Mother's Day 2014.

My Mum. 

     

Differences... we had a few

She made me cry, that's true.

No meant no, no matter what

A good slap, if I forgot!

The non-stop talking in my ear

That went on for many a year.

Fragile health and small in size

She could REALLY "Vamperize"!

But...

Now she's gone and here I sit

THANKING her for every bit.

The many tears I had to shed

Because she knew what lay ahead.

Every slap and every no

Made me better, made me grow.

The non-stop talking in my ear

Today I wish...

            that I could hear....

Pascoa 2014.

                                                                                 

                     Pascoa.                                                       

Natal? Ano Novo? Que nada!

Como adoro a Pascoa, moçada!

Chocolate de todo tamanho,

Ô, quanta felicidade quando ganho!

Recheadas, crocantes, ao leite,

Ah! minha perdição, meu deleite!           

                           
             

Buses In Rio!

Dedicated Especially To The 157!

Waiting for hours at the stop,

my bladder feels like it might pop.

No, not a sign of the blasted bus,

and folks are beginning to make a fuss.

When it arrives it will be packed full,

just to get on we'll have to push and pull.

Air conditioning?! Now, THAT'S a joke,

reserved for winter, to freeze the folk.

The special citizens have yellow chairs,

occupied by those, oblivious to glares...

most of which are sleeping youth,

who couldn't give a damb, now that's the truth!

As you squeeze to get through the crowd,

a HUGE bag hits you and you cry out loud!

Before recovering from the sting,

the bus jerks forward and you're given a fling...

You land in some poor worker's lap,

you leap up apologising and in a flap.

Now sweating profusely and feeling faint,

we hit a traffic jam, now ain't that quaint?

We inch along at tortoise speed,

the toilet now is a desperate need!

Having left with time to spare,

I'm going to be late, it's just not fair!

What's that yelling I can hear?!

Are they robbing the bus?...it's unclear...

Phew! No, Thank God, it's okay,

nobody's robbing, at least, not today.

An hour later a bedraggled me,

steps off the bus with exaggerated glee...

Knowing full well that in a little while,

again I'll be subjected to this trip so vile.

The public transport of this city,

Is nothing but a shameful pity.

And for those of us who have no choice,

at least my opinion I can voice.

I HATE YOU, HATE YOU, HATE YOU SO,

and feel so much better that now you know!

My Birthday!

Really...You're Birthday is on the 31st of December?!

Having a birthday on December the 31st

Has just got to be the flipping worst!

To begin with, it's holiday time

Which for everyone else, might be sublime

But for the poor creature born on this day

Partying with friends...well, there's just no way

Most folks have left town

And many other parties are going on around

Family feel obliged to show

When they would rather be at another "château"

As much as I love you mum

You could have held your breath, or sucked your thumb!

I could then hold a hangover bash!

That would make the New Year begin with a splash!

Not forgetting an important point

I'd be a year younger...which would never disappoint!

Inspite of my little gripe

Excuse me, while a tear I wipe

I do know how lucky I am

To have a birthday... oh, yes ma'am!

So as I sit here on my own

And watch the fireworks get blown

I raise my glass to all I love

Those living and those Above

Thank you, thank you for another year

God be with us, we need Him near....

Christmas - 2013

THAT Time Of YEAR.

Shops buzzing

Mothers fussing

Carol singing

Bells ringing

Present wrapping

Nut cracking

Cameras flashing

Folks dashing

BUT ON CHRISTMAS DAY....

Food embezzling

Family nestling

Hearts pounding

Love abounding

Affectionate business

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

                                                                                         
                                                                             

                                        

                My Christmas List (to be read quickly!)

Buy the turkey

Stuff the birdie

Mix the gravy

Don't be lazy!

Get the Cod

Give it a prod

Let it sit

For a bit

Lay the table

Fetch the ladle.

Heat the pies

Mind the flies

Christmas cake

Still to bake

Brandy butter

Kitchen clutter

Now the salad

Can be added.

Smell burning

Tummy turning

Burnt to cinders

Kind'a hinders

One's digestion.

Now a question

Where to go?

Oh, I know!

Order out

PIZZA! - No doubt!

