chrisslade - Hello Poetry

It’s not just The Greens & The Tree Huggers that are sending out the call. I think we’re all agreed, climate-wise we’re clinging to a faltering, failing, bubbling, melting, spinning ball. We’ve taken it for granted for thousands of years, lit fires, burnt coal, used oil to make things move, detonated big bombs n’all... We’ve just not listened, we’ve ignored it, It’s got to stop... ******** up our precious spinning ball. It’s speeded up since entrepreneurs and institutions dreamt up and invented the Industrial Revolution... That worked! Dig that Coal, convert that Iron, melt that Lead... drill for oil... burn that instead... provide the right level of electrocution. Few thought then or led the call to slow things down...be prudent, protect the ailing, failing spinning ball. Ice Caps melting, the sea level’s up The eco system really is ****** up, Forests burning, Volcanoes spewing Earthquakes rumbling, Politicians bumbling, World leaders fumbling...lava hurled... importing food from round the world instead of growing our own for all whilst clinging to a spinning ball that’s what we should be... in thrall of this amazing... Spinning Ball! The fat cats are taking smaller cats into space...they look back to where we are. Before it starts to melt in a warming sticky mess We’re all partly to blame - you’d have to confess. Face it...I can’t overstate it... Hear the call - FFS - Let’s hang on to the spinning ball!...

0

Nov 1, 2025

Nov 1, 2025 at 9:41 AM UTC

Spinning Ball

It’s not just The Greens & The Tree Huggers that are sending out the call. I think we’re all agreed, climate-wise we’re clinging to a faltering, failing, bubbling, melting, spinning ball. We’ve taken it for granted for thousands of years, lit fires, burnt coal, used oil to make things move, detonated big bombs n’all... We’ve just not listened, we’ve ignored it, It’s got to stop... ******** up our precious spinning ball. It’s speeded up since entrepreneurs and institutions dreamt up and invented the Industrial Revolution... That worked! Dig that Coal, convert that Iron, melt that Lead... drill for oil... burn that instead... provide the right level of electrocution. Few thought then or led the call to slow things down...be prudent, protect the ailing, failing spinning ball. Ice Caps melting, the sea level’s up The eco system really is ****** up, Forests burning, Volcanoes spewing Earthquakes rumbling, Politicians bumbling, World leaders fumbling...lava hurled... importing food from round the world instead of growing our own for all whilst clinging to a spinning ball that’s what we should be... in thrall of this amazing... Spinning Ball! The fat cats are taking smaller cats into space...they look back to where we are. Before it starts to melt in a warming sticky mess We’re all partly to blame - you’d have to confess. Face it...I can’t overstate it... Hear the call - FFS - Let’s hang on to the spinning ball!...

33

Life’s not a rehearsal it’s not some kind of drill It’s for real you know… and you? You’re standing still! Things are going all wrong and you don’t seem to care you take it in your stride but I need you to join me on this ride…to where? We’ve been together so long and it’s always been fun but what goes on around us well I’m afraid that’s me done So please, come with me for the last part of this trip I’m leaving, come with me one more time - read my lips! Life’s not a rehearsal it’s not some kind of drill It’s for real you know… and you? You’re standing still!

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Nov 2, 2024

Nov 2, 2024 at 9:29 AM UTC

Life’s no rehearsal

Life’s not a rehearsal it’s not some kind of drill It’s for real you know… and you? You’re standing still! Things are going all wrong and you don’t seem to care you take it in your stride but I need you to join me on this ride…to where? We’ve been together so long and it’s always been fun but what goes on around us well I’m afraid that’s me done So please, come with me for the last part of this trip I’m leaving, come with me one more time - read my lips! Life’s not a rehearsal it’s not some kind of drill It’s for real you know… and you? You’re standing still!

20

I can hear your voice. I can see your face. I can go back to places we walked together. I can hear the music we played... I find I'm fleshing out the memories we made. But none of that replaces the then, the used to be and the 'were' It's the here, the now and the future I'm dealing with. I'll miss the warmth the tender and the kind and I'll revel - memorably in the space you leave behind.

0

Jul 7, 2024

Jul 7, 2024 at 10:14 AM UTC

The space you leave behind

I can hear your voice. I can see your face. I can go back to places we walked together. I can hear the music we played... I find I'm fleshing out the memories we made. But none of that replaces the then, the used to be and the 'were' It's the here, the now and the future I'm dealing with. I'll miss the warmth the tender and the kind and I'll revel - memorably in the space you leave behind.

