Words – my contribution

Stop the boats.

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Stop the boats. Build a bridge.

Britain is full. Full of talent and welcoming.

Pull back the benefits. Make everything free.

They bomb the hospitals. With packages of flowers.

They desecrate values. Values added by workforce.

They disrepute our creation. Creation of meaningful multicultural love.

“Make Britain great again.” A great big hub of togetherness.

Too many seek asylum. Only lunatics seek asylum in these social conditions.

Our border security is compromised. Compromise: we have shores all around us.

Climate is displacing people. We’re an island and it could soon be us displaced.

They come here just to avoid detention. Didn’t we arrest you for more?

They impact the economy for wages, public services, and debt. A soap opera of lives before.

There is no social integration. Poverty, housing, and acculturation are new, right?

Humanitarian crises are not our responsibility. Are you human?

They create a labour shortage. Nobody wants to work anymore.

There is no political populism. See also: the Internet.

The backlogs are too big. Work smarter.

Irregular migration was caused by war. Stop selling bombs to bomber nations.

Migrants have vulnerabilities. Tell that to the victims of Operation Yew Tree

The journeys are dangerous. Make the journeys fair and simple.

Healthcare is strained. Stop underfunding and selling it off in the first place.

Social services are crippled. Perhaps the fraud cases in the system needs more tackling.

Our national identity is being lost. The identity imposed upon many has had hundreds of years of changes and adaptation.

Human rights prevent us doing the right thing. Until your Human Rights are breached.

Discrimination will rise. You’re doing a great job, already.

These refugees don’t understand us. Welcome and educate all.

They come to divide us. You DIVIDE us.

I didn’t put my right arm up. Yes, sure… Adolf.

Stop the boats. Build a bridge.

IBE

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Sometimes you have to leave to thrive;

Your pathway takes a new direction.

Don’t worry, we’ll survive!

Take the steps away and feel satisfaction.

You leave behind smiles, confidence, and joy;

Little faces and heads crammed with more.

Systems you have fixed that once did annoy;

You did something many did adore.

You made a difference and thanks for that;

Many things changed, this much I know.

No farewell gift, leaving card, but one caveat:

Here you’re living in your Mum’s shadow.

All the best for the future!

Battle.

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Read my eyes. Read them carefully.
I heard you. I really got your gist.
I’m not talking. My words are silent.
I am trying to think. And block out your sounds.

I heard every little thing. I am not deaf.
Why are you so unkind? Don’t you see me?
Look at my face. Read the expression.
A plethora of scribbled emotions. Keep out of my path.

Think I’m deaf, do you? Look at me.
Look closer. See my body raging.
See that deep upset. I won’t speak.
I don’t want to erupt. I am close.

I have plenty to say. I hold back.
You push me and push me. And some more.
Keep on pushing and pushing. Pushing the hate.
Nothing positive to say? Thought not.

Can’t you shut up? Think of better words.
Don’t I have feelings? You hurt me.
You really have made me sad. Unbelieveably angry.
I count. Don’t I?

H.P. one

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Didn’t drive there; took the train. Cleaner.
Fare was fair; a voyage to fresh air. Dreamer.
Book in hand; sat in the land. Concealer.
Hull Pot is known; Hunt’s Pot unshown. Revealer.

From within the cracked crevice; a crag distant. Dramatic.
Layers of limestone; collapsed downward. Fantastic.
Roots draped low; light reflecting glow. Unsystematic.
Flowers tumble outwards; water plummets loudly. Automatic.

Spikes protruding seats; stream into ground eats. Entice.
Stacked clumsy ledges; tufted lonely shrubs. Imprecise.
Solid without flow; frozen is the mass. Shelf ice.
Emerald filled cauldron; grasses swaying lightly. Paradise.

Outside in.

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How do you find yourself when part of you seems lost or missing?

What if being different is the thing you ignore: your greatest strength?

How far into the abyss would you go to protect someone you love?

What if the world doesn’t make sense, would you still abide by the conventional rules?

What if the bravest thing you can be is yourself and no-one else?

Can your gentlest whisper say more than your loudest shout?

Where do you turn when you feel that you don’t fit in anywhere?

Who said being a mature grown-up had to be anything like perfect?

When everything feels torn and twisted, can you still believe in hope?

Is there only one way of life (that’s your own)?

