The Retired Bloke Poem Vault

Gently falling down from heaven White flakes of frozen magic Turning technicolour into monochrome Blending the world into one blank canvass A beautiful virgin scene develops Awaiting the first tentative steps Excited children don their bright wellies Rushing into this beautiful paradise.  Snowmen, snowballing and sledging New experiences to enjoy and savour.  Piercing screams of joy and laughter Echoes all around this glistening dreamland.  Too soon this fantasy world is all over Powdery white dust morphs into grey sludge Children return home wet and frozen  To await for another day in this spectacular wonderland.  Written 6th February 2018

When trouble strikes you when you are not looking When life’s speed bumps get in the way When all those around you seem not to care When fear of losing exceeds the chance of winning When your competitors seem to get the edge When it’s impossible to turn the frown into a smile When all positives seem to have vanished Take a long hard look at yourself Be grateful that you have a home a shelter a place of peace Be grateful that you have your relative health  Be grateful that you are not searching for the next penny Be grateful of help and support from family and friends  Be grateful for everything your children achieve Be grateful and appreciate the love of your wife Put all life’s woes into perspective.  Remember there’s always someone out there Worse off and in need of your prayer.   Written 5th February 2018

So that’s the end of time with friends  Of days spent strolling along the beach  Of stresses and strains that it transcends Of cups of tea and a piece of cake each Cosy nights in with wine and a box set Helping each other understand the plot Running in tandem getting up a sweat  Walking Otis, meeting a dog called Spot.  Eating hungrily the best fish and chips  Sipping a pint in front of a roaring fire.  Savouring every moment on the lips  Telling stories of people we admire  Sharing challenges, trials and tribulations  Making exciting plans for future trips.  Enjoying the variety of different locations  Starting to worry about extra inches on the hips. I can’t wait for another holiday to begin With our good friends Ian and Lynn.  Written 4th February 2018

Mean smouldering sinister gangsters  Wreaking havoc in ordinary peoples lives Dressed to the nines as if going to a wedding Drugs and drinking in equal measures Smoke filled rooms, backdrop to scheming  Razor blades hidden for evil dealings Illegal deeds delivered to feather their nest Family meetings to instigate trepidation  Relationships blighted by conflicting interests Tools of horror employed to kill and maim.  Dangerous enemies disposed of ruthlessly Living the life of a deprived street fighter The maleficent life of a Peaky Blinder.   Written 3rd February 2018

Light up your life open the aperture Focus in on what really matters Zoom in on everything important Delete what doesn’t matter  Capture all your great experiences Expose yourself every day to something new  See stunning places in high resolution  Appreciate reality no airbrushing Always be positive resist being negative Take time to support and develop others  Let inspiration come to you in a flash See the big picture not just a snapshot  Include others rely less on the selfies This is your time your biography  Enjoy life embrace photography.  Written 2nd February 2018

Blue sea, golden sands, salty air, wind in the hair.  Feeling alive, stepping out, stress free, this life’s for me. Candy floss, slot machines, big wheel, it’s the real deal.   Good friends, doting pooch, ice cream, living the dream.  Sand castles, deck chairs, fish and chips, a smacker on the lips.  Fishing boats, peeled shrimps, boats bobbing, enjoying the walking.  There’s no better place to escape from the strife Than a couple of days enjoying beach life.  Written 1st February 2018

Otis, Otis is his name A beautiful big black poodle Always fun and up for a game On the sand with his kit and caboodle  His fur is luxurious soft and comforting A kind heart and friendly with dogs on the beach His presence is calming, peaceful and soothing His unconditional love is always within reach  A pal for life is this dog’s aim Otis, Otis remember his name.  Written 31st January 2018

Silent steps forming imperfect imprints  With wind intermittently blowing in the hair Gentle movement avoiding the sprints  How far to go I really don’t care The isolation and peace is deafening  With breathing constant like a metronome ticking A clear focused mind is beckoning  There’s no space for conflict no politicking.  One step after another time passes discreetly Asking no questions expecting no answers  No worries in the world if only briefly  With rhythm played out like well drilled dancers   Oh how this experience moves me so deeply.  A feeling of freedom an experience to preach Of running free ecstatically alone on the beach.  Written 30th January 2018

