UNTIL THE DARKNESS COMES.

Her light is fading slowly

But the memories which made us one

Will burn brightly in my heart

Until forever ends

There are no guarantees

Only the inevitable

I may lose the shell which surrounds her

But her essence will always be

The other half of me.

Our souls will be

Entwined, inseparable

As long as memory endures

Surely sadness will...

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START AGAIN.

You may besiege our gates

But we will never yield to hate.

You will never take our streets,

We will never accept defeat.

See the lovers love,

While the haters hate

Who will have their day in paradise?

What will be their fate?

We’ll continue to live our lives,

And never bow to flashing knives.

We will never bow to terror.

So don’t make the fatal...

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SHARE!

Take up the slack
Take the strain
Live my life ...
Absorb my pain
The ups and downs
The smiles and frowns
In fairly equal measure.
Times to remember
Times to forget
Times to treasure
Times to regret.
Things I’ve done but shouldn’t
Things I wanted to do but couldn’t
Always something holding me back
Or was that just an excuse
To cover up the lack
Of ambition
There’s no-one...

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SCREAMING SHELLS.

Screaming shells
A sea of mud
A living hell
Where the good died young
The stench of death forever hung
Over trenches
Filled with broken men
Whose sightless eyes
Remember when
The sun shone, 
And birds soared
Now freedom’s gone 
And cannons roar.
The sky rains death.
Mustard gas 
Steals every breath.
Lungs burning 
From the deadly smoke
Barbed wire rips, 
You...

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LEARNING TO DANCE.

When I was young I learned to dance.

Early on I took the chance to swerve,

To have the nerve to move my hips,

Have the balls to move my lips and shout.

There never was a moment of doubt

I would be the one to blame.

I would have a claim to fame.

I would be the one who’s always brash.

I would be just Northern trash, with attitude.

The one who’s r...

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~~PILGRIMAGE.

Coming out, to entertain
To sing and shout
Express their pain
Then wash away
The darkness of today.
A movement swelling,
Compelling us to change
A movement which is seldom heard
Of music, song, and spoken word
A pilgrimage of arts
By martyrs to the cause
Troubadours
Who oppose the wars
With songs, not rifles
With once stifled words,
Now roaring, soaring
No longer s...

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~~THE BEACH.
Did he laugh? Did he cry?
Did he ever ask you why?
You were running.
Did you wonder? Did you think?
As the boat began to sink.
Could there be a second coming?
Did you swim? Did you float?
When the water filled your boat.
And you became children of the waves.
Could you see? Could you breathe?
When the ocean started heaving
And you were no longer slaves.
Did you sigh? Did y...

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~~NOT A MACHINE.

I don’t want to be in a hundred places.
I don’t want to drown in a million faces.
I don’t really know them.
I don’t want to show them who I am.
I just want to dam this increasing flow
Of places, faces I can’t put my finger on.
If I close my eyes they should be gone.
But they linger, hanging on,
Banging on like a spoilt brat.
Droning on about this ‘n’ that,
Like a coll...

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BLINDFOLD.

Hips

Locked and loaded.

Lips,

Ruby red, and swollen

In anticipation

Imagination overload

Blindfolded, at the crossroads

Of desire.

Passion’s fire burning

Twisting, turning

Sensory deception

Sensual perception

Taste, feel

Smell

It’s real

But you mustn’t see

You must simply be

As your body shakes

Your muscles aching

Anticipa...

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SCREAMING SHELLS.

Screaming shells

A sea of mud

A living hell

Where the good died young

The stench of death forever hung

Over trenches

Filled with broken men

With sightless eyes

Who remember when

The sun shone,

And birds soared

Now freedom’s gone

And cannons roar.

The sky rains death.

Mustard gas

Steals every breath.

Lungs burning

From the...

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MUTI-COLOURED CHANGE.

Well now, maybe I’ll tell now some of my story

No glory here though

I was a fifty’s baby. A lucky baby maybe

Some would say when everything was grey

I was born to it

When you wore a suit  to go for a shit

As long as it was grey, or black

Looking back it would seem I was part of

Conceived at the start of

A changing, rearranging youth.

The ...

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MUTI-COLOURED CHANGE.

