I dry my eyes

How confused one gets in these Covid days

It's summer again in Australia

And the sea beckons me as I drive by

The beach is almost empty (mingling not good)

I sit in my car and I view the scene

"Take off your shoes and come in for quick swim"

Whispers the teasing crested waves to me

My toes wriggle with anticipation

So I look and yearn for those long gone days

Still lingering there and undecided

Watching others walk along far apart

Next time I'll take my bathers from the closet

Find a secluded beach in a little cove

My mind is already shedding laced shoes

Now I am wriggling my toes again

But I'm still in the car dreaming away

Imagining lifesavers flag flapping there

And bikini clad girls playing around

Gulls squawk, I awake from my reverie

Start the car, taking one last look down there

Already feel flat and disappointed

Like a kid denied a trip, crying out loud

So I dry my eyes...the sea breeze does that!

 Illustration from www.Pixabay.com

 

In the woods

 

As we walked in the woods

Fir trees whispered to us

We sat down in a glen

The sun set, stars came out

Silver specks far away

Some close by, some apart

We rested there in the wood

Leaning back I kissed her

Looking back to the fields

Quietly by its trunk

Telling secrets to me

On well worn forest path

Comet then chased up high

As it did what it should

Soon all was quiet now

Summers warm night nodded

So removed all our clothes

And quite naked thus made love

Grinning over the fields

Hand in hand walked away

Happy loving all's good

Image found at www.pixabay.com

After ten years

Never used to look like this, you won't recall me

I caused innocent cute girl to die years ago

A young thing who sweet looks would break anyone's heart

Her untimely death was entirely up to me

When I was driving oh so many years ago

Butcher from hell they called me putting fear in all

When driving that foggy day too fast (so they say)

Peering through the mist following sedan in front

When in the dimness this girl tried to cross the road

Brushed against sedan which not a soul did see

He didn't stop, didn't care one bit, all left to me

I called ambulance, cops came too unknown to me

The girl died before they got to hospital

No witnesses, no details of the death, just me

Was arrested as they checked details of the site

Court decided twelve years the time for me

I got out after ten years which was a bonus

I didn't need disguise but did reshape my life

Swept the past under the carpet as they say

Church rector wed wife and me; my past swept away

Image found at www.pixabay.com

Note the words given (all used) curiously wrote the story for me!

A walk on the beach

Yum was busy with her new baby, her little girl. It wasn't long before her boy Wah-Wah was toddling everywhere so a baby sling was used for her baby so Yum and Dong could go out together with their children either in the scrubland or on the beach. As they wandered on the beach the tide was out. Bonk, Dong's little boy ran on ahead and Wah-Wah now toddling after him. They had walked a long way and the boys were jumping over seaweed that had washed up on the sand and even letting the sea cover their feet as it was low tide. Yum then noticing a woman gathering seaweed in her basket farther away urged Dong to catch up with them to ensure the boys were safe. 

Dong ran after the boys and when she got there the woman was showing the boys they could squeeze the bobble covered weed and make it pop. They were laughing each time she did it but weren't strong enough to do it themselves. When Yum caught up with them Bonk was wearing some weed on his head pretending he was a sea monster. The woman explained to Yum she collected seaweed, cleaned it in fresh water and cooked it like a vegetable. She then went on to say it was sometimes good to heal wounds and sore throats. Dong however merely shook her head in disbelief. Yum however nodded and said she would try some. She then said her name was Yum; pointed to Dong and said "Dong". The woman smiled and said "My name is "Song". 

Song then pointed to the children in turn and said "Bonk" and then turned to Wah-Wah and said "Wah-Wah"  but when she looked at Yum's baby she looked quizzically at Yum.

"This is Lah-Lah"" Yum said shyly. 

Yum and Dong often went walking on the beach to meet Song the woman from a different clan who knew about cures for sicknesses. As it was summer time they travelled further afield sometimes finding her singing in the woods or talking to the streams. 

