Image: David Lester Young aka Ben Franklin, he is the Ben that I refer to in the Poets Three poems

 

03.04.16 - 19) End of a long flight,

landing always a delight

Luggage and car collected, change of intent

Drove first to the anthology event

Nothing to fear let the motel know I was here

It was alright, I’d be ther later that night

Then we took to the stage with our latest score

Recited and then recited some more

Supper break then the anthology came, so again it was more of the same

Reading what was in it to the end, and reading the work of an absent friend     

Then energy levels dropping, time to be stopping

Get to the motel alive, while I’ve still the energy to drive

The familiar voice told the way, a perfect end to my first day.    

              

20) A challenge was set, a good one? You bet

30 in 30 was the task, what’s that someone did ask

A poem a day for April we were told, have a go if you feel bold

Long or short any poem’ll do, one a day from each of you

Unwittingly I’d already started, writing my tour pomes whole hearted

Would the challenge be an easy one, cos’ I’d 12 poems already done

 

21) Cell phone sought, at Walmart it was bought

Set up and working, now no time to be lurking

In my car to AWR, my time to give, helping injured animals live

Just like last year again I volunteer

And as usual I find others of like mind

Becoming new friends our compassion never ends

Animals large or small, we’ll care for them all

And as ever it’s great to see

The recovered ones being taken to be set free.

 

22) I got to the AWR and was surprised because,

It wasn’t as busy as it usually was

The weekend volunteers had begun, and most of the work was already done

The racoon room, normally wall to wall

With cages, this time hardly any at all

The others had been fed an’ given fresh paper for a bed

At the li’l possums I had a peep, all enjoyin’a Sunday sleep

Nothing much for me to do except introduce myself to the Sunday crew

Then come way, another activity too seek,

But I’ll be back early for the rest of the week. 

 

23) GPS programmed and take the road that leads

To Burnet and recycled reads

Where unwanted books aren’t thrown away but live to be read another day

Quite an array of different books, pick up a best seller for a couple of bucks

So your imagination feed, go to Burnet and enjoy a recycled read

 

24) At recycled reads we did our bit, each one of us a hit

A hit in our own unique way, be it sing say or play

Be it free verse song or rhyme, what better way to spend part of the day

Imagination glistening, while we’re sat listening

Then a rhyme, capturing another moment in time.

 

25) Recycled Reads event done, now driving in the hot Texas sun

Thom leading the way, to our final event of the day

Hot Tamale an’ Ernie B, welcome me

As I walk through Kick Butt’s door to do my first appearance of four

 

04.04.2016 – 26) Day dawnin’ memories this mornin’

Of Kick Butt last night and what a night

Where anything goes and it went. From 7 till gone 10 it was when

We took to the stage with words and song and whatever else came along

Performers old and new, struttin’ their stuff as only they can do

Make folk clap, make ‘em smile. Last night a wow, a memory now

A memory not to lose

Of Sunday night at Kick Butt, the baddest, the best place

For coffee, music poetry and booze.

 

27) Not a good start to my first working day,

At AWR finding two young opossums had passed away

A feeling of loss giving, way to the need to look after the living

Those needing changing and feeding

Put it behind us when they remind us

What we do what we give, is a better chance for them to live

 

28) They don’t have to ask, when feedin’ opossums is my task

A labour of love so there should was no to do

When I was bit by the possum in cage 22

Letting my concentration slip, got a little nip

On my finger end, so now I’ll depend

On takin’ more care of the possum there

Watching what I do with the little guy in cage 22

 

29) There was a voicemail from my boss

It seems the company was at a loss

On a shift they were short he had a thought

Cos’ he knew it, if I was available I’d do it

But no one did say, “He’s in Texas USA”

Too far away to get there that day

And how would he explain I’d come by plane

When management saw my expenses claim.

