I woke with a start

 

I woke with a start
Was that a bump?
It was pitch dark
Who is that there?
Had to check up
Put my robe on
Quiet down the stair
Open the back door
Hair stands on end
Am grabbed from behind
What is going on?
Whisked off my feet
Can't even call out
Put into a boat
And Charon he says
"Coin in my hand"
Then opens my mouth
I panic and squirm
A tooth he extracts
My gold capped one
He examines it well
And loosens his grip
I'm over the side
In the River Styx
The river of death
Swim to the shore
Run back home fast
In through the door
Climb up the stairs
Get into my bed
Am asleep in a sec
Dead to the world
Wake soaked in sweat

That wasn't a dream
I have cheated death
Just for a bit!


(Image by Cecil Keating found on cover of Penguin Classics book  "Satirical Sketches" by Lucian. 1961)


This poem written many years ago was one of the first poems I ever posted. The coin in the mouth (for my gold tooth) was the tradition to pay the mythical ferryman for the journey across the River Styx to Hades in ancient Greek tradition.

One last kiss

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

Keep Still

Sleeping doesn't come easy
There's not much to cheer one up
As a welter of worries come
And phantoms creep around you
You hear them at the keyhole
Menacing you as you dream
And pray for a quiet life
Or at least for forty winks
And you find yourself praying
Then you hear your wife saying:

"Keep still will you or sleep in the spare room!"


Image found at https://imgflip.com/memetemplate/112444599/couple-thinking- bed

Walk by the river

A warm summer's day
I parked the car off the road
Walked to the river

There under the trees
Thinking about life and death
My mind drifting off

Then when I awoke
Somebody sat by my side
It was Death himself

"You know that it's time?
He asked and I understood
"One last walk?" I asked

Laughing, shook his head
"Why not" he said getting up
As I got up too

He took river side
Lest I tried to escape him
As we strolled along

At the river's bend
I pushed him in the water
Ran off to the car

I had driven off 
Well before he could get out
So I win round one

Image found at ps://www.campsight.com.au/catalogue/the-murray

Roused with a gentle kiss

I want my childhood back
Running off down the woods
To shimmy up the trees
Swinging from the high limbs
Like Tarzan in the films
A friend of monkeys too

It's not a crime is it?
To make a wooden sword
From bits found in Dad's shed
To strap around my waist
So I can chop my way
Through thick jungle trees

Sadly I was dreaming
Roused with a gentle kiss
While I was flying high
Hanging on a jungle vine
As childhood merged slowly
Into old age once again

My dear wife smiled at me
Grinning like waxing moon
My dreamy adventure
Eased the sting of old age
But what joy to relish
This dear woman I loved

Image found at https://allhailtheblackmarket.com

The night was dark

The night was dark and clouds hid the moon
Our delightful tryst would end quite soon
I drew back from kissing your lips
Although my hands stayed on your hips
The moon now shone like many candles
As your toes wriggled in your sandals
And your eyes still sparkled with delight
How I hated leaving you each night

The clouds scudded across the sky
As the time to leave now grew nigh
Back to work in kitchen scrubbing dishes
Preparing broccoli, gutting fishes
Always cleaning dirty pots with dents
For wigged boss who just has no sense
What bliss, what rapture in your arms
I relapse by dreaming of your charms

Image found at http://hospitalitymagazine.com.au

Wake up!

I had that uncanny feeling as though my brain was charged with some power the source of which I knew not where.

It was not intentonal but I felt I had to hurt someone, to lacerate them, to kill somebody as I rushed into the kitchen to grab a knife from the drawer.

Everything in the world became so clear as the sun shone, the clouds whisked across the sky and both the moon and the stars shone down on me in kaleidoscopic effect.

It was then that black cloud loomed overhead, evil looking, threatening as though to foil my plans.

Then the thunder boomed and the lightening struck as I cowered in a corner hiding under a blanket lest it find me just as I heard someone call my name.

