Category: poetry

The music changes throughout the day

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We have music piped into every room at home

Waking up to something lively

Usually a 70’s complication

Stevie Wonder fills the air

Foot tapping to Earth Wide and Fire

Munching breakfast to Marvin Gaye

After breakfast a change of mood

Writing to relaxing morning jazz

Lunch time with the 80’s

Talking Heads while prepping food

A club sandwich with Culture Club

Hot tea with the Thomson Twins

Dunk a cookie with Duran Duran

Time to Rev it up while cleaning the house

Rocking the floor mop to ZZ Top

Deafening vacuuming with Def Leppard

Make your bed with the Beatles

Clapton makes cleaning toilets fun

Housework is done and its time to chill

Relaxing Spa music while reading

DIY projects go faster with British Invasion bands

Sawing wood while the Who blast away

Hammering nails with the Stones

Painting walls Manfred Mann

Yard work with the Yard birds

Mid afternoon break with country music

Cheryl Crow joins for afternoon tea

Reminding me that all I want to do is have some fun

Run to the store for errands with Kenny Rogers

Ride back with Merl Haggard

Tammy Wynette helps restock the fridge

Cooking dinner with Glen Campbell

Dinner is served with some cool jazz

Set an extra dinner place for Frank Sinatra

Michael Buble for dessert

David Bowie helps to clean the dishes

Evening jazz rounds off the day

Go to sleep in silence

Thanks Mr Wind

Ian Hunter1 Comment

I rode into the wind

Heart racing

Head down and pushing hard

Legs aching

Checking the computer

5 miles in

The wind blew harder

Head down lower

In the paceline

Clipped into pedals

Pulling up and pushing down

Legs complaining

Ignore the pain

Focus on speed

Checking the computer

10 miles in

Leading the paceline

But speed is dropping

Head down lower

Can hardly see the road

Push hard downstroke

Pull hard upstroke

Heart rate increases

Speed slightly up

This is supposed to be fun

Checking the computer

15 miles in

Still battling the headwind

Open fields offer no shelter

Mr Wind spots us easily

Rushes towards us relentlessly

I try my best to hide

At the back of the paceline

Checking the computer

20 miles in

Rest stop approaching

Take a welcome break

Hydrate and eat some carbs

Short rest and back on the bike

Homeward with a tailwind

Leading the pack again

Speed magically increases

This is worth the effort

Riding with head up

Taking in the scenery

Breathing the Eastern shore air

Not breathing near chicken farms

Checking the computer

25 miles in

Eagles fly overhead

Old men in lycra fly below on bikes

The wind blows harder

We pick up more speed

Sailing home gracefully

Checking the computer

30 miles in

Legs stopped complaining

Heart rate up but steady

We break formation to chat

Friendly banter as we fly

Time to split up

Riding final leg solo

Drop the pace slightly

Cooling down phase

Arrive home

37 miles in

Exhilarating ride

Thank you Mr Wind

Northern lights

Ian Hunter1 Comment

Stepping outside late in the evening

It was a very dark, clear, star filled sky

After a few minutes my eyes adjusted to the low light

Looking north I could see a faint red glow

Not far away was a gentle green glow

The longer I looked, the clearer the glow became

It was my first time witnessing the northern lights

Total silence accompanied the spectacle

Everybody whispered as a mark of respect

Fearful that any sound might frighten them away

These mysterious colored flying ghosts

Only appearing when conditions are perfect

Thankfully we were in the right place at the right time

Great show northern lights

How about an encore nightly

Psychopath story (original author not known)

Ian Hunter1 Comment

Man sits by me on train.

MAN: Loads of psychopaths around here

ME: Really?

MAN: Loads mate

ME: How’d you know?

MAN: There’s signs aren’t there?

ME: I guess?

MAN: I love them

(47 minutes of awkward silence.)

Man leaves train, he has a bike. I realise he was saying ‘cycle paths’.

