Showing posts with label poem. Show all posts
Showing posts with label poem. Show all posts

Monday, February 23, 2009

Just Plane Dead


She stands in front of the entire plane
She tries her best to explain
What to do in the event of an emergency
And at the same time assuring us with her voice
This is in-fact,
A safe place to be.
I heard contrary to mass belief
It was one of the most dangerous ways to get around
That experts, statisticians and insurers have found

She places a very old lifejacket on...

"In the unlikely event of a landing at sea.."
Surely you cannot attempt a landing without land
Maybe this is what she means by unlikely
Maybe she should say
That there is a strong possibility
That we could plunge from the sky screaming all the way...
Sod trying to put a life jacket on
Maybe that's just a diversion to think about
Seconds before your lights will go out

She continues on,
With her demonstration

"Exits are here, here, here and here,
Two at the front two at the back."
Now I wasn't nervous when I waited in departures for this flight
Sitting, thinking of beer and weighing up whether to down a pint,
Should I dare?
It may make me need a pee in mid air
I heard when you pee up there in the sky
It's ejection from the plane forms a block of ice
And some unsuspecting passing person below might just die!
If it fell on their head,
Death by urination it is said,
Isn't a pleasant way to end up dead!

Anyway back to this pre-flight horror filled lecture.
Lifejacket - don't open, wait till you get outside right
Oxygen from the ceiling, mask on tight
Exits, gotcha
Sit and enjoy this flight.

So to recap...

In the event of an unlikely event
The following sequence is what should be followed
Listen to the captain speak loudly over the loud speaker
Place your oxygen mask over your face is the first thing to do
Before helping others that you see turning blue
Wrestle to get your seatbelt on
Pray or scream depending whether your coolness has gone
Maybe confess your unfaithfulness to your partner
Maybe a secret you've kept hidden or maybe you've lived with a lie
Remember to do this only if you're sure you're going to die
And plunge very very very quickly out of the sky
If perhaps your death isn't forthcoming
Perchance the plane's simply skidded
With sparks and flames flying
To a metal screaming halt
Wrestle with your seatbelt to get that off
And vault
Vault all those people who can't move as quickly
Punch and kick your way to the door
Pull anyone in your way to the floor
A matter of life for you, death for anyone in your way
Forget the excuse me or the pardons or the have a nice day
And hope one of those fun looking inflatable bouncy shoots is in place.
Or you may exit the exit and fall on your face.
That you wouldn't want to do
Lying, after all that effort to escape
With your skull cracked in two

These words I think should replace the instructions you're normally fed.
And should set you in better stead
So you know what you're doing
You'll avoid ending up just plane dead.


Gordon Taylor

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Evening Solace


The human heart has hidden treasures,
In secret kept, in silence sealed;­
The thoughts, the hopes, the dreams, the pleasures,
Whose charms were broken if revealed.
And days may pass in gay confusion,
And nights in rosy riot fly,
While, lost in Fame's or Wealth's illusion,
The memory of the Past may die.

But, there are hours of lonely musing,
Such as in evening silence come,
When, soft as birds their pinions closing,
The heart's best feelings gather home.
Then in our souls there seems to languish
A tender grief that is not woe;
And thoughts that once wrung groans of anguish,
Now cause but some mild tears to flow.

And feelings, once as strong as passions,
Float softly back ­at faded dream;
Our own sharp griefs and wild sensations,
The tale of others' sufferings seem.
Oh ! when the heart is freshly bleeding,
How longs it for that time to be,
When, through the mist of years receding,
Its woes but live in reverie !

And it can dwell on moonlight glimmer,
On evening shade and loneliness;
And, while the sky grows dim and dimmer,
Feel no untold and strange distress­
Only a deeper impulse given
By lonely hour and darkened room,
To solemn thoughts that soar to heaven,
Seeking a life and world to come.


