The Boxer

The endless hours of training before the fight

Fitness at a peak to make sure you’re just right

The discipline in and outside the ring

The buzz as you hear the sell out crowd sing

 

You’ve waited so long to get a shot at the belt

This match is for every punch that you’ve felt

Walking to the ring with your minders all around

Your hood over your head focused on the ground

 

The announcer introduces you the crowd give a cheer

You feel relaxed with nothing to fear

Your opponent stands tall, focused and still

Your body filled with determination and will

 

The bell rings and the fight underway

A quick one two and you opponent begins to sway

He puts up his guard and you can’t get through

You change to the stomach that will do

 

 

You’re into the sixth and you feel much stronger

Your opponent can’t last too much longer

A weighty left hook and he hits the floor

His back up team looks towards the exit door

 

Another victory on your perfect boxing card

The world champ surely should be on his guard

He knows you’re coming for his world title belt

Doubt is something he’s never felt

 

Your dream still alive to become the very best

As a child you set out on this important quest

Making sacrifices not caring what others say

So you can become world champion and have your day!

A meeting again

That time of the week when we all come together

Rain or shine what ever the weather

We are given an agenda and paper to write

We are dyslexia friendly so its buff not white

 

The boss walks in with a clipboard under an arm

Meaning business this is surely an alarm

We get started with an authoritative voice

Attempting to listen we have no choice

 

Suggestions are welcomed but quickly rejected

The meetings agenda is surely subjective

30 minutes pass and still no decisions made

Hopes of leaving early begin to rapidly fade

 

A need to stay awake is becoming so hard

Meetings like this should simple be barred

The boss makes a note on the meeting log

Everyone nodding like the Churchill dog

 

The meeting finally brought to a bored end

You turn to whisper to your nearest friend

Unsure what the meeting was really about

Next one the same you have no doubt

 

A meeting just for the sake of a meeting

Is it just to test we have enough seating?

The same conversations with the same conclusions

Decisions already made I’m under no illusions

 

Why Can't We Get Along?

A great man once said “Give Peace A Chance”

But he couldn’t put leaders in a’ respect each other’ trance

The world seems full of people wanting more

It’s not me, maybe I’m the bore

 

People fighting for freedom through an internal war

Soldiers horrified by what they saw

It only takes one idiot to act irresponsibly

Recent events have given us that to see

 

Once in power leaders forget the masses

We will never forget the leader that gases

A World War ended his world domination

Please let’s not go back to that situation

 

However decades later and we really haven’t moved on

The world is still at war and peace has all but gone

I often think how can we solve this aggressive state?

But I fear like many that it’s probably too late

 

But we can do small things to make peace grow

Like doing something nice for people we don’t know

Teaching the next generation how to resolve a conflict

Using compromise and respect is the way to depict

 

Unfortunately we may not be around to see the progress

But we have to keep trying never the less

Searching for peace could take so so long

Surely that’s something that isn’t so wrong

Missing You

I can’t believe I let you go

Not seeing you everyday hurts

You know you meant the world to me

I can’t begin to explain

 

I miss your touch while lying in bed

I miss your hand gently caressing my head

I miss your lips so soft to kiss

I truly miss you

 

I love to watch as you laugh out loud

As tears sweep down your face

You were my rock when things went wrong

Always there for me

 

I miss your touch while lying in bed

I miss your hand gently caressing my head

I miss your lips so soft to kiss

I truly miss you

 

You made life so simple

You gave me belief and courage

In return I let you down

How stupid could I be?

