Not sat on the window sill where he normally resides
I look in the garden to see where he hides

Conspicuous by his absence I have a feeling of woe
All ready for work should I stay or go

Cats are not slaves to tables of time
When I get home tonight everything will be fine

I hurry home from work slave to the cause
Hoping to hear the patter of tiny cat paws

My window sill empty I now wonder why
My heart missed a beat and I wanted to cry

We'll not think of maybes if buts or sorrow
*I'm sure he'll be home for breakfast tomorrow

On an early April morning,
after the floods,
with the sun breaking the clouds.
You see many sights
while walking the dog through the wood,
to a place where a stream
meets a river.
From under the rocks
you hear the distinctive sound
of a mother calling her nine ducklings
not two days old
and just managing to swim
in the rivers calm current
to safety she cries,
to the other bank.

On the last April morning,
the weather breaks
and rain come tumbling down.
Different sights meet the eye
while walking the dog through the wood,
to a place where a stream
meets a river.
From under a rock
you hear the distinctive sound
of a mother calling her ducklings
now four weeks old.
Your heart misses a beat
as excitement floods your senses,
they swim with ease
through the now swollen river
your eyes quickly count, only five,
and sadness bathes over you
still scanning for the missing ducklings,
as they make it to the safety
of the other bank.

You curse life’s cruel rules
and ponder at this story
being played out in
so many different lives.  

Stay safe!

The poppies have bloomed, but now their dead
They'll come back next year, Mum said
Their petals have fallen on a rose buds head
The stamen is the male reproductive *****, Mum said
"Yuck"! I'm nearly ready for bed

Rose buds are filling and ready to bloom
Mum said, not ready yet, but will be soon
Why is there thorns on that long green?--Stem
Mum said, so nothing can damage them

I said, Mum, how can there be so much happiness in such a small space
When I grow up I'll be a big poppy, so full of grace
Or a bee on the grid, in a big bee race

Mum looked at me and shrugged, and here's what she said
I do believe darling, it's time for your bed

I walked back to my hometown
The friends I'd made
the places we'd played
but no one stayed

The fields are now concrete
where we'd roll in the hay
the hours we'd play
till the end of the day

The faces are now strangers
but I'd still nod hello
walking around with nowhere to go
the pace of their lives so slow so slow

I looked back at my hometown
Happy memories and some sad
my mates were the best mates I've ever had
as I placed flowers and blow a kiss to my mam and my dad

I walked out of my hometown
How the time has flown
from boy to a man O how I've grown
back to my family and the place I now call home

I sit in my pub snug, and I wait for my mates to arrive
For a year I've not heard or seen them, I hope their alive

The first taste of my beer is like my coming of age
Like the rest of my life as I turn a new page

I've been in isolation I've been lost and then found
On many occasions I'd thought I'd be deep underground

So, I smile at the new regulars they smile at me back
So nice to see you, as they pat my frail back

Alone I still sit, sad my mates never came
I sigh, as I supped, my life will never be the same

"Bartender" another beer to help this old man survive
As he sat and he waited for his mates to arrive

In my secret life
I talk to strangers
Through words and poems

Some answer with kind thoughts
Some answer with silent thoughts

The therapy is exhilarating
In my secret life

My new friends
Give me a reason
And that reason is

*My secret life

The watch was drawn the
pendulum swung  
My voice and my voice only came a
sleeping hum
A mist grew over me I was taken
far back
It was a summers day on an
old dirt track
I recalled those times when our
hearts became free
I gave mine to you, you gave yours
to me
Come closer and closer not too
far back
What happened to the promises made on
that old dirt track
We married we loved the finest children
ever seen
But a disaster befell our family, called
Covid 19

Have you seen the faces in the queues so long
Like the world has stopped until the next loud gong
Have we become immune to the system is the system wrong
There's no life left in the faces of the queues so long

Just a ripple lapped the keel as we silently rocked
hanging limp the flax, wool sail, waiting

Our gods are sleeping said our Gothi
we covered him with hateful stares
Awake him said our leader clasping his Ulfberth
the Gothi summoned Njord

This was the seventh day of the sun, too weak to row
slowly we sacrificed each other to the gods, waiting

The Gothi was next struck by the hand holding the Ulfberth
it was night time that the madness took over
throats were slit their blood painted on the faces
only the strongest survived still grasping tight my Ulfbreth

Yes I am alone to tell you this tale of when Njord deserted us
what could we have done to anger him, we are Vikings
I challenged him as I prepare for Valhalla, what do you want of me

This is when I became Freyr son of Njord
with my last breath I fill the sail
the clouds gathered rain swept my brow the sea rolled to life
Peace and fertility will be your virtue, son of Njord, welcome

Dust
dances with
butterfly's
in the beams
of the mid afternoon sun.

