Image: A classic example of Austin humour

 

05/04/15 - 24) Disembarkation,

Then to Customs and Immigration

Scan you passport and four fingers

Answer four questions, it's quick, nobody lingers

Bag collected passport stamped an I'm away

To  "Welcome back Sir have a nice day".

 

25)  They said the car was small, the smallest of the range

Would I like to pay a bit more for a change

I thought “it may be a tin can, but it’ll do for this travellin’ man”

In bay E19 it was seen

More than big enough for me, in fact more than big enough for three

Proving whatever’s small in Texas it, is always large enough for a Brit

 

26) Expressions was a delight last night

Familiar friendly faces, smiling no airs and graces

How good it felt to be back, how good to get my tour on track

How good on that first night, to get up and recite

Poems I’d written months before bringing them to the fore

And recite and say, poems I’d written on the way

Ending with one describing the Texas Coastlines bounty

Comparing it with the coastline of Yorkshire The White Rosé County

 

27) My alarm went off it was still dark,

I thought “is time having a lark?”

Is something amiss, surely it should be lighter than this

An answer desired at reception I enquired

They said the clocks went forward so daybreak’s an hour late

Then I remembered I set my alarm for 6:30

When I normally rise at 8.

 

My first written about Austin Wildlife Rescue on my first day there, there would be many more to come, all relevant to my experience there.

28)  Do they refuse them, no they don’t

Will they turn them away, no they won’t

They welcome creatures however small

Austin Wildlife Rescue accept them all

Thorough inspection no rejection

Most will make it in the main; some are let sip away out of pain

Be they possum, squirrel, racoon or dove

All are treated with compassion and love

And for those returned to the wild

Is it like saying goodbye to a grown up child

 

06.04.2015 – 29) Expressions on Saturday, Kick Butt Last night

Seems everything is going right

They all seemed to enjoy,

saying “awesome”, to my poem about a Salutin’ Boy

Then another one I’d tell wrote last year at Kick Butt it went down well

Joined ny Thom and Bob the audience could see

The Commonwealth poets numbered three

Reciting to claps and cheers, poetry worlds very own three musketeers

 

The first of 5 phone link ups form Austin to Lamesa to promte the Forrest Fest, it worked.

30) Yesterday, grey sky an’ drizzle like an English November

Today it seems it’s gonna be warm like the Austin I first remember

An a gentle breeze blowin’ through the trees

Traffic dashin’ past in I – 35hop etey get where they’re goin’ alive

An soon I’ll join that throng, as on  the 183 I’ll travel along

But first a phonecall get the airwaves hummin

An’ let KPET Radio, listeners in Lamesa know

Next week for Forrest Fest, the Road Poet’s a comin’

 

31) “Welcome Trevor” said Don, his morning show I was on

I said “Good morning Lamesa this is Trevor speaking live

From Austin by Interstate 35”.

Promoting the Forrest Fests 15th year

Hoping despite my accent they could hear me clear

Speaking about what lay in store

Poetry, music, tree plantin’ and much more

Then I recited from the heart, a poem in part

Ending with “If you want to hear the rest,

then come on down to the Forrest Fest”

With that I was away, hoping those who heard me

Would be there on the Forrest Fests opening day.

 

Things still don't go according to plan

32) An open mic at BD Riley’s, Austin, was my intent,

But for another event

There was a bang and fearing the worst I stopped to find a tyre had burst

Then what made me feel blue the car doors were locked too

Without doubt I was locked out

But help was at hand, and things turned out grand

I was in luck, someone called the Police and a Fire Truck

It’s crew opened the door and what’s more

I can tell, they changed the wheel as well

Then the mood became even lighter,

when I said I was a retired English firefighter

They didn’t mind helpin’ one of their own kind

Then in at the car hire place I dropped, the car quickly swapped

So back on the road again, got to the open mic but in vain

For me to read there was no time

But back at the Motel I captured it all in rhyme

Yet another poetry score about another event in my 2015 poetry tour

 

Ever felt like crying, I did here

07.04.2015 – 33) I gently stroked the rabbits head

Giving what comfort I could

Hit by a car things didn’t look good

Sadly we agreed there wasn’t much hope

With its injuries it wouldn’t be able to cope

It was a sad day as we helped it on its way

Now maybe it’s in Rabbit Heaven above

And at least before it went it experienced, the hand of human love.

