A blue flag was flown
'Twas in forty four on the tenth of May
That I was born at the family home.
A railway worker, my father that day
Was in sight of our house and would not roam.
To signal my birth a blue flag was flown
For the workers to see was their intent,
Proud father was cheered his trumpet was blown
And lots of flowers to my mother sent.
Of the telegram there was not a need
Nor a mobile phone back in forty four,
Still the news was carried at quite a speed
To dear dad o'er the Dee and what is more
To the world at large it was never known
A stupendous event, to me alone.

---

My mind becomes a forest
In those times of depression,
That severe obsessive depression
Which grows and grows inside my head,
My mind becomes a dark and hostile forest.

A plantation, of sorts, where
The rows of closely planted spruces race to the sky,
Obliterating the warmth and comfort of daylight.
A neuro-jungle where there is no light, nor hope.

There are no songbirds,
Nor butterflies, in this forest of mine.
The forest floor, that narrow space between the rows,
Is a profusion of toadstools and other deadly fungi.

Emanating from a single source,
Those gruesome gullies
Reach out from my obsession
And are my only pathways out of the darkness.

Although some are long and others short,
It matters not which path I choose.
As each will, ultimately,
Bring me back to source.

---

Tic toc says the clock
A sonnet

Tic Toc says the clock, in darkness I lie,
Hurting in knowing, to you I've caused pain,
Tormented with thoughts, and wondering why,
Wishing and hoping, that love's not in vain.

Tic Toc says the clock, the night doth drag on
Alone in my thoughts, our bodies do touch,
Was there a beacon, from which our love shone?
Will you believe that I loved you so much?

Tic Toc says the clock, see the dawn breaking,
Sun on horizon, O why do I cry?
Chattering of trees, a new day is making
O! Love of my life, I hear your sweet sigh.

Tic Toc says the clock, I wait for no man,
Show that you love her, today while you can.

---

A few years before today
'Twas only a few years before today
That we were young and fit at play
A game of this, a game of that
To run and jump while old men sat.

No wish to sit and stare at space
Each day a new, exciting face
Brim full of optimistic choice
Tempered only by parents voice.

Running here then running there,
A life without a single care,
With youthful energies abound,
We thrilled at chasing girls around.

How sad it is that life moves on
To wake and find our youth has gone,
Those once athletic forms now bent,
We reflect upon the lives we spent.

And as we sit and rest today
We watch the young and fit at play,
They play a game of this or that,
They run and jump, but we just sat.

---

Come home dear friend
As evening falls and ghostly shadows fly,
My eyes are fixed to a darkening sky.
It is you, feathered friend, that I await,
But darkness decends and now it's too late.

With heavy heart I look to the morrow
To have you return and ease my sorrow.
In peril at night, the dawn you must wait,
Or will the dark hide your ultimate fate?

So perch with care for this summer's night
And you'll be safe til dawn's early light.
Roost high above where a cat may prowl,
In woodland beware the hoot of the owl.

And I will be waiting when the dawn breaks
As you fly home over mountains and lakes,
Beware the danger that strikes from above,
The falcon and hawk both crave for the dove.

These awesome assassins strike at great speed,
Fly like the wind or on you they will feed.
I wish you the best my dear little friend,
Good luck till we meet at this journey's end.