Category: Thinkings and poems

Fitting the within

When your world cracks open and  throws your body down
When your world evaporates and turns you into steam
When your world disfigures you and you seem like a clown
Don’t be quick to build again, there’s value in these schemes.

Many worlds are possible and here’s the pattern book
Don’t be hasty in your ways, better far to look
Fearful on the precipice and fearful on the hill
Fearful of the loneliness, yet cold lovers can kill

Stand alone on trembling legs and see  a different view
When you find your destiny, you feel renewed.
Everything is blurry now,  poor eyes cannot adapt
But when the legs get steadier, vision will correct.

No mother dear nor father strong can help you with their care
We must be quite separate for our new world to bare.
The world is new inside the gap where symbols grow and swirl
And across the sky above the stars dance all a whirl

Safety and security if taken on too soon
Lessen the alternatives and may lead down to doom
Courage to the child we are, courage in our hearts
In the forms now visible we will find new shape.

Less like armour plating,  more like pliant skin,
Fitting us externally and fitting the within

What I’m doing today

I am trying to get British gas to understand that I no longer use gas I’ve been doing this for several years with no success

Finally I got onto live chat

I am 72nd in line do you think I’m going to wait for a minimum of 72 minutes in a maximum of 720 minutes or 1440 minutes in order to tell them yet again that I do not use gas

A passport to love

While her potato was baking Rosa decided to wash her hair.The first thing she found was Persil Silk and Wool wash.She poured it over  her head and rubbed it in.Just then the new doorbell rang.Today it was playing Puppet on a string ,made famous by Sandy Shaw.She opened the door and found her fellow academic Charlie Blogge  outside.
What is that strange concoction on your head,he asked?
I am waiting for a thunderstorm to rinse it off, she admitted shyly.
Have you  no piped water,he asked furtively.
Yes,but I am on a meter.I save money by bathing in the rain, she said softly.
That explains a lot,Charlie thought
Do you use an antiperspirant?
Why are you asking questions, she said sheepishly.Do I smell?
He approached her gingerly and sniffed loudly.Delightful ,he cried.What is it?
Rose and wisteria water in a bed of lettuce…sorry, that is the menu for my dinner party.
Am I invited ,he asked gently? I can lay the table
It is  not a carpet, she said humorously.I am doing mock turtle soup which is a jelly and then lamb chops with mushrooms and garlic.After that ,I have decided to make a Russian cheesecake with almonds.
Why,can’t you buy any Russians in Waitrose ? Why did you decide on that?
I said,Oh Lord, where is the Penguin Jewish Cookery book and immediately it fell onto my head.It is quite small,luckily.
Wow, that’s odd he said  curiously Why did God do that  yet not kill Hitler?
We don’t understand.Maybe we can’t understand however he would not have dropped the North Korean cookery book onto my head.
What sort of food do they eat? Charlie asked
I imagine it’s rice and veg ,she murmured.
What a lovely voice you have, Rosa.It reminds me of High Force Waterfall in Upper Teesdale  in a drought
That is a very unusual compliment,Rosa cried anxiously
He bowed politely.It’s no more than you deserve, he responded.By the way, I  have decided to get married.
To whom, she asked curiously?
Can’t you guess, he teased her.
Animal,vegetable or mineral?
He took her in his arms and whispered, will you be mine?
As long as I don’t have to boil your hankies I shall accept on one other condition
What is that?
We buy a very big bed
Don’t you want to snuggle up to me? he asked rashly.
No,I want an electrified fence down the middle!
By gum, she’s gone mad, he told himself
You must  stop following Donald Grump. It’s all walls and fences
You are right she said, we’ll build a wall down the middle and then we’ll need passports before we make love.
Well,said Charlie,you certainly have some unusually  creative ideas.
And so say all of us.

 

 

Where’s your passport, where’s your alibi?

Murder has been done and there’s a War
I’m the Lamb of God and he’s my Pa.

All the angels gave a gulping sigh
Jesus ,don’t go back, you go too far
Where’s your passport, where’s your alibi

Even Satan seemed annoyed and jarred
Take away those leaders and their Whores
There’s the Lamb of God and his old Pa.

What’s my crime ,sweet Jesus, should I lie?
The Market’s bust and you are going to die.
Where’s your passport, where’s your alibi?

We had a powerful sacrifice bizarre
We killed God and then we wore his Stars.
Where’s the Lamb of God,oh,ahaha!

The world is reddened by the blood of man
On the nursery slopes, this War began
Where’s your passport, where’s your alibi
I was the Lamb of God but where’s my Pa?

How many is too many?

Now it’s not just odd socks that I find

It’s odd shoes, boots, coats I can’t remember buying.

