Beat Poetry

'Exit Stage Wright!'
'You can't Jive to survive;
That's like The Fisherman's Tale.
Y'know that one where The Sardine gets confused with The Whale?

That Way you get caught 'twixt The Horse and The Rail;
To your Left ,
To your Right, you must always pay heed,
Just in case there's a someone who's takin' a bead,on your Head,
Then you're dead, like you never existed:
The Show will go on, you won't know that you missed it.
The trick is to know when to turn off the Tap, to vacate the Bowl and be done with your Crap.!
You can't Jive to survive, when it's all said and done,
'Cause respect is not real, if respect is not won.

Now, if my words don't hold water, when held up to the Light,

Then the best thing for me, is to Exit Stage Wright!'

Robert Smith Wright - 26/9/09

 San Francisco Bay!

pastBlast! 'We went an' growed our hair,
And we gave the game away..
Afore we know'd it, upp'd an' throw'd it
In San Francisco Bay!

We had the whole thing covered,
With a fair amount to spare;
And then we went an' blowed it,
When we went an' grow'd our hair! 1978

author note: I was pretty hirsute myself in those days and I only refer to Hair as a sort of 'badge'

Robert Smith Wright - 17/10/09

The Artist

The Artist on Monday,
Arose from his bed and coughed at the first thing

He found in his head.
Standing alone in the cold of the room,
He looked out through the window that covered the sky, And noticed the morning had started to bloom.

'Take out the sunshine and bring in the rain, Find me the colour that signifies pain.
Show me a reason to try once again;
Take off the sunshine and bring on the rain!'

'Thought of wild cherries a bird on the wing, Constable Horses a child on a swing; Will I still be here, if my praises they sing?!'

Robert Smith Wright (1977) - 17/10/09

'zonked!'

I put it away and forgot it,

And when I went back, it was not it.

The whole thing had changed,
Somehow rearranged,
And If I'had a bolt,
I'd've shot it!

Robert Smith Wright (1975) - 3/3/10

Spize!

'It might be the food in its par excellahnce,
Or it could be the way that you dahnce;
'Tis possible too, it has something to do,
With the promise I see,
In that mischievous glahnce.
And yet again, there's this lovely terrain,
With the hint of a perfume divine;
It's dashed hard to say,
Why I'm feeling this way,
But could well be a Mickey,
Slipped into my wine!

Robert Smith Wright (1980) - 24/3/10

The Old Man of Iran

There was an Old Man of Iran,
Looking old and predictably wan,
Who pronounced with some zest,
'To Hell with the rest,
I've come up with a Multigrade*Plan!
As sure as my handle's Khomeini,
By The Beard of the Prophet, I swear,
I'll create such a state,
Where the credos of late,
Will become most decidedly rare!'

* oil?

Written in 1979, two days after The Ayatollah became ruler in Iran..

Robert Smith Wright (1979) - 24/3/10

'Now, Then!'

It is always Now.
When Then comes along,
It will still be Now.
Now, Then!

Robert Smith Wright (1977) - 1/4/10 

The Planets

Once upon a time there were two planets,
Neuro and Moro.
The Neurons lived on Neuro
and there are no prizes for guessing who lived on the other!

Robert Smith Wright ( 1975) - 2/10/10

Pizzicato!

'Pizzicato! goes the railings,
As I'm sailing down the road;
Y'see railing is my failings,
When I'm in my Guru Mode!
They attract all Spirits Kindred,
Doth the ringing of my chimes;
Won't you bring some more Tequila , please,
And don't forget the limes!'

Robert Smith Wright ( 1976) - Should be spoken in a John Lennony accent - which I can't crack.

Bin Around

We live on a railway embankment
Our home is a small wooden box
My ancesters lived in the country
But I am an old urban fox

There aint no live chickens in salford
So I keep my both ears to the ground
I'm wiser than my old ancesters
cos I know when the bin men come round

I've eaten kentucky fried chicken
pizza tomatoes and cheese
I've even had chips and some sausage
and I really enjoy a chinese

So although we live near the railway
And the trains make a terrible sound
My kids and the wife have a wonderfull life
cos we know when the binmen come round. 

