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Bob Butchard
http://bobbutchard.purpledream.com
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A Simple Hello Would Do
02/23/04 |
In rhythm and rhyme, perhaps it is time
to offer my wares to the critical stares
of literary gurus who won't act like emus.
The meter is strange, so hard to arrange
continuing rows of adequate prose
that the Stratford Bard would have deemed hard.
The inevitability of my limited ability
to pen an addition for your next edition
with quality controlled food for the soul.
Great stimulation from word manipulation
twisting them around to achieve the right sound
and cheating a bit if the buggers don't fit.
Creating a smile that you'll want to file
and clamour for more with shouts of encore.
I'll brighten your day even though you don't pay.
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Zero To Ten In Sixty Seconds
03/25/04 |
A return in my mind to my own dawn of time,
Arrived in a blitz of Hitler's misfits,
Sirens screamed warnings, mothers were calling,
Into the shelter, helter skelter.
Flying black crosses, so many losses,
Night skies bright with stroking searchlight,
Cold bombers' moons, barrage balloons
Free falling bombs filling up tombs.
'All clears' ringing, voices singing,
The sound of laughter the morning after,
The conflict ended, lives amended,
Party time, auld lang syne.
Along with the truce came free orange juice,
But my tastebuds recoiled against cod liver oil,
I was good to a fault for a spoonful of malt,
Food was still scarce but it could have been worse.
Still ration books caused such worried looks,
Mum queueing in line, hoping this time,
They wouldn't run out or she'd end up with nowt,
She always came good, we knew that she would.
Days as a child, carefree and wild,
A simple life life, no use for strife,
Buttercupped chins drew impish little grins,
Daisy chains down green country lanes.
Climbing tree, bloodied knees,
Trousers torn, shoes all worn,
Mother's shout, (dad was out),
Felt the pain when he came home again.
Infants school where 3R's ruled,
Sad leaving Mum but having such fun,
Made new pals, boys and gals,
Remembering new names, learning new games.
Hide and seek, (you mustn't peek),
Tennis ball against the wall
Used our coats for football posts
Dustbin for the wicket in schoolyard cricket.
A trip to the seaside, a pony ride,
Castles of sand, a one man band,
Skimming stones, ice cream cones,
Slides and swings, such simple things.
Snowball fights and Guy Fawkes' nights,
(remember, remember, the fifth of November),
Tingling toes, a runny nose,
(coughs and sneezes spread diseases).
Old pram parts = a steering cart,
The cutting edge of an icy sledge,
Screaming down hills, breathless thrills,
Racing mates on slick roller skates.
The kids' matinee was a magnet to see,
All that was best of the cowboys out west,
We cheered the Lone Ranger, helped him in danger
But there was none bigger than Roy Rogers and Trigger.
Swapping comics, how ironic,
Library books came alive, Biggles and the Famous Five,
Then poetry replacing thrills, Wordsworth growing daffodils,
Skipping rope chanting rhymes, giggles of girls keeping time.
Christmas morn, parents yawn, stockings emptied before the dawn,
Ludo and Snakes and Ladders, mince pies and Christmas crackers,
Hot plumb pud with threepenny bits, funny hats that never fit,
Paper chains, coloured balls, hoping that the snow would fall.
Looking back I have to say, there were not enough hours in a day,
No computers, no TV, but never bored my mates and me,
Kids the same around the nation, using a little imagination,
Fun was healthy,fun was free, I wouldn't swap what it did for me.
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Yesterday 1950
04/24/04 |
Ten years old, a time to be bold,
Outgrown toys, now one of 'the boys',
Made the school team, it had long been a dream,
Enjoyed new breaks in the popularity stakes.
Successful in classes, with examination passes,
Won a scholarship, was set to do the college trip,
Progress was regressed when I was hospitalized for tests,
But I acquitted myself with a clean bill of health.
My folks were quick to reward the news of my scholastic award,
My first set of wheels were a part of the deal,
I was soon off riding, gave the pedals a hiding,
Still remember the thrill of my first escapade to Rhyl.