(345 words)

Down in my bones

Oh it's down in my bones I feel

I'm not the man I used to be  

Where is that boy that ran about 

And lived a life full of energy

Yet now I am but a pale visage

I find it hard to walk down the street

But I still love life it is so sweet

I would feel grateful in my bones

But they moan a lot when I walk

And I seem to groan as I talk

With my walking stick in right hand

I'm shorter too sinking in quick sand

Or that is how it seems to me

Wishing for life as it used to be

Image found at www.shutterstock.com

Yum's new baby

Yum was edgy as her second baby's time was due. Sometimes she'd sleep next to Dum sometimes apart. Early one morning Dum woke to find little Wah-Wah was snuggled up to him and Yum gone. 

Dum knew at once baby was on its way so took Wah-Wah to Dong and Grunt to care for him. Dong guessed Yum was having the baby and nodded knowing Dum was unlike any man she knew, questioning every rule. 

Dum went down to the wooded area that women used for birthing and could see a group of women round Yum as she puffed and panted delivering her new child. When she cried out in pain Dum could stand it no longer and knelt down and supported her brushing hair from her face. "I am never going to lose you Dum, am I?" she laughed "Baby's nearly here".

The women grumbled a bit but with baby's head emerging they had work to do. "One more push, Yum" the old woman in charge said. So Yum holding tight to Dum's arm brought a new baby girl into the world. The women wiped the baby clean and wrapped it in flax cloth and placed it in Yums arms. Dum wanted to touch the baby too but Yum shook her hear saying "She must smell me first and then get to know you later" as she checked babies breathing and one woman was tying some flax round the cord.

The old woman said to Dum "Go now and tell no-one what you have seen; this is women's business." Yum nodding, agreed that he should go.

"I'll go and check the fish trap " Dum said walking down to the beach crying from his one eye as the sun came up over the horizon. Later Grunt came up and said "There's talk that Yum has had her baby. Do you still want to collect the fish?"

Dum grinned, "Yes I think so, Grunt".

(318 words)

Illustration from www.shutterstock.com

Family Christmas

Kids all love Christmas and always have

Anticipation of gifts to come

With all the goodies in front of them

And baby in manger on display

For Christ was born on this very day

Brother and I liked everything

Peppermints, brandysnaps, carols too

Turkey, gingerbread and deck of cards

Crash in the kitchen who did what where?

Don't worry it's Christmas we don't care

We are called to the table for it's time

To pull the crackers and sip some wine

We wear paper hats we always do 

Dad's broken his thumbnail...no surprise

Have I got room for more mince pies?

We go in Lounge to sit in arm chairs

As youngest child hands presents from tree

These gifts once given are torn open

Us kids eager to see what we've got

Let' us hope that no-ones been forgot

It's time now to fetch the Christmas cake

Mum did the icing just yesterday

Now Granddad tells of fables long past

More drinks are poured but that's no surprise

Kids spin bottle and hope for a prize

Image found at www.pixabay.com

The tricky regime

Initially I didn't panic when I started as I ingested the idea of writing this idiotic form of poetic work. I have always tried to abide with poetic rules and regulations. In the end it just didn't work. I felt like a jerk. It was impossibly hard in fact but curiously challenging in an interesting way!

But like every little teasing test it is just like doing something inimical in fact, meaning tending to harm or be hostile, which is quite opposite to what I am in fact. This is quite interesting being a person hiding inside when it rains!

This year is one which hiding inside has been a sensible thing to do during the Covid crisis which has millions intensely worried by its consequences, with people unrecognizable in their masks. Worse still to witness silly idiots without masks daring the virus to infect them! I hate to see idiotic people do this as if challenging this way will help.

I hope that this virus's tricky regime will disappear within the northern winter or spring. As for Australia I'm glad to say it is weakening now in fact. 

Number of L's - 123

Words 176

Image found at www.pixabay.com

Moving day

The amount of people in the cave had risen causing grumbling by some that they would move away. Dum called them the wanderers, as they searched for somehwere better than the caves. 

The problem with staying was that food had to be found close by all year round. Animals and birds came and went with each season as they searched for food too. 

Grunt and his wife Dong were tempted to go but Yum felt safe with Dum who kept coming up with ways of finding food. He had invented the fish trap and the basket and rid the cave of bears; even the other men made stone axes like him rather than use just their spears. The spear was good but not always able to be retrieved from an angry animal who was hungry too! In fact many men carried more than one spear with them hunting. 

