Returning home

I returned home from the city

I'd forgotten the beauty here

With the perfume of the farm fields

That fragrant scent that called me there

And sweet bloom of the wild flowers

With sight of birds over the woods

And foxes sniffing round the roots

I followed the path to the farm

Word had it that all was not well

Dad insisted that I come back

Trusting I made this last journey

To find that Ma was ill in bed

T'was an act I'll not forget

Sadly she died holding my hand

The Violin

 

Jane's mother wanted her to play the violin

But Jane, eyes wide open, shook her head sadly

Protesting it was not for her at all

What with fingering frets and the lessons 

Bridges and strings keeping her from sport

Imagining what awful sounds she would make

Made her feel really bad in her belly

He mother now saw how broken she was

Jane protested she was so good at sport

Her voice husky and close to crying

"It would ruin all my plans" eyes in tears

Voice brittle she moaned, "I'm good at hockey"

The entrance gate

 

I always wanted to live in the country where the wild things are and being able rove around without the crowds but with the fresh smell of nature and the sky is clear and the constant sound of traffic is far, far away. I wanted to able to sit on the porch and watch a flash of lightning brighten up the night sky as the homeward flying swifts rush straight back to their nests to feed their chicks one last time before the dark of night moving stealthily takes control. Then all is calm until the night dwellers appear silently like the owls hooting their presence and the bats swoop high and low trying to catch the remaining insects which were trying to find a safe haven for the night. As I step back indoors leaving my boots at the door my wife is busy in the kitchen preparing our evening meal, smiling sweetly at me saying “Just a few more minutes and it will be ready”. So I go to the bathroom in order to clean up and just then the phone rings and my wife takes it chatting away still as I return . “Who was that?”  I asked. “It was Jenny wanting to come and visit this weekend”.  “Oh that’s okay. It’s about time we saw the grandchildren again. I’ll make sure the chained entrance gate is clear for when she comes.”

Illustration found at www.pixabay.com

Family Christmas

Kids all love Christmas and always have

Anticipation of gifts to come

With all the goodies in front of them

And baby in manger on display

For Christ was born on this very day

Brother and I liked everything

Peppermints, brandysnaps, carols too

Turkey, gingerbread and deck of cards

Crash in the kitchen who did what where?

Don't worry it's Christmas we don't care

We are called to the table for it's time

To pull the crackers and sip some wine

We wear paper hats we always do 

Dad's broken his thumbnail...no surprise

Have I got room for more mince pies?

We go in Lounge to sit in arm chairs

As youngest child hands presents from tree

These gifts once given are torn open

Us kids eager to see what we've got

Let' us hope that no-ones been forgot

It's time now to fetch the Christmas cake

Mum did the icing just yesterday

Now Granddad tells of fables long past

More drinks are poured but that's no surprise

Kids spin bottle and hope for a prize

Image found at www.pixabay.com

Maisie's Rosary

 

Maisie was an old lady down our street

Who scared us kids if ever we did meet

She wore a rosary our parents said

The cross of which that was made of bone

From her dead husband's fingers; how we moaned!

Which made us scared before we went to bed

We would laugh at the tale when were older

And would pass her house when we were bolder

For it was one way she still had him close

Ma said it was because she loved him so

Dad said it was she wouldn't let him go

Young sis Ann covered her ears filled with dread

Suddenly it's Summer

    

Suddenly it is now summer

My old mind takes me back again

Warm comforting days long ago

Clutching fingers on the sea shore

Feet paddling in the sea water

Now you're not with me anymore

You're sitting at the mirtrow

Where once you wore braids in your hair

Oh those early days were magic

Now criel time shifts endlessly on

For happiness is so short lived

You've gone, who knows where anymore

Or are you next to me in bed

Remember honeymoon years gone?

