Reflection Point
by
Adam Elias Zain
Copyright 2014 Adam Elias Zain
All rights reserved
No part of this publication may be used or reproduced in any form or manner
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only
If you are reading this ebook and did not purchase it, please return to your favourite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy
Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author
Dedicated to Mrs Barnard
And all the passionate primary school teachers in the world; you deserve a medal for what you do, but for now, you’ll just have to settle for this collection of thoughts and poems
And all those who daydream
Reflection
Point
Contents
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Introduction
Twelve of the Clock
Eleven of the Clock
Ten of the Clock
Nine of the Clock
Eight of the Clock
Seven of the Clock
Six of the Clock
Five of the Clock
Four of the Clock
Three of the Clock
Two of the Clock
One of the Clock
Notes
Outroduction
Sharing is caring
Index of Poems by Title
Acknowledgements
First and foremost, thank goodness.
I would also like to thank my loving wife for her patience, dyslexic comedian Kamran Gill for proofreading the content of this collection, Maria Khan for the provision of raw materials, and the Internet.
About the Author
Now, let’s be honest. You didn’t purchase this collection of thoughts and poems to read about the author.
So moving on now…
Introduction
This collection of thoughts and poems contains zero calories. I think it’s important to mention that right from the outset. In an era when people are checking calories on pears, pasta and even ground pepper, and drinking diet whatever with their greasy takeaway, you cannot be too careful. Zero calories. A moment on your lips, and not an ounce on your hips. This collection is better than choc-chip shortbread biscuits. No, that’s a lie, that’s too far, but the first bit is true. Zero calories.
I am sometimes tempted to explain the background of my poems, the reasoning behind a poem, the inspiration. However, when I read articles from far more experienced readers and writers, they seem to unanimously agree that a poem should not come with an explanation. It does make sense. I would rather provoke thought, discussion and debate than give it all away. So I decided to leave out the explanations. (It also meant less work.)
Wherever you read these poems, be it on a bench or a chair,
Be it on your bed or the train, or sat on the loo somewhere,
I hope some make you think and others make you smile,
And I hope that you feel it is well worth your while.
Twelve of the Clock
Back to Contents
Dying Wish
I can’t think
I can’t talk
I can’t sit
And I can’t walk
I can’t see
I can’t hear
I can’t eat
But I’m still here
For as long as I’m here
Please treat me with respect
For if you were in my gown
It’s the least you would expect
And when I die
Don’t squabble or quarrel
Let me lie in peace
As I leave this world
Welcome to Las Vegas
The airport staff, the taxi driver, the entrance sign
Welcome to fabulous Las Vegas
You can do absolutely anything here
As long as you have a fair few dollars
Ringing slots and spinning roulettes
But there’s more to Vegas than gambling
The taxi has an unmistakable, pungent, skunky aroma
As it transports you to shopping
Dance all night like the fountains
Or enjoy romance on the Gondolas
You can try your hand with guns
Or have a thrill on the roller coasters
Great food, and a whole range of drinks
Hopping between glamorous shows
Ladies, gents, whatever flies your helicopter
Some doors never close
But when your money runs out
Be wise, and say farewell to Vegas
Because only with a fair few dollars
Can you enjoy fabulous Las Vegas
Monday Morning
No, I am not fine.
Don’t talk to me. I feel like shit.
I hope you had a good weekend.
But seriously, I don’t want to hear about it.