Yesterday
I was looking forward
To
Today

Tomorrow
I will look back
At
Today

Today
I will make me proud
Of
Today

I wondered lonely in a shroud
Until the gates drew open and I heard out aloud
Welcome sinner, are you proud of what you’ve achieved
I felt a sneeze coming so I but my head in my sleeve
Don’t hide your face I know what you’ve done
Debauchery, theft and far too much fun
Forgive me I said please forgive me my sin
That’s more like it, close the gates on the way in
I was greeted by associates, lovers, and a rat of a smell
This cannot be heaven, dam, it must be hell

Hafod hardware
Christmas 2019

Check this out on You Tube

Have a great Christmas everyone
Nadolig Llawen

I’m now old enough to have hand me downs from my son and daughter
Ok it’s pink, should that matter, no, it shouldn’t ought a

I’ll tell my mates I have a new apple eye phone, but I wonder what they’d think
When I take it out of my pocket and they saw its blooming pink

I also got a pair of snazzy trainers, from my youngest son
I’ll have to read the instructions cause I still can’t quickly run

So, I’ve read back what I’m writing and caw blimey what the heck
I can’t get to grips with this eye phone the grammar or spell check.

Snowflakes fall
past the dimly lit windows
of the wide eyed
children
Looking deep
into the darkened sky
for a sign

The gathered clouds part
and a star shines through
with the news
a baby is born this night
the children snuggle in their beds
dreaming of
Christmas

laying in a bed of wild flowers in a clearing in a wood
calms me
a gentle breeze brings the scent of the flowers
cleansing me
the silent sound of the wood
awakens me
and a flap of a bird, the cry of an animal
heightens me
sunlight breaks through the leaves  to
enlighten me
and peace washes
over me
THEN the music from my phone
disturbs me

And the dust settled
nothing was left
except the thumb print
a button
the screams of the world
why
I'm only human
It cried
that was the problem all along
The Gods cried

For a bud to open it craves only light
its stem fights and weaves with all its might
from its muddy cradle to its dizzy hight

Then when its time it lets out a sneeze
carried high it fly's amongst the breeze
then spy's its patch and lands with ease

It sleeps a while until the time is right
until the earth warms up and the sun is bright
gaining strength and courage to fight its fight

For a bud to open it craves only light

Should we meet at anytime
Remember we were friends
Remember the passion of that night

I weep at the coalface, a day in the life
the smiles of our children and my dear loving wife

Dreams of happier times, the seaside the sand
the laughter the joy as we all walked hand in hand

But here I lay at the coal face a day in the life of my demise
I will miss my dear children and those innocent loving eyes

Please, don’t shed a tear for I have not died here alone
16 martyred men and boys will not make it home

Tis good company I’ll keep now, to ease my sad pain
Happier times I look forward to, when we at last meet again

I found myself praying
                                        But I’m not sure to who?
I revealed all my secrets
                                       But what could you do?
I waited and waited
                                  For heavens thunderous reply
My letter on the door step
                                          Please I don’t want to die
The words that were written
                             Filled me with wondrous relief
You answered my prayer
                                           And renewed my belief
I will make time for religion
                                            I want you to know
Not once, not twice, three times
                                            I heard the **** crow

In the parks cold outdoor winter cafe
Huddled to my cardboard cup
Of hot Americano coffee
I sit and just watch

The dogs bark
The people walk
The joggers jog, grim faced
And a man skis, on wheels

The wind blows through the trees
Void of leaves
With the views of castle and city
Grey and sleeping

A squirrel
Sifts through the blanket of leaves
Watched by the lone Magpie
I salute him

I take another sip

The image that was planted
has never faded
Your beauty was too much
to behold
How could I, a mere mortal, imagine
I could tempt you

Everybody cries

Sometimes

I did everything you wanted
I nursed you when you were sick
I bought everything you needed
I took you everywhere you wanted to go
I cried sad, happy tears when you left

I new kids grow up, but I never new how quick!

The flames burnt high
I pictured hell as I heard the screams
of the innocent, sobbing
a crowd gathered but not in silence

Hysteria built and hatred grew
the crowed turned to a mob
burn the witch
burn the witch

The hunters scanned the crowd
for sympathizers
burn the witch I shouted
burn the witch I shouted

I stole her ashes
in the evening after next
and scattered them in the woods amongst the
parsley, sage , rosemary and thyme

The warm sun on your face
                                         And a big blue sky

The smell of freshly baked bread
                                         Just floating by

A glass of wine on the table
                                        With a dear old friend

A day of peace and love
                                    Never wanting it to end

My tears still tumble
Like falling leaves in autumn sun
My life is not over
Its only just begun

The words you wrote were at first
calming and friendly
then as you looked into my soul
you changed
your world became mysterious, devious, violent
yet I could not let you go
I became you, I lived your words,
I craved your mysteries
then, when you both met, at first I was angry
I was ready to let go
but then I realised it was me
there with you
until the very last page
and until...
The End

The three kings rode into town with frankincense and myrrh
in the distance they heard a baby's cry, yet not a soul did stir