English Rain

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English rain is often a quiet and persistent presence

more of a mist than a downpour

it arrives in a soft steady drizzle soaking the earth slowly but thoroughly

the clouds hang low

casting a gray light over the countryside and cities alike

making the green fields glow more vibrantly

people dash around clutching umbrellas

splashing in puddles

waiting for the rain to stop

England would not be England without rain

Golden Circle

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alarm sounds

Icelandic slumber

dark o’thirty

jet lagged

bleary eyed

quick shower

head downstairs

hotel breakfast

restaurant full

early travelers

wooly hats

hiking boots

mandatory uniform

hearty breakfast

back upstairs

more layers

backpack filled

head out

gray skies

light rain

running late

walk fast

bus station

find tour

last on

bus leaves

first stop

national park

big cracks

fault line

tectonic plates

continents drift

America here

Europe there

steps away

bus again

to geysers

tourists gather

steam blows

ground hisses

cameras click

photos posted

lunch stop

lamb soup

bus again

final stop

massive waterfall

raging river

cameras click

photos posted

gift shop

buy stuff

hot chocolate

bus again

ride back

long nap

arrive hotel

Golden Circle

checked off

Stewed prunes and angry volcanos

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Iceland had been on James’ bucket list for a long time

This was going to be a rapid two night stopover en route to Europe

He carefully researched the best things to cram into such a short visit

The northern lights was his greatest wish but their appearance is always at the mercy of the weather

Friends told him he must try a soak in a warm lagoon.

Heated by natural springs these have become popular tourist attractions with adjoining bars and restaurants

He reserved a slot later on the day of his arrival

Hoping he could stay awake long enough to enjoy

For his second day he opted for a guided tour of the island with brief stops at many natural wonders

He wanted to see some volcano action

Not a huge eruption but a good dose of hot flowing lava and billowing steam

He boarded the plane to Iceland and quickly dozed off after dinner

Dreaming about floating in a warm lagoon

Surrounded by drunken tourists going back and forth for repeated vodka shots at the swim up bar

They were all like overcooked drunk prunes

Marveling at the spectacular scenery while desperately trying to keep their cell phones above the water line

He could smell the acrid sulphur from the natural spring water

Suddenly the volcano erupted in the distance

Tourists cheered and stayed in the lagoon to take volcano backdrop selfies

The bar started selling volcano cocktails

It was one big smelly party

People we stumbling and dropping phones into the water

An alarm sounded signaling the need to evacuate from the volcano ash rain

The tourists reluctantly dragged their prune bodies out of the water

Some were still doing shots in the changing room

The first ash rain fell from the sky

Pelting the structure with hot smoking rocks like mortar shells

It was not safe to go outside

They huddled in the building and prayed the bombardment would soon end

More rocks smashed into the roof and it started to collapse

James was convinced he was facing certain death then there was a big bang

His whole body shook and he woke up expecting to be injured only to discover his plane had just touched down on the runway

Thankfully that was just a dream he reassured himself

He switched on his phone as the plane taxied to the terminal at Keflavik airport

Iceland volcano erupting was the news headline….

Monday is special

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Ugh that Monday morning feeling

