November 8, 2013

 

 

Oh, darkened leaves of the Odipheus tree,

protect me from the powers that be.

Keep whole my heart, my mind refresh,

my soul encase in gossamer mesh.

 

Light up a path with luminous stars,

like candles burning, held in jars.

I plead for guidance, dear Odipheus tree.

Under darkened leaves, let peace, there be.

 

I pray for settled times ahead.

By you alone I will be lead.

Older than time, and wiser you be,

than any other kind of tree.

 

Just by the gate, I found you standing,

your presence powerful and commanding.

Your darkened leaves, bade ‘come to me’,

‘Have you never before seen an Odipheus tree?’

 

So scared was I, that I did pee.

Never before a tree, had ever spoken to me!

But in my frozen state of mind,

I felt instinctively, that you were kind.

 

And after my initial spook,

a warming calmness overtook.

Your welcoming way, made me believe.

Only then, my senses, could I retrieve.

 

I saw your name, edged in the bark.

A swallow came and then a lark.

My thirst was quenched, and I could see,

that I’d found my own Odipheus tree.

 

For each and every human being,

who common sense, may not be seeing.

I beg them, through the woods go wander,

zig-zag until lost and then meander.

 

Do not be frightened or alarmed,

as underfoot go creatures charmed.

By them be guided, for they can see,

someone badly needing an Odipheus tree.

 

The secret of the search is this,

(that many often fail to miss) –

No darkened leaves will bade ‘Come across’,

unless one is utterly, at a loss.

 

The Odipheus tree is too wise to share

his knowledge and help to those in despair,

unless they attempt, to seek him out alone,

leaving behind them, their mobile phone!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There’s a lady who haunts him

and nags at his brain,

and re-appears in his dreams

again and again.

 

Although, once real,

now an image of his past,

she sits there undaunted,

her vision colourfast.

 

This lady so gentle,

still vibrant in his mind,

outshines all the others-

to her faults, he is blind.

 

This lady so powerful

with penetrative powers

now keeps him sane,

in long waking hours.

 

Why this lady of all ladies?

God only knows?

She taught him so much,

and caressed away his woes.

 

She beckoned him closer,

She mopped his brow.

They made love by moonlight-

Oh, how he longed for her now!

 

She was gone by the morning,

always promising to return.

The intensity of her passion,

would make his heart yearn.

 

This lady who came,

again and again,

had now disappeared,

but lives on in his brain.

 

And when cold winters arrive,

causing the nights to draw in,

that’s the worst time of all,

as old seasonal memories begin.

 

 

 

 

 

A little mouse, by my door came creeping,

at dead of night, when he thought me sleeping.

But cramp had struck, and sent me leaping –

my scream of pain, sending him away weeping,

as no supper date, he would now be keeping.

 

 

 

 

It’s what I do.

It’s who I am.

It’s how I get

my bread and jam.

 

It’s how I exist.

It makes me tick.

It helps to make

my wallet thick.

 

It’s not the ‘norm’-

It’s anything but!

Some would say,

I’m in a rut.

 

It can be a pain.

It gets mundane.

But gives me shelter

from the rain.

 

It passes time.

It fills the day,

and keeps me sane,

since he went away.

 

It’s not forever,

but anyhow,

it keeps me employed

and will do for now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh sweet Arabella, make of me what you will.

Your opinion counts, your voice gives me a thrill.

When you turn away, I can feel the chill.

So sweet Arabella, my dearest wish please fulfil.

 

 

Take pity on this boy, for dear mercy’s sake.

Sweet Arabella, I beg you, give me a break.

I toss and turn and stay wide awake,

until dawn rises, and finds me with heartache.

 

 

Sweet Arabella, don’t put me through the mill.

I can’t give you diamonds, nor dress you to kill.

but we could live in a cottage, up on the hill.

Say you’ll pledge me your love, forever, until….

 

 

So sweet Arabella, it’s as much as I can stand.

The choice is one that only you can command.

If you are not there tomorrow, sat by the lake,

I’ll know you’ve chosen, that handsome boy Jake.

 

 

 

 

To feel, to touch,

to know for now,

that this is it, and anyhow?

 

To over-think, to analyse,

would be disastrous-

there’s no compromise.

 

 

 

 

The come-back kid

is riding high,

with arms outstretched

he’ll reach the sky.

 

Defeats behind him and

hard lessons learned,

around the corner

he has turned.

 

The come-back kid

is on his way.

He’s such a different

man today.

 

All pot holes plugged,

on the uneven street.

Success is his,

now he’s found his feet.

 

 

 

 

 

Loyaly, bloody loyalty –

that long forgotten word.

With loyalty comes self sacrifice,

which people now think is absurd.

 

No one willing to offer loyalty,

the stake is just too high.

They’d get trampled in the rush,

as the go-getters pass them by.

 

Loyalty, bloody loyalty, like trust,

has been blown away.

But there will be a price to pay,

as sadly, that’s always the way.