IN GOD’S NAME

In God’s name, for centuries
They waged their holy wars
Singing songs to God
As they march in their corps

In God’s name, across the years
From home to foreign shores
Tit for tat acts of religious hate
Are used to settle scores

God’s names, Jehovah, God or Allah
Differ only by rules and law
Although God by any name
Does not encourage acts of war

In God’s name, even to this day
They are prepared to fight and die
And beneath their holy banners
They use God as a battle cry

In God’s name, war is waged
And for every soul who dies
God sits on his throne in heaven
With sadness in his eyes

In God’s name, preach only peace
God is there for all humanity
In Gods name, put down your swords
His gift is love to all who see

THE GINGER PRINCE WENT TO WAR

Harry is the spare, not the heir
So he chose to follow a military career
And the ginger Prince went to war
Amidst muck and bullets, blood and gore
He is a braver man than I by some way
It’s a shame the press gave the game away
Now the prince is coming home again
To the land of his grandmothers reign
For as he bravely faced the Taliban
There were dangers for the princely man
For even under the pale winter sun
He had to wear factor ninety one

GOLDEN YEARS

It was fifty years ago when I first saw her
And I fell for her beauty and her charm
And now in the autumn of our years
I’m still proud to have her on my arm

How long ago it was when we were young
When every minute we were parted
Was full of the agonies and torment
And time alone left us broken hearted

I could have composed wondrous symphonies
And written lofty ballads to her name
I could have written the sweetest love songs
And never expressed what are love became

I would have crossed the wildest seas
And walked on coals to be at her side
I would have slain the fiercest dragon
And fought duals to win her as my bride

I proclaimed my love to her as everlasting
And I told her we would always be together
Through thick and thin, good times and bad
Through calmness and through stormy weather

How my heart soared as the church bells rang
When at the alter she stood and said I do
Now after fifty summers and fifty winters
The love I proclaimed still holds true

IF NOT FOR….

If not for sweet birdsong in tree and bush
How plain the spring seasons headlong rush
If not for the daffodils trumpets of gold
How sad the passage to new from old
If not for your sweet presence by my side
Spring would hold no joy, as sadness would reside

COME WITH ME NOW

At his bedside
The gentle angel stood
Watching as he slept
Listening to his quiet shallow breath
Then the angel softly spoke
And reached out a hand
“Your time has come to see the lord”
“Come with me now”
Then he slept no more
And he left his empty body
Taking the offered hand
The angel smiled and they began to ascend
To a better place and time
Traveling upward through a tunnel
Toward a light becoming ever brighter
Its brightness became almost blinding
Until with the angel he emerged
Into the land of light and love
The angel left him with a smile
With those who had passed before
Familiar faces greeted him
Loved ones from years past
Who showed him round heavens paradise
Where milk and honey flowed
Scenes of unimagined beauty met his eye
And the sweetest perfumes filled the air
Music was everywhere invading every pore
From simple refrains to grand symphonies
Musicians played on instruments of gold
While choirs of angels sang
But the most overpowering feeling
That assailed his senses
Was of everlasting love

ROBIN THE HOODY

Robin the Hood
Robbed from the rich
And gave to the poor
A noble with a noble cause
A lovable rogue, full of charm

Robin the Hoody
Robs from the rich
And also from the poor
The lowest of the low, who snorts
The proceeds up his nose
Or sticks it in his arm

BLUE TO GREY

Where once the sky was blue
Now are only clouds of grey
Where once the golden sun shone
Now darkness fills the day

Where once we walked together
Now I must walk alone
Where once was warmth
Now is cold like stone

Somewhere beyond the clouds
Does blue still fills your sky
And does the golden sunshine
Make you shield your eyes

Do you walk the path alone?
Or is there another at your side
Is your life still full of warmth?
Or does coldness with you abide

One day I hope you will return
To make my grey sky blue
And to warm me with your sunshine
So I can walk loves path with you

DON’T FORGET ME

Don’t forget me, now I’ve gone
But remember me in happy ways
Don’t dwell on all the sadness
Bring to mind those special days

Don’t wipe me from your memory
But don’t grieve now I’ve passed
Remember all the good times
And the joy from good days past

Don’t be lonely now I’ve gone
My life ended yours did not
Find happiness where you can
I’m happy knowing I’m not forgot

Don’t forget to visit my grave
But only do it on a sunny day
Don’t stand at my stone in the rain
Blow me a kiss then walk away

So mark the passing of me well
But don’t shed too many tears
Gather friends and family round
Raise a glass to me with “cheers”

