Image: Receiving awards for services to The Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival from Jesse G Herrara. L to r Daniel Garcia Ordaz, Trev (me), Jesse G, Edward Vidaurre. We each received a belt buckle with our initial on. I was almost in tears with pride.

 

24.04.18-119) Yesterday priority 1 as usual get my laundry done

In the machine an’ that’s that, time to chat

Over coffee an’ I regale, my latest travelin’ tale

An; say, what’s been happenin’ on the way

Where I’ve recited, audiences I’ve delighted, an’ yes,

Problems with the gps

Then Clark says “Are you ready to see more,

Of McAllen let’s have a tour”.

Called to see *Mario to say hello, lunch at Denny’s then away

To make the most of the rest of the day

South we run in the afternoon sun

Soon I find we’ve left the city behind

A leisurely afternoon stroll let the time gently roll

At La Lomita we tarry a while, enjoy the silence, relax an’ smile

An’ Clark tells me it’s claimed, in its honour the city of Mission was named

Then by the river we watched the wildlife an’ enjoyed iced tea

Then there was somewhere else we had to be

Dinner with Nianna another great friend

Where our greeting said it plain, it was great to be back in The Valley again

*Mario is Clark's husband he runs his own dog grooming business and is very successful.

 

120) This morning in the main let Ivy get used to me again

So she’s not thinkin’ “who is it” now I’ve made my annual visit

This afternoon’s been really hot so we’ve been relaxin’

Doin’ nothin’ to over taxin

Once again check my e mails from home

Have a look an’ see where I need to be

Now it’s sorted an’ it’s evenin’ time I’m outside relaxin’ in a cool breeze

Ivy sat at my side an we’re listenin’ to the *chicharras singin’ in the trees

Makin’ the most of a relaxing time

Cos’ tomorrow I start at the schools with my rhyme

*chicharras known as cicadas are a superfamily, the Cicadoidea, of insects in the order Hemiptera. They are in the suborder Auchenorrhyncha, along with smaller jumping bugs such as leafhoppers and froghoppers

 

25.04.18-121) Breakfast had then away, to Valley View High for the day

Turn right down Ware, drive with care

Traffic building up, on 281 it’s at a crawl, Not gonna wait

Don’t wanna be late, nothing to fear, use frontage till 281’s clear

Then I’m on it, exit for South Jackson found, down it I’m bound

Still drivin with care soon I’m there

Goin in the welcome makes it plain; it’s good to be back again

I ask how many classes Nianna says “nine” I say “okay that’s fine”.

So I begin each class with a talk about Cas’

Then poetry about where I’ve been an’ what I’ve seen

An’ usin’ the time to capture it in rhyme

It seems to go well and then I tell

How travelin’ can be extensive but not expensive

Go where they feel, look online for the best deal

Then when it’s all done I’ll come away

Thinkin’ once again another great day

 

122) Two years ago I met a young guy

Wanted to write an’ recite but was kinda shy

Alan was his name I encouraged him to get into the poetry game

Sayin’ go ahead an’ write an’ to my delight

He had an’ things were goin’ right

When we met again I could tell

From the look on his face things were goin’ well

How nice it was to see, him makin’ his way in the world of poetry

It pleased me to see he was becoming a hit7

An’ I was proud to be one of those who encouraged it

 

123) Last class of the day it was a simple task to ask

Saying don’t be shy, who would like to give poetry a try

Bertha raised her hand, I thought it was grand

After all that was said an’ done I’d got through to someone

So Nianna an’ me gave our time

To encourage her to go for free verse or rhyme

She was pleased at the interest we were showin’

Cos’ we were knowin’, an were thrilled to the bone

She had the ability to do it right, an become a poet in her own right

An’ critics she would beat, with the world of poetry at her feet.

 

124) School day over Nianna laughed when she saw

The St Georges flags on my car, and asked “have they come far”

I said “from beyond the pond”

Addin’ something else that came to mind

“In a crowded car park it makes the car easier to find”.

