I’m not addicted
I’m just conflicted
This phone’s my friend
Till batteries end.

Fingers prone
I jab this phone
My face lit up
Like a buttercup.

If you’re on your phone
You’re never alone
The world is there
With room to spare.

You’re with your friends
Till the rainbow ends
I’m telling you
This phone’s brand new.

What a world we live in,
Where we watch while others die.
What a world we live in,
When we hardly bat an eye.

The world looks on,
While the chosen, choose,
To ignore what was done, - to them
Or what it’s like to lose.

Maybe we’d be forgiven,
If we tried to stem the tide,
If our conscience, once driven,
Saved the life of a single child.

We watch them use,
The fickle face of a martyr.
And accede to the ruse,
They’re using babies to barter.

What a world indeed,
And where to hide our shame?
All that power and all that greed,
And it proceeds in our name.

Listen to the trees,
Hear them rustle in the breeze.
They whisper to the wind,
As it bristles all their leaves.
50 shades of green,
Shimmer like a dream,
And the trees give out a clue,
That the wind is passing through.
While somewhere deep inside,
Ghostly figures hide.
Spirits from within the wood
Play with shadows as they should.
The trees see you passing by,
And, with a soothing sigh,
Becalm your beating heart,
And relax your roving eye.

It rained again today
Like spite would have her say
And try to rinse us all away
While all around this grimy grey
Cutting through your clothes
Dripping from your nose.

Shivers from within
Tucking in your chin
And pushing through the storm
While imagining the warm
Besides a roaring fireplace
As little needles sting your face.

Here we are - still!
With a lifetime to ****.
We can spend it all in pain
Or on a beach in Spain
Live like life’s a chore
Or love it even more
Whichever way we go
The end’s an open door
And, however much
We come to know
I doubt we’ll ever understand
What it’s all been for.
Some truths tell their own tale;
The air is free in gaol -
But you’ll never see it fill a sail
Good feels better than bad
And happy beats being sad
Don’t look for things to blame
When you check the tree
To see if he came
There’s only one door
Of that, you can be sure.

I close my lonely eyes
And listen to the wind
Sometimes, like that, I’ll find
You floating through my mind
Sometimes, like that, I
Dissolve myself in time
Sometimes, like that, silent tears
Blur the passing years
And those lonely eyes
Glisten in the wind.

SE

Yes, here I am
In my 1955 model body
Sipping hot toddy
But on the inside nothing has changed
It’s all on the outside.

And there I go
Like the old man in a song
Shuffling along
Inside, nothing has changed
But, oh, the outside.

The years have passed
One on one
69 have gone
In the blink of an eye
But the changes you see, tell a lie.

SE      May 24

Is it in God we trust
Or are we stardust?

10w

Demon’s lust for blood
Bathed in Dragon’s fire
Pixie’s dance in the forgotten wood
And Witches build a pyre

The Mermaid’s bubble laugh
A Unicorn’s fair grace
Werewolves wait along the path
And Vampire’s leave no trace

The Wizard’s wanton spell
In a Fairy ball of mist
A Goblin’s lair - at the gate to hell
That Angel’s can’t resist.

Pristine, sixteen and kean as the wind
She was twinned with a storm
The day she was born
And since I met her
Forty odd years have passed
Mostly for better, never for worse
Some things are built to last
And even after all the years
I can still hear her footsteps
Coming up those concrete stairs.
If I close my eyes, it’s like yesterday
Delivering the milk in the student block
Clink clanking away
I could set my clock.
She was from Camp Road on the Mayfield estate
Her dad’s yellow Datsun
Driving through the Abbey’s gate
To pick her up and take her home
“When do we meet him?”
She said he’d moan
“Like a rabbit in the headlight”
She said he said
As I shuffled away and headed for bed
Pernod and black on my wardrobe shelf
You’d let yourself in and help yourself
So self assured for one so young
I can still taste that Pernod on your tongue.
We just knew that we liked each other
Something inside told us that
From sweet innocence to a natural born mother
And you always looked good in a hat
Do you remember that first day
You came into my room?
It was the end of term
And you were the new broom!
How many times
Did you clean my window that day?
And we talked and we laughed
As we thought of things to say.
I couldn’t wait till September ended
And the college reopened
And our separation was suspended
Then I had to ask Beatie where you were
I still feel that little chill of despair
“She’s away tae Spain son”
“She’ll no be back till next week”
Oh how I breathed that sigh of relief
And counted the days till then
When I’d see you smiling again
And when you arrived, you wore the crown
Sparking eyes, electric skin
Golden brown, oh, where to begin?
I could only dream
Of wedding bells and perfume smells
Like the cat who got the cream.

