the animals in the forest had a birthday do
it was rabbits birthday rabbit he was two
squirrel laid the table with lots of things to eat
made a birthday cake rabbits birthday treat.

badger got the chairs  so they had a seat
spread them round the table spread them nice and neat
the birds sang happy birthday everyone joined in
now the time was ready for the party to begin.

there were big balloons hanging in the trees
blowing very gently in the summer breeze
they played lots of games having lots of fun
rabbit he was happy is party had begun.

then they all sat down it was time to eat
time to  blow the candles out to make the day complete
rabbit took a breath and blew his candles out
happy birthday rabbit they began to shout.

now a year older another birthday gone
he cant wait till next year to have another one.

the rim of your beer can
tastes like your stale cigarettes

Say the words you're afraid to say
You know I want to hear them
Say the promise that we will be in latter day
Say I am the life force that runs through your stem

Say the words you can never bring yourself to say
You know very well that I've been waiting
Say the words that will cause dismay
Say that I'm fueling a fire that's dying

Say the words you can't really say
Fearing the commitment I'd hold you to
Warn me of the rope that threatens to fray
Say that all my wishes will not come true

Say the words you've always wanted to say
Truthfully that there isn't a future
Please... Say the words you mean to say
Just need this knife to go a tad bit deeper

Wellies
Unfull cups of funny puddlewater
Around the feet and toes of happy children
*****
           Stamp
Splish
          Splash
What
         Fun
A memory of that darling child
Hand around her mother's
Fascinated and absorbed
By those little lakes and worlds
Her little pink coat
And wellies
Keeping her warm as a snug bug.
Stamp-Splash-Fun

when you go to that lane
where the houses are graves
their rooms only pain
shadows' dark waves

where winds pause morose
light is barred
closed doors and windows
keep sunshine debarred

where walls are deadened
reeking of moss
the way is a dead end
weighed with cross

you would meet a hollow face
covered in hood
who would ask *all these days
you did what good.

This moth saw brightness
in a woman's chamber--
burnt to a crisp.