Let’s get this out of the way at the very start then, and going back to my London roots, 2020 has been a “Right Cowson”! The Curse Covid virus has cancelled, called off or closed much of the year and decimated jobs and life by murdering many people and opportunities.
There I’ve said it, but at the moment despite great hope with new vaccines, Coronavirus prevails, but I will speak of it here no more.
Like many other determined and resourceful people, if I wasn’t blessed with an unquenchable enthusiasm and a vast spectrum of ideas, you probably wouldn’t be reading this now? By mid-March all my Gigs, enterprises, bookings and ventures had been removed, leaving a barren looking year ahead, and losing a lot of prospective fundraising money I would have raised for the excellent charity Help for Heroes, who for those who don’t know, look after our wounded.
Their revenue has been reduced by a third overall and my contributions which were beginning to increase nicely, too. For example as a “one man band” I had raised over £1,000 in just over 3 months before March. Yes a Right Cowson!
Anyway we won’t dwell there, and the theme is back and forward, so it will get progressively more positive, but I believe sometimes you have to step back to spring forward?
First poem then and as I try, quite apt and comes from my 7th book “Poet Reflects Your World”….
Absent
Every now and again I try
To complete a sort of roll call,
Of people that have slipped away
And I don’t hear from at all.
Though this can be the normal
Sliding away by friends in life,
As we battle different challenges
That bring us joy or strife.
So if people should disappear
And now no longer are around,
You can only guess at reasons
For rumours may abound.
Though you occasionally get
Some news from recent meetings,
And so can learn from those
Of any messages or greetings.
For we live in a changing world
With people spreading out far more,
From areas they once grew up in
Before heading to another shore.
With multitudes of reasons why
Perhaps some they’d rather not say,
About why they’ve gone to ground
To surface on another day.
But with the internet and social media
Old friends and colleagues are found,
Though some sadly have passed away
And absent as the world goes round.
*
So back and a bit forward there, but maybe this next poem from my 5th book “Life Presented in Verse” can help look backward a bit more?
Back Pass
As I contemplate the world
I must also consider then.
How would I be received,
If I passed this way again?
For unlike the famous saying
We only pass this way one time,
That was more on our whole life
Rather than a local climb.
So back to my conjecture
Of how would I be perceived,
If returning to past haunts
Would I still be well received?
Well certainly I have never
Done anything criminal or dire,
That could be held against me
And cause a greeting to expire.
As I have always tried to live
By not wanting to wear a crown,
And always nice to people going up
I might meet coming down.
And with my other true motto
Possibly the best I ever had,
For if you can’t do a good turn,
Then don’t do one that’s bad.
Thus I really like to think
Happily and with some sway,
That I would be quite welcome
Should I return this way.
For people often mention my laugh
And say I have a ready smile,
But just to be on the safe side
I’ll be good for a little while.
*
Looking back over the year, despite all the lockdown gloom and restrictions, I seemed to have done quite a lot, (For certain age folks I can hear you say as Mandy Rice-Davis once said, with apologies) “Well I would wouldn’t I?” lol?.
To quickly revisit, (go back see?), I had poems and articles in The Daily Mirror twice, appeared in video for Hailsham’s 75 anniversary of V E Day, had more “on air” mentions on Magic F M (thanks to the wonderful Lynn Parsons), and poems read out, produced my eighth book in 6 years at the time, (June) that was aimed at November 2020 but I brought forward (Back & Forward lol). Also I went on live several times for Radio Sussex, Surrey & parts of Hampshire (that ordinary poets can’t reach) ?, with the excellent Sylvie Blackmore & once again with Joe Talbot who chatted to me as I drove hands free up the M3 ,,,, YUP I’m “Often Imitated, but NEVER Duplicated” as I say….
Another poem for back and forward…
Living Well
If you’re thirsty you may go to the well
To quench your thirst with a drink.
And you may do it automatically
Without ever stopping to think,
About how the water got there
Or the need to put something back,
Because the water may soon run dry
If the well is allowed to crack.
For in our world little comes for free
Although plenty will live for this,
By taking out everything they can
And giving help requests a miss.
For they are too busy taking all
It’s possible to get lazy hands upon,
Ensuring when it’s pay back time
They’ll be well and truly gone.
