All Hallows Eve
October wanes,
Witches prowl,
Owls hoot,
Dogs howl,
Bats hide,
Mice hurry,
Toads quiver,
Spiders scurry,
Cauldrons bubble,
Witches dance,
Cats wail,
Wizards prance.
Spells are chanted,
Mystic - frightening,
Rumbling thunder,
Forked lightning,
Flashes over
Wild skies,
Broomsticks shudder
As witches fly.
Pointed hats,
Sharp chins,
Hooked noses,
Evil grins,
Pumpkin lanterns
Spells complete,
All Hallows Eve
TRICK OR TREAT?
Betty Robertson, Hipswell.
Halloween
It was the night when witches and goblins and ghosts
Ride on their broomsticks and hide behind posts.
A night when sensible folk stay at home
And only the foolish would venture to roam.
I wandered alone down a country lane
Heedless of darkness, of wind or rain.
The moon riding madly was giving no light
To lighten the gloom of that Halloween night.
Suddenly out of the darkness, a gleam
Followed at once by an ear-splitting scream.
And there in the shadows a dark form I saw
Like a demon at large in the regions below.
My heart it was pounding with a horrible fear
As this menacing object advanced and drew near.
The scene made more weird by the hoot of an owl
It was Simon, my tom cat, on his nightly prowl.
Betty Hogg, Leyburn.
Mercy Mission
If man were meant to fly
God would have given him wings.
Now man flies where eagles dare
with Stealth and F-18s.
But God had great foresight,
he made the angels first.
Now we need the holy squadrons
to bring us peace on Earth.
Judith Lesley Marshall, Richmond.
My Sixth Birthday
When I am six on Thursday,
I'll fly up to the moon.
I'll climb the highest mountain,
Then slide down on a spoon.
I'll swim across the ocean
And talk to all the fish.
That's what I would like to have
For my sixth birthday wish.
I'll eat ice cream all the time,
For breakfast, lunch and tea.
I'll open all the presents
Kind people give to me.
I'll sing a thousand songs
And dance all through the night.
I'll wear a crown and a diamond ring
And a wedding dress in white.
I'll drive my daddy's car.
Go on an ocean cruise.
I'll take all of my friends
There'll be no time to lose.
I'll ride upon a horse
Right up the tallest tree
But I will have to make quite sure
That I'm home in time for tea!
Ciaran Jasper, Class 1, Sedgefield.
God Bless America
The culprit, elusive, evil, devil supreme
Set out to wreck the American Dream
On a September morning, clear the sky
How could they think, so many would die?
Different nations, colours and creeds
Victims all, of the worst kind of deeds
Towers of steel, indestructible they thought
Terror and grief to thousands brought.
Policemen, firemen, volunteers all
Reduced to tears, watching them fall
With bloodied hands they tried to save
Only they could, from that terrible grave.
The voice of a singer rose up loud
God Bless America, we'll not be bowed
We'll rise up again from rubble and dust
Punishment promised, swift and just.
J Everitt, Lanchester.
Our Tilly
A Beautiful Rescue Dog
You came to us one Saturday morn.
Your face was so forlorn.
In your eyes there was such sadness,
We so wanted to fill them with gladness,
We took you home to be our own
Hoping your fears would soon be flown
You learned to play and smile,
And loved to walk for many miles.
We grew together as the years went by,
But we knew we couldn't keep you even though we tried
We hope you are in a beautiful place
And we will count the seconds 'til once again we see your face.
Joyce Brooks, Hurworth.
A Lover's Lament
Go with the flow, sail with the tide,
Do all the things you must do.
Live life in the fast lane, move on a high plane,
But don't bother me when you do.
'Cos I like it slow, I don't want to go,
I simply prefer to relax,
And if it's too much, you can still keep in touch,
You can write, phone, e-mail or fax.
You don't want me any more, I'm left on the floor,
And all 'cos I had no ambition.
I think you're just sore, you've left open the door,
'Cos your schemes may not reach full fruition.
But take off my love, fly high up above,
Claw, scrape and fight to the top.
I hope you succeed, good luck and God speed,
Remember it's me that's the flop.
And while you're away, what can I say,
I think I'll just have me a beer.
'Cos my guiding star said: "Turn left for the bar,
As you may not find it so dear."
There's just one more thing, should you give me a ring.
To say that you may just return.
You'll find me right here, as I still love you dear,
As my heart hasn't learned not to yearn.
Derek Hamilton, Peterlee.
Sunderland
Sits proud, transported thought into actions successfully
Upon the banks of the Wear, man has launched quality
New dawns breaking, confident of the challenge ahead
Draws from reserves, river flows into the ocean bed
Europe's fines, wheels a future most enterprising
Restored, fast gaining a reputation and rising
Leisure impressive, have you been? Have you seen the light?
Art fan, sculpture trail, the Empire to finish the night
National Glass Centre, Mowbray Gardens, a class of their own
Dash to the Bridges, bigger, better, my how it has grown.
John Neal, Chester-le-Street.
The Demon Drink
Come on gang, let's go to the pub
And all get paraletic
You see I won the Pools today
And my wife don't even know it.
So we sat in the bar all night
And drank and drank, then asked for more
I don't remember falling down
But somehow now, I'm on the floor.
When we go home to our wives tonight
They'll all go mad and start a fight
The wife thinks I'm broke, but I'm no fool
She doesn't know I've won the pools.
But now it's morning, oh dear me
I don't know what happened, did something hit me?
My head does ache, my mouth is dry
And I still have some money left, so let's have another try.
I don't think I'll go to work today
My head's so bad. Oh, Oh, the pain
But let's go out again tonight lads
Let's all get drunk again.
S Myers, Richmond.
Why?
Do we sing roses are red
Although they are of many hues
Or, paint the sky bright blue
Forgetting its frequent frowns
of gloomy grey
Or, salute the sea as splendidly
supreme
Ignoring its cunning cruelty
Or, welcome the rain for refreshing
and restoring
Though it can lead to deluge
and destruction.
Why, do we call ourselves humans
When we do so many inhuman things?
Aruna Joss, Barnard Castle.
October 2001
It breaks my heart to see
Tanks in the streets of Bethlehem.
Bullet holes in the church of the Nativity
Where lay the Babe
Blessed by the angels
Bringing peace to men.
God is not smiling now
And the angels weep
O'er Bethlehem.
Mary Ellery, Peterlee
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