Clouds form stories in the sky
A child sees shapes we cannot see
The atmosphere tells a good tale
of dreams, hopes and fortunes.
The wind blows, another page turns
another chapter begins.
The sun is raring to go, it burns
another story is told.

An old fishing boat is hoping
its oars skim the dregs of brine
like hands clutching to nothing
Thinking "I wish it were mine"
But boat dont think, with no voice
but it can dream I suppose like you and me.
It dreams of the salt air, the strength it had
The salt stacked oak nearing the sea.
Yes it dreams, it is the only thing it has left.

Tiny bubbles appear
Surfacing as if on time
The Kingfisher waits
more bubbles climb
to the edge of fear
then air saturates
there is a splash
a beak pierces bubbles
and it golden capture
surfaces not through wanting
or needing - it cannot escape
the beady eye of the Kingfisher.
He was hungry, cannot blame him
he waited and he watched.
A fisherman smiles, he waits and he watches
for hours upon end, without any promise.
The Kingfisher still perches and he waits
and with his belly full of food, he half smiles.

There lives a fairy at the bottom of my garden
She resides in the third mushroom down
she appears not to have much space you see
but she has the largest fungii in town.

She is a lucky one but does not realise it
I dare say she owns more than most
she has a flower stal to hang her washing on
which is no bigger than a small post.

She is lucky she does not have to pay rent
she reckons she has not mushroom to spread
but you know fairies have such large demands
so another plan is needed here instead.

She is looking to go to another toadstool
which is way too small for her box of tricks
She has her beady eye on another abode
and this time it is made out of bricks.

The clouds formed a swirl
made with nothing more than fluff
angel's hair and little fairy things
and that in itself was enough.
Daisy chains could be seen
amongst clover heavy in pink
with buttercups scattered on the green
with camomile tea inside to drink.
Damdelions made into a stew
orange petals float on top sailing
pretty petals and there are a few
with delicate ivy just trailing.

I saw a million butterflies
Al dressed in grey
Further up there were
Millions of birds of prey.
They had gathered
To pay their respects
On behalf of all creatures
As one would expect.
The death of a ladybird
Her spots faded now
Her redness faded to pink
And they wiped her brow.
Ants lined the route
To her burial place
Nobody would ever forget
The sadness on the magpie’s face.
He bowed his head as she went by
Surrounded by love and flowers
The ceremony expected to last
For many more hours.
The moths flew by in twos
Followed by the wasps and bees
Other birds had sad beaks
Depression had hit the trees.
Crickets stood silent for once
Their noisy knees under control
Other insects bowed in unison
as the cuckoo announced the patrol.
They laid her to rest, six spots and all
Among the roses all a rich deep red
They sauntered back home, hearts heavy
And did nothing but cry all night in bed.
That night I saw a million butterflies
Which in all is a bit extreme
What a crazy night that was
It is funny what you dream.

Feelings of anger, why me
In this world I thought
I’d be in charge of my destiny
But I’ve been handed the black spot.
No oh no treasure for my little soul
Just pain and suffering all day.
Every day I climb more than the average goal
Anger and frustration paving my way.
What is the point of moaning
I just do it and sit tight.
There is no one to hear me groaning
In pain in the middle of the night.
Parkinsons disease is no joke you know
I am glad my friends don’t suffer like me
My brain performs like a mad comedy show
But at least that’s in control of it’s destiny.

Sherbert in edible cases looking like spaceships
some can even glow in the dark.
ripe red and rosy fairy apple pips
and a candy bar looking like a great white shark.
Jet black licorice in the form of old men's pipes
All the colours of the rainbow in sugar rice
Mints with spots and evenly spaced stripes
some quite strong and don't taste that nice.
Little ***** of tastiness that look like blackberries
a jar full of fizzy fish
a bowl full with lips smelling of cherries
and little jelly cola bottles in a dish
Squares of pink and white coconut ice
chocolate and *** and raisin fudge bars
and there are little white sugar mice
and cinnamon and ginger stars.
All the good things from years ago.

Going away into a far away land
can be quite an adventure.
Exploring, navigating, go hand in hand
rolling away on a puffy cloud of experience
whisking oneself to somewhere unknown
Travel in your mind, to a land beyond
your wildest dreams, stay with that image
rolling away on a puffy cloud of surprise
diverting your travels to somewhere unknown.
Thrashing on waves, speeding down a track
as black as your hat, the unknown thought is back.
rolling away on a puffy cloud of an enormous promise
warp factor ten thousand to your dreams.

you smile, my knees knock
with excitement
You make the hands on the clock
stand still
Time is a velvet runway
with no seconds on it
Life is smooth like chocolate
when I stand by you I feel your strength
your power
You are my power always has been
always will be
until our seconds cease to be
It is called love, and it comes to us all
sometime, somehow, someday.
My love came when I was just sixteen
and i still have it, always will have
that is when my velvet runway cracks
my chocolate dries up and my seconds die.

