Those heels, that skirt, the top
tell me where does this vision stop

The posture, the pose, the lips of a rose
is it me or did things just get hot

Those eye's to die for, the lips to lie for
running fingers through her hair

As I look around, there's no heads to the ground
all anyone can do is stare

As her hips start to sway, and the band start to play
every man with a pulse holds his breath

Possessed by the dance, has us all in a trance
as she dances between *** and death

Not a poem, just a thank you.
Today my HP reads passed the million mark.
A huge thank you to everyone that took the time to read the things I've written and special thanks to those that took the time to like, share and comment.

Thank you all so very much.

Peace

Reginald "combover" Twistleton-Smythe
had hair on his head but just on the side
He wore a big hat when out for a walk
Too scared to shave and have a flat-hawk
One day at his Gran's fell asleep after tea
and woke up to find he was combover free
He saw grandmas scissors behind on the shelf
As she looked in his eyes and said "Be yourself!
With that combover thing Reg, you sure do look silly
Go shave your head, you'll look just like Bruce *****"
"But my heads the wrong shape, it just wont do the trick,
I'll look less like Bruce ***** and more like a ****"
"Listen to your Gran for I always know best,
I'm not saying go out and run round in a vest.
Just cut your hair short and wear it with pride,
it'll be like a mohawk but just on its side"
Reggie "flathawk" I've heard people say
now runs round in vest shouting Yipee Kiyay

There's a wall around my garden
and in that wall appeared a door
I've lived here many years now
but not noticed it before

Its paint is worn and faded
you can see wood right through the green
and though its peeled and cracked in places
you can see nothing in between

And for some reason, until today,
I never gave much thought at all,
About what the world might look like,
On the other side of that wall.

But now I gaze upon that door,
Which has suddenly appeared to me.
And place my hand upon the latch,
And step out ....cautiously.

Days are never longer,
                                        nor more empty,
                                                          ­            than when you're not in them.
                                                                                                                              .
                                                                                                                                .
                                                                                                                                .

Natures orchestra
Crickets and frogs harmonize
Alas just one note
But still music to my ears
For I know that I am home

Incomplete, is how I feel
sitting here alone
Incomplete is how I feel
knowing you are gone

Incomplete, the world is now
that your smile is gone
Incomplete, the world is now
death taking you was wrong

Incomplete, your life is now
you never will grow old
Incomplete, your life is now
a story never fully told

Undeniable
irresponsibility
Congratulations

A naked bulb hangs
No shade hides its modesty
Dimly glowing coil
Is growing ever brighter
Chasing greyness from my room

Today I found our tree
in a field by the road
I hadn’t been this way before
just got diverted cos it snowed

Its trunk is old and twisted
with its branches stretched out wide
and as snow falls all around it
neath its canopy I hide

I never pictured it in winter
always in summer, maybe fall
you and I would sit beneath
answering the poets call

We’d write about each other
sharing emotions from our past
a play performed by strangers
an imaginary cast

But as this winter storm embraces
a foot of snow falls maybe two
the only that’s missing here
my dearest love is you.

What lies ahead in this life of mine
I really do not know
Should I take charge and lead the way
and force my heart to follow

Or should I follow love
wherever it may lead
and risk ending up far from home
on unfamiliar streets my heart to bleed

Either way some years from now
a new place I will call home
I have a plan to buy some land
build a place to call my own

So no matter where I roam
what I see or what I do
there'll always be a sanctuary
for me to come back to

I do not know what lies ahead
in this life of mine
Sometimes that kind of worries me
other times it suits me fine.

What if there's no truth
or the truth just sounds like lies
would you recognise it anyway
see through its disguise

Would you trumpet its arrival
play a fanfare in its name
or would you sneak in quietly
like a thief avoiding shame

Have you lost sight of whats important?
In our greatest hour of need,
will you stand up and be counted,
or count the profits from your greed.

What happened to integrity
common sense and pride
Did you give them up by choice
or were they forfeit when you lied

So keep your silver, Judas
it matter not how much you give
The truth of whats behind you
is with what you now must live.

You'll never get rich as a poet,
its not that you're not any good,
but your words get given away to the poor,
like you're a lyrical Robin of Hood.

Your words will serve as a comfort,
to women and children and men,
but your time and emotions flow freely,
like the ink from your fountain pen.

