They back you up, your mum and dad
They're always there it's true
When you mess up you'll  be glad
The safety net is out for you

And they were backed up in their turn
By parents further down the line
Who once were really just the same
But of a different time

The caring hands are laid on us
A waterfall of willing help
So be there for them, do your best
If you have kids yourself

The pleasure is mine
in a glass of wine

My pleasure is you
in the things that you do

The pleasure is ours
in all the shared hours
we are able to spend together

They're worth more than gold
or riches untold
a pleasure we'll treasure for ever

On Christmas Eve in the 1970's everyone got ******.
At office parties random couples paired off and snogged.
Bus drivers waved their passengers through,
they didn't want your money.
Even they were ******.
Probably the coppers had a few
down at the station.
Glass of sherry anyone?

Why is this a poem?
Because it's magic.

Greetings,

On the third day before the Ides of September, sister,
for the day of the celebration of my birthday,
I send you a warm invitation to make sure you come to us,
to make the day more enjoyable by your presence.

Give my regards to your [husband] Cerialis.
My [husband] Aelius and my young son send their greetings.

I shall expect you, sister.
Farewell, sister, my dearest soul, as I hope to prosper.

five skims of a stone
    toss a pebble down the well
          ripples and echoes

This compulsion to share
What we feel, what we think
To open our hearts in permanent ink

This primordial urge
To do what we do
Where does it come from
Can you give me a clue

Do you remember your very first line
The very first time for you
Did the moment just flow
Was it so long ago
Did the duck go to water
Or the lamb to the slaughter
For you

To share is real nice
But it's for ourselves that we write
Maybe it's just our way
To stay afloat
So we can cope
With the junk thrown at us every day

You do not have to say anything
But anything you do say
May be recorded and later used
In a poem recited against you.

Look for perfection
Mother nature will show you
There in a nutshell

I am a poem
And I have feelings
I need to be respected
So read me to the end
Please
Or I'll feel
Neglected

Oh yes, I'm the last Defender
The end of a long, long line
Now it's goodbye, our fans wonder why
We've finally run out of time

When searching for your heart of gold
Be warned that many counterfeits are sold
The gilded one may brightly shine
But flakes and fades given time
The one you're really looking for
Is made of carat 24

As my wife predicted
This is getting
A bit addictive

What bird do I hear?
Hush, it's a thrush, singing clear
Listen to its song

They say the grass is greener
On the other side
She left the one who loves her
To give some guy a ride

Mike oh Mike you're just too nice
J something in your brain you lack
She left him once, twice, thrice
Three times he took her back

Seems you're never happy
By now you should have learnt
It's not the answer flying to another flame
To get your fingers burnt

I hope some day you'll settle
Find happiness for good
In a lasting treasure
I really wish you would

Not for who I am
Nor indeed despite
It's just she has a lot to give
And I am in her sight

days they just go
weeks fly by
months...
turn to years
a life of counting
god I hate maths

For those who want to learn
There are many teachers

The country in Springtime's a nice place to be
I got up early and made some tea
I'm really enjoying my piece of toast
But I wish I was walking the coast to coast.

If there's one thing in life that I recommend
It's to walk coast to coast with a very good friend
I've done it before, I've no wish to boast
I'll do it again, the coast to coast.

I asked the baker why he gets to work so early
He said I knead the dough man

When it comes to matters financial
we all need an ounce of sense
They say a fool is very soon stripped
of his pounds shillings and pence

And if we borrow we have to be sure
we can pay back what has been lent
or else we get in a muddle
with our pounds shillings and pence

Diddlers thieves and con men
can cause us immense expense
so don't let them get their ***** hands
on your pounds shillings and pence

We come into the world with nothing
with nothing away we are sent
but in between it's handy to have
some pounds shillings and pence

Hole in the roof
Bit of a panic
Wouldn't be good
Snow in the attic
So I fixed it right away
Sent a bill
He didn't pay

Ok I got it in the end
Some time later hello friend
Need some work done
Will you quote

That I won't I fairly bristled
This time 'friend'
You can whistle

Good job we never know
it's said

About the times
that lay ahead

Can we trust
what we feel

Do we know
this is real

Can it be
for the best

Do we care
about the rest

Think as you
thinking fast

Time will tell
will it last

Do we follow
head or heart

Can we bear
now to part

Are we selfish
are we blind

Would we be foolish now this far
to leave it all

Leave it all
behind

Be here by this date you say
I get there late , by a month less a day

So, you meant April, the fifth day
To me it says fourth of May

raindrops running down
little rivulets of tears
only pretend pain

I hold the book
You open it
You point to a random word
Again

You hold the book
I open it
I point to a random word
Again

There is magic involved
Try it, just for a minute
Tell me what happens
Tell me here

Don't ask me why did Jesus die
For this I don't feel qualified
Ask me why the moon is bright
Or why the stars come out at night
If you ask what happens when we die
And I say I know it would be a lie
Ask about the birds and trees
I'm happier with such as these

You are  friend
And rival
I watch
And tread carefully

     _

Now stop
Go away
Lost cause
No more to say

     _


Stay abed
Sleepy head
Not getting up
Eyes tight shut

don't pluck my heart strings
they only play sad music
      anyway it hurts

Here comes the plumber, he's out of his van
His mate is moving as slow as he can

Keith's in the kitchen drinking tea
But fishing is where he'd rather be

The digger is Gary's, it thrums and it spins
He digs a hole then he fills it in

Here's Laura, the customer, drinks on a tray
Looking forward to when we all go away

Dave's gone to work to earn the money
So we all get paid and don't go funny

And I'm on the roof, careful don't fall
The one above who sees it all

What did I do with my glasses?
I had them a minute ago
They’re always disappearing
I don’t know where they go

My eyes don’t focus without them
Now that me youth has gone
One of the things I’ve learned is
You don’t stay young very long

I waste so much time just searching
Can anyone tell me where?
I could be being useful
Or having a kip in the chair

I asked my wife to help me
With a roll of her eyes she said
Try where your hair used to be dear
They’re on the top of your head

I'll    (that's 2 words)
show
you
mine
if
you
show
me
yours

His ink flowed with fervour and speed
Certain the world had a need
To read his verse
But his thoughts were perverse
For nobody else agreed

Bill has got his garden
To keep him occupied
Judy likes to cook
Baked or grilled or fried

Ali likes to exercise
Takes pride she’s fit and strong
Peter watches tv
All day long

No one wants to fly
Even if we could
But for all the pets at home
Life’s never been so good

Folks are still marooned
Stuck in foreign lands
Everything’s been cancelled
Except for washing hands

Don’t pick up a parcel
Treat them like they bite
Stay at home if you can
It may save your life

The enemy’s invisible
Playing on our fears
The country’s running up a debt
We’ll be paying off for years