Expectation builds before the game A win is needed for the title to claim  The team talk is tense and emotional  Some words uttered not quotable Passion builds to a stupendous crescendo  Leave nothing out to avoid innuendo  High fives as the players leave to play Hoping that form finds us here today  The players one by one rush onto the field Over the next 90 minutes fate will be sealed. The captains meet at the middle and shake hands The ref lays down the rules and commands  Players nervous hearts start to pound As the final seconds slowly count down The ref carefully takes his whistle in his hand A cacophony of sound emanates from the stand With one clear blow of the whistle done At last this momentous match has begun.  Written 29th January 2018

It’s not great when you’re hard of hearing When you have trouble when people are speaking When pardon, can you repeat that please Eventually creates a certain unease You see there is no visible sign Of your disability to define You still have two ears completely normal The frustration it generates is awful At times, at its worst it’s almost crippling  When friends and family think you’re not listening  There’s clearly a solution, get an aid Of appearing old and decrepit I’m afraid I guess eventually I will have to succumb  And accept the age that I have become.  Written 28th January 2018

There’s nothing like a good long stroll With a close friend to cleanse the soul Sharing stories of success and failure  Of funny memories to laugh at and savour  Chewing the fat on issues of the day Of political stories from home and away Sharing the recent holiday highlights Of people we have met and all the sights As the miles melt away with animated gestures Stress fades away as does the pressures Silly stories, hilarious, abstract and funny Building stronger connections with my best buddy  Soon we have reached our destination A beer or two completes our salvation.  Written 27th January 2018

Darkness shields their evil ways Spreading fear with sinister acts Lurking in the shadows avoiding gaze Carefully covering all their tracks Coming to take what is not theirs Without a single thought or feeling  Smashing a window in a room downstairs With only one thing in their mind, stealing  Innocent victims are left wondering What have they done to deserve this intrusion  Friends gather round that is comforting  Hoping for a happy conclusion  Night after night whilst trying to sleep The sinister actions plays out in their mind Replays of the invasion that hurt so deep Reality and fantasy become intertwined It’s not just the possessions taken The watches, the jewels and car keys It’s the damage left after the break in The anguish, anxiety caused by this social disease Written 26th January 2018

Oh for the aroma of a coffee Wakes me up when I feel like a zombie There’s so many to choose from From specialty to humdrum In the queue at Starbucks I can’t decide To have a type I have previously tried Or to go for a long skinny macchiato  To warm me up now it’s started to snow Too late I’m next “can I help you?” I panic and splutter out Americano With milk sir I’m asked enquiringly  Oh yes please I reply rather quickly Your name for the cup I am asked My mind goes blank feeling harassed Oh it’s David I eventually speak up With that she writes it boldly on the cup I’m directed to the end of the counter It’s all very professional, no banter It feels like a lifetime while I wait  I’m next after a big girl called Kate There’s a loud cry “coffee for David” It feels like my privacy’s been invaded But at last a caffeine rush from my coffee Finally transformed to a human from a zombie.  Written 25th January 2018

There’s something wonderful about YSP For a moment in time you feel ecstatically free Wandering through parkland that’s spectacularly undulating Where nature and human intervention are constantly evolving Holding back the excitement of finding new treasures Of intrigue and wonderment in equal measures  Highlights for me were pieces by Kaws  Pop art in the extreme deserving applause  Silver pieces lovingly crafted by Not Vital  Or colourful insights by Paolozzi delightful Then there’s the spectacular tree by Ai WeiWei  A man constantly challenging not always free Who could forget the poppies by Cummins and Piper Where crowds meandered through like a wriggling viper There’s too many masterpieces to detail in this rhyme Of which I have contemplated and savoured time after time For me for art this inspiring place is truly the bench mark The uplifting, thought provoking, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.  Written 24th January 2018

Deep deep deep in thought Oblivious to all around Deep deep deep in thought Abstract, introspective hearing no sound Deep deep deep in thought  Mind ringing on speed dial  Deep deep deep in thought Away with the fairies there’s no denial Deep deep deep in thought Conflict incessantly being played out Deep deep deep in thought Increasing significantly the element of doubt Deep deep deep in thought  Issue resolution is regularly what I seek Deep deep deep in thought  A look into the future a furtive peek.  Deep deep deep in thought  A longing to set my mind free Deep deep deep in thought  A return to consciousness so I can see. Written 23rd January 2018

