Penny's Jottings

My house has only me in it, the last chick has flown the coop

no more towels on the bathroom floor, or boots left on the stoop

no KFC boxes under the bed, no more secrets shared with me

no tears to mop up, no ire to cool down, time for me to be

no homework panic no soccer to watch, no muddy boots to clean

no netball matches, no failed exams, no ear when friends are mean

no clothes on the floor, no loud screams to ignore, no enthusiastic hugs

no plates left around, no dreams to hear, no strange marks on my rugs

My life has changed, I’m all alone, I can run round naked all day!

I can sing out loud, I can dance in the lounge, no one here to say me nay!

I can shower with the door open, laze around and read a book

I can eat when I want, whenever I want, no-one needs me now to cook

I can stand on my head, laze around in my bed and watch Poirot on TV

I can wear my pajamas all day long cause there’s no-one here to see

Oh the things I can do now my last chick has left,

even though deep inside I am feeling bereft

I now must decide what to do with years left

woohoo here I come world

Today is my birthday and I am feeling very old

tho the years that passed were full of fun and  laughter

I am now at the stage when my body is always cold

and I forget where I’m going and what I’m after

My brain is full of fuzz and I don’t remember names

words elude me when I’m deep in conversation

I don’t know what I’m doing, my memories’ playing games

which can cause a confusing situation!

I’m not yet ready to go so I take it on the chin

I’ve got a grandy on the way and new songs to sing

books to read and enjoy and new flings to fling

friends to meet, food to eat, flights to wing

as I gaze into the future I see a brand new year

full of promise and delightful occupation

so while I am still lucid I am glad that I am here

ready and willing to accept the next temptation

We have Scott Morrison in Australia to lead us towards the light
His nickname here is Scomo and he believes he’s always right
In the US they have Trump with bible and raised fist
Aggressive and outspoken his good moments may be missed
His tweets are monumental, his language strong and rude
A misogynistic racist whose approach is loud and crude
In UK scruffy Boris leads the Pommes through covid hell
He was stricken by corona and he wasn’t very well
But Jacinda, oh Jacinda what a leader, what a dame
My heart lights up with joy when I hear your lovely name
You are kind and clever and strong and aggressive when need be
New Zealand has a treasure, I wonder if they’ll take me!
We have our issues over here which need some concentration
Black deaths in custody must be addressed by our nation
Maybe it would help our Scomo to look across the ditch
To find out what Jacinda would do, to inform his pitch
Oh Jacinda I know you have your flaws, as humans we all do
But if you want to be an Aussie, I would welcome you!

We are coming out of lockdown and my heart is full of fear,
does that person have the virus and is he coming way to near?
Will I need to wear a mask or be like Trump and swallow drugs?
Will I maintain social distancing and avoid, warm loving hugs?

Should I go to work and sanitize everything that I may touch?
Wash my hands till they are sore and don’t breathe in too much?
Should I scream when someone sneezes and sock them on the jaw
Send them packing with a mask when they get up off the floor?

Or maybe I’ll be happier and greet each day with glee
and believe that covid 19 is not coming after me
skip merrily to my workplace and sing through my working day
Cause stress and worrying will kill you, or that is what folks say

I don’t know when I’ll die, and I really want to live
My family is growing and I’ve a lot of love to give
But if covid 19 gets me then I do have this to say
‘Thanks for all the fish’, I’ve enjoyed each passing day!

We have some problems here  when people want to stay

They come in boats and planes and we  send them on their way

But Covid19 crept inside, and never showed its’ face

as it’s insidiously affected the whole human race

So we are now in lockdown, our economy has ceased

we cough into our elbows and wash off the disease

we stay home and lock our doors, communicate on Zoom

work from home, and keep busy to avoid impending doom

we sing on our balconies and clap in streets at night

we share our lives on facebook to keep our hope alight

we invent new ways of being and we share our lives online

and sometimes we relax and have some whisky or some wine

We now have the opportunity to spend time in reflection

to think about our lives in happy circumspection

to re-evaluate life’s goals and prioritise them too

so that when this is all over we will know just what to do

for me I want a BBQ with my family and friends

with whisky and laughter long after day ends

Covid19 crept in and affected everybody here

so far 2020 has not been a scintillating year!

Hooray you two you’re married, together from now on

You have tied the knot and promised to live in love as one

The past few weeks have been leading to this amazing day

With lists and tears and laughter and a wine list gone astray

The many chops and changes and the amazing bridal dress

But you both are generous to a fault and happily shared the stress!

The guest list waxed and waned a bit and seating was done last

With who sits next to who a quiz the combinations vast

Do the bow ties match the dresses and has Adrian written his vows

All things to lose sleep over but its ancient history now

The bucks and hens went off so well, what happens there must stay

But all these things have led us all to this amazing day

When Adrian gains himself a bride and Heather a lovely groom

And good wishes laughter and love come from everyone in the room

The road ahead looks full of joy with mortgage, kids and bills

Cooking, cleaning and gardening with an occasional clash of wills

I have known Heather all her life and Adrian I’d like to say

You are the right man for her in every single way

She is wild and quirky, snappy and kind

With an amazing, artistic, innovative mind

You two fit together and I am so glad you met

Enjoy the ride so much more to come yet

The sun is shining brightly and the wind warm on my face

but Kathleen’s here no longer she has left a sadder place

We went to pay respect to her to sing her one last song

to say farewell and rest in peace, attempting to stay strong

We heard the stories of her life, the things that she had done

her spirit, her humanity and her lovely sense of fun

as we listened we felt her presence, her character shone through

each person relived their knowledge of the Kathleen that they knew

The feisty, fun and smart Kathleen, The Mum, the Gran , the friend

The loving wife, the dancer,  actor, music lover to the end

The chapel was full of people saying their last tearful goodbye

The chapel was full of goodwill and love and I think that i know why

Kathleen was kind with a generous heart, a real community treasure!

She’ll be missed, but remembered with warmth and love and pleasure

My daughter’s getting married and I’ve begun to feel the stress

There’s wedding stuff all over the place and I haven’t got a dress

The list of jobs is endless and the seating plan’s not done

bridesmaids dresses all need hemming, is this supposed to be fun?

My daughter’s getting married and we are all  in quite a flap

It’s only four weeks until the day!  I need a nanny nap

there’s bows to put on favours and candles to be bought

the menu’s quite an issue and needs a lot of thought

there’s flowers and drinks and bow ties and baskets for the girls

and will we have our hair straight or a mass of lovely curls

Vows need our consideration and what music would be best

will the page boy wear a suit or a matching little vest

my daughter’s getting married and I hope the day goes well

Ah!  she is glowing and she’s happy, as anyone can tell

But me! I am panicking, my hair is such a mess

and I need to go out shopping to buy myself a dress!

so tired, tired, tired

Tired of my thoughts battering me, hurting me, challenging me

tired of violence and victims and sadness

tired of war and fighting and insidious behaviour

tired of dashed expectations and disappointment

tired of hopefulness unrequited, no hope

tired of lies and childhood secrets, shattered lives

tired, so tired of the narrative of trauma

tired of the sun shining brightly and the moon shining nightly

just tired