College days were stressful pap, discipline an eight inch strap,
Teaching standards heavy handed, punishment was never candid,
'Make an example' the golden rule, but I had chosen that religious school,
I'd go back and change it if I could, five wasted years with the 'Brotherhood'.
I suddenly faced an untimely end, while biking to Southport with a friend,
Hadn't gone far, a parked car, driver's door was slightly ajar,
I drew alongside, the door yawned wide, a bus approaching on the opposite side,
I kept my nerve, didn't swerve, went back and gave the driver a terrible serve.
I'd never swore at a lady before,
I was only a kid and thats not what you did,
Tears streamed from her eyes, then to my surprise,
She nodded her head, agreeing with everything I'd said.
Football clubs, a choice of two, Dad's was Reds so I was Blue,
Lots of kidding when you're winning,(sometimes heated when defeated),
Situation was never worse, than when we lost 10-4 at Spurs,
* 'Dunlop Tires' the headlines screamed, ashamed to say it was my team *.
Summertime we'd holiday, every year we went away,
Family reunions, Yorkshire Dales, then we took a look at Wales,
Had a week neat Abergele, then became a camper at Pwllheli,
Hi-di-hi, diddle-e-dee, Butlins' was the place for me.
At fifteen things were going well, a summer job at a small hotel,
Nice little town close to the sea, the break from school relief for me,
The lady owner an old family friend, good tips, plenty to spend,
Lots of new faces every week, specially at the holiday peak.
Sweet sixteen and never been, you'll know exactly what I mean,
Cannot deny, I was longing to try, had to get over being so shy,
Kept on staring at the guests,(liked the young ones the best),
Hormones were erupting, my imagination was disgusting.
Along came Mary, not contrary, knew exactly how to snare me,
Saturday night at the Floral Hall, swinging big band, having a ball,
Body language, inviting glances, soon had me fancying my chances,
molded together thighs entwined, oh what was racing through my mind.
Later as things came to pass, naturally with this Durham lass,
She was full of smiles and womanly wiles,(and more mature than me by miles),
She became the number one, the very first etch mark on my gun,
Completely whetted my awareness of the qualities of the gender of fairness,.
This absolute landmark celebration, coincided with completion of my education,
Employment bound, looked around, jobs vacancies were thin on the ground,
An apprenticeship through nepotism, really it was dad's decision,
Skills to learn, a chance to earn, fortune took a welcome turn.
Dance halls were choc-a-block when Haley rocked us round the clock,
Elvis' pelvis gyrated well, breaking hearts at the Heartbreak Hotel,
Guitars ruled, hot was cool, everyone dug rock'n'roll,
Whole new craze, in a daze, music changed old-fashioned ways.
Teenage me, single and free, had had a taste of ecstacy,
Tried my best to be best dressed, wanting to make the girls impressed,
The latest gear, Italian suits, fashion shirts and Chelsea boots,
Oh leggy lasses with their bouffant hair, underskirts and savoir-faire.
Early days of the Liverpool Beat, kids began voting with their feet,
Wall to wall in coffee bars, wanna-be's with cheap guitars,
Untapped talent to the fore, opportunities galore,
Life changed rapidly, never again, would anything ever be the same again.
* Note referring to Dunlop Tires. When Everton lost to Spurs 10-4 at White Heart Lane, their goalkeeper was Albert Dunlop hence the play on words, Dunlop Tires-Dunlop Tyres.*
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Heart Stopper
05/25/04 |
Early morning healthy walking, a solitude that's never boring,
Tranquility, the chance for thought, experience that can't be bought,
As dawn recedes, a gentle breeze, sunlight sifting through the tree,
Summer heat has slipped away, presents me with a perfect day.
Deep in thought, things to do, distracted by some cockatoo,
A flock descending, squalling talking, wonderment delays my walking,
Beating wings, branches swaying, frolicking like children playing,
Then as quickly as they came their leader took them off again.
Moving on, I picked up pace,sunshine warm upon my face,
Aromatic golden Wattle, fragrances too rich to bottle,
Off the beaten I meander, 'neath lilac blossomed Jacaranda
Frilly Lizard forced to run, disturbed him basking in the sun.
