Category: Poetry

Christmas with my grand kids.

If you could host a dinner and anyone you invite was sure to come, who would you invite?

Christmas with my grand kids

The meal I‘d like to host

For reasons that are complex

I haven’t had one yet.

I catch up with them later

When Christmas is all done

It’s nice but really not the same

As on the special day.

I never see their faces

Or feel their Christmas thrill

And sad, as they get older,

I guess I never will.

If you can grant my wishes

That will be just great

I‘ll get to see them Christmas

Before it is too late.

Hindsight

What do you think gets better with age? – (Daily Prompt)

The thing that gets better is hindsight

It’s better looking back.

You see the things you should have done

And wish you’d done them then.

You miss what you took for granted

And thought would always last

Appreciate them better

Now they‘re in the past.

The young think age brings wisdom

But we learn by getting it wrong

They can’t learn from our mistakes

They have to make their own.

We wish we could start over

But it won’t come round again

Looking back it falls into place

You can see what you didn‘t see then.

Oh the power of hindsight

Hindsight‘s a wonderful thing

No point being wise after events

If you couldn’t be wise back then.

Don‘t think it can be Presidents

What do you think gets better with age?

Don’t think it can be Presidents

If I’m allowed to say

Choose your geriatric

The current US way.

You need a man of vision

One who looks ahead

Not a leader you must prod

To make sure he’s not dead.

It’s sad a country with so much

Has ended up with these

You need a man of vigour

Not one with shakey knees.

I guess it’s not our business

You have to make your choice

Pity there’s no other way

An independent voice.

A fascinating question

What time do you go to bed and wake up currently?

A fascinating question

I’m sure you need to know

The time that I go to my bed

And when I then wake up.

I’ll spill the beans and tell you

But maybe not just yet

It’s better if I build it up

And keep you in suspense.

Anticipation‘s building

I can feel it swell

You‘re gagging for an answer

I knew it! I can tell.

My life is so exciting

I live it on the edge

But not much after half past ten

Cos I’m in bed by then.

If I’m a little later

Which happens now and then

I’m prone to get quite grumpy

And can’t catch up again.

As for when I wake up

Well that’s a different thing

I wake up bright and early

Am out of bed by seven.

So now you know my secrets

You‘re suitably edified.

I knew you’d want to know them

But can’t work out quite why.

I never knew I’d need a plan for sitting on my bum

What strategies do you use to increase comfort in your daily life?

I never knew that comfort was something I should plan

Whoever knew I’d need a plan for sitting on my bum.

Must I set objectives to achieve this life of ease?

A strategy for pillows? Perhaps that’s what I need?

The targets can’t be stretching for fear I overreach

I’ll think them through quite carefully

Before I move an inch.

I’ll maybe start with cushions,

how many should I have

A very comfy sofa

a place to rest my feet.

Ideally I’d have servants

to meet my every need

I can’t rely on my poor wife

To run round after me.

Then there’ll be the temperature

Not too hot or cold

And of course location

I’ll need a view that’s nice.

I’m finding this quite tiring

Thinking how it’s done

Perhaps for now I’ll leave it

Just go off for a run.

Maybe there’s a future

What are you most excited about for the future?

Maybe there’s a future

Maybe things can change

Maybe Keir’s a decent man

He’ll do just what he says?

Had enough of populists

Divisive ruinous men

Who profit from our predjudice

And look out for their friends.

The ones who set the rules for us

And different ones for them.

Have firmly been defeated

And won’t be back again.

We won’t be made false promises

Of things we can’t afford

But governed carefully, sensibly

For longer term reward.

An end to foolish gimmicks

Plans that can not work

Forget planes to Rwanda

Just make the system work.

Let’s have an end to privilage

And men from public schools

A cabinet that’s more like us

And understands our lives.

We hope they‘ll mend the NHS

Although there’s no quick fix

They’ve run it down for far too long

We need men we can trust.

We don’t trust politicians

But maybe they can change?

They say they’ll rule for all of us

Let’s hope it goes to plan.

Bite your tongue my darling

What could you let go of, for the sake of harmony?

IF you are insulted, and hurt by what you hear,
Don’t go hurling insults back, they’ll make things worse I fear,
Arguments can escalate if you speak too fast
Bite your tongue my darling till the moments passed.

Five and twenty insults,
How much can you take?
You could be provocative

Points you’d like to make
But bite your tongue my darling

Let your anger die.

Running into fools and such if you chance to find
Idiotic, snide remarks- that you think unkind
Don’t you shout and answer back or charge into the fray
Choke back all your angry words- and simply walk away.

If your angry at their words – your jaw falls open wide
If you feel there’s angry words bubbling up inside;
If you think an argument is rotten to the core
Quietly up and leave the scene – if you can take no more

If it’s all too much for you and you’re seeing red
You be careful what you say, and mindful what is said.
If they call you ” sweety pie,” and chuck you ‘neath the chin,
Don’t you take a swing at them or start to make a scene!

Knocks and insults, tiny barbs – little snide remarks -bite your tongue don’t give in though you want to bark.
Rein it in , and rein it in, act dumb, let anger die.
Do not fret or follow through just let the thing go by !

‘If You do as you’ve been told, ‘likely there’s a chance,
You’ll be blessed with peace and quiet, give harmony a chance.
put aside all enmity and live the life you should –
Enjoy a quiet and peaceful life – reward for being good !


Bite your tongue my darling let the insults pass you by!

Inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s poem The Smugglers.

Talking bout my generation

What is your favorite genre of music?

Talking bout my generation

Stuff I like is kinda old

Love the Who, the Kinks, the Beatles

Best of all the Rolling Stones.

People want to put us down

Just because we’re still around

Guess we have got very old

Don’t wanna die just want to get old.

Why don’t you all fade away

Don’t be digging graves we say

I won’t be making a big sensation

Just keep taking my medication.

This is my generation

My generation baby.

Guess we ought to fade away

Cos you don’t dig what we all say

Won’t be causing big sensation

I’m just talking degeneration.

People try to put us down

Just because we can’t get round

Why is it so awful cold

Don’t want to die

Just want to get old.

My generation.

India and Nepal

Describe your most memorable vacation.

I’m lucky to have travelled

Really quite a lot

But a three week tour of India

Was perhaps the best of all.

The temples and pagodas

It was a very special trip

We also did Nepal.

Had us in their thrall.

I’d been to India twice before

And love the Keralan beaches

But now we did a bigger trip

Around the northern reaches.

Delhi up to Kathmandu

Then back to Varanassi

The sounds, the smells,

the sights we saw

Holy river Ganges.

Jaipur and Jodhpur

Tak Mahal at Agra

The Lake Palace Udaipur

Showered there with roses.

Last few days in Delhi.

Life and colour everywhere

Assault on all the senses

Chaos on the hectic streets

Meals too many to mention.

I once spoke with authority

On what subject(s) are you an authority?

I once spoke with authority

Had stuff I really knew

Folk would even come to me

To check what they should do.

A piece of legislation

The flavour of the day

Should you need to bend the rules

I would know the way.

I wrote reports for meetings

Went to seminars

Debated all the finer points

And kept up with the news.

The way to be an expert

Is just to find the time

Other folk had jobs to do

Knowing my stuff was mine.

It’s nice when you are wanted

Asked for your advice

But eggs all in one basket

Is never ever wise.

They changed that legislation

Took it off the books

It was the end of CCT

And my authority.

However should anyone still want or need advice on Compulsory Competitive Tendering – the 1988 Local Government Act I am available and cheap.