Penny's Jottings

a child in his pram watching movies on the phone

young people at a bus stop, silent, but not alone

parents at the park sending messages by text

singles seeking singles, wondering who’ll be next

families out for picnics sharing happy facebook pics

couples on a date, taking loving selfie tricks

runners with their ear plugs pounding out a rhythm

people walking dogs taking iphones with ’em

children with their playstation chat to friends online

people watching netflix with their families while they dine

electronic answers when we try to make a call

politicians sending taped, personal messages for all

Communication’s changing, and I have to wonder

have we humans made a communication blunder

if we communicate by devices and no longer face to face

are we becoming a disjointed and fractured, human race?

Constantine has been invaded, there’s folk from up country here Americans with attitude and Aussies needing ice cold beer

Constantine is reeling to the sound of twisted vowels

The air is thick with Aussie slang and mid American howls

There is excitement in the village with the change in Cornish greeting

There’s G’day and Hi and Mornin’ when the invaders are all meeting

They have come from far and wide in planes and trains and campers

To see this grand old Mollie and make sure her needs are pampered

they have come from near and far with a grin from ear to ear

with noise and blow and bluster and lots of birthday cheer

What is it about this woman that has set this move in motion

Causing folk to travel miles across tall mountains and deep oceans

Could it be her sunny smile, listening ears and caring ways?

Could it be her gift of painting her love of sunny days?

Maybe her creative way with craft or her magic sculptor’s hands

Her love of nature, love of dogs, love of marching bands

Is it her open studio, her cards or her garden full of flowers

Or her ability to enjoy each day and revel in the hours

Folk tell us tales of Mollie as they recall her past glory

‘Mollies wonderful’ they say as they tell us one more story

‘She is so interesting and fun and she never seems to tire

Her paintings are all great, she really is on fire’

She’s a person that they tell me is a mentor and a guide

As to how to lead a full life with interests that are wide

So many people ask her ‘what’s the secret to longevity?’

She treats the question lightly and answers with some brevity

But I think her secret is that she has a will so strong and steady

That the Lord wont dare to take her till she is good and ready

So happy 100^th birthday to Mollie, May the day be full and fun

And we’ll all be back to sing again when you are one hundred and one

The young man spoke quite earnestly as he looked into my eyes

‘I won’t piss in your pocket’ he said… much to my surprise!

I hadn’t really thought he would, I then began to fret

My pocket isn’t big enough and wouldn’t I get wet?

Not to mention hygiene and the overwhelming smell

I felt my temperature rising and my blood pressure as well

I looked at him with anger and he asked if I was crook?

I didn’t quite believe my ears and I gave a ferocious look

He then told me that he would  ‘shoot through’

I ran a bit and yelled help too

He looked confused and scratched his head

I checked myself I wasn’t dead

I turned around and gave a stare

And rudely left him standing there

I need to reinvent myself to get from there to now

I need to reinvent myself but I’m not certain how

I need to introduce myself in a very different way

but when I meet new people I’m not sure what to say

I need to reinvent my life and plan a new direction

not sit and wonder what to do in unfocused self reflection

all my life I have been driven; in my work and in my leisure

success and achievement was a very careful measure

But my working life is ending and I have time twixt now and death

to decide how best to spend my life before that final breath

will I trek around Australia or sing in a quartet

will I garden or crochet, make environmental bags of net

will I shout out the inequality I see in this great land

wave a flag, advocate, take a strong and informed stand

will I seek further study and be knowledgeable and wise

share my findings with like thinkers; put blinkers on my eyes

Any change brings reflection and the future is not certain

But I know I’m gonna have a ball before the final curtain

Just need to reinvent myself lol

I am a Mum

Oh I love my baby; Oh I love you so

Oh I love you baby; More than you will ever know

But I’m a mum and I like to dream

At 3 am when my children scream

I’d like to have a shower without the constant chat

The tittle tattle telling of who did this and that

I’d like to go out shopping and not buy a sugar treat

With no begging little bundle cluttering my feet

But I’m a mum no time to ponder

I’m chasing children when they wander

Packing lunches, lacing shoes

Finding hats my children lose

I’d like to be an adult eating lunch with single friends

Discussing the environment and when the world may end

I’d like to wear just one dress to last me all the day

With no chocolate finger marks that I need to wash away

I’m a mum I have no time

I’m in the kitchen making slime

Late for school, I find with dread

My child’s the one with the itchy head

I want to be an artist painting models in the nude

Go gracefully to galleries to see my work reviewed

I’d like to stroll along the beach with light wind in my hair

Holding hands with my lover living life without care

But I’m a mum who could want for more

As toddlers tantrum on the kitchen floor

With lively children I adore

I’m a Mum who could want for more,

Life’s a dance, a minuet, a crazy twisted Jive
full of great surprises that keep us all alive
folk seem to have a rhythm’ a personal heavy beat
That seeks to intermingle with the people that they meet
life’s journey has its pauses, it’s time for introspection
when we stop and remember, and spend time in self reflection
As for me I linger gratefully on the friendships I have had
on the laughter and the sadness on the times both good and bad
Here I am at my retirement, dancing that last slow dance of work
looking forward to beginning the new dance ‘retirement shirk’
on the cusp of changing lifestyle I know how lucky I have been
I have helped to make a difference, I have worked with a dreamy team
I have spent time with all the people at my retirement lunch
and I know them as a committed, workaholic, disparate bunch
with shared dreams and complete focus towards a common goal
we have laughed and cried and worked and I love each diverse soul
my full time working dance has ended, my gaze is readjusting
I will spend time with my family and maybe a little dusting
Read books and walk some paths and enjoy being with my mates
a little part time teaching, thanks for the dance, its been great!
Love Part time Pen

Laughing the girl waved a razor in my direction

she is shaving her head for cancer, wants donations

on the table is a donation box, I put money in it

‘Thankyou’ she says running fingers through long brown hair

‘My daughter in law died of cancer last year’ I say, starkly

the words enter my head, last year, is it already last year?

tears in my eyes as I remember the last time I saw Sharon

yellow, tired, dying

I want to scream out ‘she is dead’ but I go and choose a cauliflower

life goes on, I am alive