2.5.12

Image: Boarding the plane for the first stage to Memphis on the flight home.

157) Breakfast almost over and so is my roam

This afternoon I catch the plane home

Last night Thom gave me a newspaper clipping

I think the reporters mind was slipping

I couldn’t believe, instead of Trev he’d called me Treve

Then with total aplomb, the picture of Bob was actually Thom

A...

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01.5.12

Image: Bruce reciting Shakespeare as an Omniverse, we met last year at Barton Creek and kept in touch, it was nice to meet up again.

148) A full day it’s my last, has time really gone that fast?

Tomorrow it’s the homeward flight

Back over the pond through the night

Leaving I’ll be sad, but getting home I’ll be glad

After my second American tour seeing my family once ...

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30.4.12

Image: My hire car outside Bruce's on my return

144) Again it was still dark as I left the motel car park

Down the road to roll, no toll,

Just stop for the Border Patrol

They’re wantin’ staff should I try

Would they consider an over the hill Limey Guy?

145) Stop for a bite as one might

On the way keep the hunger pangs at bay

Something quick will do the ...

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26.4.12

Image: The Beware of the Agapanthus sign (poem 133).

126) Daniel was the prefect host

When of last night we made the most

First a meal and there were dips,

The first time I’d seen red and green corn chips

The main course came along

As the Mariachi played and sang a song

We chatted about our children and wives and about our poetry lives

And to co...

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25.4.12

Image: Me with the Mariachi, singers at a Mexican Restaurant on my first night in McAllen (no I didn't sing with them).

121) Last night I met with a smile,

Someone I hadn’t seen for a while

We met last year on my very first night

She was waiting for me at the end of my flight

Waiting at journeys end, someone to depend

Now my feet were back on solid grou...

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23.4.12

Image: The swan taking flight

113) No time to be stayin in bed a layin’

I gotta mind places to find

Not a hard task where to ask

A receptionist who got the gist

Googled where I wanted to be

And printed of a map for me

Then by the river conditions right photograph a swan beginning its flight

Rung my friend to greet and decide where for lunch to m...

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22.4.12

Image: The road to Austin

105) Last nights readings were done,

The end of another one

Not at all drear, just the room to clear

Then Thom says “will you, give Nancy an interview”

But that was temporarily dropped

Till we got the air condition stopped

Try as we might we couldn’t get it right

With the buttons we played, we almost prayed

Then sil...

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16.4.12

Image: At the tree planting ceremony, I dug the hole

and filled it in again.

(All the poems below were written dring the week I

spent in Lamesa and at various events)

68) The sun rose and morning came creeping

I slowly awoke from my sleeping

Birds singing, grackles winging to the sky

In search of carrion they fly

A good night rest, as yet the best, on a cou...

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15.4.12

Image: The characteristic deep brown soil of Lamesa

63) Car fuelled and almost stowed, soon I’ll hit the road

To Lamesa, no more striving, a rest from all the driving

And I’ve a hunch I’ll be at Connie’s for lunch

64) Down the road stop for a snack, then back on track

Later to find I’d left New Mexico behind

On a Texas road I go, country music on ...

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14.4.12

Image: Carlsbad, and a dust storm in the afternoon

59) Scenic drive after the setting of the sun,

Two towns lit up as one

Lights like stars reflected on black sea,

As far as the eye could see

Warm wind gently blowing, traffic on the highway flowing

I met and talked to a nice guy,

Although it was a shame it was a cloudy night sky

Now it’s the sta...

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13.4.12

Image: Natures own artistry on the way to El Paso.

56) Yesterday at Alpine I decide to spend

The day at the National Park in Big Bend

There in the desert time was spent

Like Jesus in the wilderness on that very first lent

Where Satan tried to tempt him with the treasures of the earth

But none could buy what Big Bends beauty was worth

I saw St Elena’s Canyo...

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12.4.12

Image: Wild deer in the Big Bend National Park

55) Fifteen years ago La Kiva’s open mics begun

Last night was open mic 791

I was there reading my latest poetry score

A selection from my current tour

I started off but thought ‘oh dang!’

The cellphone in my pocket rang

Did the audience think it was part of the act; by the way I did react

Instead of saying hell...

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11.4.12

Image: La Kiva my first open mic of the tour.

54) Luggage stowed, gonna hit the road

Ain’t gonna rush, in the cool morning hush

Gonna take my time, maybe compose rhyme

Ain’t gonna be pushed, ain’t gonna be rushed

Take it easy to journeys end, at Alpine near Big Bend

Then later hey viva an open mic at La Kiva

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11.4.12

Image: One of the guys that took the abandoned kittens.

52) From Laredo to Del Rio I decided to take

Time out for a comfort break

Then find out why, I could hear a pitiful cry

Five kittens left alone, abandoned to face a future alone

Soon across the road I was walking,

To where I heard guys talking

So with intent well meant, I explained the predicament

Soon ...

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9.4.12

Image: St Agustin Cathedral, Laredo

51) From Harlingen to Laredo I did roll

And stopped at a border patrol

He asked “US Citizen?” I said “No UK”,

He said “Pass you’re ok”

But he was the first official I didn’t hear say

“Thank you, have a nice day”.

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8.4.12

Image: The original Iwo Jima memorial at Harlingen,

used to make the cast for the one in Washington

50) I held the door as she walked through

And she got a surprise because

When she said "gracias", I said "bienvendos"

Was she thinking as she smiled

'Here's a Gringo that knows our lingo"

Written near Harlingen my first attempt at Spanish

(not my l...

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7.4.12

Image: Hugh and 'best friend' Charlie

48) I'd taken my first pictureof an alligator,

Spoonbill and black vulture would come later

Coming from Brazoria Park and driving with care,

I noticed a light on the dashboard that shouldn't be there

It let me know, tyre pressure was low

Soon it was fine, I used a gas station air line

But it was in vain cos later...

