Snowflakes

The first little snowflakes come fluttering down
To form dots of white on a carpet of brown;
They come down in silence to land on the earth,
Without any bangs or loud chuckles of mirth.
They float through the air without making a sound,
And equally silently fall on the ground.
On calm winter days when the wind doesn't blow
There's something quite moving about falling snow.

Coal Fires

The smell of coal brings memories back,
Of orange flames among the black
of lumps of coal stacked in the grate,
Lit from early until late.
A smell that's destined to invoke
Thoughts of the ever-present smoke
That smokeless fuel did much to stop,
Making its levels greatly drop.
Coal fires were very much a part
Of people's lives, right from the start;
They still remind one of the days
When heating meant a cheerful blaze.

Poppy Selling

I take my poppies and empty tin,
With my handy tray to put them in;
Think of the time and then select
The place where I feel it's best to collect.
Sign myself in and choose my spot,
The one where I think I will sell a lot.
Twirl a poppy in the air,
With all an experienced seller's flair,
For this very simple act
People's notice will attract.
Smile a lot and be polite,
Always looking nice and bright.
Most people will just hurry by
And none could hope to catch their eye.
Others have a bit more time,
But giving doesn't with them chime.
Others, and sometimes the most
Are just so totally engrossed
In texting, they are unaware
That there are other people there.
Glazed eyes are such a common sight
And ear phones also help to blight,
Awareness of the world around,
Cut off from all external sound.
Then one stops, and I promptly say
The cost of all that's in my tray,
Hoping that they'll buy a pin,
And put more money in my tin.
Some are generous, some are mean,
But most lie somewhere in between.
Some think that everything is free,
While others offer just five pee,
Most however give a pound;
Occasionally there comes around
Someone who puts in much, much more,
The sort or client I adore.
For notes weigh nothing, and my tin
Gets heavier as each coin goes in.
I have no finish time as such,
But when my tin weighs far too much
I close my tray and then sign out,
Though I'll be back next day no doubt.

I Need a Nom de Plume

In the past many writers did not achieve fame
Until they decided to use a new name;
Even the Brontes were forced to resort
To nom de plumes so that their novels were bought.
So what shall I call myself?  With so much choice;
Perhaps in a French name I now should rejoice.
Or maybe a Scottish one, starting with Mac,
Would help set my writing along the right track.
Perhaps I should go for one syllable long,
Something that sounds rather forceful and strong.
A name that's poetic and trips off the tongue,
One which would really sound much better sung.
Something that;s old and is nowadays classed
As dating right back several centuries past.
A spot of Italian might add to my charms,
And certainly wouldn't raise any alarms.
Or maybe exotic - a name from the East,
Something which might be remembered at least.
It's so hard to choose from the thousands out there,
I've now got the feeling  it's not really fair
For I don't really know what the publishers seek,
What type will sound strong, while another sounds weak.

Sunday Mornings

Out of bed I slowly climb
At the usual weekday time,
Put on kettle and bread for toast,
They take five minutes at the most.
Just time enough for Morning Prayer
Before I have my breakfast fare.
A leisured bath and wash my hair,
Decide which outfit I will wear.
Get the Sunday paper next,
Briefly scan the front page text;
Off to Mass when I hear the bell,
A familiar sound I know so well.
Home again for Sunday lunch -
I don't go in for Sunday brunch.
After that what I like best
Is just to have a little rest.

The Council's Saving Money

The Council's saving money so the street lights now are dim,
Which makes our long road dark and in the winter rather grim;
The rubbish isn't collected twice a week as 'twas before,
But only on a single day when there is so much more.
No skips appear at all thee days so everyone is faced
With problems getting rid of all unwanted larger waste;
The street's not swept as regularly as happened in the past,
There's lots of litter lying round when it is cleaned at last.
They say we're very luck getting anything at all,
But I wonder how much waste occurs within our nice Town Hall.