Do I risk it for the junket?
Is there a biscuit, can I dunk it
Pour the Rosy Lee
That means a cup of tea
That’s funny, I must have drunk it.

A smile shines upon a face
Cracked and parched by the sun
Blistered feet trek in the heat
Carrying water for everyone.
Three hours daily they walk
To a watering hole ***** and crude
Yet still he smiles having no choice
But to bring water to cook food.
Foreigners arrive to lay new pipes
Hope lies now on a wrinkled face
Water gushes from a shiny tap
Drenching life into a dismal place.
Children scream with delight and joy
Sadly they have never splashed before
Tears well in the foreigner’s eye
A shiny tap now means so much more.
A new smile shines upon a face
Pleased that the work has been done
Blistered hands applaud in the heat
At long last the children can have fun.

Pushing, trying to go forward
cogs turn in the brain
strolling bravely in the mud
murky water goes down the drain.

I open the window
the mist rolls in off the sea
sweeping like a fluffy blanket
pity hasn't keep the sea warm
there is no horizon, it's the same
just white, misty vision.
The air is biting
so cold it stings my skin
rushing in like an unwelcome visitor
there is no horizon it's the same
just a milky opaque sight.
The beam from the lighthouse
sprays LED sparkles on the waves
it dances with the movement of the sea
jigging, squirting froth forward
ebbing and flowing
coming and going.
There is a distance in the air
a quiet , a silence now.
The atmosphere changes
brightens, clouds are apparent
moving, clearing,
and out comes the sun.

If a rabbit had its mind set
to play a game of cricket.
No doubt it would wear its whites
standing in front of the wicket.

If fish had fingers
and ten little toes
and if they had a tissue
they could blow their little nose.

To me there was never any drawback
it was just simply child's play
looking back down the old track
it was a typical British railway.

It was just brilliant in its heyday
chugging along with a smokestack
through tunnels and the odd archway
I can safely say I never looked back.

All those hard workers on the payroll
leaving memories along the track
spending all day shovelling coal
everything they wore and owned black.

Some days their breath dried and they cried
from the young lad to the station guard
but they all had something called pride
even though their memory's were all scarred.

The whistle could be heard "all aboard"
and off it would go chugging
the steam puffed and the engine roared
regardless of the carriages it was tugging.

Through every village an every vale
it relentlessly ploughed
along each track and each trail
leaving its white fluffy cloud.

Travelling along tootling down
from hill to hill down the track
from coast to each and every town
and I never looked back.

Take a ride to visit a bunch of old bones
on board the old ghost train.
hear the squeals, the moans and the groans
all of which give you plenty to complain.
Sitting hugging your friend for grim death
on the scariest ride at the fair
you feel a cold frosty breath
from the left hand side of the chair
Something is dangling in your face
and it is crawling and now creeping
what possessed you to go in this creepy place
and there seems to be a hand sweeping.
Whatever it is it has left its mark
and you now are ready to squeal
wishing you could see in the total dark
and notice that this is making you feel
            s c a r e d

Out of the blue
he grabbed me
sent me from pillar to post
there was little to oversee
but I saw my ghost
it was the shadow of me
a year in which to come
there was little to oversee
just that I saw what I'd become.
I did not care for the vision
it scared me beyond my dreams
there was little to oversee
or so it seems.
Cant alter my past but
I can make a change to the present
could do nothing more than I did
and believe me it was not pleasant.
I grabbed my shadow and bent the rules
I surrounded it with a home truth
I told it I am not what I used to be
I had in fact altered my youth.
The shadow disappeared
out of the blue
and then it reappeared
it had made me brand new.
So my life has changed
just as if it was on cue
all of this happened
it was if it was out of the blue.

There are secrets in the woods
there are whispers in the breeze
The gathering has an opinion
and that is the whispers aren't Chinese.
They have all had their say
It is the talk among the trees
If they are not careful
this talk will bring them to their knees.
It is like they are playing a game
and it has been deemed checkmate
the talk is in the thick of the wood
an it told it to them straight.
From twig to branch
from each and every little leaf
the talk is just a whisper
and that is the belief.

It was decided they would both go for a drive
To the local farm to visit the beehive.
She was frustrated
The bees were agitated
So they returned at exactly half past

She suddenly let out an awful squeal
He was fed up with the whole ordeal
The bees were behind
Just a touch unkind
And had now surrounded their automobile.

