NaPoWriMo 2014 - Day 30

QUICK QUICK SLOW

While running backwards into danger with a stranger by my side I tried to hide behind a ranger who was several metres wide I'd slide my feet to guide me sweet from platforms seven eight nine ten but I should worry that my hurry wouldn't summon up the strength at length I’m calling falling forward during rush-hour on the tube a cubic yard from guard to exit though it’s hard to judge perspective next it’s up the escalator with a traitor from Jamaica our creator Mother Nature and a Japanese translator...

-Meanwhile- 

A thousand lifetimes later in a distant galaxy with scratch-resistant gallantry I’m courting fourteen different girls with curls and ringlets braids and tassels scarlet ribbons in their hair I swear I've died and gone to heaven I've got seven brides on one arm seven sisters on the other lists of lovers everywhere it’s there the bubble bursts I curse my luck and gaze up into outer space the race is on I’m sprinting faster hinting I'll avert disaster cast a glance from left to right I’m asking can I sight solutions or infusions weak dilutions of insipid executions of a concept in my mind…

 …but it’s...
                       one step...
                                             at a time…
                                                                   and I’m back…
                                                                                                on Euston station…
                                                                                                                                        ...hesitation… 
realisation...
                          as the train… ...
                                                          draws… … ...
                                                                                   to… … … ...
                                                                                                        a… … … … ...
                                                                                                                                halt… … … ... … …!

                                                                                                                                                                 




                                                                                                                                                                                              

NAPoWriMo 2014 - Day 29

DISCOTASTIC

In his attempt to prevent a fiasco
Francisco pre-empted the mood of the crowd
Aloud he invited the young and excited
To move to the rhythms and groove to the sounds
Of the latest, the greatest, the shakers, hit-makers
The singers, the swingers, the boppers, chart-toppers
And all those musicians whose mission is plain
Francisco the Disco king… Long may you reign…!

NaPoWriMo 2014 - Day 28

BEFORE AFTER BEFORE

The night before the morning after the laughter
The tears; so cool, so hot
It was, was not the best, the worst
The first, the last, the biggest, smallest
All this and more…
I swear to god it’s normal
Odd, but even before
The morning after the night
The sights, the sounds around the square
Where down blind alleys you must see
Just we… Trust me, we’re one too… Free…!
Until, or unless it’s more or less
The morning after the night before

NaPoWriMo 2014 - Day 27

Wordle words from Sunday Whirl: Leave, Cheat, Chew, Branch, Channel, Beastly, Few, Cancer, Release, Speak, Become, Beading.

FAKES

You’re a cheat

You’re a chancer

Like cancer you spread

What was said

What was heard

Every word that they speak

As you seek to become

Like someone who is one

Of the new chosen few

On the panel

Those who channel

Their excess energy

Into their enemy

In order to release

Their beastly intensity

Taking their leave

To receive their reward

They’ve crawled

To a higher branch on the tree

To chew on the fat-free free fat

With those who see that

It was all so misleading

From their fake foreign accents

Right down to the beading

On their corporate fake walnut desks

NaPoWriMo 2014 - Day 26

Today’s prompt is:
Choose a track from your Playlist – Re-write it in your own words.
Change the title, but keep the refrain close enough to the original
version for the source of your re-write to be recognisable…
Don’t forget to credit the original source…

I chose “Rebirth of Slick” by Digable Planets:

COOL LIKE THAT

“Can’t sleep at night ‘cos the temperature’s rising

I’m realising you’re losing your cool

Foolish to think you can combat the forces

Got the resource; it’s

Horses for courses

I’ll wind you up when the heat is on

You’ll pay the price when the day is done

Naughty or nice, I’m cool as ice is

Virtues or vices

Calm in a crisis

That’s where I’m better

It’s the letter of the law

Can you abide with that?

Reside with that?

Get by with that?

Survive with that?

I’ll thrive on that

Bet your life on that…

You cool with that?”