Women and Sport

Some cultures are adamant no woman ought
To take any part in an organised sport;
They think such activities solely belong
To men, and for women they're totally wrong.
They can't understand sport's a good thing for all
And women as well can hear clearly the call
To play in a team, to be part of a crowd,
And it's really outrageous if they're not allowed
In this modern age, where it's well recognised,
And really it can't be too much emphasised
That women like sports and the chance to do well,
And there's many an area where they excel;
Not only that but all know there's a wealth
Of research that shows it is good for their health.
But still there are some who have not thought it through
And go on retaining their outdated view.

Love at First Sight

Their eyes met for only a second, but that was all they required
For a spark in their hearts to be lighted, for both to feel inspired
To arrange for another meeting, a chance to get to know
More of the other person, with space for romance to grow.
With no time to linger at that point, they passed on their numbers in hast,
Hoping this might lead to something on which a new love might be based;
And so it transpired in the future; their instant impression was right,
For romance grew out of that meeting; it'd truly been love at first sight.

The Presence of Love

Love's presence manifests itself in many varied ways,
For there's a host of aspects to the message it conveys,
Depending on the context and the people who're involved,
The way in which throughout the scene its present is dissolved;
It can mean acts of kindness to a stranger who's in need,
Random generosity instead of selfish greed;
Thoughtfulness to others in a world where that is rare,
Can contain the message love is clearly present there;
Caring for the poor and sick, with no thought of reward
Can evidence a heart in which deep love has clearly soared.
The cheery word, encouragement, extended helping hands,
Display the character of one who follows love's demands;
There are so many ways in which love's presence can be shown,
And also many ways in which its presence can be known.

Love Binds Together

Love is the glue that binds
People whose hearts and minds
Are tuned together;
It covers all the cracks
Made by what each one lacks
Whatever life's weather.

Love is needed in life,
To counter all the strife
That's everywhere;
Its presence fosters calm,
And there is less alarm
When love is there.

Taking Children for Walks

Maybe children should be taken
Out for walks to keep them fit,
For it doesn't cost a penny -
There's no need for special kit.
Even within central London,
Pretty walks are easily found;
All one needs to do to find them
Is get a map and look around.
London's full of grass and greenery,
Public parks are everywhere;
It doesn't matter where you're living,
Within a mile there'll be one there.
Most are crossed by paths for walking,
Or you can enjoy the grass;
With a landscape like the country,
Time will very quickly pass.
There's the path along the river
Stretching on for mile on mile,
Where you can just keep on walking
Or sometimes stop and rest a while.
Walks can take in quieter back streets,
Where the passing cars are few,
With a chance to stop and linger,
Savouring whatever's new.
There are also woody commons
Where the trees shut out the sun,
Places with so much to offer
Which walkers really shouldn't shun.
There's no reason London children,
Can't be taken for a walk,
Which will make them so much fitter,
As well as giving a chance to talk.

Toy Shops

At Christmas shops are full of toys
Aimed at little girls and boys;
Pretty dollies dressed in pink,
With curly hair and eyes that blink;
Dolls which utter baby cries,
Teddy bears with tartan ties;
Plastic ducks for bathtime fun,
Brightest yellow, like the sun;
Model trains which chug along,
Cuddly toys which play a song;
Meccano sets and jigsaws too,
Games and puzzles, old and new;
Drums and whistles there abound,
And small pianos with tinny sound;
Sets of coloured paints and pens,
Balls for playing with their friends;
Lots of cars and aeroplanes,
Tractors, ships and metal cranes;
Throughout a toyshop there are piled
Stacks of things fore very child.

Bureaucracy

And there is little chance that it will ever go away,
For all throughout man's history it always has been true,
That rulers like to keep control of all their people do.
When people were illiterate 'twas often still the case
Dealing with officials was a thing they had to face;
Desire to exercise control since then has never ceased,
And it has grown from year to year as literacy increased.
And so today in every state it has become the norm
That thousands of activities demand some sort of form
Complete with lists of questions, which grow longer every year,
As if the rulers of the state live constantly in fear
Their power would quickly be reduced if people were allowed
To live their lives without the rulers' all-embracing shroud.
Computers and cheap printing both have helped promote the scale
Of government intervention, making past attempts look pale.
And then  of course bureaucracy .needs bureaucrats to run
The larger civil service, to ensure the work is done.
So the government hires more people so they have sufficient staff
For all the work it now it requires be done on its behalf.
Life was so much simpler when the government touch was light
With many living out the lives outside their ruler's sight.