Dum and Yum talked about moving but Yum shook her head. "If we wander like the others it is hard with mothers with young children and worse with toddlers like Wah-Wah who are heavy to carry but cannot keep up with adults. We feed ourselves well here and with few going hunting close by will become easier.

He bent over and touched her face with his fingers. She looked up at him and smiled "There is one more thing, we have another baby on the way".

"Good" he said simply, stroking the hair on her head; as she closed her eyes and lay her head on his chest..

When Grunt's wife Dong heard Yum was staying she looked a little disappointed. Then quietly said "Perhaps little Bonk and I will stay with you too. Dum will look after us both won't he?"

Yum shook her head laughing, "No! Not in that way he won't!"

Dong blushed and shook her head. "No of course Grunt will stay as well, he likes Dum. We have never gone hungry with Dum around".

327 words

Image found at www.pixabay.com

I'll catch up with you

The air was cool and the candle flickered

Remembering kissing your lips one last time

And that was oh so many years ago

Holding you tight under the mistletoe

You ditched your boyfriend, so that pleased me

I was no dancer in fact you led me

Nodding your head like a referee

Following your footsteps, that's if I could

With my face looking like a piece of wood

We married of course, had kids one, two, three

But sadly I know those days are long gone

For your beautiful eyes no longer shone

You closed your sleepy eyes one last time

Now I'm lonely, lurking, hearing bells chime

I'll catch up with you I will guarantee

Blursday on my mind

I've never known a year to go so quick

As each day now speeds by clickety click

Australia's winter was but months ago

Now I am Christmas shopping don't you know?

Still carry a mask wherever I go

It's summer now as they said so

We are told it's safer but I'm not so sure

Breathing old breath I really do abjure

But one thing though that really pleases me

Are the girls eyes I regularly see

They know not that seeing them hides my grin

Covid is bad but this point feels like a win

 

Dreaming

 

I don't dream much anymore

My head hits the pillow, that's it

Book by the bedside unread

As dream weavers come to me

Standing there to check me out

Calling my name, I say nought

As they find me fast asleep

Touch my hands and read my palm

Quietly whisper in my ear

I dream of flying away now

So push the covers aside

Hold on as we slip away

Flying in the night time sky

I don't even wonder why

I don't feel heat or the cold

Behold I'm a wise hawk

Or a soft billowing cloud

I am part of creation

First life in a tiny shell

I see the meaning of life

Then the dark night brightens up

I'm back in bed, book unread

Dawn is winking through the curtain

T'was more than dreams, I'm certain

Image found at www.shutterstock.com

The breath of Spring

It had been a long cold winter with families huddled in the cave. Dum and his friend Grunt hunted animals and the women caught fish so they survived. Grunt liked his spear but it had to be sharpened, so he asked Dum for some flint chips. He had none suitable so they went the forest again to search for more.

The forest was not so dark in winter with the leaves fallen and the streams flowing strongly and noises heard more clearly. Then all of a sudden there was a rustle and a snort as a wild boar rushed toward them. Grunt threw his spear which just reflected from its back as Dum stood his ground as the pig charged at him. Dum then raised his axe and brought it down on the pigs head and fell sideways to avoid the animal.

Grunt watched with amazement as the boar kept going then suddenly collapsed some way from them. So he rushed up to it to make sure it was dead. It was; and although not fat it would feed the cave people for a few days. Dum pointed to the tusks and said perhaps they might make good spear heads or their woman might like to use the curved ones as an ornament.

Grunt hadn't seen that far ahead but Dum knew the women would be pleased that the men thought of them while they were hunting. Spring was now coming and Yum's mood would change and he knew she would wash herself again soon after the privations of winter! 

