No Ordinary Person

And should you see her

Walking up the road

Braced against the cold sea breeze

In her sensible black coat and scarf of pink

And her hat with ear flaps

You might not think that she was special

And she might nod, or smile

And that shaft of sunlight

Striking the shingle, like a jewel

Could be coincidence

And should you meet her in the library

You might not spare a second glance

But you might share an idle conversation

That turns to bookish things

And you might just begin to understand

The well of her knowledge

And should you mention, maybe on the bus

Or on Polling day, the plight of the poor,

The disadvantaged, the sick, the greed of the rich

You might be touched by her rage

And passion for justice

And should you see her with her family

You would wish for such a loving person

In your family too

And should you marry her

Why, you would simply think yourself

The luckiest man alive

Hole

There is a hole

In the space around me

You can’t see it

But it goes everywhere with me

It’s Border Collie shaped

And it doesn’t come when it’s called

For it’s just a hole

It’s empty

And it’s not called Judy

Fly

I

Am only

A fly

Misunderstood

Am I

All I want

Is a little food

A mate

Some warmth

Some love

I am not selfish

Like the mosquito

After your blood

Or aggressive

Like the wasp

In a bad mood

Or secretive

Like the beetle

Destroying wood

And so I ask

Why

Do you persecute me?

I

Am only

A little fly

Slug

Glug

Glug

Glug

Slug

Ug!

If I Were a Carpenter

If I were a carpenter

And you were a lady

Would you marry me anyway

Would you have my baby?

If I were an accountant

And you were an MP

I would add up your figures

And be amazed at your fiscal policy

If you were a fire officer

And I were a clown

And I had climbed a wonky tower of mirth

Would you help me down?

If I was a referee

And you were a Chelsea Chick

I’d never whistle you offside

And I’d award you a free kick

If I were a sailor

And you were the ocean blue

I’d dive into the water

And grow fins for you

If I was an Arctic explorer

And you were a painter

I’d build you an igloo

And we’d brave the long winter

I were a firework

Would your oohs!!!  be so loud

As I burst in the night sky

You would drown out the crowd

If I were a lady

And you were a carpenter

Would you carve me a necklace

With your heart in the centre?

Something is Happening and I Know What it Is

You are my bright-eyed lady of the low lands

You rescued me from Desolation Row

You were, you are! the answer when the winds they are blowing

For you were, you are! a vision, singing around the Joanna

My tambourine woman

In your brand new leopard-skin Flit Flop shoes

So absolutely sweet, baby, I never did have to think twice

I never look back

For you never give me

Those subterranean homesick blues

Pumpkinseeds

We are the pumpkinseeds

Dressed in silver and yellow and blue

The fashion models of the sea

Preening on the cat-fish-walk

We hang cool

We are not grey and drab

Like the chubby chub or green crab

Who wish they were us

Pumpkins

As you probably know

Are beautiful flowers

That grow on the shimmering moon

And scatter their seeds

Into the ocean home

Even our name

Is rather beautiful

Pumpkinseeds

The Canadian Black Bear

And at the lay-by where you stopped to dine

On M & Ms. Got stroppy just because

There were none left. They wonder why the sign

Says Bears. Beware! You think it’s obvious.

For one, you’re big. Five hundred pounds of power.

For two, you’re tough. For three - you have to eat.

You open screw-top tins. You scour the tip

But pickings there are slim. You stroll down Main Street

Flick the door latch of a house. You wander through

And grab what takes your fancy. Back on the road

A parked car offers tit bits. And you do

A little dance. You like to work the crowd.

But just remind them that you can’t be bought

When M&Ms run out – your temper’s short.