You write of apple picking, carborundum wheels
Swishing scythes and landscapes full of trees
A different place, a different time
But familiarity I find in images like these

Among the downy flakes
We feel your little horse's shake
As the woods fill up with snow

Your wife stares out the window
Standing by the sink
We wonder what she really thinks
The day you move into your country home

A stranger makes an offer for your trees
To sell for profit in the Christmas city
Three cents each is far too low, we agree
So they may stay and he can go

What unexpected face was that
She's sure she saw one winter night?
Alighting from the pony trap
She seeks him out by lantern light

Conversations written down
Stories from your time you tell
Glimpses, snapshots, daily life
Atmosphere conveyed so well

When my love was newly won
She was the sun, the sun
The sun

Then before the year had run
All too soon the cooler moon
Is what she had become

And now she's but a distant star
A candle flicker from afar
But still her power I can see

For nights are dark
And thoughts are free

Out of the blue
Hail and a thunderbolt
No shelter

                            Pennies drop in little ways
                            As days pass
                            Separating us

My movements are slow
Head hangs low
Little reminders
All over the show

                            I could make a call
                            To a waif and stray
                             Make someone happy
                             Make someone's day

It is absence
I have to get used to
Before I can look again
Before I can start anew

I met my neighbour ths morning so I asked him how he was.

Oh fine, yes we're fine thank you. And how are you both?

I said you should go to Specsavers mate, there's only one of me.

I don't know why I grieve today
Why it stabs me with such pain

Is it for my lovely dogs
I miss them all
But for all the joy
Always there's a price to pay

Or for the friends where tragedy
Far too soon stole them away

Or for all the mothers' sons
Who gave their lives
Behind the ****** battle lines

I don't know why I grieve today

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate.
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date.
Sometime too hot the eye of summer shines;
And often is his gold complexion dimmed;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance, or nature's changing course, untrimmed;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st,
Nor shall death brag thou wand'rest in his shade'
When in eternal lines to Time thou grow'st.
       So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
       So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

One last walk up the lane
One last wander round the meadow
One last photograph

One last hug
We're so sorry
But we couldn't bear to see you suffer

His expertise was knots
His profession to garrotte
If his wife should say
"Did you have a good day?"
The conversation stopped

Searching for words I fumbled and stumbled
Incoherently I mumbled
Eager to share the repartee
Trying too hard, too desperately

Now I know what I should have said
It really would have knocked 'em dead
They would have thought what a clever chap
If I'd come out with that

But it's too late unfortunately
The only one listening now
Is me

bless my sole
I'm in kneed
of a toe
it's all gone to waist
****
everyone nose
eye don't look
back
only a head

Mon  Oneday I'll be top dog
Have the sofa to myself

Tues  Chewsday all the bones belong to me
And to no one else

Wed  Walksday let's go on patrol
Throw some weight around

Thurs  Throwup day, you can clear it up
I'll sit here and frown

Fri  Dieday for the bunnies,
If I'm fast enough

Sat  Catsday, chase them up a tree
Watch them huff and puff

Sun  Funday, all of the above
For the pampered pooch
Who knows he's very loved

From Grandma to you, a clock for Christmas
To hang on your bedroom wall
To show you time is useful
And important to us all

At first it's pace can seem too slow
You want to hurry up and grow
Then the years begin to fly
Till you're nearly as old as Grandma and I

But for now there's time to learn
Hundreds and thousands of things
And we hope you will enjoy
All that time soon brings

He promised that pretty soon
A man would land on the moon
They didn't quite make it
So he told them to fake it
It was harder than he'd presumed

If there were a heaven
I would want it to be
Like the lunchtime walk we did today,
Little Bear and me

We took the bridleway as signed
Through a cottage garden
Someone had a mower going, the first cut of the year
We slipped through unnoticed,
Me and little Bear

The path went by a natural brook
Below a sloping meadow
And led up to an ancient wood
Beside a well-clipped hedgerow

At the wood we paused
It looked inviting, dark and deep
But for now its secrets it would keep
There was work to do,
A heap of straw to sort and lay
So that adventure we will save
For another day

That adventure we can save
For another day

In the blue ridge mountains of Virginia
On the trail of the lonesome pine
I promised to stay true to ya
But kind of changed my mind

There was linda, Natasha, victoria
All waiting in a line
Rebecca Mae and Cynthia
And so little time

In the blue ridge mountains of Virginia
We had a lovely time
I read all their poetry
They read all of mine

You wouldn't **** a man
Or **** a woman
Then **** her, normally.
But listen kid
You've got a gun
Have some fun
You're in the army now.

Dinosaurs roam the land
Gathering grain while they can
Roaring beeping bellowing dust
While the weather holds they must

Big wheels rushing to and fro
Trailers to the store on tow
Keep it going rush and tear
While there's still an ear out there

Darkness comes but they don't stop
If they can they'll get the lot
Tomorrow may return the rain
Back to playing the waiting game

I made an appointment, I was worried
Off to the doctor in a hurry
Doc I have a strange affliction
Sort of weird-beard word addiction
When I speak, every time
The words I say, they have to rhyme
Can you treat it, is it serious,
Or is my query simply spurious?