Time and a word, that was right for me
Yes the moment that we knew
That what would be would always be.

Forty odd years, where did it go?
Imagine if we’d never met?
In a world I wouldn’t want to know
Heaven forbid.
But thank the fates that we did.
People and places all those old faces
Remember Rab and Ray, back in the day
Gorgeous guys, fun and wise
And Elaine and Jack, they had your back
Gorgeous gals, the best of pals
Then there was The Sun Inn
And The Bottom Shop
And the Justinlees
Where we drank a drop
- and shot the breeze.
Those were the days in so many ways
A world away
But doesn’t it seem just like yesterday?


The Cast:

Mr Reid, Gudreon and Anna
Mr Mitchel, Mr Mair
Mrs Hyde, Mrs Rowbottom
Ian MacDougal, Brian Baxter
Ron and Carol Iphofen
Dr Mary Ross, her mum and her dog
Paul Cockcroft and Dave Turner RIP
Alan Ducklin
Big John The Gardener, Both Dereks
Jimmy and Anne Deans
Lilies, Annie Gilmour, Shiela Stuart
Betty, Irene, Cathy and Dawn
Nessie, Agnes, Beaty,
Peggy, May and Lynne
And all my fellow students, where would I begin?

(Spoken affectionately)
I see the ink’s run dry
But the words piled high
Search for a page

I remember her then
Not now and again
But always

(Scots)
Ma’ shelter when it rains
The blood in ma’ veins
Andrina

(Liverpudlian)
Wipin’ sleep from me eye
Straightenin’ me tie
Fussin’ about me

(Nicely)
Your mother should know
Well where did she go?
Nowhere.

The flowers pass in waves
Waving as they go
Colours fit to burst
Petals pure as snow

The serenade of spring
The love new life will bring
Blossom on the trees
Fragrance on the breeze

While flowers pass in waves
Waving like they know
Colours fit to burst
Petals pure on show

The cavalcade of spring
When pigeons coo and sing
Heart strings stretched out tight
Each day’s a new delight.

(Plucking in the night ;)

Why do I say I love you
When you already know that I do?
Why do I need to say it out loud
When you already know that it’s true?

But it’s..

Funny, hearing those words, knowing, I like them more than you.

It’s..

Sunny, that feeling I get, glowing, when you answer that you love me too.

So..

I love you
And all of your many ways
And I’ll love you
Till the end of my needy wee days

And..

What’s a poem for
If it doesn’t let me love you a little bit more
So while there’s words on this page
The thought cannot age.

Because..

I love you
In the bright focal light of the day
I love you
In the dark heady sleight of the night
I love you today
And in every way
Things that you do
Words that you say
Those looks that you give
The way that we live

I love you..

Marking the moment
When 2023 was sent in from the cold
And 2022 bent to take the knee
The moment we all focus
On the year ahead
And wallow in our memories
Amongst the living and the dead
A time for hope
A time for prayer
A time to reaffirm existence
And welcome in another year.

HNY!

Can’t believe this is still a thing?
I almost gave up on the site because of it

Counts to 10, Deep breathes, tries again..

He was the owner of a broken car
When he hit it with an iron bar
Then as a demonstration of extreme ire
He took a knife and slashed the tyre

Onlookers couldn’t believe what they were seeing
As he cried out “I hate this ****** car with all of my being”
Then in a final act of retribution
Devoid of any final successful solution

He built a pyre and set that ******* car on fire.

Why do I say I love you
When you already know that I do
Why do I need to say it out loud
When you already know that it’s true?

Before the day rears it’s head
And the sky turns blue
Mist meets cloud
And smiles are few

Like drifting thoughts
Drenched in a morning dew
The day rolls on
And the clouds do too.

But there’s a hole in this cloud
Where the sun breaks through
This lonely cloud
Yearns for you.