“Yeah, cool…”

NAPoWriMo 2014 - Day 25

SMARTPHONE

Waiting for technology to catch me up
Upgrade to a telephone that doesn’t ring
Sing to me in user-specified ringtone
“Phone network; no coverage, all contacts lost"

Cost of plan includes the Web, Text Messages
Message this – I take you everywhere I go
Show me some respect and share your thoughts with me
Free spirit that you are; I’m attached to you

Do the decent thing ‘smart’ phone; communicate
State your points of view, your likes, dislikes and such
Much as we would do together socially
So silly of me to think that you’re my friend

End this now; it’s not really worth discussing
Sussing you out was well worth all the waiting

NaPoWriMo 2014 - Day 24

THE HONOURABLE THING

You’re not going to name names
You won’t point any fingers
That would spark more confusion
Create more speculation
Denials accusations
Produce even more sour grapes
And reopen more old wounds
In turn that would just lead to
The settlement of old scores

So with actual regard
To who was really involved
And who did precisely what
And the when, where, how and why
And with respect… and by that
We mean the greatest respect…
To those unnamed people who
Found themselves in the same boat
The very same boat as you…

Do the honourable thing
And let those sleeping dogs lie

NaPoWriMo 2014 - Day 23

RELIEF

If you’re aged ten years or less
And your sheets are soaking wet
You must report it at once
To your Bedpan Monitor
Who will in turn refer you
To an uneducated
Unqualified Mind Reader
…Who will fully understand

In emergency cases
The level of chemicals
Entering into your brain
Will be altered by doctors
Who will cheerfully prescribe
A strong dose of Tricyclic
Antidepressants for you

Any thoughts of suicide
Will be dealt with severely:
You will lose your right to drive:
Operate machinery:
And drinking of hard liquor
Will be rationed or denied

NaPoWriMo 2014 - Day 22

THE SAME NEG

I didn’t want today
To be the day I’d have to say
‘I didn’t want today’

I wanted yesterday
To last forever and a day
To never pass away

If I could take away today
I’d pay to re-live yesterday
The way it could have been today
The way it should have been today
The way it would have been today

If only I could say
I’d wanted yesterday to stay
As much as there’s no way

I want this day today
To be the day I have to say
‘I didn’t want today’

NaPoWriMo 2014 - Day 21

NOTHING

Sitting here wasting away
This beach life is bugging me
Overhead the sky is grey
Underfoot no place to be

So much sand I see no sea
No ships come to rescue me
Nothing gets done but the day
Nothing to do but decay

It’s nothing to do with me
It’s nothing to do with ‘I’
It’s nothing to do with Him
It’s nothing to do with ‘He’

It’s nothing to do with Her
It’s nothing to do with ‘She’
It’s nothing to do with That
It’s nothing to do with ‘It’

It’s nothing to do with Them
It’s nothing to do with ‘They’
It’s nothing to do with Us
It’s nothing to do with ‘We’

It’s nothing to do with You
Nothing to do with all you
It’s something to do with you
Something to do with just you

It’s only to do with you
Everything to do with you
It’s always to do with you
Don’t know what to do with you

What to do… what not to do…
Nothing to do… Do Nothing…

NaPoWriMo 2014 - Day 20

Wordle words from Sunday Whirl: Bones, Twice, Stolen, Water, Sink, Rocking, Open Mess, Aches, Bridge, Sway, Limb, Sharp.

STAND AND DELIVER

Sharp exits in stolen cars
Troubled water sink or swim
Wide open to twice the risk
Out on a limb you’re rocking!

Rebel life is in your bones
The law holds no sway with you
Body aches to burn that bridge
Try not to leave any mess!

