shadow1950 Poetry (355)

are people you can trust
that are there for you
when you are in need
real friends don't judge

just hold out their hands
smile and cheer you up
shake their finger at you
when you are out of line

most of all its a form of love
that helps to uplift you
makes you feel strong
ready to meet the new day

someone's shoulder to lean on
also to cry out your heart
most of all a person who shares
each little loss or joy with you

friendship is giving
but also its receiving

See all of the buds upon the trees
watch closely as slowly one unfurls
each tiny weeny leaf stretching out
one by one peeling away from the buds

turning their faces up to the sun
some sticky buds much longer taking
all sorts of shapes and different sizes
as they grow and cast their dappled shade

on the tender plants hiding below
shade lovers of stunning colours
scarlet red Hostas amidst bluebells
the trumpets waving on their long stems



all the sun lovers blooms open wide
drinking in the heat beaming down
tulips bright with merry stripes
all the colours of the rainbow

swaying gentle in noon heat
tall hollyhocks stately bend
the early promise of a rose
scents abound flooding senses

so easy to lay back and drift off
sun shining down heats the skin
bees droning gathering nectar
such an idyllic place to rest awhile

The corn waves gently in the fields
apple trees so laden branches bow
walnuts and hazels so fat and swollen
all around are natures bounty's

smell the autumn aroma's
watch the tractors bring
the spoils from the fields
elderberries for the rich wine

combine harvesters gather in
turnips parsnips and beetroot
maize to feed the cattle
swede for the flocks of sheep

wheat to make our bread
hops rich fruity for our beer
berries gathered from hedgerows
juniper too for heavenly sloe gin

I love this time of year
when all comes to fruit
nature shares her bounty
with loving open hands

its not one thing
nor yet another
it is what it is
both the start
but also the end
when that hand hits
and the chimes begin
marking a new day
yet signifying the end
of the one gone by
other times may mean
different things
to different folks
time to go to work
time for play
time for dinner
the magic hour
midnight's hour
is all in one

The sun and the moon bowed to each other
as they pass on their orbital routes
the stars did a heavenly dance of honour
the planets glistened bathed in deep purple

Mercury orbiting closest to the sun
fastest of all of the planets are you
Venus (twinned with Earth) the planet of love
lighten our hearts with your femininity

Earth our own planet only known source of life
Mars the red planet and bringer of war
Jupiter you are the jewel in the crown
we gaze at you breathless with wonder and awe

Uranus once known as Georgium Sidus
you are the enchanting ringed planet of beauty
Saturn, he languidly goes his own way
quietly, quietly just doing his duty

Neptune almost last but not least of the planets
you tip your trident, saluting the Sun
as all of our planets delight in celestial dancing
we watch hearts struck as they do their run

Let's think of things gone by
times that have moved on
all the inventions come to pass
many moons ago one rose with the sun
and went to bed hard day's work done
with the setting of the sun
few luxuries there were to be had
no glass in the windows to keep you dry
the cold seeping in chilling you to the bone
a straw pallet on the floor for your bed
with only a harsh home spun blanket no sheets
a cup of herb tea and if lucky a slice of bread
veggie soup for dinner maybe some rabbit in it
thus was life for our fore fathers and mothers
hard toil dawn to dusk tax man to pay or else out
to sleep in hedgerows or warm barn if lucky
today we sit in warm houses food on most tables
but I ask myself who were the lucky ones?
was it them or is it us
as the more we have the more we want

As I grow old and frail
feeble I am becoming
my body bones brittle
skin now hangs in folds
legs like sticks all bandy
I sense death he's closing in
soon he will wait no more
the stench tells it all
death my old friend
waiting in the wings
your grinning face
haunts my dreams
silently you wait
knowing I am yours
when the bell toils
you will be the victor
and I? to dust return

The saddest of all days
is when a friend leaves
you know they have to
that its time for them
to spread their wing
and try things anew
you know for a while
they will keep in touch
but as the months pass
so does the contact lessen
its not meant that way
just life moving on
new things to do and see
new friends to share
the silly things with
leaving you thinking
ten years down the line
whatever happened
we were such friends

lets reminisce of days gone by
of misspent youth

wild years of drugs and booze
hippy loving days

the wondrous smell within
hits as in you go

hey you there don't hog it
pass it this way

smoke clouds flood the room
as you puff

hubbly bubbly goes the bong
boneless you drift

hearing every note sharp and clear
as it washes over you

Shipley Woods, where Ernie
swore the trees were walking
talking, grabbing out for him
bad trip on that purple heart

ah those were the times
all so grand

of that misspent youth of mine
happy days

She swirls on the stage
light as a feather
she skims the floor
twirling and dipping

she gyrates her belly
flicks her veils
hiding all from sight
men long for her

you can see it
as their eyes sparkle
money showers the stage
she pauses poised

then a flick of veil
she disappears from sight
leaving the air
filled with men's passion

she dances and flounces
men's blood rages and races

A young squire set off
through the dark woods
he was on his way to town
to find adventure and fun
he was set upon by villains
bravely he fought them off
his sword now blood-red
on toward the town ahead
he passed by an old man
his cart stuck in a rut
the squire lent a hand
his gaze he could not advert
he has e-spied a comely maiden
hair of gold and lips like satin
a twinkle in her eye as she gazed
struck by the bolt of love
he rode with them to town
saw them settled in the inn
then to the lord of the manor
to swear his fealty on bended knee
the lord knighted the young squire
"A boon, I ask," my lord, "I am in love
and wish to wed. Will you grant my wish"?
"Indeed I will," the lord replied,
"Lets all feast and be merry
as you take your bride's hand",
a banquet spread before them
they exchanged their rings
now they retire to the boudoir
there let us leave this pair of new weds

some like to spend their time
in callous ways of pride
thinking only they count
their views the only ones

oh to be so perfect
that you never fault make
to live without mistake
wear wings of angels

first sin is one of envy
the next one of coveting
then comes along greed
shake the barrel

so at the pearly gates
which way are you bound
have you paid your rates
if not, down takes your pound