"Jack, Jack! wake up!" my wife Penny said shaking me, "You are having a nightmare!"

Image found at www.consciouslifenews.com

Who am I?

Just who am I now?
Not a baby in a crib
Not a toddler running free
Not a boy on his bike
Or that young scout on a hike

Just where have I gone?
Hand in hand with a girl
Having a drink in a bar
Playing sport at the weekend
Wishing Sue was your girlfriend

Just when did I start work?
Seeing the world out there
Flying high in the sky
Going places far and wide
With a wife now by my side

Just how did I grow old?
Family all moved away
Living here, living there
Alone after all those years
Time ticks by shedding tears

Image found at www.shutterstock.com

In each other's arms

Waking from a nightmare
I leave those nameless demons
In the insane world of dreams
Trying to relax by your side

What madness calls me there
Pulling me away from you?
I softly touch your warm back
As you make mumuring noises

You wriggle your body
Considering the offer
These devious devices 
Usually setting the scene

We are so similar
Products of a darker past
Knowing, loving each other
Always safe in each other's arms

Image found at www.hyperlino.com

I wonder

I wonder what it would like to be
Invisible so no one else could see
You'd dance on the beach or in the park
With all your clothes off just for a lark

Is that what it's like for those who've passed
That may check on you just for a blast
Who wander round in the dead of night
You hear a strange bump and wake in fright

Perhaps the blanket slips off the bed
As you dream of when you were first wed
Happy as you recall days before
Still wrapped in her arms for evermore

And would she whisper those loving words?
Once more you'd be caressing lovebirds
At morn you'd recall that dream of yore
And discover the duvet on the floor

There's some comfort even though she's gone
As still her memory lingers on
Her touch, her kiss, laughing once again
At least those dreams take away the pain

Image found at www.rectanglejangle-blog.tumblr.com

At the dog park

There is one place to go
You can always relax
It is at the dog park
And it's fully fenced in
Walking your best friend
It's just a total breeze
You let him off his leash
He runs off safe and free
Perfectly happy now
To exchange news and views
And smells of course with mates
Some dogs are shy at first
Happy to retrieve a ball
Or stick close to master
Watching the others play
Finally they make friends
Going about their task
By racing off at high speed
Breaking off between romps
Coming back tongue flapping
To make sure you're still there
He sinks down just watching
Composed for one moment
Until he sees something
That now needs sorting out
Off he goes task in hand
Then he returns dead beat
Time to go home for tea
Later he sleeps it off
Composed for a moment
Then feet twitching he dreams
Reliving his day out