NaPoWriMo 2014 - Day 19

COUNTING

Beginning to have my doubts
About your sincerity
Your level of commitment
Is non-existent at times

Starting to lose my patience
With your inconsistencies
‘Trustworthy’ information
In a constant state of flux

Your decision making skills
leave a lot to be desired
As for communication
…Just going through the motions

I’m living on hopes and dreams
Faith and trust in short supply
Counting broken promises
Is like counting down the days

NaPoWriMo 2014 - Day 18

IT’S ALL GOOD

Good Friday
Thank the Good Lord it’s Friday
Good Friday
Not just any old Friday
Good Friday
It’s a Roman holiday
Good Friday
‘Greatest Story Ever Told’

Good Friday
“Truly” Marion, ‘The Duke’
Good Friday
“This man” never Roman “was”
Good Friday
“The Son of God” died today
Good Friday
While on Channel 5, ‘Ben Hur’

Good Friday
That Centurion again!
Good Friday
No racing is permitted
Good Friday
But I’ll wager you can bet
Good Friday
That he’ll take his chariot

Good Friday
Down to Lingfield, Mussleburgh
Good Friday
While his kids stay home from school
Good Friday
Eating Vegan food; no meat
Good Friday
Hot Cross Buns served for dessert

Good Friday
Watching Romans on TV

Good Friday…
…We interrupt this broadcast…
Good Friday
…to bring you some breaking news…
Good Friday
…All banks will stay shut today…

Good Friday
…Even the Stock Market’s closed…
Good Friday
…Neither cost nor value known…
Good Friday
…Good news for you non-gamblers…
Good Friday
…Now over to the weather…

Good Friday

“Not bad… for a Good Friday…”

NaPoWriMo 2014 - Day 17

GRUDGE

A pair of gutsy fighters
A bit of an argument
A scarlet sky at sunset
And a makeshift boxing ring

A crowd begin to gather
Expecting punches to flow
Hardly an A-list showdown
Just a routine village brawl

The first blow struck is gentle
No more than a soft caress
Not quite what you might expect
If your grasp on fights is good

No need to pluck up courage
He won’t come back from behind
This boy’s not really the type
To save his best till the last

A steady stream of punches
To the body and the head
A victory by knockout
With plenty of time to spare

NaPoWriMo 2014 - Day 16

HEARING HEARING DOUBLE

Spirit level, spray bottle, grinder and file
Split level, space shuttle, spider and fly
Listen… there’s an echo ((( echo )))
Tell me, tell me whywhy…

I’ll level with you
When flies start to catch spiders
Then it’s time to split
START THE SPACE SHUTTLE
Must be time to split
Spiders being caught by flies…!
Low level of wit…?

Or just a low level of volume…?
Because what I thought I heard you say
was that on a clear and sunny day
you can almost see my shadow
but much more often than not at all
I’m difficult to follow... follow?

What all of this means, to be exact
I’d know, if my hearing was intact

Do you understand me
get my drift, my point, my meaning?
If not, I’ll repeat it
for the hard of hearing, hearing

NaPoWriMo 2014 - Day 15

MISSION

Think before we synchronize
otherwise we’ll miss blast off
Cast off late we stand no chance

Enhanced map readings confirm
murmurs gave the wrong answer

A chancer you never were
No Sir… Integral training
pertaining to directions
tell us sections in a tint
…slight hint… of lighter colour
need fuller exploration

Expectation is sky high
that’s why we’re aboard this ship

Take a tip from one who knows
…It goes, comes back, it lands at sea
Free falls softly in the swell

…or burns up… sending us to hell

NAPoWriMo 2014 - Day 14

THE NEXT ONE

I thought she was an angel
And a perfect pair they’d make
Till I watched her snatch his chest
A simple, fatal mistake

Apart from anything else
Her flaw would have no quick fix
She made waves with the devil
When she stole his box of tricks

Under cover of darkness
On a night when no moon shone
He buried her in the clay
Crying ‘Here lies the next one…’

NaPoWriMo 2014 - Day 13

Wordle words from Sunday Whirl

MIRAGE

A magic moonlit moment
She turns towards me briefly
Perfect porcelain features
I swear I’m deeply in love

I’ve died and gone to Heaven

Then my heart takes a tumble
And I want to slash my wrists
She’s not the girl of my dreams
What the papers said was true

Has she taken me to hell?

“Limbo Bimbo Strikes Again!!!”
The front page headline today
“She’s just a gaudy Geordie”
It’s even a football chant!

No, it’s that place between… Earth…!

