Ravensgold Poetry (17)

Well ive just gone from nought to sixty in record time.

I guess the old engine’s still doing fine;

Got a few dents and scrapes

On the body work, mind,

But they can be covered up

Real easy, I find.

My N.C.T. cert says I’m good to go,

For about another year or so.

That's barring any accidents or shunts of course

As the old vintage models,

Tend to come off worse.

But anyway, I still think I’ve got what it takes

As I cruise along life’s highways, throwing shapes,

All decked out, in my leather and chrome

And yeah, well, maybe the odd groan!

Ah yes, you can’t beat the staying power,

Of the older model.

Just listen to that growl, as you open the throttle

Built for comfort, built to last

And on a good day

Still pretty fast.

Not like those fly by nights, of today

All plastic and rubber and tinted glass,

Flashing at every mini they pass.

They got no style no flair, no panache

So here’s to the next ten years on the road,

Unless of course I start to corrode,

Because then I’ll become part

Of the next scrappage scheme,

Or worse still, be dismembered

And sold sight unseen.

Oh God! The worry, it never ceases.

Why can’t they just let me...

RUST in pieces.

You wore your new identity

Like you wore my hand me downs

Off the shoulder, off the cuff

But never, no never with a frown

Although you weren't the chosen one

They still loved and worshipped you

While I slipped back into the shade

As former number ones do

You were the life and soul

And the party had just begun

You could have gotten away with almost anything

In the name of fun

Yeah,in those early days

You couldn't do no wrong

All that those people wanted to do

Was to hear you sing that song.



Little bird, little bird

Sing your song for me

Little bird, little bird

High up in the trees

Little bird, little bird

Sing your song now

Sing your song for me

Sing your song for me



In time they led you from the stage

Your party piece was done

The crowd just stood in silence

As they closed your house of fun

They dressed you up in sombre grey

But still that smile peeped through

They weighed you down with books and rules

They tried everything they knew

Yes, they taught you how to praise the Lord

They spoke of love and compassion too

But when they caught you messing round

They beat you black and blue

Yeah,those penguins were a slapping

Skirts a flapping in the breeze

Their sacreds hearts were broken

They were almost on their knees.



Although you never knew it

There were times..

I would have given almost anything

Just to poke two fingers at the world like you

And borrow that elphin grin

But we were two strangers locked together

Desperately searching for the key

We had that one big thing in common

Our hunger to be free

Yes, we had that one big thing in common

Our hunger to be free.



And finally one summer morn

The rusty chains gave in

You struggled up towards the sky

Though favouring that broken wing

You circled once, maybe twice

Your head was in a spin

It was hard to know where you were going

When you didn't know where you had bin.



You know I still wonder,to this day

if you ever found that special place

Or did that broken wing prove too much

Did you opt out of the race

Id like to think, that your still flying

High above the clouds

Id like to think your still flying

High above the crowds.



Little bird,little bird

Sing your song for me

Little bird little bird

High up in the trees

Little bird, little bird

Sing your song now

Sing your song for me

Sing your song for me

The little robin starts the morning song

As the cottontails come out to play

The badger and the fox keep time

While the wren and blackbirds sing along

Everyone comes out to greet the day

Because everyone has got a song to sing

Yes, everyone has got a song to sing

Everyone has got a song to sing

Down in Ravenwood

Not a word is spoken

The natterjack is croaking

Because everyone has got a song to sing

Down in Ravenwood

The conifers are swaying in the breeze

Their green heads seem to brush the sky

Everything is just so free and easy

And as I watch a butterfly float by

I begin to see why

Life is good down in Ravenwood

Its a world of colour

Green, gold and yellow

Burnt sienna too

Crimson lake and blue

Down in Ravenwood

And its funny, but you never feel alone

You always feel at home there

Yes its funny, you never feel alone

You always feel at home

Down in Ravenwood

And as I head back down the trail again

Back to that place they call reality

I feel a smile, cut across my face

Because now, I know ive got a song to sing

Not a word is spoken

The natterjack is croaking

Because everyone has got a song

Yes, everyone has got a song

Everyone has got a song

Down in Ravenwood.