But lets be honest about one thing,
we don't do what we do for the cash.
Words are like itches we can't quite scratch,
and our poems the resulting rash.

So you'll never get rich as a poet,
at least not in a monetary sense,
but you'll have lived your life in the trenches,
and not watched it pass by from the fence.

Its snowing again,
but getting stuck here without you hardly seems fair.
A foot at least.
Like we always talked about, the wind howling down the chimney, snow drifting up against the door.
Pointless really.
Why have a good storm if you have no one to enjoy it with?
You should be here.
It should be all candles and brandy and a proper fire.
"Real flame effect" who are they trying to kid?
Not much use when the power goes.
What was I thinking?

Summer is too hot
And yet Winter is too cold
Ungrateful extremes

I walk along beside you
each and every day
watching over what you do
listening out for what you say

Advice I try to give it
and yet it goes unheard
It's like I speak but you wont listen
not even to a single word

It's probably the same
for all parents just like me
it's hard to make children listen
it's hard to make them see

It hurts to know you cry at night
as you go off to sleep
to hear my daughter sobbing
to see the tears she weeps

If only you could talk to me
I could help I'm sure you'd find
But instead the words always the same
"Hey Dad, oh, never mind"

But now as you sit in the churchyard
I hear you ask me why
but no more words can you get out
before you start to cry

Why is it I'm so useless
as you sit here all alone
and shed tears at the graveside of...
just who's name is on the stone!

Oh my god it cant be true
please say it isn't so
Is the why that you were asking me
why I had to go?

Is it wrong to say I miss you
Is it wrong to tell you so
To tell you that I think of you
Everywhere I go

To tell you I can see you
every time I close my eyes
Why pretend that things are different
theres no point in telling lies

Sometimes I think I hear your voice
like a whisper on the breeze
and still it sounds like music
and brings me to my knees

And as I kneel beneath the sky
wrapped in silent prayer
I ask that all my lives to come
with you I get to share

Single loads of laundry
sad freezer meals for one
no dishwasher for me
chocolate ice cream, just for fun

the never tested voicemail
on the outgoing only phone
one knife, one fork, one plate
signs that yes I live alone

take-out menu fridge door
a doorbell never rung
ipod playlists for the company
that never ever comes

early nights and books
an optimistic queen size bed
a collection of matching pillows
that only ever see my head

the one cup coffee maker
a single slice of toast
bills paid on time or early
nothing handwritten in the post

a will with nothing in it
and no one to leave it to
burial or cremation
I think I'll leave that one to you

no life insurance needed
retirement arranged
no girlfriend, lover, wife
ex, current or estranged.

this is the life I've chosen
free of contact free of pain
free of almost all emotion
this is my refrain

Because I've seen what people do
in the name of what is love
so to save myself the heartbreak
my life is as above

Misery's having a party,
say's we should all get drunk
Say's be sure to bring Sadness with you
and we'll get out of this funk

Bring Loneliness and Depression
Despair and Anger too
but leave Empty Promises at home
cos we've had enough of you

Oh and someone pick up Broken Heart
Bad Fortune and ****** Luck
And who's that guy that doesn't care?
Couldn't Give A you know I can never remember his last name

So now that were all here together
lets drink and forget all thats wrong
Who's drunk the most and sings the worse
you can lead us off in a song

Show us the way to go home
we're tired and we wanna go to bed
we had a little drink about an hour ago...

Its 2.37am Monday morn,
and I lie here and watch you sleep.
Wondering if you smile because,
into your dreams I did creep?

Beneath your lids your eyes do dart,
to the left and then to the right.
And I wonder if morning, you will recall,
the adventures we had this night?

I've been loved
I've been lost
Paid the price
Counted the cost
But every time I came on back for more

I've been up
I've been down
Flown on high
Almost drowned
Found bruised and bloodied, naked on the floor

Some I win
Some I lose
But every time
I get to choose
When to carry on and when I'm fit

For what is life
without a soul
But a game
without a goal
And one in which I'm never gonna quit.

