Saturday, 6 November 2010

PNG

After two weeks together all the time
(except in bed !) with birds of paradise
the quarry, sharing meals and crosswords,
shopping together at the supermarket
(like old times for me) I commented
it seemed like being married. Much too far
too fast. You bridled at the word.

So now I try to put my thoughts to rhyme,
expecting all the time to pay the price
for too much haste, though very few cross words
were said. I didn't even remark 'it
seems so right' just in case you resented
my presumption. Now I'm trying to bar
a 'Dear John' e-mail from my favourite bird.

Friday, 5 November 2010

Oh, I'm so sorry !





















What's the use of sending e-mails
when there's no hope of reply,
of getting no acknowledgement
and never knowing why,
unable to unlock your silence
any way I try.

I thought our personalities chimed
although the different ways we fly
might just reflect our differing incomes.
What does that imply?
Perhaps you're richer than I thought
but I don't want to pry.

I still don't know why you are single;
you could have your choice of guy.
You obviously don't fancy me -
too old of course. Or did you lie
re-lesbianism? I don't mind.
Perhaps you were too shy.

I wanted to continue contact,
know you better by and by.
I bitterly regret your loss
but I won't die or even cry
though if you never change your mind,
I guess this is goodbye.

Grandchild

A baby's daze of days begins to clear
when shapes resolve to objects, sounds to sense
and senses all combine to make appear
the real world - still unreal in consequence

of innocent ignorance of unseen cause.
Then days become a riot of strange delight -
kaleidoscopic faces, mimed applause,
a chaos of novelties that soon incite

rapt exploration, first by touch, then taste,
entrancing all the hours of day till night
restrains the embattled brain from too much haste.
The oddysey resumes at each first light

when sleepy crew wakes up to captain's call
and port routine re-victuals for the race
ahead; new voyages of discovery trawl
the ocean of experience in space.

Discovering legs that scissor to a crawl
expands the universe, opening new doors
to galaxies of rooms whose alien sprawl
needs concentrated study of its laws.

Black holes of cupboards understairs support
daring ascents which step by step increase
exhiliration; doubt though can abort
the missions with the subsequent release

of energy for use in other ways:
for, realising legs can take the weight
and feet plus ankles balance, the odd graze
will not deter this now child standing straight.

To stand upright, albeit clinging on
to legs of people, furniture or dogs,
heightens awareness that more can be done
and from a new perspective catalogues

additions to the world's variety.
If standing tall expands horizons, then
they can be gained once the complexity
of falling forward on one's feet like men

do can be mastered. First though imitate
the action of the crab - sideways along
the shelving sofa ledge, then circulate
the rocky coffee table to the throng

of kitchen unit cliffs whose towering height
freezes the fearful grip; eventually
stiffen the knees and from that stranded plight
accept the helping hand to totter free.

Just one small step for man on earth - to walk !
The giant leap is to the spoken word
and when this infant once begins to talk,
every man's epic journey will be heard.

Wintertime blues

Nothing's working out;
nothing's going right;
I can't do anything well enough
no matter how I try.

I know I'm through the direst time,
the darkening months, the shortest days
but I'm so far beyond my prime
the future still dismays.

My summer was the challenge of improving;
autumn even the triumph of achieving;
but now my efforts only bring
the satisfaction of enduring.

My diary lists convivial
events I can look forward to
but they all turn out disappointing
or else next day seem trivial.

Everywhere is full of couples -
Romeo/Juliet, Darby/Joan -
or, in between, Happy Families
while I'm now on my own.

I hate this life without my spouse.
Despite my busy days I dread
coming back to an empty house
with a cold and narrow bed.

My teeth decay; my joints give way;
it's no fun being old.
It's obvious what time will bring -
this winter won't warm to spring.

Thursday, 4 November 2010

If I didn't live with you,
I really don't know what I'd do;
it's just because I laugh with you
that I can last the long years through
and if you leave, my life will end
without my lover, guide and friend.
Believe me then, while I'm alive,
it's only for your love I strive.

A Natural deceit

The recent week's warm weather seems
to have hatched the eggs of house and fruit fly.
But one part of Nature has deceived another
for the imminent cold will soon make them die.