Poem for Guy

I buy vinyl records and know a lot about wine

I'm quite high up in graphic design

I last missed Glasto in 2009

I'm a soulful kind of guy

I don't mind saying hello to strangers

I've been to the football at Queens Park Rangers

I go skiing but respect the dangers

I'm a thoughtful kind of guy

I've got a tattoo up half my arm

I took my niece to a city farm

I saw a man punch a goose so I raised the alarm

I'm a helpful kind of guy

I sometimes have my lunch alfresco

I donate money to UNESCO

I bought some kale but I left it in Tesco

I'm a fashionable kind of guy

Sadly, not much of that is true

Those are some things I'd like to do

I'm just not as brave as you

I'm a fretful kind of guy

But I no longer want to hide

I just need someone by my side

Are you the one who'll be my guide?

I'm a hopeful kind of guy

This is the Day

Today the colours seem more clear

than they usually are round here.

The lime green shade of ivy leaves,

emerald tones deep in the trees.

Hawthorn berries, glowing red

while pure white snowdrops raise their head.

Today I realised I heard

songs of many different birds

A collared dove calls out its name

I hear a chiffchaff do the same,

the 'electronics' of the starling

a blackbird's voice, so clear and sparkling.

Today I opened up my eyes

and saw cotton wool cumulus floating by,

cirrus streaks on azure blue,

contrails of aircraft passing through.

I don't know what broke the spell.

Today I noticed I feel well.

(Poem based on the 'Take Notice' strand of the Five Ways to Wellbeing.)

9.93

To my friends
And my family
To people who care
Everywhere
This is my plea -
Help me to stay me