Trapped in a Cage

At a very young age

Looking at the night sky

As the lonely years drift slowly by

He sees no future in the stars

For him, theres nothing

Beyond those prison bars

Someone help me

Cries a voice from deep inside his head

Someone end this misery ,I cannot hide

Someone end this misery inside

Oh Lord,end this misery

End this misery inside

Hes nothing but an empty shell

Drowning in a wishing well

His life is a torn out page

Ripped apart in silent rage

What does he do ?

When sleeps his only friend

And even then, the pain inside, it never ends

Someone help me

Cries a voice from deep inside his head

Someone end this misery,i cannot hide

Someone end this misery inside

Oh Lord, end this misery

End this misery inside

I am innocent

I am innocent

I AM INNOCENT

But, theres nobody listening

The walls have closed their ears

They have heard it all a thousand times before

They have heard it all a thousand times..

Before.

Lucy stumbles back into, that little room
Tired worn and weary, all energy consumed
The horrors of the day are etched upon her face
As she slumps down at the table,her mind in a daze

Everything is as it was, nothings out of place
She feels his presence in every corner,in every space
The morning coffee cups still standing,in the gloom
The knives ,the forks,the plates,his silver sugar spoon
Shining,shining through that gloom.

Lucy tries to piece together ,their last conversation
Was it really about the weather? was there no indication
She picks up his old cashmere sweater and holds it tight
But then,the scent of his cologne,like dynamite
ignites the tears that flow
And she lets go
All the pain and misery it flows
Shes rocking,...rocking to and fro.

Oh how she wishes she had gone with him this morning
Oh how she wishes she could be with him now
But instead she finds herself deep in mourning
As she leaves this house of stone...alone

Lucy picks a bunch of wild forget-me-knots
And throws them towards the shore
But they don't go very far
And she thinks she hears an old familiar voice
Call her name,above the noise
Of the crashing surf
Then she dries another tear
And heads down towards the pier
To get the boat back to the mainland..

From somewhere a corncrake sings his evening song
Hes happy, now the storm is gone
But for Lucy it goes on and on and on...

Oh how she wishes she had gone with him this morning
Oh how she wishes she could be with him now
But instead she finds herself,deep in mourning
Now shes going home alone
Now shes going home alone..

What do you do when you find yourself
Holding aces and eights,against a straight
What do you do?
What can you do
You took a chance,and you made your play
Its not your fault, when its just not your day
What can you do?
Do you walk around in a daze
Precious dreams locked inside your head
Now i know you feel bad,.. and I know you feel sad
But cant you see,there is always tomorrow
Tomorrow...

Because there is a new day coming down
And there is a new game to be found
Yes,there is a new day coming down
Don't let the old one get you down.

And i know its hard, to keep a poker face
Without the ace you need to fill a winning hand
But what can you do?
When to bet, when to fold,..blood runs cold
Life is just a game of chance
What do you do?
Do you turn away to hide the tears
You tried to hide all those times before
I know you feel bad,.. and I know you feel sad
But cant you see there is always tomorrow
Tomorrow....

Because there is a new day coming down
There is a new game to be found
Yes,there is a new day coming down
Don't let the old one get you down.

What do you do on a losing streak
When luck is just another four letter word
What can you do?
You've got no aces up your sleeve
Only a joker,.. in a funny hat
What do you do?
Cant you see its got to turn?
Its the law of averages,
its got to turn your way some day
Now I know you feel bad, and I know you feel sad
But there is always tomorrow
Tomorrow..

Because there is a new day coming down
Yes, there is a new game to be found
There is a new day coming down
Don't let the old one get you down.