I would use my emotions from this in another poem later on

 

Wrote on the day it happened

34) She picked up the egg, it hatched in her hand

To help the chick she sought, to Austin Wildlife Rescue it was brought

Probably not much chance but we tried and try we did but sadly it died

But it’s not all doom and gloom

As yesterday I was privileged to see

Screech Owl and Adult Possum being taken away to be set free.

 

34) Monday night I had a problem a homeless guy stopped to help

When it was sorted, away he began to turn

He’d helped a stranger asking for nothing in return

So I slipped a modest $10 bill into his hand

His gratitude as such, it could have been 10 grand

 

Just when I thought things were going well.

35) This morning I set off for breakfast I hadn’t got very far

When another guy ran into the back of my second car

We got out our driving licenses, exchanged details as drivers do

Back at the motel I found that as well

As his details I’d got his driving license too

I rang and told him I’d got it, it wasn’t lost

He asked me to send it by Fed-Ex and he would stand the cost

Fed-Ex found, his license to him bound

And perhaps the experience will be with him to the last

And next time he goes round a corner he’ll not go so fast.

 

This was a really great moment

36) Not only had a Screech Owl and Possum been set free

There was also a turtle, a job that was given to me

Now it’s in a pond, hopefully swimming without a care

But I wonder if it’ll remember the poet, who proudly carried it there.

 

Who said poest have no sense of humour, wit and timing?

37) I walked into the Wildlife Centre

They asked if I was ok, like a family would ask brother

I said when you get past 60 you can’t tell one ache from another

 

09.04.2015 – 38) Day dawning, it’s AIPF Morning

Registration Day but first I’m away

To Austin Wildlife Rescue where they’ll be needin’ me to help with the li’l critters feedin’

Get them sorted, fed an’ watered

Not a moment too soon, then head for registration early afternoon.

 

All good fun

39) Fratchin an’ fightin’. Scratchin’ and bitin’

Squirrels not tame, do they thinks it’s a game

But they’re needin’ their mornin’ feedin’

They were fed eventually an’ it all went grand,

An’ I got the scars to prove it, on the back of my hand

 

40) AIPF Headquarters found, registered and was bound

To the Wyndam Garden Hotel, my poetry to tell

Make ‘em laugh, cry an’ one thing’ll be swell

If I get inspiration from others as well

Or so I thought

 

41) The sound of a Fire Truck in a rush broke the hush

Sirens blarin’, lights flashin’ to a call it was dashin’

Horn honkin’ as if to say “give way”

This journey we take, lives may be at stake

It ain’t for fun, give the engine some gun

On any call Firefighters give their all

I know well the score having been one myself years before

Their courage you can never dispute

“Brave to the last” I thought as they drove past

An’ removed my cap as a mark of respect and a salute.

Dedicated to th ecrew of Engine 13 Austin the above actually happened

 

42) It was supposed to be Five when this City Reading came alive

But at 4: 53 there was only me then I was joined by a man called R T

An’ some more came but went to the opening event

Which was on at the same time as our period of rhyme

So I went there driving with care

But it wasn’t much of a lark, there was nowhere to park

No point in stopping there so I looked elsewhere

To Austin Library to look, and see what was on Facebook

And se the comments about my accidental moments

What I saw was grand, our dog Louie frolicking on the sand

Making the most of his first trip to Filey on Yorkshire East Coast

I liked what I could see, thinkin' he's having a better time than me

And it did seem so

 

43) I may have something to say, about what happened today

Sending my comments by e mail or letter

Giving my thoughts like in my school reports

And the comment “Could have done better”.

