OH LITTLE CHILD OF BETHLEHEM

Well,its that time of year again.Television ads crammed full of toys and things for kids to wish for--a time of year when kids are told "behave yourself or Santa won't come"--a time of year when some kids can be as good as gold all year around and it will make no difference,because of people being put out of work by machines,or a person in New Delhi,doing your office work for 10% of what you used to do it for.A time of year when after the Christmas holidays,a kid can go back to school,and even though he was so good all year,and got very little from Santa,the little rich spoiled bastard,that teased him ,and was horrible to everyone--got just what he asked for.Who the hell invented this Santa Claus ? Really,he did no favours to anyone did he? just helped to push the faces of the "have nots" into the ground.

"OH LITTLE CHILD OF BETHLEHEM"

OH LITTLE CHILD OF BETHLEHEM,
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU STARTED.
THE SHEPHERD CAME,AND KINGS THE SAME,
LEAVING GIFTS AS THEY DEPARTED.
YOU ARRIVED,IN SUCH A HUMBLE WAY
AMONG THE CATTLE,FEED AND STRAWS,
BUT PEOPLE,SOMEHOW MESSED IT UP
INVENTING SANTA CLAUS.

DON'T GET ME WRONG,HE'S A REAL FINE MAN,
AND HE'S GOOD TO GIRLS AND BOYS,
ON YOUR BIRTHDAY HE ENTERS EVERY HOUSE,
LEAVING GIFTS,LIKE FOOD AND TOYS.
HE HAS THIS TEAM OF REINDEER
THROUGH THE SKY,THEY PULL HIS SLEIGH
STOPPING AT EACH,AND EVERY HOUSE,
DROPPING PRESENTS ON HIS WAY.

THE CHILDREN THINK HE'S LOVELY,
AND,HE IS,BUT LET ME SAY.
THE ONE THING KIDS DON'T UNDERSTAND,
IS THAT PARENTS HAVE TO PAY.
ITS NOT THAT WE'RE COMPLAINING,
DON'T GET ME WRONG DEAR LORD.
ITS JUST THAT,WELL,IN THESE HARD TIMES,
SOME PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD.

THEN T.V,LORD,IT DON'T HELP
SHOWING WHAT THE SHOPS HAVE GOT.
AND THE KIDS,THAT GET EXCITED,
THEY HOPE TO GET THE LOT.
BUT SOME,THEY WON'T GET ANY,CAUSE
DADS OUT OF WORK AND BROKE.
AND CHILDREN,- DON'T SEE THE REASON.
ITS ENOUGH TO MAKE ME CHOKE.

WHAT DO WE TELL THE CHILDREN,
WHEN SANTA DOESN'T COME?
HOW DO WE TELL THE CHILDREN,
WHEN THEY KNOW,HE CAME TO SOME ?
ON YOUR BIRTHDAY,CHRISTMAS MORNING,
NO TOYS,NO FOOD FOR FORK.
I KNOW WHAT YOU COULD DO DEAR LORD
TELL SANTA---"TAKE A WALK"

AN ODE TO ALFIE'S MATES

You know what I don't understand?I don't understand why people spend a fortune on dogs--"New Dogs"--dogs that some bastard on a doggie farm has bred in disgusting conditions just to make a quid.(although I must admit to having done it myself in the past--like 6 months ago when we got Lu Lu)People go there and hand over their hard earned for the latest fad dog,that sometime later when the novelty has worn off--dump them either in the bush or hand them in to dog pounds.Friends of mine just went one of these places and got Alfie--a very ugly scruffy dog,that only an owner could love--Oh,and anyone else that happens to see him.But he was one of these dogs-from a home ,not loved anymore.Until my friends rescued him.But Julie and Malcolm couldn't give them all a home,Alfies mates got left there.Go and rescue Alfies mates--before its too late.

AN ODE,TO ALFIES MATES.

