Night Owl

Andrew, even as a young man,

leaves on his bedroom light;

brightly artificial

with an open door.

It’s not that light dispels 

shadows or ghosts. No, no,

it’s to illuminate a way out

and wobble for toilet relief.

I, an older man, holding onto courage

know how darkness has wasted me,

yawning like a zero

with deep sleep a matter of

snoring and lost opportunity

until, eventually, the fuss will be over,

word and wobble.

Last orders.

Lights out.

Talking to a Yorkshire teenager,

he is not  bothered

cus he dunt know what he wants;

he’ll see wot ‘appens.

Woman

Spikey as a hedgehog

she looks into the book of life;

humble as a rabbit’s ear

she reads a sentence there.

Vibrant as a python

she walks across a dusty plain;

stronger that a mountain top

she turns to face the lion.

Breathing like a stallion

she waits before the city gate;

secret like an owl in flight,

dances to her fate.

Wet

Last night in my sleep

we damped down a fire;

to soften the heat

- so delight wouldn’t fly

but the feeling of dreams

is to zoom to the stars

rage across fields

not knowing how far.

Down's Balance

When muscles are loose

and joints a bit shaky,

standing feels safe,

tipping forward dodgy

but, for strangers, you’ll walk

or run from that silence;

smile like a torch

and hug – they need balance.

Outcry

One day, he squealed like a sweltering piglet;

another, he sighed like the wind in a cave.

He said to his children at breakfast ‘You’re stupid!’

and grunted like Rambo when pushing his car.

Later, he whistled his way to the boozer;

at night-time, he snored like a didgeridoo

He said to his children at breakfast ‘I love you!’

and cried when his missus then told him the news.

Pearly Gates

'God' said a man
'I am honest, been faithful,
cared for my children;
manly and strong.'

'Man' said God quietly
'honesty's bollocks,
caring's inconstant:
I need your truth.'