You never stop to think how they survive
No work, no money; nowhere to call home
How do you think those people stay alive?
Do as the Roman’s do, when you’re in Rome
Do you think that food doesn’t grow on trees?
Swim in rivers and crawl along the ground?
Go out fishing; keep your own birds and bees
That’s what they do; their world still spins around
Survival of the fittest may not be
A ‘cool’ concept for modern-thinking men
But you must know, that when ‘push’ comes to ‘shove’
You’re just like Daniel in the lion’s den
Except, of course, you have to stand and fight
The first time in your life; are you prepared?
Or will you just surrender to the beast?
You should have known; you should have really cared
This life of convenience makes us all
Expect we can get anything at all
When we want; on twenty four-seven call
Let’s see what happens when the dark skies fall.
26. Wheels
It was built for neither speed nor comfort
But all I could afford back in the day
Was something to get us from A to B
That we could jump aboard without delay
The main thing; it was perfect just for two
My choice of transport was hardly random
A classic; built by master craftsmen
Ok, so what if it was a tandem?
27. Forgiven, Forgotten
They couldn’t understand the situation
They didn’t even stop to wonder why
Minds pre-occupied with accusation
Revenge, regret, outrage, did not apply
They only ever wanted it to end
Those memories, consigned to history
Looking back in anger, achieved nothing
It only nurtured inconsistency
It was pointless, knowing where to lay the blame
In hindsight, such an easy thing, it seems
But circumstances, situations changed
Holding grudges, would have held back dreams
When asked the question, “Was it tough for you?”
Their answer was, “Just take a look around
So many others, much worse off than us
We’ve buried our bad memories in the ground
Worse things happened, we can blame ourselves for
It makes no sense to grieve over the past
We can’t use history as a scapegoat
We have to start afresh, if things don’t last”
Survivors of those troubled times are few
But those who made it only look one way
Forward, to tomorrow; a clearer view
The future’s brighter, unlike yesterday
28. Idealists
We met when we were too young
We wanted to change the world with our song
I stuck around and you hung on
Beside me, I thought for far too long
Our ideas never caught on
With the mainstream teaching and belief
In a world of carefree thought
Ignorance stole innocence like a thief
We were guilty of the sin
Of replacing swords with the mighty pen
Times have changed now, we would win
The hearts and minds of modern-thinking men
Now words come freely from the lips
Of ‘victims’ who say ‘Enough is enough’
They ride the rises and dips
The tough get tougher when the course gets rough
We always knew it would be
Harder than the hardest thing in the world
When it was just you and me
Ideas were contested, abuse was hurled
'Fight until the day we die,
Educate the ignorant', was our stance
Passionate our battle-cry
History gives it meaning, relevance
In our heart of hearts we knew
Traditional values would win the day
Its dinosaurs that make laws
It’s the ultimate price we have to pay
29. Operation
Scary, the discovery
Hasty, the connection
Painful, the inspection
Tricky, the mission
Needs my permission
I have to make the decision
Surgeons will make the incision
They’ll only accept perfection
So there will be no rejection
Pills, powders, potions
Give back my motions
Correct my reactions
To their satisfaction
A complete recovery
30. Acceptance: First Draft
Their doubts cast shadows on the wall
Before they speak, I’ll make the call
My time is now, I’ll get it done
First time, on time, each time; no fail
The White House is my Holy Grail
I’ll try; succeed. I’m number one!
I made their methods obsolete
And now, the world is at my feet
Their loss of power is my gain
And when, at first, they don’t succeed
Don’t try again, they will not need
To contact me for work again
I hold no patent; copyright
But I will always win the fight
I wanted change and you believed
Their rigid specification
Will not test my education
Your satisfaction, guaranteed
Close attention to fine detail
Will always guarantee the sale
My strongest selling point is pride
And historical records show
Relentless work rate does not slow
Proud of my pride in my own side
And aided by my Running Mate
I’ll prove the ideal candidate
To take my place as Head of State
Achievement of my master plan
I’ll challenge each and every man
To reach my standard, if he can
From my heart, I’m a Democrat
Everyone knows my profession
But they won’t match my obsession
Men like me; few and far between
We won’t come here very often
But when we do, it will soften
Backward attitudes,
Influencing moods.
