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Red, is the colour of my love, Rich and warm, and flowing thick as blood, A crimsoned ribboned stream of life, a line, Through seasoned time, linking beginnings new |
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Perhaps a gem of captured rubessence In brilliant presence, a glowing praise For forty blessed wedding days in May, Hurrahs, that seem as soon as yesterday. |
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Before the rain, a painted morning sky To wonder by, or set the coming night To give delight, and stain the words I've said The colour of my love, to red. |
A KNOT
C & C, J & S, and others
Oh to tie a knot
That may never come undone,
And hold you fast together
In all weather days to come.
Oh to tie a knot
In rope with happiness spun,
That will give you space together
For joy and care and fun.
Oh to tie a knot
With lives that fuse as one,
And in health grow old together
To the setting of the sun.
Oh to tie a knot
In time that must be run,
But will let you keep forever
The love you have begun.
HOME SWEET HOME
May blessings shower upon your new found home
Loved place returned wherever you may roam,
Warm hearted hearth with open welcome glow
Inviting friends for friendship discourse flow,
Sun lighted hopes to stream through dusted panes
Washed and renewed by soft reviving rains,
Nourishing the growth of flower blossomed thought
Tendered in garden with returning seasons caught,
Creating the hardy roots for Eden's gifted seed
Locked in the breast of every family's need,
Shared joy that laughing young lives bring
Joining in home sweet home choruses to sing.
A POEM FOR BOSNIA
(and other war torn countries)
When your day is too hot and your night is too cold
When you're late for your work and you're going to be told
When your time is not right for the right time of year
Hey, say a prayer for those in despair.
When you hope for a break less give and more take
When you want what you want and it's fair for Pete's sake
When you've got not a lot for another to share
Hey, say a prayer for those in despair.
When you see a sunrise and hear a bird sing
When you know what you feel when wedding bells ring
When you smell the free air and taste joy's salt tear
Hey, say a prayer for those in despair.
When you're this faith or that faith or this place
or that
When your living and giving is a matter of fact
When you seize a calm heart to banish a fear
Hey, say a prayer for those in despair.
When you're young highly strung or just feeling your
age
When you stop still and listen to another's sad message
When you wish and you wish to say that you care
Hey, say a prayer for those in despair.
When you're rich and you're strong and you know you
belong
When you've got what it takes to not say so long
When you've the power and the might to stop things right here
Hey, say a prayer for those in Bosnia.
ATLANTA PIPE-BOMB
27TH July 1996 (Olympics)
The abominable truth about terror
Is the dreadful margin for error
As pipe dreams blow away
In a second one day
Leaving gaping records of horror.
Please don't shed a tear for Almira
She was up to her neck in flood water
Her legs were held fast by someone from the past
And if you cry anymore you'd have drowned her.
Please don't have a care for Almira
They tried and they tried so to save her
For a night and a day they bailed water away
But they failed and her heart beat surrender.
Please don't say a prayer for Almira
But instead say one for her mother
She got the bad news from TV reviews
That covered her daughters disaster.
Please don't give a cheer for Almira
Her brief life was quickly all over
But now that she's dead she stays on in my head
And her presence I'm forced to remember.
Please just say oh dear for Almira
And the children who's lives are cut shorter
And do what you can to protect the life span
Of the lambs that are spared from the slaughter.
I am so sorry I was not there to help to give every ounce
of my being to spare your helplessness, to free you
somehow to live out your life in the natural order of things.
Slowly slowly comes the light
On the edges of the night
Fading black time into white
That spreads its rainbow colours bright
From violet deep to crimson hight
Along rays scenting air to flight
Bird song on silent ears blind sight
And touch life's eyelids closed sleep tight
Still spinning dreams escaping fright
Til new dawns sunshine fresh delight
Can witness Dartmoor's mystic might.
What a year
I didn't know when you were born,
On one sweet morn, and christened Dawn,
That you would grow so sweet and fine,
Living in time that was also mine,
That I would have to love you so,
The moment you said to me hullo,
That you would go on to marry me,
When I was only twenty three,
That you would bear our children dear,
Make homes for them, and me, and lady fair,
That you would share so many years,
With love, and joy, and smiles and tears.
But now I'm fifty two, I do !
Morning Tea in Bed
Now that you are something three,
May I pour you tea sweet D,
On your tray laid correct,
With a cloth so yellow checked,
And with flowers red white and blue,
That I have freshly picked for you,
May I pour your tea and say,
All my love on your birthday.
Stoke Gabriel Pub Lunch
We touched a thousand year old yew,
This eighteenth day of May cold through,
Dear Catherine me and you in blue,
To celebrate your life anew,
With birthday songs and wishes true,
For days to come and things to do,
We touched a thousand year old yew,
To share our lives and love with you !
BLACKBIRD CALLING…
4 Stoke Gabriel bedroom
Coming as the new day breaks
To perch above my open window
Marking your presence with a trill
And without paying attention to my waking
Commence your calls
Listening for a response between each variation
The messages sounding back and forth
Through the fresh early morning air
Without pause
Your distinct song
Heard above dawns joyous chorus
Your urgent need to link with another like being
To greet the light to welcome life
To say I am here are you there
I hear you do you hear me
This is my place this is my space
And on
And then you are gone
Leaving a silence of unanswered questions
Until the next time you appear
To begin a new the search for the sun's hidden truth
… are you listening?
ELIZABETH
Just for you 03/04/95
Dizzie Lizzie is my favourite mum,
She sends me jolly messages of love and fun.
She lifts my spirits when days are sad and gray
Sending black thoughts and blues away today.
Dizzie Lizzie is my favourite mum,
Can I please become her second handed son,
And send her poems to make her laugh and say,
Oh silly Simon, why don't you come and play.
Verse 3 - 07/03/07
Dizzie Lizzie is my favourite Mum,
She's been around my life since I was 21,
I'm so glad to share her time, and say,
Dear Dizzie Lizzie have a grand birthday.
CHRISTOPHER REEVE
Crippled by a horse riding accident, May
1995
Oh yes Superman
You can say a super damn
For a waking life in a sitting pram
Instead of flying about as a bit of a ham
Fighting the bad with a wham and a bam
Saving the good who are stuck in a jam
Waving the flag for old Uncle Sam.
Oh yes Superman
You can say a super damn
For there but the grace of God I am.
Oh yes Superman
We do care a super damn
For you and those with a body that's sham
} Flying to never never with Peter Pan
Fighting the blues with Desperate Dan
Finding some point in the life that you can
Waving your hope for a loving fan.
Oh yes SupermanWe do care a super damn
For who you are and what you am.
You are the one
That I adore
And more
Your word and dee
dI need
When in a jam
I am
And cannot see
How to get free.
You are the one
To rescue me.
DUNBLANE CHILDREN
Primary one class, 13th March 1996
Think not Dunblane
Your children slain
Leaves only pain
Tears weeping rain
On bloody stain
That act on shame
Someone to blame
With mark of Cain.
Think now Dunblane
Of treasured bairn
Not breathed in vain
Gave laughter plainIn life filled game
While teachers reigned
And parent claimed
Home joys attained.
Think on Dunblane
Those that remain
Go plant the grain
Of every name
And light their flame
To live againIn futures frame
Save memories wane.
Think long Dunblane
Be strong Dunblane
All children same
Preserve their fame.
Bluebells ring
My lips sing
Colour of
Diamond icing.
Bluebell fire
My heart's desire
Colour of
Shimmering sapphire.
Bluebell sky
My darling's eye
Colour of
Lapis Lazuli.
What does the family mean to me
This living cord of maternity
Mother daughter father son
Renewing lives since time begun
Giving chances one by one
For loving now and love to come.
The family is tomorrow's hope maybe
For a peaceful earth in a turbulent sea.
What does the family mean to me
This central cord of humanity
Sunday lunches in the sun
Sad happy tears of careless fun
New lives bursting with time to run
Old lives talking good memories spun.
The family is the certainty
That tomorrow's love is ever free.
What does the family mean to me
This linking cord of history
Past beating hearts beat future's drum
Giving the pulse for heart strings to strum
When those we love in time succumb
Leaving us secure but yet undue.
The family is all you I see
That have lived and live in my family tree.
FRIENDSHIP DAUGHTERS
Inseparable best friends, Charlea Fox and Jasmine
Neville
Drowned on Charlea's 8th birthday - 21st July 1997
Sunshine smiling virgin waters
Virgin smiling tender daughters
Sunshine laughing happy waters
Happy laughing joyful daughters
Sunshine dancing shallow waters
Shallow dancing youthful daughters.
Sunshine falling slipping waters
Slipping falling drowning daughters
Sunshine fading cloudy waters
Cloudy fading missing daughters
Sunshine touching silent waters
Silent touching lonely daughters.
Sunshine raining staining waters
Staining raining tearless daughters
Sunshine setting golden waters
Golden setting soulful daughters
Sunshine sharing secret waters
Secret sharing friendship daughters.
Hard
Taught
Tight
Cold
Coiled
Waiting.
Pressing
Pushing
Thrusting
Bursting
Unwinding
Coming.
Unfurling
Opening
Growing
Flowering
Sprung
Come.
Rain sun scent air
Spring
Is here.
GOING BROKE
May 1995 looking over the edge, and then
the French arrived !
Well -
Going broke perhaps may mean
Losing your shirt in a washing machine
And losing your nerve in a manner of ways
With anxious nights and fretting days.
But -
Going broke will not do for me
With you at my side my darling D
To hold my hand and share the way
Through darkest night into lightening day.
So -
Going broke can only show
New this and that for us to know
And give certain knowledge to me thats true
That I have nothing to lose but the presence of you.
Yes -
Going broke has shown me the love
Of those who care and matter above
Losing some space and a battle with time
When you feel their touch and see their eyes shine.
Yes -
Going broke will not cast us down
Nor set us a drift or make us drown
Or follow the hand of doom that beckons
Because going broke is not going to happen !
THE QUESTION
A favourite painting by an unknown artist
The question posed now waits its fate.
Dark suit mutely stalled upon squat wooden shaded stool
Elbowed arms rough table resting restless state
Cup lifted masking thirsty lips for answer pearl
Eyes fixed on silent soft attentive face
Spring speckled apple blossom sunlight touching cool
Peach ribbonned hat smooth cheek and neck with scented trace
Young body cream sash waist dress covered full
Fawn tensed clenched ringless hand's impatient wait
For buttered bread to feed freed appetite of lover's soul.
The question hangs as time and answer hesitate
Whilst the meadow stained glad hatted picnic party chatters still.
GOODBYE QUEEN MUM
Funeral procession 9/4/02
Goodbye Queen Mum,
We've lost you and the nations really glum,
Our hearts are down and flutter flags half hung,
To mark the passing of a favourite chum.
Cherrio Queen Mum,
We're sad but glad to share your final run,
With family royals locked stepped behind your carriage gun,
In time with wailing pipes and rat tat tatting drums,
Bell telling one, and one times hundred one.
Farewell Queen Mum,
Take tears and cheers that silence London's hum,
Our claps and waves that shimmer springtime sun,
And crown your cherished memories home spun,
Of loving, caring, sharing, family fun.
So long Queen Mum,
Go rest dear soul, your public duties done,
Your passing light through daughter, and grandson,
And later on perhaps, in William's time to come.
If you like someone
You know they like you.
