Winter
As winter's icy fingers
Reach out and grasp the land
In a vice-like grip
Of some huge unrelenting hand,
Pools that once were liquid
Lie solid, hard as stone -
And a cold wind blows
That chills you to the bone.
Cattle stand, backs arched
Barely visible in the fog,
While farmer leads out hay,
With him his ever-faithful dog.
The trees stand stark and leafless
Their boughs all plumed in snow
And the fields bear tracks where hunter and hunted,
Have both travelled to and fro.
ED Bowen, Darlington.
Murder on the Lexicon Express
On TV, when describing what one likes,
Why must 'brilliant' always be used,
When there's 'gorgeous, beautiful, fantastic'.
I think brilliant is being abused.
I felt it was the last straw,
When they shortened brilliant to brill,
Describing cushions, curtains, flooring
And even a windowsill.
A former bishop (no name dropping,
And bless his cotton socks)
Basically, as he stood there
In his ecumenical frocks,
Asked were we aware
Of TV's murder of a word
I thought I must be hard of hearing
And had basically misheard.
He said that one more repetition
Of 'basically' - and he'd scream,
So I listened very carefully
When I switched on the silver screen,
On his advice I saw a show
And counted out each time
The presenter uttered 'basically'
Well basically, five times nine.
But now they have another word,
It's brilliant. Can you guess?
Affirmative answers are 'absolutely'
Basically, why can't they just say Yes.
Olga Ramshaw, West Rainton.
Let Go
There's not one mistake
We can put right
If we worry and we fret.
The simple answer
To be found
Is simply to forget!
We all do things
And become a fool
And wish it wasn't so.
But the answer
Is quite simply found
In forgiving self
And letting go.
Marge Mason, Newton Aycliffe.
A fishy Tail
Gurgling stream meets babbling brook.
Lad with bent pin used as hook
Stands there, bare foot, with one wish,
That he can catch a lot of fish.
Keep net ready for the catch
Which he hoped no one will match.
Line starts bobbing then goes taut,
Fish starts fighting, or so he thought.
Lad pulls hard on line again
Then curses when it starts to rain.
Lad needs this fish to keep a vow
That he'd get one for her somehow.
One last yank and out it flies
Hitting lad between the eyes.
Lad sees stars and one black welly
Then has to sit 'cos legs' like jelly.
Lad then sees in welly boot
Something that which makes him hoot.
One big fish, a huge great trout
Stuck in head first - could not get out.
Lad is happy - he's got his wish
That for her tea she will have fish.
Joyce Crawford, Darlington.
The Fall of Kabul
Kabul has fallen, they say the Taliban has gone,
Women, cast off your burquas, put your radios back on,
Dance, rejoice, go to your mosques and pray,
But best of all, let all your children go outside to play.
Five long, long years in this God-forsaken land,
A harsh, oppressive existence, ruled by Taliban's iron hand,
Not allowed to work, children denied the right to go to schools,
The cruel Taliban brought this upon us, we were pawns and stupid fools.
No infrastructure, no produce, a virtual dust bowl in the south,
Freezing, bitter winters in the mountains where we lived just hand to mouth,
And all the time the fighting, first the Russians and now this,
Add to that four years of drought, what is this Western word called 'bliss.'
We are numb to all the atrocities and executions we have seen,
All we want is to live in peace, whatever that may mean,
To drink pure mountain water, have a belly full of food,
A warm house, soft bed, friends and neighbours. Doesn't that sound good?
Allah be praised, God is good, we are Muslim and still follow our Koran,
But it is hard when all we see are Kalashnikovs and tanks in our beloved Afghanistan,
The Western infidels are coming, may they bring us help and aid,
Educate us, teach us, show us how great peace is made.
Derek Hamilton, Peterlee.
Trees
Bare branches
etched upon a winter sky.
Black lace,
silvered by the moon.
The daintiest filigree
ever seen.
Betty Robertson, Hipswell, Catterick Garrison.
My Wish for 2002
Here we are, with a brand new year,
We hope it brings a lot of good cheer.
Very good health for me and you
While we are in 2002.
May it bring Peace on Earth
No more people getting hurt,
No more tragedies, crashing of planes,
Cars, coaches or trains.
May we have tolerance, love and understanding
Among our human beings.
These are more important
Than big material things.
May there be rain, in countries where there's drought
So there'll be food to feed people's mouths.
May there be medicine, to cure the sick.
Please God, make it quick.
Emma Thomas, Darlington.
Take My Hand
Come, said my Love, come walk with me
See the mist upon the lea.
Listen to the blackbird singing
Hear the chapel bells a'ringing.
Come, Love, come walk with me.
Look, said my Love, look over there
See the golden russet pear.
Hear the stream so softly crooning
Where the bullfrog is a spooning,
Look, Love, look over there.
Hold, said my Love, hold fast my hand
I will lead you to a land
Where no hearts are ever broken,
Where no harsh words ever spoken.
Come, Love, come hold my hand.
Now my Love has gone from me
To where no eye can ever see,
To where the birds and bullfrogs sing
To where the heavenly church bells ring
My love has gone from me.
Yet, still, my Love, you walk with me
When the mist is on the lea
Where the stream is softly sighing
Where the dew is wetly laying,
Still, Love, you walk with me.
Hold, my Love, hold fast my hand,
Lead me to your golden land.
Take me where no heart is broken,
Where no parting words are spoken,
Come, Love, come take my hand.
Fran Vincent, Skeeby, Richmond.
He Played For Wales
The Welshman died, went up and knocked
Upon the Gates of Heaven.
The Angel on the gate asked him,
Are you John William Bevan?
The man said: "Aye, and I confess
I played for Wales, you see,
And when we won the Triple Crown
I bribed the referee."
"That's bad, my son, but you're in luck
So get up off your knees.
St Peter's on sabbatical
St David's got the keys."
Bill Cooksey, Newton Aycliffe.
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