TROUBLED YOUTH

HE WAS LOST, WHEN A SMALL LAD,
HE DELVED INTO POETRY THAT'S ALL HE  HAD
A LARGE FAMILY BUT STILL ALONE,
YET ALL THAT CHANGED WHEN HE HAD GROWN,
ELEVEN YEARS OF TORTUROUS HELL
SOMETIMES HE WOULD WANT TO SCREAM AND YELL
UNTIL ONE DAY, A FIGHT HE FOUGHT, A FIST IN THE FACE
AN ARGUMENT OVER NAUGHT, A RELEASE OF RAGE
A LONG AWAITED COMING OF AGE, A FEELING OF OPPRESSION
UNBINDING OF CHAINS
NEVER NEEDING TO FACE IT AGAIN.
ALTHOUGH MEEKLY HE WOULD TRAVEL THROUGH LIFE WITH GOOD FRIENDS AND AN ADORING WIFE.
NOT EVEN ONCE WOULD HE FORGET THAT DAY
HE WOULD BOW ON HIS KNEES TO THANK GOD AND PRAY
THEN IT CAME AROUND, HE WAS GIVEN THE SACK BY HIS CONTROLLING BOSS BECAUSE HE WAS BLACK.
"WHY?" HE ASKED IN DISMAY .
 HIS BOSS SAID "COZ I'M SICK OF LOOKING AT YOU, FROM JANUARY TILL MAY.
NOW GET OUT OF MY PREMISES AND JOIN THE CHAIN GANG
ANGER TOOK OVER FOR HE SEE RED
ONE PUNCH IN THE FACE HIS BOSS FELL DOWN DEAD
THE JUDGE ASKED WHY HAD HE COMMITTED THIS CRIME
THEN ORDERED HIM TO JAIL FOR A VERY LONG TIME
HE HUNG HIS HEAD IN SORROW FOR THIS SIN
HE WENT TO PRISON AND POETRY WOULD BEGIN
VERSE AFTER VERSE HE WOULD WRITE SOFT WORDS
OF LOVE AND DESPAIR AND THREE LITTLE BIRDS
UNTIL ONE DAY HE COULD TAKE NO MORE
HE PUT THE ROPE UP AND SLAMMED SHUT THE DRAWER
A SMALL POEM HE HAD WROTE ON THIS DAY
MAY GOD FORGIVE ME AND ALSO MARY MAE.
LAID IN A GRAVE BY A SMALL CROSS
SWEET WORDS ON A PLATE
GOD FORGIVES SINNERS AND THOSE WHO ARE LOST

JIM

I LIKED JIM, WAS A HELL OF A DAD,
SOMETIMES FUNNY AND SOMETIMES MAD
SALT OF THE EARTH THEY WOULD SAY,
WAS GLAD TO HAVE A PINT WITH HIM, ON THAT DAY
CONTINUOUSLY WORRIED WITH A TROUBLED LIFE,
WASN'T HER FAULT, HIS TROUBLED WIFE
STILL ALL THE SAME, I FELT FOR JIM
OFTEN ALONE, NOT PANICKING
WHAT A GREAT MAN I LOOKED UP TO.
SHOULDERS FIT TO CARRY,
A RHINO FROM A ZOO
ALONG CAME THE TIME, UNEXPECTED FOR HIM
A BROKEN HIP, AN ORSE-PITAL TRIP
THE INEVITABLE HAPPENED A WHILE AFTER THAT
TOODLE-PIP, HAD TO SEE YOU GO
TO THE BIG CIRCUS, A WONDROUS SHOW
I'VE MISSED YOUR LAUGH, YOUR FRIENDSHIP TOO
WHEN UNDER PRESSURE, I  THINK OF YOU
I'M SURE I'LL SEE YOU WITH HIM JIM
WHEN MY TIME'S AROUND, TO BE THROWN  IN THE BIN.

WISHFUL THINKING!

Where did you come from?, where did you go?

away to south Africa?, nobody knows

What would it be like, to be swathe like you?

tall, good looking in Italian shoes

to be great at everything, must be so grand,
have lots of money banking the rand.

attractive to women, strong, muscular arms, very nice house everyone in-charmed.

surely it's better than being short and round,
Hush Puppy shoes,

not a lot money, only ten pounds

Spectacles are crooked, worn out old clothes,
belly's so large, can't see me toes

best friends are mice, eating the cheese, left in a trap to free as they please

small rented house, news papered walls, even the crossword is far too tall.

went to the dogs Friday night,
there were beautiful women, to trouble with fright,, never got far,
travel by bus it's less attractive than a car and far more fuss.

Oh well that's life, each to their own, away I go home to chew on me chicken bone

it's rather sad to not be that man, to not have it all and not have a plan

yet if one should ask, would he swap his life,
to not be trusted and not be shy, forge ahead, not live in a pig sty?..,

I would answer, of course I would, if I could,I think I should.
then after some thought as one to do ought. 

considered the change, what it would mean,
not be alone and not be so keen,

to have everything, without a any dream,
be bold and brash, not scared to be seen

without any doubt me old brums, I'd take everything the jag and false chums.

A rich man I'd be until there were none left, I'd sell everything and train as a chef.

Lost now, your gone

The futures bleak, the outlooks grim
I search my heart, yet cannot sing. feelings left by grieving's hand
Concrete foundations turned to sand
Worst is the sorrow since we've grown
Loss and doubt, on one's own. remorse, no reason yet fully blown
sadness like none has known.
but away with it the tides of life
away and gone the hand does lead
in thoughts of selfish wanton greed
No more will I hold you, see you laugh and share our words of heartfelt love
In assurance a life of unbearable pain until we are there with you again

RELEASE

I BOUGHT SOME TIME IT DIDN'T COST MUCH

A HAND FULL OF MEDIOCRE AND THE TIME OFFERED CRUTCH

A MOMENT OF LISTENING, A WILL THAT IS FREE

A POINT OF VIEW I GIVE AND EYES THAT CAN SEE

DO NOT GIVE IN, TRY NOT TO DESPAIR, 

ALWAYS KNOW WITH GIVEN TIME  I'LL TRY TO BE THERE

FREEDOM IS A PROMISE,
ONE TRIES TO GIVE

YET THOUGH YOUR ENCASED WITH GHOSTLY CHAINS

INSIDE YOUR HEART YOU LIVE

LAZY?

I DON'T WANT TO GET UP TODAY, WHY SHOULD I ?
I THINK IM SUFFERING FROM A REALLY LAZY EYE
OR PERHAPS IT IS A START OF A FLU, A HEAVY HEAD I CANNOT MOVE
JETLAGGED FROM MY TRIP LAST MONTH, THAT CAMEL RIDE  GAVE ME THE HUMP.
THE DUVETS WARM, WORK SEEMS A DRUDGE
DON'T SCOWEL AT ME, I'LL BE THE JUDGE
I'VE GOT A LAZY BONE IN MY LEG
THERE'S NO REASON FOR YOU TO BEG
SO IT'S WITH A HARD HEART THAT I MUST SAY
I REALLY DON'T WANNA GET UP TODAY
SO PLEASE SHUT THE DOOR AND GO AWAY

Couple

Together forever growing in time, forever thoughtless in our state of mind,
Young and joyful, aged, endless youth
Twisting like curtains, changing the truth.
Binding together a beautiful breeze
Getting to saviour each others cheese.
I like stilton, you like Brie,
Cooked or on crackers with a cup of tea.
Free to go astray, yet choosing to stay,
Creating another wonderful day.
Ones life till weary, hold on for a while, then gradually fade away with a loving smile