Poemathon 2
poems 208 to 318
Day 318. Friday 1st March 2018
Day 318. Friday 1st March 2018
HAIKU
HAIKU
Some men are asleep
Some men are asleep
Some are awake and some are
Some are awake and some are
Dreaming they’re awake
Dreaming they’re awake
Day 317. Thursday 28th February 2019
Day 317. Thursday 28th February 2019
PRECEDENT
PRECEDENT
I wonder what it would be like,
I wonder what it would be like,
A government of truly honest men,
A government of truly honest men,
Sincerely driven by service to their fellows
Sincerely driven by service to their fellows
And not to their own aggrandisement
And not to their own aggrandisement
Nor enrichment of their friends,
Nor enrichment of their friends,
A government free of criminals,
A government free of criminals,
Conmen, spivs and sharks
Conmen, spivs and sharks
Devoted to our enfranchisement
Devoted to our enfranchisement
Not keeping us in the dark,
Not keeping us in the dark,
Who look upon the people
Who look upon the people
As worthy of their best,
As worthy of their best,
Neither secretive nor cynical
Neither secretive nor cynical
With no honest man oppressed.
With no honest man oppressed.
I think it would be wonderful,
I think it would be wonderful,
But it’s a guess with little evidence,
But it’s a guess with little evidence,
For looking for an example
For looking for an example
I could find no precedent.
I could find no precedent.
Sometimes it seems the future
Sometimes it seems the future
Of a man or of a nation
Of a man or of a nation
Must perforce be created newly
Must perforce be created newly
From pure imagination.
From pure imagination.
Day 316. Wednesday 27th February
Day 316. Wednesday 27th February
GROWING PAINS
GROWING PAINS
The human race is growing up
The human race is growing up
And that growth has many stages
And that growth has many stages
And its tantrums are but showing up
And its tantrums are but showing up
It’s entered its teen ages.
It’s entered its teen ages.
Day 315. Tuesday 26th February 2019
Day 315. Tuesday 26th February 2019
TICKS
TICKS
Human civilisation,
Human civilisation,
I think could well be like
I think could well be like
A giant brought low and stricken
A giant brought low and stricken
By a lethal infestation
By a lethal infestation
Of ticks and parasites.
Of ticks and parasites.
Day 314 Monday 25th February 2019
Day 314 Monday 25th February 2019
FOR IGNAZ SEMMELWEIS, Austrian-Hungarian women's physician (1818-1865)
FOR IGNAZ SEMMELWEIS, Austrian-Hungarian women's physician (1818-1865)
Ignaz Semmelweis, a Hungarian physician,
Ignaz Semmelweis, a Hungarian physician,
Cleverly discovered in 1847
Cleverly discovered in 1847
That maternal mortality surrendered
That maternal mortality surrendered
To the use of disinfectants.
To the use of disinfectants.
He is remembered by posterity
He is remembered by posterity
As the saviour of mothers
As the saviour of mothers
For the lives saved by the million
For the lives saved by the million
By the hygiene he discovered.
By the hygiene he discovered.
But in his day this contradicted
But in his day this contradicted
The “science” of the time
The “science” of the time
And the rule of fools and charlatans
And the rule of fools and charlatans
Made new ideas a crime
Made new ideas a crime
And men of low intelligence
And men of low intelligence
So busy being right
So busy being right
Would rather mothers perished
Would rather mothers perished
For their fixed ideas held tight.
For their fixed ideas held tight.
So Semmelwiss was vilified
So Semmelwiss was vilified
By men not fit to lick his boots
By men not fit to lick his boots
And yesterday’s equivalent
And yesterday’s equivalent
Of criminals in suits.
Of criminals in suits.
Dubbed a fool and ridiculed
Dubbed a fool and ridiculed
He endured a living hell,
He endured a living hell,
He lost his job and eventually
He lost his job and eventually
His sanity as well.
His sanity as well.
He ended his days with psychiatrists
He ended his days with psychiatrists
Who finished the poor guy off
Who finished the poor guy off
With drugs, restraints and violence
With drugs, restraints and violence
And beat him in the end to death.
And beat him in the end to death.
