A Lost Community

We’ve all heard the tales on how things were different in the past

That good times like that were not meant to last

The street parties, the togetherness, the tight family bond

Was it all true or are we continuing to be conned?

 

Take an ordinary street like the one I use to lived in

To not know your neighbours would certainly be a sin

You felt safe and secure knowing they would be around

But now you don’t see them or hear a single sound

 

An extended family were your mum and dad’s friends

Calling them aunty and uncle your family never ends

Days out where planned and a convoy would form  

These days this is definitely not the norm

 

If someone needed help people would be there in a flash

Offering what they could even parting with cash

No questions asked, no judgement or assumptions made

The memories live on but the community spirits fade

A Lost Community

 

We’ve all heard the tales on how things were different in the past

That good times like that were not meant to last

The street parties, the togetherness, the tight family bond

Was it all true or are we continuing to be conned?

 

Take an ordinary street like the one I use to lived in

To not know your neighbours would certainly be a sin

You felt safe and secure knowing they would be around

But now you don’t see them or hear a single sound

 

An extended family were your mum and dad’s friends

Calling them aunty and uncle your family never ends

Days out where planned and a convoy would form  

These days this is definitely not the norm

 

If someone needed help people would be there in a flash

Offering what they could even parting with cash

No questions asked, no judgement or assumptions made

The memories live on but the community spirits fade

Betrayed

Betrayed

 

I used to have respect for you

But now you’ve gone and lied

We will never be the same again

Our friendship has certainly died

 

I never thought you’d do it

And stab me in the back

You could have just spoken to me

These human qualities you lack

 

It seemed to have happened before

But these stories I thought were untrue

Honesty is such a lonely word

Lost on someone like you

 

I’ll be polite and professional

A conversation I won’ force

So now I’ll sit back quietly

And let Karma take its course

Looking Down From Above

I walked along the road tonight

A dilemma in my hand

I wanted you next to me

For you would understand

 

Although I always speak to you

Every night in my prayer

It’s not the same as seeing you

Showing me that you care

 

I feel your presence near me

Showing me what is right

Taking me away from the darkness

Guiding me to the light

 

I know you look down on me

I hope I’ve done you proud

Always trying to achieve my goals

Wanting to stand out in the crowd

 

You are the brightest start tonight

Glistening in the moonlit sky

To say I don’t miss you anymore

Would certainly be a lie

 

 

 

If at all possible

My love for you has grown

Through my darkest days

I never feel alone

 

I know you look down now

With nothing but love

Looking down on me peacefully

Looking down from above

A Comic’s Tale

The scariest thing is to stand on stage alone

The audience waiting, the stage your throne

Make them all laugh with a tale about your life

Talk about your friends, your children, your wife

 

The audience the judge and the jury in this case

You’ve got no where to hide as they stare at your face

You engage with audience members on the front row

The laughs better come soon as you’ve got no where else to go

 

The night a success and the audience laughed along

The comments very positive about the finale song

The highs on stage that can never be matched

The lows approaching and have already been dispatched

 

Head from one gig to the next, up and down the road

Your head filled with ideas, a brain overload

An audience’s reaction is what you desperately crave

A battle with the audience you have to be brave

Winter Nights

The curtains are closing earlier each night

Soon the Christmas presents will be in sight

The fire is lit and the heating is on

As the autumn nights will soon be gone

 

The smell of warm food sizzling in the oven

Smothered in sauce is something I’m lovin

Slippers by the fire ready for your cold feet

A warm drink parked by your favourite seat

 

Snuggling up to a loved one on the soft couch

Not lying down but more of a slouch

The sunset fire burning a pure orange flame

Life is good you want more of the same

 

It’s time for bed and this brings another sensation

The electric blanket on to help your circulation

Your partner and you wrapped up so tight

Not wanting to wake up for the morning light

Winter Nights

 

The curtains are closing earlier each night

Soon the Christmas presents will be in sight

The fire is lit and the heating is on

As the autumn nights will soon be gone

 

The smell of warm food sizzling in the oven

Smothered in sauce is something I’m lovin

Slippers by the fire ready for your cold feet

A warm drink parked by your favourite seat

 

Snuggling up to a loved one on the soft couch

Not lying down but more of a slouch

The sunset fire burning a pure orange flame

Life is good you want more of the same

 