 

30) Volunteer work done, to the library I went

Facebook page updated and e mails sent

Find out how things are at home, an essential part of my roam

Now take myself away for the rest of the day

Solitude to find, leave the city behind

Let my thoughts run free, enjoyin’ some time for me

 

05.04.16 – 31) Slight rumble of traffic on the interstate outside

Me with coffee inside

Grackle lets out occasional shriek I’m alone I don’t need to speak

Just enjoy this moment of hush, before once more I join the daily rush

 

32) The hammocks in the extra cages was showin’

The centre’s baby opossum population was growin’

Moe little guys to be attended to, more rewardin’ work to do

It was delightin’ no more bitin’ cos’ what I’d remembered to do

Was keep my fingers clear, of the little guy in cage 22

 

33) There’s a long way to go and I didn’t know

How to work the car radio

Back to the rental place where they showed me how

To get it workin’ I thought wow

Now I got country music in my car

An’ I’m singin’ along an goin’ “Yeehaw”

 

06.04.2016 - 34) Another mornin’ an it’s still dark,

I’m leavin’ another motel car park

Filled up my thermal cup

Coffee infusion on the way, keep the drowsiness away

To Waco, Baylor University as the night’s abatin’

Hopefully Thom’ll be waitin’

GPS on, the way it’s knowin’ now time for me to get goin’

 

35) Through the dark into the morning light, got to Waco alright

But the GPS took me to God knows where the University wasn’t there

Check the GPS address, sort out the mess

I must have programmed it in my slumber, typing in an extra number

Correct one typed in and once more I’m bound

Soon the University buildings found

Told why I was here the staff couldn’t have been better

Showed me and told me to the letter

Where I wanted to be, The Hose of Poetry

At the Armstrong Browning Library after a while

Thom was sitting there with a smile

He said “my instructions weren’t in vain the road warrior makes it again”.

 

36) Coffee, juice, pastries to eat, sure tasted neat

Not to heavy or filling, to try yjem I was willing

A welcome greeting from those I was meeting

Smiling as I said I’d come all the way, to Texas from the UK

 

37) Event starts I sit and listen, let my inspiration glisten

Listen to what other poets do, an’ maybe pick up a trick or two

Listen to others reading and we’ll see, next year one of then could be me

 

38) Poems thought provoking, poems about joking

Poems heard, cherishing every word

Different ideas and themes Poets following their inspirational dreams

They begin, so take it all in

Listen with care as they share

Loud and clear so you can hear

And not miss

A chance to write your own poem, as I have done with this.

 

39) Rad Radam food court it’s Wednesday night

Poems to read, people to delight

On the stage there in the open air

Read what you like behind the mic

Your choice, enjoy the sound of your own voice

Listen to others, like sisters and brothers

Listen quietly or interject, then applaud and show respect

What better way to end the day,

 

40) Sun gone down on Austin town

My poems read, back to the motel to lay my head

Sleep the night away

Cos’ tomorrow’s Austin International Poetry Festivals opening day

 

07.04.16 - 41) This mornin’ I’m reflectin’ on last night’s venue

Poetry, song and Thai food on the menu

Our talent to share with all there

An’ when I’d done my rhyme, I lay in a hammock for the first time

Gently swayin’, listenin to guitar playin’

Wind blew gently through the trees as I took my ease

Layin’ a while with a contented smile

Then rejoined the throng, for more poetry an’ song

Now its coffee an’ away, another new day

 

42) At AWR I was asked to show another volunteer how things go

What she’d need for each animals feed

An’ be it pottery or tin, which container to put it in

An’ if stuck with a task, all she had to do was ask

So she started and was chattin’ away

Cajoling a baby bunny to eat, as in her hand it lay

Next the opossums, how to handle them right

So she didn’t get a nasty bite

Then the birds and how,

To feed them with bugs, mealworms and puppy chow

So she got stuck in an’ I can tell, she did the job an’ did it well.

 

43) Registration Day at National Treasures

Plus open mic for poetic pleasures

A delight o get up an’ recite,

Among familiar faces, includin’ Thom an’ Ben

How good it felt to be back again

 

44) Registration done quicker than expected

Tee shirt, badge an’ magazine collected

An in the corner I seen, the obligatory coffee machine

An’ to an even greater delight, they’re running an oipen mic

So sit down an’ wait for my time to recite

 

45) Registration open mic done, now a short drive in the sun

Kick Butt an’ once more on the stage

The poems read from the page

An’ when all have read their score, we’ll go round some more

Then when this events done, off we go to another one

 

46) This year there was a Poets Three, when Ben joined Thom and Me

Event to event we’d hop, in on one we’d drop

Hopefully make folks smile, each with our own unique poetry style

And would there have been one more,

With absent friend Bob, we’d have been Poets Four

 