First Aid was what they were needing
As his feet were badly bleeding.
She had lost her squeak
Because they’d stung
As the pig shot off home speeding.

The car had suddenly come to a halt
And they both suffered a sharp jolt
For in the middle of the road
Was a large truck load
Of gleaming white table salt.

The Pig began to lick his lips announcing “my word”
I think that now I’m rather cured!
The Duck found some money
To pay for all the honey
This is all that he could afford.

There is an owl on the gate and he is singing “tu whit tu whoo”
He is not sure whether he is at Chelsea or indeed at Kew.
The Pig knew here there were well to do types
He also knew that bamboo was green and had stripes.
There were ladies dressed in white Broderie Anglais
The Pig was vile covered in Italian Spaghetti Bolognese.
The Pig said “Oh I do really beg your pardon
I do like a good nosh up in your garden”.
The Duck preferred a patch with movement and flow
The Pig on the other hand stuff hadn’t chance to grow.
The Duck needed style, imagination and some shape
And all that the Pig required was a simple landscape.
The Pig needed mud and a garden full of sweet roses
Rather a contrast but his stuff just decomposes.
Both were impressed with the Chelsea Flower Show
And shot off to see what they could plant and grow.

This little man
Will do all he can
To eat all his beans
And avoid his greens.
For him it is considered beneath
To keep clean his teeth.
There is little hope
Of owning a bar of soap.
To let an evening pass
He would roll in wet grass.
Then to get himself in gear
Knock back four pints of beer.
He has been told “elf”
Take a look at yourself
You have got yourself to blame
You have brought much shame.
You must go through a door
And find it in yourself to explore.
So it was that he became irritable
With the thought of eating a vegetable
He knew he was quite snappy
But what would make him happy?
Slow breathing in and out
Just made him want to shout
Who would want to embrace?
His ugly little face?
So he had a choice
Led by a comforting voice
Choose which door
He needs to explore.
Go through the door of red
Where one stayed in bed and just ate bread
Or the door painted green
He would get himself clean
Or go through the door marked blue
Find out what he is addicted to.
That thought was just plain crazy
He knew he was lazy.
He was the little man with a very short shelf
Plonked on a label branded a very lazy elf.

Rock pools scattered with salty froth
drain quickly to reveal life
Little shrimps cling to samphire
The rushing white wave
beats to the shore
creeping gingerly to the rock cave
as if it has been there before.
The midday sun
settles for the afternoon
the sunbathers just begun
their timed basking on the dune.
A weathered dry oar
lies abandoned on the sand from an old boat
together with bits of ******* washed to the shore
just lying there, anything that would float.
Cracked shells, washed pebbles, and bits of flint
in blues, greys, creams and coral coloured stone
lie draped around the edge of the beach
with seaholly, blue grass and bits of fish bone.
The smell of the sea washes against your breath
you feel alive, but your skin feels dry lie salt
the breath taking views make you good to be there
It is just nice to hear the wind, the sea, the gulls
the call of the dolphin , it is just nice to be alive.

If you believe in fairy tales and magic
If you believe in wishes then join this queue
For tonight is the night out of many when
Your dreams might possibly come true.

Look into the midnight sky full of stars
It is as if the whole sky has silver freckles
Sparkly moons and planets and beams
Pearly things and saltwater speckles.

Hold your breath for a second then close the eyes
For magic is about to happen there’s no dispute.
For stars will whizz across the sky a light show
And dreams will start to come true as they shoot.

Kicking the dust off my shoes
As I strolled towards my front door
Less for me to do I thought
As I had already cleaned my floor.
The front door needed painting
I had some spare paint in the shed
Nobody would miss my house
If I did the door in a nice bright red.
And the windows need replacing
The frames look shabby and worn
The paint on them seems to be peeling
They were on the house before I was born.
And while I am at it I’ll replace the mat
It has certainly seen much better days.
All these jobs don’t come for free you know
But Keeping on top definitely pays.
The letterbox keeps sticking too, I’ll see to that
The postman will be pleased with me
After all these jobs today I will be fast asleep
Oh I seem to have mislaid my key!

A dawn chorus of little wrens sitting
on a washing line, whistling into the breeze
a whole line of them just twittering
and the gentle hum of the honey bees.

The smell of freshly mown grass lingers
the intoxicating perfume of the rose
wriggly worms watching the bird singers
the upkeep of the summer garden shows.

The crack of a stem snapping from its main stem
dead-heading tired summer bedding plants
The whack of next doors football landing on them
and a nice cup of sweet tea made in advance.

One little drink
just for the road
I think not.