Hair Fairness

It really, really isn't fair,
Some girls have awful problem hair,
When men who wear theirs very short,
Are born with shining locks; the sort
That would look gorgeous on a girl,
Who'd really like her hair to curl,
And not fall lankly from her head,
Looking like it was half-dead,
But rather cascade down in waves,
Thick and dark, so it behaves
Like well-bred hair, which makes her look
Like something in a fashion book.

Peace would be Good

There is little chance that we
Within our lifetimes here shall see
A world where only peace will reign,
A world delivered from the stain
Of constant wars and civil strife,
Where evil aims and deeds are rife,
Which in the past has been the case,
Marring the lives of the human race.
How much nicer it would be
Were our world to be set free
From all the violence that occurs
In this present life of hers.

Wandering in the Fields

I love to wander through the fields
Savouring all the country yields.
The chirp of crickets in the grass,
Which just continues as I pass.
The sight of butterflies in the air,
Which often make me stop and stare
At all the colours in  their wings -
They really are such pretty things.
The little streams which slowly flow,
The reeds that in their waters grow.
The scent of flowers, so sweet and strong,
Assailing my nose as I walk along.
Also welcome is the sound
Of the buzzing bees as they flit around.
Small  birds singing in bush and hedge
Which grow along each meadow's edge.
Then the sound from a distant source
Of mooing cow and neighing horse.
All country sights and sounds and smells,
Which to many people spells
A life now overtaken by
The modern world; but still they sigh
For a life that's simpler, that seems more real
A life where everyone can feel
They're closer to nature and the earth,
And everything to which this gives birth.

Building Sites

Wherever you look around London at present
Signs of new building work catches your eye;
New projects are starting all over the city,
Their numbers increasing as each day goes by.

Old buildings are knocked down, reduced to mere rubble,
Creating a space to erect something new,
For there's pressure on land and so little that's empty
For sites never built on in cities are few.

Tall fences guard many sites like a prison,
Keeping out people who might wander in;
Often erected as soon as is possible,
Long before work there is planned to begin.

The buildings rise upward as each floor is added,
Looking as if they are seeking the sky,
Many are tall because space is so limited,
Rising to twenty or more storeys high.

At night you can see graceful cranes reaching skywards
Visible easily with red lights aglow.
Making a statement against the sky's blackness,
Towering above the new building below.

Finding A Copy Holder

I've found that it is hard to find
A copy holder that's designed
To stand beside my nice P.C.
With copy held where I can see.
No retail outlet seems to sell
These items which have served so well
All the typists from the past,
Helping keep their speeds so fast.
It's seems today you must rely
On websites if you want to buy
A copy holder, only there
Can they be found, though very rare.
But I'm the sort who likes to see
How an item looks to me.;
A catalogue just cannot show
All the things I need to know.
Sign holders are for different things
But from a problem invention springs,
A slanted one came from a shop;
With bulldog clip across the top
A copy holder it's become
And I'm no longer feeling glum.

The 3G Household

Suggestions now that it would be good
If greater numbers of people could
Take in their parents when they're old,
Maybe when their house is sold,
Rather than putting them away
In a nursing home to stay,
Are nothing new, for in the past,
People would have been aghast
At letting their parents blithely go
Into a home, for that would show
They didn't care what people said
About the kind of life they lead.
And mothers often had the task,
Of babysitting; they could bask
In knowing that their role was clear;
With grannies there, there was no fear
That mothers could not go to work -
Her presence was a valued perk.
In recent years, all that has changed,
And older people have exchanged
A life of bringing up the young;
For spending all their time among
Their own age, for they live alone,
Trapped in the older people's zone.
But it would make so much more sense,
And save young parents much expense
If all three generations stayed
In one large house where all could aide
Each other and from that derive
A better life where all could thrive.

The Middle East

The Middle East's in such a mess
With millions living in distress;
The region is at present rent
With wars, uprisings and dissent.
All of which have one result
Whichever grouping is at fault.
Many people have to flee
For it is plain for all to see
Minorities have little hope
Knowing that they cannot cope
With all the persecution aimed
At them by people who're inflamed
With deadly hatred, and are bent
On killing all who might dissent
From their own view of faith and life,
And murders are extremely rife.