The coats I can get rid of, but the shoes, suppose the other one turns up?

It’s best not to let possessions build up to this extent

Unless you have a shoe library and a filing system

When I went for my university interview there was deep snow on the ground and only had one pair of shoes so I had my interview with wet feet

They asked me how old cathedral was and I  had never seen one before.

When I got home my feet were saturated but my shoes had to be dried out for going to school the next day

One pair is not enough but how many is too many?

The dead sheep

One day I saw a sheep that drowned

In the estuary of the River Kent

It lay with blank eyes on the dirty sand close  by the promenade at Arnside

The beautiful rivers are dangerous as is the sea.

Nothing can be perfect or lovely forever

But still the glory of my first vision will never leave me.

And the wildflowers and butterflies I still see in my mind’s eye

I would have liked to grow up in that freedom instead of the noxious industrial air in the mill town.

I can’t imagine heaven will be any better to me.

A tale of the cat

The cat’s tail curves,a question mark of fur.

He walks along the path  without a care

Happy in the garden long and thin

His feet caress the ground he walks upon.

He cannot lose this Eden by some sin

Underneath the maple tree red leaved

The sun makes patterns which the eye deceive

He runs about to play with leaves astray.

Enjoying the excitement of the fray.

I wish my heart was open to receive

My thoughts unlike the leaves won’t blow away.

So with my little cat I cannot play.

I wonder what the pain is in my head.

But I won’t leave the garden for my bed.

Yet with this contemplation I will pray.

I see that scene now in my own mind’s eye

I smile at first but then I start to sigh

Would that lovers died together well

In that little catacomb I dwell.

And  yet I do not wish to say goodbye.

Time and space are like a great wide plain

The past,though present, cannot live again.

How can you lose a pair of crutches?

I am the doctor.

Can you tell me whether you’ve got AIDS?

I’ve got some crutches at home as well as these here. What do you mean

Why would anybody have two pairs of crutches?

Well I’m very prone to losing things.

Losing crutches is difficult. You can’t put them into a drawer

Well if you had my eyesight you would understand

I’m sorry,I didn’t realise you were blind

I think I’m going deaf as well.

So you can’t walk without crutches you can’t see much and now you can’t hear very well

How is your appetite?

I wouldn’t say no to meringue.

But you might be diabetic.

What does it matter now ? I could walk into the road not seeing that there’s a double decker bus arriving and then I could get killed or alternatively even with crutches my balance is not very good so I could go for the walk along the the White cliffs of Dover and fall into the sea so why should I worry about being diabetic?

Even having rheumatoid arthritis osteoarthritis and unstable angina there’s no protection against other diseases such as diabetes or cancer.

Well what do you want me to do, commit suicide?

That would not be easy in your condition unless you walk in front of a Lorry.

You couldn’t be sure that it would kill me

I might walk behind the lorry with my eyesight

In one way it’s good that it might not kill you but on the other hand if you really want to die then it will be disappointing to wake up with two broken legs two broken arms and a fractured skull but still alive.

It’s an interesting way to think about something that can be positive or negative depending on  the mindset. There seem to be lots of adverts for the Samaritans.

On Facebook they’re also asking us to donate to Mind.

Everybody seems to be mentally ill now including me.

And that was thoughts for today

Roses and their thorns

Grass and daisies have no   spikes nor thorns
So we can run barefoot across the  lawns.

Why do roses hurt  our hands, forlorn,

When sheep don’t hurt the shepherd as they’re shorn?

We could cut down roses in our rage.

Their   own aggression might bring down their death.

Yet, beauty in their form does love engage.

So we ignore their useless,painful wrath.

Recklessly we love a spiky friend.

Enchanted by their learning or their face

But wounds unneeded bring this to an end.

Patience thins, we sever  this embrace.

Roses have a beauty that beguiles.

Must we  then endure their thorns and wiles?

Arnside

Where seashore with pale sand meets Arnside Knott

Where trees are shaped by western winds and sun

My childish view I have not yet forgot

Where seashore with its shells meets Arnside Knott

Oh  place of light and vision, bring my cot.

Would that I could die here when I’m done.

