tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47013223625965702262024-02-20T03:26:16.167-08:00DementiaPage devoted to the rising of dementia, which destroys normal living, replacing it with its own 'normality' - an ever retreating tide, still showing forward movement of rills and waves of of will.A Careful Harvesting of Wordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04948589116461485668noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4701322362596570226.post-85484581547128857142012-07-06T10:44:00.002-07:002013-12-01T13:34:14.086-08:00Mother’s Ramble<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The wood shuddered and every eye<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
listened at the stair behind the wall</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The door opened and slowly</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
a black felt hat followed <br />
by a long black coat</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
a black handbag and two black shoes</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
emerged turned and quietly closed the door</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In her eighties she was still a mountain</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
crumbling now but not yet turned to dust</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lips quivered her moustache. She smiled</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
uncertainly at these strangers in her room</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
negotiated the pillar and struggled</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
through double doors - down steps - below the swinging sign</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the bar the cry went up</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"She's off again. Better get your coat on"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He emerged - flustered - from the kitchen</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
followed by the smell of onions and hot pot</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Which way?"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Up!"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He ran back - turned off the gas</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
banged flour from his greying beard</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In sandals - hurrying up the cobbled street</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Icy wind whipping round his toes</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
biting through thin checked trousers</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He scanned anxiously for signs of her</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
'Fleet for her age - Pity her brain doesn't match'</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Puffing - he turned a corner and sighed softly</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her bulky determined shape a few yards on</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Mother.. come on Mother</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Its too cold to be out</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Where are you going this time?"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Home.. I'm going home"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She saw the terraced house three miles away</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
..its shiny windows</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Mother.. its gone</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You know its gone"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She looked at this fat blank stranger</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Why are you calling me Mother?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I want Tommy</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You can't stop me.. our Tommy.."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
His eyes watered against the ice</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
His lips clamped tight shut</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Mother.. please.. come on I'll take you home"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
linking her arm he gentle turned her round</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chin hairs wobbled as she cried bitter tears</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He dried her face on the tea towel from his pocket</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
soothing as they walked slowly back down the cobbled street</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Soon have you warm again</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some tea and a biscuit"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Is Tommy coming?"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Searching street.. face.. memory..</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"No Mother - You know he can't"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She saw the strong young son in his uniform</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
searched the face of this grey bearded stranger</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Who are you? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don't want you</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Where's Tommy?"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Its alright Mother</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Come on - nearly home"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Up the steps under the swinging sign</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Into the bar and a sea of pink faces</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her eyes screwed tight</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her face lifted</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Every hair changed into an angle of welcome</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Oh.. you're all here</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How good of you to come</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This man will get us all some tea"</div>
</div>
A Careful Harvesting of Wordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04948589116461485668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4701322362596570226.post-22058925948490755222012-07-06T10:41:00.000-07:002013-12-01T13:33:50.230-08:00The Old Man<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Into the bar</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">in an elderly shuffle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">woolly hat casing his
grizzled old head<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A pint or a half<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">and a seat at the table<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A smile when eyes caught<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">and the same conversation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Then all of a sudden we
heard he was dead<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The old man was gone<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">He would never more shuffle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">except in the photograph
which I once took<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">when he shuffled in<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">with his drink at the party<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A man on the fringes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">but eager and bright<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A man out in daytime<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">where sociable chatter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">could wash all around him<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And after his drink he went
home<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">with the ringing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">of speech and of pleasure
spread into his night<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">He's dead and he's buried<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">His elderly shuffle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">is silenced for ever<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">- or so they all think <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">But here in the silences<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">listen - you'll hear him<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">His ghost in his warm woolly
hat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">shuffles past<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Clutched in his hand<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">is another last drink<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Spread from his eyes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">is the need to exist</span></div>
</div>
A Careful Harvesting of Wordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04948589116461485668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4701322362596570226.post-70413932652920421542012-07-06T10:39:00.001-07:002013-12-01T13:27:07.389-08:00Dementia Settling<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I don't think I'm mad but</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My memories..? Run<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don't think I feel sad but<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I've stopped having fun<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I went up the stairs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and forgot why I'd gone<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Came down and.. who cares<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It revolves on and on<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I can't understand <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How to drive anymore<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My brain's in the wind.. and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My foot's through the door<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My wool hat's pulled on but..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My feet are unclad<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I would wear my socks but..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Its just like my dad<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If I could remember <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The thing or the part<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I'd rather September<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Debouching debart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Than trapped in the feathon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Falanding krilane<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The mourning.. the fostron<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Suspicing the sane<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In cough or in coffin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Take me and go off<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They hide me - they're laffin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I die and .. enough<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The bath's on the floorboards<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It floods through the door <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I paddle.. on.. onwards<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To reach the far shore<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With pies in the gas grill<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And gas taps left on<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I eat.. but the taste still..