Awaiting a Homecoming

With every hour that passes,
The time to wait grows less,
Until I have her in my arms,
To enjoy her sweet caress.

These months have been a burden
Of waiting longingly,
The time of her homecoming when
Her smiling face I'll see.

I'm proud of all she's done,
In the time she's been away,
And never would have wanted
That my love at home should stay.

But I count the days remaining
Until she will return,
And always in her absence,
My heart for her will burn.

To a Child Facing Winter in a Cold Country

It's very nearly time for boots, and scarves and mittens too,

For winter's round the corner and is on its way to you;

Not much longer can you dress in flimsy summer wear;

Those you'll need to ;put away when winter-time is there.

You'll need to wrap up warmly every time you go outside,

So you'll be well protected when on icy roads you slide.

But though it may be cold and dark with very little sun,

That doesn't mean that winter cannot also be great fun.

Vegetables

Delicious fresh cooked vegetables, their colours staring out,
Reminding one attractive food is what it's all about;
Carrots with their reddish hues and peas still emerald green,
White fleshed aubergines with skins wearing a purple sheen.
Tomatoes with their bright red skins and bright red flesh inside,
Leaks who wear their palest green with a certain sense of pride.
Beans in many varied shapes, with colours which can range
From black to brown or darkest green, or yellow for a change.
Onions which are usually white, but can be purple too;
Artichokes boiled in iron pots which can then turn bright blue.
Then there are orange coloured swedes, mashed or left alone,
Potatoes which though almost white still have a creamy tone.
Parsnips too can be quite pale, with just a yellow tinge,
Lettuces whose leaves disport a variegated fringe.
Radishes which white inside, still have a bright red skin,
Peppers which are red outside and also red within.
Spinach, spouts and curly kale all come in shades of green,
From fairly pale to very dark and all hues in between.
With all their many colours they are tasty things to eat -
A plate of well-cooked vegetables can really be a treat.

Meetings

Some people like to have meetings
To fill up the hours in the day,
To make life a little less boring,
Or give themselves something to say.

The like going into a room
And shutting the door to the world
Pretending that there in the meeting,
Ideas and decisions are swirled.

Many are quite fond of talking,
And meetings provide a nice place,
To sound off on all sorts of topics,
While met in a limited space.

No-one can get up and leave it
To do so would be very rude,
And if it's the boss who has called it,
They have to look focused and glued.

Meetings are often the joy
Of those who have little do do,
But like to take part in discussions
Propounding their own point of view.

But to those who've an intray that bulging,
Meetings can be a great strain,
Taking up time that is precious,
With little or nothing to gain.

They glance at their watches whilst hoping
The meeting will finish quite soon;
They know that they've work to be doing,
And begrudge they've a lost afternoon.

Lucky Sleepers

Some people are lucky;  their sleep can't be curbed;
No matter what happens they stay undisturbed,
Nodding off easily; not waking until
The clock interrupts with its call loud and shrill.
It seems that their brains have just not been designed
For spending hours sleepless with things on their mind.
No noises result in their snapping awake;
It'd have no effect if things started to shake.
They don't seem affected by mid-summer's heat,
When the temperature's such one needs only a sheet.
They can drop off to sleep even when over-tired,
Just closing their eyes when to sleep is desired.
And of course there's one positive thing that they reap -
Never feeling exhausted from losing their sleep.

A Lonely Shore at Evening

At evening time I sit on the beach
Out of range of the ebbing tide's reach;
The sand is still damp from the high tide before
Which makes its way regularly right up the shore.
The waves flow so gently with ripples of white,
Appearing like frills in the soft evening light.
The sea stretches outward for mile upon mile,
Slowing retreating away all the while.
A few boats are bobbing on top of the waves,
Enjoying a freedom which everyone craves
The bright sun surrounded by orange descends,
And now is just visible where the sea ends.
Darkness moves in with reduction of light,
As evening changes and turns into night.
All is so peaceful, with hardly a sound,
Except as the light crashing waves run aground.

Tudor Music

There's something distinctive about all the music
Composed in the days when there sat on the throne
The long line of Tudors whose love of good lyrics
Made sure that a great deal was written and known.

The instrument used were all simple and tuneful,
Nothing too large or with beats far too low;
Nothing too rapid or violent or clanging,
The music was usually designed to be slow.

But great use was made of the talents of singers,
Blending their voices through carious parts,
Producing together a sound that was heavenly,
Skilled as they were in the musical arts.

The music of Tudor times tells of a country
Where singing and dancing were just part of life,
Despite all the poverty which was endemic,
Compounded by problems of internal strife.

