Brought Me

Dog left briefly in car
stares at shop door 
door his master disappeared through
staring
constantly
head unflinchingly steady
eyes fixed
until...
until dog spots master again
at said door
"He has returned!"
bursting with excitement 
and
as master walks across carpark 
returns to said car
opens car door
dog leaps...

out of faithfulness?
or is it
"I wonder what he's brought me?"


Everything I Say Isn't True

Don't quit giving up!

Tea leaves 'Staines'
...in Middlesex

At least you've got nothing!

At least an empty jam jar has air in it!
Unless it's in a vacuum of course
...which sucks!

How do I stop my raincoat getting wet?

I'm dying to be in the Times obituary column!

Was that a 'tick' or a 'tock?'

That downpipe is depressed
as the water running down it - chuckles!

Does a clock ever get time off?

That's a big hole that digger's got itself into!

Gin! - that's the spirit!

I can't see my glasses to find my hearing aids - pardon?!

This broken truss offers me no support!

Why doesn't snoring wake up the snorer?

I don't find this bra uplifting in the slightest!

I'm sorry that my barometer is under so much pressure

Golf - balls!
...it's just my opinion!

The wind - blew
so what colour is the rain?

How heavy is a flame?

Who owns the view?

Why?

I said couldn't talk right now! OK?

What have I forgotten?
I don't remember
...I don't remember what I've forgotten?

Don't listen to me
... everything I say isn't true!





You Never Really Went Away

You never really went away
your pottery sits proudly on the window sil at the top of the stairs
You're there in the many family photographs we have on our walls
and the woollen bag you wove is mounted on the wall above the telly

You never really went away
You're there in those little phrases I use all the time
in the person you made me
you're there in the way I behave in life
like the way I put a line across the vertical on all my number 7's

You never really went away
You're always there when I look in the mirror 
and you're there when I look at my children - you never met them
but you're there when I see the things they do

So;
...you never really went away 
you're in my thoughts 
and my memories
and at this time of year
...more so


Should I?

Should I send you a card 
I hear your mother's died - you'll have to send me your address 'though.
...should I - would that be a kind thing to do?

Should I attend your brother's funeral - because I never actually knew him
...should I - but what would be the point?

Should I send you details of a good divorce lawyer?
They might be able to get back some of that cash that that bloke conned out of you.
They're also are good at getting compensation - I hear you recently  had complications after a procedure!
...should I - or is that too cold?

...should I say I'm sorry because you're unable to have children - when I don't even know you?

...should I say sorry because you lost your job?

...should I say sorry 
because that plane crashed 
and many people died?
I wasn't on it!

...should I say sorry because the world's in a mess?
but my life is fine!

...should I say sorry because too many people are starving?
My life is comfortable!

...should I say sorry?
well should I?

...do you want me to?
Would that be a kind thing to say?

Should I?
Would it help if a stranger said sorry?
What if I said it but didn't mean it?

...would that help?

Make The Best Of It

If life presents you with many flavours
but not the flavour you want -
try a new flavour!

If life offers you a rainbow of colours but not the colour you feel - enjoy the rainbow!

If the words to your life just won't rhyme - learn how to write poetry and write them in a different form!

If all your days are white and grey and black - learn how to paint clouds!

If you find no interest in life - look harder!

If you don't like the music - change the channel!

If you don't like where you are at - move!

If you don't like your lot - change it!

Choose if you have a choice - not everyone has!

You are 'you' for such a short time - make the best of it!

Come To An End

I bumped into her quite by chance
(I never imagined...)
it was good to catch up!
(to think that she...)
to hear her talk!
(had plans - all pointless now)
retirement had been such a long time coming!
(...neither of us knew)
she'd have more time to walk the dog!
(...about the clock)
more time to enjoy life!
(...ticking)
she had so much she wanted to do!
(...inside her)
she had so many people she wanted to visit!
(...the countdown had started)
how it was good to get out of that job!
(...counting down)
she asked of my family!
(...not knowing why it had started)
it was a sunny day!
(...neither of us knew)
a day to enjoy life!
(...that her allocated time)
as she wandered off...
(was about...)
she was happy - oblivious!
(...to come to an end)

RIP Jane.