264 words

Illustration found at www.pixabay.com

I loved someone

I had one brother, he hated me

He was older and I'd stole that breast

That he always thought was his alone

Took some time before parents could see

Long after those first years were over

I had to watch for him hatching plans

As a pinch or punch would often come

When parents eyes didn't look our way

We both grew up and sent out to play

He'd punch and shove me in the nettles

Once in a little pond to laugh that day

So I'd run home but did not betray

So in the end I found my own friend

When first I started in junior school

We would play and explore on our own

T'was good not having not wear a frown

Better too when I played with some girls

Some with straight black hair and some with curls

I even held their hands walking home

During the war when the sirens droned

We moved house one year to a new town

Brother now went to senior school

And I fell in love with every girl

With fair hair and not even one curl

I walked this girl May home after school

She was the first to let me kiss her lips

And then there was Eileen and Joan too

In the end I chose Maureen to woo

Dum leaves his mark

One benefit of the fire in the cave was that the bats had gone too. They did not worry Dum and Yum as they had an overhanging ledge to sleep under that no-one else cared for. Dum didn't sit up straight when he woke, his main concern was to check that Yum and Wah-Wah were safe. Yum liked her hole in the wall too a it made her feel special while the other women preferred to hear the chatter of others and listen to their secrets. 

Yum would reach out and touch Dum's face when he was asleep wondering how such a man who thought things out rather than acting rashly should be so pleased with her. She knew she had a temper and would explode every now and then. Despite this Dum merely got on with his life providing for his family.

She was glad too that he was respected now rather than laughed at. She was determined to reward him. Perhaps she should stop hitting him so much or perhaps she could show her appreciation in some other way. She knew he really liked her as he always slept with one arm over her and Wah-Wah each night. 

Wah-Wah was growing and would soon be running about chasing birds and butterflies  when spring came around again. His was the first bearskin garment she had made to see how it could be and now she was working on one for her and Dum.

She went back to their sleeping place to tidy up. It was quite snug and dark there. As Dum was out with Wah-Wah she swept out bits and pieces and laid her firebrand on the floor so she could use both hands. As she brushed the debris out of their corner she glanced up and saw a drawing of bears on the rock above. She knew at once Dum had done it. He would definitely get a reward tonight. 

327 words

Winters come

 

Winter's come my hands are chapped

To warm them up I make them clap

I listen to the sounds of silence

There is no scent on my nose

Where are the critters? Who knows

Must be in bed like my wife Sue

Who will get up when she wants to

Don't be fooled she's worth every cent

Times ticking has changed not one thing

I remember all those years ago

As we sip on our lasting love

Much like a pair of cooing turtle doves

So grateful she did say "I do"

The clock ticked on as our love grew

So we gazed at tangerine skies

Saw the trust in each others eyes

We never tired of our love affair

Until the day I watched over you

In hospital for the last time

Longing that you'd stay with me

But sadly that was not to be

Christmas Celebration

I recall before the world was rich

When I was just a little titch
Celebrations then were very few
For then we had so much more to do
As poverty is like that you know
I remember Christmases long past
My present was new shoes meant to last
Not a big box of creme de menthe
That would be gone in less than a month

But are we as rich as all that now seems
As we waste money beyond our means
Struggling to pay our debts later on
When the bank's credit has now all gone
Celebrations are all ebb and flow
We're told we are happy so think we are
So we are like cogs in a motor car?
Just consumers for rich magnates gain

Who rub their hands quite blind to our pain 

Illustration from www.goodnewsnetwork.com

The bears were back

It was late autumn and the men could hear the grunts and roars of bears in the forest. They knew they may have to leave the cave if the bears decided to hibernate there this winter. They had to fight the bears or leave and there was much discussion where they should go.

Dum didn't say much merely saying "Let's wait until the bears choose where to go". Grunt saw the twinkle in Dum's good eye.

"What about the bears then?", he asked.

"Let them look in the cave. It may not suit them" said Dum. "But we should gather a lot of wood for the fire with winter coming and store it in the cave".

A few days later the bears came. Luckily those inside could see the bears as the caves were dark to bears and this gave them a chance to escape without the bears seeing them.

Everyone gathered to discuss where to sleep that night. As Dum's suggestion they built a few fires that night some way off and gathered extra fuel to keep them going. The men took it in turns to keep watch and when it was Dum and Grunt's turn, Dum said he would check the cave taking a fire brand with him. All was quiet there except for bears grunts and snorts. So Dum entered and set light to the dry wood store inside.Then he backed out and hurried to the others. 

