St Daniel's Church

A ring of trees surrounds the church 

just the spires pinnacle shows

Its hilltop perch anounces still

the love of god forever grows

yet its graves lay hidden; lost

the dead beneath the living trees

nature claiming what is hers

the door is locked without the keys

the stain glass windows; boarded up

no candle burns at Evensong

confetti now is leaves from trees

congregations no more throng

the spade of those who dig the graves

piercing consecrated ground

though not around the church these days

unless a saviour is found!

The churches salvation is in hand

a shining knight upon a horse!

The church is listed - grade I no-less

wrapped up in bright red tape of course!

Early Morning

Early morning dew catches early morning sunlight 

sparkles on the grass 

and on the chairs left in the field

early morning birds sing an early morning ditty 

a book and a coffee

and the day is now revealed 

Early morning skies create an early morning picture

aeroplanes must stay on course

the birds go where they please

an early morning painting fills this early morning canvas 

clouds are the backdrop

nesting high up in the trees 

Early morning walks along early morning byways 

rich colourful hedgerows

running down to the sea

early morning flowers complete an early morning idyll

as a rabbit runs across 

and for a moment 

...I am free!

Old

Old people with their old dogs

how they like it

the old fashion way

in their old motor homes

with their old bikes strapped to the back

old school

her with her old man

as old as the hills

two gallons of petrol

the old way

as old as time

old hat

off visiting old ruined castles 

old towns full of old things 

old shops full of old tat

frequenting old pubs with 'oldie worldie' charm

pootling along in their new 'old syle' cars

spending the kids inheritance 

a chip off the old block

him with the old geezers cap on

in their old age

old but not over the hill

visiting old places steeped in old history

admiring old bridges over old river beds

any old how

haunts of old 

they've been there before

like it used to be in the olden days

mind the old bill there!

rely on the old boys network 

maybe looking up an old flame 

her in the oldest profession 

how old are you?

tough as old boots!

for old time sake

the dirty old man

an old wives tale

he's up to his old tricks

poor old bugger!

silly old codger!

Old king Cole

and any old iron 

...but d'you know what?

It's not just them

what's getting old

I'm now old too

truth be told!

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!