16

It’s a slow slide to somewhere else...  He shuffles, stumbles stammers and he sleeps.  He knows I am his brother. I help him go for a wee in a bowl, we’re standing by the commode.  He shuffles back to his comfy chair  but only with my help.  “Are you my brother?” “I am,” I say. Six years is a biggish gap between siblings.  ‘Our Brian’ tolerated me...  ”Take Chris to the pictures”... ”Aw Mum, I’m 18... he’s only 12!!!”  He headed on out with his mates, smirking, waving a ciggie and a beer.  But, when he needed a whizzo batsman for his cricket team, who knew?  I was strangely unavailable... But, I capitulated and said “OK I’ll play for you!” We won! At 81 he shuffles, he stammers, stumbles and he sleeps. He employed 300 people in factories overseas,  spoke with authority, negotiating with emperors - always with total ease. Today he talks in whispers, his larynx squeaks;  clatters like a broken pipe, every time he speaks...  He shuffles, he stammers, stumbles and he sleeps ...for most of every day. “ I am your brother aren’t I?”  “You certainly are”, I say. He was the head of magistrates handing down the law... I joked... I called him ‘hang ‘em high Bri’,  him judging slightly to the right of Atilla the ***  I remind him of his past... and we smile ... (because of course it wasn’t true)....  The last thing to die will be his sense of fun. He shuffles, stammers, stumbles and he sleeps. He played prop forward for Moseley’s first fifteen, maybe his problems started way back when...  too many head clashes, line outs, scrum downs...  That’s the last thing you’d think about back then. But there’s long term damage you might do...by just ‘being’. He stumbles, stammers, shuffles,  dummies and scores in his dreams...as he sleeps. He even went to garden parties at the Queen’s Equery’s behest as well as, whilst in India, often - he’d be a Maharajah’s guest. And, when you mention it, he just smiles wryly  and stares, with rictus grin. He IS in there! But that’s the trouble though... sometimes he IS locked IN! He stumbles, stammers, shuffles, smiles -  and he does love to rest. But sometimes he will rally with a string of memories all lucid and true... and, if there’s food involved well, he’ll be at the table way ahead of you. That’s the quick shuffle! He makes good progress  through all his favourite stuff, Then he’ll lie in his reclining chair  and enjoy that customary nap  You watch him closely - making sure he’s still breathing - thank heavens for that!  He stumbles, wheezes when he talks -  and shuffles when he walks... He shuffles, stumbles...then he sleeps! “You are my brother aren’t you?” “You know I am - for keeps! Love you Bri!”

0

Jul 7, 2024

Jul 7, 2024 at 3:22 AM UTC

Foxtrot Oscar Mr Parkinson

It’s a slow slide to somewhere else...  He shuffles, stumbles stammers and he sleeps.  He knows I am his brother. I help him go for a wee in a bowl, we’re standing by the commode.  He shuffles back to his comfy chair  but only with my help.  “Are you my brother?” “I am,” I say. Six years is a biggish gap between siblings.  ‘Our Brian’ tolerated me...  ”Take Chris to the pictures”... ”Aw Mum, I’m 18... he’s only 12!!!”  He headed on out with his mates, smirking, waving a ciggie and a beer.  But, when he needed a whizzo batsman for his cricket team, who knew?  I was strangely unavailable... But, I capitulated and said “OK I’ll play for you!” We won! At 81 he shuffles, he stammers, stumbles and he sleeps. He employed 300 people in factories overseas,  spoke with authority, negotiating with emperors - always with total ease. Today he talks in whispers, his larynx squeaks;  clatters like a broken pipe, every time he speaks...  He shuffles, he stammers, stumbles and he sleeps ...for most of every day. “ I am your brother aren’t I?”  “You certainly are”, I say. He was the head of magistrates handing down the law... I joked... I called him ‘hang ‘em high Bri’,  him judging slightly to the right of Atilla the ***  I remind him of his past... and we smile ... (because of course it wasn’t true)....  The last thing to die will be his sense of fun. He shuffles, stammers, stumbles and he sleeps. He played prop forward for Moseley’s first fifteen, maybe his problems started way back when...  too many head clashes, line outs, scrum downs...  That’s the last thing you’d think about back then. But there’s long term damage you might do...by just ‘being’. He stumbles, stammers, shuffles,  dummies and scores in his dreams...as he sleeps. He even went to garden parties at the Queen’s Equery’s behest as well as, whilst in India, often - he’d be a Maharajah’s guest. And, when you mention it, he just smiles wryly  and stares, with rictus grin. He IS in there! But that’s the trouble though... sometimes he IS locked IN! He stumbles, stammers, shuffles, smiles -  and he does love to rest. But sometimes he will rally with a string of memories all lucid and true... and, if there’s food involved well, he’ll be at the table way ahead of you. That’s the quick shuffle! He makes good progress  through all his favourite stuff, Then he’ll lie in his reclining chair  and enjoy that customary nap  You watch him closely - making sure he’s still breathing - thank heavens for that!  He stumbles, wheezes when he talks -  and shuffles when he walks... He shuffles, stumbles...then he sleeps! “You are my brother aren’t you?” “You know I am - for keeps! Love you Bri!”

