This England?

We can be happy you and I
if we look around us in this England
we can choose if we stay or fly
and have food and clean water at our command.

Whatever we are told we do have clean air
- see how the lichen grows
and our rights though not written are there
and the whole world knows.

We can vote out shallow members 
and the corrupt do eventually stand trial
we need only fan the embers
of a system waiting in the wings.

Skylarks still sing in the fields
and Cabbage Whites are back in strength
we freely collect what nature yields
and can walk about after dark.

We can worship any God we nominate
or have none of it if we so choose
in protest we can march or congregate
and its only our energy we lose.

So think, and think again before you chase
sun-blessed places promising dollars or yen,
for truly this is a fair and free nation
and its like won't surface again.

OR
So however you think you are doing 
compare your life and be happy
living here is not so bad
its just the weather that's so crappy ......

A Strange World

Condemned and imprisoned peers
can meet up with friends for lunches
dishonest officials retire with fortunes
and gamblers prosper from hunches.

Incompetent captains of industry
ruin giants and run away with riches
and the brains of our banks are playing golf
and we punters inherit the glitches.

Call centres for our local enquiries
often based in far Bombay
with contact information available
but only if we pay.

We impede our teachers with paper chains
so the dedicated ambassadors leave
we overload our medical folk
and many more families grieve.

We freely vote at election time
and always fall for the lies
so if we foolishly ignore our wounds
we should expect to be infected by flies.


2013 Lord Jeffery Archer allowed out of prison to lunch with friends.

The Older Dad

I won't always be around, my son
to watch and see you grow,
to help guide your forward march
and be your 'steady' as you go.

For I am an old dad, my son
and may be gone before your star rises
to its undoubted potential
and you collect life's waiting prizes.

I am sometimes sad my son
for how much of your life I'll miss
but to know you this far
would be any dad's greatest wish.

Year 2000

Graduation

Were you watching Nanny?
And you, Auntie Phyl?
From your lofty residence
on some heavenly hill.

Did you see our girl get honoured
surrounded by all that history?
She's on her way now, and will cope
with life's unfolding mystery.

The fair haired child you loved so much
has fought and earned her due
the tears in my eyes at her ceremony
were also there for you.

Proud Father 02/07/02

Mary

Mary lived with dad and mum
in a tower block kind of slum
near some docks used long ago
which she could see so far below.

She really pined to get away
but being ten she got no pay
so she thought upon a scheme
which would help finance her dream.

Her tower block was very tall
and to the ground was quite a fall
so she set out to get the proof
that you could bungie jump off the roof.

If she could do it so would others
and come with sisters and their brothers
they would pay to dive to ground
and Mary would charge each a pound.

And with the cash she could flee
around the world quite merrily
so tying rubber bands in line
she slowly made a jumping twine.

She got up on the window sill
not looking down lest she feel ill
then Mary jumped out into space
and neared the ground at quite a pace.

But her plans would come to nought
for halfway down she had a thought
"oh dear my plan is not complete
I forgot to fix the the bungies to my feet".

Luckily she landed on a tree
and as she struck she said "dear me
leaving home like this is such a shock
I'll stay home in my tower block".

Gone Away

Oh how we miss those loved ones
who have gone.
We miss them now, we always will
and the memory of them
still lives on.

Some times it's right for the suffering
to leave.
Others are forced early into oblivion by mean Gods
and we who are left here in confusion
can only grieve.

Oh how I miss those loved ones
who have gone.
I miss them now, I always will
and the memory of them
still lives on.

Bethlehem Donkey

Beneath a star a boy was born,
a special child was he,
mum and dad and some kings looked on
as did an old donkey.

This donkey knew that great things
would follow this baby's birth 
now the world would change
for a Saviour was here on earth.

Like the others gathered round
the donkey knelt before
the rough manger on the ground
and donkeys would for evermore.

That is why, if you sneak
at Christmas to a donkey's stall
without a sound, don't even speak!
just look around the wall.

You may see the donkey kneeling 
facing towards the east
overcome by an ancient feeling
representing all other beasts.

This simple animal every year
shames mankind it seems
for we just raise a glass to cheer
forsaking the Saviour's dreams.

Play Rhyme

Sindy had a dog
it liked to take a jog
but got hit by a log
it's buried in a bog.

Fred had a cat
who chased a rat
into mummies hat
how about that? 

Barns had a squirrel
whose name was Cyril
made of brown material
it looked quite imperial.

Molly May had a pig
whose favourite food was fig
and liked to dance a jig
when hanging from a twig.

George had a horse
which ran every course
covered in tomato sauce
it died of course.


For Small People

Sunny Morning Walk in the Park

Listen you Ducks and Squirrels
this is a special morning
my eldest child graduates today
and her honoured future's dawning.

She had good cause to march
to the beat of a different drum
but she's straight and works hard,
loves her life, her God, and her fun.

She's the first to get there 
from this side of the track
she's honoured us all now
and there's no looking back.

So forgive me Ducks and Squirrels
if I want to shout out loud
from every tree and roof top
I'm proud, I'm proud, I'm proud.

4th July 2002

Thank You Present

I bought you some flowers today,
the idea just popped into my head
I had just passed by my old house
and was glad I lived here instead.

I was lonely in that old place
and the vomit rose in my chest
as I relived the despair for an instant
but soon the pain came to rest.

For now I live in happy chaos
within a surprising peace
for surrounded by love and affection
I bask in blessed relief.

So there you have the reasons
why the idea came into play
to stop at the very first florist
and bring you flowers today.