by Charlotte Bronte

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

A Frozen Tear


By William Thomas


Winter in Kodiak, a time of little light.
The snow brightens the ground and the stars light up the night.
A cluster of Spruce sag deep, a drift in front of my car.
My heart weighs heavy. Thoughts of relatives afar.
A blustery wind blows, north then south.
A cold winter thirst, warm java for my mouth.
A homeless man sleeps, all bundled in clothes.
His heart deep with thoughts of past Christmas woes.
A handshake, a smile, a sip of my coffee.
A friend in waiting, I became to he.
Some food from the shelter, a warm place to rest.
His life for the moment, felt happy and blessed.
He told me the stories of days long ago.
My full attention, he required, to him I happily bestowed.
A veteran of the war, a father of four.
A long distance call seemed to matter no more.
The blanket of stars and the snow under his feet,
only brought back memories of a scar so deep.
A story from my life, I understood his loss.
To spend Christmas without family, there's no greater cost.
One more handshake. A “man-hug” goodbye.
His face looked of worry, wondered if I would be back tonight.
A job in Kodiak sometimes is so rare.
But I am happy to tell you, where I work is here.
A smile, a thought, the lending of an ear.
A thousand times more helpful than a frozen tear.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Believe in Yourself


Believe in yourself -
in the power you have
to control your own life, day by day,
Believe in the strength
that you have deep inside,
and your faith will help
show you the way.
Believe in tomorrow
and what it will bring -
let a hopeful heart carry you through,
For the things will work out
if you trust and believe
there's no limit
to what you can do.


by Emily Matthews

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Declutter Happy

Stack it, store it, box it, shelve it,
Throw it, bin it, gift it, repair it,
Recycle, Freecycle, Charity shop or friend
Ebay, Antique shop, bargain ad or mend.

Books, clothes, tools, electronic games and toys,
Guitars, recorders, organs and other noise,
Gadgets old and new, that little black dress,
Ornaments, adornments, paperwork and mess.

Trash or treasure, how do you measure,
Sentiment, attachment, pain or pleasure,
Own it, hoard it, emotional ties,
Deal with it, clear it, open your eyes.

Just in case! What a waste! Ah there it is!
Not seen this for ages! - Just the bizz,
Lose that weight, I remember that date,
This I love and that ....I hate

This is just stuff and you've moved on,
It's belongs in the past - the past is gone,
Catalogue it, photo album. select the best,
Organise and cherish, discard the rest.






Sunday, November 23, 2008

WHEN I AM OLD


One day, when I am very old
This hurt will be forgotten.
I’ll quietly, carefully, walk through the town
Button my coat against the cold
And think about my shopping.
I’ll pass the little bridges
And the church where we lit candles
And I won’t remember, I’ll have no care
That once upon a long-gone time
We held hands there.

I won’t remember how we watched
The water swirl against the old brick wall
And promised we’d come back one day;
Or that you smiled into my eyes
And told me I was beautiful.
I will have forgotten, in the busy passing days
The sweetness of someone my own to hold,
And the sound of your voice and the warmth you brought
when I felt lonely and life was cold.

When I am very old, one day
(just a few million breaths away)
I’ve promised myself (so I know it’s true)
I will have forgotten that I wanted to grow old with you.



Thursday, October 2, 2008

Crossroads


The second half of my life will be black
to the white rind of the old and fading moon.
The second half of my life will be water
over the cracked floor of these desert years.
I will land on my feet this time,
knowing at least two languages and who
my friends are. I will dress for the
occasion, and my hair shall be
whatever color I please.

Everyone will go on celebrating the old
birthday, counting the years as usual,
but I will count myself new from this
inception, this imprint of my own desire.

The second half of my life will be swift,
past leaning fenceposts, a gravel shoulder,
asphalt tickets, the beckon of open road.
The second half of my life will be wide-eyed,
fingers shifting through fine sands,
arms loose at my sides, wandering feet.
There will be new dreams every night,
and the drapes will never be closed.
I will toss my string of keys into a deep
well and old letters into the grate.


The second half of my life will be ice
breaking up on the river, rain
soaking the fields, a hand
held out, a fire,
and smoke going
upward, always up.



*********************

I am looking forward to it...

Friday, July 11, 2008

How Could I Sleep?

My soul was playing with yours
How could I sleep?

No veils, An emotion so pure
How could I sleep?

Happiness drowning my being
How could I sleep?

Armed with strength, all fears flying
How could I sleep?

Your breath on my breast
How could I sleep?

Full moon in my heart
How could I sleep?

Didn't need the sleep, felt so complete
How could I sleep?


Renu Rakheja a.k.a Tranquil Ocean
Poemsabout.com