So for us in a concerned majority
Is the need take care of our well
And other gifts passed on to us,
As they are not ours to waste or sell.
When the sacrifice of many others
Gave them up without a cost,
Only a big responsibility of trust
To see they are never lost.
Thus this commitment is now ours
To appreciate and protect this wealth,
Of the things we may take for granted
All the time they’re in good health.
But just a little thought and effort
Will see our gifts all safely supplied,
And to know our drinking well is flowing
Will meet our wish after we’ve died.
*
I think many people will relate to my next poem, “Where?” (which to be sequentially accurate should have been my 3rd posted poem, but Hey back and forwards can get mixed at times, and it IS my aericle, so lol please allow me?), thanks! It also tables that not ony “where” have years and things gone, but also what can arrive?
Where?
Where have all my years gone
And can I please get them back?
I promise that I won’t waste them
For I never let sad times stack
Up too highly in my world,
In those years of mine now past.
And I nearly always enjoyed myself
I guess why time went so fast.
So where have those years gone
Along with so many great days?
For I can still vividly remember
The songs and music that plays,
Like a magical memory jukebox
Rewinding much love and fun,
As they bring back situations
Where all was said and done.
Oh I can recall so many people
Sadly though some have gone,
Though their days are remembered
When they danced and faces shone,
From disco lights and silhouettes
Or maybe it was too much drink.
But that was in the distant past
Which makes me stop to think,
Just where have my years gone?
For it doesn’t seem that long,
When my features were pristine
Like some newly written song.
Now as I look very fondly back
Over all those years I’ve had,
And people met and places seen
With more happier days than sad,
I feel my lifetime has stretched
Across many a stunning sunset,
But I hope for more to come
As I’m not ready to go just yet!
*
Well I guess I could have fooled you there, because there was no real mistake (Oh yes there was, but forgive me, it is that time of year), and that poem goes both back and forward too, so any doubts?
SO now looking forward, I will mention me re publishing all of my 8 books to further align with Amazon, update, and improve, which is all ongoing.
I have just begun to work and have thoughts for Book NINE, aimed for about end of 2021, have a few ideas to move on if Curse Covid doesn’t lift much and I will continue to promote the charity HELP for HEROES of course, AND on that note, please contact me on here, Facebook, email = lw1800@hotmail.co.uk etc if you want any of my books (from only £5 up to £9.99) each for larger books (6,7, & 8) as all sales donate to that charity (Help for Heroes).
Last poem then and very much for the future, for we never know what that holds instore as the poem suggests…..
A Dream of Dreams
I dream of images and thoughts
That come like falling snow,
Cascading round my startled mind
So my reasoning will go.
For I don’t know if I’m asleep
Or blindly staggering along,
A path of light shining in the dark
With a backdrop of sweet song.
So please allow my puzzled look
Whilst I try to see the light,
Or is it dark with floodlights on
Trying to make things right?
For many astounding visions
Now awake silently within,
A body shell shocked in wonder
That thinks heartache is a sin.
Thus all my cherished desires
May parade brightly all around,
With rows of celestial beings
Playing music with no sound,
That mocks inner ambitions
Presenting a not guilty plea.
For I’ve done nothing wrong
Whatever they say of me.
For these exotic silent dreams
Can never show how I feel,
Or exceed my released ecstasy
When I discover you are real.
*
Thus we never know what may pan out in the future for us, and after this year who would now dare to predict any events or occurencies? Anyway have a good Christmas however it is for you, and hopefully see you on the other side in 2021…..
All eight of my books :–
Poetic Views of Life
More Poetic Views of Life
Reviews of Life in Verse
Life Scene in Verse
Life Presented In Verse,
Poet Reveals All (in your world).
Poet Reflects Your World
Poetic Seeds to Fruition
These all ensure my donation to the excellent charity I support, promote and donate to, that being Help for Heroes.
My first 3 books are only priced £4.99 each, with my 4th and 5th bigger books at £6.99. My new 8th and sixth & 7th books, all bigger are still £9.99. and all are for sale on Amazon, book stores or preferably from me ………….. lw1800@hotmail.co.uk Or 07967 355236
I can now also write a “Personal Poem” for you, your family, any event or your business too…….
I also have a Facebook page “The Psychy Poet Laurie Wilkinson”, and a website:- www.psychypoet.com please sign/join up absolutely free.