Thursday, April 12, 2018

Let Me Introduce Myself




I am:
The council estate kid at the affluent school.
The naïve, down-trodden trusting fool.
The girl who started her period but had nobody to tell.
The girl in the strict house who longed to rebel.
The rebel who became the dreaded black sheep.
The girlfriend nobody wanted to keep.

I am:
The one who goes to the seaside and can’t stand to leave,
So keeps her heart there until she cannot breathe.
The day-dreamer, always lost in a daze.
The lucid night-dreamer, following insomniac haze.
Locked in eternal grief because bereavement took over,
Anniversaries of tragedy. Emotional supernova.

I am:
One who wears make-up as her warrior mask.
The woman with the questions she never dares to ask.
The once hopeless romantic who got cruelly crushed –
Love whispers and hopes: now silence; hushed.
The one who struggles with a smile on her face.
Look closely, there are tears you can trace.

I am:
Until her heart stops beating – the mother who will fight.
Don’t upset the children. This mother may bite.
The writer with dreams that never quite come true.
The one dressed in black that feels so blue.
Somewhat difficult, but if she feels your love –
She’ll do anything for you, go beyond and above.

I am:
Someone with many faults, this she does agree.
She should be so much more, this she can see.
Now agonisingly lonely and nothing can fill the hole.
Giving up trying to achieve any goal.
Scribbling away, trying to out the pain.
Hoping that, one day, she feels better again.



Saturday, April 7, 2018

The Beast from the East.


The Beast from the East was angry,
And he was sharpening his claws.
He gnashed his frightful fangs together
And practiced his fearsome roars.

The Pest from the West had annoyed him.
And for that – he would have to pay!
He had made his mind up:
He would unleash his power today.

It started with the temperature.
His fury froze the very air.
People shuddered and shivered.
The Eastern Beast did not care.

He shrieked and yelled ferociously,
Until the sky turned completely white.
But, he was saving his best tricks
For when daytime turned to night.

People slept; cosy in dreamy slumber.
Oblivious, they did not know
That the rattled, fuming Beast
Had sent the most chaotic snow.

It arrived in startling clumps.
Gigantic flakes abound.
They whizzed down from the sky
And settled on the ground.

“Now, let’s see
Who is puny and small!”
The Beast from the East laughed
As the snow continued to fall.

“Ha! Is that all you’ve got?”
Sniggered the Pest from the West.
“A cute winter wonderland?
Is this seriously your best?”

The Beast emerged from his cave
And let out a terrifying howl.
He stood up on his haunches
And began to madly prowl.

His rage increased his strength
And he blew with all his might.
His icy windy breath
Caused a blustery fright.

The storm had begun.
It burst into full-swing.
But, the Angel of the North
Started to sweetly sing.

“Beast from the East,
How silly you are;
Spreading this terrible weather
So wide and far!”

“Pest from the West,
Now bite your tongue.
We must teach this Beast
To know right from wrong.”

“Oi! Leave it out!”
There came a groan.
It was the Mouth from the South,
Having another moan.

The Angel rolled her eyes.
He had so much to say!
He was full of self-importance!
And held far too much sway!

But, he didn’t speak for all,
Merely a select few.
Suddenly, the Angel
Knew just what to do!

She thought about the people,
Who would be shivering in bed.
Tomorrow, they would panic!
They’d buy all the milk and bread!

They couldn’t drive their cars,
And life would fall apart.
Humans of the United Kingdom
Couldn’t cope with a snowy morning start!

She put her big coat on,
Rolled up the sleeves somewhat.
She would show these boys
The things that they’d forgot.

The Beast remained so angry
And wanted to put on a show.
“There’ll be no attention-seeking here, Pet.
You can forget your snow.”

The Pest from the West was left wanting
Because he had no real fame.
Well, it was up to the Angel
To end this ludicrous game.

The Mouth from the South was tiresome,
Only serving to stir the pot.
He didn’t know the people.
Care? Oh, he did not.

So, the Angel closed her eyes
Visualising grass that was green,
Melting the irksome snow,
As though the storm had never been.

Scolding all: Beast, Pest, and Mouth;
In only a way that an angel can.
She grounded them for a month
And, quite rightly, set a ban.

“No more engineering weather!
It should be bloody Spring!
Send out the daffodils.”
The Angel did sing.

“And the crocus and the colour
And a rare sunshine smile.
These people have had enough
Of this weather that is vile.”

“Let them eat chocolate bloody eggs,
And book a holiday.
For once: Beast, Pest, and Mouth
Had nothing at all to say!

They retreated into hiding.
But, Angel was proudly on display.
A beacon of hope and beauty,
Always having the final say.















As She Sleeps.


As she sleeps,
She sees him.
They meet in dreams
And it’s like the good old days
Of tipsy laughter
And golden memories.
That time he pushed her
Against the filing cabinet at work
And kissed her until
She was a hot mess.
When she tired of him
Talking on the telephone,
So she invented ways
To cheekily distract.
When he defended her
From the bullies.
He would fight her corner.
Does he remember that?
She sleeps,
Though still feels his touch.
An expert.
A PHD in her body.
She dreams of babies.
Still feels the contractions.
But, she sees him
Holding her hand.
Slumber brings milky smiles
And the smell of Johnson’s Shampoo.
Pure yellow sunshine
In a bottle.
She sees pushchair walks
And dropped toys.
She hears sad wailing.
She recalls the retraced steps.
She dreams
Of family holidays.
Arcade machines
And perfect harbour views.
She dreams of banter
And flirtation.
Her cheeks redden;
The shade of her favourite scarlet cardigan.
As she sleeps,
She forgets
That he’s no longer there.
Until she wakes.
And it’s bittersweet,
Until it’s just bitter.
But, as she sleeps,
She sees him.