The problem may have started when
The land was carved up yet again,
With straight lines drawn across the map,
So faiths and peoples overlap.
Most countries have a varied mix
Which now'd be very hard to fix
Of different cultures, faiths and lives
In nations where each large group strives
To take control and be in power,
So their group only then can flower.

When weapons were in short supply,
Not many people dared to try
To oust the government by force -
Rebellion would be stopped at source.
But now the area is awash
With arms, so it is hard to squash
Planned rebellions as before,
So everywhere there's civil war.

The outcome of  this awful strife
Is not just major loss of life,
But whole societies breaking down,
With battles fought in every town.
Their homes destroyed, their income gone,
So many people must move on
And find a place which them can give
Somewhere they again can live
And build their lives, away from all
The hatred which engulfed them all.

Floral Displays

Flowers give a room such a feeling of friendliness
Adding their beauty to whatever's there,
Giving a sense it's a place that is lived in,
Even in rooms which are otherwise bare.

Their colours can vary from pure white to crimson,
Palest of cream to a deep mustard shade;
Purples and mauves and a wide choice of orange,
With blues that extend from a pale hue to jade.

Included there'll usually be some sort of greenery,
Feathery fronds to the tall, thick and straight,
Bringing their beauty along with their colour
To the pretty display that they help to create.

Women in Business

It so often happens that women are told
They shouldn't be forthright, determined or bolt,
But just sit and listen and let all the men
Discuss all the issues and plans once again.
To have an opinion and want to be heard
Is something that only from men is preferred;
The odd woman sitting there often may seem
A token and not a full part of the team.
Too often her views are ignored or put down,
Met with a laugh or dismissed with a frown.
But though in her efforts she's dismally failed,
Similar words from a man are then hailed
As brilliant, insightful and worthy of note,
His ideas deserving a positive vote.
It therefore should be within everyone's  goals,
That women fill half of all leadership roles.
For when they form half they will not be alone;
There'll always be back-up, and as it well known
It's harder to bully or put down a group
Or carefully ensure they're kept out of the loop.

A Woman for Party Leader

Next time the parties have to find
A leader, they might keep in mind
A woman could provide a change,
And there is surely quite a range
Of women who have all the skills,
And every one of whom fulfils
All the criteria a leader needs,
Both in their speeches and their deeds.

It's said that taller men do best,
Though height should never be a test
For leadership; it has no place
In any presidential race.
But if it's true that people choose
Tall candidates, then those who lose
Will more than often women be
For it is very plain to see
That though some women are quite tall,
On average they are rather small.

But being short has never meant
A person can't be competent;
Since they a powerful presence lack
They really need to have the knack
Of managing to get things done
And many larger folk outrun.

But often it's the loud and brash,
The type who always make a splash,
And think that they are born to lead,
Not thinking of their party's need,
But of their own ambitious ways,
And the money the new job pays.

Women tend to make less noise
Than the average ambitious boys;
Therefore they are much less seen
And sometimes airbrushed from the scene.

But parties choosing big, strong men
Perhaps next time should think again,
And choose a person on all that they
Can bring along on election day.

Sketching Fields

I love to sit outdoors and sketch

The grassy fields of green which stretch,

While interspersed with lines of hedge

Right up to the very edge

Where earth meets sky, and miles away,

Even on a hazy day.

I am also very glad

To see the fields completely clad

In heather and such other plants

Which also do not look askance

At barren rocks with little soil,

The sort of fields where plants must oil

To get a footing and to thrive,

Where others could not stay alive.

Equally I love to draw

The dark brown fields which just before

Have all been very neatly ploughed

In lines to make a farmer proud.

They stand there, ready for the seed

Which the fields each year still need

If they're to go on to provide,

Another crop next summer-tide.

Beggars

So many beggars on the streets,
The people one so often meets
Sitting there with arm outstretched
Holding a plastic cup they've fetched
From somewhere so that passersby
Can as they walk along supply
A steady stream of coins which they
Hope will grow throughout the day.

