Old Jim

"I'm grateful for the company

....sit down and I'll make tea"

"It's not often people visit

but, with the cat, us two make three"

He's hiding somewhere here

He's always there abouts

I just have to watch the doorway

I don't want him to get out

We listen to the radio

Can't afford to have TV

It's really not a loss though

Since I now can barely see

Time it takes it toll on you

A little more each day

I wish there was a little pill out there

That helped keep time at bay"

"There's the kettle, whistling"

I'll be back with our fresh brew

The cat won't drink it with me

So I'm only making two

I looked around the little room

All the drapes were closed up tight

It was sunny out and midday

But inside, it looked like night

There was one light in the corner

More for guests than Uncle Jim

HIs life was based on order

This room just wasn't him

"Here's the brew my boy" he said

"As he came back and sat with me

I watched him...two steps forward

One left,  then forward three"

He put the cups down gently

Didn't spill a single drop

He'd memorized his pathway

He knew exactly where to stop

"I've got biscuits, if you'd like"

"Some Hob Nobs from back home"

"I break them out for company

"They're too good for me alone"

I said that I would get them

and I exited my chair

He said they're up on top

But I'd never reach them there"

He came and got a grab stick

He poked and grabbed them from the shelf

He said "This things a lifesend"

"I'd never get them by myself"

We sat and talked for hours

Talked of sports and music too

He said that with his failing eyesight

There's really not much he could do

"It's saved me money someways"

"And cost  more in others though"

"But now that I'm not driving"

"I no longer shovel snow"

Jim, worked hard for forty years

He was a foreman in the mine

He'd been working round the coal for years

In fact since he was nine

He used to run small errands

From the office to the men

He lied about his age though

Jim told them he was ten

He'd retired back five years ago

When it got hard to breathe

"It was all I ever knew boy"

"I didn't want to leave"

Tons and Tons of coal dust

Must have filtered through his lungs

He was  dying slowly daily,

It started showing on his tongue

Small spots appeared which spread real quick

He started treatment right away

He knew the doctor would relieve him

Of his job, reduce his pay

"you know boy, there's a tale they tell"

"of birds down in the mine"

"when the birds fall off the perch stone dead

"Then we men have little time"

"We have to get out quickly

"For the bird has shown our fate

"But think a bit, the gas got him...

"So for us ...it was too late"

"We didn't really watch the bird

"We listened for his song

"For when his voice was laboured"

We knew it wasn't long"

"Dead birds...they meant dead miners"

At this my body jolted

"It;s like shutting up the old barn door"

"Even though the horse has bolted"

I finished up and said to Jim

I had to catch my bus

Jim said, "ok young man, be on your way"

" Now, it's just the two of us"

"You'll be back soon, I hope" he said

I said , "I sure will try"

"I like our little visits"

As he sat there and he sighed

"Just me and Tilly now" he said

As he saw me to the door

Stay safe my boy and oh....

He said "There's one thing more

"when you get on home...please phone me"

"It will make this old heart sing"

"Just phone me up and when you do...

"Let it go for just three rings"

I said I would, "but why three rings"

I asked, not four or five

"Three rings" he said's our signal

"In the mine....that you're alive"

I left and headed homeward

But first I'd stop of at the mall

Then I went home right directly

And I then gave Old  Jim his  call.

I hate my brain,
For not knowing what to say.
There are so many words,
Just waiting to be shared.
Yet my thoughts remain blurred.
Why?
I know that he cares.

your words like little raindrops
sliding down my shivering skin
settle into my navel's twist,
freeing the butterflies.

Update my page
List this
Pin that
Tweet
Repost
Resend
Got no time to chat

White canvas
Endless pixels
A sight for sore eyes
Fruitlessly searching
Social media
For an elusive prize

Scandal
Gossip
Salacious juice
Lines between
Real and fantasy
Reach a truce

Inbox injunction
Endless mail
I want to call it a day
They’ve got some nerve;
‘Be more sociable,’ they say

In cyber space
There’s an infinite world of possibilities
Save for when
We’re face to face

Travelling along
The endless lines
Towards an unknown destination
Lost in ourselves,
We killed the art of conversation

Look at the posts
They’re neverending;
Babies, kittens
See what’s trending
Feeling smitten?
Oh look at all those words,
I haven’t written…

Don’t mind me
I’m just scrolling through.

You want to know
Who I'm talking to
When it's already 2am
And the lights are dead
All you will see is the
Light from my phone

You want to talk
To the one I'm talking to
When it's already 2am
And my heart's dying
All you will hear
Are my thoughts screaming

You want to see
Who I'm talking to
When it's already 2am
And my hands are bleeding
All you will see
Are my words talking

"I can't hear you talking..."
How could I interfere
Such conversation of
Madness and beauty?
Have you heard a killing
So audible and axiomatic?

Have a conversation with me. I'll put up three walls.
One for my thoughts, one for my feelings,
and one for my incredibly smart mouth.

Maraming taon ang nasayang, mga pangarap na biglang nabasag,
'di na maibabalik sa dati, para itong tinapay na sinira ng amag.
Matagal na kong nagtitiis, matagal na kong naghihintay
na muli **** ibalik ang apoy ng iyong pagmamahal.

Akala mo ba 'di ako nanghinayang sa mga binuong pangarap?
Sayang ang dala kong mantikilya,  ang tinapay sana'y  'di inamag.
Ang apoy na sinasabi **** sa akin ay nawaglit
hindi mo lang alam ikaw din mismo ang umihip.

Nagsawa ka na bang ihatid-sundo ako sa bahay?
Nagsawa ka na bang pakinggan ang mga drama ko sa buhay?
Hindi ko naman gusto na ikaw ay mapagod,
Nais ko lang na mapansin mo ko at sa ibang bagay 'wag kang masubsob.

Matapos ang isang nakakapagod na araw, ihahatid pa kita sa 'yong bahay,
Dahil pag hindi, paniguradong tayo'y mag-aaway.
'yon ang nakakapagod - ang away, lalo na't may problema din
ako sa aking buhay
na kahit kailan 'di mo napansin, dahil subsob ka sa ibang bagay

Sabi ko "ayoko na", sabi mo pagod ka na.
Tumakbo ako, mga luha'y naghahabulan sa paglabas,
mga tanong na walang sagot, "hahabulin ba nya ako? Hindi na ba nya ko mahal?"
'Di ako lumingon, gumulo aking isipan. Nais ko lang ay pigilan mo ko aking mahal.

Sabi mo, ayaw mo na, sabi ko, "pagod na ako",
Pagod na akong magpigil ng luha at maghabol sa iyong bawat
pagtakas at pagtakbo
Mga tanong na walang sagot, " Ayaw nya bang manatili?
Hindi na ba nya ako mahal?"
'Di ka lumingon, gumulo ang aking isipan. Nais ko lang ay huminto ka aking mahal.

Kung maibabalik ko lang ang takbo ng panahon,
Kung maibabalik ko lang ang takbo ng panahon,
'di na 'ko tatakbo, ako'y mananatili, sasabihin kong minamahal kita*
Hahabulin kita at pipigilan, sasabihin kong minamahal kita

How do you feel today, my love?

Are you tired?*

How about we go out for a walk?

The weather’s beautiful today.

Do you want to go outside?

No?

Then shall we watch a movie? The choice is yours.

Okay, we’ll do that.

Go and set the room. I’ll get some snack for us to eat.

I love you too.

*I love you very much.