Rain in October

I feel sad autumn leaves now fall

I don't care very much at all

Because my girl gave me the boot

Who cares that trees stopped bearing fruit

Despite that I'm full six feet tall

Feel that I want to howl and bawl

She was beauty and so cute

As losing her is so acute

October rains pour down on me

No way did I want to be free

No cuddles close, no kisses sweet

My shattered life's now incomplete

No way now that she'll be my wife

Already I sense my cold life

She was a beauty and so cute

The loss of her is absolute

 

The pale moon rises

                                                 

The pale moon rises; we will see each other tonight. Our love is forbidden but we persevere regardless. I wonder whether the moon is our friend or a duplicitous sneak as I touch your soft skin and feel the warmth of your body. So for the moment I worry not . However I sense trouble as a sad mist clouds your sad eyes and you say not one word.

                                                      This speaks millions

                                              I sense this will be the last time

                                                        It will be dark soon

Image from Pixabay.com

There is a chicken missing

 

The cat sat on the cottage window ledge

Watching the fox stalk across fruit and veg

The fox had already seen her sat there

Untrusting, unafraid he didn't care

Obvious why the the fox had called this day

Was that chicken run was filled yesterday

New pullets were bought for fresh eggs to lay

Stealthy fox thinking this could make his day

The cat's old mistress was quite unaware

Was either that or she just didn't care

Cat wondered if she could foil that wily fox

Or why not put him in a cardboard box

The cat miaowed as mistress made cup of tea

Who came in to hear some hypocracy

The usual lies from her brat of a cat

Who'd hoax and lie as most cats are like that

Mistress merely thought she'd like some lunch

Rather than to give awful fox a punch

By time she looked at chooks in the hens run

She'd sadly missed fox run away with one

Night's mystery

Darkness closes dearily

Woods lost in night's mystery 

Some creatures of the bright day

Grab some rest and hide away

Others now wake with a grin

Hungry now with empty bin

Some gnawing on a trees bark

Sniffing, stalking in the dark

Searching for food where they can

Waking sleepers so off they ran

Quietly flew eyes open wide

Finding places were food hides

Precious honey hard to find

Searchers will not find bees kind

At least their hive safe in dark

In day bears may try a lark

Owls wide eyes see mystery

Their cover is hard to see

One swoops down to catch some prey

A missed take, he shrugs away

Their world changes break of day 

Sun now rises to say "Hey!"

While river flows bubbling on

Day creatures wake seeing dawn

Straining now between the trees

Hear the humming of the bees 

 

When we were poor

 When I was but nine years old

The war had ended but I was cold

Almost everyone was poor

We wanted much but there was no more

Lucky us found house to rent

A few miles away heaven sent

But move meant money had run out

Should have started at new school

My shoes had worn out - I'd look a fool

So stayed home until one day

Man knocked on door and said "Hey"

School inspector knew I should be there

Mum explained I had no shoes to wear

He nodded "I'll give you one more day"

Mum borrowed money for shoes to pay

From her sister who had no kids of her own

Who liked me so happy to make loan

Her house was close to the school

And waved each day to this little fool

Something very similar to the above did happen to me back in 1946!

Flying to Savaii

 

Flew to Samoa years ago

Girls are pretty as you know

Took trip to Savaii isle

At virgins grave were beguiled

Low in sky our plane soared

Welcomed there and not bored

Saw grave midst of lava field

Only spot lava did yield

Photo from www.shutterstock.com

Yum and the baby

Many years ago I wrote a short serial about a caveman couple many thousand years ago. This chapter covers the birth of their first baby. 

Each night Dum and Yum curled up together. She was big with the baby but still allowed Dum to be close to her and breathe her scent and nibble at her cheeks and lips. She liked him fussing over her and touching her bare flesh. He still drifted off to sleep first and she felt good  and happy. Early one morning while it was still dark he woke up to hear her moaning and struggling to get up. He tried to help her to the entrance of the cave but she pushed him back indicating he mustn't follow her. It was a gentle gesture but he didn't want to leave her outside alone in danger from wild animals. She knew this but still showed him her fist and staggered away.

He let her go but followed quietly behind. Two women pushed him out the way and one asked "Where's Yum?", so he pointed where she'd gone. The other glared at him and pointed back to the cave's entrance for him.

So Dum sat there until the sun rose and the birds began to sing. He stood up and started to strip leaves from the bushes for the baby to lay on. Then, that done he started to make a basket like the fruit basket he had already made, but for the baby a bit bigger than his forearm. He touched the leaves and they were now limp and soft so he placed them in the basket.

Yum was very pleased when she came home with the baby seeing what he had done but didn't put the baby in. She cradled it in her arms, shielding its eyes from the light and sat with her back to the rocks nursing it. She looked up and saw Dum looking awkward so she patted the ground beside her, to sit down too. She took his hand and let him touch the baby then sat back and tried to get the baby to suckle. Yum smiled when she saw the look in Dum's eye.