It’s time for bed and this brings another sensation

The electric blanket on to help your circulation

Your partner and you wrapped up so tight

Not wanting to wake up for the morning light

Another Training Day

School closed and a day of training ahead

Which meant an extra half hour in my comfy bed

A delicious bacon butty upon arrival

Learning new skills for the teacher’s bible

 

After a while it became evident to see

Nothing new being preached to you and me

An activity with knickers the highlight so far

The course would be better if they opened the bar

 

The theory of multiple intelligences gave us a wee smile

People being pigeon holed into one intelligent style

Interpersonal intelligence being the most popular choice

Not many in musicality but they sang as one voice

 

Lunch soon arrived and we where swept to another suite

The Aintree staff were there to serve and greet

The food not bad but not pudding on offers

Surely a nice gesture would be to loosen the authority coffers

 

The discussion flowed with us all saying the same

The same old story and the same old game

The question isn’t about being creative or not

The question is about the time we haven’t got

 

Teachers are the most creative people I know

Give them a topic and away they will go

New ideas, new beginnings and a challenge set

But all under submission by the education net

 

An overcrowded curriculum driven by a target

Another intervention handed to us on a pamphlet

Everyone trying to ‘Narrow the Gap’

But the water keeps running on the target tap

 

So now a big push on teachers to be creative

To say we are not is quite abrasive

Challenging pupils to be their very best

Giving each lesson a certain amount of zest

 

I’ve got no doubt they’ll be a new agenda soon

And we’ll be back sitting in the Aintree Racecourse room

Talking about the same things but wrapped up a different way

Education would be better if they let teachers have their say!

Chasing Dreams

We all have dreams of a better life ahead

Life is not for dragging, it is better to be lead

Hoping the grass is greener on the other side

Making the right decision and beaming with pride

 

Doing your job with your dream in denial

But moaning about it isn’t your style

Taking a risk is a life changing event

Like taking on a mortgage instead of paying the rent

 

Your dream is in sight only one decision away

Yesterday’s the past, tomorrow’s another day

A change of direction, a change of tact

Only you can change and that’s a fact!

 

The day arrives all your dreams have come true

This dream not for the masses only the few

Your life so full you’ve forgotten the low

You’ve found the treasure over the rainbow

Falling

In my eyes you were always at the top

The people who helped you, you never forgot

Always willing to listen and take on advice

Wanting guidance you never asked twice

 

But suddenly it was taken away all too quick

Like a magician performing an unbelievable trick

The entertainment ladder of success so hard to climb

And when you’re on top, the world is so sublime

 

The illness meant you couldn’t perform any longer

Your friends and family becoming much stronger

A unique talent that you wanted to share

Why is life sometimes unfair?

 

To watch you struggle just simply to breathe

Makes me angry, makes my blood seethe

Your frail body just lying peacefully in bed

‘Continue to make them laugh’ you softly said

 

So I’ll try and perform and give it my best

I know you’ll be there as a spirit guest

But sadly God is quietly calling

I can’t believe I had to watch you falling

One Way Traffic

I always give while you seem to take

You never realise our friendships at stake

Wanting me around when things not so good

Our friendship definitely as clear as mud

 

You organise an event and don’t ever include me

Friendships a two way street, wouldn’t you agree

A bond we had is stretching to the very limit

Our friendship crashing down from the highest summit

 

Torn apart by the dilemma thrusting its self ahead

‘Your friendship means the word’ you nonchalantly said

Why when I need you you’re nowhere to be seen

 I think it’s ultimately time to wash our friendship clean

 

It will hurt me to say this but we need to move on

The friendship that was there has finally gone

One way traffic I just couldn’t do anymore

Your selfish ways have damaged me to the core

Trapped

Trapped in a dead end job with no where to go

My self esteem at an all time low

Trapped in a relationship when I just want to leave

Hurting inside not wanting to deceive

 

Trapped with a sky high mortgage too hard to pay

How did things end up this way?

Trapped by society who won’t accept me

Hiding behind the mask they see

 

Trapped by my mind that thoughts run through

Should I open up and talk to you?

Trapped by my demons who eat me inside

Searching for help or maybe a guide

 

Trapped by a workload hovering over my head

Today I should have stayed in bed

Trapped by a rat race speeding too fast

These feelings I hope will not last