It’s over 100 days since I hung up my mouse and laptop To leave my banking job when I still felt on top. It was a wrench to hand in my badge and cell phone It felt final and for the first time professionally alone As I walked from Head Office to my car one last time Thoughts passed through my head. Too soon at my prime? The first days passed slowly and were very difficult Only time without a job as a tax paying adult I was frustrated at not having a goal to achieve Unbelievably it felt as though I had something to grieve As the days passed on I have grown into the role Finding pleasure in simple things and feeding the soul For me writing poetry has given me purpose, a reason to be glad.  To help me appreciate life, writing prose like my grandad.  Written 22nd January 2018

So what of Hull and it’s local dialect Where brock means wrecked Where croggie is a lift on a friends bike  Where a bread cake’s a bread roll that I like Where to cockle over is to stumble or fall Where a pattie from the chip shop, is favourite of all Where tansad is a pram for that little baby  Whose roaring is annoying that lovely lady Where twagging from school is not encouraged Where playing in tenfoots was regularly challenged While writing this verse I’ve tried to frame  To avoid you having a skeg before finishing is my aim I’ll have to stop soon as it’s maftin in here To gerroff now and go for a beer.  Written 21st January 2018

It’s time for the walk Rover’s getting excited There’s no need to talk He’s always delighted Quick out through the door First sniff at the tree It’s always fun never a chore Hang on a minute time for first pee Pause for a second and off we gol Other dogs take an interest Must keep them apart, that I know He’s ok with that as I’ve got his trust.  A little crouch and it’s soon down to business Out comes the plastic doggie poo bag More walking ahead keeps up my fitness  Sniffing more trees walking a zig zag Loving my walk with my dear friend Rover Soon our our lovely walk is finally over.  Written 20th January 2018

Find your spot, jostle for position  Let them get off, mind the gap Sit or stand that’s a decision  Perched on a seat,bag on lap More get on,starting to fill The man on his phone, lacking eye contact This is transport without a frill  More onboard its now getting packed  The tube rattles along the line Those standing in aisles bumping into others Only two stops, I will be fine  Some kids screaming, annoying their mothers  Most are oblivious, playing online Living in isolation with crowds around. This is the culture of the underground.  Written 19th January 2018

Tossing and turning why can’t I sleep The more I try the further I’m awake Tossing and turning I try to count sheep I want to slumber before daybreak Tossing and turning I start to deep breath I think about nothing and try to relax Tossing and turning I’m grinding my teeth My mind’s wandering, have I paid that tax Tossing and turning, I must stop thinking The ticking clock tells me I haven’t slept a peep Tossing and turning my heart starts sinking  When the alarm bell rings I’m fast asleep Written 18th January 2018

Winter’s not my favourite season It’s bitterly cold and pretty dreary To go outside there’s never a reason When you do it’s chilly and windy The saving grace is when it snows Beautiful, glistening, fluffy pure white The desire to venture outside grows Wrapped up warm to avoid frost bite Whether it’s building a snowman Or sledging down a slope For a single moment you’re a fan Embracing happiness and hope But then it rains and it turns to slush Reluctantly, despondently, retreating inside Outside the white stuff morphs into mush Once again I’m totally uninspired  Dismal,dreary, unending and bleak A wish for the sun to end this treason Is it just me can I be so unique Winter‘s not my favourite season  Written 17th January 2018

All that I knew about Opera Was that it finished when the fat lady sang But now I know it is beguiling A thing of beauty, tragedy and romance It is a spectacle for the well healed It is a moment of magic for the masses It starts with deep expectation  Which builds as the audience grows Excitement intensifies as the orchestra tunes Then there is wonderment when the lights dim. There is warm applause for the conductor Shaking hands with the leading musicians Now turns to the audience, soaks up the reaction With a wave of the baton, the orchestra strikes up Playing with gusto one moment, and sensitivity the next The curtain opens, the cast take to the stage The audience are amazed at the spectacle A chorus of voices, in unity, together as one Step forward the prima donna hitting the high notes Enrapturing with every note, ever quaver every crotchet.  Ever so often there is a break from the singing For the maestro and his orchestra to take centre stage And just like a Chaplin black and w

