Where have they gone, those days of the past?
Sat by smoking fire at our place at last
Our dog pushes in front to singe his fur
Cat comes too and receives warning Grr!
We all breathe in to be close to the hearth
Jill soon comes out with kids fresh from the bath
They grin having had fun in the frothy water
Now they're hand in hand with Jill my daughter
She loves coming to this cottage of ours
They're here in one of her husbands posh cars
She'll drive home (he likes a whisky or two)
Or book taxi for they have money to
We had a good meal they like dining out
All dishes were empty no messing about!
We gave them some eggs thought that would be fair
She had been cutting and setting my hair
She touched me gently helped to lift me up
House felt empty, kids now gone, we washed up
Image found at Pinterest.com
Respect your elders I was once taught
I laughed I was young and scared of nought
With fit young body and tongue that worked
I'd face the world nothing would be shirked
So turning aside from their wild minds
Chose my own path to make my own finds
Was it a gift or a penance won?
Were my feet now planted on he ground?
I know I met most beautiful of girls
With who I relished kissing her curls
Loved her so much wihout her I'd die
Mum said "Why is it you always sigh?"
There was no turning from my resolve
So told her whom I was now involved
Her eyes lit up, said "I know her mum!"
Just how would I know that they were chums
So this poem has a happy end
Usual ritual on my knees did bend
Image found at www.pixabay.com
A few raps from the trainer brought a rasp from Bob who didn't like to spar.
A saint in white satin failed to notice a stain on his robe.
Bleary eyed, I was barely awake when we started harvesting the barley.
Local families on the estate did resent an empty nester couple who enters their neighborhood.
The judge had to recuse himself secure in the knowledge that would rescue him from involvement.
The spiv in the lane chose to lean against the wall with elan.
What is the angle with an angel who tries to glean my doubtful past?
Image found at www.Pixabay.com
I love the city
No, not the shopping mall
Or the famous landmarks
With their fine architecture
Avoid the tourist bus
To learn the spurious traditions of a bygone past
No, come walk with me
Not in the bright sunshine
We'll wander down this dark alley
To find a separate world I know
A place that I love
Far from green lawns with flowerrs and statues
Keep your eyes open
Stare at no-one
Particularly that woman there
See those doors way up there?
That's an old warehouse
You can see an old hoist still there above
Stand here for a while
Do you hear that rumble?
Those are trains under our feet
It would be hard to sleep
In these old houses
With that tremulous feeling all through the night
We can cross this bridge
Over a placid river
A man was thrown in and drowned
For just being different
Before the city was built
It was the native peoples camp site long ago
Each city is like this
Remembering like me
As it holds on to its chequered past
Now as we turn this corner
Here are the shops again
And the city that everyone thinks they know
Image found at www.pixabay.com
When I was but a skinny boy
Told by Mum to go play outside
Boys love fields, woods and runny streams
For that was playground of my dreams
Great times in oak and poplars shade
Amid sun's shiny rays unafraid
Or climbing trees to view the world
My favorites were running creeks
Shedding shoes and socks wading there
Or resting against maple tree
Watching birds happy as can be
The whisperng wind highin the trees
Now sounding gently on the breeze
While I'm by its roots safely curled
I feel I am now part of the earth
Safe from these wartime days of fear
Mum's now weeping for son now gone
Just how long will the war drag on?
While here I in the woods abide
Mum sits there mute crying inside
There'll be a service flag unfurled
Note this not autobiographical except for me playing in the woods!