62

Night raids on Salt End were legendary… It were a giant chemical works with ship docks, silos, storage tanks, fuel dumps, an ideal 'drop off point' for Gerry… But Salt End plant’s night raids on Hedon Road weren’t gonna daunt our lot, they lived a mile or so down the lane to Preston and seemed unafraid of gerri’n shot. But they built a shelter across’t main road in a field… On the outside It were a haystack within the walls, six foot thick… proper beds on hay bails to the front and back... cosy. Down the middle was a ‘lounge’ with chairs, lights, a radio - electric run from’t big ‘ouse It’s better than being at’ome our Charlie used to say For the eldest (and the architect) he’d not much nowse. Me mam (then 19) told me she bussed it into Hull ****** the Doodlebugs” She needed Jitterbugs… and they still danced at City Hall. ******** to Gerry and his mates. Margie & her pal René, dauntless, they had a right ball! Last Bus to ‘Withernsea’ from town dropped her off at the junction by the Speedway on Hedon Road. Just as her way was lit by fire bombs - all about when Gerry dropped his final unaimed load Maybe ack-ack’d sort him out. She was 2 miles from home… every few seconds another blast. Scuttling …dodging whistling incendiaries, running fast, whippet like… any second could’ve been her last anything too close she’d have to jump in't **** She couldn’t mek it t’t shelter or house so picked the coal shed - instead… threw herself down on coals…noise lifted - silence dawned… all clear heavy breathing - not hers - she wan’t alone What if it’s one of them - a downed ***** airman. Nervous, terrified more like she let out a little shudder a gentle cough… to test her nerve “Is that you Margie?… You daft ****** It were brother Tom… He’d been t’t Nags Head and he’d run the opposite way from the village instead.

0

Sep 7, 2021

Sep 7, 2021 at 12:25 PM UTC

Doodlebugs & Jitterbugs

Night raids on Salt End were legendary… It were a giant chemical works with ship docks, silos, storage tanks, fuel dumps, an ideal 'drop off point' for Gerry… But Salt End plant’s night raids on Hedon Road weren’t gonna daunt our lot, they lived a mile or so down the lane to Preston and seemed unafraid of gerri’n shot. But they built a shelter across’t main road in a field… On the outside It were a haystack within the walls, six foot thick… proper beds on hay bails to the front and back... cosy. Down the middle was a ‘lounge’ with chairs, lights, a radio - electric run from’t big ‘ouse It’s better than being at’ome our Charlie used to say For the eldest (and the architect) he’d not much nowse. Me mam (then 19) told me she bussed it into Hull ****** the Doodlebugs” She needed Jitterbugs… and they still danced at City Hall. ******** to Gerry and his mates. Margie & her pal René, dauntless, they had a right ball! Last Bus to ‘Withernsea’ from town dropped her off at the junction by the Speedway on Hedon Road. Just as her way was lit by fire bombs - all about when Gerry dropped his final unaimed load Maybe ack-ack’d sort him out. She was 2 miles from home… every few seconds another blast. Scuttling …dodging whistling incendiaries, running fast, whippet like… any second could’ve been her last anything too close she’d have to jump in't **** She couldn’t mek it t’t shelter or house so picked the coal shed - instead… threw herself down on coals…noise lifted - silence dawned… all clear heavy breathing - not hers - she wan’t alone What if it’s one of them - a downed ***** airman. Nervous, terrified more like she let out a little shudder a gentle cough… to test her nerve “Is that you Margie?… You daft ****** It were brother Tom… He’d been t’t Nags Head and he’d run the opposite way from the village instead.

