Use it or you’ll lose it

How do you practice self-care?

It’s ’use it or you’ll lose it‘

When you get to seventy two

Staying fit and active

Is what I try to do.

There’s little doubt I’m slower

But no way I’ll give in

It’s hard work plus rest

That gives results

So that’s what I’ll still do.

Exercise breaks down tissue

It builds back while you rest

Our bodies adapt to what we ask

So you have to keep pushing – do!

If you think all that’s left

Is to sit on the couch

And count down the days

Till you die.

You body adapts

And as you might guess

It’s life on the sofa for you.

Second Wind

Oh God he’s writing poems!
He’s off and writing again.

We knew it was bound to happen

But didn’t know just when?

We know where this is going.

If only we’d been warned!

He won’t pause for reflection.

He’ll just keep banging on!

Most notably there’s you

What notable things happened today?

Slept well and didn’t wake early

Went for my morning run.

Messaged my youngest grandson

Today’s the day he’s three.

He shares my late mother’s birthday

So easily remembered for me.

Remembered up coming birthdays

It all seems to happen in June.

I’m seventy two in a few days

So even have one of my own.

Each of my family are special

So birthdays are notable days

But the thing that makes this one special

Is I’m back and writing for you.

Welcome back to Andrew Green’s Poems – look out for me on the Daily Prompts as I get myself back in gear.

Glass half full or half empty?

56E20376-DD93-49C2-9DB8-CC65646F83FE‘Is your glass half full or half empty?’,
A question I don’t understand.

My glass is half full if you’re filling it.
Keep pouring please – to the top.

Half empty as soon as I drink from it.
I could do with you topping it up.

The secret’s to keep refreshing things
Not just to use life up.

It’s fine to be glass half empty
Just remember to fill it back up.

Changing Guard at Buckingham Palace

They’re changing guard at Buckingham Palace

Christopher Robin can’t go says Alice

They’ve furloughed all the Coldstream Guards

A soldiers life is terribly hard

says Alice.

They’re changing guard at Buckingham Palace

Christopher Robin can’t go with Alice

A soldier has to be very alert

to stop the virus from being caught

says Alice.

They’re changing guard at Buckingham Palace

Christopher Robin can’t go with Alice

They socially distanced all the bands

A sergeant checks they wash their hands

says Alice.

They’re changing guard at Buckingham Palace

Christopher Robin can’t go with Alice

They can’t have parties in the grounds

friends and neighbours can’t come round

says Alice.

They’re changing guard at Buckingham Palace

Christopher Robin can’t go with Alice.

A face looked out but it wasn’t the Queen’s

She has to shelter so it seems

thinks Alice.

They’re changing guard at Buckingham Palace

Christopher Robin can’t go with Alice

Do you think the Queen is bored like us?

Don’t suppose she makes a fuss.

says Alice.

Socially Distanced VE Day

Grab a stranger by the hand

paddle in a fountain

that’s the way to celebrate

be a happy nation.

 

Trestle tables down the street

party with the neighbours

heaven knows they endured

quite enough privation.

 

Hug the nearest one you can

cuddle with a sailor

dancing in the city streets

proper celebration.

 

Now we all remember them

sitting in our garden

maybe all go out the front

social isolation.

 

Raise a glass then if you can

to a distant neighbour

one day we will dance again

be a happier nation.

 

Up and down the City road,

In and out the Eagle,

all the pubs will open up,

be a celebration.

Christ can’t come this Easter

Christ can’t come this Easter

They’ve locked him in the tomb

Hope may spring eternal

But don’t come out your room.

 

The church is locked this Easter

The priests all stuck at home

We’re worshipping remotely

The strangest Easter known.

 

Recall poor Jesus’ passion

The three days in the tomb

Pray for resurrection

For getting out your room.

 

Three days can change everything

So what will these weeks do?

There’s going to have to be a change

I guess it’s down to you.

 

 

Summer of Sixty Six – Part Two

Rheindahlen was a school bus ride

The largest base around

But we were based at Wickrath then

With German neighbours round.

Just a few flats where we lived

Canadian and English

Not much to see or much to do

But kick a ball

And wriggle through

Imaginary defenders.

We’d play on any patch of ground

Back then kids were allowed to

So leave us on our make do pitch

And move on with the story

As I shift the scene to Wembley’s green,

And coming English glory.

Introduce a plot twist

Introduce a plot twist

A sudden change of course.

Introduce a character,

a trauma, new event.

Shake the whole thing up a bit

Knock it off it’s course

A little bit of tension

Added drama, stress.

You need some grit in the oyster

Or you’ll never make a pearl.

 

via WORD PROMPT: INTRODUCE

Hurting

My new Wattpad book Light and Bitter is an imitation, I almost said ‘irritation’, of Rupi Kaur’s best selling Milk and Honey so part one is about hurting because boys hurt too.

Suicide is the biggest single cause of death among young men in the UK and, if women are struggling to break the glass ceiling, there are plenty of men at the bottom of the heap, our prisons are stuffed with them.