100. Albatross

It was never meant to feel like this,
a sentence to be served that seemed
to stretch far in the distance,

a year of forced sentiment,
too contrived almost rehearsed -
verse should be a pleasure not a curse

so I cut free the albatross, watched
it fly until just a distant speck
catching new inspiration in its wings.

99. Creeping (cinquain)

Creeping
very slowly
towards the finish line
no longer need to dredge the mind
for verse

98. Creativity (haiku)

Creativity
gone underground, choked silent
till this madness ends.

97. Morning Birdsong

With dog in tow, I wandered slowly through the woods,
every few steps a different bird, a different tune,
a symphony no orchestra could ever boast.

96. April Birthday (ii)

Calm and caring,
L oved by people and
Animals in equal measure, a
Rock in a crisis, you are
Everyone's friend.  

95. War Memories

One night of the Blitz I remember,
because of the huge harvest moon
that lit up the sky over London
and trickled through blinds into rooms.

Mum cried at the speech made by Churchill,
Dad stared at the wireless and swore,
we all knew the one thing for certain
there would be no quick end to this war.

One Sunday, word spread like fire,
a German, shot down in a tree,
mobs ran to the place he was tangled
their thoughts fixed on murderous glee,
but lucky for him he was rescued
before he was lynched by the crowd,
there are parts of the war that are shameful
such memories make none of us proud.

Of all the bad things I remember,
Doodlebugs for me were the worst,
they appeared out of nowhere like phantoms
and hovered above like a curse,
as long as they droned, you had safety,
but if this should suddenly stop
there was no point in running for cover
as quick as a flash, they would drop
and blow up whatever beneath them,
killing everything there in its path.
No, these terrors stay terrors years later
I cannot remember and laugh.

94. The Playground Wall

I learned from the playground wall that
John loved Jenny, a big chalked heart,

arrow pierced for all to see, declared
their love defiantly as if expecting me

to voice a challenge, but the chill
breeze caught my breath and ran
while my own heart beat water.

93. April Birthday (i)

Kindness personified, nothing
I s too much trouble,
R arely do you pause for breath yet
S till manage to look cheerful
T hrough light and dark days and so
You are loved by all.

92. Hoarder

It is easy to tell from the smell from the room
when the door is ajar what lies within.  It is
dank, it is rank, the carpet chokes on
knives, forks and spoons, still habouring food
on plates long missing from cupboards.
A cry for fresh air is unheeded, the window
stays firmly shut locking in a malady uncured.

91. Fools

Only fools dream on forever
only fools think dreams can last
so they cling on to this falsehood
futures turning into past .