Calling

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Farewell to the stars

My eyes blur with sleep

I don’t invite them on in

Nor do I allow their shouts

I couldn’t hear it

A misdeed so true

I couldn’t feel it

A transgression of angst

A silhouette I am

In a pale concrete box

A Pompeii blast-mark

Solitary without you

Unable to see you

Prevented from calling out

Unable to hear you

I could no longer call

No call possible

Answers no longer reachable

1915

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Guns have won

            Childlike show

God listens no more 

      Debased figures rot

                              Angry

Shorter indented lines

            sense of grim     order

Monstrous ANGER claiming victory

Ripped from life.   Unfriendly

                                    Bittersweet

Disappointed nature of war.   Unobservant

      Ultimate victory of foes by cold steel

The devoutly religious with no time to pray

Ineffectual begging given no moment

                                    Depressed

Order gives way to chaos     loose     unreachable

No survivors walk       the squalid trenches

GOD cannot listen

            Your voice unheard

                                    Helpless

The unfolding scenes of death.     Stripped away.

Erratic sounds in battle

Frequently breaking patterns.

Disruption coupled            to disorder

                                          Tortured

The pain goes on.

Light blues.

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Woke up one morning and the sun refused to shine.

Woke up, head slumped, joined another line.

Got up and went on, but the day didn’t play.

Tried to talk about it but the words I couldn’t say.

Need a little sunshine for the day.

Need a few more rays to shine my way.

Need a little lightness to say, “Hey!”

So, send some sunshine and break the grey.

The will to go on heaves less and less.

There are more problems that I must address.

My passion to battle often does regress.

Yet, all I want is your love to bless.

Need a little sunshine for the day.

Need a little lightness to say, “Hey!”

Need a few more rays to shine my way.

So, send some sunshine and break the grey.

The drum beats firmer in my ears.

The drumming brings forward all my fears.

Surrounding myself in proverbial beers.

Listening less and less for positive cheers.

Need a little lightness to say, “Hey!”

Need a little sunshine for the day.

Need a few more rays to shine my way.

So, send some sunshine and break the grey.

Send the sunshine.

Send it my way.

Send it.

Send it today.

Frustrated

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Pause.

I’m married. Yet alone.

So lonely. Not together.

No hugs. No kisses. Just a phone.

Miss you. Miss one another.

Pause.

Apart. Far away.

Cursed. Dreams on hold.

In limbo every day.

Torture. No hand to hold.

Pause.

Painful. Desperate at times.

Denied a shared life.

Treated like a thousand crimes.

Soul screaming. Cruel bastard strife.

PAUSE.

I’m married. Yet alone.

Pause.

I’m married.

Pause.

Yet alone.

Pause.

Alone.

Williams Duo & Goodwin Too

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Oh, hey now is this a sign?
Have I been here before?
Oh, why should I care?
You can hear the silence drone
I still thirst

I looked for some guidance
Some beauty in my heart
Trying to accept the person I am
God knows it ain’t easy
Who knows the reason why?

Seize the time
Here comes my day in the summer sun
On summer days like these
But it slips through
What did you want?

Farewell friend.

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I want to thank you.

Thank you for opening my eyes.

Opening my eyes to a new lens.

A new lens capturing moments of time.

Moments of time caressing tender memories.

Caressing tender memories that led to this day.

Led to this day when we said farewell.

Said farewell to you and thank you.

Thank you for being here.

Rest peacefully. Good night and God bless. 🕊 🐝

Self-discovery lens.

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We each have bad habits, and it isn’t my place to judge.

I ain’t ever smoked a cigarette, although I’ve breathed in far too many.

My not trying drugs is an issue I won’t ever budge.

Sometimes, my focus loses its antennae.

I am not an alcoholic although I do enjoy an odd drink.

I wouldn’t say I look to fight, even if I feel ready for a hit.

I like to avoid conflict, passing on kicking up a stink.

I can not tell a good joke or come across as full of wit.

I try to give more than I take. Whatever it may cost.

I prize friendship over profits.

I treasure memories but worry about opportunities lost.

I get frustrated at times. Throwing all kinds of fits.

“I’m not a racist but…” No. Not all all. I hate racism.

I’d like to protest but found my hands tied up.

I question capitalist ways, leaning my ears to socialism.

A bully bullies because they’re bullied and hold no club.

I am, however, a disappointment.

I am a disappointment.

I am.

Drawers.

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At the bottom of the unit lies a spring-loaded drawer with all my deepest and darkest utterings and thoughts.

Above that, another drawer, less-sealed, more-opened to tuck away memories warm and cold.

On top of the metaphorically wooden system, a drawer for the here and now. It has future dreams, brewing, and stewing.

One drawer shut tightly contains a world of marvellous thoughts.

