.com/photos/traveler-hipster-bag-man-2203666
How I remember stitches when as a child growing up. My brother's mended clothes were worn by me when he grew out of them. Yes, this is a story of the war and vivid is my memory of those days. Nobody is proud of poverty but then all suffered. Mum had to stitch our worn clothes together. Dad repaired our shoes holes as we couldn't afford a tradesman to do it.
My brother was lucky he was older so most of the new clothes went to him first and then handed down to me as he grew out of them so I benefitted by looking pretty ordinary! If you wore something new you might be teased or pushed over into a puddle so that you looked like the rest of us...dirty and poor as church mice.
My brother didn't like me. He thought I had stolen mother's breasts from him when I was born. I was five before he let me play with him and his mates in our street. Still he kept the upper hand by pushing me in the stinging nettles on the way home to show me who was boss.
However by that time I was making my own friends at school so we tended to play separately there so I was bullied by kids my own age...which seemed fair! Boys are adventurous and I was better at climbing trees than my brother; so I could shimmy up a tree and grin stupidly down at him, so he threw stones at me.
Once I fell out a tree and broke my wrist. When I showed my mother her immediate question was "Did your brother do this to you?" Sadly I said "No...I did it myself".
281 words
Image found at https://www.washingtonpost.com/
It is barely six o'clock in the morning
Dawn has broken, bees hum, birds are singing
Flapping their busy wings in the water bowl
I hear our dog outside the back give a howl
My wife nudges me, "Come on, get up, lets go"
Then I remembered, coffee at café, heigh ho!
"Come on, quick shower then out" she smiles sweetly
Dog grinning at my wife is sat before me
So we walk down the avenue to the sea
Dog wags stupidly he best day of the week
For there's a water bowl at the café we reach
And he'll get a nice long run on the beach
Find a table with sunshade outside the café
The dog dancing round like he does by the sea
Glad we walked as parking spaces are really full
Bathers surf boards already tempting the waves
Old silver haired couple walking close hand in hand
"Drink your coffee" says wife "Let's walk on the sand"
So I down my coffee and grab the dog's lead
As we walk down the ramp, dog wanting to speed
Look's back at us willing me to let him go
His message is clear, shake my head to say "No"
Wade in the water say "Stay" as I set him free
He swims and grins happy as can be at me
Image found at https://pixabay.com/photos/beach-dog-on-leash-canvas-1671560/
The eyes of the dead are on me
I do not heed their tempting call
I write; as I have ideas galore
I feel that I can do so much more
"It's time, it's time" I hear them say
As poetry flows from my pen
I write of Earth and the oceans broad
Of trees and beasts and of river's ford
But those sad moans come thick and fast
Is that my wife now calling me?
Just one more haiku I plead and cry
Is must be the latest prompts I spy?
So the words still come and spill forth
Until I feel my wife's sweet kiss
So won't be here for the weekend's post
I had to choose that which I loved the most
Image found at Real Toads "Emperor of the Dawn" by Quincy Washington with permission