So much for organisation

 

Persistence finally pays off

44) At Mr Catfish I finally got my wish

To read on the AIPF’s opening day

Down Airport Boulevard I’d run the open mic had already begun

With luck I was kissed they put my name on the list

Poems were read of love, hate and laughter

The Feature Suzy Q, I was after

Hoping I wouldn’t sound to hollow, she seemed a hard act to follow

And so where those before me,

I hoped the audience wouldn’t ignore me

But I wasn’t filled with dread, as they listened in silence to what I said

Then applause and as it was abating

I thought it really was worth waiting

 

10.04.2015 – 45) I woke to a familiar English sound

Looked out of the window and saw the rain hittin’ the ground

Gentle rain I don’t mind cos’ when it’s been

The trees seem more alive, a vibrant green

The air smells so fresh an’ clear, so hey

What better way to start the day

 

46) Drove through the rain to the centre again

But first as was my will a radio spot to fill

Linked to Lamesa by phone

Promoting the Forrest Fest making it known

Hoping they’ll all come on down

To the Fest, sing say or play, make it a fantastic day

Tell ‘em who’s on show, so they’ll know

Where they’re from and what’s to come

Then finished with a rhyme about a birds feedin’ time

Nice an’ clear, a poem I wrote last year

Signing off when it was read,

Thinkin’ now let’s get there an’ get the animals fed

 

47) At Manacha Library Thom could be found

Trying to break new poetry ground

He’s managed to think up, a London to Austin poetry link up

Via the internet his best idea yet

Technical guys together brain in gear

Everything should be loud an’ clear

And all would be seen on a large screen

But in technology’s song, things can always go wrong

The camera wouldn’t work so round the laptop we’d lurk

But what was feared was that only our side could be heard

Then it went fine when someone got the speakers on line

And we could hear them so no need to be frantic

As poetry instantly went back and forth across the Atlantic

An’ for us watchin’ who’d given our time

We all got a chance to do a quick rhyme

At last one event eventually went right

 

But not this one

48) To Wyndham Garden Hotel for a second time

For a couple of hours of rhyme

But once again I was blue

Cos’ once again the attendance was only two

As a hotel for feature poets it may be the ideal place

But as a venue it’s just a waste

 

This one did though

49) At Warwick Manor I looked in the trunk to find

I’d left my American flag behind

I find it looks right when I recite

About a boy with a flag standing, saluting the spirits of Soldiers landing

So tonight I had to look into my bag to find, poems of a different kind

Written on my current tour, three and no more

So when the events over I take my bag, and go find my American flag

 

50)  I’d an idea though not quite clear

In my mind, where the flag I’d find

The Wyndham Garden Hotel the place,

So I drove there and found a parking space

Then went within and found it had been handed in

To my delight things had gone right I took it back

And now my tour’s on track

 

11.04.2015 – 51) Something wasn’t quite right

Going to the bathroom most of the night

It seemed I’d caught a tummy bug

So at AWR I wouldn’t give the li’l critters a hug

Like as not, I didn’t want them catchin’ what I’d got

So I did ask, for a manual task

And made a start, playing my part

In this part of the American nation, working for animal conservation

 

The tragedy continues

52) At the New World Del we didn’t get a look in

Seemed they’d had a double bookin’

Fearing the worst a ladies group was first

Once more out of luck my poems I took

Hoping somewhere else I’d find

An open mic with those of like mind

 

Not quite a disaster

53) New Deli event fallen through I thought I’d try

An open mic at the Black Butterfly

Arrived there, plenty of time to spare

But it could have been a waste a previous event hadn’t taken place

It seemed there were four and no more

So to their dismay they went away

But this time to my delight, the ladies there asked me to recite

Saying “stay, let’s hear what you got to say”.

So I began with poems from 2011

My first time at Austin’s poetry heaven

Then followed up with three, a trilogy

About a saluting boy looking out to sea

The Texas Coastline and a guy that sang for me

Then more recently written on inspiration I’d relate

About my time in the Lone Star State

Then went for coffee but said I’d be

Back to see if anymore turned up at three

 

Same can't be said here though

54) The programme was showing at Lavazza a city reading was ongoing

So Idrop in and listen to others reciting

And let me capture it in my writing

But nothing was seen or heard, not a sentence not a word

Still no need to cry, coffee to go and back to the Black Butterfly

 

Or back here it gets worse

55) Back at the Black Butterfly, Sarah and me

Were joined by Angel making it three

Who did tell another event was cancelled as well

And Sarah did relate she’d suffered the same fate

But no despairing, we did some poetry sharing

Then decided not to dewll and wished each other well

An’ I thought “I suppose, I’ll try my luck at Dominican Joes”.