But if you love someone
You hope they do too.
It's not easy
For a you and a me..
Making a way in the changing sea
Of expectations demanded by society
To provide to avoid tiresome poverty
And find time and space in which to be free
And enjoy a good moment of ecstasy
With a mate that we chose to loose liberty
For the share of a place and a family
And the hope to live after ever happily
With the wonder and thrill of a Christmas tree.
It's not easy.
But the happy sad fact of reality
Is that arguing the toss over hastily
Temper temperatures rise over heatedly
Need the calm and the balm of harmony
That comes with the gift of generosity
And the peace of a cake and a nice cup of tea
In the shade of a branch of a leafy green tree
That can help us find where loving can be
In the maze of a life that could end at three.
For a you and a me
Don't you agree.
I know why
You chose to die
And did not try
A save me cry
"Not me not I,
Don't crucify"
On cross nailed high
Your last gasp sigh
To lose in pain filled bloodied sky.
You died to prove
The love you have
Won't die but live
Beyond the grave
When hearts will grieve
And loss deceive
Hope that can save
Faith to believe
Through love peace comes to stricken brave.
You died for B
A neighbour he
Who was not free
Then proposed by P
"It was him or me,
Don't you see,
Someone that we
Can spare for tea"
Beneath a shady olive tree.
You said goodbye
Then rose is I
Though terrified
As death draws neigh
Can face this lie
With steadied eye
And pacify
My last gasp sigh
To breath as golden clouds in sun filled sky.
JAMYEE BOWEN (11)
Died 21/5/96
For all the children A to Ze
Who have drawn the short straw
A private word
Dear Child B,
An unheard word
Between you and me,
A tear filled word
You will never see,
A sad glad word
You are now pain free,
A missing word
For a lost Jamyee,
A peaceful word
To help you rest easy.
Oh glory be!
A flowering white magnolia tree
That dazzling lights so clearly
The secret dark inside of me
Shocking my senses breathlessly
With racing currents flowing free
To fuse upon eternity
A blooming flash of ecstasy.
Oh glory me.
Then rain comes falling quietly
White petals dropping silently
As nature summons gravity
To meet in time mortality
And fade away bright beauty
Until there's nothing left to see
Save leafy green magnolia tree.
Oh glory be!
You are always alone with a stone in your heart
A heart full of rock or a flint split apart
To receive the message of cupid's love dart
And feel the heartache when loving may spark.
Will you consider a moment, or remain in the dark?
You may be alone with a stone in your eye
An eye full of grit or a mote blinkered stye
To notice the signs or the sound of a cry
And see a chance contact that is just passing by.
Will you consider a moment, and make one more try?
You are sometimes alone with a stone in your shoe
A shoe full of gravel laced tight stiff and new
To tread the same path another's passed through
And meet at a point to share the same view.
Will you consider a moment, what you need to do?
You should not be alone with a stone in your mouth
A mouth full of pearls shining white north and south
To lighten a word that another may laugh
And banish a mood that is focused on death.
Will you consider a moment, when enough is enough?
You are never alone with a stone in your hand
A hand full of pebbles or a small grain of sand
To enter the life of another's time span
And ripple their surface to make your demand.
Will you consider a moment, and become my dear friend?
Dear Phil,
Whoes climbed the hill,
His hands no more upon the till,
Leaves memories that forever will
Live in us still.
MARINA (6)
Handicapped girl at Casa De Copii, Hincesti,
Moldova
Neil Harman Daily Mail report 3/8/96
Glen Hoddle's first game as England's coach versus Moldova
Played at Moldova's capital Kishinev 1/9/96
England won 3-0 goals Barnaby, Gascoigne, Shearer (Capt.)
England, England, England,
England for the cup,
Three cheers for mighty England,
England for the famous cup.
Moldova, Moldova, Moldova,
Moldova for the cup,
Three beers for small Moldova,
Moldova for the begging cup.
Marina, Marina, Marina,
Marina for the cup,
Three tears for sad Marina,
Marina for the loving cup.
I can't talk maybe
I can't walk maybe
I'm not free to come and go and be maybe
But just like you can't you see
I'm not maybe
I am me.
Oh why oh why do you not know
How much I love you so
Oh why oh why can you not see
How much you mean to me?
So listen carefully my love
And listen very well
For I need you in every sense
Or I am damned to hell.
POYNTZPASS
CO. ARMAGH 3rd March 1998
For Philip Allen (34) Protestant and Damien Trainer (25) Catholic
And all the others hurt by the pointlessness of violent conflict
What's the point of Poyntzpass?
One less smile to lift a mask
One less hand to bridge a class
One less josh to break a fast
One less jar to fill a glass
One less self to have a gas
One less heart to give a lass
One less head to take a mass
One less ear to hear a blast
One less eye to watch aghast
One more friend to step across
The grieving time of bitter loss.
There is no point to Poyntzpass
Till seasoned minds repair the past
By sowing seeds of sassafras*
In orange earth that's green with grass
And grow a Mitchell peace to last
The harvest time of Pentecost.
*Sassafis a tall eastern N American tree (Sassafras albidum)
Three geese ago a walking a walking a walking,
Three geese ago a walking
But they don't know the way.
Three geese ago a talking a talking a talking,
Three geese ago a talking
But they don't know what to say.
Three geese ago a courting a courting a courting,
Three geese ago a courting
But only two can stay.
Three geese ago a walking a talking a courting,
Three geese ago a courting
But I must fly away.
ROSE CALLING
Buried alive, 7th August 1998
Nairobi suicide bomb on the American Embassy
At least 132 dead and 4,200 injured
| Help me, help me, help me, I'm Rose What happened there Why am I here Oh, how I fear That I'm alone And no-one knows. |
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| Help me, help me, help me, I'm Rose Where is the light Is it day or night Will I be alright All alone If no-one knows. |
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| Help me, help me, help me, I'm Rose My will has gone The time has come To travel on And on my own I hope God knows. |
SWEET ROBIN HI!
Galmpton Holly Tree May 2002
Hey you sweet robin, robin high,
Sudden song to catch my eye,
Sudden gone then back nearby,
Cocked head, red brested full of pride,
A showman of the countryside.
Hey you sweet robin, robin high,
Sudden sight to make me sigh,
Sudden flight in close nearby,
Perched still, on rested branch beside,
A master of the countryside.
Hey you sweet robin, robin high,
Sudden look to quell my eye,
Sudden brook with me nearby,
Hopped on, deserted, cast aside,
A jester of the countryside.
Hey you sweet robin, robin high,
Sudden silence on my eye,
Sudden absence in the sky,
Missed friendship tested, fallen pride,
Heart breaker of the countryside.
I smell her hair
Capture her stare
Breath deep the languid air
That she and I this moment share
And then move the silken touch just there
Where sense becomes too much for her to bear
And she is lost to spinning rainbows where
Her rushing light will fuse in white hot glare
And draw and make my rising sap burst clear
To leave pleasure spent for loves sweet tenderness most dear
Until reborn we know the time to sigh again is near.
Why can't you and I be free
You with another's right to be alone
Your different paths to make a home.
Is it because the ways I tread
Are those I have restrained instead?
Perhaps we can more liberally.
Why can't you and I just be
You with another's tongue and separate skin
Your different life and kith and kin.
Is it because the secrets I see
Are those I have deceiving me?
Perhaps we can more patiently.
Why can't you and I agree
You with another's eye of days gone by
Your different view of stations high.
Is it because the truths I know
Are those I have failing to grow?
Perhaps we can more honestly.
Why can't you and I say we
You with another form and heady scent
Your different being for natures intent.
Is it because the senses I feel
Are those I have for you unreal?
Perhaps we can more lovingly.
Why can't you and I be trees
You with another's spread and rooted need
Your different branch from random seed.
Is it because the air we breathe
Is that I have not to bequeath?
Perhaps we can just share the breeze.
Oh to kiss you breathless
To hear your tender sigh,
And taste the honey from your lips
And drink your essence dry.
Oh to make you restless
Under my gentle touch,
And feel the beating of your heart
With hands that share so much.
Oh to make you careless
Of anyone but me,
And join me on the path of love
To blissful ecstasy.
Oh to make you shameless
Of thought and word and deed,
And let me reach your hidden depths
With cupids darting need.
Oh that time were timeless
For a special place in time,
When you share my cup of happiness
And become my Valentine.
A LA CARTE
Handsome photo of CC and SB, ready for service
in the Savoy's Pinafore Room - Circa 1963
The Savoy's not just for hungry toffs,
To pick the best of la Carte's store,
But also for the hoi pollo,
Like me and Chris and other broths,
Who commised in the Pinafore !
A LA CARTE
Handsome photo of CC and SB, ready for
service
in the Savoy's Pinafore Room - Circa 1963
The Savoy's not just for hungry toffs,
To pick the best of la Carte's store,
But also for the hoi pollo,
Like me and Chris and other broths,
Who commised in the Pinafore !
ABOUT TIME
Bookmark notes for C & C based on my "About
Time" thoughts
and the I Ching reading No 62 cast on 3rd August 2002
|
This is the bookmark for |
I Ching |
from birth to death. Perhaps the moment of still life is the present moment, the now, which is a link to the imperative of my " about time ". Anyway, I know time passes all too quickly, and we are slaves to its passing, and in the end it is only in the now (the still) that we can break it's spell, and live a life that has some measure of our choosing, and leave some value for others to benefit from our passage. |
BAG LADY
Chris Kitch
Lecturer at Oxford
I passed a bag lady in Leicester Square
With its lights and its smells and its sounds in the air
And its people's excitement of coming pleasures to share
From a show or a meal or from just being there
Before returning to homes that are safe without fear.
I passed a bag lady in Leicester Square
But I didn't see her as she averted my stare.
I passed a fine lady in Leicester Square
With its hustle and bustle and buzz in the air
And its families and friends and lovers who care
About having some fun and a laugh and a beer
Before retiring to homes contented full of good cheer.
I passed a fine lady in Leicester Square
But she didn't see me with her educated stare.
ALISON HARGREAVES
Killed on K2, 9/10 August 1995
Dear Alison Hargreaves, I didn't know you
But you touched my heart climbing heartless K2
And you opened a door on some memories I've stored
Of dreams I have dreamed over years gone before.
Dear Alison Hargreaves, your Kate and your Tom
Are the fruit that your Jim must take nourishment from
But the point of your life that must do for me
Is that in wanting to climb you reached out to be free.
Dear Alison Hargreaves, I'm sorry you're gone
And I know they'll lament in your sad Scottish home
And I know some may wish you'd not set eyes on K2
But then Alison Hargreaves that would not have been you.
Dear Alison Hargreaves, I wish you were here
For Jim, Kate and Tom and those who will care
That instead of a mountain taking away your sweet life
You were spared to continue as a mother and wife.
Dear Alison Hargreaves, where ever you are
May your soul rest in peace and peace be a star
That will shine a bright light on your Katie and your Tom
And bathe Jim with your love for him to pass on.
BRANDY & GINGER
Spirited brothers
Brandy was a sad cat, a mad cat,
A sad cat,
He left one day and didn't come back,
And that was that !
Ginger was a glad cat, a lad cat,
A glad cat,
We loved him and he loved us back,
And that's a fact!