Before long everyone woke at the roars of the trapped bears inside the cave as they were overcome by the smoke and unable leave as the fire engulfed the entrance.

Grunt said "Won't they come and attack us?"

Dum shook his head "If they escape they won't come towards another fire will they?"

In the morning they carefully checked the cave finding no bears had escaped the smoke and flames. Yum was pleased; she went up to Dum and asked if they could use the bear skins. Dum looked doubtful but said  "We can try".

(323 words)

Illustration found at www.shutterstock.com

The ripening corn

What I liked as a kid

Was laying in a field out the back

Amid the stalks of ripening corn

Watching the butterflies flutter about

With the wide clear blue sky overhead

So glad that I had been born

I felt that I could sing

(Teacher said "T'was like a cross cut saw")

As I lay there quite safe out of sight

This sunny day of schools summer break

As I sank in my nest by myself

Warmed by the Sun's bright light

I'm no longer that boy

That tender age has long passed me by

When sliding on ice was just the thing

But kissing girls was not on the cards

The boy I was, just a speck of dust

Take me back...and I'll sing!

Image found at www.pixabay.com

I like crows

 

I like crows 

Goodness knows

Why I think this way

It's their character I guess

I see them and they see me

They cock their heads as you see

Crows like me

Fly right down

As I open door

To see what I'll give them today

They eat all the scraps I throw out

That they like me there is no doubt

Image found at www.pixabay.com

Dum makes amends

Yum hit Dum; he'd given baby Wah-Wah a piece of meat to eat and the baby choked and threw up. Yum was furious and Dum knew he had to make amends as Yum wouldn't let him hold Wah-Wah anymore so he sat outside. He saw Dong with her baby who was eating all things now and asked her to sit by him. He told her what happened; she laughed and shook her head saying "Mix it with some milk, that might help but only use tiny pieces of meat."

Dum pointed to Dong's little boy Bonk and asked if that's how he started eating other food. She nodded and lowering her eyes said "Mix it with Yums milk but make sure there are no bones" twirling her fingers.

So Dum got up and patted little Bonk on his head. He then had an idea so walked down to the beach looking for some large stones. It took some time but finally found a large stone flat on one side and curved on the other and one round and smooth about the size of his hand. He lugged them back to the cave having to rest every few minutes. When he got there Dong and Yum were there with their babies. Dong nodded but Yum pretended not to notice him whereas Wah-Wah saw him and called out "Duh-Duh". 

Dum put the stones on the ground then came over to them. He rubbed noses with Wah-Wah who gurgled happily then he did the same with Yum. She just grunted and pointed to the stones curiously. So he put some seeds in and used the round stone to crack the shell then put it in the large stone and crushed the nut with the round stone licked his finger then picked up some powdered nut and tasted it and told the women to do the same. The women could now see how useful the grinding stone would be. Yum looked up at him then patted the ground beside her for him to sit with them again.

343 words

The guest took wings

I wish I could escape from this life

With my pain and grief taken away

To breathe again the scent of musk

To be happy on a summer's day

Where the sun would shine from morn to dusk

Lightening my life in every way

How can we distill the meaning of life?

Old age means time's drawing to an end

Courteously sending brain one last kiss

With grace sends my senses round the bend

As my mind now thinks all is amiss

The light is now fading, I am on my way

Image found at www.pixabay.com

The eye of the hurricane

 

The hurricane had his eye on me

Because I was where I shouldn't be

Walking in the wild world; that's what I do

As the wind showed me how well he blew

Thought I'd shelter in the forest deep

Perhaps lay down there and have some sleep

Where the storm couldn't see where I was

Not a good excuse, lets say "Just because!"

I must say I was not hiding alone

Creatures quiet but wild wind did drone

It lasted for over an hour or two

Then got home as wife was making stew

She turned round and looked at dishevelled me

And said "Good, you are home in time for tea"

Image from www.pixabay.com

Yum's necklet

Everything quietened down in the cave after Yum's fight with the woman in the fish trap. The woman's husband would have been cross but he knew his woman was greedy. He couldn't see the problem as they would manage by themselves. 