 

125) Back to Clarks to rest up and catch up on things back home

To my delight an e mail that said they were glad things were going alright

Then it was done and so to the next event, our intent

Not to have life so drear but celebrate another year

In the life of a friend an’ I was delighted to be invited

We made the most of Clark being the perfect host

Talking, laughing, joking the occasional fun poking

At the end when the guests went away

I thought “What a great ending to another great day”

 

26.04.18-126) Mario’s gone to work, Clarks havin’ a lie in

I’m sat with coffee an’ I’m tryin’

To capture in rhyme this moment in time

Early morning hush I don’t have to rush

Air fresh an’ gettin’ warm, after last nights thunderstorm

An’ now the trees are ringin’ to the sound of the birds singin’

I’m writin’ thinkin’ “nice, it’s just like writin in paradise

 

127) Been for a drive as mornin’ comes alive

Have a look an’ see where I need to be

How long it’ll take so there’s no mistake

Everything goes right for the first event tonight

So when it’s done I can hopefully say, didn’t need the gps anyway

 

128) Weather still okay, not too hot for this time of day

Clark books a flight for some time away,

For him and Mario down Mexico way

Him an’ Mario’s gonna take, a well deserved break

Then he takes time to record me live, doin’ my rhyme

He says “good expression, great inflexion, they’re alright”

Now let’s go rest before the opening event tonight

An event that will see a Yorkshire Lad impersonate Jesse G

 

129) I left Clark’s in plenty of time

For the opening night to share my rhyme

Give my best in my yearly visit to The Valley Poetry Fest

Seventh year in a row, gonna let the poetry flow

Or so I thought but of the venue there was no sign

Things weren’t goin’ fine, so a simple task, call at a hotel and ask

They got me out of the fix, saying it’s back a ways just before Motel 6

Back I went, found it an’ went within

Thinkin’ “ok guys now let the poetry begin”

 

27.04.18-130) Last night went alright Boundless launched

Young poets enthusiasm not staunched

Cos’ they will be, the future of poetry

Sure was a delight watchin’ then recite,

Then one by one we all got done

In alphabetical order we all got a turn, an soon they would learn

As I went last, my poem was a blast

Cos’ they did hear an’ see

A limey poet impersonate the Legendary Jesse G

 

131) Coffee, egg sandwich and breakfast bar,

Leisurely cos’ I don’t have to travel far

Start my day at a school 5 minutes away

McAllen High so get there in time to do my rhyme

Cos’ at times it’s no lark finding somewhere to park

 

132) I arrive at the campus, drive round, parking space found

To reception bound, look in then book in

Then see where I need to be, it turns out to be the library

So off I go, ready once more to let the poetry flow

 

133) First two classes done I enjoyed each one

Reading past poems an’ some I’d just writ,

They sure was a hit, as was my wit

Cos’ once in a while I made them smile

Encouraging them to travel many a mile

Told them how to save a heap, how I travel on the cheap

Behind the wheel look out for a good deal

Foe cheap gasoline when on tour, saving 20 cents a gallon or more

Put them in the know about grab an’ go

So when they save a heap, travelin’ on the cheap

And asked “how?” wherever they go

They can say “A limey poet taught us so”.

 

134) Time for lunch Daniel says can you do Mexican

I say “Si, Senor of course I can”

“Like as not if it’s not too spicy or too hot”

So to a cafe we’re bound it was soon found

Wonderful venue as long as Daniel interpreted the menu

It’s name was a teaser, “tacos estilo suisa”

Easy for Daniel of course,

He said “it’s chicken tacos with a Swiss cheese sauce

Really was nice, with extra refried beans an’ rice

Went down well really was swell

Chance to talk an’ catch up on, what had happened since I’d been gone

The end of lunch drew nigh, time to get back to McAllen High

For soon, there would be classes in the afternoon

Hope fully encourage students to take the time

To try their hand at verse an’ rhyme

 

135) Afternoon classes done, back too Clarks I run

Relax rest up for the night, do things right

But first do a video under a tree, a poem about taking time for me

 

136) Youth slam first, college readings second

Then someone I knew I was going to see, the legendary Jesse G

He recited as before an’ then some more

An’ I enjoyed it more than before

Then he calls Edward Daniel an’ me to the stage an’ our spirits lift

As he give us all a gift

An initialled belt buckle an’ it’s fine, then it’s adult slam time

8 at the start recitin’ from the heart,

Not bereft when I wasn’t in the last 4 left

Cos’ I’d got something that meant more to me

A personalised belt buckle from Jesse G

 

