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 expected

And was asked "have you used us before? if so you'll know the score

I said "Nothing to fear, I used you last year"

Impressed in the main was using them again

They asked where I was going and so all knowing

At the end of the day showed me a better way

Reaching my final destination in the Anerican nation

Let dawn slowly creep while I have a good sleep

 

30) On the way, I set my sat nav to the USA

But for some reason it didn't want to play

Not a flicker not even a blip, I thought 'this ain't to hip,

Oh brother will I have to get another?'

I hadn't expected, no satelittes detected

I could have cried but still it tried

So in a trice I texted for advice

But that was in vain cos' it started again

I was smiling away as it found the way

So it was tried again on a different location

It found it ok without hesitation 

Proving that in the Texas state, good things come to those who wait

 

30) Drove with intent to my first event

Not too soon it was in the afternoon

Sat nav told me the way, I thought wahay

I'd be delighted, the journey not blighted

With Thom I'd be re-united

We'd composed before now we'd compose some more

In rhyme or free verse, for better or worse

But great in the main, to be together again

 

(The following were written at Schriener Univesity, Kerrville, TX, at a workshop run by Kirpal Gordon, a writer with an intrest in blues music)

31) Kirpal did enthuse about the blues

Every bit savoured about the muscic he favoured

So on a bluesy note, this is a poem I wrote

Feeling down I want to frown

I can choose to have the blues

As on my depression'll bring 'em

Better by far with sax or guitar

To get on, get down and sing 'em

In a true blues manner with a mournful pianer

But oh what a thrill to add a saxaphone trill

 

(Based on the blues song 'So What')

33)  Love me love me not, So what?

Emotions in a knot, So what?

To have or have not, So what?

Music can be hot, So what?

This is all I've got, So what?

 

(The following were written at Thom's workshop at the same place all on given subject matter)

20) Shed out back, imagination doesn't lack

Go in and play, go hideaway

Far or near, log cabin on wild frontier

Sit in and talk, draw pictures with chalk

Imagination unfurled, spaceship to another world

Make a stage, play the fool, whatever you do is cool

Rob the bank, battle tank

Games to make play prison break

In it you go, let your imagination flow.

(A poetic version of Stephen's Shed from the booklet 'Kirkthorpe revisited and remembered ')

 

35) Life is short, now there's a thought but so is an African Pygmy

So chose to sing the blues and say "do you dig me?"

Some think being nice comes at a price

So they tend to snivel

Think the dense have no sense

While they talk a loud of drivel

 

36) Blow, your balloons of red, orange and yellow

Green, violet and indigo, blow your own rainbow

 

37) Write with pencil or pen, write and write again

Write while talking, write while walking

Write with a smile, write running a mile

Write out loud, write and be proud

Write from within; write it's not a sin

Write day or night, write wrong ot right

Even if your imagination's slight, have a go and write

 

38) What's important to me?

That's my business you see

Cos' what's important to me

May not be to thee

 

39) Boys shouldn't cry, or let their emotions out

We'll give them something to cry about

I've never heard anything as daft

For those who've never cried, may have never, ever laughed

 

40) I like to go to places with wide open spaces

And if I please, wander through the trees

Or get out of reach, walk along a desserted beach

Or sit and dream by a running street

Awy from harm amid natures balm

 

41) Lived, cared, loved, laughed, cried, died. (A short poem about life)

 

42) Some say poetry has rules and that there are many.

I say leave it to the poet, it may not need any

 

(The following was written back at the motel in Austin, my last poem for the day)

43) Imagination fired, with verse I was inspired

With Thom running the show, let the words flow

Any subject, any time, putting my thoughts into rhyme

The workshop went well but I had to bid farewell

Till we meet again and give our best, at the Lamesa Forrest Fest 

 

5.4.12 - 44) The sky was greyit was cool and overcast

But this being Texas I knew it wouldn't last

The sun playing a joke as if deriding, behind a cloud it was hiding

I was proved right, later it shone with all its might

Sight seeing was my notion, but first the sun lotion

Austin Lake, Mayfield Park, Mount Bennell, more stories of my tour to tell

Nature trails, La Guandas works of art, seemd a good place to make a start

There my phone rang I had a hunch it was my friend Bruce inviting me to lunch

Threadgills a legend in Austin dining we'd meet, he said it was his treat

We talked about our latest poetry score, then we talked some more

Lunch over he went back to work, and I could no longer lurk

Time spent, time precious you can't borrow I'd be back on the road tomorrow

But next time we meet, lunch'll be my treat.