Noise in the City

In London it is difficult to get away from noise,
The constant hum of traffic hopes of silence soon destroys;
And then there are the aeroplanes criss-crossing overhead,
And circling helicopters, of which flights are now widespread.
The noise of all the people as they walk along the streets,
Often talking loudly, playing music with low beats.
The sound of endless sirens, whether ambulance or police,
Is something on a busy road that never seems to cease.
The noise from people's houses in the summer-time as they
Keep their windows open both at night and in the day.
The noises of trains and buses is just part of London life,
Another extra source of sound where noisiness is rife.
The noise from all the building sites so prevalent today
Which  it seems at present will not likely go away.
Always in a city there is constant noise around;
Only in the country peace and silence can be found.

Fashion

What is in fashion is constantly changing,
The fashions of this year will not be the same
As those in vogue last year, nor those coming next,
For bringing out new things's the name of the game.

The length of the hemline can vary quite quickly,
As seen in the past by the short time it took
To go from the mini skirt all girls were wearing
To maxi skirts aimed at the ankle length look.

Straight skirts or A line, or something between them.
Pleated or gathered or just wraparound;
With such a wide choice it is hardly surprising
That over the years every type can be found.

Colours keep changing; one year may be yellow,
And everything seems it's a shade of that hue,
But next year the fashion might move on to purple,
Or maybe to green or to red or to blue.

Cotton or linen or should clothes be woollen,
Or might manmade fibres this time be in style;
With so many fabrics there's plenty to chose from,
Each one with something designed to beguile.

Dresses in preference to matched skirts and blouses,
Quite neatly fitting, or giving more room;
Which of the two will be this year's high fashion,
Is something most people cannot just assume.

Bright patterned fabrics or one colour only,
Stripes, flowers or tartan to name just a few;
Which ones will make it to this season's outfits,
As people compete to produce something new.

Then there's the question of all the accessories,
Small little items that typically range
From Scarves, belts and broaches to silky pashminas,
Which often are used if one feels like a change.

Fashions keep changing, and one of the reasons
Lies in the fact that the shops have to try
To get us to buy a new wardrobe each season,
Not wearing the same as the years trundle by.

Aunties

Every child should aim to have at least one auntie in their fold,
Someone of their parents' age group, or even someone much more old;
Someone from outside the family, and an object of their love,
Someone who adores them also, and who always stands above
Any tensions in their home life, who it seems does not take sides,
But whenever it is sought, a patient listening ear provides.
Aunties give a chance to do more, as their invitations flow
To go to concerts or museums, a pantomime or country show.
Visits to the pool or seaside, fireworks or a busy fair,
Aunties  can be very active, and have lots of things to share.
They're also good at telling stories, singing songs and pushing swings,
Baking cakes and teaching knitting, along many other things.
They are always there to talk to, if occasionally life seems rough,
And for solving many problems, talking often is enough.
Whenever needed it is certain aunties will be always there,
And what's always most important, is that aunties really care.

The Roadsweepeers

Everyone likes the streets to be clean,
With dirt and rubbish never seen,
But they don't become pristine by themselves,
Nor are they cleaned by little elves.
No, they relay on a busy team
Of people that some types would deem
As very low on the social scale,
But if those people ever fail
To sweep the streets then one would find
The rubbish and litter left behind
Still sitting there for weeks on end,
Driving everyone round the bend.

Low Tide

The tide retreats far out to sea
As twice a day the waters flee
Away from the shore, leaving miles of sand
Between low tide and the start of land.
Hundreds of birds appear on cue,
When high tide saw there only a few;
They wander over the sand and mud,
Which very soon again will flood.
Worms and crabs and tiny fish
Make for them a tasty dish
Which they can eat while the tide is out -
That's why there are so many birds about
Until again the sea appears,
As it's done through endless years.

The Totalitarian State

A place where freedom's lacking, and where all must toe the line,
Where government is a tyranny, and a far cry from benign.
Everyone is spied on, and's aware that they're being watched,
And thoughts of independence will be very quickly scotched.
No-one trusts their neighbour, and are wary of their friends,
For often on discretion there, their very life depends,
In countries where an idle word can lead to their arrest,
As many people from the past can vividly attest.
The censor checks on writers, and they can't write what they please,
On much creative literature, there is a total freeze.
Bureaucracy is everywhere, and permits must be sought
For every little thing desired - a process often fraught
With long delays, and awkwardness, demands for money too;
Rejections tend to dominate, permissions being few.
Knowing what is going on within the world at large,
Is often quite forbidden by decree of those in charge.
Travelling abroad's a thing that's very often banned,
Except in special cases, they can never leave their land.
Telephones are often tapped; the government wants to know,
,Not only who you talk to, but also where you go,
Many people live in fear; they never can relax,
For there is never any time they need not watch their backs.
It's not the way that anyone should have to live their lives
Just waiting till eventually a new free dawn arrives.