31. Diamond Day
Morning horizon
A streak of brightness underscores the sky
In a symbolic representation of new life, close by.
I stare in wonder; my heart is racing, overtaking thought.
Beauty surrounds me, floods me with precious jewels that can’t be bought.
Over my shoulder, lies a mystery; the key to true wealth
Behind closed doors, a secret is waiting to reveal itself
Exhaling gently, uttering softly, I begin to say
A prayer, in essence; homage to the dawn
Of a Diamond Day.
32. From Father To Son
Speaking in words I understand
Leading me along life’s highway
Taking comfort from your outstretched hand
A fleeting glimpse of yesterday
You were always right by my side
Supporting me through infant trials
Trademark of a capable guide
Serious advice; face all smiles
Grown-up wisdom, childhood lessons
Benefit of experience
A respect that never lessens
Character-building confidence
Not lost with the passage of time
Years don’t erode education
Forgetfulness would be a crime
It was a school of fascinati
on
Now it’s my job to take the reins
Pass on this wisdom, if I can
Explain the benefits and gains
As they have coached me; boy to man
You taught me responsibility
Which I accepted gratefully
You know I’ll never let you down
Or give you cause to wear a frown
33. Cultivating Confidence In Shrinking Violets
Are you ready for the revelation?
I’ll tell you straight, no exaggeration
If it lives up to your expectation
Accept the gift as an education
Open your eyes to possibility
Your heart, your mind, have the ability
Give your dreams life, make them reality
Welcome concepts, reject banality
You live and learn, feed your fascination
Instinct permits deeper concentration
People you meet provide stimulation
Sharpened senses bring realisation
At first you’ll find that it’s harder than nails
Your perceptions will be greener than grass
It won’t take long, then it’s easier than pie
Your star will shine, you’ll be bolder than brass
Confidence grows, bars intimidation.
Faster process, detailed information.
You’ll grow stronger in their estimation
Take time out for leisure, relaxation
Change is as good as a rest; vacation.
In your own time, return to formation
Complete the course without hesitation
Show gratitude with quiet contemplation
Were you nervous? Was your timidity
A result of your own stupidity?
Are you over your invalidity
Now you’ve strengthened your own lucidity?
Was the outcome to your satisfaction?
Did you employ thought-provoked subtraction?
Take away doubts, end up with a fraction
Of your former fear of interaction
34. More To Life?
Upside down, inside out, the wrong way round
Sound familiar?
Just like life, mine and yours. Same old, same old
There has to be more
Let’s face it together; be proactive
Things will come our way
If I act; see to things, then I can be
Better than myself
If you act; get things done, in the right way
You’ll be better too
Do you think I am right? Just a case of
Co-operation
Some might say we’re dreamers. We will show them
What dreams can achieve
By and by, we will find trust and respect
Make our lives complete
In no time we will prove to the doubters
There is more to life
35. Subjective Subjunctive
I think I would, if I could
But really, should I? Really?
It wouldn’t matter
If I couldn’t care
But I shouldn’t get it wrong
How could I have ever known?
How things really should have been?
Nobody would say
People wouldn’t tell
They just couldn’t help
It shouldn’t matter
It was I who got it wrong
Would it, should it, could it be?
Wouldn’t, shouldn’t, couldn’t see?
All that wood and not a tree.
All that good that comes from me.
All that blood I would have spilt.
The things that stood between us
All that passion in us
All I ever wanted
Next time I should get it right
...Would that you could allow me
36. The Time Of Our Life:
When? Who? What? Why? Where?
Yesterday, the day before
Tomorrow, the day after
This week, last week, next week
This year, last year, next year
When is it?
When was it?
When will it be?
Present, future, history
It is, it will be, it was
Actions and decisions
Memories - just tenses?
Who can say?
Who is right?
Who even knows?
Time will pass us by, quickly
A lifetime’s not very long
We’ll all be dead, one day
It won’t be long from now
What is death?
What is hell?
What is heaven?
Our lives will flash before us
In vivid, lurid detail
The things that we got right
The things that we got wrong
Why not this?
Why not that?
Why were we blind?
