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73 · Sep 2024
which
Michael John Sep 2024
which is better than me,
or the same somehow
as you-i won´t say
me..

lily lilts away..
what gives me the right?
you won´t or don´t hear me?
i could give a ****..

i love poetry!
not some ego fight
i do it for the money
and a smile..

to bust up some
moment
slugger!
heil ******..
73 · Jan 23
i
Michael John Jan 23
i
i played some of sor´s pieces
from his opus sixty
they are nice but number 14
had a sharp where with further investigation

turned out to be a natural and for years
i have misplayed..
then i made a spaghetti and wrote two poems
all that remains is the drying up..
73 · Oct 2023
if,
Michael John Oct 2023
if,
i

if, poetry is the way
the world could be
where as science is-

both are ego-trips-
i think it is the buddhists
believe enlightenment

begins with the death
of the self-sharing is
true-wealth..

(does it include the
spliff-i interject
acidly-)

lily..

ii

giggles and says,
lambs-sake, where are
my manners?

do you indulge, paul?
no-beer,wine..?
water, where life

began..she is new age
pagan any-hows..
well,we have no doctrine

it is up to us..
you know,like pick and
mix..

at woolworths..
woolworths doesnt exist
do you think god exists,paul..

well,i was cynical
but the positioning
of earth sun and moon

and my children..
we are all children and
somehow the same..


iii

our belief is one primarily
of light
same..

the seasons change
the universe
a church..

cathedral
the love and worship
of natural

one glass of water
energy flowing
a feather-

but numbers,paul-?!
the cabal-
your thoughts..?
73 · Dec 2023
this morning
Michael John Dec 2023
i

this morning they were here again
mouths open
arguing and fussing
making a kerfuffle

more and more
noses in the air
waiter! the
no-one cares shuffle..

ii

sea-gulls are sometimes referred to
as flying rats-
disingenuous to both species..

they do not practise genocide or if
they spread disease
then so do we..
73 · Jul 2023
do you feel cheated?
Michael John Jul 2023
do you feel cheated?
i did..
i expected less
but that did n´t exist

unless deaths inclusive
final hit
her long tresses
her white kiss..

to live..
for nothing..ah..
there is love
there´s living..
73 · Dec 2021
what is worth a cost
Michael John Dec 2021
what is worth a cost
(when the price is nowt)
if the penny so pretty
buys out-

if we fall and lost
to shamble about
no longer we
but cheap tout-

who then is boss?!
is there doubt!?
when love is free
and how..
hi..p.a.m.a.o.b.s.l...poets against materialistic apartheid over brotherly sisterly love..
73 · Mar 31
dear lily
Michael John Mar 31
i

with a merry whistle
she opens an epistle
with a kiss

from the crow (which
is a stalking avis-if
you did n´t know)

from hades-she *****
marmalade
from a dissolute thumb..

i love you til times end
come
i love you  until

no flower effloresce
-bloom
i love you

til the seas run
to ruin
i love you

to a deserts silence
(and to a lou reed
tune..)

i love you from the
first time and the last
hue

my eyes perceive..
what to do?
say lily, oh say,

you love me too!?
down here a lost soul
drop me a line-

your little bird
perhapsabsurd
but always yourn..
73 · May 2021
vii
Michael John May 2021
vii
vii

the council is
meeting the
notes are read:

the mayor speaks
"regarding the
proposed hotel

the required infra-
structure is
all in place-

new roads
and roundabouts
extra parking

pathways
lighting
and flora

at considerable
cost to the
taxpayer

and environment
so now
we are only

waiting for
the investors
to pull out-

(and we will
all be the
richer for

that-)
(hear!hear!)
regarding

the rats and
their timely
demise-

any comment
from the floor?!
the member for

saxony-east
rises to his feet-
"your honour!?

congratulations
due on his
mastery

command
and strategy
and dominant

execution there
of..
of ridding
us

of the presence
of
the before-

mentioned
rodents
of course

if that bizarre
horse should
show

claiming
rights
to any reward

we hope
he may be
shown

the door
(again)
both

figuratively
and of
course-

literally?!
ha!ha!
hear!hear!