The street lamp flickers
Thick fog hangs like custard
A woman in regulation knickers
is cutting the mustard.
She hangs round the fading light
Vinegar drapes around the bar
she is eating chips at midnight
while her teeth soak in a jar
her curlers retired years back
when the colour made a sad farewell
she stands under the Union Jack
where the church rings its bell.
They were together once, a time
when she was not such a fright
he saw red but did not commit a crime
even then she ate chips at midnight.

I am on my again
in my flat cap and vest
Love has flown
my well kept nest.

It is that time again
to don my Sunday best
Love has returned
Yes you have guessed

Love came.

My life is a whirlwind so very busy
in fact I don't know whether to laugh or cry
If I stand still my head feels dizzy
Do I continue this mad rush? I have to try
Is there something I can take, a magic potion
to get me through these dreary busy days
I understand that this is just a temporary emotion
Life has caught up with me in so many ways
If I do not address this I will fall into a sinkhole
I feel as though I am stuck to a slippery mat
and that I have lost all of my control
and being pulled along by the world's fastest cat.
Life is living in a circle pulled like a spinning top
and once again I don't know whether to laugh or cry
but in my heart I know this has to stop
I will not give up I have to try.

The night fell silent
lace and legs from spiders lay waiting
to confuse my mind
play with my being
A crackle and a snap was heard
in my past or my future
I dare not think
the crackle was orange, glowing like a fire
snapping twigs in its haste
messing with my mind
messing my future
the crackle confuses me
I turn a corner
it seemed to be different
time here was still
like the wind
no hair on my head dare move
was it fear
was it hope
the crackle had disappeared.

I would like to partake
in a little drink made with love
strawberries, squashed to a shake
milk, ice cream and all of the above

It is thick and dreamy
frothy and pink
so delicious and creamy
when the straw starts to sink

It is tasty and good for you
it has my name on the side
oh I love a strawberry milk shake
nothing but goodness inside.

Hot crispy toast
What they like most
is jam hot and runny
or cold sticky honey
or gravy from the roast.

In England what could be better
than good old toad in the hole.
Sausages fried in dripping
then batter whipped from the soul.
Crispy Yorkshire pudding heating
baking with sausages cradling within
there is nothing better with onion gravy
than sausages cooked in their skin.

My dreams are like bitter lemons
splashed with a drop of best gin
My hopes are a bit like fresh cream
with big succulent strawberries dipped in.
My outlook is divine like a strong, ripe cheese
with a ruby port by the side, plenty of it
so that your body relaxes down to the knees.
My plans are like pancakes, filled with cherries
A rich chocolate sauce running through the fruit
Plans dripping with velvet skins collecting
cherry juice and mingling with my suit.
The schedule for today has gone out of the window
because I am too busy eating violet creams
pansies dipped in caramel are just the ticket
especially when you have my sort of dreams.

The pair of them talked till the moon went blue
and the stars packed themselves away for the night
Their farewells were said to each other it is true
and what they had done they thought was right.

The frog and the toad were fed up with talk
their books were put under their slimy skin
the frog suggested he liked the toad after all
and the toad said he would never give in.

They had said the goodbyes as previously said
you all thought that it was me to leave
I would never leave my friends just like that
it is only myself I could deceive.

You all are such nice people on this site
it is like we are all sitting at one big wooden table
tapping out poems one after another
whether we tell stories, jokes or fables.

No I would only say goodbye to the last ship sailing
I would want to stay under our rainbow of words and rhyme.
we all have different lives to live each day, but we are the same
we all write, play, work, rest and have hills to climb.

The time has come for me to go
with books under my arm I will leave
I m marching through the door
It is only me and you I will deceive.

Will I, should I stay, the question I put to you
do you find me funny, sad or just plain?
Do I amuse, do I entertain, what should I do?
and I of a correct stable mind or am I insane?

I am going, goodbye then, see you one fine day
is anyone interested in my fate?
Is this one big joke or am I certain in what I say
Is this true, well you will have to wait.

I like a bit of passion me old fruit
even though you get on me pip
ooohh passion in a nice long drink
but be careful before you take a sip.
In all the excitement you might choke
so dont blame the seeds all on me
drink up and I will promise you tonight
this old fruit'll be on his bended knee.

The way I used to giggle
the thickness of my hair
when I walked I had a wiggle
and men would stare.
I smiled and the world smiled
I laughed and everyone did the same
My phone was always on dialled
I was at the top of my game.
Then Mr P took hold of my life
he demanded I live by his rule
now it is all trouble and strife
and the pain I have is just cruel.
But do you know what Mr P
I have had enough of your ways
I do not want you in my life anymore
I want to have nicer days.
So Parkinsons disease can take a hike
to pastures new and then get lost
go on get on your bike
Im free from you now at no further cost.
Well I am not but in my head I am
I can do without all of the stress
Mr P brings plenty of that glam
Im glad my life is not now a mess.