Back to work blues

The weekend is officially over

Five more days until next weekend

A tempting day to call in sick

It seems to rain more often on Mondays

Dropped toast falls butter side down on Mondays

Your bus is running late

The day seems to go slower

Everybody you meet at work is depressed

You try to lift their spirits

Recounting your fun filled action packed weekend

They get more depressed and hate you

Now you are depressed too

Finally the day is over

Your commute home is long and weary

Too fatigued to go shopping

The fridge is always empty on a Monday

Frozen food takes forever to defrost on Mondays

No other option but to order pizza for delivery

The laundry basket overflows

The lawn is growing out of control

Your car badly needs cleaning

The trash can is overflowing

Your bank balance has taken a dive

Most bills arrive on Modays

You reach for a beer but your stock ran out

The pizza delivery is well overdue

TV is always boring on a Monday

Except if you are a fan of Monday night football

Your pizza is delivered by an acne faced youth

You give him a tip and race inside

He seemed far too young to be riding that motorcycle

Its a cold soggy greasy mess of a pizza

You can hear his motorcycle roaring off

You regret tipping him

You decide to warm up the pizza

It comes out of the oven even more soggy

Time to do some overdue chores

You eat it anyway while watching your team get beat on TV

Haul a weekend’s worth of dishes out of the sink

Wash them badly and stack them

Tip the laundry basket into the washing machine

Turn it on and ignore its groans

Nothing left but to have an early night

Impossible to squeeze any more toothpaste out of that empty tube

You fall into bed exhausted

Sleeping is your final escape from Monday

The alarm clock wakes you up

At least its Tuesday you tell yourself

But horror of horrors it is Monday

That was all a Sunday night dream

Owls hooting

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The soft rustling of leaves was interrupted by the sound of owls hooting deep into the woods on a moonlight night

Their calls created a mysterious symphony as they echoed through the trees

lone traveler paused to listen as he made his way along a narrow path

The hoots seemed to come from all directions

The owls were communicating secrets only they understood

The calls grew louder and more insistent as he ventured further

The traveler was unsure if the owls were guiding him or warning him

His heart raced as he pushed on towards the almost constant hooting

The woods felt alive as their shadows danced under the pale moonlight

Suddenly he spotted the flicker of wings

An owl perched on a high branch was watching him

Its eyes glowed with an ancient wisdom

Feeling he was not alone but in the presence of something far older than the trees themselves

One final hoot before the owl flew off into the night

The traveler was left standing alone in the quiet woods with the echoes of their distant calls lingering in the cool air

He was no longer concerned or confused

His slowing heartbeat signaling that he was finally at peace

It was a feeling he had relentlessly searched for all his life

He left the woods determined to spread that peace to all he met for the rest of his days

Abi and friends make rain memories

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The day began with a heavy gray sky promising rain that would nourish the earth

The first droplets tapped gently on the window playing a soft symphony of nature

Abi pressed her face against the glass as she was eager to feel the cool drops on her skin

She was a curious little girl who loved to play and explore

She ran outside embracing the refreshing shower that kissed her cheeks

The scent of wet earth filled the air in an aromatic signal of awakening life

Puddles in the street formed mirrors reflecting the world above

Abi studied the images before splashing through them

Her laughter mingling with the sound of falling rain as she shattered the wet images

A group of children spotted Abi and quickly joined in

Their joyful shouts echoing through the neighborhood

They raced each other as they splashed in every puddle along the way

Each splash sent water flying in the air like tiny sparkling diamonds

The rain joined in the outdoor revelry and danced around them

A nearby old oak tree stood tall with its leaves rustling softly in the breeze

Abi ran to its sturdy trunk seeking shelter for a moment to catch her breath

She watched as the rain created a curtain of droplets at the edge of the canopy

A ladybug landed on her finger seeking refuge from the storm

Abi smiled as she marveled at its tiny red shell

Heavy rain was drumming against the roof of the old barn nearby 

She and her friends scurried inside to escape form the downpour

They were all laughing and shaking off the water like wet puppies

The barn was a treasure trove of forgotten memories and dusty hay

They built a fort out of bales as they settled in for a rain-soaked adventure

The storm raged on but they felt safe and warm inside

They played games and told stories of magical creatures that danced in the rain

The energy of the storm fed their imaginations and the tales got wilder

Eventually the rain began to lighten into a gentle patter

The sun peeked through the clouds casting a golden glow

They ventured outside once more to be greeted by vibrant rainbows arching across the sky

They splashed through puddles while squealing with delight

Abi twirled under the sky embracing the magic that had unfolded

The rain had brought them together to create a day filled with laughter and joy

The setting sun made everything glisten to heighten their awareness of the moment

They knew the memory of today would stay with them forever