Healthy Living
Bridget would perform regular exercise
She always kept a keen eye on the prize
She was well focused on maintaining her health
Even if it meant a dent in her wealth
Rain or cloud, mist or fog
Every morning, she would go for a jog
And never carelessly would she overeat
Although occasionally, she would allow for a treat
She avoided alcohol, and refused to smoke
Because its impact on health was no minor joke
And for this reason, she seldom fell ill
And if she did, she would recover without a pill
Alfred the farmer wanted to be a bit like Bridget
He too was now looking into getting himself fit
He started to exercise on a regular basis
And soon enough, he was competing in races
Then he progressed to eating better
A healthy eating plan he followed to the letter
He cut out red meat, including his beloved steak
And he refused to allow room for chocolate or cake
So when he felt like eating a healthy chicken
He knew precisely where he would gleefully go picking
That was the day Bridget ended up being killed
She was slaughtered and plucked, chopped and then grilled
The Big ‘C’
The dreaded news would knock any of us off our feet
You knew it was a possibility, but you didn’t really believe it
The diagnosis of cancer instantly makes you feel unwell
And you are forgiven for thinking that you reside in a living hell
The initial diagnosis takes the wind out of your sails
You’re unsure how to react, unsure if you want details
You learn to cope with the news you didn’t want to hear
No simple pill for cancer, but time is a great healer
Indeed, ‘c’ is for cancer, but that’s not the big ‘C’
For that’s just what some people made up, and I disagree
The big ‘C’ is not for cancer, the big ‘C’ stands for Champions
For the courage you show repeatedly, as you run your daily errands
The big ‘C’ is for the researchers and doctors who work tirelessly
The big ‘C’ is for the nurses providing great care with empathy
The big ‘C’ is for the charities that keep raising money
The big ‘C’ is for the generous people who donate willingly
The big ‘C’ is for the families of people with cancer
The big ‘C’ is for the sufferers;
past, present and, yes, future
So to the doctors and researchers, keep on working
To the fantastic nurses, keep on caring
To the trusted charities, keep on fundraising
To the people who are donating, keep on giving
To the families of people with cancer, keep on supporting
And to the people with cancer, keep on fighting
You are the Champions, all of you are the Champions
The big ‘C’ is for you, the big ‘C’ is for Champions
Eleven of the Clock
Back to Contents
No Need to Run
A new day brings new hope
No need to run, no need to elope
It’s a new start, so start with a smile
And the mistakes of yesterday, you can reconcile
And when the night falls, do not shed tears
Do not lie awake, forget about your fears
There’s no need to run, no need to elope
Because tomorrow’s another day, bringing new hope
Comedy Laughs
Emma travelled to a comedy gig in Rhyl
She wet herself laughing listening to comedian Kamran Gill
As it turned out, it was pouring down in Rhyl
So Emma conveniently managed to disguise her accidental spill
Carla’s Carrot Cake
There’s no prize for guessing Carla loves cake
She’ll get her hands dirty and have a good bake
After getting stuck in
She will ferociously tuck in
And only crumbs will remain of Carla’s homemade carrot cake
An Adventurous Life
Mr Jefferson is sitting on the couch, with his spectacles sliding down his nose
He looks around the empty room, as he shakes the breadcrumbs off his clothes
Fifty-eight years of marriage, he would say they had a good run
Some times were difficult, many times were great. Overall he concludes, life has been fun
His dear wife is sorely missed; she passed away six years ago
As each day passes and health deteriorates, he misses her increasingly more
He wishes his children would come to visit, a little more often than they do
He wants a little more contact with people, and ideally someone to talk to
‘It’s ever so lonely in this house,’ he thinks, staring into his empty teacup
Kids are busy with their own lives, now that they’re all grown up
Loneliness can be overpowering; some days were impossible to get through
He would look at photos of his beloved wife, occasionally shedding a tear or two
His best friend is now the television, and his best friend barely entertains
He wishes it would be family instead, as he takes a pill for the back pains
He will go for a walk most days, and today is going to be no different
Once again, he can’t find his spectacles, and on he gets with the familiar hunt
He is about to scratch his head, and accidentally feels something with his fingers
He was wearing his glasses all along, whilst looking for them behind the sofas
He chuckles as he gets his coat, but the reality of Alzheimer’s is found frustrating
He gets upset about the glasses incident, and decides to cancel his outing
It is a worrying situation, is this combination of loneliness and Alzheimer’s
It pains him to look in the mirror, to see the life he lives, apparently of no importance
But this life is not insignificant, this life had so much adventure in its day
This purposeful life has accomplished great things, but now, Mr Jefferson doesn’t feel this way
And he looks at his watch, he stares, ‘Crikey,’ he thinks, ‘It’s already ten minutes to two.’
Breakfast took nearly four hours, and how, Mr Jefferson didn’t have a clue
He sits down, shaking his head, and he drowns himself in self-pity
He breaks down in tears, overwhelmed, a busy life is now empty
His watch now reads ten past ten; he rummages through the kitchen drawer for a knife
Confusion; ‘What is the actual time?’ Frustration; ‘This dementia is ruining me.’ Mr Jefferson slits his wrist, and takes his own life
Money
I feel so restricted; I wish I had lots of money.
If I did, I could make my life complete.
Now I have lots of money; I’ve bought everything I ever wanted.
