Month: September 2021

You should never go back expecting things to be exactly the same

Ian Hunter5 Comments

A few years ago

I visited the town in England that I left 25 years ago

the place where I raised my children

I remember them playing in a vibrant neighborhood

curiosity led me to drive by the house I used to own 

it was a not how I remembered it

it used to be a thriving community

the once pristine senior citizens residence was boarded up

there were no young children playing in the street

a landscaped common area was neglected and overgrown

many of the homes were showing signs of neglect

there was an air of decay and despair 

curiosity led me to drive by the local pub

I had spent many happy times there

socializing with friends and celebrating events

it had changed a lot

graffiti adorned every boarded up window and the roof was crumbling

I learned that the business failed many years ago

the local factory that employed most of the town had long since closed

unemployment had taken its toll on the community

nothing was like I remembered

and I had no idea it would change so much when I left there

but I was looking back through rose tinted glasses

and my memories were distorted by the pain of a broken relationship

you should never go back expecting things to be exactly the same

things change with time and go through cycles of regrowth

I have since learned that the site of the old factory has been redeveloped for residential use

new housing has attracted young families

children once again play in the streets

the town lives on

You should never go back

Ian Hunter3 Comments

A few years ago

I visited the town in England that I left 25 years ago

the place where I raised my children

I remember them playing in a vibrant neighborhood

curiosity led me to drive by the house I used to own 

it was a big mistake

it used to be a thriving community

the once pristine senior citizens residence was boarded up

there were no young children playing in the street

a landscaped common area was neglected and overgrown

many of the homes were showing signs of neglect

there was an air of decay and despair 

curiosity led me to drive by the local pub

I had spent many happy times there

socializing with friends and celebrating events

that was another big mistake

graffiti adorned every boarded up window and the roof was crumbling

I learned that the business failed many years ago

the local factory that employed most of the town had long since closed

unemployment had taken its toll on the community

nothing was like I remembered

and I had no idea it would change so much when I left there

better to keep the memories of times gone by

than to shatter them with images of the present

I felt fortunate to have escaped the decay

but sad to have witnessed the ravages of time during my absence

you should never go back

She will have to go*

Ian Hunter1 Comment

beds are great for sleeping

you can wriggle around and get cosy

toss that extra pillow away

tear off the blanket if you get too hot

once asleep you can dream 

its your own escape world

anything is possible in your dreams

but all dreams have a finite life

I snap back to reality when I wake up

I get up and look at the bed with disdain

wrinkled sheets and crumpled  blankets

discarded pillows scattered all over the bedroom 

no this is not a dream

its that daily ritual that is such a boring chore

I have to make the bed again

once crisp smooth sheets 

refuse to give up their wrinkles

like aged grandmothers who forever lost their once smooth looks

the fitted bottom sheet has jumped off in the night

it must have shrunk 

I can never get it back as before

I have to keep walking around the bed

to line up the other side 

again and again and again and again

I do not want to walk all these miles before breakfast

I really only need one pillow for sleeping

so why must I decorate the bed with ten more

finally the bed is made and the chore is done

I feel weary enough to climb back in again

will somebody please invent a self making bed

one that automatically changes the sheets every week

I dream of waking up and looking at my messed up bed

then shouting ALEXA….MAKE THE BED

I actually asked her today

she gave me that annoying response

I am sorry I do not have that skill

ALEXA…HIRE A MAID TO MAKE THE BED

I am sorry I do not have that skill

she will have to go

Its just a cold but they don’t believe you

Ian Hunter1 Comment

it starts with a scratchy throat

then you start to ache all over

your throat gets really sore

your voice becomes raspy 

that dry cough is really annoying

next is the headache and sinus congestion

followed by a runny nose and a chesty cough

you spend a fortune on cold remedies that never work

you get worried that you have Covid

swab your nose in the drive through

the test comes back negative

but you still feel like crap

it seems to linger forever

its just a cold but in this Covid era

people treat you like a leper 

one sneeze can empty a store

a hacking cough sends people running 

pleas of “my covid test was negative’ go ignored