Faces filled with expectation  Baggage checked in at last Thinking about visiting a new nation Hope to get through security fast  Navigating the maize of duty free  Buying boiled sweets for take off Avoiding going on a spending spree  Flight delayed now time to scoff At last the flight is called out  One more trip to the loo  Hurry up darling I shout It must’ve been that last brew  Queuing at the terminal to board  Priority booking and those with kids first Cheeky monkeys get ahead of the herd Then come the masses with one last burst Hoping to find space in the locker At last on the plane, we are seated Oh no a fat bloke dressed like a rocker Been on the booze and is heated  His frame is too big for the chair Spilling annoyingly, uncomfortably into my seat  I think this is rather unfair He starts mumbling, his name is Pete.  I fear its going to be a long flight Asleep he’s slavering on my shoulder.  I try to ignore him, best as I might I’d ask him to move if I was bolder  His snoring

Oh no its on the floor Milk bottle smashed   Created another chore Cupboards splashed Milk all over Need to clean up Did I do it when sober? Saved milk transferred to a cup Clean up must start Emily gives a hand  And ends up doing more then her part Another job completed that was not planned Thank you Emily  Your help was appreciated  To do that unselfishly  A catastrophe alleviated.  Written 13th January 2018

Got my coin put in the slot My wonky trolley is fully engaged  Time to give shopping my best shot Down the aisles with goods displayed Paying careful attention to my list.  One by one my trolley starts to fill Trying to avoid the item always missed.  Passing through the freezer section always a chill Then there’s the centre section trying to tempt  With goods laid out in a random fashion  Well sorted through and rather unkempt Passing glance at the beer, but I’m on a bit of a ration  Soon it is done and it’s off to the till Goods piled quickly onto the conveyor  Then begins the well practiced drill The battle of wits between you and the teller.  Will they finish first with all goods unpacked As you pray for the system to be faulty Quick check in the basket eggs intact  The joy that is shopping at Aldi.  Written 12th January 2018

It’s hard  You’re not cool Occasionally scarred Seen as the fool Relentlessly trying Often the enemy Holding back the crying  As complex as alchemy Being a dad is not simple Relating to another generation  Feeling less valued than a pimple  Not always joy not always elation  Expressing your love is tough When not always seeing things the same way Sometimes life runs smooth sometime it’s rough Let’s work on it to make some headway.  Written 11th January 2018

Donned from head to toe in Lycra  Bobbing in and out of traffic Avoiding driver turning left in Micra Skin tight almost pornographic Oh for the joy of the bike Wind blowing in the hair Avoid being knocked into dyke Lorry passing as close as he dare.  Pushing hard up big hill Lungs working to bursting point Freewheeling down big thrill Will never disappoint I love driving in my car  But on a bike there always a reaction That even though you’ve travelled far Finishing journey safe massive satisfaction.   Written 10th January 2018

Faces glued to the screen Blue hue lighting up faces Sitting on buses and trains Walking in towns and cities Occasionally looking up to check on location  A frown here,a smile there Sometimes openly laughing Sometimes inwardly hurting A private yet public behaviour Alienating all those around  Yet communicating with all those unseen A new world, an insular world  The virtual world that is social media.  Written 9th January 2018

I want to write but I cannot think I want a vision but I cannot see I want inspiration but my mind is empty Nothing, nothing, nothing, Maybe later, no it must be now I need to be creative But I’m struggling to know how My head’s like an empty vessel Echoing with vagueness of thought I force my self to think But the harder I try  The further creativity fades Think, think, think Just one moment of insight Just one glimmer of hope  Just one thread of enlightenment  That is all that I wish for And then it comes like a shot I’ll write about nothing I’ll write about diddly squat.  Written 8th January 2018

A stack of arbitrary bricks A messy unmade bed Designless splashes of paint Wood randomly sculpted Stone fashioned indiscriminately What makes this art? Art delivers  A vision,an impression, a fashion or imitation Art emotes Affection, reflection, inspiration, or appreciation  Art evokes  Polarisation, rejection, indignation and condemnation Art is art if it creates a reaction. Written 7th January 2018

Bones creaking Arms swaying Legs stepping Mouth breathing  Body aching Pace increasing Chest heaving Stride growing  Steps increasing  Rhythm smoothing Breathing settling Speed enhancing  Route covering Pride developing Toughness improving Heart beating Heavy breathing End nearing Finish completing Pride bursting Great running  Written 6th January 2018