It brought them to the cattle shed the sight could not be stranger
a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes asleep in a cattle manger

Your destiny was already written your life will save mankind
a legacy of love and hope is what you'll leave behind

But, that was 2000 years ago you tried to cleanse the world of sin
If you're ready for another visit, I think this time you'll win

We've tried to obey all your rules but they've got lost in translation
Not just one or two of us but every worldly nation

We look again into the sky for a sign, three kings, a kind stranger
And we're checking all the cow sheds to see what's in the manger

So when your ready to recruit, we'll all be your congregation
We'll make this world a better place for the people of every nation

r.s.v.p

The sad old man walked down the rickety road
his path was blocked by an angry toad
and a Japanese lady sat on a commode
on a great white stallion she rode

So he checked his bag of therapeutic ****
note said only take if you feel the need
should have read that before he did concede
on his bag of munchies he did feed

Ripples in the water

Have many answers

Said the frog to the King fisher

We rode in on white shire horses, maybe a few days late
Buried in surf where we lay, twas a poet’s fate

On a leisurely journey we caught a big squall
Now I’m singing my words in the great poet’s hall

Your pilgrimage is touching, your journey not at an end
I see my sonnets and stanzas have become your best friend

Read to me lovingly on the surf now covered with sand
We’ll walk barefooted, together, cradled, hand in hand

My words on your lips, will at last set me free
Please read them aloud, as I ebb back out to sea

Alla prossima, I’ll be waiting! if I’m just out of reach?
Speak my words as your walking on Via Reggio beach

Seduced by progress
                       now paying the price
A treat on Friday
                            still curry and rice
Bills monthly or Quarterly
                                  grips like a vice
The nit comb on Sunday
                                 to rid you of lice
A million pound bonus
                            to the not very nice
No cheese left in the pantry
                 can't blame the dead mice
They said how can we help you
                    don't let them ask twice
Wrap up warm in the winter
                       was their only advice

When the mist cleared in the time forgot
a witch stood sitting at a cauldron ***
a wizard was brewing a healing tot
then the mist returned and time was forgot

The electrics gone off the worlds come to an end
The web is no more Emails I can’t send

I’ve pushed all the switches still nothing can I hear
The streets are full of people their lives are a blur

A thought has just occurred I scream and I gasp
I can boil water on the stove and make tea in a flask

But wait!

My washing machines in a spin and the TV’s back on
The kettles start’s boiling to a radio song

The web is now working Emails I can send
Hold the headlines, the worlds not come to an end

I throw a stone
and watch the ripples flow

Like our love
on the ebbing tide

it slowly drifts away

But I remember
why I love you

And our love returns
On the flowing tide

And lasts another day

*You throw a stone
And watch the ripples flow?

Rain fell ,rolled off the tip of my nose
I tasted the sweat off my skin
headlights brushed across my face
Eye's fixed pupils dilating
Door opened, you walked head bowed
Guarded from the rain  
He looked through the curtains
You hurried out of view
Our eyes met
The light dimmed

As the raven cawed
time stood still
a scream in the distance

A well furrowed field with no seed
Encourages only weeds
My garden will be well nurtured
With my own growing needs

I sat by that stone and smiled at my past
un-noticed, how did time slipped by so fast
As I read the words that made me proud and sad
then remembered the faces of my mam and my dad
The advice they gave and the things they'd say
I became their young boy again in the quiet of that day
So, I layed out my flowers in that long flower queue
and this time I remembered to say, thank you

When the music takes you from the place you're in
And touches your soul so deep within

Words with meanings from the depth of space
And the smiles that follow in your old happy place

Transports you to a time you have longed to be
The place in your soul when you were young and free

Now as the needle skips on that old 45
You remember the feeling when you were young and alive

Well I've walked the dog and patted the cat
Washed the dishes and hoovered the mat

Broke up the crusts a feast for the birds
Finished the crossword with all the wrong words

Screamed at the squirrels who ate all the bread
Sat on the sofa I think I'm ready for bed

Checked all my emails and texts on the phone
Now it's time to get tea ready for when the misses comes home

What a day:)

"Peace and Love"

His tongue shoot out
And stuck to a bug
His destiny secured

The smell of the oil as it's rubbed on your shoulder
The passion of the coach , we must be much bolder
The hatred of a player on the opposite side
The knowing when you'er out there there's nowhere to hide
The whistle has blow your anxiety drop
The firsts tackle made is a 19 stone prop
The taste of your blood makes it all worth while
The prop gets up and gives that I'll **** you next time smile
The old man on the score board sets our team to win
The small crowd on the side making all the din
The referees whistle calls the game to end
The prop who tried to **** you is now your friend
The hot water finds your wounds without any tear
The thought of some grub and a pint of beer
The game you so love has come to its end
The club house the banter a chat with a friend
The talk of the game the rights and the wrongs
The choir master arises and we blast out our songs

See you training

Your eyes could not meet mine
My life drained