Monday, 9 November 2020

Original Song Lyrics, The Cat


 

Something I have intended to do for ages, is to transcribe my song writing notebooks on to the computer. Simply so that if the old books hand written books fall apart, I have a usable copy of the lyrics of some 250-300 songs and which I can properly archive.

Whilst an enforced period without the uke is in operation, I have actually gotten around to exercising my typing skills. Last night I came to the end of creating a first volume of my lyrics with 50 songs mostly dated from the seventies. I hope to be able to add chords to the lyrics but again all you need is time; close to a cue for a song but would that be a step too far.

Most of the songs have been almost forgotten, I had revived about a dozen for use with my ukulele, but although being able to sing the rest, I would need to work out some chords. Especially as they are for a different instrument to that which they were written on.

Although people often ask which comes first, the lyric of the melody, I have to say that with me it was usually both at once. So whilst I can sing them (almost?) Remembering how I played them is not possible.

So some of the songs are ones I still play, some I have forgotten, some have cheesy lyrics (as my son calls them), some are clever (well... ?). and some are just strange. Oh yes, and some were written in answer to the punk revolution so are impossible to categorise. But they all have some sort of memories for me, even if it was just singing them with relief when they were finished. Assuming of course that they were finished. I was still editing and changing the lyrics as I typed them into the laptop.

Here is one example of a "strange" lyric, I remember writing this one after watching a TV program with David Bowie talking about his songwriting. He used to collect newspaper head lines and then use them to create the lyrics of some of his (earlier?) songs. I tried this method but was always a bit suspicious of the results and maybe three or four survived my regular culls.

This one is called "THE CAT"

Let me tell you about that curious character called The Cat
He’s a man who’ll tell you that he knows where it’s happening & where it’s really at
But beware, take care he’s having you on and dragging you down
It’s your turn this time, if you don’t turn around and forget him

There’s a lot to be said, better get it straight; keep yourself on the ball
Though everyone’s going, an invitation to his pad leads to a fall
Look out girl, keep on rolling, take a bow show him a vanishing trick
A touch of magic is all it needs, are you good enough

Take a trip to the U.S. of A. leave the winter behind you
He won’t forgive or forget what you did he don’t like taking a fall
Steal the show, see and be seen, strike it lucky There’s a rough road ahead
And it’s safer the second time around When escaping to nowhere,

Tuesday, 25 February 2020

Original Song Lyric: My Love

Unfortunately, I never dated any of my early songs; I simply scribbled them out onto any handy scraps of paper - I was usually in a hurry to record them before they were forgotten. Once I was satisfied with the lyric, and that usually meant with the melody as they often came out of my head (?) together, I carefully copied them out into a hard-backed note book using a fountain pen (remember those?) and in my best writing. I reckon I could have been a doctor with that skill level.



The same  applied to the guitar accompaniments really, in fact the chord structure often suggested how the melody progressed. However, in this case I rarely bothered to make a note of the chords and any instrumental flourishes. I never developed longer instro pieces because it was all about the songs at the time. Surprising, you may think since my main inspiration was Hank Marvin and The Shadows. But both sides of my music were kept apart and never the twain did meet. But I digress ...

Over the years, I must have written hundreds of songs, a lot were never written into the notebooks because they were inferior for one reason or another or reminded me of another song which I may have heard on the radio or TV. I was scrupulous about that. But certainly not all survived to find favour by winning a place in my notebooks. I now have to rely on events, people and places to try and date the songs, that is why the dates I quote, when I do, are so loosely defined. Nowadays I write song much less frequently, and they are immediately typed into the computer where I keep a journal since they can be easily edited. I am also adding my older songs to this journal slowly but surely. Which is what sparked the idea for this whole project.

But for now, here is another of those very early songs, I have no memories of any sort about this song; why, when or where it came from. It is entitled, "My Love":-

MY LOVE


My Love, 
What have I done to hurt you, won't you tell me?
What have I done to make you turn against me?
oh my Love, Oh my Love

My Love, 
Did you really mean those things that you said to me?
Did you realise how those things cut right through me?
And hurt me, deep inside

(bridge)

Won't you give me another little chance?
Tell me where I went wrong.
I'm ready to take all of the blame,
If you tell me where I went wrong.

My Love,
What's it gonna take to get us back together?
There's really such a lot could hold us two together.
Oh my Love, stay my Love
Oh my Love, stay my Love ….