Yum and Dong went to the beach to collect shellfish when fish were few. Fish tasted good when put on the fire but the shellfish were best eaten raw. Soon there was a big pile of shells outside the cave and Yum had an idea what to do with them. The ones with the best colours of similar size she collected from the pile and found if she was careful she could make a hole in the thick part to thread some twine through that they used to fasten things with. When she had a number fastened on the twine she held them up to look at the pretty shapes. Then she put one round her neck and leaned over a rock pool to see what they looked like. She loved it so much she made another one and when Dong wandered up the beach to join her she gave it to her.

Dong wasn't sure. "Doesn't Dum like how you look now?" she asked. Yum laughed "Dum would like me even if I had a smelly fish hanging round my neck. No, this is to please me. Now let me put yours on you too Dong" 

Dong tried unsuccessfully to look at herself so Yum pointed to the pool to see herself in the water. Dong looked at herself, saw the necklet and how it emphasized her face and even made her tangled hair look good. "It's good Yum; it will show we are friends. You teach me different ways of seeing things and now I am even beautiful like you. I will keep it."

310 words

 Image found at www.pixabay.com

.

Going nowhere but down

The park gardeners found his body that morning with nothing to say who he was. A vagrant no doubt, with empty Bourbon bottle and a tattered bedroll. The police were called and his body was taken to the morgue and they were no wiser as he had nothing to identify himself. There was no address, no letters just a rusty penknife, a few coins and a tatty bible with a scribbled name inside that was unrecognisable.. An ambulance now appeared and the team placed him on the stretcher and put his few belongings in a bag before taking him to the mortuary. He was kept there until the police had made their enquiries before interring John Doe. Clearly he had had a hard and grim life with no one to care for him. A photo of him was put on show to find anyone who knew or had met him but no-one provided any further information. When all the investigations were over a simple burial of his ashes was carried out in a pauper's grave. Barely three people were there and an old lady standing some way off.  She used to let him have unsold bread and cakes from her shop at closing time.

                                                None knew who he was

                                            His body was found that day 

                                                    With Bible in hand

Image from www.pixabay.com

My secret affair

 

"How did you get on?" he asked

"She's married my dear fellow" I answered

"What difference does that make" he replied

(Three lines from Balzac;s short story, Domestic Peace)

...and so it was from that day on

I had a secret affair with her

A polite grin at first from me

And then her sweet smile in response

Meeting by chance at the town fair

Blushed when I pointed to a cafe

But in the end she did agree

So much more of her I did see

Eager to show me where she lived

Not long she took me home with her

Lead me around to show me all

'Til we both gave each that first kiss

That commenced our pure love affair

That lasted to the start of fall

We parted one day at the fair

...husband guessed; that was end of me

Illustration from www.pixabay.com

The Romantic Thrush

I love the sound of rain

A male thrush looks on

Singing by the window

Knowing its time to go

Back to his shaded nest

As the night calls him now

When his family sleep

Safe now in the trees shade

Chirping always for food

Which chick the first to leave?

As he now imagines

Being alone with her

Yum is cross

 

Most mornings Yum and Dong would go down to the beach soon after the tide started going out, to check their fish trap. This day they hadn’t gone early as they talked about their husbands now they were both off hunting. Noticing that most of the other women had already gone they put their babies on slings to be rocked by their walking as they went down to the beach.

There were one or two women waiting to look for fish after Yum and Dong had taken theirs first. Already in the pool was a woman looking for fish and tossing them out on the sand nearby.

When the two friends arrived Yum handed Wah-Wah to Dong, strode up to the woman and hit and scratched her face. She told the woman to take the fish she had stolen and go and tell her husband to build his own fish trap as she was not allowed in this one anymore.

All the other women were scared and started to walk away but Yum called them back to look for fish for their families with her and Dong. Dong was amazed at how strong but fair Yum could be.   

Everything quietened down in the cave after Yum’s fight with the woman at the beach. The woman’s husband would have been cross with Dum had it not been the fact that Grunt and Dum did everything together as well as him knowing his woman was greedy. When he learned that Yum had given her the fish he didn’t see a problem. It wasn’t long though before the couple left the cave and peace was restored,

270 words

Maisie's Rosary

 

Maisie was an old lady down our street

Who scared us kids if ever we did meet

She wore a rosary our parents said

The cross of which that was made of bone

From her dead husband's fingers; how we moaned!