But he’s the one who’s remembered
But he’s the one who’s remembered
As a hero of his years
As a hero of his years
And forgotten now forever
And forgotten now forever
The fools and knaves who sneered.
The fools and knaves who sneered.
Now we’re bright enough to recognise
Now we’re bright enough to recognise
That new ideas don’t bite
That new ideas don’t bite
And only the howls of idiots
And only the howls of idiots
Can keep us from the light.
Can keep us from the light.
Day 313. Sunday 24th February 2019
Day 313. Sunday 24th February 2019
FOR GIORDANO BRUNO, Italian philosopher and astronomer (1548-1600)
FOR GIORDANO BRUNO, Italian philosopher and astronomer (1548-1600)
Giordano Bruno declared
Giordano Bruno declared
The Earth goes round the sun,
The Earth goes round the sun,
In voicing his idea he dared
In voicing his idea he dared
To annoy the Vatican.
To annoy the Vatican.
In a spirit of Christian mercy
In a spirit of Christian mercy
He was sentenced to the stake
He was sentenced to the stake
And burned in screaming agony
And burned in screaming agony
For his heretical mistake.
For his heretical mistake.
The Pope of course contended
The Pope of course contended
Bruno was at fault and liable
Bruno was at fault and liable
For expressing things not mentioned
For expressing things not mentioned
Anywhere in the Bible.
Anywhere in the Bible.
If I’d been Mr Bruno
If I’d been Mr Bruno
I’d have kept my trap well shut,
I’d have kept my trap well shut,
Contacted Galileo
Contacted Galileo
And quietly written it all up.
And quietly written it all up.
These days of course we never
These days of course we never
Burn heretics at the stake,
Burn heretics at the stake,
We just slag them off on Twitter
We just slag them off on Twitter
Or call them libtards, fools or fakes.
Or call them libtards, fools or fakes.
So I guess some things are milder
So I guess some things are milder
And we live in a world less cruel
And we live in a world less cruel
And people perhaps are kinder
And people perhaps are kinder
And less vicious as a rule.
And less vicious as a rule.
Be glad that reign of terror
Be glad that reign of terror
Long ago was ended
Long ago was ended
And all we get is slander
And all we get is slander
From thickoes easily offended.
From thickoes easily offended.
Day 312. Saturday 23rd February 2019
Day 312. Saturday 23rd February 2019
AND ON A LIGHTER NOTE . . .
AND ON A LIGHTER NOTE . . .
After deep deliberation
After deep deliberation
For more than seven minutes
For more than seven minutes
I have conclusively decided
I have conclusively decided
That when I'm dead I want to be
That when I'm dead I want to be
Not buried but cremated.
Not buried but cremated.
All I ask - and please take note
All I ask - and please take note
For here I am in earnest -
For here I am in earnest -
Make very sure I'm really dead
Make very sure I'm really dead
Before you light the furnace.
Before you light the furnace.
Surprised to hear me voice such fears
Surprised to hear me voice such fears
Over prematue immolation?
Over prematue immolation?
Well, in my defence I ask you this:
Well, in my defence I ask you this:
Don't you just hate it when that happens?
Don't you just hate it when that happens?
Day 311. Friday 22nd |February 2019
Day 311. Friday 22nd |February 2019
HAIKU
HAIKU
Top of the food chain
Top of the food chain
We are hoping that someone
We are hoping that someone
Invents a new game
Invents a new game
Day 310. Thursday 21st February 2019
Day 310. Thursday 21st February 2019
MONEY
MONEY
Money, in case you had not noticed
Money, in case you had not noticed
Is primarily and well nigh exclusively
Is primarily and well nigh exclusively
Comprised of numbers entered digitally
Comprised of numbers entered digitally
Into computer memories.
Into computer memories.
As such therefore it is undoubtedly
As such therefore it is undoubtedly
The cheapest and easiest thing on the ruddy
The cheapest and easiest thing on the ruddy
Planet to produce.
Planet to produce.
To make it perpetually slightly scarce
To make it perpetually slightly scarce
Whilst convincing the multitudes
Whilst convincing the multitudes
The scarcity's unavoidable
The scarcity's unavoidable
Requires extraordinary feigned ineptitude
Requires extraordinary feigned ineptitude
Backed up by malevolent genius.