Hear the song on my blog, Guitar Bashin' or maybe on the musical story A Ukulele Journey. It may take a little while to post to both sites as it is now past my bedtime, well I am getting on a bit. Back with more on this project and more original lyrics soon,

Saturday, 22 February 2020

Original Song - Only A Fool

It looks as if I will be including more of my song lyrics in the future, I guess that there is only a difference in perspective between my poetry and the lyrics and I am not really writing much "poetry" at the moment. Also I will be trying to find a home for the lyrics (which I will be typing up) from songs written by myself over the past 60 years. Yep that was no typo, I have been writing songs since I was 120 years old. Some times in my life have been more productive than others but I have been at it for over 60 years.

This song was written, as I say when I was about 12-14; I was never very good at keeping a record of dates for most of the time and I can only date the songs from other memories of my life. I remember writing this and about half a dozen more whilst keeping a rythm going with a home made drum kit. The kit consisted of cardboard boxes, biscuit tin lids (the round ones, sometimes with nails drilled thru them to give a lovely swishing sound) and a couple of drums from an old toy set. Those did have skins however. Anyway, the lyrics:-

Title: Only A Fool 


written by John Dyhouse (1958/9)

You treated me bad
And put me down.
Then played around with other guys,
Out on the town.

But I still Love you,
I'm only a fool.
Won’t you please come back to me?
Stop being so cruel.


(Bridge) How could you hurt anyone so?
I really don’t know.
I’ll ask again, comeback,
‘Cause I love you so

If you still love me
Don’t be so cruel
Because I still love you so,

I’m only a Fool.
... Only a fool,
... Only a fool.

Notice that last stanza, in the song it would be called a coda ( or an outro in modern
parlance) but would probably have no place in a poem - or would it? Also would a
poem have a bridge?

If you would like to hear this, sung with a ukulele baking, you will find it here on
my music pages.

Monday, 18 March 2019

Still Writing ...

Some time since my last post - again;I seem to be writing in fits and starts these days. And doing far more reading. Maybe I am getting old, or maybe I am just too busy. However, I suddenly had an urge to write again last night. An urge which was generated by the purchase of a new ukulele of all things. It is actually a Cordoba branded instrument and I absolutely love the sound. (Note : the link is to the actual uke which I purchased but there is no association between myself and the company concerned)


I had been playing some of my old songs and wondering why I had stopped writing songs. The answer is guessed was because I had started writing poetry. Not a very satisfying answer because I have not written any poetry for a while. I think it had something to do with being able to express myself as a writer much better with simple lyrics than with the poetry. I decided to put this to the test and sat down to write a song using the methods I would use to write poetry. If that makes sense?

With songs, I used to play a few chord riffs until a melody came into my head. I would use simple lyrics as a "place marker" for the finished article, however much of that simple lyric often remained.

I thought what if I wrote the lyric first, and in fact I managed to put something together and when I felt ready (the lyric was not complete) I picked up the uke and started to play and sing. At some point I felt that both aspects gelled and was quite happy with the whole and managed to record a first take using my PC's built in camera.

This showed a few inconsistencies but meant I would not have to try to remember the melody / timing and then find if I did not get back to it for a few days I would need to repeat the second part of the process, i.e. the melody.

Here is a copy of the lyric with a few chord names (tentative at this stage) added for my convenience. The chords are written as capitals in square brackets, e.g. [C], [G7], etc.

BIttersweet Memories


INTRO
[C][F][C][G*][G7*]

Verse1
-tacit-
My em[C]otions are all in a mess
Should be pulling myself [F]together, I guess
Let me tell you, I want to explain
You're the [G7]reason I'm in so much [C]pain

V2
I can't see a future that's clear
The options I have bring me nothing but fear
A fear that you're leaving me soon
the sky will fall with visions of doom [C*][CM7*][C7*]

BRIDGE
[F]Memories, bIttersweet [C]memories
You [F]fill my heart with images of [C]joy [C*][CM7*][C7*]
But you [F]cut the chains,
and you [C]loose the reins
And [F]cast me down just like some broken [C]toy

V3
I just never know what to expect
Whatever I do for you, is never correct
As close as you and I have been

Anytime at all you can erect that screen


Not quite poetry but maybe poetic? I will be posting a video on line when I have got a "clean and finished copy for anyone interested. I will edit the post when it is ready.

Tuesday, 12 June 2018

This weeks New Poem:Are You Afraid Of The Dark?

Here is my latest piece of writing, another poem. This time a sombre piece, written again to a creative writing prompt from a random pass on the web sites offering these. 