I,AM A DOG,AND I SIT HERE ALL DAY,
'CAUSE I'M LOCKED IN A CAGE AT R.S.P.C.A.
I HAVEN'T ALWAYS LIVED HERE,I BELONGED TO A BOY.
AND HE USED TO TREAT ME AS HIS FAVOURITE TOY.
WE'D GET UP EACH MORNING,OVER PADDOCKS WE'D ROAM,
AND,WHEN HE WENT TO SCHOOL I'D FEEL SO ALONE.
BUT WITH TEACHING FINISHED,HE'D COME HOME WITH HIS BAG,
I'D HEAR HIS VOICE,AND HE'D SEE MY TAIL WAG.
THEN OFF WE WOULD GO,AND BELT DOWN THE STREET,
HIM GOING FAST WITH ME AT HIS FEET.

ONE DAY,ALL THIS STOPPED,AND HE CAME HOME LATE.
I HEARD HE'D BEEN OFF,DOWN THE STREET WITH HIS MATE.
HE SAT,ATE HIS DINNER,THEN OFF HE WOULD GO
I JUMPED UP TO FOLLOW,BUT HE SHOUTED ME "NO"
WAS HE TALKING TO ME? NAH,SO I WENT OFF AGAIN.
HE HE BROUGHT ME BACK HOME,I GOT PUT ON A CHAIN.
THE DAYS SLOWLY DRAGGED,NO MORE PLAYING OR FUN
AND I WISHED THAT MY DAYS HAD NEVER BEGUN.

ONE DAY,DAD CAME HOME AND I GOT PUT IN THE CAR,
HE DROVE FOR A WHILE,BUT NOT VERY FAR,
AND WE CAME TO THIS PLACE,SURROUNDED BY CAGES
A LADY THERE TOOK DOWN MY DETAILS ON PAGES.
I HEARD HER WHISPER,IN A QUIET LITTLE VOICE,
"I'M SO SORRY SIR,THERE JUST ISN'T A CHOICE,
PEOPLE LIKE YOUNG DOGS,ON THAT THERE MINDS SET,
SHE'LL BE HERE FOR A WEEK,THEN GET SEEN BY THE VET."

THEN,THEY TOOK ME AWAY,TO A CAGE AT THE REAR.
I COULD TELL BY THE NOISE,THERE WERE OTHER DOGS NEAR.
THEY BARKED DAY AND NIGHT,IN A SAD SORT OF WAY,
MORE DOGS CAME TO JOIN US,THERE WERE DOZENS EACH DAY.
WELL,TIME PASSED REAL SLOWLY,I'D BEEN THERE FOR A WEEK,
WHEN A GIRL IN A WHITE COAT,CAME FOR ME-DIDN'T SPEAK.
AND SHE LED ME AWAY,THROUGH A DOOR AT THE END,
WHERE BEYOND IT STOOD MY VETINARY FRIEND.
HE GAVE ME A STROKE,AND A PAT ON THE HEAD,
THE SLIGHT PRICK OF A NEEDLE,NO MORE DOGGIE--I'M DEAD.

FROM LOVES ASHES,GREW A ROSE

NOVEMBER 14 IS MY DAUGHTER KELLY'S BIRTHDAY.21 THIS YEAR,TIME FLIES IT ONLY SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY (WELL,THE DAY BEFORE) THAT SHE WAS BORN.I DON'T THINK IN 21 YEARS I HAVE EVER WRITTEN A POEM FOR KELLY--NOT DIRECTLY TO HER,WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG I USED TO WRITE SILLY SONGS THAT WE WOULD SING WHILST DRIVING ALONG IN THE CAR.BUT I'VE NEVER WRITTEN ONE FOR HER,NOT A NICE ONE--PROBABLY BECAUSE I'VE NEVER HAD TO GROVEL TO HER,OR TRY TO WOO HER,OR GET HER BACK,OR SAY SORRY,OR IMPRESS--BECAUSE FOR THE TWENTYONE YEARS OF HER LIFE ,SHE'S BEEN THERE.IF I WANTED TO TELL HER HOW MUCH I LOVED HER--I COULD GIVE HER A BIG HUG AND A KISS AND TELL HER I LOVE HER.I'M SO VERY PROUD OF HER AND WHAT SHE'S DONE--SHE DIDN'T LIKE SCHOOL MUCH,INFACT SHE GOT KICKED OUT,WORKED AS A SHOP ASSISTANT FOR A WHILE,BUT THEN DECIDED SHE WANTED BETTER,PUT HERSELF THROUGH TECH COLLEGE AND MADE LIFE A WHOLE LOT BETTER.SHE MET DAMIEN,AND THEY HAVE BOUGHT A HOME TOGETHER AND EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE GOING WELL FOR THEM.I OFTEN SEE IN COURT REPORTS " HE/SHE CAME FROM A BROKEN HOME" WELL,WE HAVE FOUR CHILDREN THAT CAME FROM A BROKEN HOME AND WE'RE PROUD OF THEM ALL--ITS NO EXCUSE FOR BAD BEHAVIOR

