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

Image found at www.shutterstock.com

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

I heard the freight train whistle

I heard the freight train whistle in the dead of night

As across the rooftops it seemed to scream with fright

Looked out from from my window and gave owl a surprise

He blinked at me then flew off with wide glaring eyes

Silently he swooped off through the darkened trees

Tried to get back to sleep to close my weary mind

Dulled with mourning, losing friend who was always kind

We both married other partners much later on

But still it hurts to know that she too has gone

We both went to the same school; and walked her home too

Soon we were both married to loves of our varied lives

Crowded Britain lost us, went 'downunder' to thrive

Sailed to Australia to work and raise family

This was good as weather here is rarely chilly

However it's large, so always warm somewhere

Am old now and my body's sagging to be sure

I looked back, how fortunate we were so secure

No other country margins us, the sea is our border

So being here always has been such a bargain

Visit when you can, there is always a beach to swim

I feel like hell

Fingers ache and feet are so numb

The cold has cut me to the bone

Age doesn't treat me very well

To tell the truth I feel like hell

I've crossed bridge of no turning back

Shadows age, makes memory lack

Those days of recalling things have gone

My brain sadly has been outshone

Water under bridge gone for me

My sculpted figure at streams edge

Fount of knowledge passes me by

Try to think of would but they deny

Soon my body will be cinders

My friends have grace to say farewell

Framed pictures say who I was

I can't see them that is because...

Image found at www.shutterstock.com

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

Tell me about the war

I dreamt I was a child again
Listening to the planes above
Those days there was no peacefull dove

Once we used to play in the fields
When Spring sang songs and hearts did throb
Then guns and bombs all that did rob

For war is mean and lips are sealed
'Til fighting and death take their fll
Mobs cheer but we are quite still

But I have become an old man
Soon to approach the pearly gates
What use that war now we are mates?

Image found at www.york.ac.uk

I got a call

I got a call to the hospital
As old friend of mine had passed away
It 's sad to lose a mate from years past
So left my house to say my good day

Streets deserted because of virus
No, was not that which claimed old Bertie
For death had stalked him for quite some time
Matters not how he had died today

Took my mask to be on the safe side
His wife still held him by his right hand
Gave her a hug and sat beside her
I chatted to him like any day

She thanked me coming there all that way
But then she said such a strangest thing
"Glad I was able to be with him
Not like virus patients pass away"

"As he had a stroke" she now told me
For many months I'd known all along
"So he flown away without a fuss
Have the funeral next week one day"

She felt sorry for other ones there
As corona virus spread around
"I don't recall locking up my house"
"I'll sell and get place close to the Bay" 


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.

I leave no evidence

What will heal my wounds of life
As I struggle to start again
Much like sad and barren tree
Losing leaves, blossoms sadly
Baring all majestically

Along comes spring full of joy
Bathing in watery kiss
Leaves spring gladly every year
Flower buds gifting new life
Tree not knowing she was wife

Swaying in forest clearing
Sometimes fearing scent of smoke
Always sucking water up
To feed buds and seeds therein
Hiding many birds basking

And me? When I think of death
Body in casket now placed
All I was; blown far away
No more pride no disgrace
In heaven, hell or other place

Image found at https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2019/11/26/19/03/man-4655261_340.jpg

Girlfriend

My first real girlfriend was Joan
I'd met her playing tennis
Free time used the courts at school
Soon after walked her back home
Held hands, talked of many things

She was in a different class
Both at school and on the court
She won the girls tournament
And easily beat me too
Holding her hand my heart sings

Her mum, dad holidayed once
Down at beach resort in Kent
Was invited down for a few days
So she and me walked a lot
Hoped this was more than a fling

She told me after that spree
That was all for her and me
It broke my heart to be free
We'd both left school gone to work
To see what the future brings

Later I found perfect wife
Settled down to married life
Had our kids one, two and three
Worked hard finally retired
Travelled the world sightseeing

Wrote stories and poetry
Kids married all left home
On Facebook had a few friends
Wife died, I'm alone again
Then old girlfriend requesting

Her husband too has now died
So we talked of such a lot
As though we had not parted
Few weeks ago she too had died
Wonder where the story's ending

Image found at https://pixabay.com/photos/search/man%20on%20computer/

Wolves mournful song

The dark forest didn't beckon us
In fact the morning pines
Told us to stay away

For foolish man was stupid
To cull the wolves whose home
Was balance natures way

We have the police on every street
Forests have wolves instead
It's their job every day

There's no hospital in those dark woods
But wolves do whats right
So harmed ones put to flight

For then the wolves sing their mournful song
To let the forest know
One more friend had to go

Image found at https://pixabay.com/photos/wolf-canis-lupus-european-wold-1383977/

Round in circles

I am going round in circles
That's good the planet does too
No wonder the way we treat it
It gives to us with richness
We treat it with bitchiness

We burn the forests, foul the seas
The ice caps melt and whales mourn
Wild animals starve, best in zoos?
Extract the oil and iron ore
Both are bad so what the hell for?