BELOVED ONE
For Sophie, Robert, Paul, Caroline and other
innocents. 20th July 1996
Oh my beloved one
Scented daughter girl boy honeyed son
Who fled a life that still had time to run
Oh let me praise the breath that I have surely known.
Oh my beloved one
Laughing daughter shining smiling son
Who leave us memories of memories scarce begun
Oh let them comfort me in all my days to come.
Oh my beloved one
Bright daughter pure joy giving son
Who journey on before my days are done
Oh let me know the place their tender souls have gone.
Oh my beloved one
Fair daughter mine my handsome son
Who are the fruit of every mother's womb
Oh let their spark shed light beyond their earthy tomb.
Oh my beloved one
Precious daughter darling treasured son
Who's presence lies within my flesh and bone
Oh let my loving heart forever be their sacred home.
CATHERINE
Birthday Song - 17 July 1996
Our dear sweet girl with her guitar,
She sings and plays sweet music of her life so far,
For us to hear and share the loving air,
She breathes this glorious time of year.
And score her birth upon the setting
Of a golden sun
When she will strike the cord
Of thirty one
BERRY POMERY WEDDING
25th July 1992
Berry Pomery in bloom,
Church bells ringing clear,
Bride joining groom,
Everybody's there.
Wedding at noon,
Blessings and prayer,
Hearts thumping boom,
Glorious affair.
Cake cutting swoon,
Speech raising cheer,
Dancing their tune,
Never a care.
Time to leave room,
Remaining shed tear,
Crossing sanddune,
Burgh Island sea air.
Bliss honeymoon,
Becoming a pair,
Over too soon,
Returning next year!
DRUMCREE
ORANGE MARCHES 13th July 1998
Drumcree is not the place for me
To be with bitter shouting faces
Of men and women free
To give and take a biscuit
And share a cup of tea
And turn the cheek of common sense
On marches making history.
BLACK FAMINE - SO MUCH TO BEAR
Sudan Crisis Appeal. The end of the road,
AA Gill - report,
Paul Lowe - photographs
Black Sun burning hot
On mother's breast
Protected not
With any factor test.
Black heat shrinking stops
The milk flow pressed
On parched lips blocked
To young life from the nest.
Black time racing shot
With hunger dressed
Until rain drops
Its hopes on new born blessed.
Black soil's waiting plot
Sand dune or forest
Ink well to blot
A future random harvest.
Black seeds coming crop
Blunt hunger lest
The conscience haves have got
May suffer in the West.
Black grace patient knot
On landscape stressed
Into a charity shop
Where help becomes the helpless.
Black sun burning hot
On mother's breast
Protected not
Unless she's second guessed.
You common men come over here
Be guardians of our common share
Our common wealth our common health
Our rain and sun and common air
And share your lives
With oxeye daisies butterflies
And cowslip mad march skipping hares.
You common men come around
Be guardians of our common ground
Our common space our common place
Our sight and smell and common sound
And share your tomorrows
With dipping swallows buttercup hollows
And meadow chase fox racing hounds.
You common men come off the fence
Be guardians of our common sense
Our common will our common thrill
Our touch and taste and common tense
And share your fates
With haystacks snakes head fritillary corncrakes
And cuckoos call larks soaring presence.
You common men come make your choice
Be guardian of our common voice
Our common news our common views
Our laughter cries and common noise
And share your tales
With hawk bit horsetails dry stone walls
And lapwings partridge singing comice.
You common men come on come on
Take care of where you may belong.
DEATH OF A CHAMBERMAID
(26AF4590C25700444H)
Sunday Times, Michael Harvey report
She would not see death's glance
From tango sierra charlie concordance.
She would not see death's glance
That felled the pride of Belle Air France.
She would not hear death's knell
Her 4-44 alarm clock stopping bell.
She would not hear death's knell
That breaks up Hotelissimo's time spell.
She would not feel death's sting
By quarante cinq quatre vingt dix's wing.
She would not feel death's sting
Mauritian born Devranee Chundunsing.
She would not know death's grief
Of those she's left to weep relief.
She would not know death's grief
But Christian Marty's grand contemplatif.
She was just death's chance plot
Bad luck to pick that very spot.
She was just death's chance plot
The resting place of zwei sechs runaway's slot.
When I met Alex at Totnes fair
Drinking Elixir without a care
Her shining eyes and radiant stare
Flashing teeth smile beaming clear
Enthusing her words for me to hear
Her crackling presence filling the air
Before taking herself I know not where
On sparking boots bolting steps of a deer
Leaving me darkly but brightly aware.
When I met Alex in Totnes there
She was so alive with her shocking red hair
That she stunned my senses for a whole light year.
Sudden sound
Trick of light
Call to arms
Need a fight
Gunpowder plot
Tempers ignite
Rooks explode
In raucous flight!
Josie
Josie good
Josie goodbye.
Good
Goodbye
Goodbye Josie.
Bye
Bye Josie
Bye Josie good.
Have a good life
GOING GOING GOING GONG
Hong Kong, Midnight 30th June 1997
Going
Going
Going once
Did I see a slant eyed glance
You Sir, will you take a chance
And make the lady turn and dance.
Going
Going
Going twice
Did I roll a slant eyed dice
You Sir, will you make a choice
Find the lady or spill the rice.
Going
Going
Going Gong
Did I taste a slant eyed tongue
You Sir, will you share your heir
With the lady of Tianaman square.
Going
Going
Going lost
Did I see a slant eyed ghost
You Sir, will you miss the past
When lady luck was yours to grasp.
With icing breath through sugar lips
And syrup tongue licked finger tips
Honey woman be sweet to me
Make sticky kisses for my tea.
Good night, good night
My fellows go into the evening's fading light
Leave me to check and quietly see
That all is placed
For tomorrow's renewed productive fight
To cloak in gloom the naked bare strip light
To slowly dress in readiness
For homing flight
And close the door on silent memories
Of the day's noises white.
Good night, good night
I slowly walk into the evenings fading light
Feel on my face soft falling rain
That cleans the air
And freshens breath and failing sight
To view grey sky contrasting rainbow bright
To wonder watch its arcing
Into coming night
Until its gone and I am left alone
With lingering colours right.
Good night, good night
I quickly drive into the evening's faded light
Chasing the dying day's crimson rays
That colour bleeds
On cotton balled clouds set alight
To witness heaven's mountains shining might
To breathless spirit climb
Their dizzy height
Then fall and follow yellow beams
Through byways darkening plight.
Good night, good night
I arrive at last after the evening's fading light
Greeted by lady's ghostly bark
That welcomes my heart
To kitchen sounds and smells aright
To sit before the giving life fire's light
To sleep protected by
Old soul's moonlight
And dream and wake again
With dawn to morning's delight.
IKEBANA
D's favoured painting by Annora Spence
| Yellow backin Blue man playin Elbow restin Violin. |
Yellow backin Yellow backin |
Yellow backin Three stem swayin Flower listenin Soundless hearin. |
PAIN FREE
Visit to Jonathan Parker, 8th August 1996
I sat on a chair in the hall waiting my turn in the company of a beautiful
large black stone shaped like a tear and resting on a step of the staircase.
I saw the stone tear drop waiting there
On the second or third bare tread of the stair
As I waited my turn in the waiting chair
For Jonathan's hands to make my pain disappear.
I thought of the stone sadly waiting with me
Black and smooth polished by the roughened sea
As I waited on my side with my waiting knee
For Jonathan's hands to make my knee pain free.
I took the glad stone to my waiting van
And I drove with the feel of the stone in my hand
As I waited the time of the waiting sand
For Jonathan's hands to fulfil pains demand.
MUMMY MUMMY
Diana Princess of Wales
1st July 1961 - 31st August 1997
Mummy mummy why have you left me
Without a goodbye call
To tell me your love me
To tell me you need me
To tell me I count above all.
Mummy mummy why have you left me
Without a farewell kiss
With your hand in my hair
Your sweet scent in the air
And your essence that I have to miss.
Mummy mummy why have you left me
Without a future to share
Mummy days without song
Mummy nights when I long
For your presence to be near me here.
Mummy mummy why have you left me
With only a memory to grow
From your blood in my veins
And your seed that remains
A secret part that only I know.
Mummy mummy why have you left me
With your fashionable fame and your fans
Your Mother Teresa good deeds
Your shared time for my needs
The lost healing touch of your hands.
Mummy mummy why have you left me
For a drive by the bank of the Seine
And your rush to be free
Though you know not from me
To escape from the pressure and strain.
Diana Diana why have you let us
Without a goodbye wave
To show that you like us
To show that you need us
To show us the sweetheart you gave.
OMAGH
A real IRA apology for 29 dead 15/8/98
Blar blar, blar blar, blar blar, blar blar, blar blar,
blar blar, blar blar,
blar blar, blar blar,
blar blar, blar blar, blar blar, blar blar, blar blar, blar,
Blast Omagh!
I live inside the skin of mine
This tender coat of senses fine
That selfish clings like clinging vine
To want the suns soft warming shine
The velvet touch a caress sublime
And scent the rose and taste the wine
Enjoy the now secure life's line
Be me as free to speak by mind…
…whilst all the while I'm living blind
Of what tomorrow's fate may find
Be it fair or be it unkind
Until life's stony hill I've climbed
And I may see beyond my time.
When crickets rasping calls are high
Sweet scented field I want to lie
My head on natures grassy thigh
Gazing up to a summer's sky
And watch clouds lazy drifting by
Go by go by go by go by…
Then squinting eyes through eyelids sly
With hot cheeks cooled by breezes sigh
Let golden light time slowly fly
Until days done and night draws neigh
And field dream shadows chill and die.
SKYLARKING
Happy remembering Constantine - July 2002
(Read upwards then downwards, starting from bottom
left)
|
THE ACCURSED MOUNTAIN
Claire Kempster and Mark Haseler fell
to their death roped together
whilst having their picture taken on the summit 22nd July 1997
"What happens when we die"
Three by three friendships roped tight
Joining hill snow in the night
Footsteps shadowed by moonlight
Climbing up the dizzy height
Give strong determined words to write.
"Is not for me to say"
Three by three friendships roped tight
Heartbeats breath outpacing fright
With expectations rising bright
Of hidden summits of delight
Give longing hopeful words to write.
"But when I die, as die I must"
Three by three friendships roped tight
At last stand fast on mountains might
To greet dawn's coming into sight
And sense this moments thrill is right
Give laughing thankful words to write.
"Will someone shout hurrah"
Three by three friendships roped tight
Share breathless time to know souls flight
And what future next may sudden blight
That mortal proves frail lifelines slight
Give tears to stain the words I write.
"And remember that I conquered once"
Three by three friendships roped tight
Departed from the sacred site
To face a loss without a fight
And keep a silent memory quiet
Give prayers to calm the words I write.
"Aguille de Bionassay"
Suddenly
Sharp edged against the evening dulling light
Black shrieking specks descend from steeling height
Commanding eyes to keenly focus sight
On winged scimitars slashing endless swatches of flight
That cut and thrust horizons left and right
And sharpen blunted senses with delight.
The swift has come
Then swiftly gone
Into the night.