Painting thoughts inside my head
Picking pockets from the day ahead
I get lost in space
Thoughts caught on my daily walk
Strolling around my mind
How much of me - gets left behind?
How much will be left to find?
Looking through me to another time
Eyes that knew me, past their prime
Keeping fit, bit by bit
And thinking it all through
Where to go and what to do
Looking out for something new
Another story with a better end
A different outcome, a better blend.
But here’s the sting; if I could
I wouldn’t change a single thing.

The Queen has passed away
No longer will she reign
Just another day but,
It will never be the same

The world without a queen
Thoughts shift as we all take stock
Everywhere she’s been
Solid, like a rock

Mayhap a relic of the past
Promoting privilege and class
But the dye was cast, for her
In slippers made of glass

She was the rhythm of our days
The anchor of our nights
Now we stand here in a haze
Bow our heads and dim the lights

We say good night and thanks, to
The bearer of the crown
The face upon our stamps
And we watch the sun go down.

The day that John met Paul
There was a summer fete in the old church hall
And it was fate that day that came to play
As the powers that be had their way
Two young boys would come of age
They’d rock the world from a golden stage
The fates combined would all agree
And Mary whispered Let It Be.

In the morning light, a shadow calls
I turn to her, still chasing waterfalls
Sunbeams beam in from the sky
Sunlight patterns catch her eye
The day begins soft and sweet
We go downstairs, it’s time to eat
Step outside, it’s still the same
The world moves on
With you or without you, that’s the game.
We walk along the sandy beach
Waves crash and splash our feet
But we’re feeling good and life’s a treat
Touch her hand, hearts beating fast
I close my eyes to make it last
The wind plays roughly roundabout
If you’re gonna speak you’ll need to shout
We drift along the sandy path
I turn to her and start to laugh
If it’s ever perfect it might be now
If it could be better, I don’t know how.
Home to change and music plays
Sparkling teeth and perfume sprays
Nighttime falls no need for shade
Head to town, you’ve got it made
Find a place we both agree
And sit inside, I brush her knee
And we eat and drink and laugh and talk
Then head for home and talk and walk
Near the end of a perfect day
We fall in bed and drift away
Share the heat, the dreaming’s sweet
The night ahead I yearn to meet.

Time is for tides
And boating lake rides
It’s for boiling your eggs
And the swimming pool regs.
Time is spent in detention
Or paying attention
Or sitting a test
Or having a rest
Time is for departing
Not for outsmarting
A pie shaped chart
With nothing to impart
A dish served cold
That chimes when your old
It scrawls lines on your face
And flutters the flag
At the end of the race
But the best of time
Is when it’s all mine
No pressure on the day
No programme to display
No seconds tick away
No words left to say
A smile paints my face
The sun warms my skin
My mind’s lost in space
My heart’s deep within
A Disney ride
With three kids in my care
Bristling with pride
The wind in my hair
And come the time
When I’m
Just a thought
Caught in your throat
That’s how to think of me
Because that’s where I’ll be.

SE

Baa baa black sheep
Is it really fair
For anyone to judge you
By the colour of your hair

Baa baa black sheep
It really isn’t fair
To come upon this world
Inside the dragon’s lair

Baa baa black sheep
You didn’t have a choice
You’re deep down in the machinery
And it’s drowning out your voice.

A spider weaves its trap
Spinning till it's dizzy
A leggy little chap
Not just the bees out beeing busy.
We learn our lessons well
Persevere or burn in hell
And when the wind is high
Snap, or learn to fly
The mother sees it all
The paths are laid to fall
Knowing where's the way
Listen and she'll say.

I stand here waiting as the river rushes by
Contemplating while clouds drift in the sky
The engine idles, the traffic speeds on past
Frozen in the moment before life’s icy blast

The spring’s wound down
The battery’s gone flat
No money in the meter
Only dregs left in the vat

Those restless waters never question why
And there’s freedom in the clouds for those that learn to fly
Wisdom piles up on the shores of broken dreams
Empty promises dashed and lashed to smithereens

The river rushes by
White noise fills my ears
Clouds drift in the sky
I rue the passing years.

I’ve been thinking all my life
To think I’m thinking still
It’s taken me all of this time
To sit and think
And now I think I always will

Darkness is in everything
It’s in the setting sun
Darkness is an opposite
A beginning
For when the day is done.