Backed up by malevolent genius.
Day 309. Wednesday 20th February 2019
Day 309. Wednesday 20th February 2019
SCARCE
SCARCE
Capitalism: create scarcity
Capitalism: create scarcity
Keynsian economics: create want.
Keynsian economics: create want.
Communism: distribute the above evenly.
Communism: distribute the above evenly.
In a civilisation capable
In a civilisation capable
Of creating vast abundance
Of creating vast abundance
This takes quite some doing
This takes quite some doing
But luckily for the capitalists
But luckily for the capitalists
Economicts, socialists and allied
Economicts, socialists and allied
Certifiable dunces
Certifiable dunces
The banksters have this covered
The banksters have this covered
By creating money based on debt
By creating money based on debt
And thus rendering our spending power
And thus rendering our spending power
- the means by which demand's expressed -
- the means by which demand's expressed -
Artificially scarce.
Artificially scarce.
Day 308. Tuesday 19th February 2019
Day 308. Tuesday 19th February 2019
TOUGH CHOICES
TOUGH CHOICES
Brexit or Union?
Brexit or Union?
Democrat or Republican?
Democrat or Republican?
Socialism or Capitalism?
Socialism or Capitalism?
Tory or Labour?
Tory or Labour?
Smoke or Mirror?
Smoke or Mirror?
Frying pan or Fire?
Frying pan or Fire?
Day 307. Monday 18th February 2019
Day 307. Monday 18th February 2019
MOCK-UP
MOCK-UP
When we look at one another
When we look at one another
What do we really see,
What do we really see,
Who the person really is
Who the person really is
Or a mock-up of who we think,
Or a mock-up of who we think,
Or assume or hope that they be?
Or assume or hope that they be?
And when we take a friend or lover.
And when we take a friend or lover.
In great or small degree
In great or small degree
Time adds depth and colour,
Time adds depth and colour,
Nuance, detail and history
Nuance, detail and history
And by increments amended
And by increments amended
The mock-up grows closer
The mock-up grows closer
In approximation
In approximation
To their true reality.
To their true reality.
And we know we are on a winner
And we know we are on a winner
When we discover we're beholding
When we discover we're beholding
A mock-up, much-amended,
A mock-up, much-amended,
That is even better
That is even better
Than the original we created.
Than the original we created.
Day 306. Sunday 17th February 2019
Day 306. Sunday 17th February 2019
Today I also feature guest poet, Jane Rakestraw from the USA, whose lovely poem was written from the heart to celebrate the engagement of her beautiful daughter, Fallon, to my beloved son, Liam. see the poem below.
Today I also feature guest poet, Jane Rakestraw from the USA, whose lovely poem was written from the heart to celebrate the engagement of her beautiful daughter, Fallon, to my beloved son, Liam. see the poem below.
CIRQE DU SOLEIL
CIRQE DU SOLEIL
Thank you for your reminder
Thank you for your reminder
That man can still create fun
That man can still create fun
And wonders that soar over
And wonders that soar over
Strictures of trite can't-be-dones.
Strictures of trite can't-be-dones.
For you defy gravity
For you defy gravity
With enviable aplomb
With enviable aplomb
That lifts the planetary
That lifts the planetary
Coffin lid nailed down upon
Coffin lid nailed down upon
All our moribund desires.
All our moribund desires.
Pirouettes and arabesques
Pirouettes and arabesques
By transcendant dreams inspired,
By transcendant dreams inspired,
Flesh like fluid statuettes
Flesh like fluid statuettes
Weaves magic from inner fires,
Weaves magic from inner fires,
Marionettes freed from strings
Marionettes freed from strings
Of limitation dance higher.
Of limitation dance higher.
Scant held by the circus ring,
Scant held by the circus ring,
Your power drawn from the sun,
Your power drawn from the sun,
From the heart of the Earth,
From the heart of the Earth,
Re-born, the humdrum re-spun
Re-born, the humdrum re-spun
Into magical rebirth
Into magical rebirth
That dances to th'acoustic
That dances to th'acoustic
Deep underneath the heartbeat
Deep underneath the heartbeat
Of the tiring universe,
Of the tiring universe,
As your feet ride the drumbeat
As your feet ride the drumbeat
Of some new-incanted verse.