(champagne
and
cigars
­
on me!)...
from the balcony
tchick

bizarre horse
is it
show me

a door
is it
a hush

falls on
the chamber
only

a gentle snore
emanates
from somewhere?

the pied piper
gentle in his
righteous

fury
democracy will
save us!?

is it-
I cleansed the town
of rats

and claim my
500 duccats!
(as is my right)

-did you sign a
contract?
(the cry of

a legal eagle
in flight!)
contract?

no agreement
no disbursement-
bless my britches!

-is there no
honour!?
he turns

to the mayor-
you will not pay?
(you will not pay)

you will pay
you WILL pay
ha

do not make
me
do not make me

do this
what are you going to
do-

bring them back?!
ha
get a job?!

the pied piper
strode
away

an alacrity touched
with terrible
sanity

past the door
with a sardonic
sneer

and once more
into the street
tchick went jess

ominously
the aldermen
followed to see..
73 · Jul 2024
a price to be paid
Michael John Jul 2024
a price to be paid
let the punishment
fit the crime

tell me who is innocent
lily said
time is out of mind..
73 · Mar 2021
i knew the moon too well
Michael John Mar 2021
i

i knew the moon too well
i would not like to dwell
there..

i don´t really understand
why man
needed to go

there seems to me
had we spent the money
wisely

here instead
say,on pollution..
then we might be happy

here..
but i´m sure
there is a lot

i don´t know


ii
73 · Aug 2021
the other day
Michael John Aug 2021
the other day
a woman came up
to me
and squeezed my
buttocks-sorry
in the super-
market-she is very
attractive and i
did nt object and
thought no more
about it-
(we poets are a
breed apart-)
then, the next day
upon my descent
into *****, voices
rose from the ether
purporting to be
justice, asking if pro-
ceedings should com
mence..strange eh?
73 · Sep 2021
i watered the flowers
Michael John Sep 2021
i watered the flowers
with white and black
ready for grey shower
up-down and back-

two tones that  swept
an untold melancholy
elderly and inept
to be or to be-me

through some thoughts
quite aside any point
made tea-
and rolled a joint..
Michael John Oct 2019
the ******* rain is falling
after a summer in pain
i see your face cracking
and out plops your brain..

i scream a happy warning
i am color blind
oo what a winter coming
i will be kind..
73 · Jul 2024
i
Michael John Jul 2024
i
i

after being sober for
nigh on forty year-let me say,
to wake of a morn and feel
not a bottle of *****-still,
a pleasure..

ii

i peruse the word or
pick some bagatella..
consider the philisophical
with a gentle breeze-
o time is real..!

iii

then, consume eggs and
do not puke..
inside my cranium not
a nuclear bomb-
half a life..

iv

time ago..
shaking like a leaf
where did the time go?
i don´t know..
some thief..without

v

prints-a few lines!
(and less a few ivories)
but still here,
listen,no-one is more surp-
rised..
73 · Oct 2021
doctor,will live long
Michael John Oct 2021
doctor, will live long
in great duels
of love and passion
vanquished fool

all  have wronged
faith renew
great fusion
honour accrued-

the dragon
yore the true
banner wins
silver and blue!

for the maiden
evil through
the black knight in
the dust too-

at sundown
lady wooed
a goblet of wine
the gallant..
73 · Jan 10
i
Michael John Jan 10
i
i

EVERY WRITE IS A BRAND
new day-except without the caps
which is ok

i never know what i want
to say
lily eats her toast..

outside the thorn tresspass
she lost in reverie
slips her knight gown

and a glimse of her breast
very nice
and wraps her self warm again..

ii

like eve and marmite
sweet genesis..
the king will come

o
no, i never know what to say
like the stars
but usually  mix

the surreal with the mundane
myth not usually ****
but they exist

iii

books and music..
encroaches the thistle
she opens an epistle-

listen to this?!
the radio station wants me
to guest dj..?!

