I enjoy my food

 

I am going round the bend. My head now aches more and more. So I leave my nest to visit the doctor at his practice. I read the paper while I wait. I'm not keen on medicines or needles just to say for that matter. I read my paper waiting until I am now called in. Just expecting a quick check "So what's the problem?' she asks as she rolls up my shirt sleeve. I feel her hands touch my flesh. She takes my blood pressure then pops thermometer in my mouth. Then pats her hammer on my knee...jJust to see my reaction. Then writes down all the figures. She says "That all looks okay. So what is you problem then? So I list all my ailments. She nods and then says"Simple!" "You have barely enough exercise" She was touching my waist. 

Humbly I knew currently

That I do enjoy my food

Adelaide

 

 My heart beats for the city I love

 Where history mirrors days gone by   

 And birds fly overhead high in the sky                                                                               Eyeing shoppers in mall down below                    

 And Uni students eyes are all aglow                                                            

 Nearby parks, trees and squares all abound

 While tramcars still trundle round and round 

 The streets are straight they do not amuse

 Not like cities with roads that confuse

 Never was a city with such sound

 With a park surrounding all around

 Close easy walk inside to zoo there

 I could list many features to share

 Whether man or woman it's a treat

 So I'll not disurb you anymore

 Adelaide inside you will adore                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                               

The taxi journey

                                

So lonely and sad I returned home

My wife had died in hospital

Leaving me to live a sad life

So I wiped the motes from my eyes

Feeling empty, frail and helpless

The taxi journey seemed endless

I spoke little on the ride back

My mind drifted back years ago

Both then young living a wild life

Then settling down with family

Seeking the days of happiness

The taxi driver delivered me home

I entered now our empty house

I choked with sorrow by myself

Then I lit a candle just for her

Photo found at www.pixabay.com

The pond in my garden

I loved the pond in my garden

Lotus flowers beamed up at me

At night they snuggled down in bed

Just like my lovely wife and me

Little fish were swmming there too

In the water safe in the shade

We could see it from the window

Our dog was pleased that it was there

He often lapped at the water

Wife said his job was to test it

And warn of the floating debris

My memory recalls the sadness

The awful day my dear wife died

I held her cold hands and her wrists

This made me want to leave the house

For it spoke only of my wife

Who no more would sit on my lap

Illustration from www.pixabay.com

Sorrow alone

 

Dearest one I am writing to you again

I've a heavy heart as I miss you so much

Your box of ashes long buried in the ground

I'll not forget, for you are part of me

The blooms have died and been removed

As I sit down and remember our love

I hope you are listening as we talk

As we would on our long country walks

We held each others hands just to be one

Now I feel that pang of sorrow alone

If I could share my life with you again

I will one day, we're made for each other

So prepare to move over one day soon

 

Nothing works

 

                         

Nothing works, I can endure no longer

My mother looks at me trying to help

I have reached the end of my tether

My girlfriend thinks we ought to split up

I am beyond hurt, it is hard to take

I felt I'd had a brutal stab in the back

"Let go for a walk son to get some fresh air"

Said my father getting upfrom his chair

We walked up to the woods close by to us

By way of the green fields close to our home

"It happened to me son, long ago" he said

We headed into the trees not far away

When we entered them we sat on a log

"Back then my girl did the same and it hurt

We parted and both went separate ways

I started work and then that girl phoned me

"I made a mistake" she said "I am sorry"

"Thats OK" I said, better luck next time

Find myself alone

I woke up to find myself alone

In my nightmare cradling my pillow

The beast in my brain playing with me

For I felt my wife's thighs by my side

My warm hand touched her just to be sure

But sleeping she still said not one word

Lucky! She hared to be woken up at night

Indignant said "Use the other bed"

Worst still would be for her to walk out

And to use that bed all for herself 

To desert me, leaving me alone

Stoney cold, losing togetherness

And then waking up all by myself

...not a revelation that I need

Clouds scudded overhead

I looked out of the window

I couldn't sleep this night

The clouds scudded overhead

The wind blowing them quietly

Moon chose to not look down on me

I looked at alarm clock

Too early to get up

Frustrated, I stretched myself

The ceiling fan hummed overhead

I heard the sea far away

I hat breaking my sleep

Preferring break of dawn

When the welcome bright gleam greets me

Sun rising over the treetops

A blackbird flew over the common

Illustration by www.pixabay.com

Waiting in the queue

           

