Calls are heard from a certain section
“Put it to a General Election!”
27. Ballot Box Blues
It started as a minor infection
An inconvenient irritation
Spin doctors named it ‘General Election’
The fever spread, and it gripped the nation
Symptoms ranged from coughing and sneering
To pressure peaks and palpitations
Speech affected by grunting and jeering
Consultants scripted a publication
‘Manifesto’ (or Doctor’s Prescription?)
Confusing in its presentation
Illegible in its encryption
Hard to swallow in its translation
Campaign slogans provide the solution
‘Keep taking the medication’
‘Does wonders for the constitution’
‘Exceeds every expectation’
No need to miss the fun of the fest
Broadcast on every TV station
Genuine change or same as the rest?
Accept the Party invitation
Respond to the rhetoric, join the debate
Make your vote count in the situation
Cure the condition before it’s too late
Give yourself cause for a celebration
Landslide, or merely majority
First past the post gets the adulation
Remember it’s still a democracy
A process achieved by legislation
Did you go Red, or did you turn Blue?
Do you feel bitterness or elation?
Only four years of this deja vu
Barring impeachment, assassination
28. An Economy Of Words
They’re only coining phrases at the mint now
Priceless words of wisdom and respect
A debt of gratitude is due to pay though
Words are power; money talks no more
Transactions are replaced by Interaction
The ATM’s are ‘telling’ everyone
‘Forget Cash; put your mouth where your money was’
‘In-voice’ means just that; the spoken word
Drinks are on the house at the Speakeasy
The staff are only working there for tips
Sound advice to earn their keep, and bank it
Withdrawing only comments made in haste
So think before you waste your precious words
Golden Silence preserves your Golden Handshake
Loose lips spill loose change, so keep them pursed
Save your Silver Tongue for Rainy Days
Foreign Exchange students; ply your trade
Language is your hard-earned currency
Commission is Vocabulary, free
From Errors and Omissions that cost dear
Builder’s bills bust banter’s bulging budget
Maintenance must match more modest means
Al-(li)-terations keep your house in order
Caution caps conversion capital
The bottom line reads well on the quotation
It’s accurate, word for word, not pound for pound
Check to see if your account is current
To your credit, words don’t let you down
If you owe apologies to loved ones
Unlock the vaults and let your own words loose
Free speech still cannot buy love however
Borrow a phrase or two; get your ‘Words-worth’
Value Added Thought maintains the context
Remember that good manners have no price
Deal words wisely; try to keep a balance
Interest should increase a few percent
Sincerity’s an honest, open market
A luxury you can afford to own
Spend time, and pay heed to my final statement
Admission fee is nothing…but the truth
29. Serial Chiller… Or A Warning…?
Equinox confirms the rumour
Spread by merchants of gossip’s ware
The wicked queen, called Winter, is dead
Long live the Spring – Her son and heir
Bashful buds begin to blossom
Birds, in song, relieve the gloom
Their news provokes the latest issue
Of Life, from Mother’s swollen womb
The aging king submits to Summer
Abdicates; can’t stand the heat
New Chef crowned, to run the Kitchen
His reign is short, however sweet
Pressure rising from the outset
Well-meaning Monarch fans the fire
Glorious Summer, but a heartbeat
Dreams diminish…ebb…expire
Death-throes in September sunset
Perspiration pours from the ground
Sultry Summer is laid to rest
As twilight falls, without a sound
Desperate Despot, Autumn attacks
His toxic onslaught strips Earth bare
Harvest Moon, the reapers watchdog
Smiles on spoils, the toilers share
Fall’s legacy or deja-vu?