 

Regret is something that fills my heart

I lie awake next to a cold empty space

Hoping that one day you’ll return

There will never be another you

 

I miss your touch while lying in bed

I miss your hand gently caressing my head

I miss your lips so soft to kiss

I truly miss you

One Last Breath

I sit here alone knowing my days have all past

Reflecting on my life I knew it wouldn’t last

The memories will live on like a story in a book

My eyes blink slowly for that final weary look

 

My life has been filled with happiness and sorrow

Always living for today and not worrying about tomorrow

As a child my days in the park would last forever

Parents shouting ‘Come in’, me replying ‘Never’

 

As a teenager I had a few scrapes with the law

Just robbed some food because we were poor

But I met my dream girl at a dance one night

The minute saw here I believed in love at first sight

 

The greatest gift to me was simple to be called dad

Watching your child grow in to a strapping young lad

A girl soon followed and I beamed with pride

As I watched the day she became a beautiful bride

 

I cried the day my both parents passed away

My Dad a war veteran who fought for his say

My mum the one who kept the family all strong

Could always go to here knowing nothing would be wrong

 

I’m lucky the friends that I have made throughout

Knowing their friendship was never in doubt

My legacy will live on through the stories I told

Suddenly I feel my body getting cold

 

I’ve taught my family to show respect to all

Never let their morals or standards fall

Treat people how you want to be treated

Stand up for old people let them be seated

 

My heart slowing and my hands perspire

I ask the nurse to take away my wire

As I walk towards the bright light of death

I put my head back and draw my last breath

Amateur Football

Saturday afternoon is so sublime  

Men meeting up for football not always on time

The goals have been set up and nets are on

The manager talking to players one by one

 

But the talking and discussion starts days before

A player text to say his knee is still sore

A text is sent out to the rest of the squad

Hoping everyone ok the manager prays to God

 

The day of the game and the kit given out

Holes in the socks, a new kit is the shout

The manager names his starting team

Some players walk off unhappy they seem

 

The game is played on a muddy, wet pitch

An hour gone, a player complains of a stitch

Three subs made to try and change the game

Nothing much changes all exactly the same

 

The referee has a big decision to be made

The goalkeeper should really have stayed

A penalty given and the striker takes the kick

The goalkeeper saves he moves so quick

 

A draw a fair result on the windy wet day

One thing left £5 subs still to pay

The car journey home the inquest begins

The striker takes responsibility for his penalty sins

 

The pub after and the discussion is on hold

Chip butties and a sausage that is uncooked and cold

A few more pints and the finger is pointed

Blaming the midfield that looked disjointed

 

This is much better than shopping with the wife

Although coming home injured could land in strife

Just think next week we do exactly the same

All because we love this beautiful game

A Failing Child

As soon as a child starts school they are set to up to fail

Like not knowing Jerusalem is the capital city of Israel

They are told from the start what’s expected and targets set

The teacher calls out ‘Remember all your targets and please don’t forget’

The pupil on the green table is not the brightest in the class

Every time he’s asked a question he simple says ‘I’ll pass’

In school the curriculum doesn’t suit his learning need

He’s cast aside as the school strives for level 5 greed

But the child on the green table is unbelievable at art

He sculptures and paints but school breaks his creative heart

Know one in school has tapped into his talent and ability

The school doesn’t recognise his proven natural quality

The Department of Education only recognise literacy and numeracy

To measure everyone in the same way is some sort of lunacy

Can you imagine if we asked an elephant to climb a tree?

It wouldn’t work but he could knock it down 1, 2, 3!

I urge all schools and governments to celebrate another gift

It will improve schools and give all children a self esteem lift

We are born into this world to be the best we can possibly be

Whether that’s Literacy, Numeracy or even sing like on Glee!

Oklahoma

‘Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain’

The lyrics from the show now the state is in pain

A hurricane hit so hard people didn’t stand a chance

It didn’t look to bad at the very first glance

 

As the warning went out and people did the norm

Who would have thought this was a real hurricane storm

Hiding in shelters, under a cubicle and in a cellar

Lying side by side with your children and dog Bella

 

Debris crashing against empty building blocks

Cowering, praying, checking all the locks

Wanting this hurricane hell to pass over quick

Discovering the damage left makes you feel quite sick

 

Stepping outside your world has been bulldozed

Looking around at the life you once chose

Friends desperately in a panic searching for the lost

Government quick to act saying ‘We’ll cover the cost’