Well now, maybe I’ll tell now some of my story

No glory here though

I was a fifty’s baby. A lucky baby maybe

Some would say when everything was grey

I was born to it

When you wore a suit  to go for a shit

As long as it was grey, or black

Looking back it would seem I was part of

Conceived at the start of

A changing, rearranging youth.

The ...

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~~SHAME.

A bare light bulb burning
An ancient vinyl churning
Out a long forgotten tune.
A love song crackling in the gloom.
A cum stained mattress strewn
Across the floor
Waiting for the flaking bedroom door
To swing
And bring
The next abuser
Of her morals
There are no laurels,
Only losers here.
She has a need
A need to feed her habit
With eyes like a frightened rabbit
Caught in...

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CHASING DRAGONS.

Fell off the wagon
Chasing dragons
Smoking crack
There’s no going back,
Henry says.
Blurred,
Furred over days
Spent in misty rooms
Filled with acrid
Skunk fuelled fumes
Of heady dreams
Thicker it seems
Than blood
It isn’t a dream
When the needle slides
Under the skin
Where the demons hide
Leaving a red spot
A tiny dot
Of pleasure
And you nod your head
Your ...

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A STRANGER CALLS

No one sees me
Standing there?
A blur?
A stranger
Soft focussed.
I am a traveller,
Non-plussed
By my surroundings.
How can it be
That no one sees
The benefits I bring?
I am the keeper of the past
I am the foundation
On which we build
A future filled with hope,
With light
A light bright enough
To show the way
Hope enough to say
“My future’s safe”
“I will not ...

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BROKEN GLASS.

Angst the gangster of my pain

Will I ever write again?

Of flowers in the field

Coloured blue as steel

Once annealed

By sunlight shining through the broken glass

Before the dearth of earth alas

Now cold,

As old as time, dying.

Birds still soar, trying.

Their songs now lost

Beneath the roar of memory

Lost to greed.

The need to feed our eyes

...

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FOR “OUR KID”

Well,

We were told,

“I’m sorry it looks like cancer’s taken hold”

I suddenly went cold ....

Specially when they said

And smiled

“Think about those who’ve survived”

And I remember hearing myself scream,

From what seemed

Another room,

“What about the poor fuckers

Who don’t?”

And I watched my sister

Die in pieces.

And I didn’t give a fuc...

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VOICE OF THE INNOCENTS.

Soldier, soldier, can you hear me?

Soldier, soldier, don’t shed no tears for me.

Soldier, soldier, what you doing here?

Soldier, soldier, tell me what it is you fear

Soldier, soldier, fighting for my rights.

Soldier, soldier, got me in your sights.

Soldier, soldier, do you hear the screams?

Soldier, soldier, what’s in your dreams?

Burnin...

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Always a renegade .... ish ............

RENEGADE
Sadness,
Madness, 
And badness
Interwoven.
Interspersed.
Show their colours
Then reverse.
Turn things around
Stand them on their head
Don’t swallow the stories
You’ve been fed
By those who deny the truth
In their own lives,
But who are always ready 
With their steely knives
And flashing blades
Willing to cut...

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If the world was black and white ... YACK !!! It just wouldn't be right ..... Would it? .....

A TINT.
When I paint.
Do I taint
The words I use?
When I write.
Do I abuse
The paint I choose
To colour my world?
Its beauty unfurled.
With each brushstroke
With each word that’s spoken
A moment broken 
By the sound
That’s bound
To echo into nothing
But paint sticks
...

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THE RAIN.

VOTES LIKE PAPER BOATS

SMOKING, BURNING,

FLOATING

DOWN THE RIVER OF DESPAIR

NOT CARING WHO WINS

JOB DONE FOR ITS SINS

THIS “X” IN A BOX

SEE, THIS TIME THERE IS NO OIL

NO NEED TO FOIL

A DESPOT’S PLAN OR

A TERRORIST’S PLOT

TO SANITISE, TO SARONISE

AND CARRY NO STENCH OF DEATH

BUT WHILE THEIR PEOPLE WRETCH,

AND GASP FOR BREATH

...

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So sayeth the Slater .......................

