Image: The hotel car park, the morning after the thunderstorm.

 

24.04.2015 – 113) Last night on opening night

There was lightenin’ flashin’, thunder crashin’

Rain fallin’ but for us there was no stallin’

Reading as one, we’d all done

So takin’ the road that led

To the hotel and bed

It was still rainin’ but I wasn’t complainin’

I’d had a great time sharing my rhyme

Now it’s a new day an’ I’m away

An’ I’m bound to Weslaco East High, to spread the poetry sound

An’ when I’m reciting I won’t be quakin’

Cos in the audience could be, future poets in the makin,.

 

114) Daniel was introduced, his work he produced

Telling his story, reading his poetic glory

Then my turn to say “Hi” introduced as a travellin’ poetry guy

From England who had written poems by the  score

And was still writin’ more and more and more

Taught the students first how to get the hang

Of greeting in a Yorkshire twang

How to save cash, if ever they do a touring dash

Then intro over I couldn’t lurk

It was time to recite a selection of my work

So I started, goin’ at it whole hearted

At the end a pleasant task, answer any questions they’d ask

Don’t give no bull, give encouragement to the full

An’ maybe one day it’ll be great to see, them recitin’ alongside me

 

115) Sea of interested faces, don’t put on airs and graces

Speak plain an’ clear, it’s you they’ve come to hear

Don’t be to remiss, or afraid t use emphasis

Read with love every part, of your work read from the heart

 

116) Reading at East Weslaco High done back to the hotel I run

Get ready for tonight the Valley Festival slam fight

But first on this part of my roam, get something for the pets back home

Jazzy the cat and Louie the pup, just the two

A couple of collars with Texas on should do

Collars bought, gas station sought

Need plenty for tomorrow, going to South Padre

No good running out on the way

Now fuel tank full, gonna take a lull

Rest up so I can get it right at another VIPF Poetry Night

 

25.04.2015 - 117) Last night slam I was on first,

No need to fear the worst

Someone gave me an idea what to say, so take the mic an’ I’m away

Introduction without ruction

Tell ‘em I’m not gonna sing a song,

But say what comes to mind as it goes along

So I let go and let it flow

Bringin’ the room alive, finishing in 2 minutes 55

Even involved some mimin’ an’ a guy said, “that was good timin’”

But I went out in the first round. back to the hotel I was bound

To my delight I could have an early night

An' this travellin’ lad didn’t feel bad,

Cos’ he’d taken part an’ given his heart

 

118) My hotel I was nearin’ I was seein’ lightnin’ but not hearin’

Thunder or more, something I’ve seen in Texas before

Steady drive not dashin’ lightnin’ still flashin’

Still warm despite the lightnin’ storm

Then a rumblin’ like something tumbling,

Gettin’ nearer can hear it clearer

In my room I heard the rain first beat gently on the window pain

Then heavy like a machine gun rattle,

As nature started another weather battle

Thunder and lightnin’ as one the storm began

Flash, crash an’ it seemed to make the whole hotel tremble and shake

I wasn’t feeling dread, snugly tucked up in my bed

Went to sleep with the storm still singin’,

Looking forward to what tomorrow as bringin’

 

119) Last night’s rain did me a favour, a nice cool morning to savour

An’ because I’m going far, how nice it is to get into a cool car

Poems on the seat at my side, I can no longer abide

Give the engine some gun, eastwards I run

To South Padre perhaps 90 minutes away

Interstate clear, movin’ up a gear

Slow down for Los Fresnos town

Don’t wanna get caught in the speeding game

Out of Los Fresnos increase my speed but again a limit so take heed

And Laguna’s the same

Port Isabel now behind I’m on the bridge South Padre in sight

The first part of today’s poetry roam

Seein’ it feels good after a year away it feels like I’m comin’ home

 

120) Paragraphs on Padre bookstore once more

Can’t be profane, need the bathroom again

Long drive to start the day, couldn’t find one on the way

Now it’s used an’ I’m enthused

It’s workshop time about travel, how our journeys unravel

What they tell about where we temporary dwell

What we get from where we’ve been, what we’ve seen

An’ most important at the end of our roam

That special place we call home.

 

121) Camper van, purple airplane, sports car, pickup truck

SUV, Cement truck, model toys on the table full size one able

Their purpose today to give us inspiration,

So we can talk an’ maybe write, and in each other’s stories take delight

All this because we’re able, to take inspiration from toys on the table

 

122) PW ran the workshop so we said we’d like

Him to also run the open mic

So he gave the word go and we let the poetry flow

Whether it rhymed or not we all gave what we got

Cos’ when we got time sparing,

What better way to spend it than poetry sharing

 

123) She read something erotic, he prefect fantasy

And fantasies are always perfect as anyone can see

Moments to treasure, imagines pleasure never tainted

By the words “it’s time the ceiling was repainted.

 

124) They’d no coke or other soft drink, so what to have I had to think

Iced tea I’d tried that before, “yuk” it got a no score

Iced coffee seemed a good bet, I hadn’t tried it yet

I asked “can I try before I buy?”

So he put ice in a cup then with hot coffee filled it up

That was in vain I simply thought “yuk” again

Sit an’ wait for it to cool did they take me for a fool

So like as not I said I’ll have my coffee hot

It’ll cool at length but most important, it’ll keep its proper strength

 

125) Rio Grande Grill there to do my rhyme

Wonderin’ what’s on the menu this time

Last year it was a local dish, Mahi mahi, a type of local fish

It was swell, went down well

They had fish again this year in 3 tacos or 2

I didn’t want much so thought two’ll do

They came with salad, beans and two dips

When I tasted them it was like nectar to my lips

Then an addition that raised the taste to mighty

A splash of my own malt vinegar, brought all the way from Blighty

 

126) He asked for my malt vinegar and put it in his coffee

His coffee was cold was he being bold

Now another travel anecdote I’ll happily tell

When asked why he did it I’ll say “Cos’ it’s Texas so what the hell”.

 

127) Valley Festivals gone alright, now it’s the final night

For all to come and recite

Whether registered or a feature,

Celebrating the life of the poetry creature

Following the poetry road, reciting many an ode

Schools, grills, bookshops where anyone will listen

All good material to make our inspiration glisten

With poems about life, love and anger at the closing Pachanga

We’ve believed, we’ve achieved, we’ve had our say

An’ everyone a part of the memories we take away

 

128) I’ll do my poem then I’m away

Tomorrow I’ve an early start to the day

To Austin headin’ North to where I arrived on April 4th

To a motel bed the final place to lay my head

Before the following night when I’ll be on the homeward flight

And I’ve one more open mic at Kick Butt to do an’ do it well

Before bidding Texas another fond farewell