She lives in her own little fairytale land
full of colourful rainbows,
Its a beautiful land
Chasing the butterflies, laughing with glee
So wild and untamed, in a land so free
Yes, she lives in a beautiful fairytale land
Where the sun always shines through the rain
Theres candy stripe trees with chocolate leaves
And mountains of icecream on peppermint streams
Yes, its a beautiful land
A beautiful land.
As she smiles in her sleep at night
Of what does she dream
Are there white fluffy kittens or caramel creams
Just as long as that little light shines oer the bed
There are no worrys and cares in that pretty head
For shes lost in her beautiful fairytale land
Lost in her beautiful land,
Her beautiful land.
Oh its beautiful,when your just two years old
So much to do and everythings so new
You light up my life with your hair of gold
And that's why,.. these words are for you
As you run through your beautiful fairytale land
Just remember that I love you

He never had a chance,he didn't even see them

But he had lost the very thing that he had gone in search of ,..

His freedom...

Well,it was two long years fore he could make his break away

From that chain gang up Comanchie way

And now,..still being chased high and low

By Sheriff Dan Blaine,...of Waco

Yeah,ever since he dug up his illegal proceeds

He has been hounded for his unlawfull deeds

Well Dan ,..says Hayden,.. im now drawing a line

This is where it ends, come rain or come shine

Ive twentyfive thousand reasons to live

Or to die.......

So take heed Sheriff Dan....

Cause either way, ill be saying... goodbye.

Just then from behind him, he hears a sound

And with blinding speed ,he spins around

Colt, drawn levelled and cocked...

Before that coffee cup hits the ground.

The girl staggers back in fright, with a jolt

At the speed, and the menace of that forty five colt

Hayden looks to the heavens with a sigh

As he spins the gun and drops it back to his side...

This was the girl he had saved last night

In that two bit town just up the trail a mite

She had been set upon by cowpokes

Just out back of the Silver Spokes...

Well, he sure set there grins,.. at a different angle

With a few well aimed thumps of a pickaxe handle

Then he hoisted her up on his big old steed

And they took off up main street with a good turn of speed

He had planned on dropping her

On the other side of town

But she had other ideas and was

Reluctant to step down....

He did stop, some time later, to light a fire

He was hungry, and he knew old blue was beginning to tire

And he needed that horse fresh,and full of running

For whatever the morning would be bringing

Now Hayden hadent really seen the girl properly last night

In all the commotion, and the poor light

But now, as she stood before him

Tall, dark haired and slim

There was no denying her beauty

Despite the bruising on her chin

And the dress torn and dirty...

That she clutched about her olive skin.

From his saddlebags he took a shirt

For this damsel in distress

Which she accepted with a little nod

And a muchas gracias

She said her name was Consuelo

On the run from a cruel esposo...

Now Hayden didn't understand,all that she said

But he got most of it, and nodded his head

While trying hard, not to drown...

In those big brown eyes.

Just then, he glanced across yonder skyline

In time to see riders,..coming through the pines

He counted four, maybe five

About three miles away, he reckoned

As the crow flies...

Hayden felt those old sensations, once again

They always appeared,and it was always the same....

The knot in the stomach, that sinking feeling

The sweaty hands,the shallow breathing

Was it excitement,was it fear ?..

The only thing he knew for sure was that

When battle commenced, he would be focused and clear

He turned to the girl with a brief explanation

Of their tricky situation

Then offered her money and supplies

As he felt, for her to accompany him would be unwise

For he knew the dangers he was facing

Across open ground,and with the posse chasing

It was a good five miles to the border

And if they caught up with him,there would be slaughter

Because for Hayden there was no going back..

For him it was all or nothing,.. in this game of craps.

But she looked up at him,.. with those eyes so brown

And shook her head,.. with a deep frown

No, she said,..No,..I go with you Hay-den..

And in the way she clutched his sleeve,

He knew instinctively there would be no pursuading

So he figured it was best if they take their leave

As every moment lost now ,could not be retrived

So with that,.. Hayden mounted the grey

Reaching down to help Consuelo, without delay...

