Now you want romantic!

What’s your definition of romantic?

Now you want romantic!

Where do you get these prompts?

If I went for a ‘romantic’ moonlit walks

I’d likely pack a torch.

I’m not one for gazing

Up at the stars above

I just get a crick in the neck

Not much conducive to love.

And I wouldn’t be wasting

my money on flowers.

Flowers just make

me sneeze.

I’m not a one

for jewels and such

Seem such a wasteful

Expense.

I could knock out a poem

Some slushy words

But it’s not my style

I’m sad to say

Just not a romantic bard.

Thank you so much for this prompt

How do you express your gratitude?

Thank you so much for this prompt

The very best we’ve had

It really is an excellent prompt

You gave it so much thought

How can I express my thanks

For all the joy you’ve brought.

You really must come round to ours

So we can pay you back

Or maybe you have something you’d like

That I can get for you?

I’ve added you to the Christmas list

Of course you’ll get a card

And, if you let me know the date

One for your birthday too.

Let me know if you need help

And I will pop right round

Nothing’s too much trouble

The least that I can do.

You are the very bestest

AI bot

A thousand thanks to you!

I hate the whiff of politics lurching to the right

What are you most worried about for the future?

I hate the whiff off politics

Lurching to the right

Marie Le Penn

and Vichy France

advancing over there

while Nigel Farage

and his racist friends

get too much airtime here.

Biden’s old and weak and tired

And won’t stand up to Trump

a deceitful and divisive man

Who won’t respect the vote.

We can’t rely on the USA

as Vladimir Putin knows

He meddles in our politics

Beware what he bankrolls.

The world is getting warmer

Refugees displaced

And populist leaders

Bent on power

Succeed by spreading hate.

We’ll get rid of the Tories

Of that I’m fairly sure

But how will we fare

The cupboard is bare?

God save the NHS.

Can Labour really turn things round

Is there a miracle cure

with Farage waiting in the wings

to gain if they should fail.

Oh I’m hating politics

The lurch towards the right

If we can not learn from history

Repeating it is our fate.

Not what they stuff into your head

What makes a teacher great?

I had so many teachers

Went to so many schools

I had so many teachers

I don’t recall most names.

It’s not what they stuff

Inside your head

That makes a teacher great

Inspiring you to want to learn

Is how to educate.

They get the word from Latin

‘Educe’ to bring out

The best find a glimmer

Of talent in you

Their job to bring it out.

The best of teachers

Believe in you

Help you believe in yourself.

It’s not what they stuff into your head

But what they help pull out.

Once – but where’s the scar?

Have you ever had surgery? What for?

I’ve only once had surgery

And that was long ago

I had to have my appendix out

When I was only three.

The scar back then

Was fairly small

But then it grew

With me.

It stretched from

Just below my hip

Diagonally

To my groin.

By adulthood

It’d grown a lot

Several inches long.

But here’s a thing

You made me think

To take a look again

And strangely

I can’t find the thing

Or find it there at all.

It’s seems in time

All scars can go

That time can really heal

Or perhaps I’ve simply

Lost the thing

Under belly hair?

The early morning run

What are your daily habits?

Chief of my morning habits

The early morning run

Fresh morning air

On face and limbs

Bird song on the air.

Out along the river

Cross fields

Or local roads

Like to watch the world wake up

Start upon its way.

Shower and grab some breakfast

Cereal plenty of milk

Couple of cups of coffee

Watching the garden grow.

Tidy up the kitchen

Clear the things away

Now I’m up and ready to go

What’s the agenda today.

Nothing we know is sustainable

Are there things you try to practice daily to live a more sustainable lifestyle?

Nothing we know is sustainable

The only thing certain is change.

We can all do our bit for the planet

And don’t get me wrong we all should.

I do what I can on our veg patch

Waste less put stuff in right bins

But they’re still having wars

Firing missiles

And what can I do about them.?

So much has changed in my lifetime

Things we just never foresaw

Things that you now take for granted

Were just science fiction back then.

The changes come ever faster

With AI and nano and such

We can’t cling to life as we know it

But nothing‘s forever things change.

The forces of history are legion

No one can know how they‘ll change

Who knows what might be discovered

Or which current certainties fail?

So yes do your bit for the planet

And try to rest easy at night

Let’s hope we‘re winners not losers

And somehow it all will come right.

But we’ll have adapt to the future

Whether it brings bad or good.

Fresh fish straight from the sea

What’s the most delicious thing you’ve ever eaten?

I like so many different things

Variety‘s key for me

But fresh fish straight from the sea

Is very hard to beat.

Here’s some different instances

Of how I‘ve had it served

Different places, different tastes

But every one a treat.

First we‘ll go to Kerala

Across from a Kovalam beach

Point at the fish

The bit that you like

And choose how you want it spiced.

A meaty fish, wonderfully spiced

And so very good to eat.

A wonderful biryani

That we really loved

Kerala does it for me.

Now let’s head off to Ghana

A palm lined beach near Cape Coast

Where if you should order a lobster

They’ll swim off into the sea.

The lobsters de- shelled

On a nice bed of rice

In a basket they bring to the beach.

A wee bit of chilli

And let me say really

There’s few things much better

To eat.

Now we’re back home

And fishing off Dorset

For Mackerel straight out the sea.

Draping our lines

Off the side of the boat

Three lady companions and me.

They all caught plenty

I never caught any

But that’s how it is with me!

Now straight off the boat

My wife went to work

And gutted those fish

From the sea.

I went to buy wine

That would wash our meal down

And add to our meal by the sea.

It was cooked really simply

Just barbecued really

Fresh fish straight on the grill

But I have to say really

The fish we caught lately

Made really a wonderful meal.

Would cut down on washing…

If you were forced to wear one outfit over and over again, what would it be?

It would cut down on washing

But let’s think this one through

Same old outfit over again

How would you make it do?

It has to take me running

Be sweaty and sodden right through

And good for whatever the weather

The sun or the wind or the rain.

I now need a shower

Can put it back on

And get on with what else to do.

So now I’m at the allotment

Down and dirty with plants

Clothes are all soiled

I’m covered in dirt

What are we going to do next?

Now I’m back home

Spreading the dirt

Leaving a trail through the house.

But gracious! Where can I sit?

Then off to the shops

Disowned by my wife

Dishevelled I’m such a disgrace!

But that’s not the end

We’re off to see friends

And what are they going to think??

We can’t go out in the evening

There’s places that won’t let me in.

Here‘s to a quick change of clothing

It covers many a sin.

God works in mysterious ways!

How important is spirituality in your life?

God works in mysterious ways

He now sends WordPress prompts!

A pilgrim wandered from the path

I’m forced to stop and think.

I can’t preach or pontificate

Or claim that I am good

But must reflect on what I’ve lost

On things once understood.

My God speaks with a silent voice

He comes to me in quiet

Take me back to your Kingdom Lord

The one that lies within.