The Evening Rush Hour at a Train Station

I'm sitting in a station, watching as the crowds
Rush across the concourse with their heads up in the clouds;
Looking not to left or right, they swiftly make their way
To catch the train to take them home after the working day;
Their faces blank, with not a sign of interest there being shown,
So little thought for others that they could be all alone.
They touch their cards while passing through the barriers to the trains,
Their focus on the journey home is all that still remains
To occupy their minds until they reach their journey's end
When at last from out the train they finally can descend.

The Theatre

A chance to leave the world behind
And seek a place where you can find
Stories told in various ways
In shorter and in longer plays.
Some may try to entertain
With little need to use your brain;
Others may be very deep
So it needs a conscious leap
To understand the message there
Concealed with subtlety and flair.
Some may simply make you laugh,
Others may be half and half
With funny moments slipped between
Each highly charged dramatic scene.
Some may focus on romance
With lots of music, songs and dance.
Others may attempt to scare
Any nervous patrons there.
Subjects range across the board
For everything will strike a chord
With someone, as it makes them feel
This to them is something real.
Some may have a lot of props
Bought, hired or borrowed from the shops;
Others may use nothing more
Than the basics from their store.
Some theatres may be very small,
Others have a barn-like hall.
But whether they are small or large
The function that they all discharge
Is making people's lives more fun,
With all the plays the theatres run.

Films

A chance to retreat from the world that's real
Into another where you can feel
A part of a different life and time,
Where you can leave the present and climb
Into a place of make believe
Where you can in your mind achieve
The chance to be someone exciting, brace,
Or anything else that you might crave.
Comedies may be the thing you embrace,
Bringing a regular smile to your face.
Or maybe it's romance that really appeals
Especially the type that so clearly reveals
Lives which are gentle and calm and refined,
Far, far away from your life's daily grind.
Perhaps it is drama, with heroes galore.
That makes for the sort of new films you adore.
Some people also find westerns a treat,
Talking about them to all whom they meet.
Crime is another group, where you will see,
A great many fans who would likely agree,
That crime is exciting, especially on screen,
Following clues where the policemen have been.
Whatever your tastes, in a film you will find
Plenty of things to remove from your mind
The world of reality, letting you go
Into another you'd much rather know.

Global Warming

Not long  ago the experts said
Global warming was just ahead
And soon the climate here would be
As warm and pleasant as Italy.
But warming then began to stall
And it was obvious to nearly all
That we no longer stood in line
For endless days when the sun would shine.
So then they did a quick exchange,
From "global warming" to "climate change",
And that the weather now would be
Less stable than 'twas formerly.
And in the coming years we'd find
Seasons not so well defined,
And also over time we'd gain,
Abnormal storms and droughts and rain.
The truth is that across the years,
Change is something that appears
Quite regularly, without man's aid,
So there's no need to be afraid,
That what we're doing now will cause
A change to any climate laws.
For there is nothing we can do,
But just accept all changes due
Making sure that we have planned,
So we all changes can withstand.

Winter is Coming

The sun sets earlier every day,
As winter-time is on its way,
Bringing with it dreary hours,
Overcast, with frequent showers.
Cold dark nights that make you feel
You've lost again your summer zeal.
Windy weather which brings forth,
Cold descended from the north.
Freezing air - perhaps it will
Make icicles on the window sill.
The thought of snow - it can appear
Long before the end of year.
Frosts can give the countryside
A beauty it can wear with pride.
And when winter-time begins
Soon it's obvious winter-time
Is just a short way down the line,

The New Labour Leader

Labour now has a new leader, and some people feel quite bereft,
Because unlike so many others, he's very far out on the left;
He doesn't dress neatly or smartly, and looks a bit of a scruff,
Giving the first impression that he really might be a bit rough.
He;s never been noted for loyalty, preferring to go his own way,
Never the slightest bit bothered on what party leaders might say.
His history is one of protesting; with his banners he's often been out,
Marching along with his comrades, well able to speak and to shout.
He's not very keen on the army, and really would like them to go,
But how we'd then fight an invader, he's not yet been able to show.
He'd also prefer a republic, and would like to get rid of the Queen,
For monarchies rank rather high among things on which he's not keen.
He'd like to provide all with houses, which might well seem a laudable aim,
But wanting and doing in practice, in real life are rarely the same.
He wants all the poor to be richer, which most would agree's a good thing,
But demands to maintain differentials is something that this could well bring.
But Labour've elected him soundly, with no doubt his mandate is there,
Some may see a disaster, but others a breath of fresh air