He then pulled from his belt, the small twenty two

Take this he said,..some protection for you

Now ,hang on tight as we will be riding like the wind

And keep that head down,...behind

Should they,...shoot me down,or get the horse

Try to grab the saddlebags and run for the gorse

Theres a decent bounty on my head

So that should keep those vultures fed....

Hey relax,...it wont happen,.. he said, sensing her distress

When we get across.I will buy you the finest dress.

As he turned to her,he got the hint of a smile .

But it didn't quiet reach those beautiful eyes

It felt good though,..he thought

The way she held him tight...

As he wheeled his mount

And headed south.

Its up to you now boy,... He roared..

Aware of the extra weight on board

And the posse thundering behind like loco

Come on blue,...

Take us to Mexicooo.

One last Throw of the Dice


Hayden scans the terrain, .. once again

For the posse, and Sheriff Dan Blaine

Stetson pulled low against the morning sun

As he reaches for his sixgun..

Spins the cylinder,and adds a fresh round

Then holsters the colt, and ties it down.

Next, he checks the Winchester and the small twenty two

Before heading over to saddle his fateful old Blue..

We got some hard riding to do today boy,.he says

As he pats the neck of that big old grey

The horse turns and looks up from his grazing

With a nickering sound,as he welcomes Hayden

When hes finished,. he opens the right saddlebag

Where under spare shirts, lies his ill-gotten swag

Twenty five thousand dollars in old used bills

The answer to all those dreams unfullfilled

Hey, tonight we will be living it up old boy

Says Hayden, with a whoop of joy..

Yep,.he had no qualms about accepting alms

From the banking fraternity..

Especially if it helped him in his quest

For a new identity.

Soon now, he would be embarking

On that short sprint to paradise

Yeah,..one last throw,..of his lucky dice.

He pours the remaining dregs into his coffee cup

Then kicks over the dying embers,

And starts to sup..

Guess ive sure earned that loot by now,. he muses

Two years breaking rocks, and ive still got the bruises

That,.. and living in a filthy cage..

With nothing to do but dream,.. about Eagle lake

And those early days, and wondering what might have been,

Had I stayed.....

Would I have been a storekeeper, like my old man ?

Or perhaps a blacksmith,..or maybe a preacherman

Alas,.. my obsession with guns, and tales of

Derring-do..,ensured

No such ideas,would ensue

Truth is,that place was choking me

With its misguided rules and that small town mentality

I remember, how i couldn't wait, till I was old enough

To grab that stage,.. and head west..

Where I vowed,..never again.. to be called second best....

Hayden continues to sup his coffee,

As his thoughts go back to those early times

While keeping watch for posse signs.

He remembers the excitement of those wild west towns

And how he once enjoyed those sights and sounds

Fort worth,Tomestone,and Abilene

Deadwood and Dodge...Reckless and mean

Overflowing with Cowboys,.. with money to burn

And wild women and gamblers at every turn

Lawless,restless, whiskey soaked bars

Where life could be lost on the turn of a card

It hadent been long before he was forced

To use his gun....

And he only winged that drunken bum

But it started him on the road as a hired gun

And later on,..as a desperado on the run

Yeah, for a while it had been high adventure,

It was fun..

But in time he came to despise that reputation hed won

As he tried to stay one step ahead of the law

Whilst dealing with all the young punks and the fast draws...

Private Gant looks at his watch,
And makes a quick calculation.
He reckons his little son Mason
Will soon be up,and running down to the tree
To open his presents, from Santie.
Yeah,he sighs,its another year,that he wont be around to share
In all the joy,and the festive fair.
He shakes his head, and adjusts the rifle on his shoulder
As he ponders the life of a serving soldier...
Stuck in some God forsaken land
In which rival factions fight for command
Caught in the middle
Dodging the bombs and the missiles
Both peacekeeper and referee
In a war you don't understand
And for what?
And for whom?
Nobody cares,
Nobody gives a damn.
Right now, he feels its all a sham...
Theyre just pawns on this political chessboard
And right now,Gant doesn't want to play anymore
God,he so wanted to be home this Christmas
With his little boy and Mrs
But due to tensions,
That might need military interventions
No leave was permitted.

