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

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 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

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

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

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

I dry my eyes

How confused one gets in these Covid days

It's summer again in Australia

And the sea beckons me as I drive by

The beach is almost empty (mingling not good)

I sit in my car and I view the scene

"Take off your shoes and come in for quick swim"

Whispers the teasing crested waves to me

My toes wriggle with anticipation

So I look and yearn for those long gone days

Still lingering there and undecided

Watching others walk along far apart

Next time I'll take my bathers from the closet

Find a secluded beach in a little cove

My mind is already shedding laced shoes

Now I am wriggling my toes again

But I'm still in the car dreaming away

Imagining lifesavers flag flapping there

And bikini clad girls playing around

Gulls squawk, I awake from my reverie

Start the car, taking one last look down there

Already feel flat and disappointed

Like a kid denied a trip, crying out loud

So I dry my eyes...the sea breeze does that!

 Illustration from www.Pixabay.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

She smiled at me

 

I met her in my last year at school; she smiled at me as I walked her home. And so it became a habit for us both to meet and play on the tennis court just a short walk from her house. I liked her curvy legs and that she played so well. So I didn't mind when she won the game. But it all went wrong when I finished school and got a job in town. She didn't seem so close anymore and suggested we take a break as she was taking her exams. Just after that was the last we ever met as she found a job in the city forty miles from home. This was more than sixty years ago and my life took a varied course. I never saw her again but after both our partners died just a few years back she found me on Facebook so we kept touch each on the other side of the world. Then I got a message from her daughter who told me that my old flame had passed away. Clearly her mother probably felt she should let me know that all these years she still loved me too.

What is the price of love

When you have a broken heart

As she turned you down?

 

Flowers for the boy who cared

I once knew a boy who cared

Even though he was impaired

Playing in the garden with his dog

Or by the fish pond and found a frog

Boy did have a sheltered life

But was given a pen knife

Like ever other boy I knew

A turtle was put in the pond too

He'd watch his pets with delight

And Dad read him a book at night

His Mum would urge him to walk with her

He tried his best and did not demur

Each diversion helped the boy

Happily played with every toy

His eyes sparkled at every find

But the disease he had was not kind

Image found at www.colorbox.com

The pale moon rises

                                                 

The pale moon rises; we will see each other tonight. Our love is forbidden but we persevere regardless. I wonder whether the moon is our friend or a duplicitous sneak as I touch your soft skin and feel the warmth of your body. So for the moment I worry not . However I sense trouble as a sad mist clouds your sad eyes and you say not one word.

                                                      This speaks millions

                                              I sense this will be the last time

                                                        It will be dark soon

Image from Pixabay.com

No help at all

 

At least the roses bloomed

As I tried to overcome

The sadness in losing her

And the Moon was no help

Grinning like a loon in the sky

So I reflected on the past

The present was no help at all

And did their kind words help?

Time will heal your words they said

As if I wanted that at all

With a sad wrinkled face

With the loss of Joy from my life

This causing me to tense right up

Flexing my muscles with such despair

Image found at www.shutterstock.com

Me and Mrs Kidd

 

I lay in bed body prone

As I remember days long gone

While working on a dredge at sea

Crewman fell over, I did see

Spinning round in our wake

So called "Man over" for his sake

But he had drowned there was no doubt

Dredge now slowed we had to get him out

Crew murmured "Is that John Kidd?"

Water surged around us as we did

I was standing on the bulwark

Luckily it was not yet dark

Just thought John was newlywed

Had not long left his marriage bed

Found the heart of such lovely lass

What did he do that was so crass?

Spinning round in ice cold sea

His luck ran out as all could see

I'll be the one to tell his wife

Was there much sadness in his life?

