Penny's Jottings

Its my birthday tomorrow in lockdown again

I take it quite calmly, don’t want to complain

I know there are many much worse off than me

Stuck overseas, loved ones they can’t see

I realise the world’s in a terrible way

And people affected by COVID each day

I know that my worries are small and not real

But I cannot help the way that I feel

So here I am Just me and the dog

Working from home, writing my blog

Doing the garden, watching TV

Reading a book and drinking whisky

Walking the dog and zooming with style

Texting and phoning and chatting a while

Thinking that next year’s the one for me

When we will all be COVID free

But this year I’d just like to say that I’m pissed.

One more birthday celebration missed!

Tomorrow if you have one minute free

And are happy to spend it thinking of me

Find a nice cup and fill it with tea

And we’ll share a moment virtually!

I bought George 2 years ago and he’s ruled me ever since!

I think he is a little dog; he knows he is a prince.

He rules with rod of iron and knows what he is due

He loves the lockdown rules because of COVID flue

He likes that I am here all day to attend his beck and call

He likes to keep his slave amused throwing him a ball

He pesters me each morning till I take him for a walk

points to his lead and harness, you’d think that he could talk

he loves to greet all visitors with joy and recognition

dances round them crazily demanding their submission

I used to have a beagle who slept his life away

Dreaming dreams of conquests and rolling in the hay

But George is on patrol barking at passing folk and dogs

Chasing off the birds and sniffing out the frogs

Jumping on the furniture, chewing on his toys

Following me around, making lots of noise

Squeaking on his squeakers and digging up the lawn

Shredding up the tissues, waking up at dawn

He loves to play in water but hates to have a bath

He is a little naughty but he always makes me laugh

George? He makes me laugh!

What can I say about Robyn on this her special day?

Will I mention her ability to cheer us on our way?

Will I talk about her kindness? Her love for kids and dogs?

Her acceptance when her sons bring home lots of snakes and frogs?

Will I mention her stylish dress sense, her lovely confident walk?

The way her hair shines in the sun? Her inclusive, accepting talk?

Will I talk about her nurturing ways with family and friends?

Will I mention her mindful caring when sense of humour ends?

And yes Robyn is all those things and many more as well

But I know she has a wicked side as all her friends can tell

Her joking, smiling, upbeat side that encourages much laughter

Her ability to see the ridiculous in the heat of a disaster

Should I talk about her practicality and her kind and loving care?

Mention her perceptive ability to note when folk are in despair?

What about her lovely voice and her musical expertise?

Will I need to mention every one of her excellent qualities?

Or should I just say that this is her own special day?

Wish her happy birthday and then go on my way?

Happy sixtieth birthday to Robyn, a caring special friend

Lets hope you get spoilt today, and we’ll meet when lockdown ends!

I went on a boat on the Murray to see what I could see

I wanted to see the birds and the bees but they were avoiding me!

I saw pelicans by the hundreds all floating past in style

Galahs hiding out in the breezy trees and a kookaburra made me smile

But there in the passenger area, a vision I could not deny

Were the birds that I was looking for, catching my gleeful eye

The peacock was there preening himself with head thrown back in pride

Showing off his musical talents and seeking a worthy bride

There was the little fairy wren with her nervous jumpy walk

Sharing whispered confidences, afraid of loud noisy talk

The rosella was there looking lovely with clothes all artfully worn

rich gloss of her lips and the kind painted face, jealousy not to be borne

And there was her colourful partner with his charm and constant chatter

Relaxed and delightful, carelessly racist, a handsome, fun loving patter

And the prickly Magpie hiding her smile, aggressively protecting her space.

her partner avoiding all contact, tattoos on his arm, a glare on his face

Here comes the gossiping Kookaburra, sharing stories of other’s transgressions.

Protecting her partner and caring, keeping watch over all her possessions

The tattooed bird of paradise full of promise and promises broken

with the shy little cormorant hiding the truth, it’s not true if it isn’t spoken

The noisy mynah kept me amused with stories that never ended

Watching the nervous backing up moves from each person she befriended

When asked, my eldest son told me, that I was a coastal puffin

Blank faced and aware, a glinty eyed stare, a mind quite reflective of nuffin’

I enjoyed myself on the Murray, watching people and hearing their tales.

Next year I might go out to sea and spend time watching the whales

An illness came in 2020 in the beginning of the year.