P.S Happy Christmas everyone

Hope your list is already done!

                  

Introducing Hugh & Gerry

Still In Mourning.

I've lost the spark to life

The spark that helps me write

I've lost the will to fight

It's automatic, it's routine - it's strife!

The pleasure I used to feel

On completing my silly rhymes

No longer exists - not even sometimes.

Is this a passing phase?

I honestly can't tell

Really don't know how long - I'm going to remain in Hell.

And everytime I crawl

Crawl out the deep black hole

Something devastating pushes - pushes back my soul.

Everyone has dark moments

I'm not a special case

Just don't know how long - I'll continue in this place.

So many things have happened

I feel old beyond my years

Oh, so tired - Oh, so many tears.

I've lost the spark to life

The spark that helps me write....

It's a boy!

A royal baby HURRAY!

A royal child is born today!

Ring out the bells and let's rejoice

And hope that Charlie's no longer a choice!

A royal baby HURRAY!

A royal child is born today!

Ring out the bells and let's dance

Diana's genes to enhance!

A royal baby HURRAY!

A royal child is born today!

Ring out the bells be what may

God's blessings on you today!

Babies!

Babies, babies everywhere,

Popping-up without a care,

Bald or hairy,

Wrinkly and red,

Small and scary,

They want to be fed!

Regurgitation and vomit,

Nappy changes are NOT cool,

Her breast....he's got it!

No biting...IT'S A RULE!

They scream all night,

They scream all day,

You become a sight...

Of complete disarray.

And yet they keep coming,

One after the other,

It's perfectly stunning,

How we all want to mother!

* I thought about the last line - "We all want to mother" I think these days the men mother too...so I left it!

In Memory of Kathleen. 19/11/1926 - 14/06/2012.

My Angel, My Muse

Deep in the night when you lie in your bed

wondering at shadows up over you head

and you pull those soft white sheets to your eyes

do you whisper to God and ask Him why?

Why is she gone and why did she go?

you want to know and you want Him to show

you a reason. So pray as fast as you can.

But unanswered prayers are part of the Plan.

But when you ask why and your eyes start to cry

and you feel so sad that you think you might die,

listen.Because He will tell you. And cherubs wings

hug and hold you snug as they sing

a song so sweet like sirens of lore

as you slip into dreams of what was before.

And then you will see her far away in bed

where she has the covers pulled up over her head

and she's asking God why as her eyes fill with tears

and she shakes with fears that nobody hears her

when she asks and her eyes start to cry

and she feels so lonely she thinks she might die,

she listens. And He tells her. And angels' wings

hug and hold her as they sing

a song so sweet like sirens of lore

as she slips into dreams of what was before.

And she sees the little girl far away in her bed

with the covers pulled up over her head

and she smiles through the pain

when He answers "you will be together again."

Christy Hughes.

Menopause I.

                                                                             
                                                                             

                                                                             

              

                                               

Some women feel hot.

Some women perspire a lot.

  Some women can't sleep.

Some women just weep.

                                         

         Some women feel pain.

                   

   Some women weight gain.

Some women sprout hair.

Some women despair.

Some women stop sex.

Some women become wrecks.

BUT

Some women are lucky,

as lucky can be...

Some women sail through,

with such irritating glee!

                                 
                                     

That Time Of Year.

That Time Of Year!

HURRAY! Chocolate time is back,

Let’s attack! let’s attack!

What a choice! Where to start?

I think I’ll put this one;

And this one...and this one,

In the cart.

Small, medium or big?

When Easter is over, I’ll be a pig!

No counting calories now – after Easter I vow,

To re-start nutritional control,

That’s only if....

There no more chocies in the bowl!

Still trying to decide – I think I need a chocolate guide!

Milk, dark or white – what a GLORIOUS sight!

With fillings or without? –  my goodness, such doubt!

Shall I take the lot? – OH HECK! Why not?!

Gerry

Gerry

Skinny and white

I purr with delight.

I have a little pink nose

Which looks like a rose.

A short black tail

That I swish or trail.

Gigantic ears

The shape of tears.

I don't look like much!

But I'm soft to touch.

Full of love to give

In this new home that I live.