Alan Taylor (Al Ritchie) - 26/5/11

TRANQIL IS THE MORNING

Tranquill is the morning
when the mist is on the ground
silver threads on blades of grass
where dewdrops can be found

the hazy early morning sun
struggles to be seen
across the calm and placid lake
so magical serene

I stand and ponder for a while
the vista so unique
and contemplate the beauty
with a voice that cannot speak

this truly is a magic time
and so for what its worth
it seems for just a moment
i'm the only man on earth.

Alan Taylor (Al Ritchie) - 26/5/11

SHOES BLUES CENTIPEDE SALLY

SHOES BLUES CENTIPEDE SALLY WAS SICK OF THE SIGHT
OF HER HUNDRED LEGS BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT
AND EACH INVITATION GAVE HER THE BLUES
SHE HAD ALL THE CLOTHES BUT NOT ENOUGH SHOES

SHE HAD TWO PAIR OF HIGH HEELS
AND FOUR PAIRS OF FLATS
THREE PAIRS OF WELLIES
AND ONE PAIR OF SPATS
SIX PAIRS OF TRAINERS
THREE PAIRS OF SHOES
TWENTY PINK SLIPPERS
AND TWO PAIRS OF BLUES
TWO PAIRS OF WORKING BOOTS COVERED IN MUD
AND WORN OUT STILLETOES THAT WEREN'T VERY GOOD
THE REST OF HER FEET WERE ALWAYS BAREFOOTED
SO NOW YOU CAN SEE WHY SALLY WAS GUTTED
SHE HOBBLED AND BUMPED
WRIGGLED AND JUMPS
SHE TRIPPED AND SHE FELL
TILL HER ANKLES DID SWELL
SHE SWAYED AND SHE SWAGGERED
SHE LIMPED AND SHE STAGGERED
AND THAT IS WHY SALLY NEVER LOOKED WELL
SO IF YOUR ON YOUR TRAVELS
AND YOU CHANCE TO MEET
CENTERPEDE SALLY WHOSE BAD ON HER FEET
YOU KNOW ITS BECAUSE SHE IS LACKING IN SHOES
AND EACH INVITATION GIVES SALLY THE BLUES

Alan Taylor (Al Ritchie) - 30/5/11

Mo The Hero

Millie the mouse came in from the street
trembling with fear and white has a sheet
Millies dad mo said whatever is wrong
i've just seen a gorrila his name is king kong

and though i am little and only a mouse
this guy is huge as big as a house
Ho really said mo getting up from his seat
and raging whith temper ran into the street
he looked left and right then up to the sky
and there was king kong twenty feet high
hey ugly monkey mo shouted loud,
shouting so much he atracted a crowd

Kong he looked down and focused his eyes
and to see all these mice was an awfull suprise
and just like a man who is frightened of bee's
his face full of terror went weak at the knees

Mo ran up kong and bit on his ear
and kong started running through terror and fear
and then he hung on till they got to some trees
then kong started crying and fell to his knees

dont hurt me small creature i meant you no harm
mo now sympathetic was feeling quite calm
go to the forrest and never come back
I will said the monkey who's face had turned black

Mo started walking and heading for home
feeling like nero the emperor of rome
the crowds in the street were not shouting nero
they were shouting his name
Mo is our hero.