Yet I still feel incomplete.
Fear
Alex said
It’s all in your imagination
Fear is in your head
But when he saw the approaching, raging, seething, mad Alsatian
He quickly denied what he said
Killer Heels
Watchful ears are piercing eyes
No sound goes unseen
Life is destroyed, extinct
Wherever she has been
Chilling, silent, deadly
Looking for the next thrill
She roams the streets
For a perilous, satisfying kill
A ghostly, elegant motion
Gracefully lethal, deathly
Deep, slow, steady breaths
Killer heels leave but a mystery
Ten of the Clock
Back to Contents
Beyond Cloud Nine
The feeling has been here for quite a while now
It’s been bubbling inside like lava in a volcano
The feeling had been suppressed and kept secret somehow
And for so long, this secret of all secrets, no one came to know
No apparent changes in behaviour were seen in her presence
No signs, or signals, or subtle hints being made
But matters have changed and reciprocating love has proven its existence
And the twinkle in their eyes says this love will never fade
He took his time, being over-cautious, almost even took too long
But eventually, after deep thinking, he decided to stage the show
He walked a dangerous path, uncertain whether this was right or wrong
But he felt in his heart, this was one thing he had to know
And he certainly got to know what he set out to learn
But unlike him, she didn’t take her time to decide
She was too sensible for that, and saw no benefit in making his stomach turn
And told him the very next day, she’d love to be his bride
And this, he will tell you, was the happiest day of his life
The agonising few days before were definitely worth the while
The girl of his dreams just said that she would be his wife
And he was lost in a world of bliss, floating beyond cloud nine
And she too will tell you she was swept off her feet that moment
Overwhelmed and speechless, she put her head against his shoulders
She knew he was someone special who would never give her torment
Her mind was already made up, and now, he will always be hers
The beginnings of a loving relationship occurred on this special night
With friends and acquaintances not having a single clue
Happiness and joy had been elevated to a completely new height
And the good Lord overlooks, and protects, the love between the two
Hayfever
Roses are red
Violets are blue
By golly they’re gorgeous
But they make me go ‘aatchoo!’
Birthdays
Another year, another wrinkle
Why on earth do people celebrate birthdays?
A few presents, and several hugs
But I yearn for the impossible, my younger days
Po
lice Interview 3
Why do you keep bothering me?
I was considering buying the Chevy
She said, “Sleep on it”
So I got onto the bonnet
And along you came in a hurry
I’m Bored
I’m bored of listening to other people’s problems
I’m bored of waking up to the same old day
I’m bored of going through the same old motions
And bored of things being the same old way
I’m bored of helping and getting nothing in return
I’m bored of doing favours and being shown no gratitude
I’m bored of being told of the respect I have to earn
And bored of being told I’ve got the wrong attitude
I’m bored of being present, but apparently of no significant opinion
I’m bored of having no influence, and being the last to get the news
So now I’m going to create my own world, and lose myself in oblivion
And I’ll be gone. Inexistent. And then we’ll see who’s got more to lose
Nine of the Clock
Back to Contents
Sabrina the Writer
Sabrina writes a lot.
Sabrina claims to know what life was like before the Great War.
But Sabrina wasn’t around then.
So everything Sabrina writes about, Sabrina never saw.
Wedding Wishes
We wish you the very best
Contentment, happiness, and all the rest
A blissful life
As husband and wife
And children that tidy their own mess
Disappointing Anniversary
It was their ten-year anniversary. He said, “Darling, why are you wearing yellow? Don’t you think black makes you look less fat?”
She looked down to the floor; her eyes began to fill with tears. She took a deep breath to maintain composure, and on the bed, she sat.
She could only muster a whisper, “Chivalry is dead.” He soon recognised his insensitive remark, albeit typically late.
He apologised, “I’m sorry, honey, that came out all wrong.” But her feelings were already hurt. For forgiveness, he must wait.
She turned around to look at him. Her eyes said a thousand words. He joined her on the side of the bed.
She knew fully well he didn’t have a clue what she meant. So she spelt it out to him, “No, you idiot, the dog’s dead. Chivalry is dead.”(1)
“Oh,” he said.
“Oh.”
Oscar’s Wish
Oscar keeps losing his voice.
He wishes he had the voice of Eddie Mair.(2)
Oscar quite likes Mr Mair’s accent too.
But he accepts not all in life is fair.