Me - Will I ever get know

I see someone reflected 
in shop windows - but although 
others recognise him,
this someone I don't know.

I've never met him in the town
whilst out shopping - but although
others say they've met him,
it's not a soul I know.

I think I've heard his voice, out
and roundabout - but although
others recognise it,
it's not a voice I know.

I think he has a cheery face
happy with a smile - but although
others recognise it,
it's not a face I know.

I think he might be following me
everwhere I go - but although
others say he's perfectly safe,
how am I know?

Who can he be, what does he do
allusive as he is - for although
others say they know him, but...

will I ever get to know?



Old Wardour Castle

We sit
and we listen
and we leave the noise of the 21st century behind us
and a peaceful calm settles.
Bird calls and the flap of wings.
A dog panting heavily in the heat of a July day
lapping cooling water from a bowl
its metal name tag rings on the side of the bowl.
A distant passing aeroplane buzzes on its way to somewhere.
Fish break the surface of the lake.
A car door slams shut
and its engine.starts.
A fly passes by on the gentle breeze 
which rustles the leaves of the old oak tree
under which we sit
all is disturbed by a very distant commotion
from a battle
here
from long time ago.
Footsteps on the gravel path
the distant feet of men
with the sound of gunshot
loud explosions
tumbling masonry 
and the screaming of attacking soldiers.

...that's all!
Nothing more.

(Haiku)

double expesso 
has just landed and I feel 
ready to create

Take Me Back

The footprints 
that were left in the mud
now fill with rain
the rain that didn't spoil the evening 
that didn't stop the music
that didn't stop the fun
but that inevitably came

The sounds 
that then filled the air
now drifting away
The beer drunk as those who drunk it
that didn't stop the party
that didn't stop the hangovers
but that inevitably came

The memories 
that I created that night
now safely stored
The downloads bought, many tracks played
that aren't quite the same
that aren't quite as raucous
but that inevitably take me back

Unhappy Londoner - Really?


(This really is a performance piece so click here and listen to me read it)

The bloody roads
'Hanger Lane Gyratory' is always like a blocked bog after a stag doo
the M25's a bloody carpark
and now there's a war on
which we're bound to get dragged into
and will probably turn into WW3!

All the prices are gonna go up even more
the cost of the food shop my missus gets in
is going through the roof!
I'm running round the house telling the kids not to leave the bloody lights and the telly on.
whilst Donald Trump is dropping bombs on the middle East
upsetting everyone 
he's slapping tarrifs on countries he's never 'eard of
and they threaten to block the shipping routes
so the price of petrol goes up
and here's me
trying to make a living
earn a crust
to feed my family
and all my costs are going through the roof.

Bloody Sadiq Khan an' 'is ULEZ
no thought for the workin' man
I can't afford an electric van
so I have to pay the bleedin' ULEZ charge every time I get a job in town
and pass it on to my customers
who ain't happy
and are probably going to go somewhere else
or to B&Q and do it themselves
whilst that stuffed shirt in number 10
the one I voted for
the party I gave my vote to
the one I've always voted for
'cos I thought they'd stand up for the workin' man like me
like what my old man did
when he worked at Dagenham on the cars
he was a labour man
through and through
and then 'Starmer' turns round and tells Rachel from accounts  
to increase my costs cos I run a business 
whilst I can't get in to see my GP for 6 weeks about my knee
what happenes if I can't work and have to go on the social
which they're gonna cut by the way and make you jump through even more hoops for
and all to save a miserable five billion quid
which I know is a lot 
but it ain't in the scheme of things
I mean let's talk about the NHS
if ya wanna talk billions
let's talk about the NHS
I mean I'm a fair man
but really
I don't mean to grumble but...

Really?





(Haiku)

Tidy up garage, to 
make more space, to squeeze in more 
stuff, to make more mess