mm..mmm...mmmmm.
mmm,...mmmmmm...
m-no mention of money..

just select a list of your
favorite mmmmm..
and some relevant commentary..

read some of your poetry..
mm..mm..mm
as you will-yours in perpertuity,

steve..
ps..no effing swearing..lol..
what do you think..?

iv

when-tomorrow!?
that´s tomorrow!!
not much prep..

i´ll get ****** and be
spontaneous-never let me
down yet..

what is it-no publicity
is bad publicity..?!
mmmm..
72 · Mar 17
old and young
Michael John Mar 17
old and young
that was  a killer combination
you meet them
hopless with wisdom

they had to work
they had to drink
they had to do so many things
doing nothing..
72 · Mar 2024
lily
Michael John Mar 2024
lily licks her doc
and says laura has  moved
to candleford-driven there
by her father in horse and cart
(everyone waves her off..)
she has gone to take up employment
with miss lane who runs a post-office
/ farriers..

(my father ran a post office but
unfortunately not a blacksmiths)

the telegraph is sent from post office
to post office
and delivered by minnie next door or
one of the smiths..
they have a meal and bed provided
the telegraph takes precedence..

the customers bring her flowers and she
covertly reads don juan
she likes her life
and they like her..
Michael John Feb 18
and of course perfection
is a dodgy conception
you could end up believing

in god..or you might think
i am god..and i will create..!
when i stopped drinking

i felt very good and bad at
the same time,like a tulip
or a devil..

or maybe that was the acid..
which i believe they now
use to treat alcoholism

and depression-i like to
think i was ahead of my time
o but keep a job?
72 · Apr 2021
if i die today
Michael John Apr 2021
i)

if i die today
i would consider
myself fortunate
to have lived
thus long..

that is to say,
the intro wired
to a fugue state
sad and loved
a lost song..

till twenty
unnamed
so waited
nearly died
nearly gone

many ways..
many..
(you know?!
like you
who knows

not me..)
then,
suddenly
i was there!
but where?
one..

ii


two
three
four
not much of a future
done-

what to do?
i see
or saw
tenses
tense
oh,tense-

shoulder
ear
here
and then
now
ow!

how to be
who knows
not i*
if i die to today
upon my stone-

say-
a question
perhaps some unheard
and star distant
exclamation-

some thing..
well i died
and lived
all the same
pray-

perhaps,
i was lucky
or as angels
maybe
i made my own
who knows?!
* Not I,by Samuel Beckett
Michael John Dec 2021
there is life and death in
music´s then...
god,put something on
and created man
she or he
shouted ole!?
and we noted and
recall prob.
when we create
like birds
indefinable
but loved..
72 · Sep 2023
i struggle to be
Michael John Sep 2023
i

i struggle to be
this century
she calls me-
thomas hardy..

(if only..)
they may have
had god, forsooth,
but we have youtube..

ii

*** says lily-
blasphemy..
-who will deny
technology

it´s divinity?
such belief..
such poetry!
the micro-chip..
72 · Jun 2023
it´s your life
Michael John Jun 2023
i

its your life
and that is all you
need to know-
lily rolls a spliff-

what is true?
live spiritual if
you feel so-live
the way you want

to-we regret if
we do and we regret
if we don´t-
understand enough-

time don´t give a
rat´s ****
i mean just to say
because..

ii

in the garden
the spiky thrusts
will not quit

we bleed our
inspiration thus
f or fight

or civilization
to trust
purple insect

flitter through
lust
diaphanous

with purpose
red with purpose
or us..
72 · Jul 2023
remember that time!?-
Michael John Jul 2023
remember that time!?-
more reminiscences?!
lily hisses-her
barrenness-continues
unabated-

