Published Poems 2

In The City


Poem First Published  “Central Anthology”  Poetry Now  Mar 1996


The streets are not all paved with gold,
But with dirt and grime and litter;
And cardboard cities decry from the corers
With people forlorn and lost and bitter...
In the city.


There’s money being spent by County Hall,
Renovations to give the city a new look;
Lest we forget those who have suffered,
The children of the city whose lives they took...
From the city.


The greys of the towers strut above the skyline
Now, a façade of mustiness hangs, like a cloud;
The streets milling with the shopping people,
People who were once, so proud...
Of the city.


Exhaust fumes from the motor vehicles,
And plumes of toxins rising up from  chimneys
All add to the contractual destruction
That’s bringing the town to its knees...
In this, our city.


And how can we, as ordinary people, put right the wrong
That has been done to the heritage, to architectural
Beauty once heralded as the dreaming spires?
But now, surely becoming, a dying and poor city...
Our world, our lives, all...
In the city.


©tcmoon 2011 (1995)

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Whose Choice?

Poem First Published  “Euthanasia”  Poetry Now  Feb 1996

“Kill me!” Said the voice, pleading.
“Kill me now please, you can’t stop the bleeding!”

The doctor shook his head, he had heard the voice,
He took off his glasses and stared, it wasn’t his choice!
On the bed affront of him, a motionless cadaver.
Oh no! He was living and life like this could on forever.

The doc’ turned away, back to his medical machine.
Then again came the voice. In his head? In a dream?
He glanced just once more at the figure atop the bed;
He comforted himself. “death would be better” he said.
“look at the tubes, degradingly in every orifice
And family members gently giving a kiss – then they leave,
There’s nothing they can do. But grieve.”

The doc’ returns, his patient is calling.
On the machine, his heart rate is falling;
The patient is dying, doc’ knows there’s no chance,
Only futile attempts to grasp, that heavenly branch.

“Kill me! Kill me! Kill me please”
The chilling words cause the doc’ to freeze...
“...who said those words? From where did they come?”
This patient has no movement, that includes his tongue!
Doc’ knows this is terminal and he faces such a dilemma,
When a coma patient is begging euthanasia.

Doc’ covers his ears. “Kill me! Kill me!” says the voice.
What can doc’ do? Put his patients pleas first?

                                   That, is not his choice...

©tcmoon  2011 (1995)

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School Dinner

Poem Fist Published  “Skool Daze”  Anchor Books  Mar 1995

“Phew! Pongarama”
Said little Sid
As he lifted the lid.

“Poo! Stinkerimy!”
Said ol’ Deek
As he dared a peek.

“Ooh! Stenchy wenchy!”
Exclaimed spotty Luke
When he tried to look.

“Cor blimey! What a pong!”
Cursed Jim Smiff
When he thought he’d take a sniff.

“Aargh! Disgusting!”
Cried greedy Rick
Who  had to have a lick!

“I won’t eat it, I won’t!”
Shrieked Linda who wanted to be thinner.
“I will not eat anymore school dinner!”

“Nor will I!”
Shouted Reggie Lye.
Everyone agreed.

Well, what about you?

©tcmoon 2011 (1995)

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Angel’s Kiss

Poem First Published  “Fallen Angels”  Poetry Now  Mar 1996

Seldom darkened but strickened grief,
Til’ eternity made it’s call
And life so young succumbed in a whisper,
The  tears so shed by all.

Farewell we bid, to one, a friend
And one we all will sadly miss.
His time has come, when God called
And chose him for that angel’s kiss.

It’s not goodbye, just fare thee well
In Heaven we’ll all meet again;
Death in life is not the end
Tis’ but a detour from the pain...

The scope of life, unjustified
And one feels cheated at a friend’s passing;
Was it not just yesterday
When he smiled and was laughing?

It’s all the harder for us to accept
That God could do this to them all
And take the life of one so young,
Whose life was over by that call.

 Oh we will miss that friendly face.
We’ll missed that wicked smile of his;
Is God so lonely and Heaven so empty
To take Matthew for his angel’s kiss?

©tcmoon 2011 (1995)

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Winter Falls 

Poem First Published  “Winter Words”  Anchor Books  Apr 1996

So too my life
As Autumn leaves fall;
So withered the trees
That tremble, as Winter
Draws, ever near...

My days are numbered as
Seasons of the Earth;
As leaves left on trees
Awaiting death to befall –
Here go I;

As Winter dost throw
It’s musty cloth of abandonment
Down, around the
Throat of life,
It’s claw palms of Summer;

Tightening the grip that
Shall be forever more
And hereafter the
Deterioration of life...

...as Winter falls...

©tcmoon 2011 (1995)

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Who Is My Boss?

Poem First Published  “Poets At Work”  Poetry Now  Apr 1996

I don’t really have a boss,
Not one like most of yours;
no-one to tell what to do
Unless you count ‘er indoors!

“I am my own man” so I tell myself
And dole out the punishment the same;
When I’m wrong, I take myself off
And inflict masochistic pain!

Oh yes! It’s so great to be the boss,
I can take breaks whenever I like;
Awarding myself pay rises and bonuses.
Blimey! If I must I can go on strike...

And no-one with an injunction to stop me
Cos’ whatever I do’s down to me;
No need for negotiation. Nor ACAS,
Excuse me for  a mo while I go for a pee...