Of some new-incanted verse.
Thank you for the joy you bring
Thank you for the joy you bring
To a world trapped in belief
To a world trapped in belief
Of the rule of mundane things
Of the rule of mundane things
And the key to Man's release.
And the key to Man's release.
SOON, A WEDDING
SOON, A WEDDING
by guest poet, Jane Rakestraw
by guest poet, Jane Rakestraw
There once was a girl named Fallon
There once was a girl named Fallon
Who loved a travel challenge.
Who loved a travel challenge.
Went across the Pond did she
Went across the Pond did she
And met Liam while overseas.
And met Liam while overseas.
One afternoon over tea
One afternoon over tea
The "he" and "she" became a "we".
The "he" and "she" became a "we".
'Twas time for her to return,
'Twas time for her to return,
Sadly their two hearts would yearn.
Sadly their two hearts would yearn.
Unwilling to set her free,
Unwilling to set her free,
He bought a ring and bent a knee.
He bought a ring and bent a knee.
This winter's eve, propose did he.
This winter's eve, propose did he.
She agreed!
She agreed!
Soon a wedding there will be.
Soon a wedding there will be.
Day 305. Saturday 16th February 1019
Day 305. Saturday 16th February 1019
HAIKU
HAIKU
God help humanity
God help humanity
When hysterical voices
When hysterical voices
Drown us in their noise
Drown us in their noise
Day 304. Friday 15th February 2019
Day 304. Friday 15th February 2019
DESPISED BY FEW
DESPISED BY FEW
I reckon I'm richer than a Rockefeller or Clinton
I reckon I'm richer than a Rockefeller or Clinton
Because these birds are despised by millions
Because these birds are despised by millions
And very few despise yours truly.
And very few despise yours truly.
Mind you, only a few people
Mind you, only a few people
Have ever heard of me . . .
Have ever heard of me . . .
Day 303. Thursday 14th February 2019
Day 303. Thursday 14th February 2019
SONNET FOR VALENTINE'S
SONNET FOR VALENTINE'S
(For my Wife)
(For my Wife)
Throughout our years my love hath grown more fine,
Throughout our years my love hath grown more fine,
The more I find of thee the more to love,
The more I find of thee the more to love,
‘Til ev’ry day becometh Valentine’s
‘Til ev’ry day becometh Valentine’s
As the heart’s red rose burgeons from its bulb,
As the heart’s red rose burgeons from its bulb,
Or like the fruit that groweth on the vine
Or like the fruit that groweth on the vine
Blessed by kindly climes and a gentle sun,
Blessed by kindly climes and a gentle sun,
Matures until it maketh sweetest wine
Matures until it maketh sweetest wine
And sipped by lips benign leaves thirst undone.
And sipped by lips benign leaves thirst undone.
When all around decays and dies with time
When all around decays and dies with time
And even mortal flesh at length succumbs,
And even mortal flesh at length succumbs,
E’en yet do we defy that base design
E’en yet do we defy that base design
For love dies not but groweth yet more strong.
For love dies not but groweth yet more strong.
And mine is stronger now than e’er it was
And mine is stronger now than e’er it was
And thou its inspiration and its cause.
And thou its inspiration and its cause.
Day 302. Wednesday 13th February
Day 302. Wednesday 13th February
FOR WHOM WOULD YOU TAKE A BULLET?
FOR WHOM WOULD YOU TAKE A BULLET?
Seems to me a man's life has no riches
Seems to me a man's life has no riches
If there is no-one in it
If there is no-one in it
He would truly take a bullet for
He would truly take a bullet for
And if the bullet killed him
And if the bullet killed him
Consider he had won on the deal.
Consider he had won on the deal.
I think therefore I am wealthy
I think therefore I am wealthy
Because when I asked myself honestly
Because when I asked myself honestly
For whom would I stand in the way
For whom would I stand in the way
Of a bullet,
Of a bullet,
I counted eight.