Happy, as happy, can be

I love mum, and she loves me!

Hugh

Hugh.

Soft and small

With great big paws

My little fur ball

Has enormous claws.

He's got a bushy tail

And large green eyes

A handsome male

Who's very wise.

A beautiful coat

And pointy ears

If I could vote

He'd stay for years.

One of a kind

Most unique!

A spectacular find

With a baby squeak.

My feline friend

That's come to stay

My heart to mend

Beginning today!

Age...

Crabby Old Man

What do you see nurses? . . . .. . What do you see?
What are you thinking . . . . . When you're looking at me?
A crabby old man . . . . . Not very wise,
Uncertain of habit . . . . . With faraway eyes?

Who dribbles his food . . . . . And makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . . . . . 'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice . . . . . The things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . A sock or shoe?

Who, resisting or not . . . . .. Lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . . . . The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking? . . . . . Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse . . . . . You're not looking at me.

I'll tell you who I am. . . . . . As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, . . . . . As I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten . .. . . . With a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters . . . . . Who love one another.

A young boy of Sixteen . . . . With wings on his feet..
Dreaming that soon now . . . . . A lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . . . My heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows . . . . .. That I promised to keep.

At Twenty-Five, now . . . . . I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . . . . With ties that should last.

At Forty, my young sons . . . . . Have grown and are gone,
But my woman's beside me . . . . . To see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children . . . .. . My loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me . . . . . My wife is now dead.
I look at the future . . . . . Shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing . . . . . Young of their own.
And I think of the years . . . . . And the love that I've known.

I'm now an old man . . . . . And nature is cruel.
Tis jest to make old age . . . .. . Look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles . . . . . Grace and vigor, depart.
There is now a stone . .. . . Where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass . . . . . A young guy still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . My battered heart swells.
I remember the joys . . . . . I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living . . . .. . Life over again.

I think of the years, all too few . . . . . Gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . . That nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people . . . . . Open and see.
Not a crabby old man . . . Look closer . . . See ME!!

* This was posted by a friend of mine on Facebook but it moved me so deeply that I wanted to share it again on my blog. This was written by an old man in a nursing home. When he died the nurses found this poem in his draw  and they were all moved to tears...So was I!!!

Elements

Elements.

The sun shines hot upon our heads
Record heat, that cannot be fled
Days and days of a sweaty bod
Messing with nature, annoys God
A gentle breeze starts to flow
Stronger and stronger it does blow
Dark, dark clouds begin to form
It’s going to be...  A MIGHTY STORM!
A flash of light - a crashing sound
The elements raging all around
A pitter-patter against the pane
Announces the start of heavy rain
And down it falls in sheets of white
The day outside becomes night
Mother Nature at her best
Her P.M.T our current guest
Rain falls long, rain falls hard
The grass lies flattened in the Yard
But wait...the quiet has returned
Hurray....
The mighty storm has been adjourned!

Time.

Watch the water run,

Watch it trickle away,

Just like time....

Doesn't linger, 

Doesn't stay....

New Year – 2013.

2013 is on it’s way,
365 possibilities to live and play.
I wish you all the best next year,
Lose the negative and the fear.
Although it’s easier said than done,
 We are still capable of having fun.
Health, happiness and lots of love,
Strength and blessings from above.
Great accomplishments far and wide,
Family and dear ones by your side.
Thank you for all the support this year,
I needed it badly and it was near.
 Happy New Year...I love you all
Enjoy the journey....Have a ball!

Christmas/Natal 2012.

Festividades 2012.

Olha o Natal ai de novo
Como passa, né, meu povo?!
Carnaval, Páscoa e Finados
Dias e dias atarefados
Esse ano correu demais
Acontecimentos monumentais
Alegrias e tristezas intercaladas
Gargalhadas e choros desenfreadas
Estamos vivos pra continuar
Nossa estória a completar
É época de refletir
Agradecer a Deus e pedir
Que 2013 venha em paz
Com muito carinho em cartaz
Compaixão, amor e saúde
Bom caráter e atitude
Celebremos, sim, esses momentos
Pois não sabemos o que trazem os ventos?
Encaremos a vida com fervor
Felicidades, com todo meu amor.