August 25, 2015

 

 

Sweet solitude, that is all mine

to do with as I please.

My escape route to sanity,

when pressure starts to squeeze.

 

Sweet solitude, my heaven on earth;

a place where I can breathe.

My answer to disorganised chaos,

when fists clench and brain doth seethe.

 

Sweet solitude, that lass I know;

my companionable reflection,

who in the mirror, nods back at me,

and points me in the right direction.

 

Sweet solitude, my last chance saloon,

when all around agree,

no hope is there of sanity,

ever coming from me.

 

Sweet solitude, my dearest friend,

and many friends I know.

But she has stayed the longest,

whilst the others come and go.

 

Sweet solitude, my shadowlands;

my alter ego too,

when of myself I finally tire,

my pseudonym stays true.

 

Sweet solitude, my rescuer,

who pulls me from the floor,

when into old ways I do revert,

through that inevitable trap door.

 

Sweet solitude, my stabiliser;

my steadying support.

My life-line through all madness,

that I do tend to court.

 

Sweet solitude, my ivory tower;

no bigger picture do I need,

though others dispute that ferociously;

‘Just get a life’ they plead.

 

Sweet solitude, my resting place,

where I came from at the start.

And when this cycle is complete,

tis where, no more, will beat my heart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By day, the mind quite occupied;

a list of things to do.

So vital, now forgetful;

another hour lived through.

 

By night, the mind awakened;

two cats at war, do howl.

The feral one, an interloper,

depositing contents of it’s bowel.

 

By day, the mind recalls

the disturbed sleep of the night,

and sees outside the window,

rabbit entrails – what a sight!

 

By night, the mind remembers,

to lock the cat indoors;

keeping riots to a minimum,

in the hope of cleaner floors.

 

 

August 24, 2015

 

 

‘On a little street in Singapore’

saw Manhattan Transfer in the charts.

But ‘Chanson D’amour’ made number one

and stole our very hearts.

 

‘Albatros’, a certain number one

by Fleetwood Mac – we knew.

Though ‘Man of the world’ came close,

when reaching number two.

 

John Denver’s ‘Annie’s Song’

sent us to a ‘feel good’ heaven.

But Boston gave us ‘More than a feeling’

three years later in seventy seven.

 

‘If you leave me now’ by Chicago;

another hit about heartache.

Proving, if proof be needed;

the group a ‘Hard habit to break’.

 

With ‘Memphis Tennessee’,

Chuck Berry let us know,

that he was here to stay,

though insisted ‘No particular place to go’.

 

Dinah Washington, well remembered

for her ‘September in the rain’.

And Gerard Kenny, released in 78

New York, New York – his penned refrain.

 

‘How am I supposed to live without you?’

put Michael Bolton on the map.

Long after Bob and Earl,

gave us the ‘Harlem Shuffle’ hand-clap.

 

The ‘Last train to Clarksville’

had the Monkees on the run,

heading towards a ‘Pleasant Valley Sunday’:

This group guaranteed us fun.

 

Towns and Cities of the World,

each, in their own way, unique.

People and places brought together,

when adventure one does seek.

 

Each country brings a memory,

(no matter whether sun or snow;)

from the warmth of passing strangers,

who for a time, we got to know.

 

Written by Harriet Blackbury

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To hear Harriet’s poem

‘For The Love Of Travelling’

tune into 

Tonys Time Machine

Wednesday 24th August

11am – 1pm

(Repeats at the usual times

throughout the week)

This weeks theme is

‘Tony’s  world travels

 

August 19, 2015

 

 

I wept and then I stopped

and wept no more.

No thought for what the

future had in store.

 

Where signs – what signs?

 

No clues were there in sight!

So blindly treading, crazily barefoot,

I reached the cliff not long

after midnight,

 

And for a moment thought

that I might stay.

til sense prevailed

and took me on my way.

 

I wept and then I stopped

and wept no more.

I sensed the waters ebb

at the seashore.

 

Where beach – what beach?

 

No sand was there in sight!

Just harsh shale underfoot,

that glinted back, defiant

at moonlight,

 

and called me down to where

the flotsam lay,

amongst the tangled seaweed,

near to a polystyrene tray

 

containing fast-food supper remains,

where seagulls gathered squawking

– half out of their brains.

 

I wept and then I stopped

and wept no more.

The sea, now not an option

to explore.

 

Where Ship – what ship?

 

No ship was there in sight.

With Tilbury long forgotten,

it was heading out to sea,

alas, with one seaman light!

 

As never destined back was I;

my life now, not worth a dime.

The waiting gallows beckoned,

and I must pay my crime.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To her that is forever

part of thee.

The loveliest flower this world

did ever see.

The one who came;

the one not meant to be.

The gift of love

that caused insanity.

 

To her that is forever

on the mind.

More so now, than ever,

one does find.

The one condemned

to die before her time.

The chance one takes;

this mountain one must climb.