My New Desk

At last I've got a proper desk, which has sufficient space,
So all the things I'm working on now now proceed apace.
My new desk is an :L: shape and there's lots of room below,
Where all my files and stationery will very shortly go.
The side arm will accommodate, with nothing sat askew,
My PC and the scanner and the laser printer too.
The main desk now is big enough to take my larger Mac
With telephone beside and modem sitting neatly at the back.
There's also lots of room to put the books I'm working on,
The days of reading from my lap now finally are gone.
It's really great my workspace has been totally re-vamped,
And ended now are all the years of always being so cramped.

Pet Shops

Lots of baby animals, adorable and sweet,
Kittens, puppies, guinea pigs, the cutest you could meet,
Rabbits with big floppy ears , who love to eat their greens,
 Hamsters who adore to play on any small machines,
All sitting there in cages, just waiting for the chance
To flutter their appealing eyes at some new person's glance.
There'll also be some tortoises, hid beneath the shell,
And brightly coloured fishes swimming merrily as well.
Birds such as canaries, and many other breeds;
A great deal of equipment aimed to cater for pets' needs,
Food and beds and toys for them to give their lives a lift,
With many bright suggestions that you give your pet a gift.
A big shop will have such a choice, you're sure to find the one,
To bring into your life and home and make it much more fun.

Friends

People who are always there, whenever you're in need,
Are something you should treasure, as they really are indeed
A light in every person's life, with their unfailing love,
Which seems it's all pervasive, spreading under and above.
They're people who don't disappear when things in life go wrong,
But stay around supporting you till you again are strong.
They're not ashamed to be around, whatever you have done,
Continuing to shower you with their little ray of sun.
True friends are very precious, and should never be ignored,
But made aware of just how much they're valued and adored.

Department Stores

Department stores are really good,
The sort of places where you should
Allow yourself some time to browse
All the different things they house,
From pots and pans to toys and towels,
Clothes and shoes to china owls.
Knitting wools and cotton threat,
Books to help you get ahead.
Bags and cases of all kinds,
Curtains and venetian blinds.
Hats and scarves and travel too,
Pens and paper and pots of glue.
They're like a whole street rolled in one,
Where so much shopping can be done.

Dinner Parties

Dinner parties can be fun,
Just provided everyone
Is normal, friendly and at ease,
And none are difficult to please.
But problems quickly can arise
If someone there fails to advise
They don't eat this, they don't eat that,
And almost everything makes them fat.
Or one guest only likes to talk
And very swiftly starts to baulk,
If anyone should dare to try
And interrupt his boring cry.
Or two guests have quite different views,
So one must join in to defuse
The battle that is brewing there,
And calm the slightly heated air.
Or if the conversation flops,
And friendly interaction stops
As guest feel they have naught to say
To others who are there that day.
Or if you don't know in advance
And then discover quite by chance,
Two invitees there really hate
Each other and are keen to state
The reasons why they don't get on,
And much that should be dead and gone.
But if the guests are carefully matched
And invitations just despatched
To those who'll make a pleasant group,
A lively, chatty, friendly troop,
The dinner parties can be fun,
Not just for you, but everyone.

Roses

They come in many colours - pink, white, red and yellow;
Some of them are very bright, while others are quite mellow.
They come in various sizes, some delicate and small,
While others are much larger, and the bushes are quite tall.
Some stand straight with sturdy trunks, while others like to climb;
Some stay small, but others will grow bigger over time.
Some are highly scented and their perfume fills the air;
Others are so scentless you could that they were there.
But all of them are roses, with a beauty all their own,
Whether in a garden or a country lane they've grown.

The Local Councillor

You've just been elected and now you can say
You've a seat on the Council for four years from May;
Next there's the paperwork, filling in forms,
Learning the jobs each committee performs;
Endless reports will quite soon come your way,
All popping up in your inbox each day;
You'll need to read quickly to just keep abreast
Of everything that you are sent to ingest;
Then there's the meetings, which may last for hours,
As councillors exercise all of their powers;
As well there is casework, as you will soon find,
People with problems who feel left behind;
There's rubbish being dumped on the streets all the time,
The park is the scene of an increase in crime;
There's far too much drinking - the streets are awash
With drunks whose activities you're asked to quash;
There's far too much noise, so that neighbours can't sleep,
Pavements that regularly need a good sweep;
Foxes that roam with impunity through
All the back gardens, so they come to you;
Applications for planning will often appear,
Which people soon after will make very clear
Are quite unacceptable, and ask you to act,
Hoping your letters will make more impact;
Complaints re. repairs will most certainly be
One of the things you will regularly see,
As tenants wait ages for things to be done,
With months passing by before work is begun.
Housing is something which can be quite tough,
With so many feeling they've waited enough
To get somewhere decent, where they can be sure
They won't have to ever move home any more.
It may be hard work, but you may well achieve
Far more than at first you could ever believe.