Some beggars ask for twenty pee
To buy themselves a cup of tea,
Even though it is the case
Though it is hard to find a place
Where one can buy a cup of tea
For any less than eighty pee.

Some have babies in their arms
Something which they hope disarms
The people who would pass them by
If they didn't attempt to try
And make them feel a pang of guilt
And their lack of pity wilt.

Some have very clearly sunk
Down to the level of always drunk;
No matter what the time of day
Their smell of beer and  gait display
That giving money is no use
Their problem's of alcohol abuse.

Many come from life in care,
A situation often where
They gained no skills to live alone,
Outside their care protected zone.

Others say they have no home
And on the streets are forced to roam.
Sometimes this may be quite true
For homelessness is nothing new
Among the young, who want to live
In cities which they hope will give
A more exciting life than they
Could find in small towns far away.
Reality then shows its face,
For cities often aren't the place
For people with no job of flat,
But many haven't realised that
Until they find themselves adrift,
With little hope that they can lift
Themselves out of the downward spin,
Reversing the current state they're in.
City life knowledge is often flawed,
Especially in those come from abroad.

For many it's not lack of wealth
But serious issues of mental health;
At one time most of them could cope,
But modern life gives them no hope.
For few jobs now will take account
Of the actual fact their skills amount
To very little, but they could still,
A limited role in work fulfil.

Some have an aggressive tone,
Especially to people who're alone;
They can intimidate and more,
Frightening the nervous to the core.
But usually beggars just sit there,
Often with a vacant stare,
Their attitude if anything
Pathetic more than threatening,

What can be done?  There would not seem
An easy way to achieve the dream
Of making sure that no-one feels
They have to beg to buy their meals.
It wouldn't be possible to arrange
A single solution, for beggars range
Across the width of human life,
With all its problems and constant strife.

Young Animals

Fluffy little chickens are a most endearing sight,
Along with baby ducklings, ones not old enough for flight.
Kittens have the sweetest look, when tiny balls of fur
Particularly when uttering  the tiniest little purr.
Puppies too are full of charm, their big eyes making sure
They have the look they know will make all children them adore.
Lambs and kids and calves and foals, there's something about them all
That makes them so attractive, not just that they are small.
The young of every species seems to have some special trait,
Some very special feature to which people can relate.

The Desire for Peace and Stability

They aren't concerned if it's their fate
A tyrant is their head of state;
Nor if one cannot criticise
The government, nor expose their lies.
Stability's their main concern,
Knowing that where're they turn,
There will be peace, with law upheld,
With every person's doubts dispelled
Concerning if the streets are safe;
The lack of freedom may often chafe,
But all in all they would prefer
A system set up to deter
All trouble that might soon arise,
If unchecked by government spies.
Freedom of speech may be severely curtailed,
With threats that are open or thinly veiled,
But many don't care, or they don't really mind,
Dissension is something they've left far behind.
News can be censored, with papers not free,
To print what they want to, whatever it be;
But everyone knows that and takes it on board,
Better some shackles that any discord.
Elections they know may be rigged from the start,
With only the dictator's friends taking part.
But as long as there's peace, there are few who'll complain,
Though many might hold the whole thing in distain.
In countries where several groups just co-exist,
A dictator's rule may in fact soon be missed,
For he has kept order and made sure that none,
Try to assert their own place in the sun.
And while there's stability, order and calm,
They know in their hearts there's no cause for alarm,
For they can get on with their jobs and their life,
Untroubled by ethnic or faith focused strife.
But with the demise of a dictator's reign,
It's likely that chaos will break out again.
And chaos is something nearly everyone fears
So they're happy to have a dictator for years.

The Power of Love

Love is the glue which binds together
People's relationships, one with another,
Whether as friend or partner or spouse,
Parent or cousin, aunt, uncle or brother.

If love is there lacking there's nothing to hold
People together if times become hard
And there's the temptation to simply move on,
And those that aren't useful to quietly discard.

But when love is present the picture is different,
Men are diverted from just their own needs,
And thinking of others are lead to express
The love in their hearts both in words and in deeds.

Love between people's essential if they
Are to live in a group and not just on their own,
For that is what binds them to take care of others
And not just consider their own wants alone.