Editor of Saltburn Scene, various flyers in the city of York, contributor to Pattaya Trader (Thailand), published in various booklets and magazines, broadcast on regional radio and published in local press, appearance on BBC 2 television (among other Teesside poets), postcard from pop poet Brian Patten and letter of gratitude from Prince Charles as to climate change (1989), my invite to two musicians on their way to being celebs to visit Saltburn by-the-sea, with any of their future celeb friends, led to Hollywood stars and pop/rock stars visiting after a Teesside all-star gig, using the alleyway by my then home, and which could do with a plaque stating 'Stardust Alley'. Will this come about? Read on for more information between sets of my verse-poems. A couple more SHIP-CAPTAIN'S LOGS before the informative pieces that were published in MIDDLESBROUGH MAGIC SHIP flyers that - like all my publications - carry verse-poems too and other writings, apart from a publication that carries my playlets/satirical sketches, which were first published in some of my 33 poetry booklets, from 1988 to 1992 (when I founded Saltburn Scene).
A WORD-WIZARD WALTZ
She waltzes with the wizard of words,
dances to the slow as well as the quick,
but the girl breaks into a tango
at the sudden sorcery of the man's stick.
With the wizard of words she waltzes
to the witching hour's magic tick,
prances to the power of the man's pen
and his bedroom talk just so bardic.
A CONVERSATION PIECE
"The art of conversation is not dead,
but the conversation about art is," I said.
A SHIP CAPTAIN
we are each the captain
of our own little ship.
The storms that grow
and the waves which whip
are for us to brave
on the vast sea we ride
as we come but must go
with life's push-and-pull tide.
KIDS PAY A DEAD PIPER'S PRICE
The people hired a sniper
to take care of the piper
who led the children astray.
They hired a sniper
to take care of the piper
who'd many a tune to play.
The people hired a sniper
to take care of the piper
and marched to the one drum that day.
They hired a sniper
to take care of the piper
but the children had the bill to pay.
TELL AGAIN TALE
There sits the starry-eyed girl
by the wishing well,
while dances the dark world's dwarf
in the dusky dell.
The broken-hearted boy
grieves for she, his bygone belle,
while cackles the cunning crone
inside her cosmic cell.
But comes a conquering king
the laughing fiends to fell,
while yearns the noble-hearted hermit
young love's dream again to tell.
PASS THE PROZAC
There's a survey on the service,
so the train'll be on time.
We'll meet in half an hour,
the sun is bound to shine.
Yes the sun is bound to shine
because the weatherman said it won't.
I'll try to say I love you
though you know I don't.
We'll plod around the shops,
wait for ever in a queue.
If only love could last as long,
but it's too damn late for me and you.
DISTANCE
She was over the moon.
They'd romance and fun.
She let him down badly.
Why so damn dumb ?
Awaits she now no letter
her ex-lover from.
Awaits she now no post
her mat to fall upon.
Awaits she now no message.
No poem nor no song.
Awaits the lady's inbox
no rocketmail.com.
(The 'nor no' double negative is intentional. Double negatives still exist in songs. But it shows the distance we have come since the double negative, with technology as well as the distance between ex-lovers, plus there was alliteration considered.)
COLOURLESS DEATH ?
Is death a darkness
or bright-light ?
Is death a blackness
or is it white ?
White as a ghost
or black as night ?
Beyond earthly colour
could just be right.
DRUNK
A tail swish, yes a tail swish.
Half woman and half fish.
What a dish, yes what a dish.
Half woman and half fish.
Sailor beware, sailor beware !
see that long net of hair.
Sailor have care, sailor have care !
You are legless, just like her !!
NAME GEMINI
She blows hot, she blows cold,
in the wink of an eye.
She is two girls in the one.
Call the lady Gemini.
Sometimes she is narrow.
Sometimes she is wide.
She is a Doctor Jekyll
and she is a Miss Hyde.
She blows hot, she blows cold.
She's a golden sun in the sky
when she's not an icy storm.
Yes call the lady Gemini.
AN OUT OF THIS WORLD WIT
Sit down and dine
by candlelight,
we'll talk and climb
to dizzy heights
and circle the world
as do satellites.
A woman of wit,
a lady with looks.
A beauty before me
versed in books.
Your flavour's sweet.
The evening cooks.
GRAPE-WINE GIRL
I'm sure I knew you once,
in an ancient time.
The earth a green grape
way back on the vine.
I'm sure I knew you once,
handmaiden to a queen,
and I the key-master
in a palace that had been.
I'm sure I knew you once,
serving the queen wine.
Do I, the key-master,
now unlock your mind ?
GETTING AWAY
I saw an orangey-red sphere
as did many a Siamese.
Out there in Thailand
seen are lots of these.
If from another planet
I wonder what they'd say:
"Only came for a visit,
it is good to get away."
I taught in Bangkok and Pattaya.
Went for a job in Phetchaburi.
Down from the hilly jungle
came for folks food the monkeys.
If the monkeys could speak
I wonder what they'd say:
"Only came for a visit,
it is good to get away."
We apes in this world
are called the human race.
It is we who sent monkeys
into dark outer-space.
Up there with the stars
I wonder what they'd say:
Only came for a visit,
it is good to get away."
I did not take the jungle job,
was only there for a day.
Very much liked the visit,
it was good to get away."
PAT IS NOT FAT SHE IS PREGNANT
She sought a sugar daddy,
so did her friends,
to see her through college
by making meet ends.
She sought a sugar daddy
to make ends meet,
and see her through college.
To make life sweet.
She sought a sugar daddy
and found a real treat.
Far too much sugar later
she can't see her feet !
DEEP SLUMBER SEABIRDS
PLUS A SAIL-SHIP TELLS PRETTY SHE
Awoken from your dream
my name upon your lips,
two gulls you'd seen
above a sailing ship.
What did this mean
for you who thus awoke
from such a deep dream
as my name you spoke ?
Our twin souls soaring ?
We as one body sailing ?
FOUND YOU OUT
The genie is out the bottle.
Out the bag is the cat.
Go find a flying carpet.
Flee on this magic mat.
The cat is out the bag, yes.
Go flee, you lady-rat !
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