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.

"I don't like cricket"

England’s bowlers

might win a game

If they had 

a better aim

England’s batsmen

could win a Cup

If they held the bat

The right way up.

(I don't mean it - it was a commission.)

(It's Good) To Be Free*

Day has come, now you’ll have to accept

Now is not the time to cry

You can’t live your life if your heart’s not in it

Time keeps rolling by

Talk of better days that are yet to come

Wipe that tear away now from your eye

Take the time to make some sense

Nobody knows the way it’s gonna be

Paint no illusion, try to click with whatcha got

Feed your head with all the things you need

You can have it all, but how much do you want it?

The ways are high and steep

You need to be yourself

We will find a brighter day

All the roads we have to walk are winding

Don’t let anybody get in your way

There’s a light that shines on

A better place to play

We know it’s gonna be okay

So what do you say?

You gotta make it happen

You gotta make it happen

*aka Champagne SuperNeaveo

(on the occasion of Ian Neave leaving Nationwide)

A poem with help from Oasis

---

Here's the key to where the lines come from

14. Day has come, now you’ll have to accept

3. Now is not the time to cry

16. You can’t live your life if your heart’s not in it

12. Time keeps rolling by

15 Talk of better days that are yet to come

9. Wipe that tear away now from your eye

19. Take the time to make some sense

11. Nobody knows the way it’s gonna be

27. Paint no illusion, try to click with whatcha got

26. Feed your head with all the things you need

1. You can have it all, but how much do you want it? 

18. The ways are high and steep

1. You need to be yourself

6. We will find a brighter day

8. All the roads we have to walk are winding

7. Don’t let anybody get in your way

13 There’s a light that shines on

10. A better place to play

23. We know it’s gonna be okay

25. So what do you say?

4. You gotta make it happen

4. You gotta make it happen

---

1. Supersonic

2. Shakermaker

3. Live Forever

4. Cigarettes and alcohol

5. Whatever

6. Some might say

7. Roll with it

8. Wonderwall

9. Champagne Supernova

10. Don’t look back in anger

11. Stand By Me

12. All around the world

13. The Hindu Times

14. Little by little

15. Songbird

16. The importance of being idle

17. The Masterplan

18. She is love

19. Morning Glory

20. Slide away

21. Rock n roll star

22. Fade away

23. All around the world

24. D’You Know what I mean?

25. Half the world away

26. Stay Young

27. Go let it out

Weapon of Choice (one)

People just want more and more
Don’t let them get to you
Make that change, let’s start today
You know you can do it if you try

Breathe in

Like the calm before the storm
You're the sun and as you shine on me

I won’t let you down

All the vampires, walkin' through the valley
Turning into voodoo
May the last one burn into flames
We got a thousand points of light


(All lines taken from the following songs)

Title – Weapon of Choice – Fatboy Slim (2001)

Freed from Desire – Gala (1997)
Free Me – Joss Stone (2009)
Free – Ultra Naté (1997)
Set Me Free – The Kinks (1965)

Freedom – Pharrell Williams (2015)

Free to Fall – Debbie Harry (1987)
I Feel Free – Cream (1966)

Freedom! ‘90 – George Michael (1990)

Free Fallin’ – Tom Petty (1989)
I’m So Free – Beck (2017)
Freedom – Beyoncé ft Kendrick Lamar (2016)
Rockin’ in the Free World – Neil Young (1989)

Reasons be to Cheerful (by me)

(with apologies to Ian Dury and the Blockheads)

Time with family, paddling in the sea,

Sport on the tv and autumn trees.

Interesting places, a drink with friendly faces,

Cheltenham races, cheese.

Staying late in bed, warm, fresh bread

Bill & Ted, seeing an eclipse.

Records by The Fall, being rather tall,

Fantasy football, fish and chips

Making people laugh, a hot deep bath

Time and a half, Italian food

Birds of prey, Manta Ray

Christmas Day and gratitude.

Kerala fish curry, not being in a hurry

Or having to worry, mid-eighties Prince.

A goal scored on the volley, Stan and Ollie

not needing a brolly and chocolate mints.

Reasons to be cheerful (by me)

Reasons to be cheerful (one, two, three)

Feeling safe and warm, a good thunderstorm

Frank Sidebottom

Supermarionation, World Wrestling Federation,

knowing a quiz question

A quiet time reading, occasionally succeeding

Not getting caught for speeding

Hitting a one-eighty, taking it sedately

meat that’s wrapped in pastry

Listening to the wireless, not getting the virus

Random acts of kindness

Walking in fresh snow, all kinds of potato

John, Paul, George and Ringo

An art gallery, Mandy next to me,

Cake and mug of tea.

A long weekend, a little cash to spend

Getting to the end!

Reasons to be cheerful (by me)

Reasons to be cheerful (one, two, three)