Image: South Texas College with Clark's students

 

21.04.16 - 120) Sun Poets last night, as usual a delight

Old rhymers and first timers

My annual date, didn’t finish too late

To my motel I headed back something went off track

GPS relied on again takin’ me there

Knowin’ where we’re goin’

Dark night but a familiar sight

Then it dropped so clear, I’d done the same thing last year

 

121) Down the road to my next abode

A long way so leave at break of day

GPS says 5 hours, Google said 3, which is it to be?

Either way it’s got to be done, cos’ I’ve agreed to give a talk at one

Then the early traffic starts thinnin’, soon I’m drivin’ an’ grinnin’

We were going well I could tell

Arrival time droppin’ still no time for stoppin’

No stops arrival time drops

So keep on truckin’ at the speedo I’m lookin’

Sign says “Services 60 miles away”

I realise I’ve had no breakfast today

To early for lunch so it’ll have to be brunch

 

122) Made really good time, time to spare and find out where

I need to be to talk about poetry

My friend Clark found, to his classroom bound

And like as not I’m in time for an earlier slot

So I got to do, not just one talk but two

 

123) Clark introduces me as Trevor form the UK, that’s it I’m away

So I tell ‘em about cheap travel, let the mysteries unravel

The best deals to get, on or off the internet

Cheap accommodation across the nation

Going far, use hire car

Share the cost, hire GPS so you don’t get lost

Where to eat at prices that can’t be beat

All this an’ more then I read mt first poetry score

In 2012 the question was asked "was I rich" the answer "ask him" they did and I said "no" and began telling the students how to travel cheaply in America, based on my own experience, I have been doing it every April since.

 

124) I read many an ode, I’d written on the road

And took delight in telling what inspired me to write

Any subject, any time just get it all in rhyme

Be it music, art or a humanitarian aspect

Doesn’t have to be line perfect

An; I opened their eyes

To poetry when I said “An’ you can do likewise”.

 

125) Clark acknowledged me saying “Thank you”

Then led me to Valley ViewHigh School

Where Nianna was waiting there

Where once again to the front of the class I’d walk

And so begin another talk

About where I’d been, what I’d seen

An’ the time I took to put in rhyme

An’ for a while, how to travel America economy style

Saying “It’s what you can do, so go, do and good luck to all of you

 

126) To Nianna’s take it steady, shower an’ get ready

Before we drive with intent, to the VIPF kickoff event

Meet an’ greet, introductions made

Poets asked to do local radio interview

Food to eat, savoury or sweet

Anthology  distribution, read our contribution

Before it ends chat with friends

Then to Denny’s Clark, Nianna an’ me we’re away

The perfect end to a perfect day