The Sea

Out of my depth and floundering

you tried to teach me how to swim.

I learned enough to stay afloat

and then you pulled me in.

Secure on land I found my feet

and gladly fell in step with you.

We marched together down the years

and hid the sea from view.

Through time we built a barrier

proof against any threatening storm

and in the lee we passed our lives

peaceful, dry and warm.

But then you died and suddenly

our guarding sea-wall cracked apart.

It cannot keep the ocean out

and I'm back at my start.

But this time's different from before -

no teacher tries to help me swim.

No longer caring if I drown

I watch the sea sweep in.

She lay so calmly after sleepless nights

I hardly had the heart to wake her.

She looked so peaceful in the morning light -

should I disturb her, did I dare shake her?

I sat beside her on a stool

and kissed her forehead, marble cool.

"Wake up" I whispered "Let's go home.

There's lots to do and I need you"

She didn't stir - I waited,

then reluctantly I left her.

I know she would've come if she could

but the coffin kept her.

Tweets 22

LITERATURE

Plays and novels basically

aim at entertaining:

the better poetry

aims at insight.

THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST

should be re-named a scene contest.

All the songs are commercial rejects;

it's all about the visual effects (!)

If you want to harden yourself

against disappointment,

try growing plants.

If you want to practise hatred,

try gastropods.

The current attractions at my gym

are the smooth, well rounded bottoms

of various young, attractive women.

They wear such sexy, bum hugging shorts !

Oh, to be a short, bum hugger !

The sunshine tempts the men to shorts

but the women stick to longs.

Some politicians like the idea of The People

more than the people themselves.

Why don't creatures other than Man become obese ?

You don't see ovewrweight foxes, badgers, mice or geese.

It can't be just the hunger of animal appetite

with cows and sheep in acres of grass just there to bite.

Is it instead the hunger of the human mind

needing to be occupied to pass the time ?

Conclave

Why this conclave business ? Instead

why doesn't God from Heaven above

send down to settle on one man's head

his holy messenger pure white dove ?

Oh, sorry, of course. Poop.

Thursday band night

The older ones are not attractive;

the younger ones need younger men.

At least the dancing keeps me active

partnering despair again

Some sail the ocean, voyaging wide

daring danger with youthfull pride

run with the wind or drift with the tide.

Adventure is the fuel.

Some plunge the ocean, diving deep

beyond safe light where creatures creep

unknown to men who aim to keep

discovery as their rule.

Some travel wide and deep as well

heroes indeed as legends tell,

who enter heaven via hell,

their fame bright as a jewel.

Others are timid and stay at home

content to fester instead of roam

preferring shallows to ocean foam -

who's for a dip in the pool ?