TIDAL WAVE
Papua New Guinea 1998
Under the swell
Beneath the deep
Where devils laugh and sinners leap
From molten tongues that never sleep
But endless lick their soulless feet
And scorch the wicked tears they weep
The pressure builds
To fever pitch
Upon a seam with broken stitch
Held tight by quaking fingers pinch
That ache to quell the madding itch
Of nature's overheated bitch
And boiling bursts
With sulphur breath
Through shattered rock and ruptured earth
Spreading the shaking quaking girth
To fill a void of hollow mirth
With white hot liquid living death
Into the sea
A searing scream
A bubbling mass of hissing steam
That rises up an endless stream
Of shocking black and blue and green
Spume cresting, falling terror's dream
Drowning the land
In foaming crush
Squeezing a last out gasping rush
Then spent retire a sated flush
Leaving behind blind deaf dumb hush
A pause to hear a maiden's blush
Breaking the spell.
Oh tell me tree oh tell me please
The secrets of the summer breeze
That rustles thoughts amongst the leaves
And fills my head with dreams of ease.
Oh tell me tree oh tell me why
The secrets of the autumn sky
That calls song birds to southward fly
Leaves falling tears of dreams gone by.
Oh tell me tree oh let me know
The secrets of the winter snow
That rests in branches leafless hollow
To hide the truth of dreams tomorrow.
Oh tell me tree oh tell me when
The secrets of springs scented rain
That swells leaf buds to bursting strain
Will release my dreams to dream again.
Oh tell me tree oh tell me how
The secrets of the season's flow
Locked in the heart of ancient yew
Can share those dreams of paradise now.
HILDA
Always there for Phyllis
Xmas 1995
Hilda dear Hilda we're so glad you are there,
Sitting in the comfort of your pretty pink chair,
To talk on the phone and swap news with us here,
And tell us your fine in your ninety first year.
18 July 1996
Hilda dear Hilda where are you now,
Rocked in the cradle of a sleepy oak bow.
3 August 1996
Hilda dear Hilda you're still there for me,
In the sound of the wind in your sleepy oak tree.
Oh praise the golden yellow bean
That trickles through our lives unseen
A golden flowing endless stream
Of tastes fulfilling hungers dream.
I love you as we were ago
When you and I would sigh and sigh
From lovers breathless kissing slow
Our thirsty parting lips aglow.
I love you as we were ago
When you and I would thigh to thigh
With lovers pressing to and fro
Make blissful passion's coming go.
I love you as we were ago
When you and I would eye to eye
With lovers looks that knowing know
The secret depths fulfilled below.
I love you as we were ago
When you and I would lie and lie
From lovers senses sated so
Our empty drifting dreams aflow.
ANNIE LINDSELL (47)
Obtained high court legal right to end
her life in her own way
"A brilliant mind, a vibrant personality, hugely attractive,
roguishly flirtatious" says her QC
The Times article by Valerie Grove, 1st November 1997
Annie Lindsell
Won't get well
Her motor neurone's gone to hell
Inside her pretty living shell
She waits to sound her lasting bell
Ring down her curtain's parting knell
And break sweet life's bewitching spell
On those she's kissed and leaves to tell
Their dreams of Annie as their swell.
CRISPIN'S VIEW
Memories of Barrow Field, shared 17/11/02
What a day to remember
Sunday seventeenth of November,
Lazy Autumn's golden sun
Glint barley stalks webs spiders' spun,
O'er Barrow field the now o'clock
'tween Blackness east and west White Rock,
I stood on Gia's loamy back
Breathing deep, muscles slack,
Sweet ease with self and family
Soon to plant a tender tree,
And cast my wish on Devra Dart
To feed my soul and calm my heart,
So be in tune with nature's hum
Joy, story, dance and rhythm drum,
Under the spell of azure sky
That covers sight to Haytor high,
Sunday seventeenth of November
What a day to remember !
BILLY MAN
Helicopter Winchman swept to his death from the
ship Green Lily,
19th November 1997
Awarded the George Medal
Billy Man's worth ten men silly
Saving them from ship Green Lily
Risking work time willy nilly
To lose his life in great seas chilly.
Billy Man's worth ten men really
His loved ones going to miss him dearly
To miss his presence with them nearly
They must now keep his memory clearly.
Billy Man's worth ten men madly
Taking his lifeline chances gladly
Leaving him to luck gone badly
Billy Man's a hero sadly.
Blackpool driving
White car arriving
White beach shining
White eyes seeking
White gulls screaming
White wind blowing
White clouds rolling
White spray smoking
White waves breaking
White foam seething
White sand leaving
White shoes chasing
White shells resting
White breath steaming
White teeth gleaming
Black boy beaming.
What a delight for me to see,
My dearest Dawn and sweet Emily,
Laughing and dancing beside the sea,
Chasing and fleeing over the sand,
Breathlessly stooping hand in hand,
Collecting shells, oh how grand,
With Daddy there not far away,
To join them in their fun and play,
On a Saturday visit to Broadsands Bay.
CRASH
Jacqueline Ford, Catherine Hulme, Lucy Tringham,
Deborah Townsend, David Whittaker
Young doctors and students from Bethesda Hospital, Ubampo, S. Africa
Killed 13th October 1995 going on a weekend break.
"Idealistic and selfless"
Lucy and Jacqueline
David, Deborah and Catherine
Are gone
Hardly born hardly worn
In a flash of a crash
So full of possibilities
Now lost chances
Why did they have to die
Leaving us a gaping cry
Oh me, oh my
How can I justify
Their loss
This shocking chaos
It cannot be
Such helpless happening to me
Oh no, oh no.
But it is so
So I must go
And live for them
Not wasting their momentum
With the allocated time
That must be mine
To make the why turn out just fine.
We watched the sun going down on October Dartmoor
With our backs to the granite of rocky Bell Tor
And heard the rooks calling out their evocative cor
As they settled to roost above Widdecombe's floor.
We saw the sun slip from silver to an orangy blur
And the sky fade to silence with night time azure
Split by the bark from a fox on a musk laden spoor
And the hoot of an owl poised with ravenous claw.
We felt bat's air brush a cheek unnoticed before
Making gooseflesh creep and chapped lips sore
As cold dropped the curtain on day lights encore
And the stars started glimmering in a galaxy galore.
We sat still and tingled until clouds did obscure
The moonlighted secrets of natures harsh law
When the weak turn to jelly and then into gore
And resolves turns to water as rain starts to pour.
We ran for safe shelter behind the car door
Chasing and laughing not knowing what for
And sang the glad song of Tom Cobleigh and all
Between Bone Hill, Chinkwell and Honey Bag Tor.
DAVID'S SONG
Christening 7/11/99
David is a darling, a darling, a darling,
David is a darling, a darling baby boy !
May he grow up to be a man
And with a god blessed given span
Make his the most of chances can.
David is a darling, a smiling, a laughing,
David is a darling, a precious baby boy
Shudder wake to chilled air
morning
Frosty sundrenched green leaves
turning
Sugar sweetened sap filled
bursting
Yellow golden amber
burning
Flames that rustle gently
curling
Copper beaten burnished
glowing
Skyline blaze with senses
flowing
Breath to catch the east wind
blowing
Cold on pulses slowly
slowing
Time to feel the changes
calling
Break the grip of still life
stalling
Autumn's ochre ready
falling
Falling into winter
Mourning.
It's hard to grasp
That life can't last
Beyond what's past.
But the past
Can last
For you to grasp
If life holds fast.
HARVEST TIME
Lauren (Poppy) Holmes - Born 10:52 on 8/9/97
Once upon a welcome time,
In a land of cream and honeywine,
Lightheaded clouds, rainbow sunshine,
On purple moors between gold coastlines,
Where granite tors spring rivers fine,
Who's waters flow through forest pine,
And scented winds of wild sweet thyme,
Touch gorse and fern and sacred shrines,
And carry " my dear mother " Bucklands chimes,
Down Haytor vale up Haytor climb,
Into September Virgo 's sign,
Godess of harvest field and vine,
And bring momentous thrill devine,
A wondrous pearl of joy sublime,
New life begins a story unwinds,
For Lauren Holmes with love entwined,
Good hopes and blessings will always rhyme,
And live in happy ever after time.
LADY'S GONE TO HEAVEN
Summer of '76 to 11.am - 27th October
1991
Oh lady sweet oh lady fair,
Oh lady with the raven hair,
How much w miss your presence here.
Oh lady sweet oh lady fair,
Oh whirling swirling dancing dear,
You stole our hearts when you was there.
Oh lady sweet oh lady fair,
Oh joyous whooping that filled the air,
You gave our days such love and cheer.
Oh lady sweet oh lady fair,
Oh how we flourished in your care,
And now we sense you everywhere.
HERON
Stoke Gabriel Road 20/9/02
Today,
Just now,
I saw a heron
On a bridge,
The Port bridge,
Stoke Gabriel Road,
Standing there,
Lonely, stark,
Still life,
Waiting,
A heart
Beat,
For me
To pass
With wonder by.
Then off she flew,
Flapping
Slowly
Away,
Gone,
Out of
My sight,
But not from
My mind's eye,
Stoke Gabriel Road,
The Port bridge,
On the bridge
A heron stood,
Just now,
Today.
JULIE WARD (WAITING FOR JUSTICE)
Murdered 13th September 1988
Julie Ward is lost and dead.
They hurt her and cut off her head.
We weep the bloody tears they shed.
Makari outpost is where she died.
They scorned her as she lay and cried.
We rage at those that laughed and lied.
Julie smiles at us no more.
Was wiped and they escaped the law.
We yearn for justice on that muram shore.
The Masai Mara has to be her grave.
Her lasting mark the joy she gave.
We search sweet memories of her to save.
Kenya is a place I know.
She welcomed me, called out Jambo.
We wish she'd greeted poor Julie so.
Harambe Kenya Harambe Harambe.
You offer peace beneath your acacia tree.
Will you now set the ghost of Julie free.
Poor sad little Mathew Eappen
His case got packed and sent to heaven
Because some childish indiscretion
Became a life death situation.
He only needed some attention
Someone to care, someone to listen
Someone to give him their protection
When parents take their separation.
Instead he got Louise to mind him
And he's forgot and she's forgiven
The crying shame that had to happen
To poor sad little Mathew Eappen.
MISERY TRAIN
Hutu refugees end exile, Western Morning News,
16th November 1996
Returning home after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis
Hutu Hutu, Hutu Hutu
Tutsi Tutsi, Tutsi Tutsi
Hutu Hutu, Hutu Hutu
Tutsi Tutsi, Tutsi Tutsi
Hutu Hutu, Hutu Hutu
Tutsi Tutsi, Tutsi Tutsi
Hutu Tutsi, Hutu Tutsi
Hutu Tutsi, Hutu Tutsi
Different strain, different strain
Land to gain, land to gain
Poison the brain, poison the brain
Hate inflame, hate inflame
Violence free reign, violence free reign
Crying in pain, crying in pain
Innocents slain, innocents slain
Someone to blame, someone to blame
Revenge to claim, revenge to claim
Flee in vain, flee in vain
Misery train, misery train
Dusty plain, dusty plain
Thirst for rain, thirst for rain
Hunger came, hunger came
Search for grain, search for grain
Fruitless aim, fruitless aim
Helpless fame, helpless fame
Tied and lame, tied and lame
Tempers to tame, tempers to tame
Borders to frame, borders to frame
Go home again, go home again
Rwandan shame, Rwandan shame
Hutu Tutsi, Hutu Tutsi
Hutu Tutsi, Hutu Tutsi
Hutu Hutu, Hutu Hutu
Tutsi Tutsi, Tutsi Tutsi
OAK TREE STAND
River d'Art Oak Tree Planting 17/11/02 for Joshua,
Emily,
Lauren and David
Stand tall young saplings, saplings small,
Stretch up and touch the sky,
And grow as high as happiness,
Sun drenched and rainbow shy.