So it was I called on her

She asked me in, I did not demur

Chatted with her to help her plan

His faults not told, she held my hand

Image found at www.pixabay.com

Back where I once lived

I went back to the place I once lived

Not the best thing to do unless you're brave

As you see the changes made without you

Spying the house where your were once born

In fact it makes you feel quite forlorn

I remembered it as calm and grey

Photos of those times were black and white

Adjusting now to a vivid scene

Trying to step back all those long years

If I was not strong I'd be in tears

As I wandered round the now posh street

The owner of our house now appeared

Intent on using his stepladder

To clean a window or some such thing

Told him I once lived there, he did grin

He wanted to show me what he'd done

So in we went to see every room

All changed, kitchen, bathroom, garden too

Polished floorboards and red queen sized bed

Was offered snack, I declined, enough said?

The past is the past, so let it be

That impromptu visit hurt, trust me

Photo of house found at www.chartersestateagents.com

Our grapes of wrath

The clouds cast no shadows rain descended
Water turning gutter into little streams
I dreamt of being a boy once again
Brown as a berry fearless of naught
Paddling in the river my shoes on the bank
Or flying my kite at top of the hill
Staying in bed when clearly was not ill 

Those halcyon times are now long ended
Summers heat is but a nuisance these days
My passport runs out of date this years end
Who cares when most of world has shut its doors
Covid clusters continue to appear
Who can tell what rest of the year will bring
'Tis grapes of wrath, some will cry, some will sing


Image found at www.pixabay.com

That was unexpected

I sat by the river in the park
Used to come here when but a kid
For I feel a tiny bit sad
As something has now happened
Which has made me feel quite bad
Had a call from cute girl of mine
She said it's over but never mind
It is true what they say to me
There are a lot of fish in the sea
But it hurts I really do care
Was a great lass to have an affair
Yes there are others but not now
So I threw some stones in the creek
Wiping tears that were on my cheek
It is my pride that has been hurt
It's time to find a new piece of skirt



Image found at www.shutterstock.com

About Kathleen

What can I tell you?

About my Kathleen

I loved to touch her hands

How she'd get lost in abook

Her mind elsewhere

Now idea who she was 

It was the same with letter

She'd rush to the mailbox

As though a lover had written

Yet I thought I was him

Just for the records, it's over

Finished, she gone, run off

"Going off to the shops" she said

Must be still there, it's dark now

While I am here sitting alone

Waiting for the phone to ring

Thinking about my life with her

The way that it has all panned out

Love and beauty are transient

They come into your life...then walk out

Although not new I found this poem of mine from a few years back so decided to give it an airing!

Image found at www.shutterstock.com

When my brother died

When I was but a skinny boy
Told by Mum to go play outside
Boys love fields, woods and runny streams
For that was playground of my dreams
Great times in oak and poplars shade
Amid sun's shiny rays unafraid
Or climbing trees to view the world

My favorites were running creeks
Shedding shoes and socks wading there
Or resting against maple tree
Watching birds happy as can be
The whisperng wind highin the trees
Now sounding gently on the breeze
While I'm by its roots safely curled

I feel I am now part of the earth
Safe from these wartime days of fear
Mum's now weeping for son now gone
Just how long will the war drag on?
While here I in the woods abide
Mum sits there mute crying inside
There'll be a service flag unfurled



Note this not autobiographical except for me playing in the woods!

Image found at www.familyhistoryact.org.au

On losing your girlfriend

I don't say we were intimate
We were just friends that loved to fight
Scruffy me I poked my nose at her
Watching from our upstairs window
As she rode on her new bike
She snarled out "Tiresome little tyke!"

Anything to upset the game
Don't know who was the first to blame
Days of yesterday were quite fun
But all changed in the teenage years
Held hands walking back home from school
Talked and smiled not playing the fool

We were great pals that moment on
Then saw her eyes no longer shone
But looked at anything but me
While I was quite unaware
In those great days of yesterday
Foolish me saw not slow decay

She chose to date another man
I woke, I was in the dustpan
With someone precious, keep them safe
Or else you find you have lost her
One who you've loved whose eyes did shine
You're heartbroken like I with mine



Image found at www.https://pixabay.com/photos/bicycle-riding-on-a-path-4358893/

I shed tears

My poor heart is broken
My eyes wept with grief
As I remember back all those years
I miss you so and I shed tears
I was desolate you gave no parting kiss
The sky was cloudy; me too
What on earth shall I do?

Image found at www.pixabay.com