Image: A rainy day in Austin a rare but much needed event.

04.04.14: 24) Last night before I went to bed,

I wrote down the thoughts in my head

Inspiration flowing let it, write it down lest I forget it

After a journey that seemed to take ages

It was all in rhyme in my journal pages

Then to sleep tired an’ worn,

Awake to a cool Austin dawn

Iron borrowed tee shirts pressed, so as to be cleanly dressed

Bought a cellphone, a must when travelling alone

Ring friends saying I’d arrived, another long journey survived

Then slowly the day unravels as I set out on my travels

A workshop to run, should be fun

Writing down what you love about your home town

Ideas flowin’ inspiration going

Writing away at the start of another poetic day

 

25) I could have sat with fingers on the table drummin’

When it looked like to my workshop nobody was comin’

It wasn’t at all boring, no goin’ to sleep an’ snorin’

I used the situation for inspiration

And with thoughts supernal added more poems to my journal

Then I sensed movement and looked upon

A smiling young man, his name was John

We sat and talked, time to give,

About where we lived and now live

Listened to each other with a smile

Comparing each others rhyming style

At the end I said with a smile

If only two poets meet it’s all been worthwhile

 

26) I took the road leading, to Strange Brew for a city reading

At The Full English I stopped and in I popped

Saying “your fish and chips tonight, do them right

Cook them with care, for I shall compare

them on this part of my roam with those I have back home"

The Full English is an Austin cafe that specialises in English food and based on one in Bradford, Friday night is fish and chip night and very popular.

 

And so to the city reading:

27) At the city read, Robert took the lead

He spoke with resolve

From a collection the worlds problems to solve

Organiser Del did yearn to read so took his turn

Then Jim who didn’t rant when referred to as a Texan implant

Read poems he had got, one about a pot

Then Tammy, a mum of five, kept the event alive

Her talent giving

A poem about a man who drove a bus for a living

A far cry from the rattle of the tank he drove into battle

And now keeping his eyes on the road,

Carrying a far more precious load

Then it was me being somewhat manish

A poem from last year with an interpretation in Spanish

Jenny from her first book, brought her poems alive

Not only one book, in total she’d written five

Then David who wrote about the universe

Read a good sample of his style of verse

Del said' his enthusing not diminishing

"We were late starting so we'll be late finnishing

And in Yorkshire where I come from they may have thaught it odd

And referred to him as a cantankerous old sod.

Last one up, John said "look" as Del held up a book

His fifth he did regale, sayong "its for sale"

Typical poet, very quick, never miss a sellin' trick

After him we went on our way, to more events on the festivals secnd day

 

28) Now I'm at the Full English, it's Friday night

The fish and chips should be a delight

To try them a decision I'll take

And see if they're as good as my mum used to make

 

29) I’d recited and was delighted

When my fish and chips appeared

I looked down at a batter crisp and brown round a fish that hadn’t been seared

And the chips, like nectar to the lips

What a delight, cooked just right

Maybe not so nutritious but still delicious

With tomato sauce? Of course

A splash of vinegar from malt, a sprinkle of salt

They went down a treat; I thought they’ll never be beat

Now I’m thinkin’ should I ask and set them a task

Saying if you please

Could you do an English style pie? covered in English style mushy peas?

 

30) My fish and chips were had,

Just right for this travelling Yorkshire Lad

To Thom them I praised, and my spirits were raised

And I thought it great when Thom my mate

Said “Trevor welcome home”.

 

31) The Orangewood Inn and Suites, was one of our meets

Before in bed we’d be layin’

The committee brokered a deal for a bed and a meal

An’ some of the poets were stayin,

A chance to get sat, an’ chew the fat

Our experiences relayin’

But not much of a do, there was only a few

It seems the rest were not playin’

But it wasn’t in vain, me an’ Shazza met again

Hugged and kissed, each other we’d missed

Then sit a spell an’ each other tell

Hopefully not to drear, what we done since last year

Then a surprise, a treat for my eyes

Another friend, her knee on the mend

And still as Bonnie, from Lamesa it was Connie

Our hug made it plain; it was great to meet up again.

 

05.04.14: 32) Inspiration lagging, I felt I was flagging

So it was my intent, to go to a gathering event

An event with others, my poetic sisters and brothers

At the Community College, the fountain of all knowledge

But there was only me in the room, no need for gloom

Sat on my own, I didn’t moan

Not with boredom wrought, picked up my pencil and thought

Looked at the trees, moving in the breeze

And to my delight, began to write

Inspiration back, back on track

Line after line of verse and rhyme

Mental block for now gone and the road poet writes on, and on, and on

 

33) A computer in the room I could use

Catch up on e mails and other news

But I couldn’t because

The server didn’t know where I was

I was surprised, it hadn’t recognised

My password to log in, was it a dead horse I was floggin’

The advice was heeded, a security code was needed

To get out of internet slumber

I entered the last four digits of my cellphone number

And quick as a flash, to my hotel dash

Cos’ in a drawer on its own was my cellphone

Quickly collected, the security code it ejected

Back where the computer was centred

Instructions obeyed, I’m no more dismayed

Now all is fine and I’m back on line.