28.04.18-137) Day was dawnin’ no alarm this mornin’

But woken by a familiar sound, rain hittin’ the ground

Yes it’s rainin’ but I ain’t complainin’

A nice relaxin’ sound, rain hittin’ the ground

Sky’s a full grey, could be in for the day

Birds singin’ away, ain’t caused them no dismay

An I’m in the porch outside, cup of coffee, an’ Ivy at my side

Takin’ the time to record in rhyme, another score on my poetry tour

An’ I’m content with time again spent

With Ivy watchin’ an’ listenin’ to the sound, of the rain hittin’ the ground

 

Poems 138 - 142 were written at the Saturday morning workshops at the RGVIPF.

138) He’s a bombastic prat an’ that’s that, he’s a boss I don’t give a toss

An obnoxious worm that like to make people under him squirm

One day though it’ll be grand when I have the upper hand

Leavin’ a stink when I say what I think

Sayin’ your’e a prat an’ that’s that

 

139) Smell of fresh coffee

Reminds me of poetry

April in Texas

 

140) The Fish an’ Chips in

Texas are better with

Malt vinegar from home

 

141) We warmed the soup with a blow torch

Moving the pan so it wouldn’t scorch the side and so spread the heat

But we were beat, it came out lukewarm, it was still swell

Cos’ we were hungry as hell

Followed by bread an’ Jam, not  a big meal to say the least

But for those with nothing it would be a feast

Not a banquet but yet, a meal I never forget

This was based on 2 Dec 1994 when returning from an aid mission to Bosnia during the Yugoslavian Civil War, all we could find to eat was the above. We remembered those whom we had helped, those who had nothing, as we ate it, those to whom it would have been a feast

 

142) The skinny naturist a creature of habit

Reminds me of a freshly skinned rabbit

Of further lines there’ll be none, it’s lunch time an my inspirations gone

 

143) Morning workshops done, lunch an’ then back we head

More poetry to be read. Featured Poets lead the way

Then after the break, the Registered Poets get their say

I’ read with earnest intent about an event 24 years ago

About a civilian who became a war hero

Then I made ‘em smile with a haiku Barnsley style

An’ it was a delight to read one I wrote last night

Cos’ I could see, the guy that it was meant for not far from me

So it was great to exude poetic gratitude

An’ he thought it was fine, givin’ me the thumbs up sign

Then a quick one about what to say

To your critics, two words meaning go away

 

144) He knew his poem was to long, but he read it anyway

He didn’t care for the time, he knew it was what he had to say

He wasn’t bothered about the cost, he knew last night’s slam could be lost

He knew it had to be read, what it was about had to be said

He knew his poem was too long but One Deep read it anyway

One Deep is John Meza who recites deep meaningful poetry which carries a powerful message and he preferred to get the message across rather than win this year’s poetry slam. The above poem was written out of respect and as a tribute to such a noble act. It was read to great acclaim  at the closing Pachanga.

 

145) Pachanga always a delight, but sad because it’s the last night

But I’ve had a great time sharing my rhyme

An’ listening to what others had to say

Now it’s the last day drawing to an end

But not until we’ve had one last say

The final open mic of the fest, we give our best

An tomorrow some will be away

But for me it’s not quite the end, cos’ I got a lunch date with a friend

 

29.04.18-146) McAllen, the start of my final day tomorrow I’m away

Laundry in the washin’ machine, I’m thinkin’ how great it’s been

Relaxin’ takin’ my ease, listenin’ to the birds singin’ in the trees

Dog on a lawn frolicking away, sure is a good start to the day

Bird lands on the bird table for a drink,

Then he’s away quicker than I can blink

An’ I finish this poetry score, then relax an’ enjoy the moment once more

 

147) Poets in a bunch meet at Edwards for lunch

Sit eat an’ chat about how it’s been, reflect on how it’s gone

Look forward to next year then me an’ Nianna’s away

To see the adaptation of a Shakespeare play

Of the new order, set in the Rio Grande Valley on the Mexican border

Romeo and Juliet Rio Grande Valley style

Then after, we hugged an’ said good bye

Slight sorrow but I had to go and pack for tomorrow

Packing done now take Ivy out one last time

Cos’ it’s the end of the day and the end of this rhyme