(has she climbed a tree
lately?)
within time lies the
answer-
inspiration sated

eternity or brevity
there the stars or
second a million parts
still a child at
heart-
nothing wasted..
72 · Sep 2023
ha to habit
Michael John Sep 2023
ha to habit
pp to
y-u..

yesterday
may-may
the morrow

borrows..
now
o..
72 · Mar 21
Untitled
Michael John Mar 21
i

some are motivated by love
and some by hate
for some,now, is enough
while some just wait..

some,fly like  doves
and some plummet..
some dance in the buff
and some don´t..

some are off the cuff
some just can´t..
some cut it off
while others arn´t

really bothered..bluff..
some never start
some are duff or naff
some will eat your heart

and complain-tough!?
some never part-
some eternal of
the poisonous dart..

and some say stuff
a lot
here and gone oof..
too hot..

like a liitle bit of fluff
in your pocket
alien life-
hurry it..
72 · Apr 21
i
Michael John Apr 21
i
i am turning into crow
like a jackdaw
i will take your heart

something shining-
through one green eye i
you are mine..

you are my diamond-!
el diablo in desguise
you will recognise..
72 · Jul 2023
suicide?
Michael John Jul 2023
suicide?
it is my body
and my mind

-they would quite
happily
send me away

to die
in some pointless
war

so why should i
bother
love sister/brother..
72 · May 2024
life
Michael John May 2024
i

life can be a dissapointment,
but don´t bother your head,
worry is a waste of wit,
and they are in short

supply..if it don´t
scan-then think about
time..soon be dead..
that sort of thing..

have a bath with a
friend,
life is so short,
and that is no secret!

ii

good sentiment-
lily
shall i let

my heart
speak freely
or supress

mad desire
no
this fire

burns
from you
no return

to sender
or..
o

iii

your turn!
we have been in this water
so long

we look to the land
we will grow a spine!
and now

fast food
we were so hopeful
our dream gone..

iv

ok..
laughing gas
look legs..!?

somekind of
purpose
a vision

write this
down
hamburger

yummy
bungs and
lungs

over here!
sand like stars
shiny oh..
72 · Dec 2023
well any-how
Michael John Dec 2023
well any-how
civilizations come and go
why-we don´t know-or
we do..volcanos..
general disinterest
god or a lack there of..
and then we look back and
say-do you know
they threw christians to
starving lions?!
things like that..
how did they build the
pyramids-whips-(that joke is
nearly old as the pyramids..)
and what about aliens
they know we are here but
can´t be arsed
who can blame them..
better in the stars?!
so, i
was wondering if we could
see our selves a few centuries hence
what might be the common consensus
what might shock and surprise
what will remain the same
s..
Michael John Jan 2020
how do i validate my feelings
(well really who cares)
a poet stood beneath ice
we seek justification

we seek reason..
but this christmas morn
i saw a a robin red breast
and in it´s eyes

no interest
only hunger
some irritation
and bare need..
72 · Feb 2024
my second guitar was
Michael John Feb 2024
my second guitar was
electric and red
and i had a book by
bert weedon called
play in a day-
(a misnomer if ever
there was!)-the first song,
was bobby shaftoe,
followed by there is a
tavern in the town..
(and then jumped by light years..)
but influenced people like
hank marvin and who did he not
influence?!-not me..'!

i was floating down stream
with hammy hamster and the guys!
bull rushes and sails
delicate melody and sunny reflections
(in c major)..the sweet breeze in the
trees..!
71 · Oct 2023
i
Michael John Oct 2023
i
i

best not to worry!
there is a formula-
answer: infinity
we..