I counted eight.
Day 301. Tuesday 12th February
Day 301. Tuesday 12th February
HAIKU
HAIKU
If you're sick and tired
If you're sick and tired
Of poem after poem,
Of poem after poem,
Think of how I feel!
Think of how I feel!
Day 300. Monday 11th February 2019
Day 300. Monday 11th February 2019
Day 300
Day 300
Blimey! I've reached Day 300!
Blimey! I've reached Day 300!
No idea how I've kept going,
No idea how I've kept going,
Nor why I chose today of all days,
Nor why I chose today of all days,
To be completely stuck for a poem.
To be completely stuck for a poem.
Day 299. Sunday 10th February 2019
Day 299. Sunday 10th February 2019
WE, THE PEOPLE
WE, THE PEOPLE
Ultimately "We The People" are to blame
Ultimately "We The People" are to blame
For this egregiously managed planet
For this egregiously managed planet
For the government we inherit
For the government we inherit
Is the one we are willing to tolerate.
Is the one we are willing to tolerate.
Day 298. Saturday 9th February 2019
Day 298. Saturday 9th February 2019
HAIKU
HAIKU
My thought for today:
My thought for today:
What if the whole universe
What if the whole universe
Was just God's haiku?
Was just God's haiku?
Day 297. Friday 8th February 2019
Day 297. Friday 8th February 2019
GOVERMENT TO CURE MISERY
GOVERMENT TO CURE MISERY
The cure for human misery
The cure for human misery
Is really very simple,
Is really very simple,
The government should merely ban it
The government should merely ban it
And make unhappiness illegal.
And make unhappiness illegal.
Day 296. Thursday 7th February 2019
Day 296. Thursday 7th February 2019
SMOKE AND MIRRORS
SMOKE AND MIRRORS
I've decided that the universe
I've decided that the universe
Isn't big and it isn't clever.
Isn't big and it isn't clever.
It's great big bubble of nothing
It's great big bubble of nothing
That's perpetually inflating
That's perpetually inflating
Or a game of smoke and mirrors
Or a game of smoke and mirrors
That fooled us into thinking
That fooled us into thinking
It goes on and on forever.
It goes on and on forever.
Day 295. Wednesday 6th February 2019
Day 295. Wednesday 6th February 2019
SITCOM
SITCOM
Watching government is like
Watching government is like
Watching some tired sitcom
Watching some tired sitcom
That isnt very funny
That isnt very funny
But what can we expect
But what can we expect
When the economy
When the economy
Is run on debt
Is run on debt
As its means of exchange
As its means of exchange
Instead of proper money?
Instead of proper money?
Day 294 Tuesday 5th February 2019
Day 294 Tuesday 5th February 2019
UNTITLED
UNTITLED
The formula for government
The formula for government
Is really very simple:
Is really very simple:
With PR spin and blandishments
With PR spin and blandishments
Bamboozle lots of people.
Bamboozle lots of people.
And if you can con enough of them
And if you can con enough of them
You'll get yourself elected,
You'll get yourself elected,
Then work really hard
Then work really hard
To enrich your chums
To enrich your chums
Before everyone discovers
Before everyone discovers
Your management, economics,
Your management, economics,
Diplomacy and motives
Diplomacy and motives
Are all seriously defective.
Are all seriously defective.
Then withdraw in luxury
Then withdraw in luxury
To pave the way inevitably
To pave the way inevitably
For some new band of spivs
For some new band of spivs
Similarly connected.
Similarly connected.
Day 293 Monday 4th February 2019
Day 293 Monday 4th February 2019
Rap of Liberation Part Six (For the decriers and defamers of Man)
Rap of Liberation Part Six (For the decriers and defamers of Man)
I am tired of your squabbles,
I am tired of your squabbles,
Fake news and drivel,
Fake news and drivel,
Your querulous shrieking
Your querulous shrieking
Over hubble-bubble cauldrons
Over hubble-bubble cauldrons
Of toil and troubles,
Of toil and troubles,
Conjured by the hocus pocus
Conjured by the hocus pocus
Of lies and distortions
Of lies and distortions
And the hysterical wagging
And the hysterical wagging
Of self-righteous fingers.