A strange one for me, I started without any idea of where the subject would take me as I often do when using a prompt. And in this case I actually started the poem (the first verse and a half) by using a poetry generator. I use the strategy to give me a first line or two but never take what is offered without some heavy editing.

The prompt I used was "Are You Afraid Of The Dark?" As an adult, I am not but what would make me feel this way? Perhaps a dream .... a nightmare? Or did something happen on a camping trip as a child? Maybe You could make your own mind up?

OK, here it is...

sourced from Pixabay (creative commons)

Are You Afraid Of The Dark?

Once upon a midnight sombre,
Through which came tapping, tapping, tapping.
In there stepped a haunting downbeat,
Still is rapping, still is rapping.

I felt compelled to scour the setting
I awoke with such a start.
Ah, distinctly I was strumming,
"Take thy woe from out my heart".

At that my soul knew fear.
The thunderclouds spoke of death.
Whilst in the earth I saw a grave,
My body failed to draw a breath.

I heard a maniacal, muted moaning;
A solemn, sepulchral shrieking.
I believed my time was over
As I heard my spirit weeping

I had never been so frightened,
Never dreaming of these shadows;
And the creatures I imagined
From long forgotten barrows.

But just before I drew my last breath
A light appeared in the eastern sky. 
The coming dawn rode to my rescue
The demons dissolved before my eye.

Years later grown into adulthood,
Still remembering that fright;
When asked why I am afraid of the dark,
I confess the happenings that night.



Thanks for reading, I have actually collected enough poems for a fourth poetry book ( well perhaps a pamphlet would be a better description) but it will be available on Amazon sometime soon if things go well.

Monday, 4 June 2018

A new Poem; Hear the waves

Phew, missed a few days, I thought my new writing phase had ground to a halt. However, it has been a very busy few weeks and needs must. No matter how much I want to write, I was just too tired. But tonight, I took a break and decided to check out a few ideas for a new offering. I found a photo which I liked and this gave me a little inspiration for a new poem. Hope you can empathise and enjoy it.



Hear the waves



Hear the crashing of the waves;
The wind blows hard, but doubt remains.

I'm lost, alone, forsaken. 
What happened, was something taken?

Something's changed, a minor shift ;
Something has changed, a mournful rift .

I find it hard to understand,
Overshadowed in this pleasant land.

But listen, who sings at the water's edge?
Could they but help, provide a bridge.

He is nought but a singer,
Creating stories that shimmer.

A fantasy narrated,
It speaks to me, awaited.

A reverie conceived,
A future, now brightly revealed

I no longer feel alone,
All along I should have known.

I no longer feel so lost,
I no longer count the cost

Hear the lapping of the waves;
The breeze blows soft, whispering my name.



Well there we are, another completed poem and I feel really happy. Still got the writing bug after all.

Monday, 14 May 2018

The Journal Jar, A Surprise Poem

A surprise because I was looking at one of Monna Ellithorpe's post on Writing prompts and she mentioned a Journal Jar. Never heard of this ; then surf over to see what it is all about.

Anyway, I had written a poem from one of the prompts offered and feeling at a loss for something to do, I though I might try another. But upoon reading the post I though, "Why not?" and proceeded to write a poem about writing a poem. Mmmm, I seem to have done that before now I think about it.




Well here it is:-

THE JOURNAL JAR


Each day I open up my journal jar,
When I find time to rest. 
I pick a slip from deep within,
To provide a little test.

Chose at random that's the key 
And write a poem upon request.
A poem based upon the prompt
Now in your hand, Just do your best.

That's all I ask, and nothing more,
Apply your writer's mind. Invest
In words, attest to deeds to come.
Or maybe even deeds repressed.

Just write, compose, transcribe your thoughts;
Don't leave them unexpressed.
Don't wait, it will work out in the end,
resulting in a poem, to leave you  most impressed.

Seems like there are days when words just flow, of course there are many days when it is almost impossible to start. Just take things as they come and make the most of the good days. Seems to be the best way to treat it, don't you think.

Thanks for the visit and hope you enjoyed the poem.

Sunday, 13 May 2018

Information Overload, A New Poem

Another light-hearted piece of creative writing based on a writing prompt from Monna Ellithorpe. I do enjoy writing from a limited set of prompts, as I don't have to think, "Now which one shall I choose?" I pick the one of two or three which Monna has selected for that week and then I can concentrate on the subject matter. I find it so much more fun and easier. Lists of hundreds can be found on the internet but they simply confuse me. I suppose that I should pick a number at random and use that one but .....