Later that evening after the baby had been fed, she fussed over the basket Dum had made and gently placed the baby on the bed of leaves. Luckily it was almost dark and Yum couldn't see the tears in Dum's eye.

Word count 369

Getting older

                         

I miss my garden living in a flat

Sowing seeds in the springtime and all that

Waving to neighbots ober garden gate

Hearing a blackbird singing to his mate

Mowing th lawn, pruning trees and more

But putting out trash, that I did abhor!

Hanging washing on line was hers to do

Worst job of all was cleaning up dogs poo

Now living in apartment chores all gone

To describe it well I call it "Vive Bon"

All is shiney new no squeaking rusty gate

Just wish I still had my wife, my dear mate

Chores are sparse except th spring flower pot

No pesky insects or even flies too swat

Wear what clothes I like even rumpled shawl

For what I do others care not at all

As lovers do

Last Sunday when I wrote about "Me and Mrs Kidd",  Rosemary was hoping for a sequel. So before I forget all about it I wrote it; so here it is!

We held hands as lovers do

She then looked me straight in the eyes

When I did check on her each week

And whispered "You know I like you"

She thanked me "I'm glad you come

To see if I'm safe all on my own"

Not knowing that I was quite struck

Making sure she was not upset

Must confess I fell in love

She smiled at me every day

Thanked me for every gift I brought

When I left gave me kiss with thanks

Saw her not on trip away

Was three weeks gone as I recall

Dredging estuary some miles off

So anxious to see her again

No answer when I rang the bell

No message under the door mat

Even climbed over the garden gate

She'd gone so knocked on neighbors doors

They shook their head in surprise

Hadn't seen or heard for some time

So off I went to my place

Saddened that all had come to naught

Weeks late I got some mail

From her sister from way up north

"John Kidd's wife had died" she did write

Must confess I cried long that night

No help at all

 

At least the roses bloomed

As I tried to overcome

The sadness in losing her

And the Moon was no help

Grinning like a loon in the sky

So I reflected on the past

The present was no help at all

And did their kind words help?

Time will heal your words they said

As if I wanted that at all

With a sad wrinkled face

With the loss of Joy from my life

This causing me to tense right up

Flexing my muscles with such despair

Image found at www.shutterstock.com

Me and Mrs Kidd

 

I lay in bed body prone

As I remember days long gone

While working on a dredge at sea

Crewman fell over, I did see

Spinning round in our wake

So called "Man over" for his sake

But he had drowned there was no doubt

Dredge now slowed we had to get him out

Crew murmured "Is that John Kidd?"

Water surged around us as we did

I was standing on the bulwark

Luckily it was not yet dark

Just thought John was newlywed

Had not long left his marriage bed

Found the heart of such lovely lass

What did he do that was so crass?

Spinning round in ice cold sea

His luck ran out as all could see

I'll be the one to tell his wife

Was there much sadness in his life?

So it was I called on her

She asked me in, I did not demur

Chatted with her to help her plan

His faults not told, she held my hand

Image found at www.pixabay.com

A Phoenix must burn

 All kids are much like the Phoenix

They learn by burning their fingers

One way or another

Which upsets their mother

It is part of the rite of growing up

Playing with fire I remember well

That urge to make something flare up

On open fire somewhere

And with such little care

Then crying our with pain and won't shut up

Guy Fawkes day such a tempting night

When November 5th flames abound

Cracklers spark and rockets fly

High in the darkening sky

Dogs are scared they will keep their barking up

Mind you dogs like to lie by a fire

Has the best place 'til cat come in

Insists taking pride of place

Singes fur pushed out of room

She miaows at door and will not give up

Back where I once lived

I went back to the place I once lived

Not the best thing to do unless you're brave

As you see the changes made without you

Spying the house where your were once born

In fact it makes you feel quite forlorn

I remembered it as calm and grey

Photos of those times were black and white

Adjusting now to a vivid scene

Trying to step back all those long years

If I was not strong I'd be in tears

As I wandered round the now posh street

The owner of our house now appeared

Intent on using his stepladder

To clean a window or some such thing

Told him I once lived there, he did grin

He wanted to show me what he'd done

So in we went to see every room

All changed, kitchen, bathroom, garden too

Polished floorboards and red queen sized bed

Was offered snack, I declined, enough said?

The past is the past, so let it be

That impromptu visit hurt, trust me

Photo of house found at www.chartersestateagents.com

The joy of rest

I am not one for rest

No, I do not like that best

Up every morning with the lark

Or fidgety in winters dark

Then once all the chores are done

Off I go down the park for a run

Must confess there are times

I sit still writing rhymes

Words now flow freely from my brain

What a great hobby to keep sane

Cup of coffee by my side

Interruptions I do not abide

Once the poen has been writ

Ponder what you'll think of it

It's evening now so off to bed

In morn will check what you have said

Of mine and see what others do

And comment kindly on your work too

Image found at www.pixabay.com