Of self-righteous fingers.
I revile and detest your
I revile and detest your
Distemperate voices
Distemperate voices
Of feigned indignation,
Of feigned indignation,
Your lies and false promises
Your lies and false promises
And snivelling quarrels.
And snivelling quarrels.
I despise your misplaced blame
I despise your misplaced blame
And your shameless games
And your shameless games
Of mass manipulation,
Of mass manipulation,
Whispered rumours and false accusations,
Whispered rumours and false accusations,
Your divide-and-rule capers
Your divide-and-rule capers
And their choking poison
And their choking poison
Of generalised fears
Of generalised fears
That infect the atmosphere
That infect the atmosphere
Of human relations,
Of human relations,
Its fetid stench manufactured
Its fetid stench manufactured
Year after year
Year after year
By your smoke-and-mirror
By your smoke-and-mirror
Denigation of people
Denigation of people
And races and nations.
And races and nations.
I scorn and abhor your
I scorn and abhor your
Cruel defamation
Cruel defamation
Of millions of humans
Of millions of humans
Trying to stay sane in
Trying to stay sane in
Your planetary bedlam,
Your planetary bedlam,
Your character assassination
Your character assassination
Of God in his heaven,
Of God in his heaven,
Your twisting, corruption
Your twisting, corruption
And sly contamination
And sly contamination
Of good men’s aspirations
Of good men’s aspirations
And the way you’ve sold out
And the way you’ve sold out
To the joyless, degraded minions
To the joyless, degraded minions
Of Satan in the futile hope
Of Satan in the futile hope
Of favours when the lights go out
Of favours when the lights go out
Throughout your global asylum.
Throughout your global asylum.
Repent now while you can
Repent now while you can
Your egregious betrayals,
Your egregious betrayals,
For all we will give you
For all we will give you
Is the right to fair trial
Is the right to fair trial
For your crimes against Man
For your crimes against Man
And your efforts to supplant
And your efforts to supplant
The kinship of brothers
The kinship of brothers
With mistrust, travail
With mistrust, travail
And an ocean of troubles.
And an ocean of troubles.
Enjoy your cesspit,
Enjoy your cesspit,
You probably deserve it,
You probably deserve it,
But ask for no favours
But ask for no favours
In this dawning
In this dawning
Age of liberation,
Age of liberation,
For mercy’s bestowed only
For mercy’s bestowed only
On those who have earned it.
On those who have earned it.
In the meantime please consider
In the meantime please consider
This poem not so much a protest
This poem not so much a protest
As a raised middle finger.
As a raised middle finger.
And when all said and done
And when all said and done
What my message boils down to
What my message boils down to
Is two simple words
Is two simple words
More pithy than poetical
More pithy than poetical
But nevertheless true:
But nevertheless true:
Fuck you!
Fuck you!
Day 292 Sunday 3rd February 2019
Day 292 Sunday 3rd February 2019
PERVERSE UNIVERSE
PERVERSE UNIVERSE
You cannot turn back time
You cannot turn back time
And undo what is done.
And undo what is done.
The bullet cannot be returned
The bullet cannot be returned
To the breach of the smoking gun.
To the breach of the smoking gun.
Alas there is no backward gear
Alas there is no backward gear
That puts time in reverse.
That puts time in reverse.
Methinks there lies right there
Methinks there lies right there
The design fault of the universe;
The design fault of the universe;
If I could I’d shoot the engineer
If I could I’d shoot the engineer
For building something so perverse
For building something so perverse
Day 291 Saturday 2nd February 2019
Day 291 Saturday 2nd February 2019
SCRIPT
SCRIPT
If life is a play all I can say
If life is a play all I can say
It isn’t well scripted
It isn’t well scripted
For I’ve a sense that the plot
For I’ve a sense that the plot
Has gone and kind of drifted
Has gone and kind of drifted
And I’ve gotten my lines all
And I’ve gotten my lines all
Muddled and twisted
Muddled and twisted
Or even forgotten
Or even forgotten
If I’m hero or victim
If I’m hero or victim
Or both or neither
Or both or neither
And lost sight of the fact
And lost sight of the fact
I started out as the writer.