Alan Taylor (Al Ritchie) - 30/5/11

DREAM WORLD

AS I WAS WALKING THROUGH THE FOG
I BUMPED INTO A TEN FOOT FROG
AT FIRST I THOUGHT I'D SEEN A GHOST
BUT NO THE FROG WAS MAKING TOAST. WOULD YOU LIKE A SLICE
HE SAID WITH A SMILE
OR SHOULD I GIVE IT TO CROCODILE
CROCODILE WAS QUITE BIZARRE
SINGING AND DANCING AND PLAYING GUITAR

I RAN FROM THE SCENE AS FAST AS I COULD
AND FOUND MYSELF IN A BIG DARK WOOD
A HEDGHOG APPEARED AS BIG AS A HORSE
EATING A HAMBURGER COVERED IN SAUCE

I SWAYED AND I STAGGERED AND TRIPPED ON A MOLE
AND FELL DOWN A WELL A DEEP DARK HOLE
AS I WAS FALLING I STARTED TO SCREAM
AND WOKE UP IN BED WHAT A FANTASTIC DREAM.

Alan Taylor (Al Ritchie) - 18/6/11

DEATH OF A PLANET 

THE DEATH OF A PLANET I ONCE LENT THIS PLANET TO MAN
THOUGH I PUT MOTHER NATURE IN CHARGE
TO FILL UP THE LAND WITH ALL CREATURES
AND FISH IN THE OCEONS SO LARGE

THEN I PLACED HUMAN BEINGS ON THIS PLANET
WITH EVERYTHING THEY COULD DESIRE
BUT THEN THEY ALL STATED INVENTING
THE AXE THE SPEAR AND THE FIRE

AND SOON THEY WERE FIGHTING EACH OTHER
WITH ROCKETS WITH MISSILES AND GUNS
AND SO ALL THESE GREEDY AGGRESIONS
WERE LATER PAST ON TO THERE SONS

BY THEN MOTHER NATURE WAS LOSING
THE HUMANS WERE CUTTING DOWN TREES
AND THE FOSSILISED FUIL THEY WERE BURNING
WAS BRINGING THE LAND TO ITS KNEES.

WITH FISH IN THE OCEONS REDUCING
THE OZONE THEN GETTING QUITE FRAIL
WHILE THE FOSSILISED FUIL KEPT ON BURNING
AND MAN WOULD DESTROY WITHOUT FAIL.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH MOTHER NATURE SHE SAID
YOU HAVE BROKEN THE NATURAL LAW
YOU LEAVE ME NO CHOICE BUT TO SHOW YOU MY POWERS
FROM NOW ON DEAR MAN THIS IS WAR.

I WILL SEND YOU VOLCANOES AND EARTHQUAKES
BLIZZARDS TSUNAMIS THAT FLOOD
AND MELT ALL THE ICECAPS ON MOUNTAINS
AND FILL ALL THE VALLEYS WITH MUD

SO FILLING THIS PLANET WITH HUMANS.
WAS FOLLY I HAVE TO AGREE
WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES
AND FOR ALL THAT IT TAKES
WE ALL CAN BE WRONG EVEN ME.

Alan Taylor (Al Ritchie) - 2/7/11

ANGELIC LIFE

As i lay in slumber
an angel brushed my cheek
a message she had brought me
she did not even speak

Her touch was just like gossamer
her brightness like the sun
and i knew somehow by instinct
that my life had just begun

No matter what befell me
no matter how i strive
the night an angel brushed my cheek
i knew i was alive. 

Alan Taylor (Al Ritchie) - 6/9/11

COWBOYS

There's a painter in my parlour with a brush
and like a tortoise in a race he doesn't rush.
he's a real untidy bloke
does a flick with every stroke
now he has more flecks of paint upon his mush

Theer's a plasetrer within my vestibule
he said he was a master and no fool
perhaps he is a master
but has now ran out of plaster
Ii suggested that he should go back to school.

There's a plumber in my kitchen with a wrench
there aint no conversation cos he's french
when the floor became a spa
he said sorry hoo la la
so I slapped him just to give him common sense

Ther's a man upon my house who's mixing morter
he's supposed to be a roofer said his daughter
then he fell down kinda neat
landed firmly on his feet
he survived but now he's eighteen inches shorter.