Crystal tears greet God’s sad sigh
Veiling the vanity of Venus
First to form in the ferment’s eye
Regina rises; resolute
From Autumn’s ashes; duty bent
No frigid fragment of the former
A latter-day Lady of Discontent
Bleached blonde, by the biting blizzard
Winter’s wasteland; desolate
Designed, contrived by Royal Decree
Signed and delivered, to seal our fate
30. Sense Of Expectation
When I smell it,
It will smell of roses
I have the nose to take in the bouquet
When I taste it,
It will satisfy me
I have the mouth to savour the flavour
When I hear it,
It will then be spoken
I have the ears to listen to voices
When I touch it,
It will assume substance
I have the hands to feel the shape of things
When I see it,
It will be apparent
I have the eyes to witness the event
When I think it,
It will make perfect sense
I have the mind to imagine concepts
When I say the words,
They will all be sincere
I have the tongue to say what I believe
When I open it,
It will then be unlocked
I have the key to the door to your thoughts
When I use it,
It will be practical
I have the skill to perform the function
But…
When I need it,
It will abandon me
I haven’t the confidence any more
31. Duogenic
For a second there, I thought you were serious
Do me a favour, and say it again
Say it like you mean it; the same as the last time
Without the smile that disguises your pain
That ironic guard, a defence mechanism
That tells me you don’t believe what you see
Acknowledge the concept of mutual respect
Take it as an absolute; guarantee
If you open your heart, as you open your eyes
The fog that shrouds your perceptions will clear
Discard the attitude of notions agnostic
Doubts will fade, as your mind clicks into gear
Now that we’re certain we understand each other
Nothing can deflect our integrity
Confidence ensures we achieve the next level
Reflecting our depth of sincerity
32. Ask A Silly Question…
October hanging heavy in the air
Kippax crowd subdued throughout half-time
S
omeone passes wind amongst the throng
Silently, anonymously – then
A stench that lingers, clinging to October
And cigarette smoke, and fumes of alcohol
Turns murmurs into gasps of deep disgust
From twenty thousand City fans – or more
A plaintive voice is heard, above the moans
“Who’s shit?” He cries – The culprit won’t admit
Silence follows; rancid reek remains
Another voice cuts silence like a knife
“United.” is his logical response
Howls of laughter, all around the ground
Like my mother always used to say
“Ask a silly question…”
33. Sound As A Pound
I went around to sound him out
About a pound he owed me for a drink
Off like a hound, he crowned my day
Let’s say I frowned, perhaps not what you think
So I’ll be bound he wound up drunk
Sunk to the ground, leaving mine at the bar
But when I found he’d downed my glass
Alas, I turned round from my empty jar
Curses abound, astound and resound
Sound asleep, run aground like a jeep
Paradise found? A burial mound?
A hound in a heap, surrounded by sheep
Sound as a pound, he’d downed the round
Clowned around, and wound up on the ground
Sorrows drowned, or victory crowned
When he comes around, I’ll claim back my pound.
34. Jury’s Out
Presence of mind
Light of day
Act of kind
Right of way
Pair of jeans
Stick of gum
Full of beans
Rule of thumb
Pint of ale
Sense of smell
Bill of sale
Depths of hell
Band of pipers
Ring of fire
Knot of vipers
Rush of desire
Victim of fashion
Out of reach
Crime of passion
Figure of speech
Time of strife
List of claims
Proof of life
Ball of flames
State of affairs
Short of breath
Flight of stairs
Cause of death
Bag of sand
Length of rope
Sleight of hand
Power of hope
35. Winter Break
Visa-run; vacate Thailand.
Can’t buy
Stand-by;
No fly
Hualamphong trains are full
No fuss
Don’t cuss
Take bus
VIP coach, door-to-door?
First class?
Alas!
Hopes pass
Twelve seats; sixteen passengers
I mean,
Sardine
Routine
No fun for the feint-hearted
Seat share
Sleep, rare
Nightmare!
Thousand kilo plus journey
Highways
Delays
Wrong ways
Adds two hours to the timeframe
Complain?
No pain –
No gain
Trang, Songkhla, Hat Yai, Sadao
Unclamp
Ease cramp
Book-stamp
Border post formalities
Check bag
Smoke fag
Chin-wag
Warning to in-bound tourists
Drug scan!
Don’t plan!
Hangman!
Butterworth, Malaysia
Road/rail.
Short trail
Set sail
Nearby island, our target
Calm seas
Cool breeze
At ease
Disembark Pulau Pinang
Georgetown
Run-down
Port town
Looking for a place to stay?
Cheap rate?
Roommate?
Private?
Lorong Cintra, hostel dorm
Twelve beds
Dead heads
No zeds!