Stand tall young saplings, saplings small,
Bend with the season's flow,
And learn the songs of lobed leaves,
That come with autumn's glow.
Stand tall young saplings, saplings small,
Give shade to loving times,
And share the goodness of the earth,
With other rhyming fines.
Stand tall young saplings, saplings small,
Make good the changes given,
And reach the possibles of life,
Beneath oak's acorn heaven.
I dropped my rubber on the stair
Jumping bouncing I know not where
Leaping hiding perhaps here perhaps there
My seeking eye drawn to despair.
Oh how shall I rub away my tear?
Breathe deep
Breathe very deep
And stir hot blood with sleep
That slows desires red lava creep
Halting fanned flames that lick and leap
To consume loves union and the blissful sigh we keep.
Be still
Be very still
And with an act of will
Free mind of thoughts that fill
This place with dross and human swill
Preventing chance to flood your heart with purest thrill.
Be calm
Be very calm
And hold back the rising arm
Poised in an act of senseless harm
Unleashing natures violent storm
To rage upon defenceless innocent deserving balm.
Be wise
Be very wise
And practice empty exercise
For truth to light your sightless eyes
Guiding your steps between the lies
That poisons the air in which hope ever flies.
Be kind
Be very kind
And give whatever you find
To loosen numbing fears that bind
Your fellow in life's tiresome grind
Towards reaching that elusive peace of mind.
Breathe deep
Be still
Be calm
Be wise
Be kind
Unwind the spirit of mankind.
The geese are on the wing
As September draws the summer in
With golden sunlight threads that trailing catch
A gentle autumn wind.
The geese are on the wing
Calling my heart to follow them
To different climes and times and then perhaps
Return to me next spring.
The geese are on the wing
Oh how I love their honking din
That urgent bonding song whose echoes scratch
Upon my gooseflesh skin.
Half sleep, awake half drifting dream,
Musk scented senses breathing in,
Rubbed warm soft silky satin skin,
Full parted lips with languid limbs akin,
Tense, ready now for aching thrilling spin,
A need, a must, demanding to begin,
Where thought and touch go hotly slithering.
Well
Elle is a woman with the scent of peach soap
On
A skin that's so tempting that ones senses can't cope
That
You long for a sign that encourages hope
But
Are you ready to go if she says elope
And
A life washing sins without prayers from the Pope.
Not me I'm no dope!
SIMON WOOD
Paddington train disaster casualty, 5th October
1999
Let Take Let Take Let Take Let Take Let Take Let Take |
C L A C K E R T Y C L A C K S A F E T Y S L A C K C L A C K E R T Y |
Simon Wood the the the the the the the the the the the the Simon Wood Then he took The 8.11 Now he's Spotting Bogie Heaven Simon Wood |
C L I C K E R T Y C L I C K P R O F I T Q U I C K C L I C K E R T Y |
|
THE WIDOWS OF VRINDAVAN
The Outcasts - India's Widows
William Dalrymple Report, Benoit Rajau - Photographs
Hurry Krishna hurry Ram
Hurry Krishna hurry Ram
Help the widows of Vrindavan
Who cannot go with satiman
Or wear a favourite sari glam
To choose another loving fan
But cast out leave their family clan
To chant kritans in Ashram Bhagwan
For meagre rice paid with bhajans
Then beg for rest with sad tin cans
And sleep and weep for Govinda's hand
To climb his hill of Goverdhan
Drift free o'er Jumnas crystal span
Hear magic flutes in Rang Bhavan
And dance with Radhas Gopi band
'Till dawn steals dreams of Krishnaland
Leaves waking truth of Hindustan
For helpless widows of Vrindavan
Hurry Krishna hurry Ram
Hurry Krishna hurry Ram.
CHRIS CRAVEN
Climbing Partner 9th July 1994
With my friend Chris
To lead upon the crop,
I like to climb above
The beating of my heart,
And fear of falling out of love
With life apart,
Until I reach the top
Of satisfaction bliss.
You have to touch base every once in a while
You have to touch base my friend
You have to touch base if your life is on trial
And you need the comfort of that radiant smile
You have to touch base now and then.
You have to touch base with the home of your soul
You have to touch base my friend
You have to touch base from time's burdensome toll
And you need to link up with a timeless goal
You have to touch base for a second.
You have to touch base for that incredible thrill
You have to touch base my friend
You have to touch base if you can't manage the hill
And you need to connect with the source of your will
You have to touch base to be opened.
You have to touch base to see the bright light
You have to touch base my friend
You have to touch base when hope's taken flight
And you need to be sure everything will be right
You have to touch base in the end.
You have to touch base to hear the glad song
You have to touch base my friend
You have to touch base to right a great wrong
And you need to know where you really belong
You have to touch base so you mend.
You have to touch base to feel a pure heart
You have to touch base my friend
You have to touch base to know where to start
And you need be aware of your sacred part
You have to touch base to say amen.
WTC TWIN TOWERS OF BABYLON
11th September 2001
| 8am_____________________________ Routine men rush hour men US flight and cabin men Busy taking easy men Flying off to somewhere, when, Fear time left to share for them. 9am_____________________________ Office men working men Wordly trade and money men Buying selling dealer men Living by their instincts, when, No time left to spend for them 10am_____________________________ Ladder men engine men NY police and medic men Dashing by to rescue men Anxious want to get there, when, Hope time left still up for them 11am_____________________________ Camera men anchor men National news and broadcast men Breaking twin towers story men Ready telling shocking, when, Lead time left to run for them Amen_____________________________ Christian men muslim men Family friends and fellow men Loving caring sharing men Wishing know the reason, when, Just time left to answer them |
____________________________8am |
| _______________________________________________________________________ Hurry men worry men make mistake and sorry men, who will fill the space for them. |
A fallen leaf tumbling in the wind
Blown hither and thither with no one to mind
Whether this way or that way is certain to find
The answer to autumn's golden shaded design.
NO GOODBYE SREBRENICA
Ethnic cleansing wherever
Please no, no not today
Don't you, don't take my life away
Hear me, hear what I have to say
You must hold back, you must delay
Just wait I beg, just wait I pray
Give me a chance, the chance you may
Change heart, to grant a mercy stay
Restrain the hands, the hands that slay
Those that offend, who cannot pay
The mirrored price of silver grey.
You are me, can't you see
Just separate skin holding a different story in
Repeating days of simple means and simple ways
Earning a life slipping aside the reaper's knife.
Rejoice and share free mother's air.
Drink Adam's ale, hear Eve's tell tale.
Sew seeds of time and grow a different rhyme.
This cannot be this happening to me
A ready steady gone, love left undone
Missed lasting kiss, a smell, a touch, a word dismissed
Never to see that smile again, my lasted thought a flash of pain
Dispatched undone, with blow and stab and fire and gun
In company alone, by hardened hearted men of stone
Shouting goodbye into the sky, leaving the clouds to wonder why
Fear sweated earth must blot stinking relief in death
Foul scented stain that clings upon remembered shame
Of aged bones that wait the plough as witness where and when and how.
Be thus my will
Surrendered and forever still?
Must passion spent before compassion lent
To history done, so future's change begun?
LANDMINE
In response to Princess Diana's visit to Angola
Published in Hello, No. 442 - 25th February 1997
I am so fine!
When I can run and dance through living grass
And touch the earth with fleeting feet
And wave my arms to chase alarms
And laugh and sing into the wind
And feel the beat of my heart sweet
And hear the lark that's rising fast
And smell the air that dries joy's tear
And see free space for me to be
A princess or chief beyond belief.
I am so fine in body mind
That tastes the fill of now until…
I am in pain!
When I must twitch and gasp on blackened grass
And touch the earth with bleeding bones
And wave my arm in helpless alarm
And scream and cry into the sky
And feel the pace of my heart race
And hear the blast that's rushing past
And smell the death that's nearly here
And see a grave for me to be
A princess or chief without relief.
I am in pain in body mind
That tastes the ill of now until…
I am repaired!
When I must wait and ask to rest on grass
And touch the earth with slipping sticks
And wave my arm to beg some alms
And laugh and cry in wonder why
And feel the fate of my heartache
And hear newscast of future last
And smell the feast that's over there
And see no place for me to be
A princess or chief with sharing grief.
I am repaired in body mind
That tastes the set of now and yet…
Can I forget?
Landmines are an abomination to mother earth and the frail lives she succours.
IRENE LYING
Sunday Times 21 February 1999
Imperfect children left to die, by Mark Franchetti
Russians abandon disabled infants to orphanages, like
Irina Dvornikova in Orphanage No. 12
Irene lying unclean disturbed
Disturbed crying unheard not hugged
Not hugged sighing unloved near dead
Near dead dying unfed wasted
Wasted living unchaste useless
Useless being unless disgust
Disgust feeling unjust someone
Someone seeing undone daydream
Daydream healing unseen Irene.
Irene unclean disturbed crying
Crying unheard not hugged sighing
Sighing unloved near dead dying
Dying unfed wasted living
Living unchaste useless being
Being unless disgust feeling
Feeling unjust someone seeing
Seeing undone daydream healing
Healing unseen lying Irene.
Irene disturbed crying unheard
Unheard not hugged sighing unloved
Unloved near dead dying unfed
Unfed wasted living unchaste
Unchaste useless being unless
Unless disgust feeling unjust
Unjust someone seeing undone
Undone daydream healing unseen
Unseen lying unclean Irene.
Oh, how I care
When you're not there,
But when you share
My time
I'm fine.
AM
David Shanahan's painting
Beneath Budda
Oh, you sitting man,
Sitting waiting until I can
Sit and wait and be I am.
Mondays hurts
Tuesdays hazy
Wednesdays easy
Thursdays peasy
Fridays pay days
Saturdays play days
Sundays praise days
Mondays hurts!
Round and round and round we go
Hello goodbye goodbye hello
Breathing unconscious rhythms flow
The air that fickle seasons blow
Hot summer clouds cold winter snow
As earth turns sun day moon night glow
When sleeping fires wake hopes rainbow
And changes sown make chances grow.
Round and round and round we go
Fingertip welcome farewell tiptoe
Live happy quick dead weeping slow
Glad joyful love sad tearful woe
Close friendship spent earns lonesome foe
Ask why the why and never know
Tomorrow becomes today's ago
Our turn in time must end in sorrow.
Round and round and round we go
From seminal milk to bucking roe
Life is just more than H2O
More than 2 cents on dice a throw
A feast to feed a carrion crow
Life is the link that links tomorrow
With heaven high and hell below
Our bonding guarantees it so.
Round and round and round we go,
But did I say I loved you so?
Like passing clouds crossing the sky
From time filled past on dreamless winds,
Let memories last for days gone by
We shared with loving absent friends.
So for this moment may you and I
Drink now their toast and make amends.