Flu, they said, but perhaps it is a little more severe.

It spread so fast and many died all medicine it decried

Soon it became worldwide and we must stay inside

So wash your hands don’t touch your face  wear a mask and remember to keep the space.

People are dying in fast increasing numbers

And the virus has a name as round the world it thunders

So quiet the streets, all shops and cafes unlit and dark

no people no cars no chat no noise no meeting in the park

So wash your hands don’t touch your face and remember to keep a space

Coronavirus is with us now and sadly has come to stay

So many scientists from many Lands work each and every day

To create a cure that will keep this deadly bug at bay

And 2021 has brought relief  and help is on its way

But wash your hands don’t touch your face wear a mask and remember daily to keep you space

The future now so closely controlled is very hard to see

Isolation is hard to bare but when will be free

If we obey the rules the government may end the gloom

When all will be inoculated and once more free to roam

So  stay at home, and stay at home please  stay at home awhile

Mollie Silver

Cornwall 2021

She smiles, her face lights up, my heart dances

she cries, I smile, she is feisty

she sleeps, I look on with wonder

she feeds hungrily, grasps at life

she makes murmuring noises to communicate

she is perfect, she is strong, she is here

nothing more to say

dear little grandaughter so small and unwell

with a heart that is failing and low O2 as well

what I would give to change places with you

so your face will be pink and no longer blue

as helpless and useless I stand to observe

the dreadful ordeal you did not deserve

with the tubes, the wires and the terrible scar

how I wish that I could be where you are

tears flow from my eyes in an impotent stream

as deep in my soul there’s an imploding scream

this world is not perfect, its a chaotic mess

There are many shortcomings we need to address

but while you are in it there’s a glimmer of hope

for a love filled future that has no scope

as I wait with heart pounding and a weight on my chest

to hear of your progress, I hope for the best

sending love

There is a cycle to life that encompasses birth, growth and death, and I am stressed

So much rests on this babies little head, so much joy and love waiting to be expressed

A focus for tenderness and hope that will embrace and comfort grief, sooth hurt and calm ire,

As I wait for the birth of this precious child I am anxious, hopeful, excited and afire

I cannot wait to hold her and feel the warmth of her, the smell, the damp, warm feeling

To bond with her and encircle her with her family so she can start the healing

So much rests on this babies head as she joins a family split by a ravaging wolf

She is the new life, new world, new beginning, She is the future, its hers to engulf 

But she is not here yet and the days and hours are endless as I wait for news of her birth

All the strong women in my family, those who have passed and those here on earth

Will be with my daughter as she labours

so much rests on her head

This year twas our intention to attend the great convention

To sing of love with tuneful meaning and intent

Though we felt much apprehension, we paid serious attention

And learnt our notes, the words, and even what they meant

We attended a retreat and worked hard to defeat

Any notes we thought would make the judges shudder

We had the two tunes beat, our sound was strong and sweet

When COVID hit and we were a chorus with no rudder

We felt the call of doom but then we heard of Zoom

and worked hard to maintain a strong connection

We made our houses boom as we sang loudly in our room

And greeted each arriving member with affection

We learnt how to get online and had the patter worked out fine

‘We can’t hear you turn your mike on’ was the call

We watched each other dine, and sip a whisky or a wine

We learnt some tags, gave support and had a ball.

We followed government restriction, avoided flue affliction

We stayed apart, washed our hands and wore a mask

But our musical addiction added thought to our conviction

Our precious Nerryl rose like phoenix to the task

We met down by the river, with our voices all a quiver

To sing of lullabies, true colours, a million dreams

Nerryl asked what we could give her, our harmony made us shiver

The joy of singing in our chorus made us beam

In these unprecedented times, when our stress level climbs

and we are jumpy when anybody sneezes

We long for friendlier climes, and past happy times

When the world seemed full of hope and less diseases

We’ve all been through the ringers, as individuals and as singers

But throughout we’ve had a wonderful connection

As COVID 19 lingers we can avoid being whingers

And spend some time in quiet introspection

We are lucky overall, our covid numbers have been small

And our connection with our chorus is maintained

We have support when we fall, friends to hug us when we bawl

and a song to uplift us when we are drained

we can feel a deep elation as we near a vaccination

and we hope that all our friends are safe and well

to sing together our aspiration with chorus folk our inspiration

let us hope 2021 will turn out swell!