Walking Paris streets holding hands

Dining in cafes was always fun

Using Metro like we lived there

Then back to live evermore

We never took that easy line

Was not enough for you and I

So went "Down Under"  with the kids

Adventure setting up again

There we stayed fopr rest of our lives

With our family evermore

Our lives were never "must do that"

We travelled here and everywhere

Adventuring all over globe

Had itchy feet to see what was there

Now my days are coming to a close

I can't promise to write anymore

Image of River Torrens at Glenelg in South Australia

Lasting love

It is hard to wear a smile on your face when you are at work

Then your mind now brightens to bring you out of the days murk

For what joy as the clocks hands get to five at night

You jump in your car and join all the workers drive back home

Now with flowers for wife from lady with her curbside stall

Knowing that you will get a kiss from your loves at the door

As the kids come rushing out looking for candy or more

You wife has your slippers ready at your own arm chair

And what a sound of relief as the kids discover you there

Both son and daughter draw closer hoping to sit on your lap

Now doubt to tell you what they've been up to today at school  

As you see the marks from the teacher they have received

Then in comes the dog with woof and wag of his tail

Jealous of course with the kids as he utters a wail

Then finally everyone starts to settle down at last

As my wife finally calls us in for our repast

For nothing is quite like the joy of family life

With the lasting love and care we have for each other

How precious these years will seem when we are older

Teaching us to make the most of each and every day

We will smile and cherish these times when we are old and grey

Hard Times

Our grandmothers and their foremothers too
Had very hard lives but they still pulled through
My wife's grandma's husband fell in the sea
Boarding his boat was not on dock or ship
Navy and harbor they cared not a zip

All this took place a hundred years ago
Wife had seven children what a to do!
They lived by the coast poverty their friend
Kids were farmed out as a hard life she faced
No lessons learned just that she was abased

Sending kids out begging for foods each day
Instead of enjoying their lives in play
So many year granny begged her whole life
Children went to work as soon as able
To help put food on families table

Unfolding their own lives soon as they could
With spirit determined they would make good
Healing their dark past with wisdom and work
No matter what roots of your families line
Your life's your realm, not a puppet on string

Image found at www.pinterest.com

Visit from daughter and family

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

Being a small thing

I remember me being a small thing
When I was young oh so many years ago
All was big in my world, dad, mum and brother
First of all things suited me fine back then
Cuddled, fed, cooed and wet my diapers
Not knowing that there were lots more capers
Like crawling on the floor getting grubby
And as a wee child wetting my nappy!

These small things pass as indeed did I
Once I criedfo r milk and change of nappy
Now was brother who made me unhappy
Who saw me as one who stole his mum
So he teased me when she was out of sight
Getting me tro climb on the furniture
Once leaving me on top of the table
As getting down, I just was not able!

Lucky being small lasted a short time
At five I had to go to the junior school
But at playtimes we could all play the fool
Running, jumping just to unwind outside
Seeing the girls skip was no disgrace
And so being small was not half bad
Learning things inside and outside as well
So now then I could my story as well 

Image found at www.pixabay.com

Her kiss of delicacy

My wife died nearly ten years ago
As you'd imagine that hurt a lot
Fought her illness long as was her way
Everyone wept for many a day

We married long ago in Britain
When we were both aged twenty one
Independent strong minded both were
But we thought alike and did concur

She was an analytical chemist
Sang in choir and performed on stage
Loved the flicks so that pleased me too
Explored overseas, was good to do

Agreed that children should come along
And they did just that, one, two and three
I wanted girls, she wanted a boy
Boy came first then two girls to enjoy

Both of us wanted to see the world
So migrated to Australia then
Was the best thing we ever done
As though a lottery we had won

As the children grew and made their way
She then bought a bookshop just for fun
To take her mind off kids leaving home
As they too found partners of their own

With just me and her living alone
Both retired we travelled far and wide
Some years later cancer knocked her door
She fought hard but sadly lost the war

But what a life of triumph was hers
For she laughed and loved it to her fill
Our three children are her legacy
So miss her kiss of delicacy

Illustration is postcard of migrant passenger ship Fairstar which was the boat we emigrated on in 1966.