47) The Poets Three dropped in to see

An open mic at National Treasures

And another chance to enjoy, international poetry pleasures

Arrived to fine no one there but they didn’t care

Come what may they’d recite anyway

And hopefully by their example, others registering would give a sample

Of what they’d writ. So all could listen to it

Neil and Charlie came across an’ made it five, the event came more alive

As more an’ more poetry was read, before the end an’ goodbyes were said

Which goes to show, when things look hollow

Take the incentive and let others follow

 

48) Open mic at National Treasures done, only a few of us but it was fun

The poets three became 2 and 1

Me to the library an essential part of my roam

Catch up on what’s goin’ on back home

Thom an’ Bens gonna take a break

Meet up later at Thom’s our intent, and Poets Three go to their next event

With more poetry to be read, at San Marcos Wake the Dead.

 

49) Poets Three their equipment stowed, now time to hit the road

Thom in the back while I drive, an’ Ben navigates us to the I-35

Then we’re on it, Southward bound, Ben still navigatin’ the venues found

Arrive early, set up, rest up

Ease the strife before we try to bring the dead back to life

 

50) Thom sets up the recorder to record the event

To show it on U Tube the intent

Record the acts all night long, but somehow he’d got it wrong

Put it back to front, with with perfect aplomb

If no one had noticed, we’d have had over two hours of Thom

 

51) We say Peter, they say Peder

We say Scooter, they say Scooder

He didn’t understand a word I said, so I said it their way instead

Changing the t for a d, saying I was here for the poedry.

 

08.04.16 – 52) slightly jaded I find, memories of last night fresh in my mind

Of seasoned rhymers and first timers

Giving their best and more, singin’ or readin’ their latest score

Takin’ the stage, readin’ from memory or page

Sharin’ the work they done, be it serious or fun

Something for one and all, we sure had a ball

New poets befriended before the night ended

Now black coffee to bring me round, before once more I’m bound

More poems to write an’ regale,

Another day on my annual Texas poetry trail

 

53) An out of town poets event seemed right

Called “Open Mic for Non Austenite

They got them for other groups such as LGBT,

Now there was one for poets like me

Not many, only a few, but we got to listen to what others can do

Went round twice then I came away, for another event later that day

Met up with Thom, now waitin’ for Ben,

Then poets Three hit the road again

 

54) The three of us, headed for Poetry Plus

Ben bought the food, Thom the fuel I did the drivin’ an’ all was cool

As we venture to another poetry adventure

Georgetown bound, Poetry Plus found

Now we wait for startin’ time, an’ I finish off this little rhyme

 

55) How nice to start early, top finish early too

How nice to drive home, enjoyin’ natures evenin’ hue

How nice to think as the day ends

What a great time I had, at Poetry Plus with friends

 

09.04.16 - 56) Went to bed early last night,

Extra time in bed sure was a delight

A slightly more alert frame of mind an’ some more new events to find

Central Market would be the first, two hours of humorous verse

I couldn’t have predicted, the instructions contradicted

Saying at the, The Triangle which I was told was elsewhere

So off I went to see, where it would be

Nothing did it yield, but an open field

Back to the market I went and to my delight

Benjamin Pehr was there and things looked alright

But no sign of the man with the sound,

And perhaps what mattered most, no sign of the host

But patience is a virtue we waited and used it well

The soundman came, the host second soon others as if beckoned

Few in number again but not in vain

We all read an’ it went well, I could tell

Or I wouldn’t have spent, time writing this poem to say how it went

 

57) The temperature fell, no longer hot as hell

Wind an’ rain, the day gettin’ older, I’m gettin’ colder

Never seen a sky of grey last most of the day not in Austin anyway

Rainspots chill, my arms like a masochistic thrill

On the balcony blown, almost chilled to the bone

Shiver down my spine sendin’ while listenin’ to others poetry rendin’

Never known such cold Austin weather,

Which may be the first time in Austin ever

That I ended up rubbin’ my cold hands together

 

58) The low battery light was flashin’ power was running out

An’ I’m thinkin’, what’s this all about

If the battery goes flat I may as well be blind

So there was a problem and a solution to find

The charging light was workin’’ then it was off again

Somethin’ was wrong that was plain

I found that I was able, through moving the charging cable

With it I played, an’ the light, on it stayed

I needed to secure it, so it wouldn’t happen again

Oe indeed hiring it would have been in vain

I had an idea and it wasn’t a jape

And my piece of technology was secured by old fashioned cellotape

 