When I was born unready at days demanding dawn
Thrust sightless cold and naked into striplighted room
And strangely held aloft and curiously looked upon
All sticky haired and scared and desperately alone
Gasping breath mouth open wide in muted shocking swoon
My wailing frailing limbs akimbo torn forlorn
New wrinkled skin of virgins that I have hardly worn
All pain and pleasure feelings for me yet still to come
I longed for a return to that empty thought-free home
The dark wet pulsing warmth of mother's loving womb.
My time began too soon and soon my time was gone
Amid a blur of memories real and sometimes memories spun
From ups and downs in places and journeys to and from
Of telling secrets kept and broken promises sworn
To know a love that's lasted since loving time began
To taste success that's busted the appetite of man
Old wrinkled skin life polished that I have badly worn
So sipped and slipped my days beneath the ageless sun
And now at home I shrink from thoughts filled with return
To the dark wet rotting sod of mother's earthly tomb.
When Christ was born all ready for his impending dawn
Brought vision filled and veiled into firelighted gloom
And sacred held aloft and wisely looked upon
All swaddling clad and glad to be God's favourite son
Taking breath mouth smiling wide a newly rising moon
His reaching seeking arms for Mary's tender bosom
New wrinkled skin of virgin's that he has hardly worn
All pain and pleasure feelings for him yet still to come
In a manger's place of peace one Bethlehem's winter's morn
He waits to share his message this lamb fresh from the womb.
Before the birth of standing man
From mountain snow to sea beached sand
The weathered earth was field free land
With boundless space without a ban
On all life's place in all life's plan
Living in time to a secret span
Before the birth of standing man
And the telltale touch of Adam's fieldhand.
After the come of thinking man
From America west to eastern Japan
The measured earth is fieldmarshalled land
With boundaries placed to keep a ban
On every-man's business in every-man's plan
Living in time to a selfish span
After the come of thinking man
And the hardened touch of a calloused fieldhand.
With the will of caring man
From Indian chief to chief Taipan
The divided earth can be field healed land
With borders spaced to suit a ban
On everyone's choice in everyone's plan
Living in time to a maximum span
With the will of caring man
And the enquiring touch of a careful fieldhand.
In the time of sharing man
From Catholic Joe to Buddhist San
The united earth will be field day land
With sacred places saved a ban
For every life's chance in every life's plan
Living in time to a natural span
In the time of sharing man
And the loving touch of a gentle fieldhand.
Before the wake of spirit man
From lightest eyrie to darkest chasm
The spinning earth must be field magnet land
With energy flow that repels a ban
On all life's force in life forces plan
Living in time to an endless span
Before the wake of spirit man
And the sunshine touch of awakened fieldhand.
Everything counts in the life that you lead
Everything counts whether good or misdeed
To choke you or save you from self's craven need
So take heed.
Nothing is lost in the span that you live
Nothing is lost from the memories you have
To haunt you or guide you on paths you must brave
So behave.
No one escapes the examples they set
No one escapes the consequences of debt
To hurt you or help you with the sentence you get
So regret.
All time is precious for a story to tell
All time is precious until the death knell
To cage you or free you from Karma's great spell
So make well.
Wherever the truth its in whatever you are
Wherever the truth whether near or afar
To blind you or light you to life's inner fire
So aspire.
Breathe deep shed a lie
With a heart felt sigh
Atone and be born
To a fresh morning sky
Shout hooray
Bless the day
Or be damned as the man
Who was a sham yesterday.
| Life is | ||
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| No fear, | ||
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| Hello Amen. | ||
| Life is | ||
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Before the eyes can see beyond the earthly grave
The tears of life must dry
And fall like withered autumn leaves.
Before the ears can know the sound that silence makes
The drum must pause
To hear the flowers bloom on lily lakes.
Before the voice can speak the wordless truth
The lips and tongue must seal
A kiss with peaceful proof.
Before the soul can stand before the masters gate
The stricken heart must bleed
And wash the path the feet will take.
And deathly still,
You sit upon your silent perch
Waiting the slightest restless sound
Your amber eyes relentless search
The shadows of the frozen ground
Then with a noiseless quickened lurch
You drop upon your quarry found,
And stealthily kill.
If the spirit of man can be polished and shined
From selfless acts with love entwined
And become a pure spark for another to find
Imagine the power of many sparks combined
Directed with force of focused minds
To the cold and the helpless dark of the blind.
If the word of a man can be true and fair
From living a time of loving care
And become a sweet voice for another to hear
Imagine the sound of many songs of cheer
Directed by tongues that are honest and clear
To the deaf and the dumb and those in despair.
If the touch of a man can be gentle and strong
From knowing the love of a baby in arms
And become a good feeling to make one belong
Imagine the healing of many hands laying on
Directed by senses that wish to give balm
To the hurt and the sick and those suffering harm.
If the heart of a man can be open and warm
From sharing the joy of a loving home
And become a safe place to shelter a storm
Imagine the well being if many hearts beat as one
Directed by the pulse of life freshly born
To the sad and the frightened and the old and the worn.
If the eye of a man can be smiling and wise
From loving mankind's forms in every disguise
And become a view point stripped bear of lies
Imagine the light from many new days sunrise
Directed by vision in which right ever flies
To the downcast and the guilty of innocent's cries.
If the step of a man can be balanced and sure
From loving the ways of the rich and the poor
And become a pathfinder to truth's open door
Imagine the confidence of many places explored
Directed by memories of past journeys stored
To those undecided and hearts made of straw.
If the life of a man…
Winter's tree
Stark bare against a blue patched leaded sky
Sapient branch
Still veined with cold time halted passing by
Swelling bud
Stock filled fit ready busted for spring to try
Winter's tree
Still there when summer's past dead but a sigh.
| Pink golden sun | ||
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| Pink golden glow | ||
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| Pink golden light | ||
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| Pink golden smoke | ||
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| Pink golden earth | ||
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| Pink golden sky | ||
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LOVERS
Another's poem given to me by Dawn,
With a little reorganising by me.
This is the prayer
I breath today
That when we reach
The summit of life's hill
Our years of marriage
Let me say
Time shall remain
For us as lovers still.
Oh masters of the universe
Bring me my lovers song
To break the broken hearted curse
Of riven lovers gone,
Cast me a spell from memories' purse
For lovers left undone
And ease my half heart to rehearse
My exit line alone.
Here is where I want to be,
Here and now with you,
Here is where I want to be,
And never say adieu.
SWALLOW WING
Stoke Gabriel Road - October 2002
Fork tailed swallows on the wire,
Twittering autumn's fall,
Hanging busy on the line,
Waiting nature's call.
Fortailed swallows on the wing,
Taking summer's spoil,
Leaving winter's cold behind,
Until springtime's recall.
TOFU WO(R)K
DDD into the cauldron - 2/1/90
Dawn is on a journey
To make tofu,
Although I'm not going with her,
My love is
Too!
Lickerty split
Life's over quick!
Long live the day !
Come share what may!
My dear friend Sirpa,
With her nice wide smiling face
And laughing easy words we shared
In Hongkong's busy time filled place,
That pack my heart with memories stored,
How much I miss her !
Your best friend D.
If anything ever happens to me
And you are left undone
Remember this my dearest one that I shall always be
In the sweet night air the songs you hear
And the golden rays of the sun.
If anything ever happens to me
And the journey seems too long
Remember this my dearest one my love will cover thee
And tread the path that you must take
As though our lives are one.
If anything ever happens to me
And the pain is hard to bear
Remember this my dearest one that I can make you free
By sharing memories of the past
Until there are none to fear.
If anything ever happens to me
And you need to know the why
Remember this my dearest one my dearest darling D
That I live on forever
In every breath you sigh.
But if I am spared and you leave me
And I am left alone
I shall remember my dearest one with every day I see
The light we shared the joy we had
The times we were at home.
So as you survive along with me
And we are given time
Remember this my dearest one to prepare for eternity
Our living spark must fuse with love
And our golden threads entwine.
REMEMBER
4 May 2003
To mark our ruby wedding anniversary party
shared with our children and grandchildren
at windrushes, and the giving of the
Poem recorded on 3 original paintings
by Mick Poole 'Trevone Bay ' (S & D),
'Mother Ivys Bay' (C & C, P & D),
'Trevarnon Bay' (J & S, E & J).
Do you remember
Late August into September
Shared summer time
With you and me and J and C
When we enjoyed the summer shine
And sang and swam
And played all day
Upon the sand
Of Mothers Ivys Bay.
Will you remember
Late ageing into surrender
Sharing springtime
With D and P and Emily
When we enjoyed the ruby wine
And held their hands
And watched them play
Upon the sand
Of Trevarnon Bay
BEACHTIME PASSING
21 September 2003
Two paintings 'Splashing' and 'Shrimping' by N.St John Rosse,
of David (4) and Poppy (6) lookalikes, inspired this poem
Cottonballs cloud the sunblue sky
Seagulls soar on rides that fly
Above a golden flowing sigh
Of summer beachtime passing by.
A shorebreeze fans young sunburnt nose
With seaweed smells on lazy blows
That catch and ripple glitter flows
On sand suck tingled tender toes.
Waves froth over sunwet shins
To bubble burst on salted skin
Then wait the next swell to begin
Another whitecrest thrilling in.
Young lives fresh with sunshine air
Splashing thoughts on wind soaked hair
Still free to feel and know and share
Contented hearts just being there.
| P.S | If you look really hard, you can just see David and Poppy playing in the 'Distant Breakers' by Philip Larkin, perhaps in 10 years ! |
SYBIL& MIKE
Sweet memories shared 3 August 1935 -
18 November 1976
Sybil and Mike made me
And brought me up with love
To be
Before they went away
The man I have become,
And live
For those I love today.
JASON
Liddy's drawing - 14 May 1995
Dear Jason the son,
Not Liddy's faceless one,
But with flesh and blood and bone,
And aching past to shape the years to come.
Dear Jason the man
Not life's bleeding lamb
But with a knowing heart that can
And be the voice that beast I am I am
Dear Jason the tree
Not rootless drifing free
But with a caring need to see
And give his love to Sarah, Josh and Emily
Dear Jason the friend
Not shifting drifting sand
But seeking ways and means to mend
And share his time that god will send
Message on the card by and.
'With physical ties dismissed,
the mind is lonlier than ever.
Mind was god's accident.
Unfortunately for us,
We would be more content as sparrows.'
|
I know why the earth spins I know where the peace lies I know where the fear lies I know why the water falls |
I know where the hope lies I know where the love lies I know where the bliss lies where the god lies |
I know why the fire burns I know where the truth lies I know where the soul lies I know why the wind blows |
PASSION
Jonny Kennedy. The Boy Whose Skin Fell Off -
Channel 4. 25/03/04
 |
Jonny and Jesus Are brothers in skin, That was flayed From their backs And their fronts And their shins, Bloody raw in the cracks, Bloody tears on the chin. |
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Jonny and Jesus |
Jonny and Jesus Jonny and Jesus |
Jonny and Jesus |
SUPERSTITION, REASON, LIFE & LOVE
Superstition
There is no God !
There, now its said
So go on God
Strike me dead
Or strike the nonsence
From my head.
Now leave me free
To see instead !!
But there is good !
Reason
But there is good
If understood
In nature's mud
And human blood
In future's seed
And man's kind deed.
So in the sod
I say thats God !
Then earth is all !
Life
Then earth is all
A wonderball
Of life in thrall
With time on call
To seeking find
A peace of mind.