My Broadband is Down

Just minutes ago, and my broadband was fine,

But now on the hub I can see a red line,

Which must be the reason that I can’t connect,

To all of the websites I want to select.

I can’t get my email – no news from my friends.

Which normally over the internet wends.

I can’t get the news, so I haven’t a clue,

What’s happening around, if there’s anything new.

I can’t look up timetables, check on a train,

See if the forecast is sunshine or rain.

I’m cut off from music and films on the net,

Again which is something I greatly regret.

Also I have yet another large grouse,

I can’t look up info by clicking a mouse,

And worse than all that I can’t update my blog;

So I think I will pack up and go for a jog.

Bridges

Bridges are there to join things, things of many kinds,

Bringing things together, something that always binds

One thing to another, in a multitude of forms,

That's the essence of the role that every bridge performs.

Bridges over rivers, so that both sides then are linked,

Even though each bank of it may still be quite distinct;

Bridges between countries, so their futures are aligned

And the lives of their two peoples are officially entwined.

Bridging loans for housing, linking purchase with a sale,

Help ensure delays won't cause the contract to derail.

Building bridges everywhere's a bit like adding glue,

And from it many benefits to both sides should accrue.

The Bus Driver

Nosing deftly through the traffic, making sure they don't collide,
With a passing car or lorry, as along the streets they glide.
Taking money, giving tickets, checking passes all day long,
Coping every day at rush hour with a pressed and anxious throng.
Listening as they near request stops for the tinkling of the bell,
Looking out for people waiting with there hands out there as well.
Letting down the ramp for wheelchairs, checking that they're safely on,
May mean they're delayed for minutes 'til they can again be gone.
Giving answers to the people who aren't sure just where's their stop,
Knowing well the route they're driving is a very useful prop.
Always chatty to the travellers, giving service with a smile,
Requesting people move along, so they do not block the aisle.
Just the job for those whose interests are in people, driving too,
And who like each day to bring them something different, something new.

Butterflies

Brightly coloured butterflies
Can be such a nice surprise
When one's walking in a field
And their presence is revealed
By silently flapping little wings,
Something which so often brings
A sense of just how sweet they look,
Flying over field or brook.
When they stop one can observe
The brilliant colours and gentle curve
Of wings spread out for all to see
Just how pretty they can be.

Pitstone Green Museum

Pitstone Green Museum is out in the countryside,
And one in which its volunteers can feel a sense of pride.
Open only occasionally, it's well worth a visit when
Comes a Bank Holiday Monday or summer Sunday again.
There's plenty of space for parking, as if you're coming from far
It's really quite hard to get to unless you possess a car.
There's enough for an all-day visit; it's open eleven 'til five,
With hundreds of texts and exhibits to make the past come alive.
The Ivinghoe Brewery story, a wealth of country pursuits,
Making lace, straw plaiting and much with rural roots.
Tools of trade and pastimes, toys and times of war,
Items of handmade clothing, which used to be worn before.
Lots of farm machinery, lovingly restored,
Items from old kitchens which will strike a familiar chord.
A blacksmith's shop and a carpenters; a brush shop's included, too.
Along with a model railway, so smart it looks like new.
A room from the 1940s; a plumber's and cobbler's shop;
The photo room and the film show are worth a lengthy stop.
A wheelwright's and a printer's; computers from the past;
Typewriters and comptometers, together with a vast
Array of collected items from the home of Mr. Cook,
Now housed in the Museum, and deserve a longish look.
A tractor ride to the windmill might make a small child's day,
Along with fields which give the chance to be outside and play.
All are housed in buildings which existed on the farm,
All all exude a certain air of rustic rural charm.
The volunteers are super, and they take their job to heart,
Involved with the Museum, they've much knowledge to impart.
At any large museum it is quite safe to assume
Somewhere in its precincts there will be a nice tea-room.
And so it is at Pitstone, where they serve delicious fare,
Teas and cakes and sandwiches, they all are offered there.
It's worth a day long visit, I think all would soon agree,
Because there really is so much that one can do and see.