Visiting Grandma

The cups rattle
Here comes the tea
We are visiting grandma don't you see

The house is dark
The lights don't shine
They're not put on 'til dinnertime

She thinks we're deaf
She shouts at us
She's lost her hearing aids not us!

Good she is back
Brings in a tray
As her best china's on display

Filled with pleasure
She pours the tea
Now she splashed it on wife and me!

She shouts out loud
She's much to say
Visitors are few down her way

Brings out album 
Of pictures old
Strange people huddled in the cold

She nods and smiles 
Her past recalled
Reliving moments quite enthralled

Rain in England
And snow in France
Her eyes light up as memories dance

Her fingers move
It's time we went
She clings to us her back is quite bent

Few weeks later
Heard that she'd died
We were sad; harmless Gran, we both cried

Image found at www.pixabay.com

The sea's salty smell

Summer holidays once took us to sea
Mum and Dad and my brother don't you see
Went to grandparents with whom we did board
Which those days was all that we could afford

If the sun decided to shine for us
We would walk to the beach or take a bus
To sit on the sand or the pebbly bit
Depending entirely what the tide saw fit

In those days I hadn't been taught to swim
So to wade in the shallows was my whim
Or collect shells and pebbles that looked good
To show to Ma while she prepared food

The promenade I'd walk with no cares
While parents dozed off in their deckchairs
I'd try my hand on the small putting green
Or ride the sideshows though still not a teen

Later on I went to the coast alone
With cousin we walked miles being windblown
Going to flicks despite were underage
Were both tall so never caused an outrage

Many years have passed since those long gone days
Married now with kids of our own, hip hurrays
A distant country is where I'm now living
But the seas salty smell is still giving

Image found at Pixabay.com

What's that?

"What's that?" I ask seeing a sparkle in her eyes

She says "The year is coming to another end"
Watching that damned clock drives me round the bend
The willow tree has wept its leaves right off
Now is the season for sneezes, colds and cough

Soon we'll be singing songs and carols round the tree
Telling of our ancestors that used to be
Moving with ungainly stooped gait they did bend
I rue their absence as year comes to an end

We chat, sing carols and children scamper about
Play games with each other after presents doled out
Finally they all go home after time check
While my wife waves as she rubs her tired neck

"Ah! solitude" she says following me to bed

Image found at https://pixabay.com/photos/table-preparing-set-christmas-791149/

Summer comes early in Oz

It is springtime now in Australia
Koala bears grunt in Eucalypt trees
Blossom falls like confetti down
Ashes from burning off soon will end
Lest wildfires spread over our wide land

"Bring on summer" kids happily say
Whilst Ma clears shelves for bottling ripe fruit
We love the sun but still have a moan
As sun scorches everyone in town
As skin reddens; not beautiful brown

Faces glowing in the brazen sun
Kids all in tears now going back home
We start a sing-song in the packed car
Carpet covered in sand and rubbish
Ma says "Shall we stop for chips and fish?"

That received a quick round of applause
We spot right shop to fill all our needs
So in we go shedding sand and grit
Minus shoes on kids who'd come in too
All happy now on route fifty-two

Image found at http://www.aussiecampersvans.com

Moving house

Had lots of reservations moving to city
Living in an apartment with neighbors so close
With lift instead of stairs just used for escape
I so missed my garden and the twittering birds
But not sorry there were no rats about
Flowerboxes on balcony are not much fun
I'm growing basil there and flowering annuals

Had a few doubts about moving to the city
My wife Mary thought the kitchen was far too small
Until she found all the extra storage space here
There were fire alarms inside to sense smoke and burns
And on seventh floor the noisy traffic quietened
At first we had city maps pinned up on wall
But it didn't take us long to find our way around

