FATE

Knew I shouldn't have gone today,

Should've had a day away,

Should've listened to my inner voice say

That someone my hide today would flay.

Wish I'd listened and stayed away!

First I woke too late for a bath,

Then the mirror fell onto the hearth,

And when a black cat passed my path,

I swerved and incurred a motorist's wrath.

If only I'd stayed behind for that bath!

I arrived at work, and while racing in

Managed to trip over the bin

Which sent it flying in a spin

Until it collided (what a terrible din)

With my boss' new Aston Martin.

Predictably, he came out in a rage

Like an actor taking centre stage,

And threatened my face with his fist to engage,

While I cowered before him and tried to assuage

His anger by offering repairs from my wage.

Fuming he yelled, 'That isn't enough!'

'But,' I replied, 'It's just a small scuff!'

His face turned purple as he left in a huff,

Then returned with a soft cloth to lovingly buff

His concours prize winner that now could be duff!

'Get out of my sight and never come back!'

He screamed at me as he gave me the sack.

I wanted to ask for my briefcase and mac,

But I thought if I dared I'd come under attack!

So I left with nought but this morning's lunch pack.

I knew I shouldn't have gone today.

How I wish I'd stayed away!!



THE CALLING

In a clearing
                            in the Great Forest
                                                                    of the North

Stands a Celtic Cross
                                      skilfully carved
                                                                     from sacred Blue Stone.

Merlyn's legacy,
                                   this microcosm
                                                                     of Universal Spirit

Emits hypnotic vibration
                                        calling you back
                                                                      from the darkness.

The plants
                         and animals
                                                        are already home.

Hush! Just listen
                                  to my song
                                                                in your heart.


I am that Stone.

FRIENDSHIP

For A.P.

We have a history, you and I.
It seems aeon's ago
that we first met.
You needed someone to nurture then,
and I to be loved.
But you exceeded that.
Like an alchemist, you transformed
my parents' raw material
into something better,
a person I could finally begin to like.

Since then
you've been my guiding light.
My confidant,
you've absorbed my darker secrets
so I could feel unburdened.
You've been my courage
when I'm afraid,
and defender when I'm threatened.
You've been my husband
and my lover.
You've been the father
of my children,
and my lifeline when
death stole our first-born child.
You've always been there for me
and ready to forgive
cruel acts and harsh words
shouted in anger when I thought
you were trying to control me
and censor my words.
I fought for my freedom then, and won
a Pyrrhic victory,
for without you
I was lost.


When I look at you today
I see our story
etched through time
into lines on your face,
each one betraying a hurt
I carelessly inflicted
throughout our wilderness years.
And when your eyes are downcast
and your mood sombre, I know
those wounds are troubling you.
Bitter regret plagues me then,
and I wish more than anything
that I could reach back through time
to undo my unkindness.
But I can't.
The past is irretrievable,
and even if it weren't
incompatibility would still divide us.
I will forever inadvertently offend you,
and you infuriate me.
That's just the way we are.
Yet, in spite of these monumental differences
I can truly call you friend.

And I love you still.

AYRTON

Alone I sit in nervous state

Just inside the old school gate,

As wondering what today will bring

To positive thoughts I try to cling.

Then piercingly the shrill school bell

Heralds a stampede straight from hell,

As children large and children small

Rush to answer home time's call.

Way behind, one scruffy boy

Drags his school bag, looking coy.

His shirt is torn, he's caked in mud

And on his cheek I spy dried blood.

'The teacher wants to see you, mum.'

'Now' I chide, 'What have you done?'

As back we march into the class

Preparing for the latest farce.

His teacher greets us with a scowl

'It's just too much,' she begins to growl,

But Ayrton pipes up butting in,

'I  didn't throw him in the bin!'

'It was Christopher, James and Paul.

It wasn't me, I'm much too small!

And anyway I wasn't there,

Cos I was mending my broken chair!'

'So how did your chair come to break?'

'It all began with Simon's snake,

He threw it at me during maths

It made me jump and down I crashed.'

'Then what about the lunch time fight?'

'Jimmy blamed me out of spite.'

'And why would he do that,' she asks.

'Because I'm better at my tasks!'

'Who flicked ink into Jenny's hair?'

'I don't know, I wasn't there.

I was busy wiping up

The contents of your coffee cup!'

'And what about the ruined book?'

'All I did was have a look.

I didn't mean to rip the page,

But Jamie pushed me in a rage!'

'So why was Jamie cross with you?'

'Cos someone kicked him in the loo.

I don't know why he's blaming me,

I'd only gone there for a pee!'

Now come the words I always dread,

'Please come with me to see the Head.'

As one by one we file inside,

I wish that I could run and hide!

The Head is stern as she explains

That though my Ayrton has the brains,

They cannot teach him anymore

Because his behaviour is so poor.

Deeply embarrassed, I try to explain,

But my words are only met with disdain.

It seems he's broken every rule

And we must find another school! 



                                  

                   Fortunately, he has grown out of his 

                   bad behaviour now, and we are best

                   friends!