My Poetry Blog

Once again apologies to Wordsworth and to those of my blogfriends who have read this on more than one occasion!!!

“Dandelions” (2007)

I wandered lonely up my drive
That leads to fence of irons
When there at once I saw them thrive
A load of golden dandelions
Beside the drive, beneath the sky
Those acursed flowers made me cry

Unlike the glorious daffodil
The poet loved and knew
They defiantly stood proud and still
And knew what I had to do
A million weeds smirked you see
Mocking faces laughed at me

The pretty daisies grew but they
Did not my patience try
I remembered how I used to play
The daisy chains I used to tie
I stood – and stood – and then I thought
Those dandelions should go – they ought

I sat upon my new lawnmower
And pondered was I right
To use this machine with huge horsepower
And trample everything in sight
And for a moment I almost stopped
But the very next minute the grass was cropped

©Marian Barker

After reading Janet's post this morning I thought I'd re-post the following:

The Green Eyed Monster

It raises up its ugly head
Disfigured and distorted
Narrow eyes grow larger
And bitter mouth contorted
Snarls and sneers at everyone
That dares get in its way
Closing mind as well as ears
To what others have to say
Its face becomes twisted
Like a gargoyle of stone
“Nobody likes me”
It’s often heard to moan
Convinced that others lives
Are far richer than its own
A gnarled finger pointing
And resentment has grown
It isolates itself from everyone
A grotesque image sad but true
Wondering why it sits all alone
Pernicious ideas permeating through
Negativity eating at its very soul
The green eyed monster’s jaundiced view

©Marian Barker

Homestead

An empty building without a soul
She was the one who made it whole
A vacant space without a heart
Her time had come, we had to part
Now she’s gone it’s bricks and mortar
Electric, gas and running water
Doors and windows firmly closed
Furniture has all been disposed
All that’s left are walls and roof
No more a home and that’s the truth
An empty building without a soul
She was the one who made it whole

©Marian Barker

Sweet Dreams

I dreamt I was a princess
With ringlets in my hair
Living in a golden castle
With pretty clothes to wear

I slept on feather pillows
On sheets of purest silk
Dreaming everyone was happy
And cows gave flavoured milk

I rode a big white charger
Across the skies so blue
Jumping over fluffy clouds
Whilst looking at the view

I walked the Milky Way
As the light began to fade
Peeping at the twinkling stars
To see how they were made

I saw the angels’ faces
I heard the angels’ song
“Enjoy sweet dreams” they told me
“For morning won’t be long”

©Marian Barker

Wicked!

It’s wicked being wicked
And so good being bad
Behind a cape of sanity
I can be really, really mad
It’s crazy being crazy
You should try it once or twice
It makes a change from boring
And very, very nice!

©Marian Barker

Who?

Who will dry my tears when no-one sees me cry?
When sadness like a river pours out of my eye

Who will take my hand when I feel loss and low?
When no-one is aware that I have nowhere to go

Who will share my dreams and hold me for a while?
When no-one knows just what will make me smile

Who will make me laugh and happy every day?
When no-one stays they just turn and walk away

With so many questions beginning with ‘who’
Perhaps one day that someone could be you?

©Marian Barker

Stay a While

Stop and let the world hurtle by
Gaze towards the clear blue sky
Stay a while ~ no need to go
Sit and watch the flowers grow

©Marian Barker

This was sparked off by a comment I recently read on BCUK

The Mundane Sea

In tranquil safety, carried along by its tides
Not being battered and beset from all sides
A blissful position some folk would suggest
Saying “of all worlds you must have the best”
Cruising along and enjoying the view
Plenty of time with simply nothing to do
I’m feeling frustrated how can I explain
How awful it is, how I hate the mundane
I need some excitement to bring me alive
A challenge or aim for which I can strive
I ache for a tempest to throw me about
To make me scream and make me shout
I know I sound selfish I shouldn’t complain
But rescue me soon from this sea of mundane

©Marian Barker

The Whisker Wizard

He’s cousin to the tooth fairy
And when her work is done
He then starts planting whiskers
I suspect it’s just for fun
He hides inside the wardrobe
Or underneath my bed
Until I’m sound asleep
And resting my weary head
Right there in the darkness
He works through the night
Then tiptoes softly away
Long before it gets light
He plants them at random
All over my chin
Black ones and white ones
Fat ones and thin
Straight ones and curly ones
And some in between
That bad whisker wizard
So cruel and mean
So shut all the windows
And lock all the doors
And don’t let him in
To plant them on yours!

©Marian Barker

The Handkerchief

There are flowers in the corner
The one that’s edged with lace
To remind me of that someone
Time never can replace

A funny sort of souvenir
With memories you leave
Because you always kept one
Tucked up inside your sleeve

You’d take it out to dry your eyes
And wipe a tear or two away
But always tears of happiness
Whenever I would stay

Those flowers in the corner
Will fade I guess I know
But not the lovely memories
Because I loved you so

©Marian Barker

Dear John Masefield

I must apologise to you once again.

You may recall that a while ago I wrote "Sale Fever" influenced by your good self's work and today I simply couldn't resist the following. Sorry!

Respectfully yours

Marian

Fitness Fever

I must go down to the gym again, after the lovely buns and a scone
And all I need is some leggings and a tee shirt to put on
And some trainers and a headband and a holdall to put them in
And I could do with some easy exercises to help me getting thin

I must go down to the gym again, for I’m feeling rather wide
As I took one look in the mirror I just sat down and cried
And all I want is a trim taut tum without my even trying
And to see myself in the mirror without a fear of crying

I must go down to the gym again, it’s only five minutes away
Past the cake shop and the sweet shop that I go to everyday
And all I ask is for less belly and less flab around my hips
And to still eat all my favourites like lovely fish and chips!

©Marian Barker

This is a little something I wrote in 2010

Joie de Vivre

Today I shall slip off my clothes
And dance in the rain
And let the raindrops cover me
Like sparkling champagne
I shall wear the rain
As sequins in my hair
I will chase rainbows
I won’t have a care
I’ll be thankful for life
And the joy it can bring
For a daily renewal
The resurrection of Spring

©Marian Barker

ps ... I'm sure I have another one about dancing in the rain but I can't put my hand on it right now!