Promise, misunderstand the instructions

My breath is quickened

The telephone conversation

Another disappointment

Another let down notification

You tried to express annoyance

To say the service was unacceptable

Your words fell on sympathetic ears

She said; so sorry, it is regrettable

See, you were unable even

To engage in an argument

Of course, with the sun shining

And those dozing dreams close at hand

It takes time to get your dander up

And then

Amusingly, even less time

For the anger to recede

Remember then in future

The first rule of combative participation

Is that, the first to strike

Is often the one who turns out to be the winner

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Who

Shadow and light, with intensity

Inside and out

Becomes the same person

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We had been to the seaside

Warm winds

Cold museums

Yellow glazed baubles

Scoops of salt laden water

A wet tee shirt

Skip steps

Glasses of iced lemonade

Skin is its own free beauty

Rock pool diver

Bucket and spade

Hand held, in tender hand

Time is yours if you let it

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We came home together

I searched for my birth certificate

We looked at the moon in the east

Earlier our chairs were set at the right angle

To catch the last of the setting sun

Between then and now

And often always

Our conversation was accompanied

With a glass of chilled Sauvignon blanc

These are the new beginnings

Sure and certain

Excitements of the young love

Of a second generation

Later, without time for preparation

Before the pyjamas could be unfolded

We were held in our arms, buttons undone

Again as earlier, we touched the moon and the sun

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I can hear you, can you hear me too

You have an idea, a thought

I say that sounds good, sounds good to me

You, and your germinations, turn to move along

I wisely oil the wheels on your wagon

That way the sun shines on the both of us

Light and fresh, inside and out, all over

If this is nutrition then nurture my soul

My fingertips, my hopes, my voice

Think on who are we doing this for

For everyone to feel good about themselves

For everyone to grow, a little or a lot

Think on that is why we try

Try a little harder

Compliments and questions

They amount to much the same thing

If you listen closely

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Victoria Road

We have been looking for a place

Yet what better space

Than this one before us

A venue to come to for poetry

For one on one collaborations

To share our table, our scenery

From springtime through to summer

In the autumn, and the winter

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Happenstance

I stroke the hair behind my ears

The sun shines, a soft breeze blows

Cheerful dance music from the stereo speakers

Umpteen trees, each with an unknown name

Each with their own intricate rhythm

I take a moment, then a moment longer

Just to watch them, just to feel the breeze

I know this is the place, with pencil and paper

This space is where I want to be blowing

Growing and glowing to please you

And the spider on my notebook

Who is lost, unable to find any cobwebs

A blue sky, with a few light clouds

No heaviness there, or anywhere that I imagine

The tree above has buds, the shape of roses

Green overlapped oval enclosures

A very industrial word

From my industrial though not industrious past

Would it help your picture if I gave you a name

Oak, or beech, or apricot, or fig

Would that give you a richer image to embroider

Or is it infinitely of more value for you

Entirely to use your own imagination

I have no view; either way you will most likely

Take a path preordained by other forces

All I know is that when I stroked my hair

When I wrote these words in the sunlight

I marvelled at life's creation, a gift given my sight

My ears hear the birdsong; the chaffinch or curlew

Even to think of a swooping heron, on open water

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To be served with a health warning

I'm not going to read it

If it's going to make me cry

All of this

Just beyond the summer house

Beside the shelter of the arbour

Five windows to look out of

If you care to take the time

Five views which shout

Please open your eyes

And let your ears go walking

Don't worry yourself too long

About the bricks and mortar

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Starting up

Every day and every hour

I power myself

Without an idea in my mind

Numbness engaged over me

No enduring motive other than

The insatiable desire to write

No faithful worthwhile story

Just trite to rhyme up tight

What then of Neruda

Of seeing beauty in her eyes

What then to confuse me

In suspense always lays surprise

With the silent wind

My wavy hair blows

The trees whisper

I love you, yes I do

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Unfortunate, I don't think so

I press your buttons

You lend me your hi-fi controller

Do you know what this means to me

To think that I have inspired you

Dance, music

You are a folk-stock rock and roller

Do you know what this means to me

My iPod sits at ease beside you

You smile

At my laughter, I stand taller

Do I know what this means to you

I fall but your love saves me from growing older

We stretch out our cushions

Pledge the future of first steps

I hesitate

Then hold a candle to your shoulder

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