As he patrols the perimeter fence
He looks across no mans land
All looking peaceful now
With Christmas at hand.
And for a moment his mind goes back...
To the Christmases of old
When he was a child,
His life just beginning to unfold
And how all he ever wanted as a present
Was a rifle,like his Daddys...
And one that could shoot corks
Would be just right for a little soldier laddie.
He thinks of the old man now,
And how he had never really got to know him
Before he was cut down in a distant land
And its only now lately he has begun to realise...
To analyse...
The senseless waste,the terrible loss...
More cannon fodder for the political bosses
In yet another sham,
And boy,did he miss that man.
But he also remembers how he couldn't wait to enlist
At seventeen,and carry on the battle too...
Guess at the time,it was all he knew.
Gant grins to himself,
As he unslings his weapon and checks the magazine
With an ironic expression
Well Happy Christmas man,..He jeers
I guess you've got your present for this year.

He knew little Mason had wanted
Something similar this time
He remembered him mentioning
An AK47 or an M16 carbine.
But this year there would be no toy guns
For his son.
He wanted to set Mason on a different path
And not the death or glory one that
His father had planted in him
As a young boy.
Oh no...it was time to break with that family tradition
Of seek and destroy.

Nearing the end of the peremeter
He thinks of his wife Yvette
As he reaches into his tunic for a cigarette
He knows it is against orders,but
He is in no mood to worry about that tonight
Of all nights.
Yes, he remembers how they had discussed
The future when his term of service ends
In the New Year.
Man,he thought,he would sure make it up to that woman
For all the times he hadnt been near
Gant strikes a match and as he lights up
He looks to the sky and curses
More God damned rain
As the sniper takes careful aim.

Old Jim tries to recall
The shops that they trawled,
And the pubs that they sampled
Both big and small
How Sue got tipsy in the Brazen Head
And carved their names on the B and Bs bed
The lave lamp she bought, in Hector Greys
The height of fashion in those days,
Now all but consigned to the scrapheap of life
Like so many things that once seemed
So shiny and bright.
And how she laughed and giggled
At the looks they were getting
From the nosy little checker
On the Double decker
As they kissed and cuddled
On their way across the Liffy
Heading for the Northside of the City
And he,checking his reflection
In those new Steve McQueen shades
Man, he thought he was perfection
In those bargain bin days...
Old Jim finds it hard to suppress a grin
As he lights another smoke, and takes it all in
How they braved the hawkers and the beggers and the cons
All ready to relieve them of their notes and coins
He nods in remembrance and has to smile
Yes, the country bumpkin could be spotted for miles
They visited the pool halls and the greasy spoons
And a penny arcade, he thinks it was called the Dunes
He even bought a cuckoo clock down in Guineys
But that bird was last seen hovering over Killiney
Funny, how all my birds eventually head for warmer climes..
Mutters Jim, with more than a hint of sarcasm
As the needle finds another groove
And the music kicks in
He pulls the pin on another tin
Fuelling his journey back in time
And as three am chimes
He raises a glass
To the past...
To those rare auld times
And that long weekend
That he thought... would never end
And to absent friends...and lovers
Now lost and gone..
Lost and gone forever.

Shades of Blue
For missing you
Shades of Blue
For Jim and Sue
And Phil to..
And Shades of Blue
For January 1972

The vinyl goes around and around
Silent now, bar that crackly sound
As Jim snores
And dreams of better times...
His cigarette totters on the ashtray
Its smoke curling, hastening...
The old polaroids decay..