Parenthood
Remember all those sleepless
nights
That you had with your
child?
Remember how they cried and
cried?
Well that may seem quite
mild!
When you think it all has
passed
And you have started
winning,
Think again and you will
find,
It’s only just
beginning:
As they start to grow and
grow
There’ll be squabbles, there’ll
be fights
And you may start to
wonder,
If what you did was
right!
Puberty will follow
then
And adolescence too
-
And with it comes more
worries,
Like “Are they sniffing
glue?”
What with that and pocket
money,
Food and clothes and
shoes,
Private health and
education,
It really is bad
news!
Then again, more sleepless
nights
As they’re out at a rave
-
Worry, stress and more
expense
The future may seem
grave!
But after all is said and
done
You’ll look back without a
doubt,
With happiness upon those
years,
It’s what parenthood’s about!
Spring’s in the air!
‘Twas on a grassy knoll I
stood,
Gazing downward to a
wood
Where bluebells like a carpet
lay
It fair did take my breath
away,
And over yonder, ‘cross the
field,
A single clump of
daffodils,
Nodding oh so
silently
Against the hedgerow’s
greenery,
And on the breeze, which made
them sway,
The sweetest smell of dew-fresh day.
The Canal
The trees they
drift,
As the water
shifts,
In ripples, made by
flies.
The curlews
call,
Above them
all
And clouds float, in the
skies.
The blackbird
sings,
As dusk comes
in
And the moon comes out to
play.
The sun just
gloats,
O’er narrow
boats,
At the end of a perfect day.
World’s Apart
Water from the swimming
pool,
Bursts wet on dry
stone-flags,
Spreading through its porous
skin
Like blood through sweat
stained rags.
Music plays and voices
scream,
Cold water in their
faces.
Guns and shells and battle
cries
In long forgotten
places.
Naked children on the
beach;
Cries of joy and
fun.
Tears of hunger: Sadness:
Pain.
Orphans ev’ry
one.
Serb and Croat
refugees,
Each with many
needs;
Manipuated victims
of
Someone’s power and
greed.
Fam’lies on their
holidays
“We need a break” they
sigh.
“Likewise” shouts Rwanda,
“From all this genocide”.