 

34) My motel is a new Motel 6 it’s very nicely positioned

And it’s also the first Motel 6 in Austin

Where I haven’t been propositioned

The last Motel 6 I stopped in there was always someone asking if I wanted a woman, they actually had a vice patrol.

 

Prior to the AIPF I was watching Houston Animal Cops on tv back in England and wondered if there was a similar organistion in Austin, a seach led me to Austin Wildlife Rescue, an expression of interest was sent resulting in an offer of voluntary work. Poem 35 was written after my first visit, I would do voluntary work later.

35) I went to an animal rescue center,

To see who would be my mentor

Cos’ I sent an e mail to ask

If I could do a voluntary task

Spend my time giving a helping hand

To the injured creatures of the air and land

They’d agreed and showed me the animals I’d help feed

Baby possum in my hand, me thinkin’ ain’t this grand

But for now more poems to recite

But caring for God’s creatures I’ll learn

When to the centre I return

 

36) At Bahai’s giving my best, promoting Lamesa Forrest Fest

Tho’ I’ll not be there, it don’t mean I don’t care

Tellin’ folks in Rhyme, how I spent my time

Old folk’s homes, workshops too sayin’ it’s all there for you

Come wind, come rain, come sun

At Lamesa Forrest Fest on the West Texas plain

An’tho’ in person I can’t be sought

I’ll be there in spirit an’ thought

 

37) My Lamesa poems told what I’d done

Neath the hot Texas sun

Writin’ recitin’ delightin’

With a wit as quick as lightnin’

Cheerin’ folk up when they felt down

When The Road Poet hit Lamesa town.

 

Poems 38 – 40 are about the traditional Midnight to Dawn reading, a regular part of the festival and were actually written at the event.

06.04.14: 38) Lamesa promotion giving folks the notion

Go give their best at the Forrest Fest

Now we’re gonna have a blast see how long we can last

Midnight start for our poetic art

Can we last the pace at the Strange Brew Place?

Will we be jaded our energy faded?

Or get it right and last the night?

As we yearn to recite in turn

Inspirin’ or tirin’

Heaven or hell, time will tell

Caffeine fix, can we last till six?

How long will we dwell, time will tell

 

39) 2:30 am we’re fewer in number, some have gone to their slumber

Others sat about the place, trying to keep up with the pace

Up an’ down bobbin’ we’re doin’ a round robin

Formin’ a queue to do what we want to do

As our poems we rend, how many will be left at the end?

 

40) Midnight to six event still going on

Now a few more have gone

But we’re not bereft, there’s 17 of us left

So while the others are alightin’ we got more time for reciting’

But I’m sat dozin’, but before my doze gets older

There’s a friendly tap on my shoulder

Then an incentive to be more attentive

What was done was have gift cards to be won

For what and where, prose or rhyme

Was said or happened at a certain time

Then three more came through the door

Maybe stragglers but definitely not hagglers

Now a gift cards been won and we’re still not done

The poems still flow and we’ve under an hour to go

And outside it’s raining but in this dry land there’s no complaining.

Now it’s six and we’re done, we’re tired but it’s been fun

Our work has been read and that’s me done I’m off to bed.

 

41) Outside my room a strange sound

Woken looking out of the window I found

What many would consider abhorrent

Rain falling in a deluge a torrent

Drops of rain, precious life giving rain

Prayers for it heeded

I only hope that when it falls it falls where it’s needed

 

42) Rainfall not a storm

The air smells fresh, atmosphere still warm

What I like when it’s been are trees looking a verdant green

Air clear, unknown sound to hear

Louder from afar, softer from very near

Brought about when the rains been here

 

42) Tomorrow I’m on the road again as is my will

To call for fuel the gas tank to fill

To the gas station I ran, that’s when the problems began

Was the spot to big, or the filler hole to small?

Should I risk filling and spill it all

I decided to try and squeezed the trigger with care

But when I looked there was nothing there

No gasoline, from the nozzle coloured green

Was it the pump or was it me

I’d pressed the 87 button from a choice of three

I squeezed again and still nothing came out

From the end of the nozzle spout

Then it hit me and I quickly found

Over here compared to England, it’s the other way round

If the pump could speak I wondered as a rule

Would the nozzle have said to me?

“You’ve got the wrong one it’s me you stupid fool”.

Soon the tank was full, tomorrow on the road I’ll be free

And in future know which nozzle to use

When I fill the tank of the car that carries me.

 

43) Kick Butt final event festival over

But not for us, days of clover

We got more things to do

More events we’ll not be blue

Tomorrow more of America unravels

When once more I go on my travels