I started out as the writer.
Day 290. Friday 1st February 2019
Day 290. Friday 1st February 2019
HAIKU
HAIKU
Dispersed by the wind
Dispersed by the wind
Our lives are like thin veneers
Our lives are like thin veneers
Painted on the void
Painted on the void
Day 289. Thursday 31st January 2019
Day 289. Thursday 31st January 2019
UNUSED
UNUSED
She said, “I think I’m losing my mind.”
She said, “I think I’m losing my mind.”
I said, “Minds, like brains, are overrated.
I said, “Minds, like brains, are overrated.
I haven’t used mine for years.”
I haven’t used mine for years.”
Day 288. Wednesday 30th January 2019
Day 288. Wednesday 30th January 2019
HANGING ON IN THERE
HANGING ON IN THERE
I’m hanging on in there
I’m hanging on in there
It seems by a thread
It seems by a thread
Verses lie bare
Verses lie bare
Of rhyme or tune
Of rhyme or tune
In my head,
In my head,
Faking a life
Faking a life
While pretending I’m dead,
While pretending I’m dead,
The sensation of being
The sensation of being
So near yet so far,
So near yet so far,
The door to the future
The door to the future
Only slightly ajar,
Only slightly ajar,
Trying to squeeze through
Trying to squeeze through
Before the infernal thing closes
Before the infernal thing closes
Seeking renewal
Seeking renewal
In pretences and poses,
In pretences and poses,
Familiar faces in dreams
Familiar faces in dreams
Half remembered
Half remembered
Resignation written
Resignation written
But never quite tendered.
But never quite tendered.
The years like sand
The years like sand
Slip through my fingers
Slip through my fingers
Where hope’s but an echo
Where hope’s but an echo
That dies where it lingers
That dies where it lingers
And the road to nowhere
And the road to nowhere
Is a spiral instead
Is a spiral instead
And I’m hanging on in there,
And I’m hanging on in there,
It seems by a thread.
It seems by a thread.
Day 287. Tuesday 29th January 2019
Day 287. Tuesday 29th January 2019
LOST
LOST
Lost my goals
Lost my goals
In the rubble of my
In the rubble of my
Misapprehensions
Misapprehensions
Delusions and pretensions,
Delusions and pretensions,
Trying to become something
Trying to become something
To avoid being nothing
To avoid being nothing
Forgetting for the moment
Forgetting for the moment
That I’m already everything,
That I’m already everything,
Decisions misfiring
Decisions misfiring
Like synapses
Like synapses
In the mind of existence
In the mind of existence
Collapsing without resistance
Collapsing without resistance
Like the ashes
Like the ashes
Of reminiscence
Of reminiscence
Abandoned to a future
Abandoned to a future
Stranded in the middle distance
Stranded in the middle distance
Between surrender
Between surrender
And persistence.
And persistence.
Day 286. Monday 28th January 2019
Day 286. Monday 28th January 2019
A POEM, QUICK!
A POEM, QUICK!
I’ve come this far and clawed my way
I’ve come this far and clawed my way
To poem two-eighty-six
To poem two-eighty-six
But now the Muse has left me
But now the Muse has left me
And I’m really in a fix.
And I’m really in a fix.
My couplets slack, my haikus crap
My couplets slack, my haikus crap
My pentameters quite sick,
My pentameters quite sick,
I’m getting kind of desperate,
I’m getting kind of desperate,
I need a poem, quick!
I need a poem, quick!
Day 285. Sunday 27th January 2019
Day 285. Sunday 27th January 2019
RIDDLE OF EXISTENCE
RIDDLE OF EXISTENCE
I have a personal policy,
I have a personal policy,
Says I somewhat loftily.
Says I somewhat loftily.
Hypocritically or even hypothetically,
Hypocritically or even hypothetically,
That says to never do anything
That says to never do anything
If it isn't some kind of fun,
If it isn't some kind of fun,
And I'm sure that fun was the principle
And I'm sure that fun was the principle
On which this universe was begun,
On which this universe was begun,
For I can't think of any other reason
For I can't think of any other reason
We'd set up something so ludicrous
We'd set up something so ludicrous
And, let's face it. execrably dumb.