Doctor drew a heavy sigh
Looked at me with weary eye
Take these pills and in a day
Your condition will fade away

I said look doc, I think it's catchin'
Did you know your words were matchin'?
He said have you had your prostate checked?
I said I'm sure it's fine, backed off and left

Poems that make you stare into space
poems that show you another place
passion poems, cherry red, inspiration bouncy bed
poems not to recite to your mother
poems to whisper to your lover

Poems that soar like a bird on the wing
poems that crash before they begin
poems in bars, poems with stars
poems you want to put in a vase                                                  
                 and water

Poems that need a lot of deciphering
poems you see a bit of your life in
poems written by a maniac
for the benefit of an insomniac

Poems with windows to the soul
poems like footballers scoring a goal
poems to savour, make you want more
poems for everyone, poems galore

Poems brief, poems long
poems that seem to go on and on
like this one

He was cruel
was old man Venn

He'd tie two cats' tails together tight
Hang them on the washing line
Stand there laughing
Watch them fight

Different folk, different times
different days back then
But he was cruel
Was old man Venn

I've read more poems on this site
Than I've ever read before
Does that leave me satisfied?
No, I just want more

As soon as I get home from work
I pop the pooter on
To see what's new and popular
And what my friends have done

What wise words from Frank today?
How is dearest v?
Bernie's busy, Edward maybe
John and g,  lp

All human life is here
For all of us to see
At the risk of sounding trite or twee
I do enjoy your company

That day when 96 fans died
Through their teeth the police
They lied

They tried to give the fans the blame
Now hang your heads
In utter
Utter
Shame

My dog only knows what's at the end of his nose
But our brains are much bigger than Fido's or Digger's
So are the questions composed

Answers we find of various kinds
So the questions get harder
Pushing us farther
Till our poor monkey brains overload

Don't ask that question
Take a different direction
There are some things we never will solve
Let sleeping dogs lie, put those questions aside
Perhaps this should be our resolve

a ***** is a *****
rotavator is a palindrome
and my newt is very small

Smoke lifts slowly from the stack
sideways drifting now

Leaves begin to gently quiver
weather vane swings round

Flags begin to faintly flutter
boughs and branches move around

Umbrellas flipping inside out
wires howling now

People shout above the din
avoid the rolling over bin

Walkers leaning clutching coats
trees blocking roads

Autogiro flying tiles
fences lean and sway

People hurry on their way
to shelter from the hurricane

I was born into flame
The son of parent stars
But stars burn out
And have to die
Leaving me,
The Dieing Embers
Of a dynasty
That used to rule the sky

I joined this site so as a poet
I could shine and grow
I call myself the Common Raven
But really I'm a crow

Mums and dads stroll past our pond
Hand in hand with little ones
They bring their dogs, some are old
Some are little pups
My parents they are mallards,
Nothing rare as such
So I was consequently
Inevitably raised by ducks

In heaven swearing is allowed
I didn't know, did you?
But someone went a bit too far
And turned the air quite blue
He was celestially expelled
It was the only thing to do
And now is known as
Angel of Profanity
To the likes of me and you

Let me tell you about old Stanley.

He delivered papers six days a week, then on Sundays his round was even longer. At one time he used to work nights as well, as a night watchman up at the TV mast. Getting paid to sleep!

Stanley grew up in the economically depressed 1930's, which I guess explains a lot.

I did a job for him once, and he settled up from a plastic bag of £1 coins he had been hiding under some old sacks in his shed.

He kept a tidy veggie garden, but was reluctant to spend any money on the house. The outside was shabby and the inside was spartan in the extreme.

Everyone liked Stanley though. He was always cheerful with a ready smile and wave. As the years passed I noticed with some sadness that he was struggling with a limp. Eventually of course, he went the way of all flesh.

Now the veggie garden is overgrown. The house is under offer. His boy has bought himself a big new 4x4 and is planning to build a house in Thailand with his new partner.

Well someone had to spend it...

" Hai,ku you tell me if da poet lives rondeau bout here? "

" Yes, he's in Limerick, it's trochee to find but I'll senryu
acrosticarpark and it's the ode place with red tiles sonnet,
number 5-7-5 called Villa Nelle. "

" Tanka."

