Category Archives: Uncategorized

Angela, O Angela Don’t call people ‘scum’ Abusive language does no good Does not help anyone   Perhaps you were playing to the gallery Safe among your own Or boosting your street cred With language so forlorn   But think on this young lady Bad example to the young Creates a foul and abusive airContinue reading “Words Are Not For Wasting”

Last days of his life He could not speak Oxygen not getting to the brain Confused his words Made my father meek But he said my name When I was brought to tears To reassure me Take aware my fears And taking Mike and Sheila by the hands He crossed them above his chest ToContinue reading “Last Orders”

Another woman killed upon our streets Object of a man’s aggression and his lust The Taliban won’t let them out They are covered from head to toe We cannot see who they are Too dangerous to know   Whereas in the West We flaunt ourselves We call it freedom’s way Let everyone be free justContinue reading “Dark”

Carapace Tough shield on a tortoise Tough exterior on a gentle soul Angela Rayner’s carapace Tough talking ready for the verbals If you’re batting be careful how she bowls   Never been loved or cared for Growing up Needy mother a very ‘shouty’ dad Became the mother to her mother Then mother to her ownContinue reading “Tough Talking”

How do you catch a man who leaves no trace? Burglar and rapist a disgrace On the go for seventeen years Leaving old folk full of fears Leaving others with lives they cannot face   Always turning up after he’s gone Light bulbs in the sink no light on Gloves and mask to cover himContinue reading “Get Ahead”

  I left home on this day, aged 11, for junior seminary. It was a fateful day. It was a wrong road. A young boy’s interest in Jesus was taken by the Church as enough encouragement to lure him away from his family and his friends and his home environment, and to place him inContinue reading “24th September 1958”

Hurt and upset Are in every human life Remember that It will help to make you kind No one is spared from sorrow No one gets out scot free The cross is there in every life Bear it well in mind   Why do good ones suffer? Think about the Lord A man of goodnessContinue reading “Your Cross”

Who is this Jesus that I hear about? Working wonders gathering the crowds I do not have such powers to heal Such popularity He is different from John I hear I hear he likes a beer   Ruler of two kingdoms By grace of Roman law Galilee and Perea are his fief A cruel manContinue reading “Herod The Tetrarch”

Now that I am on my own And live alone It comes home very clear I need to be someone it’s good to know I’m in need of pleasant company A gentle happy soul If I’m not that There really is no show   I love these quiet days you know They always suited meContinue reading “Good Company”

Martin Clunes A man behaving badly Became Doc Martin Good but oddly so Now in his maturity A sober kindly copper We identify with him He’s good to go   Bringing to our screens The sorry stories Of evil men Their victims and their crimes Gives us space to mourn For lives upended Silent sorrowsContinue reading “A Fair Cop”

All those hours Staring out the window John McGahern’s phrase And Heaney too I saw a photograph And daddy in his bungalow Staring through the pane What images did he see out there?   And I the same I sit these days Looking out my window A window on the world Is what it isContinue reading “Look And See”

Duffy was begging for birdseed So thought Peter Kay In fact she wanted mercy Don’t we all Mercy misericordia Pity from the heart That’s not birdseed A more important call   Jesus tells his critics Don’t talk of sacrifice Of rectitude and yes how good you are Engage your heart a little The head can’tContinue reading “Misericordia”

The stairs became Mount Everest for my father The bungalow a blessing when it came That little house in Hindsford Garden all around Here at last the sweetest of home ground   An easy chair upholstered A table for his tea The daily paper popped in through the door A review of all the runnersContinue reading “My Father”

Campervan and holiday Set off in the wild Girl and boy together Happy side by side   But life is not so simple Arguments no space No one else to turn to Just this moaning face   Everyone needs everyone Society at large Isolated living High explosive charge   Family acquaintances Friends and strangers tooContinue reading “The State Of Wyoming”

  A preacher of the Gospel That’s my call Not priest so much but preacher That is all I listen to the Gospel And then the everyday Put the two together Helps people on their way   The verses that I’m writing now Are mainly in that vein Say the word that helps and healsContinue reading “Good Health”