And, let's face it. execrably dumb.
It stopped being fun a while ago
It stopped being fun a while ago
And the fact that I kept on playing
And the fact that I kept on playing
Makes me, I guess, a bum.
Makes me, I guess, a bum.
Now if all this sounds philosophical,
Now if all this sounds philosophical,
Don't be fooled for a moment,
Don't be fooled for a moment,
For the plain unembellished truth of it
For the plain unembellished truth of it
Is I don't know anything you don't.
Is I don't know anything you don't.
And if I ever do solve this riddle
And if I ever do solve this riddle
Or unravel this confounded puzzle,
Or unravel this confounded puzzle,
Or even, I guess, make sense,
Or even, I guess, make sense,
Trust me, you'll be the first to know.
Trust me, you'll be the first to know.
Day 284. Saturday 26th January 2019I
Day 284. Saturday 26th January 2019I
January 26th
January 26th
Today I reached 67
Today I reached 67
And admit I am faintly surprised
And admit I am faintly surprised
To find that I am still thriving
To find that I am still thriving
Or indeed that I am even alive.
Or indeed that I am even alive.
My life’s had some tribulations
My life’s had some tribulations
Despite which I’ve somehow survived
Despite which I’ve somehow survived
But rewards in e’en greater measure
But rewards in e’en greater measure
Like the milestones on Destiny Drive.
Like the milestones on Destiny Drive.
And so my journey continues
And so my journey continues
Though I travel in human disguise,
Though I travel in human disguise,
And I’m not quite sure where I’m going,
And I’m not quite sure where I’m going,
Yet I’m certain I’ll surely arrive.
Yet I’m certain I’ll surely arrive.
But most of the fun’s in the journey
But most of the fun’s in the journey
And, for sure, the sporadic surprise,
And, for sure, the sporadic surprise,
Not to mention those I nearly ran over
Not to mention those I nearly ran over
And all the “hello’s” and “goodbye’s”.
And all the “hello’s” and “goodbye’s”.
While most of my joy’s in the people
While most of my joy’s in the people
Who have travelled by my side
Who have travelled by my side
I cherish the chances they gave me
I cherish the chances they gave me
To learn from wiser helmsmen than I.
To learn from wiser helmsmen than I.
Day 283. Friday 25th January 2019
Day 283. Friday 25th January 2019
I COULD WRITE A POEM
I COULD WRITE A POEM
I could write a poem
I could write a poem
That praises the glorious sunrise
That praises the glorious sunrise
Limning some far horizon with flame
Limning some far horizon with flame
Or the daffodils that toss their heads in dance
Or the daffodils that toss their heads in dance
Or the romance in some girl's kiss
Or the romance in some girl's kiss
That quickens the deadest heart
That quickens the deadest heart
And bids it live again.
And bids it live again.
I could find a trillion things to praise
I could find a trillion things to praise
In this universe of space and time.
In this universe of space and time.
But whose hand wields the brush
But whose hand wields the brush
That paints this beauty 'pon the void
That paints this beauty 'pon the void
Of 'tis not thine?
Of 'tis not thine?
Who then the rightful
Who then the rightful
Target of my praise and poetry?
Target of my praise and poetry?
I search for it and
I search for it and
When e'er I search
When e'er I search
I find just thee.
I find just thee.
Day 282. Thursday 24th January 2019
Day 282. Thursday 24th January 2019
HAIKU
HAIKU
Capitalism
Capitalism
Creating scarcities
Creating scarcities
To control mankind
To control mankind
Day 281. Wednesday 23nd January 2019
Day 281. Wednesday 23nd January 2019
HAIKU
HAIKU
All is illusion
All is illusion
Dreaming our reality
Dreaming our reality
All in the matrix
All in the matrix
Day 280. Tuesday 22nd January 2019
Day 280. Tuesday 22nd January 2019
ONE
ONE
The big trick
The big trick
The big lie
The big lie
The big con foisted
The big con foisted