Alan Taylor (Al Ritchie) - 14/1/12

TUTANKHAMUN

One day my son all will be yours.
said Tutankhamuns dad.
then you will have more wealth and power.
than a Pharaou ever had.

But it seems to me your none to bright
and this will never do
so the plan I have is to build a tomb
I will allocate to you.

So on the morn young tuthan brought
some slaves from far and wide
with architects and masons too
with him the oversear.

He found the land then built a fence
to stop all prying eyes
and would not let his father see
it would be his supprise.

The slaves they sweated hacked and carved
for many many years
and Tutankhamun knew that each
had worked through sweat and tears

The day it came and tutans dad
though old and weak and frail,
travelled to the monument
the one he would unvail.

As he stepped off his chariot
his heart so full of pride
he could not wait to push the fence
to see the pride inside

As thousands cheered he pushed the fence
and his smile became a frown
for there in all its glory
was a pyramid upside down.

Alan Taylor (Al Ritchie) - 6/2/12

LA LUNA

La luna, la luna, my solitary friend
La luna, la luna, may I confide in you until the end

How I need you
But I don't know what to say
How i love you
Please don't go away
My heart is broken
There's a tear in my eye
Being without you
I just want to cry

La luna, la luna, my solitary friend
La luna, la luna, you are the only one I call my friend

Life is so lonely
Now I cry myself to sleep
Being without you
I just want to weep
My heart is broken
I love you with all my heart
Please don't leave me
I don't want to part

La luna, la luna, my friend in heaven above La luna, la luna, please tell him I really need his love

When I remember
All the happy times we shared
How I loved you
And I thought you cared
Now that you've left me
Life is empty dull and grey
Oh my darling
Please don't go away

La luna, la luna, I pray to you above
La luna, la luna, please I beg let him return my love

David Benjamin - 7/3/12

The Oasis and Club Roma

You must have been about seventeen
When I caught your eye in that dark coffee bar
It was underground, you could not see the light of day
We had frothy coffee and a coca cola
I had to kiss you before 1 got much older
I just could not resist those lips

Sitting in corner Allen Clarke & Graham Nash
Two ambitious Salford lads
Who were destined for fortune & fame.
We had a twist, and then a smooch
You got makeup on my mohair suit
I didn’t care, I had another one at home.

Freddy was a dreamer, Wayne Fontana still a kid
I thought they would make their mark
And that’s exactly what they did.

We had to get out of there,
So climbing up the stairs
Into a city that was inviting us to play,

Round the corner, not too far,
Walking to my favourite bar
Where the band played on into the night
I asked if you’d like a bowl of soup
I can see you’ve been working out with a hula-hoop.
She said no but I’ll have a Cherry B.

I had my usual bottle of beer
And a whisky mac to keep my head clear
Back then that’s what did it for me.

In a candlelit room we had fillet steak and chips
I could well afford the twelve and six
Man, we were cool!

It was quite late when you phoned your mother
Saying not to worry,
But you wouldn’t be home that night

It’s Manchester 1961,
Manchester, havin’ a whole lot of fun
Manchester, and the Beatles yet to come!!

Pete Maclaine 

'Timeless'

He's cracked the Three Score Years and Ten;
The Timeless Troubadour,
And in my book, long may he thrive,
To live a Fine Time more..

Robert Smith Wright  24.5.2001

inounoino

Colour is a pigment of the imagination

They also surf who only stand and wade

When two losers get together, there's no stopping 'em!

Robert Smith Wright (1977) - 1/4/10 

Command Performance

'I like my heroes pliant,'
The Queen was heard to say,
To Brigadier Throgmorton,
As he briskly looked away.
'So chain thy charger 'neath my keep;
Tonight we'll bide no thoughts of sleep!'

Robert Smith Wright (1978) - 20/3/10

'Nothing Forgotten!'