 This week I read a contribution from another writing friend (before writing my own) and found it was very similar in direction to what I at first, was intending to write. So I took the hard way out and changed my attitude to the prompt - of course this is always possible. Part of the fun really.

Anyway, a little tongue-in-the-cheek attitude in what follows is not amiss in light of the research I have been involved in on the internet over the recent past.



Information Overload


As a scientist, I am used, to searching out the truth;
Information is the basis of my trade.
But so many of my friends just click a link and find, 
That truth is not always what's displayed.

Information is at hand, for those who wish to search
The problem is to know what to conclude.
It's tempting to believe simply everything you read
And forget it's information overload.

The first and easy choice may not provide that truth,
Despite it being easy to believe.
The resourceful knowledge seeker, will not presume
To find. the truth in all that he perceives

Anyone at all, can with illusions fill a screen.
Anyone can write though not bestowed
With intelligence and knowledge of the simple facts.
Take heed, reject information overload



Thanks for visiting and reading (you did didn't you?) my newest poem. I hope you enjoyed it and smiled -  just a little.

Tuesday, 1 May 2018

New Poem - Wild River

Well I am having such a difficult time and my poems are reflecting this, Another dark image in this one.

Wild River


I see a wild river blocking my path
I see a bridge destroyed in their wrath
I see a dark army no quarter allowed
I see myself lonely but brave, head unbowed

River Wye at Ross, photograph by the blog owner

Ahead's a wild river,  I must cross o'er
A boat is the answer, but would it be slower
Than the approaching horde at my back
The bridge is no answer; ruined, burnt and black

The Rollright Stones, The Kings Men
photo by the blog owner

I'll cross that wild river, cross and survive;
I'll summon my friends, let them know I'm alive.
My supporters will rally and help me across,
I'm not done yet, I'm no albatross.

I wont be a burden, wild river or not
But I know I need help, to cut that knot.
I'll take what is offered, no more and no less
And I'll pay back my dues by being a success.

. 
Christmas display at Wyevale garden centre
photo by blog owner


Excuse the "silly photos but this poem would not come easily. In these circumstances, I often create a photo board. Just a little trick which helps me to get the story together - sometimes.

Sunday, 22 April 2018

A New Poem - Daffodil Destruction

I am usually very much against poetry that doe not rhyme. Of course when I put this view to friends and others alike, I am inundated with examples of non-rhyming examples. But today, I was in a hurry to complete a poem and found that rhymes were not forthcoming. And so, I found myself writing what I would normally call a piece of prose. OK, it is based on lines and at least it has a metre of sorts, but I feel that I have failed. It is a compromise which I am not really happy with. You might say it is out of my comfort zone but I was desperate to get out of the "Slough Of Despond" I have found myself in over the past couple of weeks.

A vase of floribunda daffs, blown down by a storm

So, aims achieved, I present a new poem. Actually I used the same prompt for this poem that I used for the poem in the last post. Of course it was a prompt which could be interpreted in a very free way. It was provided once more by my friend Monna Ellithorpe, one of her weekly writing prompts.

Make up your own mind and please feel free to criticise, or otherwise, in the comments section below. The poem is called ................

Daffodil Destruction


Yesterday, 
We had a beautiful array
Of daffodils in our garden.

People passing
Had commented on the colours,
Of the late spring display.

But that wind
Blew up fast, from out of nowhere
And kicked the best for six

The floribunda,
With their heavy heads bowed;
Were no match, and fell prostrate.

I found them,
Their heads in the dirt this morning.
Wistfully, I collected the fallen heroes.

An assignment
Beckoned, to make them proud;
A gift for a mothers grave.

   


Saturday, 21 April 2018

A Crumpled Sheet Of Paper - A New Poem

Another difficult poem. I selected a prompt for this with an idea in mind. It is not quite what I had planned but it is what it is. A very untenable / illogical metaphor. I offer the poem with no further eplanation and make no apologies if it seems to make no sense.

A crumpled sheet of paper


A crumpled Sheet of paper,
It has no use, no more.
It's final destination,
That trash can on the floor.

A page so full of memories,
A story barely told;
Well written, but forgotten.
Disallowed from growing old.

A faded, yellow page.
The words no longer clear.
So difficult to read now,
But it still brings forth a tear.

But I cannot bear to lose
that which had meant so much.
In better times, supporting me,
an undeniable crutch.

I'll make a promise to myself,
I'll find a way to free
That crumpled sheet of paper,
Bring it back, as it should be.

