I watch, I smile, I wonder
At this cheeky little minx.
She leaps and runs and skips
Stands on her hands and laughs.
She reads and writes and draws,
She hums and sings and shouts.
She is lithe and lively
Full of raw energy.
In my mind, she sparkles
Like a  glistening star,
Each day, each week, twinkling
With humour and surprise.
Even with juvenile words
Her fresh spirit shines forth.
Her love, her guile, her resolve,
Her  mischief eyes, her pout,
Her charm, her warmth, her joy,
They enrich my daily life.
Soon sleepy,  she snuggles close.
Her matchstick arms give mighty hugs.
Her fine flowing fair hair
Settles against my chin.
Eyes closed,  her dark lashes
Brush her rose petal cheeks.
I watch, I smile, I give thanks.

My hood protects me from the wind
So sharp it jabs just like a pin.
I bow my head and ***** my eyes
And tie the cord beneath my chin.

I wear my boots to keep me warm
Against the wind along the bay.
They keep me dry in muddy pools,
In sticky sands and salty spray.

I watch the tide, tossed by the breeze,
Shivering from its frisky chill,
Pushed along by nature's force,
Washed up the bay against its will.

I see  stout branches wave and sway,
And trembling twigs alive with fear,
Bending, blowing every way,
Wrestling with the atmosphere.

Clouds change their shade as they float past
From fluffy white to sombre grey,
Like kites up high without  their strings,
They swirl about then drift away.

Flapping hard against the wind
Gulls screech and scream their piercing cry.
They swoop and soar above the sands
With feathers ruffled as they fly.

My nose is red, my cheeks are pink.
I sniff the salt of grey green sea.
My breath is deep, my body leans.
I'm ready for a cup of tea.

JO ***, MP

A loving mother with life and soul
A  bright young woman of her time
A caring woman who topped the poll
Has been cut down in her prime
A vicious ******, callous and cruel
A local man now held by police
A  man with no compassion at all
Dear Jo ***, now rest in peace.


Labour Member of Parliament for Birstall, Jo ***, 41, was murdered
in her constituency on June 16, 2016

The bright side of my brain has got up and gone
Where I cannot say.
I search every nook and every cranny
Every single day.
The bright side of my brain has got up and gone
Why I'm not too sure.
The day I started to write my poems
It made straight for the door.
The bright side of my brain has got up and gone
If it returned, I'd give a cheer.
Perhaps if I write something sensible
It'll suddenly reappear.

On your marks
TO run your best
StOrm ahead to keep abreast
ThrOugh the pain within your chest
AnxiOus now to pass the rest
LifelOng fame could be made
DeliciOus win of this decade
ScenariO will never fade
LimitatiOns not obeyed

Someone I never really knew
She was always there for me
Watching daily as I grew
And fulfilling her duty.
A comfort figure in the haze
Doing what she had to do.
Her voice she sometimes had to raise
If I refused to don my shoe.

In truth I nevet knew my mother;
But do we ever really know
The one who loves us like no other;
The one who never lets us go?
A child like me could never see
Her tender loveand care so true.
If she was here again with me
I'd look at her with eyes anew.

Rising ocean, Hurricane
Winds so swift, they howl and wail.
From New York as far as Maine
Lives in danger from the gale.

Swelling seas come crashing down.
Great trees uproot from the ground.
Scared people fear that they may drown
For Sandy's here and knows no bounds.

No bus, no train, no way out
No light, no heat, no food to eat
Dark crumbling city, people shout
'Please help us now,' they do entreat.

Hours pass while Sandy roars.
Many homes are blown away.
Until it goes, the death toll soars,
Please pass quickly, they all pray.