Which made us scared before we went to bed

We would laugh at the tale when were older

And would pass her house when we were bolder

For it was one way she still had him close

Ma said it was because she loved him so

Dad said it was she wouldn't let him go

Young sis Ann covered her ears filled with dread

Definitely devine

It was almost dark the night was falling

I listened to rattle of the screen doors

There's a bell, I expect them to ring

"Answer it" my wife's green eyes do implore

Slowly I get up to check who it is

To find a sweet lass whose lips I could kiss

"Sorry to worry" she says with a smile

"Could I see your wife for a minute or two?"

So opened the door (she was quite nubile)

So pointed to lounge door to enter through

She was a stunner; you know what I mean

Apparently her first name was Eileen

So in she came, I took her to my wife

Apparently a student at her school

Most beautiful girl I'd seen in my life

Studying history, still made me drool

Some kids really grow up so fast these days

"You're really such an old fool" my wife says

Dum's stone axe

Dum and Grunt were now friends and while the women looked for fish on the beach the men wandered off to explore the forest, streams and mountains. Yum liked having time with Dong to talk about their men and laugh.

That day the men followed the river upstream, finding it cool and dark whilst looking for animals in the forest. Grunt carried his spear as did Dum who also took woven bags for their finds.

The terrain got rugged and birdsong and animal cries ceased. Cautiously they pushed through the undergrowth following the stream where they could. Although Dum's sight was impaired his hearing was acute. Now and then he would cover his mouth to tell Grunt to keep quiet, Grunt was too noisy for Dum and he felt like hitting him. 

Suddenly Dum heard a noise it was the sound of stone striking stone. This time he hushed Grunt and whispered there was someone close by. Grunt strained his ears but shook his head. Dum listened again then pointed to where the sound was, then started off toward it. He then turned to Grunt indicating someone else was close by.

Then they saw him. The man was crouched by the stream chipping at stones collected from the water. He was tying the stones to short sticks with strips of vines. Eventually he fastened one tight and tried it out but the stone loosened immediately. Frustrated he gave up, took some stones with him and walked away.

They waited awhile then checked what he had been doing. Dum picked up some of the stones from the stream and put them in his bag. They kept looking for small animals but none came no doubt sensing the humans.

Dum wanted to get back home now as he knew where the man had erred. The stone head should be inserted in the handle and tied with vine strands. He knew he could make that weapon.

.

Word count 324

Image found at www.pixabay.com

She smiled at me

 

I met her in my last year at school; she smiled at me as I walked her home. And so it became a habit for us both to meet and play on the tennis court just a short walk from her house. I liked her curvy legs and that she played so well. So I didn't mind when she won the game. But it all went wrong when I finished school and got a job in town. She didn't seem so close anymore and suggested we take a break as she was taking her exams. Just after that was the last we ever met as she found a job in the city forty miles from home. This was more than sixty years ago and my life took a varied course. I never saw her again but after both our partners died just a few years back she found me on Facebook so we kept touch each on the other side of the world. Then I got a message from her daughter who told me that my old flame had passed away. Clearly her mother probably felt she should let me know that all these years she still loved me too.

What is the price of love

When you have a broken heart

As she turned you down?

 

In the rock pool

With Dum's woman Yum and Dong now friends and helping each other with their children. Dum and Grunt (Dong's husband) also went out hunting together.

The women decided that they too would collect fruit and shellfish and Dum and Grunt could catch animals and birds and even fish if they could work out how to snare them.

As the women wandered off together, on the beach the men found the freshwater streams from the hills entering the sea as the sea tried to push the water back upstream again.

Dum suddenly had an idea to make a pond where river met the sea and this might leave any fish in the shallows stranded in the pond when the tide went out.

So they built a rock and pebble wall that would be under the sea at high tide but would retain the fresh water when the tide went out. They went home that night with grins on their faces with a haul of fish knowing that they would get more than a good feed that night.