Monday, 16 April 2018

Winding Rivers, A New Poem

Winding Rivers

                                       water colour painting by the author



Winding rivers
Sending shivers
Mental quivers
My life withers

Raging torrents
Stormy comments
Constant torments
Makes no real sense

Understanding
So demanding
Notwithstanding
Lifelong stranding

What's the meaning
No redeeming
Constant screaming
Pain repeating

Inside my head


A new poem from a prompt which surprised me, kinda came from nowhere.  Without further comment this time.

Monday, 2 April 2018

A little more nonsense from a poetic prompt

Well now I was missing my regular weekly writing prompt due to Easter and so I turned to google this week.Well I looked at many different prompts before I found one which seemed to turn my head. It was actually about morning being the best time for magic (?) well who knew, but I added a soupcon of another prompt and this poem developed on the page (or screen as it happened).

You might know that the weather is a standard, fall-back topic of conversation for us Brits because of our wonderfully creative weather and a the fact that we are really quite reserved when meeting and talking to people. In fact I have written many time before about various aspects of the weather. For example:- A Blast From The Past,  My Poetry Takes A New Direction,  The Wind And I.

In fact just browsing thru this blog for these few examples I realise I have written more poems about "Morning" and different aspects of a new day. I find that I have sadly forgotten many; I guess I need to sort out another book of poems.

Anyway where was I, oh yes - a title? What else but, "Morning In The Rain". Not very catchy, but I always have problems with titles. Usually the last thing I do with a poem.



Morning In The Rain


Another rare morning
Spring in the air
A red sky is warning
I'd better beware

You know what they claim
The weather could turn 
A whole new ball-game
Will I ever learn

Don't trust the weather
Mom always advised
You'll find that its never
worthy of compromise

So dress for comfort
But back-up your choice
You know that you ought
To heed mom's good advice

Another thin morning
It's cool, beginning to rain
Can't stand here talking
Nice to meet you again


Well that's it, hope you liked it. Hardly cartries an earth shattering message but then that's me. Down to earth and real.

Wednesday, 28 March 2018

Still writing, this one a poem for laughs

Well, back again for another new poem written using a Prompt from the Weekly Writing Prompt from my friend Monna, have you visited her site yet?

I was looking out for this one and when it came at first I scatched my aging head. But I took up the challenge of a bonus prompt! To create a short story or poem of your own that is totally unbelievable or ridiculous.

Well, how to start? As usual, I selected the first idea which came into my head and that just happend to turn into the first line of the poem. I called it, Moonwalk. Here it is I hope it makes you smile.


Moonwalk



I took a little walk last week
To the moon and back
I climbed a shining moonbeam
And I took a little snack.
I knew it would take a while
So I took along our Jack.
Great company with his pet monkey;
Which I think is a macaque

Along the way we were treated
To an astronomic thrill.
Passing meteors and rainbows
We danced an old quadrille
We had such fun, the three of us
But could only stay until
We remembered it would soon be time
To head back to Jacksonville

The title came to mind after the last word in the poem. I did not start with a title in mind, but let the poem just take me where it will. The last line needed a rhyme and Jacksonville popped up. After that the title seemed to put itself forward for me. I dont often think too hard about what I am writing, as far as I am concerned it is all a bit of fun. Although sometimes, rarely, it is about sad memories.

Well there you are another poem thanks to Monna, and do visit her blog, especially if you are a beginning writer and hope to self publish. I  managed to self-publish my first book on Amazon with Monna's advice.

Saturday, 24 March 2018

Poem - "My Dog Ran Off With The Keys"

Can't believe that I am started to write again, creatively. But having just a few prompts to choose from instead of hundreds on the majority of sites which offer to provide them seems to concentrate the mind, I would recommend it to anyone enduring "writers block" or simply a lack of time.

Try this weekly prompt, just 2 or 3 offered on the site owned by Monna Ellithorpe which will offer a gateway to many more pages by Monna.

Mmmm, this one was a lot more light-hearted than the last. I enjoyed (and found myself silently laughing) whilst I put this one down on paper, well on to the screen. Hope it makes you smile too. Oh beware the french; a little trick to make a rhyme. I do feel that rhymes are so important.




My dog ran off with the keys


My dog ran off with the keys to my car.
its true, please believe what I say.
The distance from home to here is so far,
I'm just lucky to get here today,
At all!

How on earth did it happen, you want to know.
Well, I was just letting him out for a wee;
When I happened to sneeze, I dropped the keys
and he ran off, overjoyed to be free.
You see!