 

I did get lucky

56) Dominican Joes was a delight

People turned up an event today finally went right

Our work to share in the open air

Oblivious to the drops of rain we recited again and again

Not even the grackle with its nasty cackle

Or traffic noise from the road interrupted anyone’s ode

Speakin’ loud, speakin’ proud, again and again

Loud an’ clear for all to hear

No need to yearn we all got a turn

And more and more reciting many a score

It went good as it should. You bet, the best yet

An’ I’m thinkin' as I drove away

Why couldn’t other events have gone this way?

Thankin' Father, Son an’ Holy Ghost for Jaime being the perfect host

Jaime is Jaime Gori who also hosts Neo Soul at Mr Catfish, he is great at hosting events making everybody feel valued.

 

57) I’m in Austin once again, it seems to have done nothing but rain

An’ I’ll be drinking coffee not beer, cos’ I really am glad to be here

 

 

Getting ready for the Midnight to Dawn event one of the mainstays of the festival

58) Thom said have a go join the show

I recited a poem I made up there and then

But could have got really vexed

When after 2 lines I’d forgotten what comes next

 

The Midnight to Dawn event starts

12.04.2015 – 59) Don’t sit about the place

Get in line and take your place

Don’t sit get in line from midnight to seven

Austin’s annual poetry heaven

Don’t sit debatin’ join the waitin’

In the queue is a space for you

Don’t be nervous it’ll be fine

Just get off your butt and get in line.

 

60) 4 am, an’ we’re still goin’ strong

An’ the queue to read is still as lrong

Patient waitin’ their turn as they yearn

To read their latest score no need to worry there’s still 3 hours more

 

61) Now the time is getting shorter, so is the line

Some have gone deciding not to stay

Outside it’s still dark this early in the day

Then there’s the stalwarts whose energy has not diminished

But I can’t help thinkin’ will they be glad when it’s finished

 

62) Daylight came creepin’ but I was still sleepin’

Midnight to & event done no more playin’ an’ sayin’

I’m back where i was stayin

When I awoke I’d missed the light rain like a mist

But no time for debatin or waitin

I got my stint to do at Austin Wildlife Rescue

An’ the festival ain’t over yet

Cos there’s poetry at Stompin Grounds in the style of Russian Roulette

 

63) Stompin Grounds an is it really a year since I was last here

A band was singin’, inspiration was ringin’

Poetic rythm flowin’ an’ I was knowin’

The song I recalled from 45 years ago I recalled of late

It was a song called the weight

Memories of a previous time captured in rhyme

An today’s poetry world would gain

An to my delight I’m able to write an' capture that memory again

 

64) Does lightening strike twice

History repeat itself in the blink of an eye

Is it gone in a trice

It seems so cos’ one thing I know

Today’s pattern is exactly the same as a year ago

AWR to Stompin Grounds and then to my delight

As last year when I was here one more gig

At Kick Butt on the Festivals last night.

 

65) At Kick Butt I’m outside waitin’,

Inside the Festival Committee’s debatin

Don’t they know, we gotta put on a show

They’re talkin’ about committee selection by election

Who’d be best to organise next years Fest

So it goes like a song and nothing goes wrong

An’ we’ve nothing to fear unlike this year

So we do our rhyme with no waste of time

An’ it won’t be in vain cos’ some have said they’re not comin’ again

Sure gonna be a shame if they don’t up their game

Then to my delight came a motion just right

Saying “I propose we close an’ go,

An’ let the others get on with their show

An’ times passin’ by, all in favour said “Aye”

Then we was knowin’ we could get our Sunday night goin’

 

13.04.2015 – 66) Kick Butt last night went alright

Sing, say or play, what better way to end the AIPF final day

We’d all done our bit, we’d all been a hit

Hot Tamale, Lost in Thought, Element 19

All made sure we got heard and seen

Ernie B in charge of sound, an I’m thinkin’

“Will there be another round?”

Then Hot Tamale’s tee shirt started flashin’

An I look up to se Thom dashin

Not to the bar but to his car

So to those remaining it seemed just right

To say “Thank you and goodnight”.