So in the sod
Lives hope for God !
So sod is God !
Love
So sod is God
Let it be said
And in that sod
The knowing dead
Their fertile presence
For my head.
Now guide me free
To love instead !
And sod is good !
... '62, dunster, lutterel arms, bridgette, minehead, odell-court, derek & dodo, fiat, ray charles, dunkery beacon, chris & mac, valley of the rocks, con, franz, george, pier, dusseldorf, london, pringles, cezerini, savoy, miss barnet, pinafore, boxrose, regent palace, miss brandreth, kensington, wimbledon, 101church road, mike & sybil, mrs higginson, i ching, dr. no, chris, frank, spearman, putney, 142 upper richmond road, mackeson, mick & val, escofier, trompeto, chelesa, us, birmingham, quinton, 49 max road, harry & elizabeth, val, peter, duntisbourne, bill & stella, salmon, burford bridge, box hill, david gerrard, st. teresas, jack, heathrow, kenya, nairobi, park, jomo, norfolk, henry & fay, eileen, joginda sing, anglia, tom, delamere, sampson, angelo, fernandes, curry, beer, nile perch, stan, harry, eric, mary, angela, anna, navasha, flamingo, princess elizabeth, catherine, python, george, arusha, n'goro-goro, seringetti, outspan, ricky & evy, sigona, judo, theka drive in, lilly of the fields, wogmorie, jason, guiness, dr. zhivago, models, new stanley, brian, peter & anthea, paul & bernice, thorn tree, colin, willie, masai man, westlands, james, england, bibury, osbournes, coblers, quinton, great ormond street, bonham-carter, tadworth, claridges, hanson, bonnington, herbert, fulham, bishop mansions, park gardens, david & roma, valerie, j.walking, malta, reading, henry smith, peter, john,humphrey-reeve, sonning common, 10 priory copse, piano, swing, wendy house, mini, betty, dennis & heather, peter & diane, susie, lisa & henry, christof, bambi, niel & marge, peppard common, school, church, mrs stagpole, mother ivy's bay, mrs beeton, brandy & ginger, trust houses forte, kardomah, zanre, ring & brymer, sandown, neville, john, colin, bob, peter, larry, newbury, frank, keble house, rose bowl, ruby, henley-on-thames, red house, catherine & graham, hackbridge, little chef, stan, ernie, great gran, bond, bookham, dunglass farmhouse, billericay, lady, albufera, villa sybilla, faro hospital, key, sardines, constantine, superstar, burford, cottage, hospital, cafe royal, royal festival hall, sinatra, earls court, dillion, talk of the town, eddie, nicky, ascot, lobsters, chapel farm, hotfoot, maggie, rocco, press club, parkside, soar mill cove, hawkward dell, easton court, torquay, vane hill road, herbie, couch, 9 park hall, jibset, john dory, lisburn square, meadfoot, bluebells, teneriffe, richard, peter, lyn, michael, brixham, british schooner, ian, janet, cat stevens, john & barbara, st. margarets, carmina burana, donald & dora, st. wilfrids, trinity, new barkley, tim, hongkong, jockey club, locking, archer, joe, derby room, tulio, happy valley, lee gardens, sha kwong do, percy, armon, h.c. yeung, mat, paul, rosemary, i.club, ben vereen, sean & sirpa, jim & sheila, junk, sixth furlong,larry, gym, trams & taxis, macao, dr sunyat-sen, lantau, kowloon, starferry, shopguide, ikebana, chinese, victoria peak, repulse bay, stanley, shatin, oi seun, jimmy, tango, beas river, tedford, ocean park, star ferry, uk, grand met, 27 berkshire road, sibford, devon & exeter, letheby & christopher, theale, kit, regatta, glyndebourne, goodwood, dick, clock, glyn, cemetry gates, mecca, michael, lords, saab, suppers, goring, battle, st. lucia, snowdon, wellswood manor, roy robinson, greystones, ilsham marine drive, exmouth, balloon, phyllis, john, crete, elounda, silver, laurentian, patsy, staverton, totnes, dragonfly, wo(rk), shurtleff & aoyagi, lindsay & graham, sue, malcolm, david, chris, gus, galmpton, vale close, ddd, 4 stoke gabriel road, phil, judas tree, oldway manor, sarah, joshua, crispin, berry pomery, pastoral, paddy, liz & mike, pam & tony, g.p, wedmore, mrs muscova, quarry house, emily, buckfastleigh, beany, delaware, french, hilda, stevie wonder, keith, brian, andy, adrian, abi, frankie, tatty, goss challenge, puerto de la cruz, poppy, nanny sarah, dartmouth, red arrows, slapton, gooseberry fair, dartmoor, churchston station, blackpool, bombay, queen, 3 blagdon terrace, david, sainsbury's, soysage, shogun, swift, tofupot, merton, knox, padstow, treyarnon, stein, ruby, windrushes, '03 ..............................................................................
GETTING READY
Molly McIntyre, October 1984-1999
For 14 year old
her mum Lesley, took the photos and suffered the heartbreak
Floppy Molly was worth the time
The sobbing in the rain,
To fly her kite
And take her getting ready face
To save a love again.
Cathy Calvin, Sunday Times Magazine Article, 02/05/04
A
Besian No.1 School, 03/09/04
Zalina Dzandarova (27) & her two children Alan (2) & Alana (6)
What a difference an A can make,
To go or stay,
To leave, to tear away
A mother's fruit,
Forsake
A life so young
A just begun,
To have to choose
To loose
A root
From future's tree,
A chance to be
And reproduce
Perhaps a "me"
With love not hate
What fate.
DDD REPAIR JOB
In Torbay Hospital, 22/07/05
There there
My love
There there,
Take care,
My love
Take care,
But I am here
My love
Not there,
And here
My love
Is where I care.
The young boygirl lies on the smooth hard rock, the old cold stone unyielding to her greenstick body. Her yearning heart beats in her throat sending anticipation through her blood to her restless fingers and her untamed toes. Her cheeks absorb the hot sun, face to face, bright light on bright skin, the fireball branding her closed eyelids with its lingering glow. The warm air breathes on her, catching her nose and ears, mixing touch and sound with the smell of life. She inhales its sweetness, and sighs her satisfaction with a secret smile.
For she waits upon the longing rock for the dragon song to come,
And ancient mysteries sung before the livelong day is done.
Tsunami,
Just say the word,
At first, a softly whispered sigh
Then swelling from the deepest lie
A rising force, a rising high
That rolls to break away the tie
And chasing time beneath the sky
Become a thunder by & by
A memory heard
Tsunami.
BENTWOOD CHAIR - Work Study
'Used by Robert Lenkiewicz, to paint Yana Trevail
perhaps'
There, there in blue
The empty bentwood in chair,
Sits Robert's past,
Sits then for Yana too,
Sits now to last,
Filling grey's vacant stare
With chair in blue.
BENTWOOD CHAIR - with Golden Scarf
'The completed work Links Yana to Robert'
There, there in gold
The secret lover's veil,
Lies memories past,
Lies waiting to be told,
Lies yet to last,
Filling a moment frail
With gossamer in gold.
It is astounding that we know exactly
when the passing moment takes place.
Exactly when to release, and when to hold.
To instinctively trust the transfer
through a fragment of space and time.
And so precise is this skill ingrained
in our very being that it just happens
as if by telepathic communication
from the moment of our birth
when we pass into the world
to be held for the very first time.
And incredibly this passing is repeated
again and again without consideration
as to the how and the knowledge
as to when we first acquired the magic.
So no matter what the happening,
whether ethereal or mundane,
whether unique or commonplace,
this exchange will continue unto death.
And even then the salt will still be passed.
Pass me the salt my Darling one,
And I will take the time,
And savour now the moment come,
Then store the moment fine.
So when I'm gone,
And memories all that's left belong,
To you I've loved and breathed my song,
I'll wait distilling peace upon,
Your aching beating heart still strong,
Until your time must come along,
And you join me, however long.
You are my good tomorrow,
Til morrow gets today,
When I may share your presence fine,
And keep that treasure gay.
You are my good tomorrow,
'Gainst sorrow held in sway,
Lest I must search a heartache time,
Which keeps my love at bay.
You are my good tomorrow,
That borrows hopes astray,
So I can make a moment rhyme,
Before chance slips away.
You are my good tomorrow,
Til morrow is today,
Then I'll be your's and you'll be mine,
This eighteenth day of May.
Soul is the memory of life
However led.
It is elixir or poison strife
To thought about the dead.
For those remaining yet to pass
Their genie on to future's mass,
This lasting message theirs to find
For some a salve to peace of mind
Of worthy souls most precious kind,
For others cursed and left undone
By wicked souls boasting death's drum
Pain to endure till mercy comes
And fades Cain's mark until there's none.
Soul is the memory of life
However led.
So pass this moment free of strife
And bless the memory of the dead.
GOOSEBERRY PIE DAY
Sunday 2nd July 2006
For DDD, and grandchildren P, & D, who shared the night before and
the day after,
and mummy C who joined us for the tasting.
The night before it rained catsteeth and dogstails
Screeching and howling the wails
Flashing and lashing the ground
Until it stopped suddenly.
And woke me in the quiet before dawn's chorus
Stretching my eyelids wide to see the night,
Waiting the light to come around slowly.
You send me down to make the tea, for you and me
Maybe sweet P and darling D
But they sleep on in wonderworld
That swirls with foreign spells and smells
And dizzy sounds deep underground.
Later showers taken or not, breakfast choices too hot
Teeth brushed loo flushed
The idle wait drawing pictures
Interrupting Sunday papers
With games of catch and snatch, bat and ball.
Beyond our walls the bustling chatter beckons all.
Come on come on here comes the sun
Let's check the stalls the pleading call…….
Not yet ready Punch and Judy
And all the cast of candy floss
Still waiting in the wings,
So visit jams and handmade cakes
And other second handed makes
Of curious touchy things.
Now urgent pull and push, we're in a rush,
Hand holding strain to meet the train
Beating time along the Paignton Churston Dartmouth line
And platform wait, please don't be late,
For smoking choo choo , choo choo sign,
Soon coming whistling hissing fine
To rest upon the Cryer's smile a little while.
Oh yeh, Oh yeh, the Pipers play and lead away
Sweet smelling crusted gooseberry pie
On sweating sailors' shoulders high,
With Galmpton Prince and Princess shy
And bye and bye the Galmpton Ladies WI
Red white and blue, and tasty gooseberry children too.
Along they go,
Gladhatted Morris dancers slow,
Hold clacking sticks, blacked eyes aglow,
And all the rest of Galmpton hearts
With strangers drawn from other parts
To follow celebration folk
Via Roundings reach the Manor's oak..
Hello, hello a loving cheer
Look everyone dear Mummy's here.
We queue for taste of pie to share
Of sharp and sweet with clotted cream
Yum yum amongst the hungry scene,
And all that day old Chugger's steam
Puffed memories past and future's dream
Beside Good Shepherd's chestnut green.
Simon
ROWAN MAN
To you who know I love you so.
Christmas 2006
To you who know I love you so.
Christmas 2006
So,
If you ever think of me,
You that I love and cannot see,
Think Dartmoor sunset Bell Tor lee . . .