Now a climb a steep ascent, taking toll of energy spent,
A stabbing pain, a flash of fear, chest invaded by a spear,
Some inner eye, life flashing by, all my mind can say is WHY?
Feeling changes taking place, cold clammy hands caress my face.
Ambulance, emergency, paramedics care for me,
Blood tests, lie and rest, finding out which treatment's best,
Now my plans for growing old depend on doing as I'm told,
'Cos male bravado 'n' bullet-proof chest, all of it just failed the test.
Written in hospital following my recent heart attack.
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Doctor's Delight
06/23/04 |
Facing my physician, time for my contrition,
No sense trying to deny it, I been cheating on my diet,
I'd let my resolve slip, now its time to crack the whip,
She's giving me all this strife, as she realigns my life.
The test results reflected the things that I'd ingested,
Cholesterol had been long rising, not really so surprising,
Similar result with sugar, this fitness kick's a bugger,
But I'll 'be a whole new man', with a daily bowl of bran.
She's put my beer upon the list, of pleasures that will now be missed,
So I've settled now instead for a Coonawarra red,
She thinks its really fine my palate's turned to a good red wine,
Strictly on the presumption I'll moderate my consumption.
I'm told I must avert my eyes, from double burgers and golden fries,
And cream cakes aren't a part of new improvements to my heart,
Now by-passing the pasta is going to be a complete disaster,
And a mature Chedder on a cracker biscuit, I'm just not game enough to risk it.
So its linseed oil, fruit and soy and heaps of leagues for the boy,
My taste buds now appear redundant, appetite moribundant,
She's extinguished all my rapture,I've been put out into pasture,
My cook books are all superseded, my lovely BBQ no longer needed
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Scrooge Of The New Millennium
11/30/05
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Generational views,
Make educated choices,
What will you choose,
While you still have voices?
Hard to avoid being cynical,
When neck so deep in dross,
Marketing's so clinical,
Individualism is lost.
Banks distribute credit cards,
While preparing their attack,
Then grasp upon the gonads hard,
'Til you pay the buggers back.
So pardon if I hesitate,
At pushing out the boat,
Experience has told me "wait,
See if the bastard floats."
The naivety of the Nativity,
Has surrendered itself to greed,
Oh to return to a simpler time,
When a stocking filled the need.
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Bush Christmas
01/15/06 |
Christmas day the outback way,
A steak, a BBQ, a beer,
Red dust storm, now the norm,
Douses traditional cheer.
Solar frying, livestock dying,
Sentenced by the drought,
Bush fires raging, firemen waging
War to snuff them out
On the coast surf's the most,
Got to catch that wave,
Ignore that big white pointer
There'll be nothing left to save.
Beaches heaving, bodies peeling,
Melanomas seek release,
Highways grid locked, drivers peed off,
Road rage threatens peace.
So Christmas day the Aussie way,
With no relief about,
Thank the Lord for lager,
Grab one, it's my shout.
Seasons wishes, dirty dishes,
Everything aplenty,
Relax, drink up, enjoy it now,
'Cos your bank account is empty
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A Bull Named Barney
01/20/08 |
The formative year, born into drought,
Sparse dusty paddocks no fodder about,
The start of a new year, it rained for a week,
That's how young Barney ended up in a creek.
The Limpinwood Brahman was having a snack,
Making the most of the grass sprouting back,
The rain was relentless, Tweed River in peak,
Our young bull slipped into the Hopping Duck Creek.
It was dark, it was cold and the current was strong,
Anything that floated was carried along,
Through causeways and bridges our bovine was swept,
Bypassed Murwillambah as the populace slept.
Seven long hours immersed in that swell,
The terrified beast on a journey through hell,
Heading due easttowards the mighty Pacific,
The future for Barney was looking horrific.
Ninety long kilometers on that nightmarish ride,
Pulled at and punished by a roaring king tide,
Amidst crawlies and fenceposts and branches off trees,
Exhaustion eventually brought him down to his knees.
A last gasp of desperation he scrambled ashore,
On Fingal Beach, he couldn't take more,
Now Barney's a legend in paddocks out west,
Proving again Aussie bull is the best.
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