A Face in the Clouds

As I stand and watch the clouds roll by

Like floating Cotton Wool in a different shape

It looks just like faces floating in the Sky

Like their trying to escape

One looks just like a Teddy Bear

With arms and legs it goes sailing by

Or like a dog or cats that’s running away

 As it’s floating across the sky

Clouds come in all shapes and sizes

Moving slowly or quickly in the breeze

As I stare upwards at this magical sight

I think I can hear a sparrow sneeze

They are flying through the low drifting clouds

With such elegant and ease

While the Clouds continue rolling by

In their different shapes and sizes

They change their shape continually

As if wearing different disguises

As the Sun shines through this silky mass

And there is a warm glow throughout the land

This scene has such a magical moment

Like a magical snow puff ball band

One imagines an orchestra playing in the sky

Hidden away from view

I stand in awe of this wondrous sight

Of these white puff balls in a queue

As they continue floating across the sky

In their different shapes and size

My imagination runs to a different world

That never fails to bring surprises.

This magical world that we call home

There is so much we do not understand

But the sky above shows all of us

There is so much we do not understand

Childhood Memories

As a child I lived in an old farmhouse

I was just three years old

The earliest memory that lately

In my mind begins to unfold

A creaky old place that made noises at night

Bumps and creaks, phantom footsteps would keep me awake

Shadows caused by lit candles caused such a fright

In winter there would be frost on the bedroom windows

And frozen condensation on the glass pane inside

Formed a picture of sorts which shone in the moonlight

Which frightened me greatly and sometimes I cried

I would pull up the blankets and cuddle up tight

Cocooned in my bedclothes I felt safe from harm

So as to keep warm and hide from the cold frosty night

As the old house creak which was part of its charm

As time went by and the older I became

Things started to change for the better all became clear

It was all in my mind’s eye Just dreams and nightmares

Just brought on by fear

Downstairs was the Kitchen the main room in the house

With a big old wooden table a bit worse for wear

And an old Arga stove where all meals were prepared

And in the corner an old rocking chair

The front room was used for a Bar like a pub

Which on a Saturday night could be lively and noisy to boot

Where Dominoes and Darts were played freely

And occasionally someone played a tune on a flute

Outside in the Cowsheds three cows stood and surveyed

About thirty Chickens out in an enclosed pen

Which Calliban our black and white Border Collie

Would wake up and check on now and again

At six years old I learned how to milk a cow

An experience I never fail to remember

And to drive a tractor whilst pulling a plough

And picking freezing Brussle Sprouts in mid December

Mostly I remember Harvest time collecting the hay

From the three fields that we had just over the road

My Childhood memories are never forgotten

Memories remain with me like a heavey load

Their Etched in my mind forever like a picture

I was nine when I left our old house in the lane

And I remember it as if it was yesterday

And oh how I long to be that child again.

Our Cat Alex

Our Cat is such a mystery to me

The way he behaves is such sight

He sleeps soundly most of the day

And comes alive at night

Three meals a day with room and board

You would think he’s got it made

But he never seems to be satisfied

He is always on parade

He struts about like Jack the Lad

Demanding this and that

At times it is so hard to believe

He is only a cat

At night he thinks it’s amusing

To wake me any time at all

With the need just to inform me

He has left a mouse for me in the hall

He has a need for scratching

His little friends he leaves anywhere

Even though I am the one that’s bitten

He does not seem at all to care

He’s knocking on close to fifteen now

A ripe old age for a cat

But he still things he’s six years old

And still misbehaves  like an older brat

But I would not be without him

We have been together for fifteen years

And we will remain together for the rest of his days

Along with the laughter and some tears.

He is now too old to go chasing birds

He has to sit a watch them as they fly around

Taunting him as if to say were here

As he lays down on the ground

But sometimes when he is resting

He must be chasing them in a dream

Because he whimpers and shakes though fast asleep

His eyes just stare and gleam

Long may he live in peace and harmony

As we wait on him like the fools we have been

But its nice to know we are wanted

Ever since he has been on the scene.

When I Look in the Mirror

When I look in the Mirror what do I see

A stranger looking back directly back at me

The lines on my face look haggard and drawn

My chin sags a bit not only when I yawn

My hair seems to be disappearing  at a remarkable rate

I had better do something quickly before it’s too late

I used to look younger my appearance was great

Now I have to get used to whatever my fate

But at least my smile still remains the same

As for the rest there is no one else to blame

I am afraid old age catches up with us all in the end

My good memory helps it has become my best friend

My teeth are removable and have been for some time

My knees make funny noises when I walk about

And to cap it all I suffer from gout

But when I leave the mirror alone on the wall

I forget all of that so I can walk tall

Still enjoying that all life has to offer each and every day

So however I look that’s the way I will stay

So I make the most of the time that I have left on Gods Earth

And try to enjoy myself for all that it worth

I Ignore the Lumbago and pains in my legs and wrist

And all the other ailments that seem to exist

So it’s off to the pub to get a drop of liquid libation

Which so often is my only salvation

Old age is without doubt a pain in the neck

But I just carry on regardless so what the heck

Cyril the Tramp

An old Tramp wandered around locally
When I was young man in my early teens
I used to see him daily wandering around in a daze
Dressed in an old dirty jacket and well worn out jeans
But what made him so memorable, I still think about him to day
Was what was with him was a Badger on an old black lead
With its short legs and Weasel like black and white stripped head
On a seat near an old railway bridge they would often stop to feed
Eating any scraps they found checking out local litter bins
Whatever they found would be their meal of the day
Sometimes they would sit there till night time came
Then they get up and go on their merry way
Where they would spend the night nobody knows
But they were always up bright and early and out on their round
Always walking along cheerfully Cyril whistling a tune
But Bertie his Badger making nary a sound
Passer’s by would just nod and wish them good day
Walk by with smile and a look of surprise and an inquisitive look
Occasionally giving a few pennies as they went passing by
With Cyril and Bertie heading for the old brook
Where they could both par take a drink from the freshwater steam
Eat what morsels of food they to help them through the day
Sitting there silently admiring the view
Enjoying life in their own indomitable way
A more stranger couple it would be hard to find
But they never bothered anyone in their indomitable way
It was strange to see these two stalwarts of the road
One Human one Animal a strange combination to meet at any time of day
They got together on a dark late evening in December
Cyril wandering through the local woods on this winter’s night
Looking for shelter, just a place to lay his weary head,
When he heard this loud noise which gave him a fright
Investigating, he found Bertie caught in an old trap
He freed him immediately and used an old rag to bandage his wound
Then they spent the night together sheltering from the wind and the rain
From that time onward their relationship just bloomed
They have been together now for many a year
I see them quite often out and about on their walk
And always say hello with a smile and give Cyril a ten bob note
I wonder what Bertie would say if only he could talk