Over by the old church spire
sits a very noisy woodpecker
fluffing his plumage for all to admire
this little chap is a wrecker.

The dark mysterious crow
knows the woodpecker drills holes
but he is more interested in the meadow
and the land around which he controls.

The magpie however is a smart guy
sitting in his black and white uniform
he only needs a lens over just one eye
surveying his prey from his platform.

The little finch meanwhile
knows every little square inch
down to the smallest pile
of what he can pinch.

The pigeon, thick as two short planks
standing in the purple of the shadow
he knows the sort of pranks
they get up to in the willow.

A card is sent through the post
it has been sealed with a loving kiss
there are a million butterflies in his hand
that image I would not need to miss;
Onemillion butterflies would not fit in my palm
I would imagine all that would do is wriggle
It would be an impossible situation for me
because I know that all I could do is giggle.
I take nothing so seriously not even the love
loving you was easy back then but now it is not
Complications have hit the melting *** and boiled over
I think I need a bigger and a stronger ***.
It is hard work listening to you now; I dont want to try
because all that you think about is yourself and that is tough
If I sit it out all night long then I know I would cry
and the situation would go from worse to rough.
t would not be so bad if you believed in what I said
Yet you cant bear to not have me around
You turn vent your anger in everything I do
but in your temper and your anger I drowned.
There is no longer a me, I do not exist
i am but a shadow on the new page
I would like to be the sunshine and Im working on that
which would make a change and drown out your rage.
Live long, have fun, take care and all the rest
Do not kiss my fingers any more they are not your
I wish you  a good life, take care and all the best.

He gently taps my finger
then raises my hand to his lips
Love is all that I have left
and it comes from my finger tips.
I stroke his hair, hair runs freely
like our souls are knotted in two
Love is all I have to give
bad times and words are far and few.
He looks into my green eyes
his blue ones staring into my being
a warmth is held in my heart tonight
the love in me shows no sign of fleeing.
We are a couple who have been in love
for it seems a million years or more
married from sweethearts so much in love
until they close the final door.
Love is all that I have left to give
he knows that and so do I
I love him to the moon and then back
orbiting each star a few times in the sky.
I love him more than there are blades of grass
or more than each tiny spec of sand
I know that he loves me because
he kissed the fingers on my hand.

Jam, honey or marmalade to spread upon your toast
Tea, drinking chocolate or coffee medium roast
I just want eggs and bacon and a little fried bread
or even muesli cereal and thick creamy yogurt instead.
Yes eggs and bacon please and a sausage by the side
I wont trouble you further,I wont take you for a ride
but can I have a little cream  in my coffee for extra taste
chop chop  now get cooking make haste.

The radio is on, you drink tea and hear the news
another sip of your tea then you hear your song
the breakfast comes to an end but the song does not
it is uplifting and you sing along to it all day long.

You hear news that somewhat saddens your heart
something close to your heart has been reduced
That song comes on again and it is uplifting
Just when you needed it, a well deserved boost.

A New love comes knocking at your door
But the heart, you thought is under lock and key
The head however sometime ago escaped the drawer
but then do the heart and head always agree?

At this time when you have serious bridges to cross
boxes to tick and thing to dot, you come to disbelief
of what has happened, you are now mourning a loss
and all sorts of emotions have entangled with the grief.
You sit and watch the poppies being crushed to a pulp
because you feel angry; the rouge fades to grey
tears are trapped at the back of your throat and you gulp
you don't know what to think and you cannot say.
These thoughts drift in and out of your mind
disrupting  altering, dreams and now cause rage
we carry on, Lord knows how but we do you will find
that things will settle in your mind at a later stage.
Your friend is looking down as a butterfly now
she will always be by your side for a million years
she will drape her wing on your wing
she will iron troubles and get rid of the fears.
She will whisper sweet things to you Elaine
a friend is for life do not forget, this leads the way
but more important to you my friend she will
be walking down the aisle with you on your wedding day.

The aroma of fresh coffee brewing
the taste of rich chocolate on your tongue
freshly baked bread straight from the oven
newly picked rosemary to last all day long
talcum powder sprinkled on a beautiful baby
the splash of the sea on your skin
the salty smell of fresh fish at the market
tobacco ripe fetched from the tin.
rewards to keep, treasures to share
it is fascinating to breathe all these riches
and we thank goodness that we have them there.