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Elusively .. gone<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The world is my snap-trap<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I pack up the bin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There's more to this clip-trap<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The bottles go in<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And pills in the waking<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And pills in the night<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And pills are for taking<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">..I must get it right<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I've taken tomorrow's <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The next day's as well<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It adds to my sorrows<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A 'medicine hell'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My cushions are splendid<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Piled high to sit on<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The programme has ended<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.. The tele's a 'con'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Its always remote and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I can't work it out<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I bawl and I throat and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I stamp and I shout<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I bathe in the morning<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For shops that are shut<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Its somehow the evening<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.. I must dress my foot<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Life's ever confusing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That tray's got to leave<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And who has been using..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She's dead - I must grieve<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I sleep like a barmy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Old man.. and I fought<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the war in the army<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In battle ..? I thought?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My tales.. entertaining<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Grow wild and remote<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And hours explaining<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yes.. where is my coat?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But sitting and drinking<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My corner's still there<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I'm chatting .. or thinking<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Whenever time's spare<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My friends in the pub <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Are a comfort to me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And habit's the job<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And just letting life be</span></div>
</div>
A Careful Harvesting of Wordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04948589116461485668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4701322362596570226.post-35615965274976024272012-01-13T06:24:00.001-08:002012-01-13T06:24:31.016-08:00Demented –failing lives<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"> Thousands sit awake at night</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">On watch for movements of the day</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">To hear the creaky-groany boards</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">The closing door – the moving chair</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">They estimate what actions keep</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">The one demented soul awake</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">And settle only on the loss</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Of sound of movement through the wall</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Or yet – exhausted – sleep in spite</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Of night long wailing out of dreams</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">A Sisterhood – a Brotherhood</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">For years their ears attune the need</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Which patched and pricked into their soul</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Will still advance while there is life</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Their life - or life of one they love</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">In retrospective empathy</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Of times when love meant everything</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">They settle stunned by misery</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">And cope as well they’re able to</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Give up when nothing’s making sense</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">To sleep in guilty nightmare’s grip</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">To - waking – find continuance</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">The fact of small destructiveness</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Upon a mind once clear and bright</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Shows here in sorrow – loss of self</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">And loss of will to wash and dress</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Or to ensure that meals are made</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Or eaten once – not twice nor thrice</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">That sinks and baths are not the same</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">As toilet bowls – and floors left clean</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Are spread in brown – the stink removes</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">The will to eat in those who care</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Yet loss of smell in failing mind</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Allows no deep concerning thought</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Of gas or food gone over long</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Nor any sense in life still lived</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">By others round about – nor need</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">To gather love nor willingness</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">For those who care – yet cannot care</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">In spite of all – nor take delight</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">In love returned – nor hopefulness</div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Of better times to come.</span></div>A Careful Harvesting of Wordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04948589116461485668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4701322362596570226.post-81083310899270471922012-01-13T05:25:00.000-08:002012-01-13T06:23:24.044-08:00The Man He Is<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">Salt - he’s into salt this week</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">And farts producing foetid air</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">And pissing in the kitchen bin</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">And ‘gobbing’ in the kitchen sink</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">Is there no end to my disgust</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">It rises choking into rage</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">Yet he is heading into dark</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">The man once tenderly I loved</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">The man enclosing all my hope</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">Who loved and set me free to live</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">Who moved me – happy – round the earth</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">How can I mend this widened gap</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">His room – his cave – is lined with books</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">With newspapers in carrier bags</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">Withall no reading now delights</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">But only worries more than life</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">He walks – he drinks – he’s going deaf</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">He loses temper on the spot</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">Invents his history of war</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">Expounds to all who lend an ear</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">As on and on – with Hitler beat</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">His tanks and planes and submarines</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">All driven – so it seems – by him</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">When he was but ‘the milk round lad’</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">Yet deep confusions in his head</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">Controlled by will ‘magnificent’</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">Are sometimes forced to line the wall</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">As sympathy and need arise</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">Inside his eyes I see the spark</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">Of who he is – still fighting back</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: right 415.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">I hold my breath – try not to cry</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">But just admire the man he is.</span></div>A Careful Harvesting of Wordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04948589116461485668noreply@blogger.com0