59) The sun came out, late afternoon

It got warmer, not a moment too soon

But for others not me, as soon in my room I’d be

Sleeping away the rest of the day

Hoping energy levels are right, for the midnight to dawn event tonight

 

60) I wake but no time for lurking, hope the GPS is still working

Gotta go to the Midnight to Dawn show

I’m in luck, the tapes still stuck

10:45 pretty dark so drive with care, no problem, GPS got me there

Now writing as I wait for the bewitching hour

An once again my inspiration back in full flower

 

10.04.16 – 61) Midnight to Dawn event started

I’ve just recited an’ the ausdience seem delighted

Accent a hit, it’s said they love my humour and wit

An I got plenty to say, till dawn just ober 6 hours away

 

62) On stage one at a time we went and our time was spent

Singin’ sayin’, or playin’ at midnight we begun

Then Thom gets up an says “well done, the clock is now showing one

A group photo will show clear to those who aren’t, who’s still here”.

An hour later he was up again sayin’ it plain

“Well done all of you we’ve now made it to two

Let’s have another group photo to show clear,

To those who aren’t, who’s still here”.

An’ one man’s heard to cry, “that’s a really good alibi”.

Then Thom says “I can see, the clock is showin’ three

Let’s have another picture to show clear,

To those who aren’t, who’s still here”.

Fewer in number, some have gone to their slumber

Soon it’s four an’ Thom says “One more picture to show clear

To those who aren’t, who’s still hear.

An’ they will know, there’s only two hours to go”.

Then Thoms sayin it’s now five, for those still alive

Let’s have another picture to show clear,

To those who aren’t, who’s still here”.

And those that have gone to their bed

And are probably sleepin’ like the dead

“We’ve had quite a mix” says Thom as the clock reaches six

“Put down your page an’ get on the stage

For the final picture to show clear, to those who aren’t who’s still here

At 6:15 Thom says “That’s it let’s leave the place

Well done to all who stayed the pace.

 

63) Library queue, homeless among them too

Quietly waitin’, maybe contemplatin’

About the day ahead and what lay in store

Perhaps the same routine an’ more

Of it then a change to their day, two men appeared each carrying a tray

Of food, to the queue bound and began to hand it round

Nobody tried to get more; each got a share of what was in store

One of them said “it’s what we can afford, an’ I’m told to do it by my Lord”

He offered some to me, I said “No thanks it would be greedy,

Please give it to someone more needy”

I smiled and said may, I pray for you today”.

I said “go ahead" so hand on my shoulder a simple prayer for nothing more

Than God bless me with a good safe poetry tour

 

64) Threadgill’s, meal ordered, service a bit slow

But it came, a bit too much so I got a box to go

Sit an’ listen to poetry an’ song, before my next event come along

Bill arrives, round it up and pay an’ listen to what’s been said before

I’m away to see what else is in store

Come what may on the AIPF’s final day.

 

65) Malvern Books my next stop, in I drop

Others waitin’ talkin’ debatin’.

Names on the list so we don’t get missed

Video camera set up, ain’t gonna be no let up

Sign to say we’re knowin’ on U Tube it’s gonna be showin’

Now prepare an’ get set, for another game of Austin Writers Roulette

 

66) Open mic at Malvern Books done,

The Poets Three drop in on another one

Kick Butt a local Haunt, for their second Sunday poetry jaunt

Thom gets a coffee puts it on his car trunk

The wind blows it over before it gets drunk

Waste of money but still funny

Me an’ Ben laugh away, an’ I say “He probably didn’t want it anyway”

 

11.04.16 – 67 Kick Butt last night went alright

Then came the news that gave us the blues

Next Sunday, no open mic, music poetry and booze

But no need to really be blue I’ll find something else to do

Will I be bored? I doubt it,

Whatever I find to do I’ll probably write a poem about it.

 

68) Last day at AWR for a while, tomorrow I drive many a mile

Early start for the sake of my art,

Giving my best at the Lamesa Forrest Fest

 

69)Austin National Science Museum, they got animals for folks to see em.

To injured to live free, use ‘em as an example to see

Wildlife we should be enjoyin’ not destroyin’.

Shootin’ or pollutin’in progresses name, for them it’s no game

Safely caged, looked after an’ well fed, in the wild they’d soon be dead

These creatures of air an’ ground, at the museum they can be found

Large or small, a lesson in conservation to us all.