Where seashore and pale sands meet Arnside Knott

Where trees are shaped by Western winds and sun

I ate my words

I ate my words but could not them digest

The cruel hint, the sentence over -stressed

As if I tried to pierce another’s skin

Which was already dry, and too,too tthin

Better edit what we say with care

Even those we love we must not scare

Take for granted nothing we adore

But walk in that pale sand, by sea, by shore

Do not sink into the mud and dross

Despite we each must carry our own cross

For aid is near but cannot reach the deaf

The silence speaks, it does not cause distress

On the sands, we watch small children play

Bringing blood back to our faces grey

Finding Cartmel

Walking softly  through the  daisied wood

We stumbled upon Cartmel like a dream

Sensations filled our bodies like a flood

Walking softly through the new found wood

Oh happiness, oh joy, oh glorious good

Such treasures are not found by any scheme

Walking softly through the daisied wood

We entered  Cartmel as one dreams a dream

Genuine mistakes by the voice to text

My husband was in the hospital and he tested positive for  TV

That’s all right you can turn him on whenever you like

The surgeon drained my knee with a lozenge. Or was it a Syrian?   I wish I’d learnt to read when I was blunder

Did they put a primula in the back of your hand first?

She said your knee is twice the normal size, are you in any discomfort?

I knew my stockings were too tight, so I said, no.

She said, you don’t seem to realize the toll this is taking on me.

So I suggested she should change her job.

I was having a problem  distinguishing between myself and other people.

She said, all this pain is bad for you. Would you like a morphine patch on your shoulder?

I said, what about putting it on my bladder I would really like that better

She said I’ve never been so consulted in my satired life. You have to put the patch on your skin on top of some blood vessels

So I said, what about putting it over my heart?

Maybe you could inject it right into my heart directly.

That will be assisted dying and it’s not even legal yet so I will be committing murder.

I didn’t realise morphine was so dangerous. And it can make you feel depressed as well as killing you

Have you noticed now that nearly all the doctors are women and they work part-time and they tell you at 8:00 p.m. in A&E,

stop talking because I’ve got children working for me at home.

Is it my fault if they employ foreigners as  underage slaves?

Anyway I think I might be going deaf when I recover from all my ailments I  have to go to the doctor and say

I can’t hear you

And she will shout

What?

Modern slavery in Britain a serious things l

By the way there are people here we brought from Africa tempted by the offer of money and they are working as carers being paid the minimum wage and their own money to the company that brought them over claiming their needed it for their visas.

It’s a form of modern slavery in my opinion and it’s disgusting I have met some of them and they are lovely people some are qualified teachers and other professionals

The poverty in their home country is great and the life expectation is not very long but this is no reason to exploit them.

Lost

I saw my house uprooted like a tree

Great roots were severed, how I ached to see

And all was tossed without my love and care

Bits of earth fell from the roots. now bare.

Barbaric in its weird intensity

I wept the tears of grief for you, for me.

Our home attacked,destroyed and I lie here.

Putting out the flames with profuse tears

Lamenting for my love who died within

The collapsing of my world now with no sun

The house a symbol of our marriage true

Cannot stand without a me and you

So my vision passed and I am here

My memories are my only souvenir

The mind needs just a hint to see the whole

The vital line was drawn with one brush stroke
The way the back leant curving into space
The dance and danger both are thus evoked

Like a play, a drama, fire and smoke
A dance performed so swiftly and with grace
The vital line was drawn with one brush stroke

The heavy bull is pounding,is provoked.
A threat, a man,  intrudes into his space
The dance and danger both are still evoked

See, the  matador throw out his cloak
A   dash of black, and here we see his face
The vital line was drawn with one brush stroke
The mind needs just a hint to  see the whole
We fill the present with our past distaste
The dance and danger, mirroring dark smoke
 Acting both dramatic and displaced 
The artist may still love what she forsakes 
The vital line was drawn with one brush stroke 
he dance and danger ,life and death evoked

Your arm around me

You seem more real than I do now

Sitting with your arm around my shoulders your presence is bright

Mine is shadowy like a spirit

Yet it’s you who is the spirit

But you’ve got your arm around me and you seem strong

You seem full of light and gold

I’m grey and instubstantial with grief as if my whole body is just tears

But I can feel your comfort; you sit beside me your arm around my shoulders

You’re happy I can tell but I can’t come with you

You’ve gone over to the other  side

You’ve missed a general election and the end of the conservative government.

You’ve missed seeing all these women in the Cabinet

But you won’t mind missing Donald Trump.

Nobody would mind if peace came to the Middle East but it doesn’t seem possible.

When things start off wrong can they ever become right?

Still although you are a spirit it’s our bodies that seem important

With our bodies we can hold and comfort each other

We can dance we can run and jump

It’s the body that matters and all the obsessions with IQ

With fashion beauty brilliance and brains

The simple fact is the body and its wisdom

The wisdom of the body is greater than the wisdom of the mind

But we have to tune in

I suppose you’ll have to go now

And I feel weak without you. I won’t hear your voice.

At the same time it feels permanent as if you always have your arm around me

Even in heaven it’s the body that counts.

Maybe the body is heaven.

Take this and eat.