Late at night, Chulia Street
Beer shack
Street snack
Back-pack
New-age travellers abound
Long hair
Tale share
‘Stoned’ stare
Impromptu midnight market
CD’s
Movies;
Copies
Daylight street sights come to life
Hustle
Bustle
Tussle
Indian, Chinese, Malay
Food trade
Gold weighed
Hand-made
Imposing Komtar Tower
Chain stores
Brace scores
Of floors
Penang Road Bridge; direct link
Mainland
Island
Strait spanned
Passport process to complete
Join queue
Review
Then stew
Two days in the ‘waiting room’
Time out!
Get out
Find out
Shun tourists; check out locals
I steer
To rear
Folk here
Liven up a bland sojourn
Feed me
Roti
‘Toddy’
Tell me of their history
Brit rule
Life cruel
No school
Faced with abject poverty
No stash
Of cash
To splash
To ease the wretched lifestyle
The poor
Endure;
But more
Uncomplaining dignity
They dare
To care
And share
Welcome me with open arms
Glad I
Came by
Said ‘Hi’
Suitably shamed, yet inspired
Trust fed
Street cred.
Face red
Immigration; visa stamped
Long wait
Pay rate
New date
Border crossing to Thailand
Last chance
Quick glance
Advance
Still twenty hours from Pinklao -
Sai Thai.
Hopes high
Hours fly
Say ‘Sawasdee khrap, Krungtep’
Year more
In store
Before
The process begins again
36. Tradition Of Travesty
Morning routine; tyre check, front and back
Hand on saddle, testing brakes and bell
Ray mounts bike and cycles off to work
Nodding to the milkman, paperboy
Donkey jacket, football scarf and cap
Padded gloves, to combat winter cold
Town Hall clock-tower bells announce the time
‘A quarter past the hour’ sings their chime
Watchman rolls another cigarette
Strikes a match, sucks smoke to lungs, exhales
Stands, salutes, in greeting to his friend
Ray dismounts, returns salute, and smiles
‘As you were; stand easy’ orders Ray
Servicemen’s traditions never die
Active role in Cyprus, both – respect
To friendship formed in Turkish-Greek divide
Clock-on seven-twenty, on the dot
Never varies; card could testify
Ever-present; never missed a day
In twenty four long years of trades
man’s toil
In six short months, that Gold Watch will be his
Counting days and blessings till that time
First things first, though; breakfast – time to eat
A less than tasty, vending-machine treat
Microwave to heat it; cup of tea
Most important meal of every day
Smoke a cigarette, read tabloid news
Eight o’clock and time to start the shift
Yellow clipboard; ‘Things To Do Today’
(Or tasks to delegate to someone else)
Appearing busy; time-perfected art
Semi-skilled, but fully versed in ‘Skive’
Keep that clipboard close, with pen in hand
Pre-empt problems, prepare proactive plan
Impress the supervisor; management
Build a reputation based on bluff
Talk technical to draughtsmen, engineers
Ask questions; make suggestions; take your time
Don’t try to remember; write it down
Justifies a tea-break; cigarette
Call time-out; a meeting to discuss
Productivity improvement scheme
Type-out minutes; copy; distribute
Cigarette in mouth tea-cup in hand
Afternoon; stock-levels running low
Visit stores with requisition note
Shipping order; one more cigarette
Another cup of tea, to pass the time
Four o’clock; day’s done, and not much else
Ray knows that, but bosses unaware
Trusty yellow clipboard; testament
Flatters to deceive; boosts weekly wage
Shirking-class tradition reaps reward
‘Ray Mc Cann – Employee of the Month’
Overcome with gratitude, he speaks
‘Job’s a good’n…that’ll do for me’
37. No Drama
Tradition dictates a ceremony
Speeches, parades and pageantry
Custom and practice; habitual
Oath of Office; a ritual
Once the theatricals, parties are through
Duty dictates a job to do
Breaking tradition; be first in all things
So all can come first; a dream fit for King
Priority issues, economy, wars
Global Green worries the World ignores
Each day a fresh page in history
So don’t ever stand on ceremony
The first hundred days will act as a gauge
Be proactive; first to engage