Above it is an open shelf of optimism. A sliding glass door keeps in contained. Often, it is open just a tiny sliver.

Sometimes, just sometimes, I can keep everything, but what I need closed.

Mostly, however, my drawers are left open with socks and underpants spilling all over the floor.

If I were Napoleon, I’d shut the drawers and nod off.

I’m not Napoleon.

Words.

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Letters jumbled together to make some sort of sense.

Until they don’t.

Some make you sit up straight, late at night, tense.

Go away, they won’t.

Some are favourites, warm and welcome.

Others are demanding.

A smattering of words you’ll see seldom.

Many are descriptive waterfalls of meaning.

They drop delightfully.

A few unlock secrets and ideas gleaming.

They drop frightfully.

Sentences and words arranged not from simplicity.

There to baffle you.

Newspapers spew words of publicity.

“Words can’t hurt you.”

The toxicity of a word’s elasticity.

Yes, they FUCKING can!

Ferociously delivered weapons of choice.

Venomous sounds.

All the way at you as one voice.

Good old words.

Northern Rail

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Points failure. Delayed.

Late from the depot. Cancelled.

Staff member unavailable. Denied.

Leaves on the line. Complained.

Due to a landslide. Declined.

Snow, ice, fog, and high winds. Failed.

Extreme heat and railway line buckling. Inconvenienced.

Overhead line equipment failure. Uncovered.

Signal failure. Terminated.

Poor Victorian planning ahead for population expansions. Unconvinced.

Heavy volumes of rail traffic.Backlogged.

Overrunning engineering works. Poorly planned.

Speed restrictions in place. Underdeveloped.

Trespassers on the line. Stupid.

Telecoms failure. Apologised.

Animals on the line. Departed.

Lineside fires. Transpired.

Death on the line. Expired.

Another tannoy apology by a robot. Delay repayed.

The good old commute.

Immigration.

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Wouldn’t mind more migration and less borders.

Wouldn’t mind a little less bombing interventions overseas.

Wouldn’t mind peaceful values and ideals before responses get dished out.

Wouldn’t mind capitalism paying more taxes and seeking less havens.

Wouldn’t mind a shoulder to cry on.

Wouldn’t mind a living wage and more opportunities.

Wouldn’t mind fewer inequalities and a smidgen of hope.

Wouldn’t mind a hand of help reaching out to those who need it.

Wouldn’t mind thoughts before actions.

Wouldn’t mind understanding before judgement.

Wouldn’t mind smiles over frowns.

Wouldn’t mind less wealthy controlling corporations.

Wouldn’t mind a boom in small traders.

Wouldn’t mind dreams and dreamers discussing ideals and progress.

Wouldn’t mind more and more and more and more trees.

Wouldn’t mind water so clean you can paddle and drink in the freshness.

Wouldn’t mind the words and wisdom of the deceased generation that loved us all.

Wouldn’t mind no babies in hospitals, displaced by bombs, disease, and warmongering criminality.

Wouldn’t mind translators and cultural exchange bringing people closer.

Wouldn’t mind change.

How about you?

Christmas Eve

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They’re sharing family Christmas photos;

Wishing you all well and greetings for the seasons.

Yet, here, without you, I’m incomplete.

My family’s come is shattered beyond reasons.

The glimmer of hope like the slim chance of snow on a warm winter’s evening;

The last bus approaches on a pathway surrounded by emptiness.

A lone blackbird sings beneath a damp lamppost;

Touched in the heart, I am not in all fairness.

I envy and feel bitter to those who have it all;

I feel happy for each and everyone enveloped in family.

Yet, here, without you, I’m still incomplete.

For too long now, I suffocate in calamity.

Wreaths hug doors and trees sparkle in light;

Hearing carols on the street, my stomach flutters.

Yet, there and here, I cannot find a way out;

I feel bleakness, struggling to rise from the gutters.

To be found.

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I used to smile.

Instead, my face creases like contours from a map.



I used to laugh.

Now jokes pass over me like Arctic winds on the tundra.



I used to chuckle and gleam.

It’s all replaced by a seemingly eternal cold emptiness.



I used to preach hope.

But for all its worth, I let go of that dream.



Before today, I was strong.

I slink down beneath a door frame, unable to open the handle, and let myself in.



Before today, I sought new songs.

Yet now most seem overplayed and all the same: repeat after repeat after repeat.



Before today, I had ambitions.

They slipped away, leaving an endless string of survival day by day.



Before today, I loved the rain.

Now, I greet umbrellas and raincoats and wellies as sanctuary.



Where is the old me?

Lost, maybe.


To be found.