If someone tells you they like you
but you don't like them back the same way
how do you let them down gently
what are the words you should say

Do you shoulder the blame for the way that you feel
Do you tell them its you and not them
Do you tell thm they are just moving too fast
that their feelings for you are too prem

Or is it like pulling a plaster
just a swift yank and then it is done
it'll hurt like hell for a minute
but at least they weren't shot with a gun

And maybe I'm making a mountain
from a molehill that doesn't exist
maybe they want to take back what they said
now wouldn't that be a twist

Perhaps they are struggling to tell you
that you're not who they thought you were
that maybe they were a tad hasty
that their words were a mite premature

It seems that whenever I set out
to do the right thing I am cursed
to hurt those whos feelings I sought to protect
to end up making things worse

So forgive me if I have ever
caused you pain or caused you distress
it was only ever my intention
to do what I thought was best

And now as this play draws to an end
and reaches the final act
time will tell if we managed
to get out with our friendship intact.

No arguments were made
or evidence exposed
convincing bad assumptions
turned the open sign to closed

If that is all it takes
baseless suspicion, fear and doubt
perhaps thats the sign you're looking for
the one that lets you out

There's been no misinformation
no vagueness and no lies
but every now and then
I see doubt creep in your eyes

I can't help you solve this issue
only you choose who to trust
but there's no relationship without it
you can't get by on lust.

As for me well I trust everyone
until they show me I should not
better that than throw it all away
over something soon forgot

Everybody wants an easy fix
before it gets too late
so I invented the Duct Tape Slimming Patch
for those who wanna lose weight

This miracle of science
is available online
And in those "As seen on TV" shops
for just $19.99

It's guaranteed to work
from the north down to the south
just take your Duct Tape Slimming Patch
and stick it over your mouth

Weeping willow weep not for me,
for my time is nearly done.
I'm just a weary traveler,
seeking shelter from the sun.

I'm on my final pilgrimage,
the one that takes me home,
to a place thats not too far from here,
from where I used to roam.

My travels took me round the world,
cross countries near and far.
Walked each day in golden sunlight,
slept under nights as black as tar.

But to my home I now return,
at the ending of my days,
for on my beloved England,
I shall rest my final gaze.

I'm over here, just look at me
acknowledge I exist
don't blindy shove your knife right in
and give a little twist
See I'm a real person too
with feelings just like yours
not a soul in search of pity
a human being not a cause
Listen to the words I say
don't presume to understand
just be sure you're going to follow through
before you offer me your hand
I've been let down way too many times
disappointed by the best
so now I stand upon the edge
and face the final test

I long to hold you in my arms
feel your skin upon my skin
to place my lips upon your neck
and slowly breathe you in

To feel your chest against my chest
your hips against my hips
to feel the arching of your back
and the quiver in your lips

To see the love within your eyes,
reflected in your soul,
everything that is of me
is yours to have and hold

As we come together
and our bodies become one
emotion becomes motion
beating to a different drum

In passion bound, oblivious
to all that is without
consumed within each other
no hesitation and no doubt

And as our dance comes to an end
and in its bliss we bask
having shared all of each other
there's nothing left to ask

Be strong for I am with you,
in everything you do.
When exhaustion you doth overtake,
I'm here to pull you through.

When insecurity abounds,
and you are filled with doubt.
Be strong for I am with you,
together we will out.

And when hard choices you must face,
not alone you make your stand.
For I am right beside you,
and your hand is in my hand

And late at night whilst in your bed,
you feel so safe from harm.
It is 'cause I am with you,
and you lay within my arms

Nothing in life is constant.
Nothing stays the same.
This moment is as fleeting,
as the falling drops of rain.

And just like every snowflake,
each moment is unique,
and tumbles now into the past,
as do the words I speak.

Try not to capture days gone by,
or live in glories past,
but live always in this moment,
and this moment will always last.

It's always incredibly sad when you say goodbye to a loved one.
Doubly so when its the one that convinced you that "loved" ones could still exist in your life beyond family and people you've known forever.
You would think at 46 it would be different somehow, different to the way it was when you were 16.
But it isn't
Not really
The big hole in your chest is still there, the tightness, still there
You still put on a brave face to everyone around you lest they know the pain you're in
And it still doesn't make
any
*******
sense
at
all
...
..
.
So you just choke everything down as best you can,
move on,
lick your wounds,
and try not to let this moment of your past dictate your future the way theirs did.
And therein lies the tragedy of it all I guess.
You can go forward assuming everyone's the same, put up walls, let nobody in for fear you'll feel this way again and in some bizarre ******* of the word feel "safe"
or
you lay low for a while and go out there again
forgive and forget
really and truly try and forget
let the future be anything it wants to be without looking in every nook and cranny, every gesture, every subtext every moment...... for signs that its going to happen again, that he or she is just like "they" were.

