I never claimed to be a fly-although I'v done some flying.
I never claimed to be a whale- although I'v done some wailing
I'v never claimed to be a poet, though I will admit to trying!
ps. My wife says that I am the most trying man she has ever met.
is that a compliment-or what!!!

Dear Calpurnia Mockingbird, was it you I lately heard, singing in the night.
You sang so soft, so sweet and low-yet to the high c's you could go. and all below. You sang as in a dream, dark as chocolate- smooth as cream.
A wordless song-yet full of love.
What star gave you birth to sing-to sing your song to men on earth,
dispelling all complacency, and false worth.
Humbled now I will review and try to hone my skills anew.

Leaving the camp behind, we sped along the road, in a cloud of choking red dust, proceeding towards an area known as The South Australian Dessert. Barren, almost featureless country where the daytime heat was almost unbearable and night time temperatures were close to freezing.
During the journey, my thoughts drifted back to the time of my call up.
I was one of the last to be drafted into The Royal Air Force
My dad needed me desperately in the shop, he was working too hard. I resented the fact that a certain second rate comedian was excused because he claimed it would damage his career, what about my career, and my family? I was chosen-along with six hundred plus airmen, to be a part of Task Force Antler, of which you will hear later, In the mean time, we were waiting in transit in a camp in Glostershire, ROYAL AIR FORCE INNSWORTH.  There was nothing to do on camp really, except clean latrines that had been cleaned thoroughly already, I was bored, and my dad needed me. I soon discovered a gap in the system, which allowed me to go home every Wednesday afternoon, and return on Sunday evening. My dad was very pleased with my help, and it became a regular routine, until one Wednesday evening. I had just walked into the shop when the phone rang. It was my friend Harry who had been covering for me. "Bernard, get back to camp, we are being kitted out in the morning!  I was very tired, after spending the afternoon hitch hiking approximately one hundred miles, much of which I had covered on foot! I had a quick cup of tea, kissed my mum goodbye, and left holding a sandwich in one hand and my holdall in the other. I was going to need a miracle  to get me back on time, it was a notoriously bad route for hitch hiking!  more to come.

I wrote a little poem,
it wasn't very long,
and then I was distracted
by a glorious bird song,
A goose ate my poem,
I hope she can digest it
and it does her some good,
she's a cheeky little thing
and it's not her normal food.

Where was I now, oh I remember, I had outstayed my welcome at Shotton,
"There have been too many complaints, the local farmer had had enough."
"Enough of what" I frowned, surely he couldn't mean me! "Anyway, I have had enough of this place, we are moving South, to a place called Sunbury on Thames, he smiled. "Your mum has your Christmas present, be extra good or you won't get any present at all." The weeks seemed to drag by, Dad had been ill and things had been delayed. Things were moving at last. Dad had bought a double fronted shop, It had been a ladies hairdressers., called Georgina's, it was done out in attractive pink tiles. My brother Jim grinned. "We'r in the pink, at last."  My dad's machines took up a lot of room, we had a sewing machine, a stitching machine , a blake stitching machine , a finishing machine, a cutter ,a skiver, a stretcher, a work bench with two pivot's, and a shelf below with a complete set of iron lasts, from tiny toddlers size up to the largest Policeman's boot. That's a little joke, nearly.  "When we get busy you will have to help, I'll show you how to make shoes, you can start by doing repairs, there is a lot to learn, I expect you to dig in." He frowned. "I can't believe I said that."

It was a new day, the sun shone in a cloudless blue sky.
It was a special day-one to be long remembered.
I was seventeen, serving Queen and country
in a distant land, a far distant land.
As far from England's shores as it was possible to go.
Two covered trucks awaited us-their engines running.
"Climb aboard chaps, we don't want to keep Dr. Penny waiting.
The corporal sounded tense, we all felt tense- tension was in the air!
In the rest of the camp, the  six hundred men would soon be assembling, every man to be accounted for- except for myself and thirty nine other airmen, we had a different role to play. We left the camp. "good luck" someone shouted. "God help us" the white faced corporal said quietly.
                                                      To­ be continued.

We had some swans,
such lovely ones,
gliding 'oer the water,
I'm sad to say,
they didn't stay.
white feathers on dark water.