Christmas

Christmas

The evenings draw in,

The adverts do change,

It's time to move things, 

Your lounge rearrange,

Sat in the corner,

A sparkly lit tree

There's gifts under there,

For you and for me,

The shops fill with people,

They're all in a rush,

The dash to get home,

One final last push,

The morning has come,

It's time to unwrap,

The rustle of paper,

Good food and a nap,

So then comes the evening

It's Christmas TV,

I'll just have a chocolate,

Or two, maybe three,

We've done it again,

That's it for this year,

I hope that for you,

There's been lots of cheer.

My Bride

My Bride

Your beautiful eyes I look into 
Reflecting all my smile,
I hope one day together my love,
We shall walk down the aisle,

I often think about the times,
I'll get down on one knee,

To ask if you will make me happy,
Become Mrs Verney,

Let's clear our minds together now,
And brush the troubles away,

That little sweeping action done
Filled greatness in this day,

There are those notes that get inside
And touch my very soul,

You know my little darling girl
My heart you have now stole,

And when the years have come and gone
And we are old and grey,

I still wake up each morning
Gaze at you and think "wow, yay!".

Explanation

Just some romantic ramblings from me. Just because I'm not involved with anyone at present, doesn't stop me from having musings does it :)

Charli

Charli

As gracious as a girl can be,

But comes Friday now lets us all see,

It's time for her work to come to an end,

Arise this corkscrew reveals a good friend,

The colours tonight shall be red or white,

A matter of time before she speaks shite (sorry :D)

So sit down Charli and adorn your fine onesie, 

It's the weekend now, happy days, just like Fonzie, (come on, you try rhyming with onesie)

Her gingerbread man arrives at her side,

Grumpy perhaps but dotes on his bride,

And now this fab poem must come to and end,

I like having her as my Twitter friend.

Explanation

So, I asked people what I could write for my next poem, two people just said "do one about me". So, I did. This one is for Charli, who foolishly asked for one.

The Passing of Summer 2013

The Passing of Summer 2013

We wondered if,

We'd see your smile,

We hadn't seen you,

For quite a while,

But come you did,

And raise your hand,

On many faces,

The skin now tanned,

For me sometimes,

You were too hot,

But I'm still glad,

You stayed a lot,

You're going now,

That's clear to see,

And it's not nice,

To see you flee,

So when it comes,

This time next year,

Please don't be a stranger,

We like you that's clear.

Explanation

The summer of 2013 in the UK was one of the sunniest and hottest for many many years. After several years of very poor quality summers (even for the UK), we were long overdue, and in great need of a lovely summer. We got one.

The Bookshop

The Bookshop

The colours of rainbows,

All stacked along straight rows,

Feeling my hairs stand right up on my skin,

I'm in a bookshop, and I never want to leave here.

The pages they call me, 

Call for my attention,

Feeling the weight of each one in my hands,

I'm in a bookshop, and I never want to leave here.

That soft little crackle,

These bindings so detailed,

Markings of readers from times of before,

I'm in a bookshop, and I never want to leave here.

From fiction to sci-fi,

The ink fills my neurons,

Smells like a kitchen much food for my mind,

I'm in a bookshop, and I never want to leave here.

So many to witness,

The keepers of magic,

Friends of these words and they want you to share

I'm in a bookshop, and I never want to leave here.

It's time to close this page,

Will open tomorrow,

I know that I'll find something special in here,

I'm in a bookshop, and I never want to leave here.

Explaination

So, I have a confession to make. I'm actually not a particularly big reader, but I came across a blog post the other day. It was so beautifully written that I decided to do this poem. Here's the specific blog post from "The bookshop around the corner" which I would highly recommend reading, regardless of whether you're a reader or not. The blogger's passion for her hobby can only be admired. Oh, and of course, I had a little inspiration too from Mr Knopfler after listening to this song.