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

I was drawn to her
Like a moth to a flame
My eyes were drawn to her
Slender frame
Her hypnotic green eyes
Deep and intense like precious emeralds
Held me entranced,
Paralyzed like a serpents prey
Her skin was lustrous
Like a fresh picked peach
And her cheeks glowed
With the faintest hint of red
Her mouth opened
Lips like the petals of an open flower
Were moist as if with morning dew
She spoke, her words soft
And her voice smooth as silk
Mesmerized me like music
I answered her without hearing the words
It was almost dreamlike
My heart beat fast in my chest
As I swam in and out of reality
I felt her hand in mine
And she led me into the garden
Where we strolled together
Through the fragrant twilight of moonbeams
Her scent was heady as the exotic blossom
Of orchids in spring
My heart still pounded
As her mesmeric voice
Like an angels whisper
Led me on through the moonlight
I seemed to float through the evening
Almost disembodied
And in those many magical moments
I surrendered my heart and soul
To the vision named Clarissa

BUT THAT WAS BEFORE LOVE DIED

We walked together in the spring
When our love was a new thing
And the cherry trees were in blossom
And we thought life was awesome
Our hearts were so full we sighed
But that was before love died

In the summer we walked together
In the fine and sunny weather
Through fields of golden corn
When we parted we were forlorn
We felt a burning passion deep inside
But that was before love died

In the autumn we walked abroad
And our hearts were of one accord
We wandered thought the golden gown
And nothing could ever get us down
We felt as one when side by side
But that was before love died

When winters chill fell upon the land
We still walked together hand in hand
We played in the snow like children
Making snow angels again and again
I even asked her to be my bride
But that was before love died

We had walked hand in hand
As a life together we planned
We sat beneath a leafy oak
As of true love we spoke
We loved laughed and cried
But that was before love died

Now I walk alone in the familiar places
Where we enjoyed our fond embraces
Where we kissed and spoke of tomorrow
Places that now bring me only sorrow
Her love made me feel alive inside
But that was before love died

BE MY VALENTINE # 1

On Valentines Day
The valentine card said to the stamp
Stick with me and we'll go places!
While the farmer gave his wife
Hogs and kisses!
And the caveman gave his wife
Ughs and kisses!

BE MY VALENTINE # 2

On Valentines Day
The chocolate syrup said to the ice cream
"I'm sweet on you!"
While the pencil said to the paper
"I dot my i's on you!"
And the light bulb asked his girlfriend
Do I mean a whole watt to you?"

BE MY VALENTINE # 3

On Valentines Day
The bat said to his girlfriend
"You're fun to hang around with."
And the paper clip said to the magnet?
"I find you very attractive."

BE MY VALENTINE # 4

On Valentines Day
The nearsighted porcupine
Fell in love with a pin cushion!
And the elephant said to his girlfriend
 "I love you a ton!"

BE MY VALENTINE # 5

On Valentines Day
One pickle said to the other
"Your love means a great dill"
Even skunks celebrate Valentine's Day
Because they're very scent-imental!

QUIET PLEASE

If you are a City fan
Keep silent if you can
As you stand at Old Trafford
As silence falls in accord
Please don’t speak out
Please don’t scream or shout
Acknowledge the silence
For those who lived once
Don’t think about the “Babes”
Cold and dead in the carnage
If hatred in your heart and head
Stops you honouring United’s dead
Give your silence as a gift
In remembrance of Frank Swift

BLUEBELL GIRL

I am transported back
To a distant place and time
When I was only twelve
The world was changing
And I saw it with new eyes
And I recall her sweet face
When I first saw her in the wood
Gathering wild bluebells
Sun shinning on the golden strands
Of her silken hair
As it danced on her shoulders
The beautiful bluebell girl
Moved about the wood
Then she stopped and noticed me
Deep blue eyes smiling at me
In the innocence of childhood
And she captured my heart
Though twenty years have passed
She keeps it still

OH MOTHER NATURE

Oh mother nature
You both care and nurture
Bursting out in spring,
When the songbirds sing
Bringing daffodils so bright
To fill me with delight,
They shine with ease
Bobbing in the breeze
Dancing as if one
As golden as the sun
Blossom fills the trees
Bright enough to tease
Before the blossom has to go
Like cherry pink snow
And after spring hors d’oeuvres
And starters have been served
You bring us summer fare
With fragrance in the air
Flowers of every shade and hue
From crimson red to violet blue
Then as September wends
And the main course ends
You take no time to rest
Giving the bounty of the harvest

I THANK THE LORD ABOVE

I thank the lord above
As I stand in the quiet of the morn
And when spring lambs are born
For the fields so full of flowers
And the peace of the twilight hours

I thank the lord above
For the blueness of the sky
And for a new born babies cry
For the smell of summer rainfall
And the joy of a songbirds call

I thank the lord above
When winters shroud is on the land
And when I take my beloved’s hand
When my lovers face is all aglow
And when we make angels in the snow

I thank the lord above
As I stand at the alter with my bride
And when I look at her with pride
When I stand together with my wife
I thank the lord for my life