Image found at www.weekendnotes.com

Dreaming

I am so old now
But take my capsules each night
And dream of the past

And so remember
Those former halcyon days
And our walled garden

Busy bees working
Pollen sticking to their backs
Thanks for the nectar

On this hottest day
Invasion of kakydids
Come to say hello

On scorched driveway
Our active children hopping
Over the chalk marks

Wife tapping the gourd
Nearly ready for picking
I'll not intervene

Take toddler to shops
Oops! Now she is shoplifting
Candy in her hand

That's my crooked mind
Spreading memories again
Of long ago past

I'm back home again
Having an afternoon nap
Still dreaming of you

Image found at www.lerablog.org

Heartbroken

Bob's letters had stopped
Well over a month had passed
She was heartbroken

Her iPhone silent
She cried herself to sleep now
Longing for a kiss

But then she saw him
An older woman on his arm
She was mortified

She stopped hid from sight
How could he do this to her?
She thought he loved her

Traffic roared lights flashed
She so needed a rest now
But walked in the road

A loud screech of brakes
The older woman turned round
Then covered her eyes

She woke from her dream
What was she thinking about?
She'd give Paul a call

Image found at www.andersonlawwa.com

She lowers her eyes

Tempting, amoral
Just who would not look on her
Such is lust's draw card

She lowers her eyes
Unselfish with her favors
The hook's been baited

I woke from my dream
What on earth was I doing?
My wife's arm round me

Brain you're a temptress
Winding my dreams round the past
All that's behind me

Image found at www.lillian888.wordpress.com

Velvet Dreams

I have velvet dreams
They are about you of course
Softness in your touch

There are your green eyes
That look at me that sweet way
Oh so tenderly

As we walk along
You then slip your hand in mine
Because we are one

In the night I wake
To hear you breathe so softly
And feel so at home

I have velvet dreams
Belonging to you always 
Wherever we are

Image found at www.picslist.com

The breeze blew in

She led me astray
That is my excuse
The way she smiled at me
Which she knew by instinct
Would crack my armour
I reached over to her
To touch her soft face
That she tilted at an angle
Away from me teasing
She was so beautiful
It was then that I came to
I had been dreaming
I was alone in bed
The breeze blew in
Ruffling the curtains
Dampening my spirit
I crawled from the covers
Staggered to the window
It was not yet quite dawn
Birds cheeped quietly
In the nearby trees
Anticipating the day
Not hampered by loss
As I now surely was
Having taken a bruising
Remembering the words
It is much easier 
To catch cold 
Than true love

Image found at www.theguardian.com

I am all alone

Now I am all alone
Waiting for the resurrection
Just like a convict
With a ball and chain
Branded for recognition
So I won't escape
Thrown here like a rag doll
Tormented by a scorpion
After being hunted down
It doesn't look good now
Witches poke me their lips licking
Still blind to my pleas
Snarling in my ears
But is me that is howling
Just like a werewolf
I'm ready to give in
Had enough of this heartbreak
It's still only 3 am

Image found at www.soundsofterror.com

The clock ticked on

Had I just woken from a dream?
For all was not what it seemed
Inky dark was in mottled shades
Dawn peeped through Venetian blades

Diaphanous nightwear stirred by my side
But knew in marriage I was not tied
Sweet pursed lips on my cheek were placed
And loving arms me now embraced

Soon the morn's iridescent day
Would place sunbeams on where we lay
Dissonant thoughts in my mind did strain
Trying to recall from whence she came

The girl by my side has such soft skin
She murmured as I tucked back in
As I stroked her it was like rich velour
Fool was I if ever sought for more

So then I kissed one sweet fingertip
And laid back down on her pillowslip
Content she moaned and snuggled up 
Once more we drank from the loving cup

The weather changed, the clock ticked on
Her clipped voice said she must be gone
It was the last I saw of her that day
As lacy frills flounced off and away


Image found at www.countryantiquefurniture.co.uk

Yearning for home

                                             Nightingale singing

Your love is a nightingale's song                                

That sad caress of hearts desire                           

This touches me wherever I am                              

Whatever I do I will not tire   

           

As I travel so far from home                        

I picture you in all my dreams                                  

As lonely paths I walk at night                                 

My way is lit by your moonbeams               

This yearning will be sure to end                            

In your sweet arms I’ll gladly lay                              

Homeward’s journey soon will make                     

And with our children gladly play    

You’ve warmed me with your fire of love               

I kiss your lips with passions drive

What kind fortune picked me for you

This is all that keeps me alive

Beautiful nightingale sing on

You echo words my love does say

I sadly sleep this night alone

At dawn I’ll take the homeward way

Image found at http://www.debrecensun.hu/culture/2012/05/02/listen-to-the-nightingales-song/

Night of terror

I am alive but not quite dead

I have become a cancer

I chew away at others lives

The beast has me in its grip 

The cheat I am is exposed 

The leaves of autumn fell 

I'm now channeled in winter’s grip

I cannot be released therefrom

I will never return back home

The devil has possessed my body

The beads of sweat drip down

The owl hoots from the branch

No, it does not speak my name

No longer do I have any hope

No, I do not deserve it