Lost

I had lost my purse, and was left with just a twenty

I felt like I was cursed and soon my pockets would be empty

I went to the cafe, I think better with tea

But the chocolate cake was looking at me 

and when I left I had just fifteen.

So my first idea, was to head for the nearest bookies

It was crystal clear, I would win money on the horses

I made my selection, it was fourteen to one

But it might as well not bothered to run

I think my gambling days are done

I wasn't through with trying to salvage the situation 

I bought a kazoo from a shop by the railway station

I went to the town square at the end of the day

Put my cap on the floor and started to play

Then the police took me away

It wasn't long before we arrived at the police station

Where I sang this song as way of an explanation

It wasn't enough they put me in a cell

Which was much cheaper than any hotel

I'll do the same tomorrow night as well.

(Based on Lost in France by Bonnie Tyler. Apologies to all concerned.)

(Write Club task based on - 'You have misplaced your purse/wallet after a shopping trip - naturally you could ring the bank to cancel your cards. You now have £20 to last you over the weekend - how/why/if - do you choose to spend it?')

Last Night it Snowed

Walking in fresh snow

Looking back at the footprints
That prove you exist

Eagle

Riding the thermals

Your feathered majesty soars

And looks down on us

(Write Club homework based on phrase 'eagle soaring')

Advertisement (on behalf of the Shed Marketing Board of Great Britain)

In gardens and allotments it's known far and wide

A little bit of inside is brought to life outside

Don't know what it is yet? Let me be your guide

It's a place for tools that help you take

care of your garden, like a rake

I'll tell you now and no mistake

If you want to get ahead, get a shed

Lawn mower, creosote, flower pots

Perhaps a rack to dry shallots

I'll tell you again in case you forgot

If you want to get ahead, get a shed

Gardening gloves and watering can

Secateurs made in Japan

Bird food, seeds and bean shoot canes

Somewhere to shelter when it rains

Nuts and bolts and screws in jars

Bits and pieces off old cars

A raincoat with a broken zip

Items destined for the tip

Like a broken clock or a child's bed

Please remember what I've said

If you want to get ahead, get a shed

Cracked Actor

A vicar and a villain

Shakespeare and pantomime

I used to do some acting

In a former life of mine

I'd be busy learning lines

Two plays at the same time

I enjoyed the company 

In a former life of mine

From Faringdon to Sandringham

To hundreds or just nine

Performance to performance

In a former life of mine

But in the end I had to stop

The reason was, you see

Too busy being other folk 

When I needed to be me

(Writing challenge based on the phrase 'life has many parts')

Perfect Day

(with apologies to Lou Reed)

Just a perfect day

Clear skies but not too hot

Or if it's winter time

Not too cold

Just a perfect day

Go walking with my wife

Somewhere in the countryside

We'll watch birds

Just a perfect day

See something historical

Followed by tea and cake

Second cup

Oh it's such a perfect day

There's so much that I'd like to do

Oh, such a perfect day

When nothing can go wrong

When nothing can go wrong

Just a perfect day

Spend time with my family

Laughter and jollity

With my friends

Just a perfect day

There will be sausages

Maybe in sandwiches

Or with mash

Just a perfect day

I'll need to watch some sport

Take in a live band too

Loud guitars

Oh it's such a perfect day

There's so much that I'd like to do

Oh, such a perfect day

When nothing can go wrong

When nothing can go wrong

And if there's time, read a good book

And if there's time, read a good book

And if there's time, read a good book

And if there's time, read a good book

Autumn

Checking the trees in nearby streets

Trying to work out when our silver birch will reveal its bare branches

Kicking through the fallen leaves

The sun exaggerating the colours of those still clinging on

The price we pay is darker evenings

Condensation on the car

The first frost

Floodlights

Soup back on the menu

Scarf back round the neck.

Stu Shanty

I have a friend, his name is Stu

Buying records is what he'll do

He'll listen one time or maybe two

And then buy something new

Buy buy your records Stu

Now you're buying cassettes too

Buy a shirt from 1972

That is what you do

He prints books for David Gedge

His beard is like a rustic hedge

He thinks he's a total ledge

I fear that might be true

Buy buy your records Stu

Now you're buying cassettes too

Buy a shirt from 1972

That's why we love you

You plum

The Passenger

Three minutes late, the train hauled itself slowly out of the station. She settled back into her seat, thankful that no one had joined her table. 

As the lights of the town disappeared into the night her mind drifted to think of the early women train passengers. The 'experts' had said that women were too delicate to travel by train. That if they went over 50 miles an hour their insides might fall out. 

How did those women feel when they travelled safely for the first time? The men who'd always made the rules, cowering behind a screen in case a woman exploded as the train hit a certain speed, were wrong about that - so what else were they wrong about? 

Was it this simple act of rail travel, that we now take for granted. that empowered women to begin to challenge the established ideas that had been imposed on other areas of their lives? 

She wanted to believe it. Needed to believe it. Their strength would fuel her strength.

As the train gathered speed she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.  She knew what she had to do.

--

(Writing challenge on the words - 'As the train gathered speed')

Imperial Fledermaus

I walked up two flights of silver stairs

The crows look very different today

Every moment of truth

You can't compete with it

Suffering

I can't get it now but I can get it

French windows don't open any more

'cause I'm on the outside of time

In silence

Another balloon string held at bay

I can't get it now but I can get it

Sent out into the cold again

But they went off forever

More time to wonder

And I'm beyond redemption

I can't get it now

But I can get it

(A found poem based on one line from the tracks on the Fall's 'Imperial Wax Solvent' album (in track list order) and extra lines from Von Sudenfed's 'Fledermaus Can't Get It')

Changes aka I Saw the Signs

The dog that only barked at buses now barks at other things

The telephone that glowed red hot now hardly ever rings

Where once lay shagpile carpet

Is now just laminate floor

The clock has stopped

The penny's dropped 

And I don't love you any more.

Quordle Poem One

The music blared out down by the canal

The bass was distorted, the lyrics banal

Bunny danced on her own, people looked at her oddly

The church bells rang out to welcome the Godly.

21/7 - music, banal, bunny, godly

Bookies share festival fears

'Who do we fear? Put simply, the Irish'

a similar 'greenwash' again this year.

Mullins shuffles his powerful pack

it could be the last race of his career.

Do not mind where the winners are trained,

multiple mayhem causing most sleepless nights.

All the ingredients are in place

which sets the handicaps alight.

There will be the plunge horses – as yet unknown

these short ones costly if they all oblige.

Two classy rivals go head-to-head,

handicap horses who come alive.

(from The Racing Post, Friday 11 March 2022)

in Deer Head Nation style!

Black Hole

(A 'Terminal' poem based on 'Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art' by John Keats)

Black hole, how destructive thou art

unseen, yet consuming the night.

Tearing planets and stars apart

not for you the life of Eremite.

Annihilation your only task,

nothing escapes your distant shores,

What evil lives behind your mask

that would crush valleys, towns and moors?

Your violent ways unchangeable,

no compassion found within your breast,

your greed intent to make your boundaries swell

continually toiling in unrest.

But one day you will take a final breath,

Your appetite will bring your death.

About poetry

So,

how do we show

that poetry is more than words in a row?

Sympathy, poverty

the depths of despair

poetry can take us there.

Putting a twist on the daily grind

Helping to explain what's on our mind.

A beautiful view, terrible weather

Being alone, being together.

A valentine's card

The horrors of war

examples of what poetry's for.

It might not always be appealing

And on the surface, unrevealing

But poetry provokes a feeling.