My Poetry

TO DAD

And so, my dear old Father,
At the ending of the Year;
I thought I’d put my thoughts in rhyme
To wish you Christmas cheer

A time at which we all take stock;
To look back on the past
And memories with some wine unlock
As years, they unwind fast.

When I was young, You were my rock,
My wheels, my bread on tongue
And so began a journey long
To listen to my song.

You taught me Kipling’s ‘If’
Of men who conquer peaks
And troughs, the upper lip to uphold stiff
And ‘Punarama’, Play on words
To capture all our laughs.

And Dad, you introduced me
To the canine hound of Black,
I know now what you carried then;
The world’s weight in that sack.

To carry your ambition
To keep the flame alight,
The burning passion politics
Now embers just in sight.

The energy, the dynamo
The urge to carry on,
The flavours of so many pies
Not savoured for too long.

There was no time for busy Dad
The candle at both ends
To burn, it drives us close to mad
The frame of us it bends.

But I remember Dear Old Father
Though the words are never said
How safe and warm and loved I felt
When ‘packed off’ up to bed.

So with our ‘Autumn’, ‘Falling leaves;
How long will be the season?
Man counts up all that he achieves
The heavy cost of reason.

Though ‘being’ IS victorious,
Our sonnets need more breath,
Each moment, it seems glorious,
Man’s battles won o’er death.

Take the time, each moment gold
Of medals we never saw
Memories, love, the power of ‘hold-
Me’, last for evermore.

Our family born to struggle
No reason for to tell,
It seems no-thing but trouble
Though ALL, it turns out well.

And so to end, as all things must,
Many gifts have not been said,
Dear Father, Now I beg you trust
Your finest hours are still ahead.

Ant (Christmas 2014)

HERE AND NOW

He sat upon the bench of life
Reflecting on his pain and strife
Which now seemed to have gone away
Another man, a far off day.

His heart had rallied to the call
From spirits past”oh please don’t fall”
Into the abyss of self and hate
Before you come to heaven’s gate

There is only one place to be
Behind dark clouds so hard to see
The here and now, the moment feel
All existence can reveal.

SAVE THE WORLD

This is our chance to save the world.
A better place for every boy and girl.
Peace , love n hope for a safe today
Living ,embracing a kinder way.

What can you promise to give mankind?
You have a gift that you have to find.
Search for your essence of who you are.
Reach for the moon and you ll be a star.

A guiding light for all to see.
Shining bright you will ever be.
Disciples of love,  the family tree.
Cast off our chains and set us free.

We have the power to change the world
Food,  home and love for each boy and girl.
A peaceful earth for all to play.
Do all you can for this dream, today.

DISCOVERY

Discovering me
I have the worst view
Of what I can see
How can I tell what’s true?

Sharp arrows have fallen
Embedded lead tips
Laced with their poison
Tainted my lips

I can be funny
Also quite tame
No good with money
No runner with fame

But I sense in my soul
The potential to give
So now is my goal
To Restart to live

So make peace with Autumn
Rest, lest you fall!
Wait til your heart’s drum
And sweet flutes recall.

RESCUE

To see the stars with eyes anew
And brought back from the brink
From darkness to renew.
My friends, I thank you from my heart.
You did not let me sink.

KISS

Step up to the Abyss
And spend a while upon the crest
For there you feel the very kiss
Of life worth living at your best

CHANGE

And so my summer’s over now
The leaves will come to Fall
Branches burdened heavy, show
New buds are at a stall.

I tended to the little trees
Spoke lovingly and fed
God pray they are free of this dis-ease
Fear, anguish pain and dread.

So roots exposed and shaking
Trunk denuded bark
The animal is quaking
Without solace and so dark

But Winter is a time so rare
And raw, but seeds are there
With food and love and kindness
They will grow again loves care.

SHADOW

They lived within her shadow
He could not bring the light
Her eyes so vacant narrow
Scorned bitter invoked fright

The more he rode the wave
To steer the raft to calm
She cast him loose without a save
To perish drown and harm

So swam against a tide did he
Pursuing noble goal
Was folly to expect that she
Could ever make him whole

The plinth on which crowned
Female, held so high
Blind, so sick he almost drowned
Speeding lifetime, could not fly.

He pulled each splinter from his heart
Tended bruises to his soul
Began repair and made a start
Live simple open, plug up the hole.

The victim now, he was no more
Set free upon the waves
Of life, to write symphonic score
To sing his soul it saves

So meet the pain
Embrace the shock
You only gain
Your heart unlock

Bitter no more, it eats away
YOU only taste it in the end
And sweet now honey any day
Will nourish, restore, nurture, mend.

SAFE

I tried so hard in everything
To be a grown up man
And now my heart so hard to sing
The pained response it barely can

The reason for my child’s sad chant
So deep, so raw, so clear
Has never been revealed to me
Grown louder with each passing year

Just now he stands here screaming
He s terrified and shy
On my shoulders squeezing
Soul searching question “why?”

“It’s because you matter son;
There’s a purpose to your life;
You let me know when journey’s done
‘Twas meaning to the strife”

So sit and wait with calmness
Together holding hands
Each moment blessed and harmless
Bound strong embraced eternal bands

REFLECTION

How many times I took the wrong road
And many led t’ same town
But this year’s street was furrowed
With pot holes all self sown

Standing back in New Light
You see, it’s crystal clear
Jump back in with fresh fight
The only hope this year

My travels, nearing Worlds end
May entertain and play
To reconcile my life s friend
Seems but a distant day.

So sage, it tells us “be kind!”
To those you yet don’t know
Can be all to you, friend find
Enjoy, afore ye go.

LONGING

I hear it as she whispers
So clear above the waves
Beauty voice that is hers
Utters, me she saves.

Strength she gave it to me
Covers up my pain
Listens all I can be
Blessed that we all gain

And how did I repay her?
With ego in command
Did not show the man for
When longing she my hand

What price we pay by missing
Apart in black, hot rain
Ripped apart confusing
Blindness caustic pain

“Sorry” is empty charm
Because strong it pulls away
Regret is no passing harm
The heavy price to pay

My only word is gratitude
For opening the door
Of spirit, warmth and mind, so shrewd
Wish had nurtured more

So thank you for your being
Gifting life and love
Hurt me not for seeing
The prize of life above

I sense in rain of torment
You standing by my side
How wish that I for torrent
Stop flow and now subside

If words would come to show you
How deep my love has grown
There would no be chasm too
Selfishness I’ve shown

If there’s branch I’d hold it
So gently in my hand
Til tall strong & storm fit
Seek peace understand

Your gift it carries on now
Your love it never stops
To feed, encourage fear bow
Your strength out of the box

So think of me, if you do
In future do not hate
Remember that I love you
My life’s love, soul, sole, whole mate.