Image found at www.familyhistoryact.org.au
I looked up at the window
She was looking out at me
This happened each day now
Be it sunshine rain or snow
As I walked my way through town
To my job as office boy
There was no smile or frown
She didn't speak just looked down
I grinned once to say hello
But still her face said no words
Even waved so she would too
But her eyes just faced the view
Wondered what her story was
But never did find the truth
Guessed she was about my age
Named her my girl in a cage
Then one day she was not there
That hurt being fond of her
Felt like knocking on front door
I liked her and wanted more
T'was weeks before she returned
When I saw her, waved my hand
She noticed waved back at me
Truly I was filled with glee
Later she pointed to front door
Nodding for me to ring bell
When I did her mother smiled
Took me to her only child
So daughter Anne talked to me
Told me she'd been very ill
But loved that I'd waved at her
Now alright to visit her
I will always be grateful to Enid
A dear friend I had for three years at school
We smiled in the class and then off we dashed
At days end as we could both fly away
Rubbing shoulders talking of many things
Perhaps really were far too close in fact
When we both left school at three forty five
Then some irked parent complained to the head
So we in future we took the lesser lanes
I was offered job by one of school's board
So I flew away from that loving bond
I often wonder what came of my girl
Who won her heart that I dearly cherished
We had talked of art and played tennis too
And ballet which she hoped to do one day
I am sure she had the grace to perform
Once I had left we were but scattered leaves
Never set eyes on her ever again
My life then took a different route
It was my fault I let such bounty go
I still remember my last kiss with her
When she got in her dad's truck
Sacks of potatoes
In the back
Image found at www.Pixabay.com
"You lie to me" she said, we lay in bed
I replied "Don't need to, I tell the truth"
"You're beautiful, I love your hair and eyes;
Your soft skin, what is the need for lies?"
At any other time she then would laugh
But now it was serious and not a game
She wept, "I know about the other one"
I saw you in town with your honey bun"
"Oh that was just an office girl my love
Think she works in finance or somewhere else
She got in the lift t'was small talk that's all
I went to the bank, she went up the mall"
I had lied to her, for that was quite true
Not with office girl but you know who
All this was years ago, I don't know why
She then shook her head and began to cry
Image found at www.shutterstock.com
Here in Australia winter's coming
That is because we are upside-down
I've had flu jab, didn't make me frown
Needlepoint is perfectly OK
So came out of surgery that day
Not the same sitting in dentists chair
The smile on my face soon disappears
When buzzing drill brings out all my fears
So my hands grip tight to the chairs arms
Despite young female dentists charms
Her face smiles she likes to chat a bit
Whilst I can only grunt as I am drilled
Then relax as that tooth is now filled
Stacked with filling and capped up tight
No wonder kids are afraid at night
The worst is now over despite the fear
Looks like I escape here unscathed
I am not with gory blood bathed
Worse is that I have to pay the bill
Receptionist waiting by the till
Right my teeth are looking good once more
But my bank balance took quite a hit
It helps dentist didn't hurt a bit
Perhaps I'll get present for my wife
As it's cold might get mittens, no strife
Image found at www.Pixabay.com
War and turmoil have always inspired art
But who wants to see bodies on a cart
Or see surgeon cutting soldier's body
To show war's futility in trench or wadi
And so we must now see and hear the news
Of deaths from Corona around the Earth
But artists know people do like this stuff
As if film and news don't give us enough
Some countries are relaxing all the rules
It is not over they must think we're fools
Just wish experts would speak about the drill
As politicians jabber has no worth
So my eyes are like that hawk high in sky
And being prepared lest danger is nigh
Hope I can soon drink a cappuccino
Or a meal in restaurant with some vino
To chat and smile there with lots of others
And trusting people just like my brothers
Image found at www.Pixabay.com
I dreamt I was a child again
Listening to the planes above
Those days there was no peacefull dove
Once we used to play in the fields
When Spring sang songs and hearts did throb
Then guns and bombs all that did rob
For war is mean and lips are sealed
'Til fighting and death take their fll
Mobs cheer but we are quite still
But I have become an old man
Soon to approach the pearly gates
What use that war now we are mates?
Image found at www.york.ac.uk
We put newspaper for helmets on heads
As the spring rain drizzled down from above
But we were boys running home after school
Still splashing in puddles or finding shade
Seizing the moment and quite unafraid
No way we'd say a prayer for it to stop
Or hope that we'd quickly get to back door
Seeing the spiralling water rush down
For most boys like us lived for this moment
Whatever weather it was heaven sent
We'd never forgive ourselves missing out
The world was our oyster every day
Like all boys we did things all our own way
Now glimmering sun shone high in the cloud
Got home bedraggled and shouting out loud
Image found at www.pixabay.com
