Pembrokeshire Sky

as long as eternity 

but twice magnified 

forever and ever

but four times as wide

with clouds of fine cotton 

performing a dance

all pierced by aeroplanes 

as if with a lance

its birds sing; rejoice!

whilst they're on the wing

adding to the canvas

as they sweetly sing

azure-cyan blue

its fine canvas; high

the one that all others

will be measured by

so set up a contest

I know who'll win!

the Pembrokeshire sky 

is a certain 'shoe-in'!

Dam Right Hypocritical

She - 'the grumpy one'

moaned and grumbled 

and grumbled and moaned

about her order

and she was not a happy bunny!

He - sounding for all the world like a solicitor 

on his mobile

sharp of tone

slow and authoritative 

speaking with knowledge 

trying to sort out some boundary dispute 

for all to hear

egged on 

of course

by 'the Grumpy one'

'she-who-must-be-obeyed'

who - a pound to a penny

caused all the fuss in the first place!

"Well, the orders late!

It's been fifteen minutes since we ordered!

I've been in once!"

"Yes, well we didn't plant the hedge

the council must have done it!"

"This place came highly recommended by Cynthia you know!

it's such a shame!"

"...in which case it is the councils responsibility"

Then all of a sudden!

"...oh, there she is!

It's about time!" 

'the grumpy one' exclaimed!

a lady

weighed down with a tray came towards them both

full of sincerity 

full of apologies 

honest and genuine 

then she - 'the grumpy one'

became as nice as pie!

"Oh yes we understand"

and

"Oh yes you must be busy!"

and

"oh what a lovely spot you have here"

and

"isn't it such a shame you can't find staff, it must be so difficult when you are so busy"

Chalk and cheese

Night and day

Left and right

Big and small

Rich and poor

Happy and sad

False!

Two faced!

Disingenuous!

and dam right hippocratical!!

Footprints

footprints stretched along the beach

by all the feet that past this way

a moment; frozen; there in time

before the sea washes all away 

prints of shoes and sandled feet

single tacks along the sand

some in pairs; in parallel lines

were maybe of lovers; hand in hand

prints of large bare feet; wide spread

a bare foot man; I would suppose 

his daily jog along the shore

the one with sand between his toes

the playful prints of happy dogs

jumping skipping; chase the ball!

a happy dog; let loose to run

will leave the most footprints of all!

a sunny day; a gorgeous beach

and the best; let's not forget

yes there's sun and sea and sky

...but we haven't left our footprints yet!

The Wind

the wind blows

rattles letterboxes 

swirls leaves into piles 

bangs garden gates

whistles tunes through the trees...

and blows people into our lives

people that

if the wind hadn't blown

if the letterboxes hadn't rattled

if the leaves didn't swirl

and the garden gates hadn't banged 

these meetings might not have occurred 

if this wind had not swirled these people into our lives

then our lives would be the poorer for it

but alas 

as the wind blows people into our lives

so does it blow them out again...

but remember

even if it does

we will be all the better for having known them.

(RIP Ian)

Peace and Beauty

To sit and hear the great waves crash

upon the rocks so mighty smash

to feel a single raindrop splash

upon your sleepy face

and sit and dream where swallows play

and catch the last sun of the day

and watch the high clouds drift away 

the moon will soon appear

and see the shapes the high clouds make

until through darkness; stars awake

to disappear at dawns daybreak

and welcome back the sun

watch aeroplanes fly overhead 

as trails across the sky are thread

I think that I'll stay here instead

in simple peace and beauty!

The Red Balloon

(Inspired by and so credited to "The Dave Clark Five" and my version of the words to their tune, 'Red Balloon')

In and out of the 'Red Balloon'

sleepy head in the afternoon

'day is over far too soon

putting the beer away.

Up and down the right arm goes

up and down the highs and lows

the higher then the bar 'tab' goes

another wasted day.

In and out the deserted squares

up and down the wooden stairs

knocking over noisy chairs

a house in disarray.

In and out of consciousness 

up and down but never-the-less

across the step once more digress

the glass in hand betrays

In and out of the 'Red Balloon' 

sleepy head in the afternoon 

the end is coming very soon

as I lye in a daze