Everything is revealed
Whether we like it, or not
We will ask the questions
Will we know the answers?
Where are hopes?
Where are dreams?
Where is wisdom?
37. It’s Up To You
Is it frustration
Brought on by education?
Have I studied to the point
Of saturation?
Too much knowledge in my head
I’ll never use
What’s the point of setting light
To the fuse?
They’re all going to run for cover
From the explosion
The fall-out’s going to carry
Right across the ocean
But its deaf ears, it’ll land on
Over there
Where the people have been brought up
Not to care
Ignorance is bliss
So they will never miss
What they never even had
Ain’t it sad?
When you’re camped out on the ground floor and you
Want to know
When you’re looking up, but you’ve got
Vertigo
You want to lead a better life, but you need
Direction
You’re never going to settle for less than
Perfection
Everybody tells you things will never
Get better
But you already signed the
Application letter
Now you’re on your way up, so you’d better
Not look down
And don’t even think of looking back to
Your hometown
Change your way of life
Put an end to your strife
Instinct feeds your ambition
It’s a mission
When you make it to the top, will you
Remember me?
Or will I fade to the back of your
Memory?
I’m not looking for your praise, for your
Congratulation
Hero-worship, Icon-status
Adulation
Just the respect, that is due me for initial
Preparation
For the cutting-edge of intellect; in reparation
And remember, when the time comes, as it
Surely will
The view is so much clearer, from the summit
Of the hill
You will pass the test
Because you have been blessed
With the talents of the few
It’s up to you
38. Foreign Currency?
They say a bribe, taken from an author, is an ARCHER
And you’re richer, to the tune of TWO THOUSAND POUNDS
But you won’t get much at the grocer’s store, for a TANNER
That’s just SIXPENCE. Maybe not as much as it sounds
In the clothing store, you could try A PAIR OF GR
EEN KNICKERS
KNICKER means ONE POUND – TWO GREEN BANKNOTES make a PAIR
And if I told you that a MONKEY is not a primate
For FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS, would you tell me it’s not fair?
And the powdered horn of a RHINO, sells for a fortune
I’ll take TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY POUNDS, on the nose
But I think you know that a BAG OF SAND is a THOUSAND
Or a GRAND, or put another way, four RHINO’S
Would you value MACARONI higher than a PONY?
Different name, translation the same – TWENTY FIVE POUNDS
Did you know I’ve got money ‘hanging’ round in my GARDEN?
GARDEN GATE – In POUNDS that’s EIGHT. Not expensive grounds
And the PLUM that ‘Jack Horner’ pulled from his Christmas pudding
Was worth TEN THOUSAND – What a lucky feast to fix!
Just be careful if anyone offers you the KIBOSH
Eighteen months in jail, or EIGHTEEN PENCE – ONE AND SIX
LOAF and GROAT both mean FOUR. LOAF is FOUR POUNDS, GROAT is FOURPENCE
Backwards, 'FORE' makes ROFE, or LOAF. GROAT, a word intact
MARIGOLD is a MILLION, taken from ‘Mary Gold’
Stained glass window, gilded frame – Priceless artefact
Corruption of the French word, TROIS, we understand as THREE
To form a ‘new’ word in English slang – Pronounced TREY
Then metal, cast in slender BAR, to use as currency
A single unit; value ONE, is how we pay
And do you know that man, TOM MIX? Do you know his value?
He’s worth SIX, but six of what? - Six of you and me?
JOB, or JOBBE, means work and payment, both - TWENTY ONE SHILLINGS
That was wages for completing work – ONE GUINEA
And to finish off, here’s the story of a COMMODORE
It means FIFTEEN POUNDS - But how? - Do I hear you cry?
A long time ago, was a well-known song in the Pop Charts
‘Three Times A Lady’. You remember? - So do I
In Cockney Rhyming Slang, LADY is LADY GODIVA
That means a FIVER – Or a FLAG – Not a big stash
So ‘Three Times A Lady’ is THREE FIVE POUND NOTES - FIFTEEN POUNDS
‘The Commodores’ take the Credit – But not the Cash
39. Gratitude
Sometimes
I don’t share
Your view
But I admire
Your honesty
It’s so…
Concise
Comprehensive
It’s refreshing…