 

Rescue teams acting fast trying to save a life

The woman under the concrete is someone’s wife

She’s left behind her husband and four year old twins

A natural disaster were nobody wins

 

The public don’t sit back and help is on its way

A rescue dog barks frantically at the beaten down clay

A worker tries to clear the rubble but there is far too much sand

Then eventually he grabs a lifeless searching hand

 

Pulled from the wreckage the mother won’t leave

Shocked screaming ‘my child held my sleeve’

The worker returns with tears down his face

‘I’ll get your child’ before I leave this place

 

Scrabbling around it doesn’t look great

He screams for help from his rescuer mate

They both search frantically, their strength from within

This is a test that they both must win

 

Sadly they leave without and ask God why

Suddenly in the distance they hear a dim cry

Quickly they rush over and begin to search for life

Remembering the loss of someone else’s dear wife

 

The child reunited with her family at last

Winning her life against the hurricane blast

Some not so lucky and life taken away

But they’ll always be remembered on this tragic day

Don't just exist!

As we travel along life’s pathway

We try and search who we are

We make a choice of this way or that way

Or be guided by the brightest star

 

We never reach our destination

Always wanting something more

We often have a slight hesitation

To open the our destiny door

 

Some people exist and don’t want to give

But nothings as bad as it seams

Make a promise and begin to live

Live out your fantasy and dreams

Always in your shadow

Ever since I was a child

I was always second best

Wanting to do something wild

But seen as a little pest

 

Growing up people knew your name

I was always the other brother

Our child hood exactly the same

Just like our beautiful mother

 

You had a gift that opened doors

A quality I didn’t have

You often won the football wars

I watched with a lad called Gav

 

We played together for a while

You got goals as I defend

You played lethargic but with style

It drove me round the bend

 

You won awards with every team

I always seemed so close

To have your skill was such a dream

Even just a dose

 

Even now as I continue to play

People remind me of your ability

“He was brilliant” I gracefully say

The support is my stability

 

Just once I wanted to be recognised

For more than what I know

And maybe win that first prize

No longer in your shadow

Backstage

When you go to the theatre to see a live show

There is another show happening you just don’t know

It’s performed in the changing room and in both wings

Actors getting up to all sorts of things

 

One in the corner sitting peacefully and calm

Anther checking make-up and putting on lip balm

One scrolling through the script while drinking Thai tea

Another one zoning getting ready for you and me

 

The play begins and a whisper can’t be heard

In the dressing room they are sharing lemon curd

A diva struts off and complains she heard someone walking

She demands quiet and definitely no talking

 

First half over and fifteen minutes to relax

A socialist starts the conversation, thoughts on bedroom tax

A side door is opened and a few go for a smoke

One is on Facebook deciding who to poke

 

The second half commences with the usual crash

In the wings an actor shows his terrible rash

He tells all he uses cream on a daily basis

While listening to songs by the band Oasis

 

A phone call is made from the side of the stage

The director sees it and flies in to a rage

He proclaims the actor is finished after this

The actor replies the job he won’t miss

 

Lights to blackout and the curtain finally down

Actors’ sadness is shown by the expected frown

The changing room filled with costumes and props

A visit from someone’s ma and pops

 

Final goodbyes and a promise of a call

Unbelievable highs and the inevitable fall

The wings quiet and the theatre now empty

The drinks flow and there will be plenty

Baby on the way

There is something special in the air

That will require lots of love and care

A bundle of joy so innocent and sweet

A baby you just can’t wait to meet

 

Months before and the room finally ready

A cot, a rattle and a huge giant teddy

A two way telecom to hear every sound

Spent a fortune not left with a pound

 

The day arrives and the hospital waits

A child is born an angel opens the gates

The happy couple look down from above

A wave of emotion some call love

 

Two are now three as the family grows

The baby looks cute in her long pink bows

The night draws to an end and you sit and relax

This is now living life to the max