No good remembering the past
For as kids we were at war
Sadly no lesson this taught us
We must have loved them, they've not ceased
But still our numbers have increased

The fault sadly is in the stars
Just wait I think it should be ours!
World leaders are weak as piss
We're still keen to buy our next cars
While others plan their lives on Mars

Image found at https://pixabay.com/photos/milky-way-galaxy-night-sky-stars-984050/

The food we eat

When we were cavemen in a cave
To find our food we were brave
We had to stalk furry friends
With tools and some odds and ends

Such as club made from a tree
Or spear, near by best not be
I'd prefer noose or trap
As prey was not happy chap

It all seems so simple now
Don't need to kill pig or cow
But visit our butcher man
For prewrapped cut set to scan

Remember when fruit we'd feel
Was it ripe or a bad deal?
Now it's all in plastic wrap
Touch the fruit you get a slap

Now warnings are on each pack
It's your fault if sense you lack
Recall as kids years ago
Raw fruit and veg? Go, go, go!

Image found at https://pixabay.com/photos/norwich-city-market-stall fruit-2830011/

Cash no longer jingles

What is is it about everyday living?
Makes me think we're near the last days on Earth
Proud to have cash, possessions great life style
But love and empathy there's such a dearth

Everything revolves round mighty dollar
Euro, rouble, pound, rupee, yen or yuan
But trading in these for sheer profit
Causes strife from here to Baluchistan

Cash no longer jingles in our pockets
Every move you take or words that you say
Banks are on it, they've got you covered
Someone makes a note to ensure you pay

Soon you'll find there is but cashless living
Whatever you spend they'll take some extra
For the trouble in holding your account
It is safer with them is their mantra

Once money was for the rich of the world
While us poor ones bartered our lives away
Who wins if banks hold your money for you
They do profit but not much comes your way

Image 1 found at https://www.cpast.au/articles/bank-branch-closures/
Image 2 found at https://pixabay.com/photos/euro-bank-notes-coins-1166051/

My maladroit life

Don't talk to me about maladroit
That's because I was affected alright
As I didn't know my left from right
T'was when I was just a lttle sprite

Wasn't helped by having bully brother
Wanted to change me for another
But he couldn't convince our mother
His eyes! Me, he wanted to smother

Made things worse I was a clumsy brat
Toddled around fell over the cat
Both sent outside to play...that was that
Pushed me in a puddle, I went splat!

All my days 'til I was nine or ten
Learn't life was cruel with right wrist broken
When he jumped on me that was the end
Found a mate at school that was my friend

So my clumsiness soon disappears
Just right in time for first teenage years
Girls were great but oft would cause tears
But one turned up to allay all fears

Image found at https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/94223817188785966/

What you love you must love now

It is the look in their eyes that counts
She returned my glance the trap was set
Lowers hers so I can reel her in
She wriggles a bit, but I still win

Her name is Roseanne my sweetest rose
Those soft warm hands they belong to me
Kiss her, she murmurs contented sigh
Opens her eyes, looks up says "I must fly"

She drives off to work, I work at home
We make love each and every night
I grab a coffee, get down to work
I'm self employed so can never shirk

I get a call about half past ten
Been an accident, she's had a crash
Hospital advising of the fact
She is injured from the cars impact

So I say I'm coming right away
Have to cancel a late visitor
It took me half hour to make the trip
She'd died and my sad tears then let rip

She told me once why she loved me
She could find no other any place
Once recalled snuggled up brow to brow
She'd said, "What you love you must love now"

Image found at https://pixabay.com/photos/search/patient

Summer's sun

Summer's sun and birds sweet song
Scent of flowers with bees hum
As they work hard for their queen
To make honey from the juice
Which they store for winter long

While she finds drone which to mate
He idles round with his pals
To see if they can be next
To mate with queen, to be best!
Then find he has sealed his fate

Let's hope it was all worth while
Not that he will ever know
That many kids he would make
To be workers in the hive
Or that he was quite virile!

Image found at https://pixabay.com/photos/bees-beehive-honey-bees-on-approach-157826/

My world alone

Where has my life gone?
I'm but a bathering old fool
Doddering about aimlessly
In my world alone

With my wrinkled face
Thinking back to days long gone
Balding skullcap, lines galore
Now just a disgrace

Wife died years ago
Sons and daughters just who knows where?
Look inscrutable to passers by
Why angry? "Dunno!"

Recall velvet days
Boy of fifteen far to go
On the prowl chasing skirts
Listened to their ways

Where has my life gone?
It has been lived that's for sure
Pity I can't have second go
This time really shone

Image found at https://reddit.com/r/transitiongoals/comments

My first love

Joan you were my first love
So many years ago
One day you just let go
No longer hand in glove

I wept, you broke my heart
But it did heal in time
Dating others was no crime
So I made a new start

Sixty years have flown by
Had wife and family
Living life happily
Now widower am I

Then came Facebook message
Do you want to be friends?
What thoughts the message sends
What can one envisage?

So we wrote lovingly
All those years did not cost
As our love was not lost
We could chat happily

Then your daughter messaged me
Tells me you too have died
There's more grief so I cried
No love now, I'm lonely

Who knows where you two've gone
Loving girls in my life
One first love, one my wife
So I sing love's sad song

Image found at https://depositphotos.com/98716516/stock-video-old.man-using-a- persona.html

Dearth of Dogwood

There's a dearth of Dogwood where I live
That tree whose blossoms have much to give
That outshines the stars to the trees mirth
It's the most flambuoyant tree on Earth

When flowering like a bride's garland
Quivering with delight with her man
As wedding bells ring for the couple
Those halcyon days being supple

Memories can be good and be bad
Marriage can fail which can be so sad
Bonds are cut, the streams water flows on
Love's granite crumbles in life's sad song

There's a dearth of Dogwood where I live
Rough is the weather with no take or give
We must adapt whether good or ill
To stay we must take that bitter pill

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