Good! Wednesday rolls around, hurray!
Do I choose poetry or prose today?
Can I write something to match my mood
Will it be love, sport, disease or food?
Shall I rhyme words for rhythms sake
Will there be lovers or food to bake?
Shall I drag out the past once again
Perhaps not that subject just causes pain
Thens there's Covid which bores me stiff
Forget that, let it be my midriff
No getting out but at home I'm sat
Not walking enough so tummy's fat
For downunder it is winter still
So expecting a big power bill
Come on Spring show us your powers
And brighten us up with some flowers
Downunder is slang name for Australia
Image found at www.Pixabay.com
"Wake up" she said for I was sleeping
Giving me a nudge and then a push
"What utter nonsense are you dreaming?"
Couldn't think, then it came with a whoosh
Who can explain why we dream such things?
"Do that again, it's spare bed for you"
Said my wife with a word that stings
For in her mind dementia was a clue
I now curled up given that advice
She huffed and puffed a little harder
Muttering "This is no paradise"
While I thought of raiding the larder
For a long time I stared in the dark
Thinking of someone I could ring
But knew my best friend was at my side
Tonight I'll quit the booze, that's the thing
Image found at www.dailymash.co.uk.
With half the world starving
Why shouldn't I write about food?
For I know how that feels
I've known times both bad and good
Years ago I was but three
Much food was rationed boo hoo
I ate all that there was
Even licked a dish or two
War ends, times were still hard
That was us in the new world
Ate leaves and grass, food was short
Oft hungry in bed curled
Of course things turned out well
And better times did come round
Still recall those times long gone
Waste not want not; that's profound!
Image of WW2 children found at www.60ac3217c4637650...jpg
Light fades as sun slowly sets
Someone has stolen it away
That's enough work for the day
So I walk home in the dark
Time for the moon to say "Hi"
Her face reflects in the pond
Winking and grinning in play
Peering through trees in the park
Its silvery glance winks at me
Bringing tears to my sad eyes
Until clouds steal her away
And dogs howl instead of bark
Soon though her sweet fair faced look
Appears again laced with haze
Showing ringlets round her face
Clouds always up for a lark
Watching moon is without peer
I look at her and she me
Her sweeet fair face tells me much
As she journeys on her arc
Image found at www.pixabay.com
When I was young I saw many things
As boys do their eyes ever agog
When they played in the fields, woods and streams
For this old man it now fills my dreams
I drift to sleep in my lonely bed
Won't be long before I too am dead
Now my dreams are filled with my full past
Living through wars with identity cards
Hearing the drone of planes overhead
Going on bus for a penny each time
Never complaining about food I ate
Always swinging on our garden gate
When a teen, sports and girls filled my mind
'Til the right one crossed my path one day
Just started work and was free as a bird
Being with her best thing in the world
Greatest find after a few years search
Within a year we married in church
Now here I am and dreaming again
An old man now left all by himself
Seeing loving family such a prize
Sat in my armchair quite satisfied
Who could ever want more than this
Except from you my love; one last kiss
Image found at www.pixabay.com
The clouds cast no shadows rain descended
Water turning gutter into little streams
I dreamt of being a boy once again
Brown as a berry fearless of naught
Paddling in the river my shoes on the bank
Or flying my kite at top of the hill
Staying in bed when clearly was not ill
Those halcyon times are now long ended
Summers heat is but a nuisance these days
My passport runs out of date this years end
Who cares when most of world has shut its doors
Covid clusters continue to appear
Who can tell what rest of the year will bring
'Tis grapes of wrath, some will cry, some will sing
Image found at www.pixabay.com
Wake up to the sirens drone
I was small but not alone
Sound was like a mournful scream
Blinds drawn so our lights are not seen
I am a small boy once again
See my mother's eyes in pain
Dad's in London fire watching
It is wartime no time to sing
We hear the planes up in the sky
Can't look out even if I try
Blackout curtains do make sure
If light seen warden will knock door
Under the table we huddle
Pillows, blankets and cuddle
Quietly I fall asleep
Wake up in bed heard not one peep
Mother must have put me to bed
Now it's morning I'm not dead
So must get up, off to school
Can't miss the bus that is the rule
The bus is late, I can see why
Buildings bombed Mum starts to cry
Hoping dad will soon come back
Working all night he'll hit the sack
Dad arrived when we got back home
Shrapnel gift from a dropped bomb
Showed it off at school next day
Kids crowd around at break for play
I liked watching planes overhead
Or listen to them when in bed
War's horrid I've seen it all
Still recall it now standing tall
Image found at https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00x543b
Every Saturday night was the same, those lingering kisses and the last fond embrace had to be measured to the last second. I hadn’t missed a train yet but as we tended to stick to each other like glue a longer wait until the first train in the morning was always a possibility and being Sunday that would be a very long wait indeed.
Passing the shops a voice called out "Where are you off to in such a hurry?" It was a cop and his partner checking the shops. "What have you been up lad, running along like that?"
Panting I said "Must catch the last train", paused then "I just left friends house and the train leaves in a few minutes", still gasping for air.
They checked me out and smelt my breath but clearly could smell the scent of my girlfiend Jill's perfume on me. He grinned and said "Okay lad but don't leave it so late next time".
By the time I reached the station the level crossing gates were closing so I scampered over the footbridge and knew that I would make it after all.
Later I told my girlfriend what happened and she insisted I go earlier in future. Less than a year later we were wed so stayed together each and every night after that.
Word count 222
The Illustration is from an early TV series in Britain called "Nixon of Dock Green"
First I hated the way she flicked her braids
Until the time I found she smiled at me
Her simple look made my heart skip a beat
And what joy to steal that first kiss with her
We walked home from school she did not demur
What bliss when summer holidays came up
Suggested swimming at lido in town
Met her at gate with young brother in tow
She shrugged her shoulders "Mum said I had to
or else I wasn't permitted to go"
She had loosened her hair from the school braids
Now I thought she looked prettier by far
We were soon swimming in middle of pool
Held hands in water so bro could not see
Not that he looked at us I do agree
Clock now showed half past four, so out we got
Went to changing rooms to change our wet togs
Met up again and strolled into town
So gave him some candy while waiting for bus
So Grace's bro didn't stare back at us
Image found at www.pinterest.com
My wife and I were but children in war
Both living in small town at both ends so far
I lived at one end and she at the other
She had a sister and I had a brother
She went to school at end of main road
A short walk for her from place of abode
But for I had to catch a bus from my home
School not open when arrived so roamed
Us three kids would play wherever we could
Like derelict buildings or copse or wood
My wife and sister wouild run to their school
They were good and never played the fool
Air raids were frequent shelter was not close
Always would run there, were scared I suppose
Once when teacher was urging them along
She tripped on the pavement and face went bong
It cut her lip but was merely taped up
She got home later for mum to fix up
It was hardly noticeable all her life
But she mentioned it when she was my wife
Image found at www.pinterest.com