THE PROVIDER. 
I am the lord of the storm
And I will make you reform 
Make you change your ways
I am the sound of rolling thunder
I can split your world asunder
And I will drag you under
Unless you change your ways
I am the rider on the lightning
Feel, the noose is tightening
Consider and be enlightened
Listen, and change y...

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THE FOLLY OF YOUTH.

Judge me not.

Have you forgotten

Decisions you once made?

Would you not trade

An hour in time?

To return and put right a crime

Stitched from impulsive youth.

Go back and see the truth.

Unpick the lies,

Prove there were no flies

On you.

The young man who

Believed he was the king of cool.

Only to prove,

He was j...

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Everybody needs a birra' space .... don't they ???? .......

MY PLACE.

I’m going to find me a place

A place with space.

A place with space

Where I can face

My demons.

On my own.

All on my own.

On my own

I know

But I won’t be lonely.

Because

I’ll have grown.

Grown, shown,

I can manage

On my own.

And exorcise

My gh...

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IDEAS.

When I was young

In years

I thought

Only my ideas

Mattered.

Now I am older

In years,

I realise that

All ideas

Matter.

When I am

Very old

In years,

I only hope

That I still have

Ideas.

If I do,

I promise

I will share mine,

And

Listen to yours.

This way

We will move mountains

Together.

God b...

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CATCH THE RAIN.

Watch as a child tries to catch the rain

Dancing and singing to imagined refrains

Bathe in their innocence and see fire in the skies

The world is full of magic seen through their eyes

Growing older see that innocence go

Watch the magic fade and cynicism grow

Why do we leave imagination behind?

Standing helpless as joy unwinds

...

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POSH? Bish bosh!! We're all the same .....

COMMON OR WHAT?

Where you from?
You think I’m common?
Come on
Just because you pronounce your aitches
Try it walking down past Strangeways
You’d find it a strange place
Full of strange ways alright 
At night
With that voice
Your choices compromised 
By the plum in your mouth? 
Does the silver spoon not get in the way?
...

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ON THE BLOCK

   Urban sprawl,

   Graffitied walls

   High rise flats.

   Hooded twats?

   City dwellers? 

   Cocaine sellers?

   Eyes on sticks

   And cars on bricks.

Everybody’s feeling

The youths are dealing.

   Slowly drowning,

   Always frowning.

   Trying to impress you,

   Even oppress you.

   They look rough,

   They...

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A FRIDAY MORNING BUBBLE.

It was a Friday

When my bubble burst

Like when you were a kid

Blowing chewing gum bubbles

Thinking you were the first

An innovator.

A sticky bubble magician

Everyone watched with wonder

As the bubbles grew

Then chuckled secretly

When the expanding candy

Went bang

And stuck pinkly to your face

Disguising featu...

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Something for my Mum ......

OLDEN DAYS

In olden days

So my mother says

Life was quite different then

Mills were satanic

All food was organic

And your elders, all wise men

You went to school

Then went int’ mill

No sick pay then,

You couldn’t afford to be ill.

If you couldn’t work,

You didn’t get paid

There was no time off

And litt...

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EASY TIME.

SLOW DOWN EASY

DON’T TRY TO HIDE

SLOW DOWN DON’T TEASE ME

I’VE GOT MY PRIDE

WE GOT TIME TO ROCK

WE GOT TIME TO ROLL

WE GOT TIME TO SHARE

OUR IMMORTAL SOULS

SO SLOW DOWN EASY

NO CAUSE TO IMPRESS

SLOW DOWN EASY

WE GOT TIME TO UNDRESS

AND EXPOSE OUR DESIRES

SET THE NIGHT ON FIRE

SLIP AND SLIDE

SWEAT AND TRY

SWAP O...

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Inspired by this pic of my eldest son and my grandson after a busy and lovely day.

SHADOWS.

At end of day as shadows lengthen

Walk hand in hand and love is strengthened

A moment meant for father and son

A tender touch as day is done.

As hand seeks hand and trust is made

Walk into light, don’t let memories fade

That little shadow’s too quic...

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Just woke up this morning and looked at my Bernice .......

I STILL SEE.

WHEN I SEE YOU

I SEE MY REASON TO RISE.