We are all so happy we moved to the city
Kids love the city parks and zoo a walk away
Young Andy likes the flamingos there with long necks
Of course he imitated them when he got home
Flapping his arms on his flank strutting around
There is a new river cruise we all want to try
But what's the hurry we've only been here a month

Image found at https://www.experienceperth.com/business/tour/captain-cook-cruises

A part of me

The beauty of marriage
Is that we both become
Whole, not less in union

I'll love you always
When we are alone
When the children steal you
When they leave home

Now that you have gone
You'll always be
A part of me

Image found at https://pixabay.com/photos/family-beach-fun-seaside-summer-2025594/

Brotherhood

How I remember stitches when as a child growing up. My brother's mended clothes were worn by me when he grew out of them. Yes, this is a story of the war and vivid is my memory of those days. Nobody is proud of poverty but then all suffered. Mum had to stitch our worn clothes together. Dad repaired our shoes holes as we couldn't afford a tradesman to do it.

My brother was lucky he was older so most of the new clothes went to him first and then handed down to me as he grew out of them so I benefitted by looking pretty ordinary! If you wore something new you might be teased or pushed over into a puddle so that you looked like the rest of us...dirty and poor as church mice.

My brother didn't like me. He thought I had stolen mother's breasts from him when I was born. I was five before he let me play with him and his mates in our street. Still he kept the upper hand by pushing me in the stinging nettles on the way home to show me who was boss.

However by that time I was making my own friends at school so we tended to play separately there so I was bullied by kids my own age...which seemed fair! Boys are adventurous and I was better at climbing trees than my brother; so I could shimmy up a tree and grin stupidly down at him, so he threw stones at me.

Once I fell out a tree and broke my wrist. When I showed my mother her immediate question was "Did your brother do this to you?" Sadly I said "No...I did it myself".

281 words

Image found at https://www.washingtonpost.com/

The day did shine

The air was still, the day did shine
As summer sun beamed down on us
My veins throbbed and some shade I sought
I mowed the lawn, the pets looked on
I wonder where my wife has gone?

She's usually part of the team
But has taken off in the car
Probably to fill up the tank
Will be back soon I have no doubt
Pets have now disappeared from view

Back door opens here come the crew
Dog's tail wagging furiously
Creating quite a fuss, wife grins
"I went to get some ice cream
Come on in before it all melts"

The dog barked then jumped a rope
The cat looked on from the back door
I packed up, put mower away
Lucky me, words are not enough
Love my wife she's without a match

Image found at https://pixabay.com/photos.search/dog%at%20window/

My father-in-law

When I first met my girl's father
He was gruff as he sized me up
Nodded at me and turned aside
Suggesting that I should behave
What had I let myself into?
Did he think that I was depraved?

In fact he was an individual
Had a wife and two teenage girls
Whose needs seem to mystify him
So spent most of his time outdoors
In his garden which was a dellight
Spent his time there 'til fall of night

His garden had lawn and fruit trees
And a mass of flowers and insects too
Birds, singing, nesting calling it home
Then to produce their vegetables
Had council allotment quite close by
With veggies irrisistable

Each evening and all of weekend
Spent his time tending all the plants
Or sat smoking his hand made fags
My girl told me she come that way
Grab a carrot and eat it up 
After school nearly every day

They came to Australia when retired
To be close to their family
A small house and garden they chose
So that he could still garden on
On visits we would still receive
Grown veggies his talent not gone

Image found at https://depositphotos.com/35192337/stock-phot-allotments-england.html


Perhaps I should explain that in Britain families with small gardens or enthusiastic gardeners could recive permission to plant vegetables on council land which would be allocated to them. You were permitted a garden shed to keep tools and other equipment in (best kept locked). They were very popular and still exist today.  Quite often you would see the whole family working there or sitting down watching their Dad or Mum working there or even being allowed a small portion of their plot to have a kids garden themselves! These plots were extremely useful in wartime!