The Muse

14/10/2020 –  Poem a Day Compilation



I wish I had a muse to help me

As I sit here in contemplation

To do all those things that muses do

Like bring me cups of lemon tea.



They’d provide a well verses commentary

On affairs of a political nature

While being equally at home

Discussing the cat’s latest absurd antics.



We’d watch the sun rise over the water

Having not yet gone to bed

And we’d struggle through the rest of the day

Until we were finally overcome.



And I’d write the most eloquent poems

About their beautiful countenance

While they created reubenesque masterpieces

Of their very own muse in me.

Heartbeat

13/10/2020 - Poem a Day Compilation



Do you hear that sound?

The tiny glumph, glumph –

That too fast beat –

Which signals new life

Awaiting its day in the sun.



Do you see that flutter?

The smallest butterfly wings

Could not be as delicate

Nor as beautifully perfect

As that on the screen before us.



Do you feel that rush?

The infinitesimally tender

Yet most powerful wave

You could ever experience

In your whole life.



Do you know that realisation?

The grain of sand

That will become a pearl –

Our pearl –

Encased in our hearts forever.

The Colossus of the Ocean

12/10/2020 –  Poem a Day Compilation



Beneath the waves

Beyond the caves

A beast of great magnitude grows.



Under the sea

Far from me

A heart strains and slows



Leaving scars on whales

From tips to tails

Tongues become looser as they get wetter



It’s colossal size

Feeds stories of capsize

And the taller they are, the better



It feasts on fish

A delicious dish

A prey for which it patiently waits



It ambushes prey

Who wander its way

Using eyes the size of dinner plates



A rosy hue

Too big for a zoo

It roams the Antarctic deep



Few have been seen

To preserve we are keen

And this majestic creature we must keep

The Ten Commandments

11/10/2020 –  Poem a Day Compilation



If I were God, I’d probably think

The ten commandments

And all the others that come with them

Were a pretty good start.



        You shall have no other gods before Me.



Of course, we’d all like to be number one,

Especially if we’re the supreme being

And creator of the entire universe,

So this is surely a given.



        You shall make no idols.



I’m not one hundred percent against the idea

But I’d want them to be really top notch,

And definitely no idols to other things

Like golden calves, what’s that about?



        You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.



Look, I get it, I really do –

But, and I mean this, with all sincerity

No one wants their name to be a swear word,

Even the Lord, your God.



        Keep the Sabbath day holy.



Being God, I’d be well within my rights

To think mere mortals should show respect

Just for one day of the week,

Given I created the world they get to enjoy.



        Honour your father and your mother.



Yeah, I know, not all of them are good people,

And those ones probably don’t deserve it,

But if they love you and take care of you,

It’s the least you can do in return.



        You shall not murder.



So, this is a biggie, even if I say so myself,

And I’d be pretty strict on this one.

So, if everyone could just chill out

That’d be grand, thanks very much.



        You shall not commit adultery.



And I’m not even talking about the sex –

If you betray your partner emotionally,

Well, that’s just as bad and, frankly,

It’ll probably land you in the hot place.



        You shall not steal.



These might seem like common sense,

And most of them are, so just use your brain.

You wouldn’t like it if someone took your stuff

So why would you do the same to someone else?



        You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.



I mean, it’s a fancy way of saying “don’t lie”

But really, its also about keeping community,

Not causing unnecessary trouble for society

And generally being on the side of truth.



        You shall not covet.



Jealousy is a curse, my friends.

It will drag you down and destroy you

From the inside of your being

And turn you into a wretch for all time.



Now, I’d never admit it publicly,

So this is just between we two,

But I’m not a perfect person

And I’d probably be a less than perfect God



But if I stuck to my own commandments

I’d do a pretty stand up job

At keeping the human race in line

By setting a fine example.



I’d definitely rethink the holy book,

Given people can’t agree on what’s written,

And I’d make sure it had all the info

They’d need to get on with their lives.



I’d be a bit more hands on, too;

No one likes a parent who doesn’t turn up.

I’d visit more often than the other guy

Who rocks up every millennium or ten.



I’d get rid of those pesky diseases

That cause so much pain and grief,

But I’d do a bit more smiting

Of those who acted like dicks.



Maybe one day I’ll meet the big guy

Though I highly doubt it, myself.

Even if he exists in heaven,

By his rules, I’m going to hell.

Shower

10/10/2020 -  Poem a Day Compilation



I told you I was going for a shower,

You asked if you could join me there.

We’d only talked once before

And It was more than I could bear.



I went in the shower alone,

I didn’t even take my phone.

You were not allowed inside,

No matter how you might whinge or moan.



I didn’t answer your messages,

I’m afraid to say I was a ghost;

But it’s all that you deserved from me

But I bet it makes you boast.



“Another girl couldn’t handle me,

I must be too much man.

She couldn’t even take a joke,

I doubt there’s a bitch that can.”



I know you’ll find another woman

To try your lines upon

And I hope you’re not even as successful

As a bad telemarketing con.



Now, I’ve wasted enough time on you

I’m off to enjoy my day,

And if I ever meet you

You’d better not get in my way.

Melting

09/10/2020 - Poem a Day Compilation



My ice cream is melting

It’s just too hot

I don’t like summer

What’s winter got?

Home from Work

08/10/2020 – Poem a Day Compilation



I’m stretched out on the couch

Exhausted beyond comprehension

Colour drained from my face,

Not that you’d notice under the makeup.



I’m too tired to eat anything tonight,

I know the others will want food

But they can wait a few minutes more

Until I’ve summoned the energy.



I’m proud of myself, though –

I managed to get through the day

Only needing to leave the office twice

For a quiet cry in the bathroom.



I’m terrified of the days I don’t cry

Because it feels like I’m forgetting

And I don’t want to forget

But I can’t live like this forever.



I’m trying so hard to not fall apart,

To not let anyone in my life down,

Yet I know I’m letting everyone down

Because I can’t make them understand.



I’m trying to spare them from this loss.

No one should have to feel like I do

Or grieve for someone they never met

When I carry enough grief for us all.



I’m not up to clearing the room out yet,

All the toys are still carefully arranged,

The furniture we’d saved from our first

Dragged out of the garage not so long ago.



I’m not ready to face that final hurdle.

I haven’t even opened the door

When seeing the name plate breaks me

In more ways than I could have imagined.



I’m alone with my thoughts too often

To be comfortable with them right now,

They overwhelm me still

And I need the distraction of company.



I’m aware that those we told the news

Have run out of words to say

And aren’t able to put their lives on hold

To cradle this family back to health.



I’m running out of pre-cooked meals

That saved me from thinking too much

When all I had to do was press reheat

On the microwave on the kitchen bench.



I’m sorely lacking any clean clothes

Because I’ve forgotten to do the laundry

For two weeks straight, now,

After my mother went home.



I’m lucky I don’t have to drive to work

Because I’m sure I wouldn’t make it there,

Not in one piece anyway,

And I don’t want to leave them short.



I’m sorry I had to use my leave

So much earlier than I expected

But I was in too much pain

And my brain wouldn’t function.



I’m afraid that the ache in my heart will stop

But the one in the pit of my stomach

Will carry on for the rest of my days

Leaving me numb and nauseous forever.



I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do

With this affection I developed.

I don’t know how to process it

And I am left feeling empty.



I’m struggling without even a photo to hold,

Just the agonising passing of time

Feeling the life drain from me

Slowly and excruciatingly.



I’m scared of the look on people’s face

When the words come out of my mouth

And it’s all I can do not to break completely

When they can offer no more than sympathy.