Hurt grows in my heart

I felt the pain of love's first sting
when I was shot by cupid's dart.
I would have given everything
but it was hopeless from the start.
For you were wearing that man's ring
which tore my bloody soul apart.
So now the death of love I sing
and grievous hurt grows in my heart.

Snippets

Who am I
Where am I
Why am I
Lost am I


All days start off well
then get shot to hell.
I'm grumpy, can you tell?


All the names
of all the people
that I have ever loved.
Are inscribed upon the palimpsest of my heart.


I sweep up the leaves.
The wind blows the leaves away.
I sweep up the leaves.


Skateboards, bikes and bubble gum.
Winter snow and summer sun.
Memories, now that boyhood's gone.


I dream once more of seagulls and the sea
A dream, a metaphor for being free


Infinity, the biggest thing.
What should we keep Infinity in?

An Origami Crane

I sort through his belongings
for the charity to claim
and at the bottom of his bag
an Origami Crane.

Conversation failed him
due to damage in his brain.
But communication happened through
an Origami Crane.

He couldn't say he loved me
but I knew it just the same.
His love was in the making of
an Origami Crane.

The child himself is gone now
but the memories remain.
Triggered every time I see
an Origami Crane.

I Write

I write, (I never knew that I could write)
with form and structure, rhyme and rhythm too.
I take these words, black ink on paper white
and post them here for everyone to view.
And not just words that fit and rhyme and scan
but hopes and fears wrung from the heart of me
The truths that are the measure of this man
appear upon this page for all to see.

I write words I could never say out loud
they flow in freedom down this pristine page
though I take care to keep hid from the crowd
the name of her for whom my feelings rage.

Yet still she knows, she read the message here
and needs no verse to make her feelings clear.

Hate

Hate burns
Hate scars
Hate beauty mars

Hate causes pain but brings no gain
How do I know what hate can do?
I know all this 'cause I hate you!

Biker Boys

The biker boys are all out today
on their Hogs and scoots on this sunny day
They go all the way to Whitley Bay
but they don't dip a toe in the water

Their leathers are black and their helmets too
They're sweaty and oily and in need of a brew
but their days of drinking and fighting are through
and you don't need to fret for your daughter

'cos the biker boys are all granddads now
and only ride out when grandma will allow
and everyone's safe cos they can't 'member how
to do all those things they didn't oughter

Writer's Block

Writer's block or poet's palsy
hems him in like concrete walls he
cannot find a passage through
cannot chase the thoughts that flew
so high so far so out of reach
to hide like sand grains on a beach
with each thought kept from his purview
by walls that he just can't see through.

He must reboot his writer's brain
must turn it off and on again
must sleep, must rest, must turn away
from any more attempts to play
with words assembled into lines
with perfect or imperfect rhymes
to realise it's for the best
for his creative mind to rest.

Until that brighter future day
when poetry comes back to stay.

A Bigger One

When I heard the woman in the next booth say
  Make mine a large one with some cream on top
  A chocca-mocha-latte with some cream on top
  Cream on top
  Just don't stop
  Make mine a large one with some cream on top
My skinny latte turned to vinegar in my mouth.

When I heard the woman in the next booth say
  Can I get a burger and some onion rings
  A quarter-pounder-burger with some onion rings
  Onion rings
  Lovely things
  Can I get a burger and some onion rings
All the enjoyment drained out of my chicken salad sandwich.

When I heard the woman in the next booth say
  That'll never fit me, bring a bigger one
  Still really pretty, just a bigger one
  Bigger one
  Pretty one
  That'll never fit me, bring a bigger one
I looked at myself, and she was right, so I went for the large as well.

Life without TV

To find peace I suggest
(to my children's derision)
that life should be lived
without television

Comp'ny Blues

My daddy he is gone now
just gave up his last breath
Yeah my daddy is gone now
gave up his last deep breath
Then took that final step
along the road to dusty death.

He never was the same
since momma went away
Was never quite the same
since my momma went away
Turned his face round to the wall
never had a word to say.

So family's all gone now
got no-one to lean upon
All my family is gone now
not a soul to lean upon.
I am so alone
even my dog is gone.

That's why I'm sitting here
a drinking on my own
That's the reason I am here
jus' drinking on my own
even the company of strangers
is better than being alone.

Back to Thee

I do not fear the storm I see
nor wind nor rain nor tempest roar
no clinging bog nor falling tree
not since that fateful vow I swore
for golden light envelopes me
and guides me 'cross this blasted moor
and brings me safely back to thee
whom I will love for evermore.

Though twice a thousand miles may be
the distance 'twixt me and your door
my safe return is guaranteed
through bloody strife or civil war
For love will shield and armour me
'gainst any odds and tip the score
and bring me safely back to thee
whom I will love for evermore.

Perfection

A paragon is what you are
my mind's ideal in all you do
but I've no evidence at all,
so how can I get over you

I don't know if you snore in bed
or slurp your coffee from the cup,
re-use yesterday's plate instead
of getting on with washing up.

And are you all that you appear
you look the best a girl could be
How much of that is artifice
or haute couture and corsetry

For all I know is what I see
An angel sitting on a cloud
You are the perfect one for me
I think, but never say out loud.

So all the questions will remain
and all the boxes stay unticked
Reality will never stain
my perfect bubble left unpricked.

Sad Happy

This morning I awoke to find you gone
and only silence answering my call
A letter on the dresser starts 'Dear John'
and ends up screwed up in a little ball.
Your closet is as empty as my heart
your car is gone, a lonely space remains
The things we planned to do we'll never start
there is no 'We' no 'Us' no rings no chains.

No chains, no plans you made to be my wife
No fitting in with what you want me to
I'll live the way I want to live my life
and you can live yours as you want to, too.

This is the best gift you have given me
a way to live my life and to be free.