45

We lay oblivious to the world outside wrapped in each others brown paper folds a parcel of tightly sealed emotion. The warmth, the moisture… the dawning, yawning the fawning, a rekindling of last night’s unfinished passion. But you broke the spell, you pulled away. Too eager to start another ****** frenetic day. You left me wanting more… I wanted forever! You spared me just 30 seconds more. For me it’s more than just the physical thrill - I wanted a whole lifetime of what we could do together. It wasn’t anticipated or planned… but that first day when you accidentally touched my hand as I left you… we kissed for the first time. Elated I skipped, jumped and punched the air... Slow Mo - No guesses as to how long I hovered there. I knew where this could go… yeah, and I leapt ahead in time and saw how thing’s would be after I picked you and you (thank heavens) picked me. Time passes slowly I know - but that was more than 50 years ago. And we still give each other tingles…

0

Sep 7, 2021

Sep 7, 2021 at 11:32 AM UTC

Brown Paper Folds

We lay oblivious to the world outside wrapped in each others brown paper folds a parcel of tightly sealed emotion. The warmth, the moisture… the dawning, yawning the fawning, a rekindling of last night’s unfinished passion. But you broke the spell, you pulled away. Too eager to start another ****** frenetic day. You left me wanting more… I wanted forever! You spared me just 30 seconds more. For me it’s more than just the physical thrill - I wanted a whole lifetime of what we could do together. It wasn’t anticipated or planned… but that first day when you accidentally touched my hand as I left you… we kissed for the first time. Elated I skipped, jumped and punched the air... Slow Mo - No guesses as to how long I hovered there. I knew where this could go… yeah, and I leapt ahead in time and saw how thing’s would be after I picked you and you (thank heavens) picked me. Time passes slowly I know - but that was more than 50 years ago. And we still give each other tingles…

22

He shares my house… the mouse. It’s not the way I planned it. It’s indiscriminate about where it ***** he eats the corners of all the packaging all polite protocol he’ll ignore… I’m afraid from now on it’s down to rodent WAR! I’ve tried the humane ways a friendly, humane trap that sits there days and catches, zero, nothing, zilch, nout so now we’re getting the big guns out. I’ve got a set of Little Nippers So powerful that when they go off they fly and spin but sometimes that’s often before they get their snout in or leg off! He’s skilful, wilful, sneaky… But he does like Peanut butter so I smear the hair-trigger of the trap with the stuff and leave it where I’ve witnessed his faeces trail So I know he’s been around when he’s nicked the bait the trap still left active… So I’ll put that down as a fail! Next time you little *******

0

Aug 27, 2021

Aug 27, 2021 at 11:25 AM UTC

The Mouse Trap - That long running saga

He shares my house… the mouse. It’s not the way I planned it. It’s indiscriminate about where it ***** he eats the corners of all the packaging all polite protocol he’ll ignore… I’m afraid from now on it’s down to rodent WAR! I’ve tried the humane ways a friendly, humane trap that sits there days and catches, zero, nothing, zilch, nout so now we’re getting the big guns out. I’ve got a set of Little Nippers So powerful that when they go off they fly and spin but sometimes that’s often before they get their snout in or leg off! He’s skilful, wilful, sneaky… But he does like Peanut butter so I smear the hair-trigger of the trap with the stuff and leave it where I’ve witnessed his faeces trail So I know he’s been around when he’s nicked the bait the trap still left active… So I’ll put that down as a fail! Next time you little *******

21

With the benefit of hindsight it should have been me…not him. with the benefit of hindsight I’d have better teeth - Oh yeh, and be slim… and, with the benefit of hindsight that chap that drowned needlessly… well, he’d definitely have learnt to swim. With the benefit of hindsight I’d have tried harder in maths With the benefit of hindsight. my classmates would’ve shown respect not just scorned me with laughs. With the benefit of hindsight - we’d be IN! we wouldn’t have lost on penalties we would have had a ****** rip-roaring win! With the benefit of hindsight of course you’d all do your best approach tasks with vigour verve, and zest. With the benefit of hindsight we’d all show true-grit, determination… vim With the benefit of hindsight I would have been smarter not quite so dim What chance a little bit of foresight?… SLIM!

0

Aug 27, 2021

Aug 27, 2021 at 11:09 AM UTC

With the Benefit of Hindsight

With the benefit of hindsight it should have been me…not him. with the benefit of hindsight I’d have better teeth - Oh yeh, and be slim… and, with the benefit of hindsight that chap that drowned needlessly… well, he’d definitely have learnt to swim. With the benefit of hindsight I’d have tried harder in maths With the benefit of hindsight. my classmates would’ve shown respect not just scorned me with laughs. With the benefit of hindsight - we’d be IN! we wouldn’t have lost on penalties we would have had a ****** rip-roaring win! With the benefit of hindsight of course you’d all do your best approach tasks with vigour verve, and zest. With the benefit of hindsight we’d all show true-grit, determination… vim With the benefit of hindsight I would have been smarter not quite so dim What chance a little bit of foresight?… SLIM!