Whoever said insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result has clearly never been in love.

There is no love that hurts so much,
As one that goes unknown,
Despite bereft of nurturing,
Immensely it has grown.

There is no love as hurts so much,
As one that's unreturned,
A passion so intense, confined,
It's owner simply burned.

We were not part of your war
but just trying to live our life
myself and my two sons
my daughter and my wife

But that didn't seem to matter
when the bombs and missiles fell
Men, women and children
friends and family blown to hell

At least I'm not haunted by the visions
of my daughter torn in two
or the sound of the explosions
that beat my sons both black and blue

And every night I don't close my eyes
and hear the sound of my wife's voice
as she calls to warn my daughter
and then cries out to my boys

For I too was buried in that shallow grave
No words were said, none made a fuss
but when the poppys fall in the Albert Hall
tell me who'll remember us?

There are more than a few
questions in life
that at first blush sound like a trap
like does my **** look big in this
or how do I look in this hat

Or perhaps you've been asked
to guess someone's age
or perhaps even worse guess their weight
to all of these questions the answer should be
to look in their eye, tell em straight.

"I could tell you the truth
as it appears to me
but is that what you want to hear
I get the feeling you know the answer
and getting it wrong's what I fear"

"So if its OK with you I'll pass on that one
and the reason for this is, you see,
While certain answers have
an upside for you
there's just no upside for me."

A lack of motivation
Not knowing where to start
A desire for something different
pulling at my heart

Who knew that dreams could be so tough
that they could cause such pain
that reaching out and grasping nothing
would become my lifes refrain

Is it stubborn-ness that keeps me
banging my head against this wall
or is it knowing that by giving up
I'd not recover from this fall

So for now I'll keep on chasing
tilting at windmills if you will
for no matter how bad failure tastes
quittings a much more bitter pill

Could this be the butterfly
that brings about a change
The birthplace of the hurricane
that cause things to rearrange
Could it sweep across the nation
from the bottom to the top
Could it be the inspiration
that makes us finally say "Stop!
It's time to end this madness
turn off the war machines
We the people, we want peace
do you remember what that means?"

The phrase "collateral damage"
is used so not to cause offense
to desensitize the public
'bout the ****** of innocents

We're spoonfed daily numbers
of those who won't come back
but for innocent civilians killed
we dont bother keeping track

Because they're "collateral damage"
a nameless faceless entity
so easy to ignore
if they don't look like you and me

But when the shoe is on the other foot
and our innocents get killed
we put pictures in the papers
and monuments we build

Have we really sunk so far
as not to comprehend
that "collateral damage" means people,
and that war just has to end.

From the time he was a little boy
He wanted to be a soldier real bad
To wear big boots and a uniform
to look just like his dad

Although he'd never met the man
Many pictures had he seen
Of daddy as a soldier
being inspected by the queen.

There's a shoebox in the cupboard
With daddys medals and beret
And a letter Johnny never read
about how daddy passed away

The Falklands war was halfway done
but wars are always hell
and The Battle of Goose Green
is where Johnny's hero fell

As soon as he was old enough
despite his mothers pleas
Johnny joined the army
though she begged him from her knees

It seemed he was a natural
a born soldier like his dad
who looking down from up above
would be so proud of his lad

He had an honesty and integrity
that his advancement did effect
A natural heroic *******
you could not help but respect

So when war came around again
this time in old Iraq
Johnny proudly did his duty well
not just the once, for he want back

28 years ago we said goodbye
almost to the day
this time we're here for Johnny
who war also took away

Johnny was my friend
a man I truly loved
No wife or children left behind,
his family's given enough

What if once is all you get
and there’s no second chance
would you change the way
you play the game
Would you so quickly leave the dance

Would you try a little harder
Would you give up just as quick
If you knew
that me and you
Had just one chance and this was it?

Would you speak up in the first place
Would you even play the game
Is the fear of loss
not worth the cost
Thus avoiding fault or blame

When things start to go amiss,
we don't always see why,
and we may not even notice,
that look's no longer in her eye.