Fusilier Lee Rigby

Fusilier Lee Rigby

With courage that we shall never know,

You came to defend your country,

In times of joy the sticks came out,

You sounded the notes of your passion,

But then in a moment we shall never forget,

Your life and your soul was taken from us,

We were so sorry that upon your return

We could not keep you safe from harm,

In thousands they came to visit that site,

Laid flowers, paid tributes, because this is right,

Today some weeks on we lay you to rest,

I didn't know you yet somehow I miss you,

I miss you because you touched people's lives,

Showed us how to be brave keep calm and carry on,

Your little boy he will grow up strong,

He has our support and knew a great man

Sleep well, Lee,

We will remember you.

Be mine...

Be mine...

My eyes shall tell you all that you need to know,

These heavy waters alone you shall not have to row,

My phone lights up, I hear there's a beep,

I now feel so happy, another that I shall keep,

So come now take my hand and come away with me,

We'll build a life together my love, just wait and you shall see,

You know that I will be there for you,

We're in this together, a tough team, me and you,

Sometimes we'll cry, but lots we shall giggle,

That little thing you do I'll give you a wiggle,

You think I'm making breakfast, I kinda sorta am,

It's taking me a while cos there's flowers with your jam,

This journey we're on we'll sail it together,

When I'm with you there's sunshine in my weather.

Explanation

No explanation here. It's just general musings on what it means to me to be in a strong, healthy, long term relationship. (not that I'm in one at the mo by the way....but please form an orderly queue ladies.)

The Routemasters

The Routemasters

A choreographed dance, though timing may stray,

These big red carriages through night time to day,

Carrying the blood throughout all its veins

They have their own place in their little lanes,

You know there's a pulse, they make its heart beat,

So follow the yellow brick road and hear that thing peep,

All ages, religions and cultures and creeds,

Reminding us all that "Londoner" 's our breed,

So next time you're on one just think where you are,

You're on a Routemaster each driven by a star.

Explanation

I'm really taken with "The Route Masters: Running London's Roads" at the moment. It's a documentary on BBC showing how London's public transportation system is kept running. Tonight showed the dedicated work of the drivers of the night time bus routes. Man, they really do put up with a lot of stuff, but pretty much every time, they'll get you to where you need to and we should thank them for that. Without them, a lot of people would be stuck. They do sometimes have a reputation as being not very nice, but perhaps it's because they don't feel respected. I would suggest we give them a little more and see how things change.

Exposure

Exposure

Well today we go play Russian roulette folks,

For fear we're about to seek and provoke,

Feels like today tomorrow and probably the next,

Six chambers are loaded, BUT determination 's flexed,

Walking opened eyed right into the lion's den,

I know that I must do this again and again,

Upon the horizon the clouds they do build,

With darkness and thunder they clearly are filled,

The drum beats do quicken, they get louder too,

But screw you anxiety, no seriously, screw you!,

The world spins round like I'll fall to the ground,

But must have the confidence that I shall not drown,

The beast of tightness comes and smothers 'round my throat,

For this to stop now, please, I hereby do vote,

Through all of this I know I must last,

Because this is what I choose, a new me I shall cast.

Explanation

I'm not going to say too much about this, except to say I'm currently undergoing "exposure therapy" for a particular anxiety issue. I believe tackling it will be extremely challenging (well I know it is), but I also believe it will make me a better and in the long run, a happier person (yes I know that's hard to believe..."Better?! But Phil, you're already the best!"). There is lots to do to where I want to get to....and the above is what it feels like to me, both in terms of how unbelievably horribly horrifically terrifyingly difficult it feels -- but also how much determination I must have to get to a better place. To quote Churchill, "Oh no no no no no".....wait, wrong Churchill. I mean this one. "If you're going through hell, keep going".

Sunbathing Moon

Sunbathing Moon

Middle of the month it shall come soon,

Prepares for her dance a beautiful new moon,

Comes about this little new-born,

Craters show a life that's well-worn,

Each day she will grow in strength,

Keeping an eye on the focal length,

Now she is so bright, lets give her a wave,

She sits there proudly in her sunbathe,

Now as the month it draws to a close,

We bid her farewell before we all doze.