...and no-one can tell me not to,
There ain’t no gaffer above;
My limited company is in unison
With the work force that is I alone.

Who needs a boss with qualifications
And who thinks they know better’n me;
I’m in charge of my sanity, it’s my pen
And it’s me wot’s writing this poetry...

...however, I would like to say this to the chief,
He’s a bit awesome and fills me with dreads,
“could you please take this evening in lieu of my words
So I can join the wife who is in our bed!”

©tcmoon 2011 (1995)

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Published Poems

The Beginning Of Birth

Poem First Published      “Poets 1992”      Arrival Press   1993
Impale yourself upon my trusty steed
and feel the berth of the beast
and ride into the night.

Come thrusting into the tunnel, the dark tunnel
that glistens with the yearning for the beast
the mighty beast and it’s milk of love.

Straddle the beast and hold tight
with all your might
take the beast within your
soul
and don’t let go
come to it’s surrender
and let passion be stronger.

Ride off into the darkness
with the light of love emblazoned upon your heart
and the beats of love, trapped within the valley
of warmth and tenderness.

Thrust yourself upon the beast
trap it in the valley
the warmth dripping from it’s walls
and glistening on the shaft of the beast.

As the shaft glides through the brush
to the valley of love beyond
unloading it’s milk of life
herein the beginning of birth
itself . . . .
©  tcmoon  2011 (1992)


Tears Are Never Enough

Poem First Published Poetry Institute of the British Isles  “Island Moods And Reflections”   1995

Tears are never enough
when you lose a friend;

You get used to the laughs
you thought could never end.

A mate’s a mate
when all’s said and done,
and remembering the times
when everything was  fun;

And tears are never enough
they never, ease the pain;

His life over, and yours,
will never be the same.

You can never imagine
the death of a friend

and always go on thinking
a friendship ‘to never end’

but end it has and life goes on,
tho’ you’ll mourn the late;

but he wouldn’t want sadness
not Adie, my mate.

My tears are sent,
my sadness apparent;

tho’ tears are never enough,
for his short life,

I hope the peace you find
will be as happy

as some of the times we spent
my dear friend . . .

©  tcmoon 2011 (1995)


Oft Yey I Wonder

Poem First Published  The National Library Of Poetry (aka poetry.com)   “Sparkles In The Sand”   1995

Oft yey, I wonder
what lies behind
those dark green eyes
that hide that smile?

Hark, thou hearest me though
my prayer dost go unheard;
My body to lay down
in the storms of bewilderment!

Oh yey, my mind is free,
that I maybe deft to wonder
of events that that I do not yet see,
yet feel the pain it does not relinquish.

It’s now, my God, I need thee now
to heed my love, sunken deep;
I crave immortality I can see;
I yearn so – just to be free . . .

And yet those chains
that dost burden me so
behold my life, so gaoled within;
that traps the beast of equity . . . .

©tcmoon 2011 (1995)


For This War

Poem First Published  “Flags Of Victory”  Poetry Now Oct 1995

I have to kill thee, jolly soldier
And bastards from the loins of mine enemy;

For this is war
And tho’ we like it not, it is my duty!

Here, in mine hand, a gun;
A bullet in the barrel. A bullet I save for thee;

You are the enemy, as I
Am, the enemy to thee. So thou must slay me also!

For this is war
And tho’ we like it not, it is, our duty.

Uniformed man, of equity;
Thou standest before mine liberty, we have,
but one choice?

If thouest murder me to death,
Then, thou shalt gain thine victory, but, if I
should conquer thee, then, sobeit!

For this is war
And tho’ we like it not, we know, it is our duty;

Come friend, for that is we;
Are we not fellow man? So, why are we, the enemy?

I do not wish to slay thee,
Nor you to do unto I, so, where is the point?

Yet we are told, that this is war;
And no! We like it not, so, let us cast out duty...

©tcmoon 2011 (1993)



Death Warrant

Poem First Published  |”Lovers And Others”  Poetry Now  Sept 1995

You, it seems, are always on my mind;
And yet you, are so unkind!

You say, you don’t love me
And that, we’ll never be.

Yet, all the while, you know of my love for you;
And if I had you, I’d always remain true!

But it seems, you just don’t want to know
And that is why, I’m felling so damn low.

It’s when you go away and I’m here on my own;
I think; but, even when you are here, I’m still, all alone.

Is there any chance, you will love me?
And could we, one day, the two of us. Could. We be?

Would you, one day, tell me the truth
For I know that my pain, it would soothe?

You see, you’re always in my head.
So much so, I wish I could be dead!

If I cannot have you, get you to stay,
I shall be in pain till, my dying day!

Will I, forever, have you on my mind
Or, has my death warrant, now been signed...?

©tcmoon 2011 (1995)


What Time Is It?

Poem First Published  “Timely Poets”  Anchor Books  Feb 1996

What time is it?
Can you tell me the time?
I’m lost, I haven’t a clue, so,
Just give me a sign.

What time is it?
Should I ask a policeman?
I got up late this afternoon,
The winter solstice had overrun.

If I lived near to Stonehenge,
Or even if I had a cucumber cloche,
Then I wouldn’t worry for a timepiece
And I’d ignore the adverts for Swatch!

All this persistence to know the time,
But there’s a very good reason you see,
The pangs of hunger are rumbling within
So surely it’s time for me tea!?

©tcmoon 2011 (1995)