If I were the ghost of Dorothy Parker,
Today I should write you a rhyme;
I would set you a chase, where you
Won't find a marker,
To a place that has 'taken a powder' with Time
I'd present you a man who feels no need to
Ponder,
Nor take off on the roll of the dice;
Whose heart is unfetter'd, devotion unbetter'd
And who knows what he drinks with his ice!'

Robert Smith Wright ( 1977) - 2/10/10

ROMANCE AT THE PALAIS

IN THE 50’S & 60’S, THE PLACE TO BE
WAS BURY’S BEST DANCE HALL, CALLED THE PALAIS
ON SATURDAY NIGHTS, YOU’D GO THERE FOR A DANCE
HOPING TO FIND A NEW ROMANCE.
ALL THE GIRLS WOULD ARRIVE, WITH THEIR HAIR ROLLERS IN,
CARRYING A BAG, WITH HAIRBRUSH, AND MAKE UP WITHIN.
THEN TO THE CLOAKROOM, THEY WOULD ALL RUN,
TO BRUSH OUT THEIR HAIR, AND A NEW FACE PUT ON.
THE BOYS WOULD ARRIVE JUST AFTER TEN,
FOR THAT WAS THE LATEST, THEY WERE ALLOWED IN.

THEN, EVERYONE WOULD GATHER, AROUND THE EDGE OF THE FLOOR
HOPING THE NEXT DANCE WOULD BE ROMANTIC AND SLOW.
THE PROCEDURE WOULD BE, FOR THE BOYS TO REQUEST,
“MAY I HAVE THIS DANCE”, TO THE OPPOSITE SEX,
IF THE GIRL ANSWERED ‘YES’, AND HIS CHARM SHE APPROVED
TO THE MIDDLE OF THE DANCE FLOOR, THEY’D SLOWLY MOVE
HANDS WOULD THEN WANDER, AND THEY’D STEAL A KISS
BUT THE DANCE HALL’S BOUNCER DISSAPROVED OF THIS,
A TAP ON THE SHOULDER, AND THESE WORDS THEY WOULD FEAR,
“PLEASE LEAVE THE DANCE FLOOR, THAT’S NOT ALLOWED HERE”.

IF THE ATTRACTION STILL THERE, TOGETHER THEY’D STAY,
AND DANCE THE REST OF THE NIGHT AWAY
“ I’LL WALK YOU HOME ”, HE WOULD THEN SAY
HOPING SHE DID’NT LIVE, VERY FAR AWAY
NO THOUGHTS OF TAXIS, BUSES OR CARS
HE’D STILL WALK HER HOME, NO MATTER HOW FAR.
. FOR A KISS AND A CUDDLE, OR MAYBE MORE!!!
A QUITE PLACE OR DARK ALLEY, IS THEY WOULD GO.
AT HER FRONT DOOR THEY’D SAY GOODNIGHT
NO INVITATION THOSE DAYS TO GO INSIDE!!
IF FEELINGS WERE MUTUAL, THEY’D THEN MAKE A DATE
AND GO FOR A NIGHT OUT, SOME OTHER DAY,
THAT WAS THE WAY MOST ROMANCES BEGAN,
WHEN YOU WENT ON A SATURDAY, TO THE
‘PALAIS-DE-DANCE’.

Peter Dillon

As I gaze beyond the footlights
As I glance a bygone age
I am young again, I am in my prime
I am on a golden stage 

The group and I are rockin
With the dancers down below
A jivin and beboppin
Each a seperate show 

And now I sing a ballad
So lovers can embrace
Swaying to the music
With love upon their face 

But now the show is over
And the crowd begin to roar
The nicest sound we ever heard
Encore, encore, encore.

Al Richie - 20/4/11

K 9 SHOW

Dashunds corgies pekanese walking in and out the
trees setters pointers labs and pugs boxers russels
dogs like rugs terriers poodles hounds and chows
mountin dogs as big as cows Through wind and rain
through sleet and snow to the national doggy show.

