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

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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"

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