WHEN I SEE YOU

I WONDER WHAT SURPRISES

THE DAY WILL BRING.

WHEN I SEE YOU

I REALISE BIRDS ARE SINGING,

HERALDING SUNSHINE

INTO MY DAY.

WHEN I SEE YOU

AS YOU LAY SLEEPING,

I WANT TO KEEP

YOU SAFE,

SELFISHLY,

FOR ME,

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WONDERING.

Smoke screening

Gently leaning

On the maybe.

Trying to veil,

 A pale

Version of the truth.

Diluted truth.

Watered down to suit

The situation.

Living a lie,

With eyes raised

Skyward

To distract

A trusting plea.

Only seeking honesty.

Questions asked

From the shadow

Of ignorance.

While liars bask

In their su...

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REPOSSESSION DEPRESSION.

Repossession

Invites depression

Round for drinks,

Before the ink

Has dried

On papers,

Signed and

Cried over.

As lives taper,

Tumbling,

Back

Down the ladder.

It makes me mad!!

Because we were encouraged

To climb.

Sold by the smile

Of greed.

The need to feed

The country’s coffers.

The need to ...

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LISTEN!!

Have you ever listened SO hard sat in the thick, sterile silence of a hospital corridor, in the middle of the night that you thought nothing else existed outside of your head? Then you hear those dreaded footsteps, tip tapping out of the blackness, getting gradually closer, louder, until you think your head will burst, and you listen harder than you thought it was possible to do. S...

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LAID BARE.

Feeling feelings,

Stealing feelings,

Peeling feelings,

Down to the bone.

Take a mate.

The feeling’s great,

But feeling great

Is that your state of mind?

Is that your fate?

Maybe it’s time to go home.

Back to what you know.

Forget the chance

You had to grow.

Opt for the safe.

Don’t step off the pace.

Give up the throne.

...

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Once upon a time ....

JAEGERBOMBS AND KARMA.

Vodka and drama.

Jaeger bombs and karma.

When souls are bared

Temptation’s there though.

Allowing booze to choose him,

For alcohol to abuse him

And use him for distraction.

While Euphoria’s the attraction.

When wages are converted into drink.

He doesn’t even think

About the consequences.

After all,...

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What is happening in my country??

HOME SWEET HOME.

This is my place!!

This is my space!!

She cried.

Trying to hold back,

Trying to hide

The tears.

The fear

Of uncertainty

About the future.

It’s not a cattle shed!!

It’s not just a place

To rest my head!!

This is, my sanctuary

My security,

Familiarity.

My community.

All...

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EASTER.
Which came first?
Easter or the egg.
Which came first?
Chocolate or the egg.
Why an egg anyway?
Chocolate bunnies,
Chocolate funnies.
Silver foil
Ripped.
Chocolate sun-days,
Easter mum-days.
Not that kind of egg.
Not procreation,
More recreation.
Chocolate lips,
Chocolate faces
Melted religion,
Empty spaces
Empty eggs and
Empty churches
Silver f...

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 A sleepless night brought this ....

WELL DO YA?

DO I LIKE MYSELF?

SOMETIMES.

DO I LIKE MY LIFE?

YES.

DO I DESERVE

WHAT I’VE GOT

IN MY LIFE?

I DON’T KNOW.

I DON’T CARE.

I’VE GOT IT.

ITS MINE.

BUT DON’T TRY TO TAKE MY LIFE.

DON’T TRY TO CHANGE MY LIFE.

NOT NOW.

IT’S TOO LATE.

AM I PROUD

OF MYSELF

AND MY LIFE?

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ANOTHER NEW YEAR.

Attend your church.

Lurching forward

Towards new year.

No new news,

Only the same old views,

From the same old crews,

Kneeling in the same old pews

As last year.

Cleaning out their souls.

Caught sinking in the holes

Dug by last years fancies.

Their attention held in holy trances.

Fortunately,

Between the saddl...

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THE NEED.

Have you ever felt the need to pray?

Did you get on your knees?

What did you say?

Have you ever felt the need to say

You have to pray

Because your life is savage?

Did you ask for help

Because you couldn’t manage

On your own?

Making decisions,

On your own,

Healing divisions

Within the family

You have to care for.

I have.

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