Alan Taylor (Al Ritchie) - 26/5/11

Tsunami

A tiny ripple in the sea was heading toward the shore
A larger wave said join me son and make my volume more
so tiny jumped upon his back now they were riding high
other ripples saw this wave and gave a jealous sigh
can we join you lovely wave its volume that we lack
of course you can i do not mind just jump upon my back
before too long the foaming crest said I can see the shore
now we will gain respect because we are twenty feet or more
the ripple now had some regrets and thought the
plan was barmy for the waves by now were forty feet a powerfull tsunami

Alan Taylor (Al Ritchie) - 26/5/11

REFLECTIONS

the lonely cry of a distant train
strange reflections from the pounding rain
raindrops racing down the window pain
this is the day in the life of

seagulls screaming in a clear blue sky
wavelets lapping with a plaintive sigh
lovely memories till the day you die
this is the day in the life of

the sound of crunching through the melting snow
crossing over when the lights say go
slipping sliding on the ice below
this is the day in the life of

bobbing weaving through the shopping throng
bus stop waiting when the queue is long
real frustration when the day goes wrong
this is the day in the life of

whinging and moaning about your lot
not what you have but what you have not
just be thankfull for what you have got
this is the day in the life of.

Alan Taylor (Al Ritchie) - 26/5/11

MY FRIEND THE BOTTLE

I SLEEP BENEATH THE ARCHES
OR THE DOORWAY OF A SHOP
I KNOW I'VE REACHED ROCK BOTTOM
I ONCE WAS NEAR THE TOP

I WORKED IN A DOWN TOWN OFFICE
I WAS ON THE PROMOTIONAL BRINK
THEN I HIT A DOWNWARD SPIRAL
BECAUSE I LIKED A DRINK

MY WIFE AND CHILDREN LEFT ME
AND MY HOUSE WAS REPOSSED
I SOLD MY LAMBOGHINI
I KNEW THEN I WAS MESSED

MY BEST FREIND IS THE BOTTLE
I KNOW ITS SAD BUT TRUE
BUT PEOPLE JUST DONT UNDERSTAND
FOR THE GRACE OF GOD GO YOU

I SOMETIMES GO ROUND BEGGING
TO TRY TO GET SOME FOOD
BUT PEOPLE JUST IGNORE ME
AND BECOME EXTREMLY RUDE

THEY WOULD RATHER FEED THE PIGEONS
THAN HELP A HUMAN SOUL
SO I GO BACK TO THE BOTTLE
AND LEAVE MY BEGGING BOWL

WHEN I LEAVE THIS EARTHLY LIFE
WHEN I LEAVE THIS LAND
I HOPE I MEET MY MAKER
MAYBE HE WILL UNDERSTAND.

Alan Taylor (Al Ritchie) - 30/5/11

MY RIVER

FROM A TRICKLE IN THE MOUNTAIN
TO A TORRENT IN THE DALES
AND A PEACEFULL MEANDER INBETWEEN
THERES A WEIR THATS INA HURRY
OVER PEBBLES IT DOTH SCURRY
THEN IN SHALLOWS OVER STREAMER WEED SO GREEN.

ITS WHERE LOVERS THROUGH THE AGES
WRITING SONNETS FILLING PAGES
OF THE SWEETEST WORDS THE WORLD HAS EVER HEARD
ITS A HOME FOR EVERY CREATURE
HIDDEN HOLES IN EVERY FEATURE
AND THE TREE LINED BANKS A NEST FOR EVERY BIRD.

ITS SO MOODY AND MAJESTIC
YET ITS POWER IS SO FANTASTIC
SO IMPATIENT SO ERRATIC
NEVER FAULTERS SO EMPHATIC
YET SO TRANQUIL AS IT WONDERS THROUGH THE LEA

AS IT FLOWS THROUGH EACH LOCATION
SURE TO REACH ITS DESTINATION
THROUGH THE ESTUARY INTO THE DEEP BLUE SEA.