Traffic traffic everywhere  Angry drivers with hands in the air  Bumper to bumper slowly moving Getting nowhere fast finding nothing soothing  I should have turned off at the last junction Accusations of avoiding the last instruction  The blood pressure is rising My frustrations become uncompromising  But hang on a minute  You are being such an idiot What difference will being a few minutes late  When you have a lifetime of pleasure to seal your fate Written 5th January 2018

Slowly, almost invisibly, it creeps up on you No warning, no sign, just incessant,  Every second, every minute, every hour it lurks there Favouring no one, including all.  It manifest itself in the way you look In the way you stand In the way you walk It takes control of your skin It take control of your brain Eventually you succumb to the power  The power that is old age.  Written 4th January 2018

Why is it when the skies are grey When the days grow shorter When the sun fails to stay And the nights get longer Do I feel so sad and low Feel downcast and glum Why don’t I let things flow Be happy not humdrum Let’s appreciate every day on this earth Embrace what life throws at you And be certain of one’ own worth Be serious, admit your problems are few! Written 3rd January 2018

What to do when the festivities are over  When the trimmings are gone And there’s no longer a hangover. Preparing for work is the aim of many Whilst suffering the post holiday blues Back to tedious meetings with Jack and Jenny For some there is a hope, a desire Of a positive change in the world To spread goodness and love like a wild raging fire For me it is simple, for me it is clear In a world incomprehensible  My aim is simple, to be better than last year. Written 2nd January 2017

It is a time for reflection It is a time to be grateful It is a time for affection It is a time to be thoughtful It is a time to appreciate  It is a time to be excited It is a time to contemplate  It is a time to be clear sighted But most of all it is a desire For health, love and happiness free from dangers Making a difference,to help to inspire Let’s raise a glass of cheer To our friends, loved ones and strangers  Here’s to a wonderful Happy New Year Written 1st January 2018

A peaceful walk makes for a peaceful mind Freeing up the tangled mess of everyday living The independence from the hubbub helps me to unwind As each step is taken the world seems more forgiving The wind in the trees reminds me of waves crashing to the beach Of summer holidays spent carefree, unhindered by tension Experiences like this no one can unteach Enabling crystal clear thoughts beyond apprehension The stresses of the world begin to evaporate Enabling preparation for future life What better way to help liberate  But to do all of this with my loving wife.  Written 31st December 2017

Tossing and turning my sleep is broken  Thoughts dancing a quickstep through my mind I try to awake before one word is spoken Trying to prepare to meet humankind The gap in the curtains tells me it’s morning  So I make the first feeble attempt to raise from my bed  To remain snuggled up feels at once so tempting I think I’ll have ten more minutes instead.  Written 30th December 2017

Please give me the strength to make the first step To raise myself up from off the sofa To find the motivation to put on my kit To stop the voice in my head telling me to quit To avoid the excuses why I can’t do it To stop telling my self it is too wet It is too cold It is too windy  It is too hot It is too snowy Please give me the strength to put on my trainers To open the door and make the first step. Written 29th December 2017

Standing tall and straight  Like drilled military men on parade I ponder the journey towards my fate Like memories the path in the distance starts to fade The rustle of the leaves beckons me to move forward  I stand still options flashing through my mind Past experiences remain uncovered The desire to leave it all behind  The options build into a crescendo  As my heart pumps like a fast beating drum Thoughts turn transparently clear no innuendo  Now I am sure of what I will become Written 28th December 2018

Have I been here before? A solitary figure surrounded by nature’s imperiousness  A desire a feeling to explore Walking onwards no chance to regress The natural beauty is all around The autumn colours are mine to appreciate  There’s not a whisper not a sound  Isolation is all around and is mine to contemplate  The trees lean over water which seems so profound Reflecting gently in the water never striving to dominate.  The richness of the golden hues  Mile upon mile one two three four  Watching the world go by underneath my shoes Have I been here before? Written 27th December 2017

Inside my mind the world is confusing  Sometimes I’m good sometimes I need diffusing. One minute it is clear  The next it is opaque The voices in my head espousing fear  Fighting a longing to be awake.  Right and wrong merge Seasons whisper but disappear  Vital thoughts occur with a surge However reality appears as a thin veneer My urges drive me onwards A longing to be creative  Moving forward not backwards  A stimulus of the soul not something impassive.  Give me the strength to do what’s right Loosen the desire to do what’s wrong Give my mind a bright headlight To shine on a world in which I belong.  Written 23rd December 2017