Defiant flowers

Across the road I see a Tudor wall
In its cracks defiant flowers grow
The modern traffic sounds out a loud wail
From the East a freezing wind still blows

In between the natural world and man
The space provides a habitat,retreat
Ancient yew trees grow without a plan
And in each little bird a heart still beats

Concentrating on the green and ancient views
Ignoring the red buses as they pass
Ignoring strident music , find the clues
Down comes peace and joy, our Holy Mass

Reversal of the figure and the ground
Brings out a new world where love is found

Deep in the ground the worms  drowse mixed with flowers

A day with my own self, such peaceful hours
The inner seas make music as they roll
And in the ground the worms air roots of flowers

The rain comes down in cold but gentle showers
Desiring  to  give moisture to all souls
A symbol of  the value of quiet hours

In Northern hills we looked for  Durham owls
They hunt by day to keep their bodies whole
While in the ground the worms air roots of flowers

My loved one was a native of those towers
Highcliff Nab and Hasty Bank  called home
My days with him a-wandering there for hours

As he died , deep in my heart I howled
I held his hands, remembered , paid the toll
While in the ground the worms digest  the sour

Lying in the heather  we had roamed 
May God  have mercy on his  homing soul
Now I enjoy   in reverie our hours
Deep in the ground the worms  drowse mixed with flowers

 

 

 

A little peace

One damaged cell  divides  until it kills.

For in the end we pay the rich man’s bills.

The air polluted ravages and maims

Now it’s cruelly late to curse and blame

Oh sister how we played  with our dolls’ prams

In our industrial  town there were no lambs.

No sheep could safely graze in smokey streets.

No lark would rise amazed, the dawn to  greet.

For you my sister breathed in that bad air

We hear  the tread, the  foot steps on the stair.

So patient still, I wish that you would shout.

From your eye I see one tear fall out.

My single sister I can see your pain

Your lips are dry you cough and cough again.

Your mouth is hurting so you cannot eat.

And on the telephone you barely speak

In the world  some million others groan

Yes we’re fragile, merely flesh and bone

Even so the tears run in my sleep.

Into my face these tears will slowly seep.

I didn’t grasp at first that she would die

And leave me here alone to curse and cry

Hold me in your arms my kindly friends.

From your touch a little peace descends

More about eggs

Why do people boil eggs? They need to keep getting into hot water

Why do others fry eggs? They want to make sure there is nothing live in there

And furthermore, why poach? To annoy landowners. Why are eggs so popular? They can’t speak.

Eggs are used in baking, why? They need to be useful

Can one egg be enough? Yes, if your aim is good.

Can I live on eggs for a few days? If you are very small and light

Can I eat just a few eggs for all my meals Not the same ones.

Is bread a good idea for egg sandwiches? It’s essential for any sandwich regardless

Is an egg good for the old? The old what?

Can I polish the floor with eggs? Dropped them again?

How about the chest of drawers Who was he?

Why do people throw eggs at politicians? Because they look so underfed, I imagine

But it’s a waste of money! Views differ but rotten eggs will do or ones more than 5 weeks old

Can eggs last longer if coated in vaseline? Longer than what?

Do hens grieve for their eggs? I can’t take any more Anymore what?

Do you feel guilty and that all the chickens eaten in your life as in thousands and thousands of them

The light

When in such grief and pain my own heart cried

My eyes saw a dark tunnel drawing me

This might be my path as I felt dread 

Near a slope as grave as ends can be

Hesitating. wondering what to do 

When with such grief and pain my own heart cried

My eyes still saw the darkness drag at me 

Shall I go or stay, what will it be?

Not the love entire my heart once craved

Rushing to unravel mystery

Then a fire, a cloud of gold I knew 

My frantic rush had kept Love far away 

My eyes desired the darkness beckoning me

Silent,warm , the Good caressed me

I recognised but had no words to say.

The warmth. the golden love from language free

A sheet of tears fell from my open eye

I felt the Love which saved me on that day

Rejecting the deep darkness and its plea 

In despair we’re frozen , cannot play 

In despair Love comes without our prayer 

My eyes saw a tunnel beckon me  

Down a slope as grave as earth might be.

What do you say to 21 eggs

What do you say to 21 eggs? Where are the other three?

Why do eggs come in boxes of six Because hens can’t count past six

Why do Sainsburys sell eggs in fifteens? Their hens are more intelligent than the others

Will egg boxes be decimalised? Hens don’t see the point

Why are eggs good for the hair? Because it takes longer to shampoo them out

How many eggs are in an omelette? None,they are on the outside.

Is it a sin to steal eggs? Yes, if they are human.

Are eggs used in warfare? Their atoms are.

Can we measure the velocity and position of eggs? No, but we feel it when they hit us