This is just to say (Brexit remix)

This is just to say

I have taken
the votes
that were on
the referendum

the one
you were probably
thinking
you had won

Forgive me
you were wrong
so impecunious
and so discounted

This is just to say

This is just to say

I have wrapped
the presents
that were in
the cupboard

and which
you were probably
thinking were
for you

Forgive me
yours were not
so important
and so forgotten.

For you

This gentle kiss, the slightest trace,
those tactile moments that lead to more.
I recollect desire, bound in memory,
ofttimes wistful though ne’er forlorn.

Wishing well emotion extant,
my verse unbundles, undone while
I think of passion once laid dormant
and it gives me cause to smile.

How beastly the socialist is

How beastly the socialist is
especially the female of gender--

Pretty, exceedingly pretty--
shall I make you a present of her?

Isn’t she gorgeous? Isn’t she fit? Isn’t she a fine piece?
Doesn’t she look the fresh clean councillor, outside at play?
Isn’t she Bevan’s own? Tramping her thirty tweets a day
after outrage, or a little strike action?
Wouldn’t you like to be like that, all class, and quite the thing
in comment on Margaret Thatcher?

How beastly the socialist is
especially the female agenda--

Petty, exceedingly petty--
shall I make you a present of her?

It’s another ‘socialist says something mean’ story - would all Conservative whiners please leave the room. You’re surprised? Are you really surprised? You’ve not heard what they said - what they still say - about their last successful leader, the one who won three in a row, the “war criminal” Tony Blair? With apologies to D. H. Lawrence and a nod to stones and glass houses, grow up, the lot of you.

Boggis and Bunce and Bean and Ruse

Boggis and Bunce and Bean and Ruse
One fat, one short, one lean, one obtuse
Three with the money
The other not funny
“He came out of nowhere” his excuse

Despite earlier protestations it turns out I could kill an animal. Goodbye Mr Fox; you were fantastic – until I hit you with my car.

I call them jumpers too

From my first I knew
'Please do tell me
But don't say a thing'

Then I saw you
And my mind raced ahead
Though my heart would sing

So listening in I said
'I call them jumpers too'
And you turned to me

And smiled

Noise

"I’ve started using Ariel for washing the clothes. Sarah’s children have eczema and she says it’s much better for their skin and we have sensitive skin so I thought I’d try it though it’s a little more expensive."

"You’re listening to Five Live breakfast with Nicky Campbell and"

If I had another chance tonight

"It doesn’t hurt to give it a go does it? I spoke to Melanie about"

"Shelagh Fogarty. In the studio we have"

"Mum and she said she’s being very difficult. She won’t talk as it’s"

"Sheila to tell us about RBS. They’ve announced their quarterly figures which are"

I'd try to tell you that the things we had were right

"about Nana and you know what she’s like. She won’t acknowledge"

"a pre-tax loss of 44 million pounds which is round about"

"what the doctor says, or take her medicine when she’s supposed to. Which is just"

If I had another chance tonight
I'd try to tell you that the things we had were right

"…what we would have expected."

Is this my wonderful life
Or the tale of another
One other solitary soul
With an abstract goal
Of happiness

It’s madness
This sadness

I don’t like this beautiful house
Yet the music shrouds me

And it’s not such a bad place to go.

Alison

Years erode and memories scatter

Subtle imprints

Of your touch

I reach in faith but only flounder

Anchor…

And to kindness clutch

I remember…

Your first look

My purpose took

And spirit quickly won

Your first smile

Is blinding while

Inept I stutter on

And then…

The ritual dance

I blow my chance

Hopeless fumble

Passion stumble

Ardour crumble

...and I never dance again

They came

First they came for the Moslems, and I didn’t speak up for I was not a Moslem;

And then they came for the Christian, the Jew and the Hindu too;

And I remained quiet for I thought they knew

Who had won?

They came for hate, and that seemed OK;

But passion as well, that went the next day

It’s for the best, they explained;

There’s too much pain

When you get into bed

With love

Now few dare dispute

Their truth absolute

There were some

But whilst they came for Martin

They never came for me

For there was nothing worth taking

Or nothing left to take

Ever decreasing

What makes a hero

The word or the deed

Does a gift to inspire

Impart all that we need

When will you heed

The requirement to act

To disappoint many

Whilst others you back

Where is the money

For payments not met

Will saddle our children

With mountains of debt

How will you set

On the hardship we owe

To move us away

From the life that we know

What makes a hero

The word or the deed

Can your gift to inspire

Impart all that we need

And still I wait

I waited long for my true love
In hope that she would come
But time's tattered transport travels on
To fears I am alone

I waited, cried in desperation
I've frittered years in troubled thought
To contemplate a soul's starvation
Imagine life with passion wrought

I wait, I move, I step away
Avert my gaze as you pass by
Postpone my life another day
And when you're gone I wonder why

So now I wait upon tomorrow
Another chance to face you missed
Tonight again from dreams I'll borrow
A warm embrace, a softer kiss

In winter

Do I dare disturb the earth

Poke my head above the ground

Is it safe for me outside

Can I take a look around

Do I dare disturb a world

That once I would placate

Or breathe a safe existence

For a while and hibernate

Do I dare disturb a life

Though around me cold has come

Or tie myself in Gordian knot

For fear of being undone

Blind faith

A blinding light
To colour my hope
With a faith that might
Fulfil me

Preceded by grey
Of all the days
You reeled me in
Abused me

Was I an easy mark
Like my trusting mother
Am I just another

The angels lark

I am your misplaced sentiment
A romantic fool
A tool
For your amusement

Ode to Air Conditioner

Air conditioner on the wall
So tall
Imperious up high
Though outside the sky
Is Grey
Freeze you say
And we do!

Smothered

A brief bright light
Smothered by cloud
And with it the fight
Left me

My attempts to do right
Were easily bowed

A disjointed excuse

That's all I ever was
Or could be

Raggedy Man

Once time was kind

You looked the part

Although most missed

Your healthy heart

Still work you do

Now fit and trim

Won't stop the time

From reaching in

Your greying hair

The aches and pain

You've worked too hard

For little gain

Arthritic bones

Weren't in the plan

Can't hide the truth

You're a raggedy man

Pictures, Places, People

Pictures in my mind
the memory jars,
Re-opened scars
you'll find

Places I have seen
reduced to waste,
With teargas laced
unclean

People talking who
the soul now wear,
That once I shared
with you