I’ve been thinking all about this
I think I’ve thought it out
Once it’s thought
Then it’s there
Of that there is no doubt

Eternity’s a lover
A friend who comes to stay
Eternity’s a place to go
To persist
And fix the break of day

You’d think a thought was prisoner
A captive of the mind
But it seems it’s fluid  
And insatiable
Though often hard to find

I’ve been thinking this all over
Mulling it about
Thinking this in buckets
On beaches
Kicking it about

One day thought bubbles
Will burst inside the sky
Torn on clouds of negativity
When thoughts are nil
And our thinking has run dry.

The days roll by one by one
No sooner here than they're gone
Propelled it seems by an invisible force
Flashing by like a riderless horse.

Never lost nor out the sun
Never here but never gone
Never washed nor spun around
Never lifted off the ground

The days roll by like clouds in the sky
Slaves to the wind as they flutter and fly
Driven past by the hand of time
Through the midnight hour when all bells chime

Never lost nor out the race
Never in nor out of place
Never alter nor stray off course
Never falter from its source.

Copper nails
And coloured sails
Peppering the view
Party hats
And whisky vats
Appearing from the blue
Fireworks
And dancing Turks
Scarlet ribbons too
Speeding cars
And chocolate bars
Once the cuckoo flew.

Yew and me
That’s poetree :)

Oh God
If there is a God
Oh God if there isn't

Oh God if my heart was broke
Oh God if it wasn’t

Oh God when the weather’s cold
Oh God if it’s hot

Oh God
If you're listening to me
Oh God if your not.

Stick me in the washer
Spin me round and round
Put me on a cycle
Till my waste is found
Run me on the treadmill
Chase me up the hills
Look after my well being
Take the bitter pills
Look at what I’m eating
Only healthy food
No wine or whisky and certainly not;
No being rude!
Life’s about to change
I’ve to be a new man
Three stents in my arteries
I’m drafting up a plan
I’m thinking of a six pack
And growing new dark hair
Refreshing all my teeth and gums
And going round quite bare
I think I’ll be an icon
Like George or John or Paul
And spread the words of peace and love
From off the subway wall.

I look at you all see the love there that's sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
I look at the floor and I see it needs sweeping
Still my guitar gently weeps.

I don't know why nobody told you
How to unfold your love
I don't know how someone controlled you
They bought and sold you.

I look at the world and I notice it's turning
While my guitar gently weeps
With every mistake we must surely be learning
Still my guitar gently weeps.

I don't know how you were diverted
You were perverted too
I don't know how you were inverted
No one alerted you.

These were two verses from a demo version of the song that didn't make the final recorded version:

"I look at you all, see the love there that's sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
Problems you sow are the troubles you're reaping
Still my guitar gently weeps
I look at the trouble and hate that is raging
While my guitar gently weeps
As I'm sitting here, doing nothing but ageing
Still my guitar gently weeps"

And then this verse which came from another take of the song and is now included on the Love Album

"I look from the wings at the play you are staging
While my guitar gently weeps
As I'm sitting here doing nothing but ageing
Still my guitar gently weeps"

The ultimate Dragon Poem and a childhood favourite of mine which still sends shivers to this day...

Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honahlee
Little Jackie paper loved that rascal puff
And brought him strings and sealing wax and other fancy stuff oh

Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honahlee
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honahlee

Together they would travel on a boat with billowed sail
Jackie kept a lookout perched on puff's gigantic tail
Noble kings and princes would bow whene'er they came
Pirate ships would lower their flag when puff roared out his name oh

Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honahlee
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honahlee

A dragon lives forever but not so little boys
Painted wings and giant rings make way for other toys
One grey night it happened, Jackie Paper came no more
And puff that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar

His head was bent in sorrow, green scales fell like rain
Puff no longer went to play along the cherry lane
Without his life-long friend, puff could not be brave
So Puff that mighty dragon sadly slipped into his cave oh

Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honahlee
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honahlee

Friends come and friends go
As I go round and round in circles

Love someone change your mind
Decide he was a swine
As you go round and round in circles

He who knows does not speak
He who speaks does not know
And I go round in circles

Dislike someone and will not bend
Later they may become your best friend
As life it goes around in circles

He who knows does not speak
He who speaks does not know
And I go round in circles

Soul takes on a body with each birth we make our date
With life and death along the road the soul reincarnates
The show goes round and round in circles

When loss and gain and up and down
Becomes the same, then we stop going in circles
Round and round in circles