24

A Yorkshire Lads' Night Out... Are you theer? Aye, I am, well, I’m near… Puffin’, ! How many effin' steps to get here?" I said “now then!” He said “reet!” “How are you?” He said “reet…Aye neat!” “Ar thee?” I said “Yeah!” “Tha’s alreet then!” I said “sha we gerron then?” He said “Aye… Me stomach thinks me throat’s been cut and Ah'm as dry as uz father's back ginnel… Let's av that sup.” Eh… That’s a reet good drop”. It should be it’s from our dad’s own shop. Tekkin' in the best view in With we supped and enjoyed the sunset view ower’t town & sea from lighthouse top. Aye, T't Keeper's a mate a marn! I said “I think I’ve had more than you. So he’d another big-un to level it up! “I’d say we probably drank a tad too much”… cos we staggered a bit on’t way back home. “We’ll that were gradely… “Al si thee then” he said “stay well”. Aye he said “an you as well!”

0

Jul 17, 2021

Jul 17, 2021 at 11:35 AM UTC

Now then!...

A Yorkshire Lads' Night Out... Are you theer? Aye, I am, well, I’m near… Puffin’, ! How many effin' steps to get here?" I said “now then!” He said “reet!” “How are you?” He said “reet…Aye neat!” “Ar thee?” I said “Yeah!” “Tha’s alreet then!” I said “sha we gerron then?” He said “Aye… Me stomach thinks me throat’s been cut and Ah'm as dry as uz father's back ginnel… Let's av that sup.” Eh… That’s a reet good drop”. It should be it’s from our dad’s own shop. Tekkin' in the best view in With we supped and enjoyed the sunset view ower’t town & sea from lighthouse top. Aye, T't Keeper's a mate a marn! I said “I think I’ve had more than you. So he’d another big-un to level it up! “I’d say we probably drank a tad too much”… cos we staggered a bit on’t way back home. “We’ll that were gradely… “Al si thee then” he said “stay well”. Aye he said “an you as well!”

35

The angst, the bile… the true confessions, the lies Hey this’ll make you smile… “We have been working night & day to keep the evil pox at bay”… “No!”…You didn’t & you don’t, you brief a learned stooge who’s too polite to contradict and he too sidesteps the truth - huge apologies… but in fact I know a source, a whistle blower a real grafter of course - he’ll tell ya’ He sees beneath the radar, sees what’s really going on… and spills the beans at a crucial time to expose the ****** the excess the subterfuge, the slime, demi-crime and BAM! he’s out - because, although you’re the guilty one... You’ve also got the clout, the power to contradict and flout the rules, the under-funded crawl-out you scurry metaphorically to dodge the fall-out. There will be more… you whinge - but later… I promise. Hide behind some positive PR some smarmy spin to cover your tracks, hide the mess you’re in. Paper over the cracks…A new Royal Yacht, a wedding… more cake anyone?… Smile for the camera darling… But time will catch you… Tick tock… watch the clock. Choose your time when dice should roll to call the poll…while you’re up they’ll be down, whilst the good outweighs the bad… now, quick - SPIN! Am I too near the truth? Do you seriously think we’re all taken in?

0

Jun 3, 2021

Jun 3, 2021 at 11:19 AM UTC

Whistleblower

The angst, the bile… the true confessions, the lies Hey this’ll make you smile… “We have been working night & day to keep the evil pox at bay”… “No!”…You didn’t & you don’t, you brief a learned stooge who’s too polite to contradict and he too sidesteps the truth - huge apologies… but in fact I know a source, a whistle blower a real grafter of course - he’ll tell ya’ He sees beneath the radar, sees what’s really going on… and spills the beans at a crucial time to expose the ****** the excess the subterfuge, the slime, demi-crime and BAM! he’s out - because, although you’re the guilty one... You’ve also got the clout, the power to contradict and flout the rules, the under-funded crawl-out you scurry metaphorically to dodge the fall-out. There will be more… you whinge - but later… I promise. Hide behind some positive PR some smarmy spin to cover your tracks, hide the mess you’re in. Paper over the cracks…A new Royal Yacht, a wedding… more cake anyone?… Smile for the camera darling… But time will catch you… Tick tock… watch the clock. Choose your time when dice should roll to call the poll…while you’re up they’ll be down, whilst the good outweighs the bad… now, quick - SPIN! Am I too near the truth? Do you seriously think we’re all taken in?

40