Dum and Grunt told their wives about the fish trap and said as they had made it the women should collect the fish when the tide went out and tell the other wives they could take some themselves afterwards. It took some time for the other women in the cave to understand as they would go there when the tide was out when it was empty. When they saw Yum and Dong carrying back fish each day they got in the habit of following them down and waiting to get their share.

This is another episode in the Caveman series I wrote many years ago. More to come if requested!

Word count 264

Image shows a prehistoric fish trap still existing in Australia

I heard the freight train whistle

I heard the freight train whistle in the dead of night

As across the rooftops it seemed to scream with fright

Looked out from from my window and gave owl a surprise

He blinked at me then flew off with wide glaring eyes

Silently he swooped off through the darkened trees

Tried to get back to sleep to close my weary mind

Dulled with mourning, losing friend who was always kind

We both married other partners much later on

But still it hurts to know that she too has gone

We both went to the same school; and walked her home too

Soon we were both married to loves of our varied lives

Crowded Britain lost us, went 'downunder' to thrive

Sailed to Australia to work and raise family

This was good as weather here is rarely chilly

However it's large, so always warm somewhere

Am old now and my body's sagging to be sure

I looked back, how fortunate we were so secure

No other country margins us, the sea is our border

So being here always has been such a bargain

Visit when you can, there is always a beach to swim

The second of two

I was the second of two

Which was sad as a wee lad

I was bad news for my bro

He bullied me so I was sad

If Ma would see the fine day

"Off you go my little ones"

She would send us out to play

Brother jumped and broke my arm bone

Soon worked out he's enemy

Chose my friends as he was bad

Once left me high in a tree

Other kids came so I was glad

Broken bones and bruises too

Soon taught me to choose my mates

Saw him at home; outside adieu

So left him at the garden gates

We both grew up quite apart

He teased me when we were home

But different schools for a start

Then later, off I went to roam

Saw little of him for years

He wed twice to stunning girls

Both brides ended it with tears

That's life as it's all twists and twirls

But I still remember him

And the girls that he let go

Shouldn't have chose a life grim

Just started so wrong years ago 

Dum does his best

Recently I introduced you to an episode of a Caveman series about Dum and Yum a caveman couple a few thousand years ago. Dum's wife has given birth to a baby boy. 

They have named him Wah-Wah for the present until he shows some new characteristics.

Wah-Wah's cry made Dum turn to find Yum was writhing on the ground. He pulled Wah-Wah baby off seeing Yum vomiting and delirius with some berries in her hand. He strapped Wah-Wah to his own back, picked Yum up and took her to the sea to put some salt water in her mouth. This made her vomit explosively. He repeated the treatment until she pushed him away. He carefully carried them both back to the cave.

Dum knew he must ask someone there to help feed Wah-Wah, So he walked around the cave looking for a mother still nursing her child. He found one near the entrance whose baby was clearly eating other things. He asked if she could help, telling her what Yum had done. She nodded nervously but as her husband wasn' there she settled back to feed Wah-Wah, told Dum to leave lest her man came home. So Dum sat by the entrance of the cave. 

Dong finally called for Dum and handed Wah-Wah back and told him not to tell. But Dum said he would tell her man something himself. Dong looked frightened but finally agreed.

All day Dum wondered what to give him, then just as the sun was setting and Wah-Wah had two more feeds he saw Grunt the husband coming home with two rabbits over his shoulder. So he decided to give him a basket he had made so Grunt's wife would still feed Wah-Wah.

He took Wah-Wah back to Yum to hold and grabbed a basket and met Grunt at the entrance. He beckoned Grunt to follow him to see that Yum was ill and that Wah-Wah needed food and then asked if Dong could feed their baby.

Grunt looked closely at Yum and saw that she was falling asleep again and not holding Wah-Wah properly. Then looked back at wife Dong who was giving her child water and skinning the rabbits he'd caught. Dong would chew up the rabbit meat and put in the baby's mouth. So he looked at the basket and tested its strength then pointed to Dong and shook his fist at Dum not to touch her.

Dum just nodded and touched Yum's face tenderly which was enough for Grunt to laugh at the thought of wife Dong wanting Dum with only one eye.

Word count 389