Fatherhood

So, welcome Isabel, now you’re out in the world

For nine months you’ve been inside Mummy

Curled, safe and warm, like a snug bug in a rug

And now we can hold you and hug you at last

Grandad is smitten, as he was with the first

But big sister is full to bursting with emotion

There’s love and there’s jealousy all in one go

But she’ll come around when you’re both playing ball

As for me, well I adore you, as I knew all along

And bore anyone who’ll listen to a long description

One was wonderful, from where I stood as a Dad

But two is much better when fatherhood is concerned

Richer

Achievement is not based
On how much you earn
Or on the lives you destroy
And the hopes that you burn
- Just to make yourself richer

It's not about having
Offshore shares and trusts
Of giving in to desires
Or power hungry lusts
- Just to make yourself richer

You can't call achievement
The luck of inheritance
Serendipitous schooling
Providing the circumstance
- Just to make yourself richer

Achievement can be measured
By love and humanity
Learning from mistakes
And giving time to charity
- Just to make your soul richer

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/panama-papers-sir-alan-duncan-mp-speaking-in-defence-of-david-cameron-critcised-for-decrying-low-a6979826.html

Spring Poem

The first day of spring

And I hear the birds sing their hearts out

They all know their parts; Calling to a mate

Marking their territory

And all are merry with their refrains.

It’s the start of a new season

A reason for us all to be joyful

The light lasts longer; The night is shorter.

We can dream of walks among a field

Of daffodils and bluebells

My soul is singing with the sun

A dream of summer as Spring is begun

Birds and flowers and life

Sprouting up from the everlasting cup

Of nature’s cycles.

Knocking

Health and safety; You're having a laugh!
It's more like people not paying attention.

   More involved in their own little lives
   Waiting for texts from friends, kids and wives

In this world of image, of posing and pretension

   They need their head knocking to create some sense
   But it's unlikely you'd notice any difference

http://www.newstalk.com/Cathedral-relocates-huge-sculpture-after-texting-visitors-butt-heads-with-it

Being Single

Oh it’s hard to be single

On Valentines day

With no-one to cuddle

And no-one to say

“I love you dearly

You are my one

My dearest sweetheart

My honeybun”

Oh it’s hard to be single

And go out for a meal

To see a romantic

2-for-1 deal

With no-one to eat with

No starter to share

And you feel the couples

All around stare

Oh it’s hard to be single

In the age of the “date”

Is it my personality?

Or is it just fate?

To be forever alone

Forever just me

A tag of loneliness

Of which you’ll never be free

Oh it’s hard to be single

On Valentines day

Everyone asks you

“Are you sure you’re not gay?”

You’re letting down family

Letting down friends

And only by pairing

Can you make amends

Single or otherwise? You can still download my Haiku Collection Love and the Valentine

Violence

Lying in bed listening
In the middle of the night
Awoken

The sound of the neighbour
Beating his partner
Broken

The sobs and the grief
And the bitter cries
Pained

Leaving their mark
On my imagination
Stained

A public display
With no attempt at pretence

A tragic drama
Of domestic violence

New Project

Following last year's regular "almost" poem-a-day deluge, I've been quiet for a month on this blog, trying to work out a new project; One that will not take too much time away from my usual day job of being a Dad, especially since a second one is on the way in not too many months.

Anyway after some time of thought and reflection I have decided to put together some collections of Haiku over the coming year. Each collection will have its own subject area and they will be available as PDF downloads.

Here is a link to my downloads page from the blog and as you can see, the first collection is already available.

New collections will appear from time to time on the blog, depending on when I can spare the time to write and post, so please bear with me.