Alan Taylor (Al Ritchie) - 12/6/11

When

When you can walk with the gentry
and talk to the tramps in the park
and when you can reach for the lonely
and bring forth the light from the dark

And when you can tolerate anger
reducing that fury to peace
and persons that give off the anger
are thankfull to have that release

and when you can bring joyous laughter
to one with a permanent frown
the lord will declair you a leader of men
to the angels as they look down.

Alan Taylor (Al Ritchie) - 25/6/11

SNARL UP

Sat in my car in the traffic
not moving an inch in an hour
my boss he will sack me
and verbally atack me
and the milk in my lunch will turn sour

watching the gauge on my dashboard
my fuel is so dangerously low
my engine is steaming
or perhaps i am dreaming
i bet i will soon need a tow

sat in my car in the traffic
my gaffer is bound to go spare
he'l hand me my cards
with the company's regards
well so what just see if i care

the traffic has moved just a little
and though i'm just half an hour late
i've along way to travel
my brain wont unravel
i wonder what will be my fate

sat in my car in the traffic
with a snarl up at least for a mile
who is that waving behind me?
I'me not in the mood for a smile

the car at my rear looks familier
i wind down the window to see
its the boss in his rover
i smile and shout over
your going to be later than me.

Alan Taylor (Al Ritchie) - 31/7/1

OUT TO GRASS

I ran like the wind
and was first past the post.
in all classic races
was faster than most

I was feited and pampered
depicted in oils
my owner got richer
enjoying the spoils

Then my legs they got weaker
my vision inpaired
the shear disapointment
my owners all shared

we knew it was over
the glory the fame
then I heard people whisper
oh what a shame.

so they put me to pasture
alone in a field
I knew it was over
had nothing to yeald.

my life was near over
aproaching the end
alone in this field
I just needed a friend.

Alan Taylor (Al Ritchie) - 14/1/12

Joyful Day

The speckled sunlight on the golden corn
the rustle of the sycamore tree.
the sound of crickets in the new mowed grass
the humming of the bumble bee,

The sweet aroma of the hedggrow flowers
mixing with the dew soaked hay
the far off mewing from a distant hill
this is such a joyful day.

The plaintive bleating of anew born lamb
the trickle of a rushing brook
the airobics of the swift on the wing
and the screach of the airborn rook,

The gentle swaying of the silver birch
the glistening of a sunlight ray
awaking senses of the human soul
this is such a joyful day.

Alan Taylor (Al Ritchie) - 21/1/12

SNOOKER WHAT A GAME

The brown is on the cushion
and the pink behind the black,
the blue is hanging by the hole
i need to bring it back,

I know i need a snooker
and this is my greatest test
but my hands are sweating badly
for this shot i need the rest

or should i use the spider
and play a safety shot
as i bent to line the ball up
my stomach's in a knot.

my eyes are going squinty
and my heart begins to bang
am i going to pieces
ther's a trembling in my hand.

suddenly there is silence
and i'm feeling kind of calm
its just a game i'll do my best
it cannot do no harm

the balls do as i want them to
and now i've won the frame
i must have died a thousand times
snooker what a game.

Alan Taylor (Al Ritchie) - 6/2/12 

Nostalgia

Little lady by the fire
She was eighty yesterday
freinds relations just a memory
years ago they went away

By the forest in the valley
near the sound of bubbling streams
Faded photo's in an album
Bringing back a million dreams

wads of letters hiding secrets
Neatly wrapped with rubber bands
Such an effort trying to read them
Fading sight and trembling hands

As she wrapps her shawl around her
tries in vain to beat the cold
Feebly wipes away a tear drop
Its not my fault i am old

Dying embers in the fireplace
Slowly burn away and die
Then she heard a voice from heaven
Twas her calling from the sky.

Alan Taylor (Al Ritchie) - 3/4/12