nobody wants to come within six feet of you

best to stay at home in self isolation

to stop the spread of your cold virus

and prevent all the Covid paranoia in public places

however this could increase the duration of your cold

because some say the only way to get rid of a cold

is to pass it along to somebody else

Dirty Money

Ian Hunter1 Comment

dirty money everywhere

people wanting to be paid in cash

under the table transactions

spend it without a big splash

if your pile is too big to deposit

stuff it in an old suitcase

stash it in the back of your overloaded closet

hidden dirty money is open to discovery

you will always be in a state of worry

once lost there is no recovery

dirty money can never be cleaned discreetly

not even by the laundry man

those dirty money roots are visible completely

The monkey never tires from being cheeky

Ian Hunter11 Comments

In just a few short months, I have posted 100 poems on Cheekymonkeypoetry.com

It has been a fun to write, select photographs and publish something daily

I have enjoyed reading all the feedback comments

Thank you to all the followers for creating a thriving community of poetry readers

A big thank you to Addison and Abby for developing and maintaining the website

There is something magical about achieving a century

Whether its riding a bike for 100 miles

Or writing 100 poems in 100 days

Or scoring 100 runs at cricket

Or reaching the grand old age of 100 years

Reflecting on important milestones reminds you of your achievements

Its also a good time to reset your goals

Who knows what lies ahead for any of us

For as long as I am able to turn my thoughts into a piece of poetry

I plan to keep publishing something daily

The monkey never tires from being cheeky

the overrated underdog

Ian HunterLeave a comment

he was the underdog

everybody liked him

especially the ladies

showered in sympathy

he milked it well

played the part

of the poor misfortunate

hard done by

down on his luck

Mr. nice guy

the attention seeker

always saying

woe is me

even the bad guys

felt sorry for him

when at a bar

he never paid for drinks

when at a restaurant

the servers paid his bill

his big sad eyes

spoke volumes

but the truth was

he was faking it

the beleaguered beggar

the clever con artist

the alluring actor

the melodramatic mimer

the overrated underdog

Flying high at Mach 2*

Ian Hunter1 Comment

I had a very memorable dream last night

I was flying an aircraft

not just any old aircraft

I was flying at supersonic speeds in Concorde

not as a high fare paying passenger

I was piloting this elegant bird

it was a very vivid and lucid dream 

I was complimented on my excellent piloting skills

and received an award for being the longest serving Concorde pilot

upon waking I researched dream meanings

of course there are so many different interpretations

I picked the once I liked best

my life is so good and the sky is the limit

then I did some more research on the Concorde program

it was a joint collaboration between the British and the French

I spent over 40 years working in Anglo/French companies

Concorde was financial disaster which huge cost overruns

I decided not to make comparisons on this

it mainly served the transatlantic routes

I have lived in both Europe and the US

It was retired in 2003 as it was financially unsustainable

my first marriage ended in 2003

all of this is valuable material for psychologists

some found that people who have lucid dreams

 are less anxious

have excellent motor skills

are great problem solvers

are very creative

some psychologists would surely be asking the question

why does a senior person yearn to fly an expensive noisy gas guzzling dinosaur

I have decided to make my own concluding interpretation of this dream

 I have escaped to enjoy limitless freedom in my life

I hope Captain Hunter flies again soon

all aboard

sweet dreams my friends

Call the word plumber

Ian Hunter3 Comments

words of wisdom words of jest

words that make you smile are simply the best

words of happiness words of joy

words of a child with a shiny new toy

words of love words of affection

words you once said but now have no recollection

words of regret words of remorse

words you could have said to avoid the divorce

words are power words can kill

words can stop you running and stand ever so still

words of hatred words of gore

words of politicians inciting war

words are funny words are cool

words can make a dry mouth drool

words are friendly words can hug you

words that wont leave your thoughts will forever bug you

words can go sour words can get ripe

words just spill out of me constantly like water from a broken pipe

Spinach and speedos*

Ian Hunter4 Comments

I just finished

All my spinach

Been a tussle

Growing muscle

Wannabe a tough guy

Biceps like Popeye

Despite the toil

Limbs like Olive Oyl

Its a mortal sin

Arms stayed so thin

Belly is fat

Instead of flat

Mr Universe dream

Ran out of steam

Fat ass now on couch

500 reps of slouch 

Diet stuck in first gear

Open another beer

pass the remote

Snacks down throat

Wearing loose clothes

Over my speedos