 

67) No time to be layin’ in bed

There’s animals waitin’ to be cleaned an’ fed

Down the road I go but in vain, I made the wrong choice of road again

But kept on tryin’ an’ soon I was flyin’

An then before I knew, my link up to KPET was due

A parkin' lot found, on the airways I was bound

Sayin’ “Good Morning Lamesa it’s me

Speaking live from Austin just off the 1-8-3

Broadcast done it was time to run, no hesitating

Cos the animals’ll be as hungry as hell and don’t like been kept waitin’

 

68) Another great day at AWR, a very fulfilling time

Then to BD Riley’s for an eveniin’ of music an’ rhyme

Signing up as Trevor, Joe asked “Trevor who?”

I said “from England”, and he came top in the one liner game

When he asked “Is that your second name?”

 

69) Minor Keys was the main act, they were great in fact

A very talented two, keyboards, guitar, voice and tambourine too

They got goin' their talent showin'

Aged 11, transportin' the audience to a musical heaven

Enjoyin' song after song. clappin' along

Through their repertoire they ran

Ending with Mr Piano Man

An I reckon, a good musical career will beckon

An' the road to fame is strewn with boulders

I sure hope they gat an agent with a level head on his shoulders

Keepin' their unique sound, an' both feet firmly on the ground.

 

70) BD Riley’s again this time I made it here

I’m drivin’so keep off the beer

DWI ain’t no joke so I’ll stick to coke

Enjoyed the main act well worth comin’

Followed by Wayne, singin’ an’ strummin’

Then time, for me to tell my stories in rhyme

The Salutin’ Boy came with ease

Then one written on inspiration about Minor Keys

The Texas Coastline went down fine

Then Joe shouted “one more” so Mr Poetry Man was my final score

The audience seemed to like my rhymin’ tack

An’ I’m thinkin’ it’s great to be back

Shakin’ my hand a guy said, “well done” “thanks” I did say

Pointing to three  empty tables said “I hope I haven’t driven them away”

Then brook with her guitar sang, the room to her style of music sang

Followed by Jake who choose, to sing in the style of the blues

Ryan makin’ a start, playin’ from the heart

An’ his playin’ gettin’ the audience swayin’

Sang two songs and was goin’ but stayed

His mind by the audience swayed

When they shouted “encore” he did one more

Margaret came along and sang an original song

Musical rapture, the audience to capture

Not diminished someone was clappin’ before she’d finished

Clem who Joe said “had class” was supposed to be was “bad ass”

Played his type of sound with a French film on tv in the background

Playin’ along no slackin’ with a French language backin’

Then a change of tack, the backing Chevy Chase in Caddy Shack

An Clay Mitchell’s on stage while I’m composing this rhyme

An’ unlike in 2013 when I had to leave I’ll get to listen to him this time.

Off Austin the artists proved themselves the toast

Cos’ while watchin’ what I enjoyed mostWas even when the audience got smaller, they proved themselves teh taller

Givin’ all they got no lull, playin’ as if the room was full

As we should expect, for any audience respect

Proving any situation you can win it, just put your whole heart in it.

 

14.04.2015 – 71) Good start to the day, I was on my way

To see my possum friends and let ‘em see me

When I get ‘em fed and change the paper for their bed

An’ there’s birds to tend squirrels too, always something there to do

But the rewards can be so grand,

Like the time Hayley put a 2 day old fidgety armadillo in my hand.

Hayley is the centre manager

 

72) Last night I saw him throwing 1 cent coins on the sidewalk

I thought “shall I pick them up”

Then thought “I may be a poet, but I’m not that poverty struck”.

 

15.04.15 - 73) The phone keeps ringin’ people keep bringin’

A furry or feathered friend, it never seems to end

From the nest they dropped when the tree was chopped

Even lower, nest destroyed by lawn mower

We’ll give ‘em food an’ shelter an’ keep ‘em warm

Safe from civilisations progressive storm

When they grow it’s great to see them been taken to be set free

And a new home to find, well away from humankind.

 

74) Bring ‘em in we’ll take ‘em within

Show you care don’t leave ‘em lyin’ there

To find us ain’t hard, we’re on MLK Boulevard

So next time an injured animal you come across

Don’t stand there at a loss

Give us a call an’ bring ‘em in, an’ we’ll take ‘em within