NaPoWriMo 2014 - Day 12

THE SCORE DRAW

In the pursuit of pleasure
Pain can become the rule
It’s a cloak and dagger world
Where consequences are cruel

Don’t lose your beloved cash
On a wild night with some skirt
Who doesn’t produce the goods
Only hits you where it hurts

As once the damage is done
you’ll keep going back for more
Prison bars won’t keep you from
Chasing the imperfect score

NaPoWriMo 2014 - Day 11

FALLEN

Your razor slash of a mouth
leaks rumours… on whiskey breath…
that those lanky legs of yours
have run in their final race

Your one good eye… once silky,
now a murky marsh puddle…
fails to isolate the pain

NaPoWriMo 2014 - Day 10

THE OFFICERS’ MESS

Despite their plight, the border forces
had the insight and the resources
to cover their flanks, whilst giving thanks
to the ranks of men on whom they depend
to end a crisis as it arises

No prizes for guessing who’s pressing the issue…
A tissue of lies can be heard as the word
is passed round the fire by liars and cheats
you’d rather not meet on a dark road at night…
bestowed as you might be with hatred and spite

NaPoWriMo 2014 - Day 9

CIVILISATION

Don’t ever make the mistake
of thinking that you’ve chosen
an easier way of life

You know they’ll always make it
harder and harder to live
but not so easy to die

When it’s time to pack your bags
no fatted calf will await
the prodigal son’s return

Just a hammer and some nails
to attach you to this cross
they call Civilisation

NaPoWriMo 2014 - Day 8

IN YOUR DREAMS

In visions you navigate
the humming drill of routine
stride with dignity and grace
through years that last an instant
but never miss a moment
to reap the respect you gain
as worlds buckle before you

NaPoWriMo 2014 - Day 7

IMPULSE

Far in the distance
whisperings of creation
A new beginning…?

Infinite rhythm
emits invisible code
Timing is precise

Clenched fists of rumour
hit our unbelieving ears
We kneel on impulse

NaPoWriMo 2014 - Day 6

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL
Wordle words from Sunday Whirl: Strap, Swing, Power, Zip, Tough, Barrier, Waterfall, Pleat, Diamond, Detail, Suspend, Unit

Band suspend hostilities
Form a unit once again
Welcome back guitar and voice
Play some Rock ‘n’ Roll

Strap on that sweet axe and swing
Power-up un-zip the noise
Intro riff, rough, tough and loud
Sound no barrier

Vocal cascade, waterfall
Smooth as silk, no crimp or pleat
Flawless diamond pitch and tone
Perfect, every detail

NaPoWriMo 2014 - Day 5

BENEFIT

We’re writing to inform you
we’re stopping your allowance
with immediate effect

According to our records
the information given
has expired; is out of date

The evidence submitted
must be revised/updated
as quickly as possible

Medical certificates
pertaining to your illness
will re-activate your claim

For further information
a premium rate number
is provided overleaf

NaPoWriMo 2014 - Day 4

BEST LAID PLANS

He notices everything
as he stands with open mouth
and a vacant expression…
Brick wall this side, steel fence that
Gravel and trash in between
Nothing in the right balance

NaPoWriMo 2014 - Day 3

HEAT

Where is the warmth we yearn for,
the welcome promised to us?
Still safe…? Or does time erode
honourable intentions
like a river’s constant flow
turning pebbles into clay?

Will flames of friendship shield us?
Or will they turn against us,
burn relentless, scorch our flesh
and reduce our bones to ash?

NaPoWriMo 2014 - Day 2

IS NOT WAS

With insufficient data
in your random access tank
archives inaccessible
and all vaults locked and bolted
you won’t need to remember
things that happened yesterday
won’t hunger for memory
just new experiences

You’re living in the future
and the past… died, in the past

NaPoWriMo 2014 - Day 1

PRINCIPLE

In the cycle of events
leading to this gathering
due regard was given to
divisions caused by habits
that led to your undoing

However painless the task
you wouldn't lessen the gap
between compulsion and choice
and thus create an escape
from the suffering to come

Did you act without virtue..?