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.'

Poise

Hey feet!

Two pins!!

What tricks?

Bedrock

the fact

your strong

aplomb

toddles

me on

so long.

It’s a long film, Les Miserables

Walt Whitman, ‘exuberance is beauty’

To see Andrew firecracker in the audience of a

live Musical Show is a priceless hit

of lightning. He lit ‘Les Mis’ maybe a dozen times.

Today, we saw posters for a film version

and sit down side-by-side-by-side in

the back row of the multiplex:

between us, a bag chock-full of pop and crisps

and, off we fall into the grandest sound

and leaning-forward colour.

I always feel that epic story up from deep; a rising tear

from chest to throat and wetting of my eyeballs, cheeks

but Andrew goes for lemonade, maltesers, crisps

and crackles taste and sweetness

not caught, at all, by time concocted space and tone of

deftly crafted music sound around.

After munching, I return to heart-stop tension in the pulse

and drum of war and song. Toilet please and so I walk the scallywag

away as children die in Technicolor.

At last, the credits roll with all our goodies eaten.

This is Andrew’s moment – standing up, he leads a rising choral clapped

applause – and smiles – exuberant. We all join in; several hundred people

led by him. Our car is waiting, dark and cold, and, singing in the rain,

we march  into the chorus: Hear the people sing!

and then away upstairs to sleep like heroes now

and dream of glory then.

Spring

King’s Cross station and the trains are on time

(as far as I can tell - that is a truth)

and tangerine sun has risen again

lighting up our sky’s inherent joy.

I even get a seat upon the tube

(hooray the underground is running healthy)

and Einstein’s greatest question’s on my mind.

Today I will consider this world friendly.

Guidance

‘An omen for me?’ asked the seeker

‘Go read Harry Potter’ said God

‘Show me the way’ said the traveller

‘A rosebud’s your guidebook’ said God

‘Give me a sign’ said the seer

‘Watch for tsunamis’ aid God

‘Build me a house’ asked the mother

‘Go knock holes in walls?’ said her God

‘but I need a model’ said father

‘Mary’ said God

‘Hold me in faith?’ asked the preacher

‘Big decision’ said God

‘Guide my two feet’ said the student

‘Get lost’ said God

‘How do I balance?’ asked judge

‘Tsunamis’ said God

‘Light up the path!’ said the prophet

‘Step forward’ said God.