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6.4.12

Image: An alligator at Brazoria Wilderness Park Galveston

45) The day was dawning clear, time to get outa here

Bags packed, car to load, then I hit the road

In God and the GPS I put my trust

Now it's Galveston or bust

46) To Texas City I made my way, for an open mic on Palmer Highway

What happened no one could have supposed

When I got there the...

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4.4.12: My first full day

Image: Some of Austins more colourful residents,

events like this are commonplace in Austin

(Written after breakfast)

29) To Austin last night, my final flight

After all the to do I was tired and feeling blue

It had taken so long, things still went wrong

So my ESTA was shown then it was all known

Bag collected, at the car hire desk I was expec...

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3.4.12: This is it departure day all poems

written on the journey out:

Image: A barge on the Mississippi at Memphis

15) Taxi arrived on time, perfect start to this rhyme

To the airport we made our way,

Neath skies of leaden grey

There's a cold wind blowing,

At least not like Scotland where it's snowing

Where it may develop into a blizzard feeling the wrath of the Snow ...

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Yes once again it's across the pond to America another poetry tour, this time solely in Texas, once again I hope to record it in rhyme. I fly out on April 3, this time instead of waiting till I go before writing I have already started at various stages of prparation as the inspiration took me, hence the title. The poems have no title but the date they were written and comments in (italics and brac...

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The final flight and home to Cas' (Castleford).

05.05.11 - 90) 12:45 the final flight we took off everything alright

The last leg of my American tour

Which has been anything but a bore

Chat with fellow passengers on the way

How quickly the time passed away

The touch down at LBA,

Collect my suitcase then away

Taxi driver waiting for me,

Soon Castleford again I’d see

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Amsterdam Airport the wait was to much for some.

05.05.11 -89)

Waiting for my final flight outside it’s bright sunlight

A great holiday I have had

And the weather hasn’t been bad

Where I’ve been what I’ve done,

From a plane seen the rising sun

Travelled where I wanted to go

Even on roads I didn’t know

Enjoying Texas and an Appalachian Spring

And everything else t...

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Homeward bound and Sunrise over the Atlantic

 05.05.11 - 88) Flying through the night,

Heading towards the morning light

To where the sun’ll come into view

As if through phsycadelic hue

And so begins a brand new day

Above out forest of grey

Soon to land it’ll be grand

Nice and steady everything ready

Disembarkation in the Netherlands nation

Going different ways i...

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Leaving Detroit Airport.

04.05.11 - 87) Landed in Detroit timed it right

Time to reach my interconnecting flight

The longest stretch over 7 hours

To the land of the tulip flowers

And we’ll see the night time creep

Over us and I’ll try to sleep

Cos’ it would be a drag if I was to get jet lag

Cos now we’re back in flight

Heading towards an eastern night

Passing thr...

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Take off at La Guardia airport

04.05.11 - 86) Down the tarmac we did go

Airplanes all in a row

Ready to go up a gear

When the control tower says “all clear”

We don’t want to make a hash,

Or have an almighty crash

Engine now revving for extra

Boost soon I’ll be home to roost

Through the clouds a little bit bumpy

No need to worry or get jumpy

Heading towards the...

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La Guardia airport New York, my flight time had been changed

04.05.11 - 85) I tried to find out why

They’d changed the time I was to fly

Cos’ looking at the departures I became knowing

The original flight was still going

So at the information desk did ask

And they carried out the task

But no reason was found

Why I wasn’t on that homeward bound

They said “but there i...

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Photo; A rainy morning in New York.

04.05.11 - 84)

Waiting outside in the rain for the taxi to my plane

Cars driving past in a line

But of my lift there was no sign

For an homeward bound bloke

After 15 minutes I thought “this is no joke

So a yellow cab was found

And to the airport I was bound

Self check inn and to my surprise,

My number the machine did not recogn...

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New York: Departure Day Photo: Sunset on Lake Erie

04.05.11 - 83)Thirty days may have seemed an age,

When America I did engage

Now departure day at last

Has time really gone that fast?

Americas highways and by ways to roam,

Soon I’ll catch the plane home

Texas to Memphis and beyond

in the country over the pond

Crossing the Appalachian Trail

In my trusty chevy nev...

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The second poem written at Bar 13 New York dedicated to the passengers and crew of Flight 93  I visited the flight 93 Memorial Site, I left the small blue shirt badge from my days as a Firefighter, on the memorial artefact stand.

02.05.11 - 82)

Just another flight taking of in the morning light

Cargo safely stored, no one knew of the danger on board

At a given time the terrorists...

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New York : The first of two poems written at Bar 13 New York, following the demise of Bin Laden, the picture is me and a group of , the young people from Newark, they set off at 03:00 am to get there celebrating the occasion in Times Square, New York, the morning the news broke.

02.05.11 - 81) The newspaper said “Bin Laden was dead”

The terror he’d wrought back I thought

To 9/11 two ...

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This was the last poem I would write before I got to New York, it had been a long tiring drive and my inspiration had gone so I concentrated on enjoying my tour, but nothing could have prepared me for what would happen there. I wrote a journal of the trip just in case inspiration would strike when I got home so far it hasn't.

22.04.11 - 81) Through the fog and the rain ...

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I wrote this somewhere on the Blue Ridge Parkway, what started out as nice weather soon turned, it was still an interesting drive in and out of the fog patches.

22.04.11 - 80) I left the visitor center that morning

A sign stating a fog warning

But a wish from a friendly ranger

For a journey free from danger

Hopefully I thought driving away

The gentle rain would keep it away

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