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')

The Feather

I spied Spider-Man in his espadrilles, he was on the esplanade

I was eager to enquire about his latest escapade.

He said: "I'll catch you at the cafe, once I've conquered the arcade.

Take a table on the terrace, mine's a lime and lemonade."

We spoke of past and present, and the life that we had planned

Then set about our sandwiches, to the sound of a brass band

There was a flimsy feather floating, guided by an unseen hand.

Fluttering forlornly, it fell forgotten on the sand.

As we mused upon this metaphor, we both went misty-eyed

There was no need to say a word, no need for whens or whys.

We polished off our puddings and said a sad goodbye, 

Had a hug, then hurried home and got on with our lives.

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.