But maintaining a relationship,
is a bit like juggling sand.
Sometimes you just can't hold it,
and it slips right through your hand.

There's just no way to save it,
no matter what you do,
and that the way its meant to be,
because its not just about you.

You can try your best to get it right,
take nothing and give all,
but when there's someone else involved,
its not always your call.

You may think you've found your perfect match,
and abandoned all your cares.
But sadly just because they're yours,
it doesn't mean you're theirs.

When finally the end arrives
will it be a blessed release
will the turmoil of this life we live
be at last replaced by peace
Will I say goodbye with dignity
slipping slowly from the light
or will I be gripped by panic
from holding on too tight
I hope I have the courage
that I can show to those who care
so they remember me as being calm
passing in peace, not in despair.
There's so much I have left to do
so much more I have to say
when finally the end arrives
please let it not be today.

Sometimes I get frustrated
by things I cannot change
by things that I cannot control
things I cannot re-arrange

I know these things I cannot change
are things I should ignore
but theres something deep inside me
that wont let me shut that door

And perhaps the thing about this
that frustrates me most of all
is that I cannot change myself
so in this trap I'll always fall

Life really is too short
for all we should have done
and how wrong it is we chose to walk
in the race we could have run
But we closed our eyes and turned our heads
when we had so much to see
A tale so truly tragic
is the one of you and me

Looking for the forest
from deep within the trees
lost within frustration
again upon my knees

Clouds once more have gathered
silver linings left behind
pain and pleasure hand in hand
forever intertwined

Torn between the future
and the struggles of the past
in a battle never ending
happiness can never last

And no matter how we feel
The world will keep on turning
Some will fill their lives with love
While others fill with yearning

We can choose to live uncertain lives
too scared to take a chance
Or be bold and find our happiness
the music to our dance

No matter how safe we play the game
at some point we all get burned
But the only time it’s a mistake
is when the lesson goes unlearned

So some will end up broken
shattered, cast aside
But the ending you will face
is one thing you alone decide

I hear Troubles gonna call
gonna knock upon my door
so what am I to do
if she should push me to the floor

Or if she takes me by the hand
leads me to another room
and smothers me in ecstasy
what a way to meet my doom

But perhaps all that is rumors
and she's not like that at all
just a victim of the lies from those
on whom she doesn't call

Thats why I don't make judgments
on tales others tell
I'd rather find out for myself
cos then I'd know ****** well

If the rumors they are true
then I'll know just what to do
but if the rumors are just rumors
then I'm ready for that too

You see Troubles gonna call
and she's gonna call on me
and as for whats gonna happen next
we'll just have to wait and see.

I miss the simplicity of a shared blanket, the intimacy of a shared pillow.
Moments of pure connection passed in dreams punctuated by waking, seeing you there and once again holding you close, but never close enough.
I miss your touch, the sound of your voice, the sight of your words.
I miss so many things about you its hard to explain that you're still here.
Not metaphorically but actually.
Is this how it ends?
Is this how we know its not going to work anymore?
Two people inches apart but a thousand miles away from each other?
I used to be able to tell the very moment you fell asleep, we were that in tune with one another.
Now I don't even know what time you wake up.
Before, before every change in your breathing would be enough to wake me. Not wake me to the point of consciousness but enough that I would be aware if it stayed changed or went back to normal.
Normal.
That's something that seems a long way off now.
I don't know if we'll ever see normal again and sometimes, just sometimes I'm not even sure I want to.
But then other times I feel like I would give anything to go back to normal, back to normal with you.
Normal.
Maybe for me, this is normal?
Who the **** knows anymore?
I'm just so tired.

Hiding behind foundation
trying to stay out of the light
hoping nobody will notice
they've had yet another fight

She hates how she has to explain
they dont get that he works so hard
and really, I mean, he does have a point
just look at the state of the yard

In future she's gonna try harder
and give him less cause to complain
and really, I mean, he does have a point
she did forget chips for the game.

But she's beginning to think it aint right
to be beaten til she's black and blue
So she tells him she's had enough
gonna leave and move somewhere new

Now she's hiding behind the curtains
I guess the neighbours heard the shot
and really, I mean, he does have a point
over his dead body or not.