My phone was inside, what was I to do?
Had to follow the dog, for sure.
Lest he lost the keys, dropped me in the stew
with no means of contacting vous,
cet jour.

So pardonez-moi, I'm here at last
And ready to do what you need.
I'm ready and willing and able if asked,
except for one little problem, this hound on the lead.
No keys, no car, no home so far
had to bring the dog!

The prompt for this piece was actually, "Make up a creative reason for being late to an important function." Don't know why this sprang into my head, we don't even have a dog these days; our last pooch passed away a number of years ago. But it did and I like the outcome. 

Until the next time ....................

And do keep on writing.

Friday, 23 March 2018

A poem, "You Hide But Nobody Seeks"

I am still following up on the writing prompts posted by my friend Mona Ellithorpe, this weeks gave me the title for another poem. I know someone who I care for very much who has suffered from  aquired brain damage cause by a viral infection, the prompt, "you hide but nobody seeks ...", made me think of that person and this poem was written with them in mind.


You hide but nobody seeks


You hide but nobody seeks
you listen but nobody speaks
you look but no one is there
you cry but nobody cares

you hide yourself away
its another quiet day
your friends have long since gone
you've changed and they walked on

you never were to blame
but it happened all the same
an accident that left you changed
an accident, not prearranged

It never was your fault
that built this stifling vault
the man you were has passed away
look now, look to another day

to you your new life beckons
it only took a second
at least that's all you knew
until you learned what you'd been through

forget the past, mourn for that man
but live for tomorrow, yes you can
accept your new life and be awake
to opportunities that you can take

New friends will rally in your life
don't hide away you have a life
It can be good, it's not the same
but you never were to blame

I always capitalise my poems on each line and am obsessive about punctuation, but this time it did not seem important, even the title was an afterthought -- I have edited it into the post and added an image.

If this poem touched you then you may also like this earlier poem Helpless, which is very much connected to this one, you can find it on this blog from a few years ago





Wednesday, 14 March 2018

A little whimsy!

Sometimes I just feel that I have not enough time to write, and this was the case last night. I have been so busy of late but when I came across another post from my friend Monna Ellithorpe, another prompt which caught my attention on Facebook, I simply had to have a go.

This short piece came together in a very short time. No time to edit or anything like that, I just left it as it was. But boy did I enjoy the freedom not to worry about what it ended up looking like.

The prompt was to write a four line poem about your muse. Once when all lines rhyme and then again with no rhyming at all.

I put mine together and then simply had to get in another stanza to complete the poem. I enjoyed writing it, hope you can enjoy reading it.



Sir Galahad
We all have days when things seem bad,
When things go wrong and make you sad,
But never let it get you mad,
Summon up your muse, your Galahad.

We all have days we wish would end.
You’ve had enough and want to scream,
But don’t let your troubles grind you down;
Take a break, think of your Sir Galahad.

Sir Galahad, your knightly muse
Can help you through, he’ll help you choose,
Write a poem, don’t blow a fuse.
Think; if Galahad was in your shoes.

Wow it happened so quickly. It really liberated me although it is very trite and easy use of language I really enjoyed it. I experimented with limericks once (upon a time) and this seems to be on the same lines. Hope it makes you smile.



Monday, 26 February 2018

A Blast From The Past

Pardon the pun in the title, but this is a poem written after Hurricane Katrina wreaked so much havoc on New Orleans, a few years ago now. I was reminded of it today when I read a poem by my friend Monna Ellithorpe, also about a hurricane saying much the same things but in a very different style. As I have never included it this blog, I take this opportunity to address that now.

It was actually intended as a song - a folksy type of song - but after I had written the lyrics I found it difficult to actually sing them; or rather to put a tune to them. After some time trying I decided it should be a poem. The very first poem I had written - after years of writing song lyrics ! Hope you enjoy reading it


The Wind


The Wind sighed,
and the world turned.
The Wind whispered, 
But no one heard.

The Wind wondered, 
But no answer came.
The Wind cried, please
But few took heed.

The Wind shrieked, 
But the suffering had started.
The Wind warned us all,
But who had noticed.
And the world turned.

The Wind howled, 
But was it now too late
The Wind became man's enemy,
And they asked, each one,
Why didn?t we listen
Why didn' we care
Why didn't we do enough
We could have helped
And the world turned.

The Wind tore through
The remaining years.
Why didn't we listen
And the world turned,
In upon itself


If you should want to read more of mu early work, it is available to read or for free download on SCRIBD, Poems And Endings And Lost Loves