When mingled misted autumn breath,
And warming moulded side and thigh,
Did rest on bedrocked granite earth,
Embracing arms squeezing the sighs,
From lips that taste of salty life,
With kissing time still yet to try.
And,
If you ever want of me,
Join loving hearts in company,
With rowan relish for your tea . . .
Red berry pickled moorland heath,
Mixed Dartmeet waters sliding by,
With bitter sweet of lingered grief,
Spread cheesy thick on fresh baked rye.
Then savour new joyous rude health
And raise your blooming spirits high.
But,
If you ever wish for me,
Come now and set my essence free,
Sow wishes round my mountain tree . . .
And I will go beyond my death,
Into the gold of autumn sky,
To join a skein of geese beneath,
Calling their haunted honking cry.
But I’ll return, just chance belief,
As love remembered bye and bye.
ROWAN MAN
I am the Rowan man,
The Rowan man, the Rowan man,
I am the Rowan man,
The Rowan man is me.
I see I know, I will I can,
I will I can, I will I can,
I see I know, I will I can,
My will can set me free.
I am the Rowan man,
The Rowan man, the Rowan man,
I am the Rowan man,
The Rowan man is me.
I hear I touch, I breath I am,
I breathe I am, I breath I am,
I hear I touch, I breath I am,
My breath will let me be.
I am the Rowan man,
The Rowan man, the Rowan man,
I am the Rowan man,
The Rowan man is me.
Wellbein frien is where I'm at,
A bit of dis a bit of dat,
A bit of time under my hat,
Some dosh, some nosh,
Some place to hangout little posh,
Some bod to give me loving josh,
Some chance to know life jolly gosh.
So wellbein frien, where is you at?
Wellbein frien is all I'm askin,
And prayin, beggin, callin, shoutin,
For laughin, singin, and jump dancin ,
OK for tosh, OK for bosh,
OK for freedom from de cosh,
OK for say that won't be quosh,
OK for safe me go splish splosh.
So wellbein frien, what is you askin?
EMILY
(17/03/07)
Emily with the pretty face,
And big green eyes,
Turquoise
Or emerald space,
That fills St. Patrick's Day,
With hidden private thoughts that may,
Perhaps in time with timely grace,
Express the secret look with happy say.
Emily with the pretty face,
And big green eyes,
Surprise
This pleasant place,
And fill this moment gay,
With open smiling words away,
That gather joy with breathless pace,
To share a loving now with glad hurrah !
THE LOVE COLLECTOR
For DDD 04/05/07
1. Go gather loving buds of March
The promises of love to come,
And gift these hidden fruits of much
To you who ripen in the sun.
2. Go gather loving shoots of April
The heady signs of love to come,
And plant them in the hearts that will
Receive the joy of hope begun.
3. Go gather loving blooms of May
The petal fresh of love to come,
And see the wonder of the day
Reborn again as spring is sprung.
4. Go gather loving scents of June
The heady smell of love to come,
And dizzy savour summer's swoon
With honey sweetness overrun.
5. Go gather loving dyes of July
The pallet stains of love to come,
And mix the blushes of the sky
With senses of the ever young.
6. Go gather loving warmth of August
The living blood of love to come,
And feel the beat of Gia's pulse
Deep in the heart of mother's womb.
7. Go gather loving signs of 'Tember
The yearning wind of love to come,
And see the trees bow with surrender
Their leaves turn green to copper brown.
8. Go gather loving seeds of 'Tober
The future life of love to come,
And bury them in terra firma
To wait the turn of winters tomb.
9. Go gather loving tears of 'Vember
The cleansing rain of love to come,
And treasure memories, but remember
That nature's birthday will return.
COMFORT SOUND
For DDD 18/05/07
Where is the comfort sound ?
Is it within the name,
The name that captures
All that ever was
And all that maybe yet
To come around ?
Is it within the pain,
The pain of missing
Warm flesh and blood
And touch and smell until
A cure is found?
Is it within the blame,
The blame of imperfection
Of wishing second chances
And blessings to cover over
The sorry sound?
Is it within the maim,
The maim of hopeless love
Torn from the heart
And left bereft to let
The hurt surround?
Must I endure the shame
Of loosing precious life
To frightened loneliness
And suffer grief without relief
Until my time is drowned?
Where is the comfort sound?
And so you'll know
How much you mean to me
How much the loss of you
Can break my heart
The sound today I'll give
Will rest upon the name
Of Madeleine.
SMILEBEAMS
" Inspired by Joanne, mother of Jasmine,
best friend of Charlea,
who shared their last minute together "
I search the faces of my dreams
To find the memory of my feelings,
And there within the jumbled seams
That join the truth and nonsense meanings
Of laughing grins and silent screams,
I'll wake relief with slow heart beatings
To taste the sleep of strawberry creams,
Then slip and slide within sweet breathings
Until I'm touched by dawn's smilebeams.
Hello.
I'm Simon.
I have a question for you.
When it comes to our journey through life,
From our first breath,
To our last,
There is one question that links us.
A question that is a measure of our wellbeing,
One to another,
Asked by millions,
Young and old,
Everyday,
Everywhere,
In every country,
In so many ways.
A question,
That without which humanity would cease,
But with which goodwill can flourish,
And make the difference,
Between despair and hope,
Joy and suffering,
Lonliness and fellowship.
The question is,
Are you ok?
So,
One friend to another,
One stranger to another,
Are you OK?
Pass it on,
By any means,
And make a difference,
Now.
OK?
Oh how I grieve for yesterday,
That day, when all that ever could become,
Of joy and satisfaction, spent,
And gone, forever lost because
I could not see beyond myself,
And know the priceless treasure
Of the moment, so rich in opportunity,
To give and to receive
The love of life, the very breath of being,
With all the sweetness possible
From sight and sound,
Of taste and smell,
And touch,
Oh god how much
I miss that
Which is past.
But then, perhaps,
If I can just hold to,
A moment still to come,
I may yet get to know, to find,
The truth of now, and savour full
With every bristling pore,
With every heightened sense,
With every draft into my very self,
What I did grieve for yesterday.
FAIR MAIDEN
Lauren, a damsel for distress
Such a heart she has, she has,
Such a heart and more,
When love was tested in the cold,
The bitter cold before.
Such a heart she gives, she gives,
Such a heart I saw,
When love needs saving from the cold,
The cold before the thaw.
Such a heart she melts, she melts,
Such a heart for sure,
When love was rescued from the cold,
By a peacemaker we adore.
I heard it said,
Oh what the heck
It's only Mr Bigley's neck
That Ali Babas want
To trim, this hardy western plant.
They couldn't give a toss
About the grieving loss
Of Mr Bigley's head.
It's no joke
But I can't cope
Cause all my plans
Go up in smoke.
If only once
Things go my way
And I could be
Some other bloke.
But then perhaps
He's going to croke
And leave the last laugh
From the reaper's throat !
I know that I live, when I come to you
In the early light,
And lie myself across,
Gently,
My head to rest upon the curve of waist,
To nestle softness,
And feel and hear
The rise and fall of breath,
The rhyme of sleep.
Yet you know I'm there,
Showing with deeper sighs
The welcome of my presence,
The gladness of my weight
Upon your pillowed form.
And as you dreaming slip and slide
I ease my arm along
Warm blooded liquid skin,
And for an instance
Draw the heat of you
Like molton joy
Like melted chocolate satisfaction,
Into my very bones.
Then stupor comes,
Washing the senses
Thick with cream
Of loving still to come.
Dear Millie Grace,
Just now warm rounded polished stone,
With redened tastebud smiling face,
That Mum and Dad can savour sweet,
Like scented breath of precious mace.
They hope her stubbon grasp of life,
Will, with their love, make special place,
Within the giving arms of trust,
Of hope and gentle kind embrace.
May she fullfill her chance with all,
That link in time fine weave of lace,
And give and and share a generous soul,
To feed and bless the human race,
Dear Millie Grace.
Don't you get lost now, Barry she said,
Lost from my muram touched sorrowful head,
With only your boyish step memory tread.
Don't you get lost now, Barack they said,
Lost from a nation that yearns to be led,
With a hunger of hope that needs to be fed.
Don't you get lost now, Obama we said,
Lost from a chance to bake some new bread,
For a world needing change long after you're dead.
Don't you get lost now, honey she said,
Lost from the warmth of a family bed,
And the arms of a love that is coloured blood red.
Hullo baby,
Baby mine,
Budding baby,
On my vine.
Bringing joy,
A baby boy?
And sweetest thrill,
A baby girl?
I don't much mind,
Save baby fine.
Hullo baby,
Baby mine,
Precious baby,
In my time.
Oh no,
Ivan's not gone,
Just out of sight
Of touch, 'n sound,
And mother's scent
That young life craves,
And gave for salty tears
Of joy and sadness found.
GOODY GOODY TWO BOOS
Bobbie Jack (5) and Freddie (4)
Boo hoo
Goody goody's
Gotta go!
But not before
She gives her troth
To marry Jack,
And save her babies
From the sack
Cloth ashes
Of the blow,
When Mummy's show
Is over.
Goody Goody
Boo hoo!
A Study of Chateauneuf du Pape
C&C 17th Anniversary
First lovingly
remove the
bottle from its
enjoyment
box,
and safely rest it
to a bloodied temperature.
Then choose a place and time as
carefully as stillness, where may the
three become an undisturbed ménage a trois.
When ready and relaxed, start the process of
companionship, companionship with each other,
and companionship
with this fine bottle. Slowly,
together hold the bottle, and study itsshape and its
description. Slowly, together, remove the neck foil
and then the bedded cork. Smell the cork, and put
aside for memories sake. Now, into a pair of shiny full
bodied crystal glasses, pour each other a half glass.
Let the moment pause. Then, cradling the glass, gaze
full the colour, breathe deep the scent, and slowly sip
the first taste, the first moment when past and present
can meet, and know
the truth of union. Hold back the
swallow until the very last,
and then and only then, when
thirsty satisfaction cannot be denied. Rest and praise the
sigh, remembering well all the stories that have led to
now, this twenty fifth of July two thousand and nine.
Nothing is more beautiful than love that weathers the storms of life and knows the truth a new day brings,
Nothing gladdens my heart quite like your smiling face that takes my early morning kiss and welcomes me,
Nothing awakens more my memory sense than blue grass smell of you that takes me back to our beginning,
Nothing contents me more than sight and sound of you when I return home and know that you will greet me well,
Nothing satisfies me so like sharing the tasteful food you cook, have cooked and will forever cook again,
No one can fill the place your pretty form and softening face can make on all the days that I have yet to know,
No one can be what you have meant to me a thousand, thousand breaths of lucky time that lived and lives so long a while in mine.
You are the one that marks the time with me!
LET IT SHINE
07/03/2010
Elizabeth Fantastic 99
When I am counting ninety nine,
I want to be, like you, so fine,
A threading vein of warming blood,
That linked though birth three daughters mine
With joy and hope of motherhood,
Their fruit to ripen on that vine.
When I am counting ninety nine,
I want to share, like you, that time,
When purpose reason’s understood
How sons might carry on their line,
So precious life may harvest good,
The baking bread, the pressing wine.
When I am counting ninety nine
,
I want your memory, of rhyme,
That fed a past with friendship food,
Which nourished family love sublime,
And left a scented trail that would
Remember why a rose must climb.
But you are counting ninety nine,
So let shine, let it shine, let it shine!