As the cold war began to thaw
during those winter months
of snow and beer nearly
twenty years ago.

As the Berlin wall burst its banks
and a river of unfashionable coats
flowed through the heart of my television
prompting a question of would I be home for
Christmas?
Then scarves like drift wood and
flared trousers, sailed past
and a huge moustache
filled the screen of my television,
with nothing but hair and sounds of excitement.
Freedom! someone shouted, perhaps
one of the bearded ladies with legs
like hoover bags, it was hard to tell
in a foam of laughing faces.

Overhead 300 kilometers away
I heard the sound of
my freedom, your freedom, our freedom.
The Royal Air Force with its concrete arsenal,
Its water pistols of peace held at the temples
of people who wear odd socks and sing in the sleet
and temperatures of minus ten with purple faces
steaming great exclamations into western air.

And I realised then.
There is nothing unfashionable about
freedom.

'as the cold war began to thaw' what a simple yet beautiful line, I love this poem Darren it was a pleasure to hear you perform it and to meet you.
None of us should take our freedom for granted and their are many ways to look at this I have spent a fortnight living with children who are very seriously ill, trapped in hospitals, trapped in constant pain and sickness and sometimes pityfully trapped inside their own wasted and useless bodies and yet they still manage to smile, and it has taught me to pay far more respect to this wonderful world and the beautiful people that live in it, and I feel fortunate to have had this experience in some respects as it allows me to wash away a lot of the pettiness I was surrounded by before it happened, sorry I seem to have gone on one.
Wonderful poem very thought provoking.

Likewise Maggi. It was rather like being at a wedding. I didn't get the chance to talk to everyone but those that I did are as mad as I remember them.Next stop the Howcroft.
Yes, freedom of choice and spirit are both priceless, only if we don't abuse either. I think somewhere along the line we have to justify just what it is or what it was exactly we were trying to achieve, even if its just contentment. I say 'just', contentment is a wonderful place to be.
Keep writing you smiley person, you.

I think you are absolutley right honey, by the way have you seen your pic on the galleries - you look like you belong in John Toghler 'Landing in PC' poem! Amazing what these camera thingies can do in the wrong hands as in real life your like a big friendly giant and look nothing like a devil, though you may have a devilish side judging by your second poem.lol
Thank you for the compliment I like the fact you think I am smiley. Look forward to seeing you at the Howcroft.
xxx