Brighton

I left a piece of myself here 

this place holds me to ransom for it

I need to physically come back to find it

I need to return to appease my soul

although time softens the memories 

whatever this place has become

where-ever I have moved on to

I must come back here!

then

...when I do come back

when I am here

places summon memories

recollections long burried

memories from deep within

once thought lost

return to me

and then...

then street names have meanings 

faces recognise my face

thirty 

fourty years disappear

and I seem to belong again

I drift back

and find connections with these streets

these buildings

this place

this feeling somehow becomes mine

I reminiscence on things I did

things I was!

There is a piece of me here

...I have a history with this place they call... 

Brighton

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Sunday

alarm unheeded

distant side street calling

light traffic unexpected 

iced frapaccino cafes busy

oat milk hot chocolate froth

croissant vegan option

outside tables sun calling

Sunday morning after Saturday night

starting slowly disorganized 

pyjama supermarket dashes

bare feet eggs milk bread

under table pigeons 

at feet crumbs feed

mobile phone swimmers wrapped 

trapped napkin chilly wind blowing

hand-over parents

children swap riding scooters

dog walking prams pushing

electric bike child trailers

Instagram skinny-lattes

shopping flowers potted plants

normal city Sunday start

a day like any

Sunday

day

begins

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A Sportier Model

A family estate 

an older model

one which has let itself go

past it's best - you know

miles on the clock

carrying a bit of history - eyes up a sportier

younger model 

across the forecourt

mmm, thinks he'd fancy a test drive with that

or even better

what about a trade-in

he'd always fancied a soft top 

an easily convertable model

a sharp looking 

quick off the mark model

maybe the slightly higher mileage means

she's well run-in

a model with a pedigree 

with great handling

great bodywork - nice curves

a well dressed model

well maintained!

The family estate looks again

but then decides against it - can't afford it anyway

and

drives off 

only to miss the spectacle 

as the sporty model lowers its top on the forecourt

and leaves - topless 

into the setting sun 

...and the moment has passed!

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Nothing

What are you doing?

Nothing!

Why aren't you doing something?

Because I'm busy doing nothing!

Shouldn't you find something to do?

...Why? 

Well, because...

Anyway I am doing something

...OK, what?

I'm sitting quietly, 

thinking, 

listening to the birds

resting, 

relaxing, 

recharging my batteries...

Nothing!

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Troubled Town

This troubled 

towns

tower blocks

tall

satellite dishes adorn

prisons minus wardens

piss scented stairwells 

lifts - broken 

lives - broken

children - feral 

housing benefit existence 

dole queue fathers

absent

locked up

social workers given up

dawn raids

benefit druggies

grow your own

dealers pushing

blacklisted postcode

takeaway chip shop

alcoholic at the "One Stop"

shop-lifting

C-C-T-V-recording

shutters - locked all night

cashiers - screened all day

panic the panic button 

broken the window 

boarded

the hooky fags

bent gear

but police don't bother

...in this 

piss scented

shutters

dealers 

pushing

tower block

dawn raid

town

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Why

Why is it that when the clocks go forward  - we must

always forget, the one clock to adjust

and where does darkness, in morning, go

and, can one have a small big toe?

And when it rains you always stand

where that huge raindrop wants to land

And why is it when you've just washed your car

the incontenent seagulls are never too far?

And why, if you look for the coin you drop

you have to dismantle the half of the shop

to find the coin, now disappeared 

on hands and knees making you look all weird

the money gods telling you to 'take a hike'

you know you are not going to find the coin you'd like 

The week you wanted off went to Steve from HR

and the week that you were given, you crashed your car 

although you said it wasn't of your doing

your insurance company tell you, it's you they're suing!

And why, of all the things your little toe could hit

why does your toe hit, the solid bit

And who was 'sod' - and what's his law

and why doesn't 'Murphy' know what it's for

I think it's to do with all you've just read

quite why it can't go right instead

I know not so,

...(Sigh) so I'm off to bed!

(because me toe hurts!)

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