A Midsummer Night

We lie awake together

Drifting in our own daydreams

Holding hands with twisted legs

intertwined. There are no words

between us. No whispers of feelings

No sweet nothings said.

We spent so many nights like this,

in silence. In our own thoughts.

Remembering the night we fell in love.

We left the city in the twilight,

It rained. The forest seemed

full of magic then.

Drunkenly exchanging harsh words,

Seductive reasoning and lovers.

I sometimes wonder, is our love

stitched together by magic?

By the dizziness of the forest

The summer heat and midnight’s promise.

Would the nights be different

If we’d exchanged our

lovers for the other’s. I dream

of her lover’s curled hair and

the gap in his teeth.

I stroke my lover’s fingers.

I wonder if he ever dreams of her.

Bad News

With dry throat and

                raspy breath

I take your hand

feel your pulse beneath

my fingertips

Or perhaps

perhaps it’s mine

beating in my ear

and stinging

my eyes, red rimmed

and forlorn

you smile

although you know

I do not have to

utter my raspy

breath

a shudder of nerves

and tears

You squeeze my hand

and together

we slightly weep

First Love

We didn’t have to take our time

We could have rushed

                And met what came our way

Like so many other

                young lovers

Thrust together in heat and

                flawed judgements

We could have trusted the moon

                And ignored the dawn

                                warning of second thoughts

                                                in morning light

Instead, we spent the night time

                                laughing

playing games and ignoring

                suggestive feelings

It seemed unnatural

                this deprivation

                But a swollen promise

must never be forgotten

Lunch Time

I cut his food into tiny pieces.

Small enough to fit into his

Small and toothless mouth.

He smiles at me, with a look of

glum resignation. I know

he’s embarrassed by this

Common situation. All his friends

eat their meals in

Tiny bite sized chunks,

made small for them by

caring relatives and carers.

His shaky hand can’t quite control the fork.

He misses his mouth a little,

We ignore the gravy smear. He smiles

as a small defiant tear dribbles

down his cheek.

Our Walk By The Sea

You told of your childhood

and muttered dreaded secrets

kept away by

Good Manners and

complicated fears

The sea seemed soothing then

Although the harsh waves roared

and spat at our ankles

The wicked wind

Whipping away your

tearful whispers

I had to strain to hear

And strain to not

Some secrets should remain swept

away by sensible

oceans

If the World was Made of Chocolate

If the world was made of chocolate

I would eat the world right up,

If the rivers flowed with Fanta

I would take a great big cup,

If the sun was golden syrup,

And the moon a moony pie,

I would gobble up the sun,

And I’d give the moon a try,

If the trees were made of toffee,

And the leaves were Brighton rock,

I would eat the leaves for breakfast,

And I’d guzzle toffee block,

Then I’d eat the cherry flowers,

And I’d lick the lolly plants,

I would suck up strawberry worms,

And I’d nibble raspberry ants,

I would roll around in butter,

I would eat the poppy jam,

And the daisies made of cream,

And the candy beaver dam,

If the world was made of chocolate,

I would eat up the whole lot,

And then I’d have no place to live,

So I’m sort of glad it’s not.

Jumping

Jumping, jumping, jumping socks,

Jumping feet,

Jumping lots.

Jumping, Jumping, Jumping shoes,

Jumping feet,

Jump in twos.

Jumping full of jumping beans,

Jumping is,

As jumping seems.

Jumping heads and hands and knees,

You may jump,

Just as you please.

Jumping elbows, necks and toes,

Jumping ears,

Jumping nose.

Jumping ringlets, jumping curls,

Jumping boys,

And jumping girls.

Jumping up into the air,

You may jump

If you dare!