I was brought up waiting

As a child in the war

Waiting to go to school

Waiting to ride a bike

Waiting for pocket money

Waiting for my birthday

Waiting for a girlfriend

Waiting for a first kiss

Waiting to watch a film

With lots of other kids

At the town's cinema

Then each day I was queuing

As a youth later on

Queuing the towns shops

Queuing at school's lunch time

Queuing to get the cane

Queuing in all the shops

Queuing in the schools toilet

Queuing at the bus stop

Queuing for everything

It seemed like everyday 

I didn't mind I was free

Image from www.Dreamstime.com

Back in school

                         

I dreamt I was back in school

Work in class and fun in the gym

Swinging high on the trapeze

Looking at te pretty girls

Who then look shyly away

Or stick their tounges out at me

Doing homework in bedroom

Parents say "Apply yourself"

Hoping that I'll be famous

Because I am not mundane

Was told off for acting up

Longing for a break in class

Or the sound of final bell

So I can walk to gardens

Were there are some swings to ride

Achieving a high curved arc

Like defying gravity

With kids gaping at my feat

Saisfying need to unwind

...the alarm rang...I woke up

Image from www.pixabay.com

Welcome to the real world

 

I am old and have come to that time when I do need a list

For just about everything that I do in life

Sometimes it is easy such as shopping day

When first I need to check the the fridge and the larder

...and my wallet...and the bathroom...and just about

Everything else I look at each day but never have the sense

To write things down as I am not going to the shops just yet

Mind you I have often gone to the supermarket and found 

I don't have my shopping list with me anymore

So I search my memory after checking my Covid ap

That in Australia if you fail to do this you could be fined

Whether it is at the Newsagent, the Cafe, the Chemist

And every other trading place in town...so I am good

As the fine for failing to do so if caught is humungous

Illustration of Covid sign to put on mobile in Australia

The train stopped one night

 

The train stopped one night at old Farnham town

I used to live there but it made me frown

Memory hurt me I was courting Stella

But she ditched me for another fella

She was beautiful but played a game

Flicking her hair was a bweautiful dame

Couldn't dislike her , we went to the flicks

She was glad she always close the film picks

Each Friday was night we always meet

We would always try to get the same seat

We climber up the stairs ir was always best

Cuddled up together we had our nest

How sorrowful I was to lose this girl

This was like losing a precious pearl

She loved flowers I often bought her some

Courting is like that, win some lose sum

I know that now watching the falling leaves

Swirling around the platform under the eaves

I skipped out of my trainand stood by the wall

Why is it hard to lose the one and all?

Everything has changed oh how I missed her

Then I looked to platform the other side

Passengers gathering there for their ride

She hasn't seen me...but should have been my bride

Illustration found at www.Shutterstock.com

Finding a new home

At Brighton town overlooking the sea

We checked apartments did my wife and me

So we looked at new ones and we looked at old

But not one visited screamed out "Sold!"

At last we found this one high on the hill

Wife's eyes brightened how she was thrilled

From its Lounge window we could see the sea

So I told her it certainly pleased me

It's kitchen was first room seen by my wife

Never seen her grin so much in her life

The lounge room fireplace was burnished brass

In fact the whole place was really first class

I spoke to the salesman to check the price

Said "Sellers just dropped it...does that entice?"

