Penny's Jottings

Goodbye old friend

you’ve left a space, a hole, which used to be your place 

you’ve left a quiet, a noiseless sound, which once was filled with you around

no nails scratching on the floors, no snuffling, snorting, sleeping, snores

no silent begging with lifted brow, no presence, not here, all quiet now

no nudging lazy hands to pet, no scared aversion to getting wet

no mournful eye or listening ear, no watchful stance when food is near

no sniff filled walks with territory marked, no growling growled and no barks barked

and now you are gone there’s only me, remembering how it used to be

when you were young and full of joy, a glorious beagly, bouncy boy

we had good fun across the years, you shared my joy, my pain my tears

my house is now clean no fur detected, no poo on the lawn, all food unprotected

no bowl, no bed, no food, no treats, no leads, no brush no fleas no greets

goodbye old friend

I just went down to Bosahan Woods and they were blue, who knew! How blue

bluebell blue, startling blue, lit by dappled sunshine peering through

How long since I have seen that blue , smelt that scent of spring

seen the squirrel climb the branches heard the songbirds ring

checked the turned earth entrance to the badger’s secret place

enjoyed the breeze, heard the stream, felt the warm sun on my face

The swing on the tree brings echoes of childish joyful screams

and the many games of pooh sticks on the bridge over the stream

a well loved spot that fills each sense with scents and sound  and views

and the colour of the wild flowers, of various brilliant hues

But I forgot to take a camera!  So before it starts to rain

I have to get my shoes on and go back to the woods again.

stop the world I need to think, to rest and get my life in sync

i need to reflect on what I’ve done, what I’ve lost and what I’ve won

Where I’ve been and where I’m going, where I’ve shrunk and where I’m growing

i need to consider my current state, who I love and what I hate

i need to stop my ‘human race’ and slow it down to a quieter pace

I need to spend a moment or two finding out what I want to do

time moves along with giddy speed, I never feel I’m in the lead

I dawdle I dream, I have no focus, my life is loose with no future locus

i just need some time think it through, is it just me? Or is it you too?

feeling sad tonight,  bone weary

a little off, not happy, feeling dreary

my eyes are stinging, feeling teary

not feeling like me at all

My mood is soulful, heart full of woe

my head feels heavy, my steps are slow

My shoulders hunched my brows are low

not feeling good at all

The normal me is missing, vanished from my sight

the normal me is upbeat, noisy loud and bright

the normal me, the happy me, is not with me tonight

Not used to feeling like this

Today I want to be alone don’t want to chat with friends

Just indulge my sadness until the feeling ends

The black dog bites,  all happiness suspends

my energy is spent

It’s Christmas Eve already and my minds in a dizzying spin

did I get enough food?  did I get enough gifts? did I throw the tape in the bin?

I’m making a list, I can’t check it twice,

keep losing the pen and that’s not very nice

wondering if I should have whisky and ice

its Christmas Eve already and my mind’s in a dizzy uproar

The keys in my hand and I’m off to the shops to spend all my money once more

dash round the aisles looking for stuff

buying up food, did I get enough?

overhead carols making it tough

Forgot my bags, they’re in the car

Cashier in red hat, thats going too far

wish the supermarket had a bar

days over and I forgot the cream, if i hear silent night one more time I will scream

Next year will be different, I’ll plan! nothing wrong with that dream!

Merry  Christmas to all!

so much to do

The supermarket rings with noise, people talking, children screaming, people on phones asking querulous questions.

music in the background pumping out tunes from the sixties and seventies, I know those tunes, I sing the words

Silence, hush, quiet

everything stops, no-one speaks or moves, no music. and suddenly I feel sad, I remember

I think of all the men and women who have suffered and died in wars, and all the men and women who have returned home in severe mental and physical distress

I reflect on the brutality of war and the futile waste

I imagine if my children or my grandchildren were at war and I feel tearful

I gaze around the supermarket, people standing still, wiping their eyes

we listen to the Last Post, poignant and moving, together in reflective pose

Then the supermarket rings with noise, people talking, children screaming, people on phones asking querulous questions.

music in the background pumping out tunes from the sixties and seventies, I know those tunes.

Lest we forget

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