I was called to a bedside,
There lay a giant of a man.
Age one hundred and five,
I wonder how he survived.
Saying he was leaving today,
He wanted to go his way.
Comrades, Family, and friends,
They had long since gone.
We supported him now all alone,
While living in our nursing home.
He would tell stories of the war,
Horrors he lived to deplore.
Charging out from a trench,
Face to face in the stench.
Fear around almost smelt,
His faith inside began to melt.
These haunting memories,
He would carry to the end.
Now as I stood by his bed,
Comfort was all I could lend.
Honoured to be with him that day,
I held his hand as he slipped away.
Touching his brow I said goodbye,
Ending this shift tear in my eye.

Who am I sitting here?
People all around, I see and hear.
Some like me sit and stare,
Others walk around with food to share.
In front of me a beautiful woman,
She wears a wedding ring.
On her knee a child with a birthday card,
He says granddad and wants to sing.
As she leans to kiss goodbye
I see a tear in her eye.
What lovely people, I like them.
As they drive away in their car,
I wish that I could remember
Just who they are.

Don’t close your eyes
Don’t turn away
I need you now
I beg you stay
I did wrong
Can you forgive?
Abused your trust,
I gave in to lust.
Now I see clear,
It's losing you I fear.
How could I be tempted?
Easily giving in,
Midlife crisis my only sin.
Although no excuse,
Now I plead,
It is you my Love that I need.
Please forgive me.

It was an autumn day; a fresh aroma the air.
Breathing in deeply, I was trapped in a snare.
How was I loured into this dangerous trap,
I just was not looking or even aware.
There was a sweet sticky dew tasting like mead,
This honey nectar turned my head to greed.
Losing control I was going out of my mind,
In a strange flower bed, I left my world behind.
Now wondering in a deep psychedelic dream,
I am floating eagerly down a rainbow stream.
Tender fresh flesh standing bold and proud,
Attracting prey with her bright coloured shroud.
Giving in freely, about to be devoured.    
My censors telling me I was being deflowered.
There were silky soft hairs all over my skin,
Is a shocking end about to begin?
If no one had noticed I was ensnared in this place,
It may have all ended in humiliation and disgrace.
Now in so deep I have lost all self control,
It was as if a demon had stolen my soul.
Just then a watchful serpent raised its head,
Looking straight at me it hissed and said.
“I can see you; you have had your fun,
Now it is time to pay, or get out and run”.
Shocked out of the dream, I saw my plight,
What he said was true, I made my flight.
Lucky to escape, my advice is here,
If you see a Venus Flytrap,
STAY CLEAR.

At the bottom of our limestone cliffs,
In a great heap on the sand.
Is where they tipped the waste glass,
From the foundry on the land.

Over many years the rough seas,
Have ground it really smooth.
As it is washed along the shore,
By the east tide on the move.

People looking carefully,
For beach glass as they roam.
Popped in a plastic bag,
And proudly taken home.

Some end up in the garden,
Decorating old flower pots.
You find them stored in jars,
A collection of precious gems.
But the more patient and artistic,
Glue them to pots in different ways,
Then finish by painting with a glaze.

As I sit on the rocks by the sea,
Watching  people as they pass by me.
I see many different ages bending up and down,
Picking glass pebbles like jewels from a crown.
Old or young there is a look in their eyes,
If they pick a perfect pebble it's excitement and surprise.
Every day they come like an invasion on the shore,
But it's nothing quite so cynical,
They have just come to pick some more.