(who gives a
monkey)
over the square of
nada..

look to the pretty
heaven!
greens and majestic
portals-

o glittering prizes!
pulsars
supernova and a
faintest signal

=´s money!
the more we know
the less we understand
infinity..

ii
lily reads from her
napkin-might recite that
tomorrow-
she is to read and promote
her new slim volume-
it is best to read something
fresh..as she gets bored with her
old stuff-on local radio..

iii

hard to critique ones
own
might be insightful or just
incomprehensible or banal
or so..

or angry and bitter
at such waste
political..
best try happy and-


you know roundabouts
shopping lists
love
etc


iv

the laundrette..
what do think,paul,
cynical
promotes thought..?

yes,but an odd
juxtaposition-
highlights the
hairdresser..special offer..

well,capital will
trivialise
(perhaps if you weren´t  
******..)

v

hedgehogs!
(a spontaneous blog)
i suckle on teats

and share your deep,
dark, secrets..
eye of blackest

dog-
prickly prickly
stealing and spying

so..
your heart worm
mine..
71 · Jul 2023
i write my poem
Michael John Jul 2023
i write my poem
(although not my own-
the internet is sharing-
though we may like it
or not-
be it body parts
or lonely hearts
-the biggest library
the world has ever seen!..)

i write my poem
(so many seeds sown
has it all gone
from the icing  to
the hot-hot- a perfect
start to all this yucky
ness-what has it
become..you tell me..
71 · Jan 2022
we search for inspiration
Michael John Jan 2022
we search for inspiration
it lurks in strange places
perched up an agave
maybe,or,

in anger,
or passion,
to understanding
or a lover

who makes you
do weird things..
interpretation
how we see-

sweet memory
hope
home
birds

living by the
waves..
71 · Jun 2024
with a banjo
Michael John Jun 2024
i

with a banjo
one can go
through all emotion
deep dark ocean
blue heights-
happy bird in
flight!

not that i did
i resented it-
three weeks with
back bent
blistered hand
chips and the skegness sun
no-fun..

ii

then why buy it..?
lily turns a page-
what is she reading?
ah,kerouac´s on the road..

spontaneous and hopeful
chock full of possibility
spiritual so-!
not unlike the banjo

but alas not for me
ended in a dusty window
for some paltry sum
and a full belly..
71 · May 2021
the flowers near-by
Michael John May 2021
the flowers near-
by
(but out of sight)
a magical

day
is all
purple **
and lilac too!

bee
be
b
settle anew..

anything doing?
are we due
so accrues
understanding..

(not on our
hairy little
legs how
ever!)

for ever..
me darling
me
raison d´etre..
71 · Jan 2022
it seems to be the
Michael John Jan 2022
it seems to be the
way we are-
waiting for a
crash to occur

and then wringing
our hands
like falling sand
saying-ah..?
71 · Jun 2023
to this day i find
Michael John Jun 2023
to this day i find
myself
wondering where
ive been
all these years

so, i pick up my
guitar
listen to the birds
in the trees
and say, oh yeah..

of the past an untold
wealth
more questions than
tears
lost to words
unanswered

but garnished with
notation
called memories-
echoes fair!
moon and sun!-
long is death
long time..
71 · Apr 2024
no need for artists
Michael John Apr 2024
no need for artists
any more
(they were a pain
any how..)

1234-i want a
nimber
something to rely
on..

bow
to the inevitable
love is dull
here´s to how..
71 · Jan 21
because i have no need
Michael John Jan 21
because i have no need
except to eat
and the elements at bay

keep..
some human exchange
would be nice

a safe enviroment in which
to be-a nice cup of tea
and a twix o

(habitual me..)
i need nothing
that is suffice..
71 · Sep 2021
the 401 train goes
Michael John Sep 2021
the 401 train goes
early and i am old
some same shows
the sun is cold

(but the bird that is
not
sings
hot)

it sings-what
am i doing here!
a different lot
some more

some less
it is thursday
watering flowers
writing and tea..
71 · Jan 2
i
Michael John Jan 2
i
i

suddenly silence
fell with a crash
scales fell from the
eyes like fish..

lily thinks-what do you
think?an interesting
begining?
she refers to reality

of course..a horse
a horse..a horse..
war was just around
the corner..

