Category Archives: Philosophy

Warmth

I’ve reached that point, where all that matters

Is a warm and sunny day

Too often does cold, take bitter hold

And gnaw at my bones like decay

 

When the sun shines, there is some release

From the prison that is my home

I then struggle out, without a clout

With freedom, at last, to roam

 

On winter days, so short and cold

The four walls close in as a vice

Listening aghast, to the weather forecast

Promising snow and ice

 

Bed is sanctuary, where shivers subside

Though my nose asks for cover too

Like Oates to Scott, I know I’m facing my lot

When I briefly pop out to the loo

 

If this land goes to hell, in the proverbial handcart

For the young, I’d feel sorrow in large measure

It isn’t all sad; there’ll be one thing not bad

The heat I’ll enjoy with great pleasure

INSIGHT

Time fades the clarity of young sight

Form and colours, once clear and bright

Now cloudy shapes through opaque lenses

Only real through different senses

 

But there is yet a way to see

Unlocking memories, like a key

Those who look within the mind

Can access images of every kind

 

For age improves the inner eye

Which knows the beauty of days gone by

Recalling scenes of timeless splendour

Precious moments to engender

 

Sun kissed seas of sapphire blues

Northern lights’ ephemeral hues

Distant horizons glowing red

Thunderous storm-skies shaded lead

 

Mists rising in dawn’s early light

Silver-rimmed clouds scudding in flight

Diamond sparkling rainbow dew

Dappled rays shaded canopies through

 

Countless twinkling stars above

A glint in the eyes of one you love

Shimmering heat haze under the sun

A smile on the lips of anyone

An Unexpected Caller

A caller rang the doorbell

Straight way my heartbeat skipped

Who can this be a-ringing

With no visitors on the script

 

The house is so untidy

I haven’t combed my hair

Fish smells linger from the kitchen

The timing’s so unfair

 

No chance to try addressing

The mad jumble of concerns

Again the bell rings threatening

To open my can of worms

 

A moment’s hesitation

Safe this side of the door

Jumping with surprise as

A note flutters to the floor

 

Then footsteps gate-ward tread

As I guiltily scan the card

‘We tried to deliver a parcel today

You must collect it from our yard’

 

Deaf NOT Daft

Dappled conversations

Confusing to the ear

Brightly tinkling chatter

Dull, no longer clear

 

Silent slippery sentences

Using lips to lend a clue

Shattered to staccato

Once they’re not in view

 

Sorry, I didn’t catch that

Say it once more, please

I’m deaf not daft, but sadly

Words are like Swiss cheese

It Could be Worse

Despite the fuss on the national news

Last week’s earthquake brought hardly a bruise

Barely enough to make walls shake

But ‘quakes elsewhere, leave deaths in their wake

 

Classed as ‘light’; Richter 4.4

Even more slight than in ’84

When we swept up the kids and ran outside

If the earth moves, there’s nowhere to hide

 

Now, it seems, we’ve another ‘grave’ threat

The ‘beast from the east’, a new cause to fret

A Siberian blast, bringing snow and ice

At -5C, the Beeb says it won’t be nice

 

But some can recall the freeze of ’82

When staying outdoors wasn’t good for you

At -26C, that really was cold

It killed by degrees, especially the old.

The Perfect Dad

It’s hard to be that perfect dad

Who doesn’t drive his children mad

Maybe some faults most dads share

Pointed out, becoming clear

 

Gone past the need to care so much

For children’s welfare, health and such

Guiding in the social mores

Without setting many chores

 

Feeding and clothing without concern

That they give something in return

Plying with love, support and care

Showing them it’s OK to dare

 

Providing every chance to see

The very best that they might be

Become the adult you are not

We try to give it our best shot

 

But, the final test of fatherhood;

Something seldom understood

When adult, can each child respect

The norm is; dads are seldom perfect.

 

Forming Opinions

If opinion is divided,

Consensus not in sight.

Head and heart may disagree,

But both cannot be right

 

Bring to bear one measure;

The final acid test.

Belief may be convincing,

But evidence is best.