Wife nodded as she said "It does for me"

"From master bedroom we can see the sea"

With drop in price we could now afford it

We double checked each room then we did sit

Signed the offer, salesman nodded his head

Wife said "I'll see the sea from my own bed"

Image from Brighton, England seafront

Old Bertie's wife

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Old Berties wife had died

She's been ill for some time

He found her absence strange

Cryng for her for such a long time

It was cancer of course

And she fought like a tiger

To get fit and well again

But her check ups did not agree

Then one day Bertie came home

To find her crying in bed

She was in so much pain

So he called an ambulance

Told them he would follow

He could tidy the place 

Then get to the hospital

Not too long after them

Whe he finally arrived

She was being examined

Then moved to intensive care

We'll keep her in, the nurse said

She was in there for weeks

But she never complained

They worked to ease the pain

And try new drugs to help her

Bertie went in every day

And stayed for hours chatting

His wife was always hopeful

But she never returned home

Then one day a few hours

After Bertie had gone home

The hospital rang him

Saying that his wife had died

Adding "Do not hurry back"

So Bertie left the house

And slowly drove back there

For one last kiss, his last goodbye

Illustration from www.pixabay.com

Last days of the farm

It's crack of dawn and the day is still dark 

As winter starts to sleep in a lot

It's cold outside and time to start work

And checking the barns stacked full of feed

Then I trudge tirelessly around the fields

As the animals run up for breakfast

Some slipped up on wet ground as they came

For the paddock was steep in their rush

I glanced at my watch...plenty of time

Wife said a buyer's coming today

So I have to get back fairly soon

It all looks good so I told myself

So off I trudged back home up the hill

The bank told us there is no profit here

They're right of course but it still hurts us

Illustration from www.pixabay.com

Ready for the breakfast table

I awoke from my restful sleep

I didn't even have to count sheep

Eating grass on hillside close by

Watching them made me thirsty

When they drink from troughs by the fence

Chilly dawn arrives with silence

As expected the farmer's hand

Now prods one or two as they stand

Checking if they wobble or not

Happy the day is not too hot

Trying to look like he's hard at work

Keen for breakfast for he's a jerk

Image found at www.pixabay,com

The girl that looked my way

Even as boy I remember rivers

Brother and I leaned over a bridge

Throwing sticks in the flowing water

Just for the fun and just for the feel of it

Taking off our shoes and socks wading

On the uneven bed of the stream

With a stony bottom and waving reeds

Then drying off before we'd meet Mum

Limbs becoming stiff with the cold

Silent and wondering why we did it

Then having to run over the crosswalk

In time to catch the next bus home

Such was our routine on holiday

Escaping home, and school and boredom

Before resuming the class monotony

Reading books that were boring

But admiring the girl that looked my way

Hoping one day to have dated her

Or at least signed her autograph book

Illustration found at www.pixabay.com

Dance with me

 

I must confess I wasn't good 

When dancing with my beau

Two left feet they did say I had

And I had no real way to go

So I was avoided like the plague

Luckily I did meet this girl

We'd go to the flicks or opera

And once to a weekly dance

At town called Farnborough

She found I had a fault or two

Disapppointed to say the least

I could tell it from her face

Oh please let me lead she said

I bowed my head in disgrace

But at least I steer my car

It wasn't long before we were wed

And lived such fulfilling lives

We went to dances a few times

In big halls or other dives

Where she could dance with other men

Illustration for www.pixabay.com

When I was a young boy

 

When I was young boy, the river was my playground

I took my boots and socks off, carrying jam jar in hand

I tried to catch some little fish. Took two home to show Ma

Smiling told me to keep them, In my room to look after

 As they didn't die she smiled, Said "Take them back home

to pond in the woods". So I crossed the wire fence 

The birds there chirped away, I let them go to swim away,

Knowing it was best for them. I'll never forget those fish

I am all grown up now, Shuffling about in my old age

I'm not famous for anything, wanting for nothing

A flower in my buttonhole, Living happy and free

...like the fish.

Illustration found at www.pixabay.com

Boys love water

                                                                         

All boys love water except when they need a bath

Well that was me as a young lad whose idea was fun

Whether it was rain or shine to find adventure

By going to the river that ran through the town

Remove my shoes and sock to wade in the water

Tiptoeing through the grass to hear the water surge

As cold as ice it was spilling over the weir

Singing a sea shanty wishing I had a boat

To sail away swaying on the seas rising tide

Watching the gulls crying to others overhead

Sat on a rock with a towel over my head

All day I could play but I had to watch the time

But I wasn't really there but staying at home

As I woke from dreaming it was raining outside

Image from www.pixabay.com