ii

i read war and peace last
summer-is long here-
it concerns the napoleonic
wars-the invasion of white russia
by the french-quite an under-
taking-1200 pages..but something
soon becomes apparent that
no-one from the emperor down
to the lowly peon,has any idea
of what is happening..the chattering
classes and society-who should know
the tacticians and generals..the politicians,
the media..no-one knows..if the war has begun
where the enemy is..and so on..and when the opposing
armies actually locate each other,that is when
the misunderstanding really begins..and the confusion
is with tolstoy himself-he kills off one of five or six main
characters on the field of battle to resurect him-prince andrei,and bring him home safe to his family..

iii

one thing is sure
once begun war
is rather difficult
to stop..
71 · Jan 2022
most have nothing
Michael John Jan 2022
most have nothing
unless you include
love for children
(that too..)

some,think,
always true,
that which naturally
accrues..
71 · Nov 2019
whenever i think
Michael John Nov 2019
whenever i think
about ever
or when

i consider
the surrealistic
i mean

when nails that
sucker
ever

a bit more
vague
so..

e
v
e
r

Ended
Virtually
Ending
Returns..

when?­
71 · Jun 2023
the question of reality
Michael John Jun 2023
the question of reality
is mostly one of money
(sorry to say:)we
get that for which we
pay..eg..

the man in the swanky
restaurant
feasting on the finest
sees things differently
than the beggar
at the door..
obviously..

and betwixt the two
is hate and sin
and all the worlds
wickedness
grief and unforgiven
a past and generations
to come..
Michael John May 2023
when confronted by a mirror
there is some truth there
with patience love and care
to open an elusive door..

imagination and/or prayer
now or been  or future
some thing that before
dull or bland is pure-

nose,tooth of pleasure!
that perchance another,
may say (him or her),
ah!my soul mate !

my friend,my lover...
71 · Apr 17
lily flicks
Michael John Apr 17
lily flicks through the
cosmo for stars-
what happened next?

perceptive as ever
it was not the end of the
matter-the next day

arther made to muscle me
for money-i said i paid
my police fine-

he said how much-
what had that got to do
with him-

how much did he pay
he would nt say..
he said,my father is angry..

i thought my father is angry..
but he keeps stamping pensions
and selling them cigarettes..

why,did he carry the equivelent
to the third world debt
or words to that effect..

he said,because i´m rich!
i said you are useless
your father is rich..

he thinks you should contribute
ha-it was hard to feel any sympathy
he would sit in flash restaraunts

and wave lobster claws at me
as i wandered by-laughing-
i paid my fine 50p..lol..

he said,i kept us out of prison
they gave me my hash back,arther,
it was a game..

he said,i will make a problem
for you-i did nt like this and
moved a little closer..

i said did you tell your father
you cried like a little girl
and he went off..

ii

but sure enough
the police followed me
and watched from the shadows

one stood in my way
and made it plain..
someone was to pay..
70 · Apr 21
and you..
Michael John Apr 21
and you are the beginning..
i would nt bother writing if
there is no hope

no,i would drink my self into
oblivion-so there is a difference
and there is belief..
70 · Oct 2024
i
Michael John Oct 2024
i
i

lily are you a
witch?
not sure?

probably are..
many are unware..
a shadow woman..

you are kin
to the cats
umbra feline..

and you know
what i´m thinking..
your aura a flittering bat

in a long forgotten
or bats..
cornish cove

where dwell stange
nymph
and what not..

sun and moon
happy and fair
size 10 airware..

ii

it is easy to flex
my cosmic doo-da
and low hex

or spell-(let me
consult thesaurus..)
and abracadabra..

just a question of
discovery
there is magic

in nature-it is undeniable
power in beauty
and beauty into power

cats and bats
and hedgehogs
ears of the devil

can it be transmited
from one heart
in a circular

fashion to another?
there is healing
love and rebirth..?

iii

in perfection her
reflections
in the mirror

where they see
past and future
omni-presence

do you think
she says-will it rain
should i take

an umbrella
the twain meet
the clouds break..
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