We go way back
To bits of boys

We shook hands
He crushed his can
So I crushed mine

We walked
We biked just like we used to
He's done well, we both have
In our different ways

Some things we didn't need to say
It was there
Funny slightly scary he remembers
Stuff I had forgot

Oh my god
He knows me better than
I know myself

Big wide gaps we strode across
Filled them up in seconds flat

Left me feeling good
There's no substitute
For a friend like that

There was a girl from Dunoon
With thighs like a barrage balloon
When a man did her wrong
Her grip was so strong
He quickly met his doom

Ahhhh

          ----------------------

Johnny hates the open air
He doesn't like the rain
Johnny's in his bedroom
On the ‘net again

They tried him with a lego set
That went in the bin
Johnny's collecting passwords
Credit cards and pins

For a lad of only twelve
He's doing rather well
He hacked into the Pentagon
And crashed the shares in Shell

The FBI got on his trail
For causing such a fuss
They wondered should we send the boy to jail
Or make him work for us

.
Those bestowed with special gifts are duty-bound to share 
           
So open up, we're listening, let them echo everywhere

Let your thoughts emerge, take flight, travel and rebound

See them ricochet off cliff and temple, filling air with sound

weeding garden, beg your pardon
I ain't nappin, doin garden rappin
weeds are goin down to the sound
of the radio poundin,
careful so the fork don't go
straight into my big toe
got seeds to sow, watch them grow
add some rain and some sun
before the summer's done
eat them all one by one
then they'll be crackin, in nature's wrappin
but now refreshment's what is lackin
nettles stinging on my skin
time to go in, quit this thing
'cos it's energy sappin
and I gotta stop this stupid rappin

We have a lot of love to give
But have to spread it thin
For just as one is turned around
It seems two more come in

If they stay here for too long
We see their hope begin to fail
Curled up in the corner
Eyes downcast, no waggy tail

Many tears have fallen down
For those who come to us alone
But you can turn a life around
By giving one a home

Everything you do-
Turn it into poem food
See the world anew

Spiky cables hanging from the wall
Disappear beneath the floor
Let me try to figure out
What they all are for

Eventually we connect the lot
Turn on the power and hear-
A pop

Of course the colours have all changed
From red and black
To brown and blue
Then the blue turned back (to black)
In an effort to confuse

After lunch I see my mistake
Just take this off and use this one
Flick the switch, and oh be joyful
All the lights come on

When you reach a crossroads
Don't know where to go
Weighing all the choices
Decisions coming slow

Working out the numbers
Asking friends what they would do
But numbers are just numbners
And your friends aren't you

There's a little voice inside
Hear what it has to say
Listen to it carefully
Instinct knows the way

The family who had this house I know
They won't be coming back here though
A spark settled on the thatch
And burnt it down a year ago

The husband had already left
Her car turned over in the snow
The tears flowed as, bereft
Across the fields her dreams did blow

The old life gone, they have moved on
And we are here to put it back
So another family can come to live
Beneath its thatchy hat

Tap tap tap and ye shall find.
I sieved and panned for nuggets that shine,
Searching for those elusive lines
That transgress space and transgress time
Or soothe and calm like favourite wine
Or send a shiver down the spine

I chanced upon a wealthy seam
I tapped and from it gushed and teemed

A geyser of emotion
A tide of wisdom
A planet of experience

Hello Poetry, how do you do?
I'm very pleased to meet with you.

Whatever you want to talk about you
can be sure she will immediately be in
the zone. Unconventional in lifestyle,
she lives alone without modern comforts.
She seems to hitch-hike through life,
having at times ridden with extraordinary
wealth and good fortune. At others, loneliness
and poverty have been her wearisome
companions. A fatalist, she will note your
material wishes, and promise that when
luck shines on her again, they will be yours.
Don't try to change her, you won't get far.
Generous to a fault, when she has money
it slips through her fingers like a croupier
dealing cards. Once she is your friend
rest assured she will remain so for life.

She sees him once or twice a week
For services bought and sold
She keeps it all a bit hush-hush
Her friends she hasn't told

He makes her knees go wobbly weak
Her heartbeat gets so fast
She feels her body overheat
He makes her pant  and gasp

They say she's looking good these days
They all are wondering why-
Why the jaunty spring in the step-
Why the sparkling eyes

Then one night with all her friends
She said I'll tell you a thing-
This is Wil, my personal trainer
And this my diamond ring

Panic rising in his chest
Control slipping away
Too many demands on his time
His children raising hell
Eating themselves out of house and home
Tearing lumps out of each other

How could he teach them a sense of responsibility,
Manners, morals
Who could he turn to for help, advice...
There was no one

This was not the way he'd planned it
This was not the way he'd meant it to be
God sighed
He put his head in his hands and wept
It was not easy being a single parent

.
  She stood there naked,
still slightly embarrassed,
     without make-up.

When I can no longer see
And the way is dark
You shine a light ahead for me
And beat for me a path

When I feel I'm sinking
You help me rise above
When I want to hate
You show me how to love

You may be real or perhaps
Just inside my mind
But I feel you watching over me
Almost all the time

I do not cling to life
That hat is worn out now
I've seen this world
Felt its pain
And now the earth,
It claims me back again

It's time to lose all time
To leave it all
Leave you all behind

I will be greeted at the gate
A mother, father, brother, sister, wife
All await me there

I leave you all with wishes kind
Stories of war, peace and adventures maritime
And memories
But most of all
With love