 

To her that is forever

out of sight.

No happiness has found,

as was her right.

The one who happened

as if, by God’s will,

stays cherished in the heart,

and in the memory still.

 

To her that is forever

now unreal.

A figment of the past;

a fair done deal?

That ran it’s course

as these things often do.

Until the next world,

one must say ‘adieu’

 

To her that is forever

by ones side;

not in the way as planned,

but the heavens opened wide,

and welcomed home

two hearts that were as one.

No earthly solace found,

but now all suffering gone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 18, 2015

 

 

‘Heatwave came along

and turned up the controls.

Their ‘Central Heating’ album,

warming many souls.

 

‘My Life’, a sure hit release,

with a meaningful beat.

Billy Joel gave of his best,

with his Album – 52^nd Street.

 

Singing, for this songstress,

always a walk in the park.

Linda Lewis well remembered

for her delightful LP ‘Lark’.

 

Herbie Hancock; the cool dude,

who always got it right.

Made sure of huge success

with his great album ‘Sunlight’.

 

‘Warmer Communication’;

music we all understand.

Is still as good today,

by The Average White Band.

 

Billy Paul’s ‘Only the strong survive’,

and Rose Royce ‘Greatest hits’

two more special albums

that we all loved to bits.

 

One of the soulful romantics;

Al Green gave us ‘Explore your mind’,

and Gap Mangione’s ‘Funk America’

so right, when needing to unwind.

 

The Commodores ‘Midnight Magic’

was played until the dawn,

and also The Crusaders ‘Streetlife’,

brought us to another morn.

 

And finally, ‘The Weather Report’

came from Mr Gone.

Whilst ‘Exodus’, just the beginning

as Bob Marley’s sound lives on.

 

Albums notable by their Cover;

each track from memory, follows on.

The warm glow of nostalgia,

back then, when bright sun shone.

 

Each LP meant the world;

a musical diary to behold.

The plastic path of life;

the joy that vinyl told.

 

Written by Harriet Blackbury –

usual copyright rules apply. 

 

 

 

 

 

Tonys Time Machine

Live

Wednesday  19th August

11 am – 1pm

(with repeats to follow at the usual times)

This week Tony is in conversation

with  Suzy.

and he will be reading Harriet’s poem –

For The Love Of Motown  – Part 1

Be sure to join in the fun

 

August 13, 2015

 

 

Berry Gordy did something no-one else did

when he created  ‘Motown’ – God Bless.

Third finger, left hand and Jimmy Mack

ensured Martha and the Vandellas success.

 

Jimmy Ruffin sang an anthem

to those who have loved, then departed;

giving us his memorable hit

‘What becomes of the broken hearted’.

 

The Temptations, ever slick,

with such harmonious tone,

went high into the charts

with ‘Papa was a rolling stone’.

 

Soulful Marvin and Kim Weston,

had a hit with ‘It takes two’.

then Marvin and Tammi Terrell sang

‘Ain’t nothing like the real thing’: so true!

 

‘Seven rooms of gloom’ and ‘Bernadette’

were early hits for The Four Tops.

But with ‘Reach out I’ll be there’,

they pulled out all the stops.

 

Fast moving ‘Needle in a haystack’

found the Velvelettes with a hit.

This brilliant disco classic,

the moment, sure did fit.

 

Yet another Motown artist ,

who everybody knows,

is melodic Marv Johnson,

who sang ‘I’ll pick a rose for my rose.’

 

‘This old heart of mine – (is weak for you)’;

an Isley’s standard we adore.

The opening bar guaranteed

to get us on the dance floor.

 

Smokey Robinson and The Miracles

gave us ‘I second that emotion’,

and their ‘Going to a Go-Go’,

ensured total fan-base devotion.

 

‘Spring in the air’, – the opening line

to this ‘Marvellettes hit song.

‘When you’re young and in love’, their anthem,

that couples danced to all summer long.

 

With ‘Uptown’ and ‘I was made to love her’

Little Stevie Wonder had us hooked,

and his ‘My Cherie Amour’, made certain,

every ‘live’ performance – fully booked.

 

Tamla Motown gave us something,

that’s stayed precious to this day.

So many romantic, soulful ballads,

now part of our DNA.

 

Songs that will never leave us;

so many classics – the mainstay.

To have lived through that amazing era;

we were fortunate in every way.

 

Written by Harriet Blackbury

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 11, 2015

 

 

Poetry is therapy.

Poetry is expression.

Words from the heart

released at will;

helps old hurt to lessen.

 

Poetry flows freely.

Poetry never forced.

Words from the mind,

when life stood still,

and from society divorced.

 

Poetry a lifeline:

Poetry a muse:

Words from the soul

when one, less than whole,

has nothing left to lose.

 

Poetry, the saviour:

Poetry the rod:

Words from the brain

one can’t explain.

Poetry, thank God.

 

 

 

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