FROM THE ASHES OF LOVE,GREW A ROSE

NOVEMBER FOURTEEN,NINETEEN EIGHTYFOUR
JUST AFTER LUNCH,AROUND ONE.
OUT POPPED YOUR LITTLE BALDY HEAD
FROM YOUR MOTHERS TUM.
AND WHAT A SCREAMING THING YOU WERE,
YOU CRIED AND CRIED,AND WORSE.
YOU MADE SUCH A BLOODY RACKET THAT
I WENT AND SAW THE NURSE.
"WHAT'S THIS BLOOMIN SQUARKING THING
YOU'VE GIVEN US " I SAID,
"THAT'S YOUR DAUGHTER MR NORMAN,
AND ITS TIME THAT SHE WAS FED."
SO IT WAS,FROM DAWN TILL DUSK,
FROM RISING SUN TILL NIGHT.
IF IT WASN'T WANTING FEEDING-
YOU'D DONE ANOTHER SHITE.

BUT,THAT WAS THEN

LOOK AT YOU,JUST LOOK AT YOU,
YOU'VE GROWN SO FAST,AND HOW.
JUST YESTERDAY A LITTLE GIRL,BUT
YOU'RE A LADY NOW.
AND ITS HARD TO SHOW JUST HOW I FEEL.
BUT,I'M TRYING HEAVEN KNOWS.
HOW OUT OF LOVES BURNT ASHES
GREW SUCH A LOVELY ROSE

A ROSE THAT KNOWS JUST WHO SHE IS,
AND SAYS WHAT'S ON HER MIND.
A ROSE THAT STOOD AND WEATHERED
LIFE'S STORMS OF EVERY KIND.
A ROSE THAT WARMS A FATHERS HEART,
WITH A TRUE AND HONEST SMELL.
A ROSE,I FEEL SO LUCKY TO
HAVE GIVEN LIFE AS WELL.

SO,AFTER BABIES BOTTLES,
THE TANTRUMS,SCREAMS AND TEARS.
I VALUE EACH AND EVERY ONE
AND HAVE,THROUGHOUT THESE YEARS.
I WOULDN'T TRADE A SINGLE DAY,
EVEN PUTTING UP WITH MUM,
TO SEE MY LOVELY,BLOOMING ROSE,
THE LADY YOU'VE BECOME.

I LOVE YOU,AS I ALWAYS WILL,AND
YOU NEVER WERE THAT BAD.
IN FACT,YOU'RE THE ONE THAT KEPT ME GOING.SO
HAPPY BIRTHDAY--------------DAD. XXXX

A FATHER'S GENTLE LOVE

It's been a while since I've written--working on a few projects that I've been finding hard to put words to.Knowing what I've wanted to say,but not been able to twist the words into the message.Those that don't know me,I am the middle of five boys,the sixth child my sister Angela.I'm sure the reason there was five boys,is because Angela didn't come along sooner--so I guess some of us have her late arrival to thank for our being at all.Angela was everything Mum And Dad had wanted,but sadly Dad,who I could never remember being a well man,died before Angela was two years old.I know Dad would be so proud of his girl,how she's grown up into a wonderful woman.How she's been a very special daughter to Mum,with whom she has a relationship that has to be seen to understand.Angela has found a very special happiness.Angela who celebrates a birthday soon,is also getting married in April next year to a lovely bloke called Mick,and,I reckon if Dad were around today he would also be chuffed to see her so happy,----------infact he told me so in,

A FATHERS GENTLE LOVE

AS WINTER,TURNED TO SPRING,
IT WAS THE AUTUMN OF MY LIFE
WHEN I SAW YOU IN THE ARMS
OF YOUR MOTHER,MY WIFE.
THEN,I WAIVED GOODBYE THROUGH THE WINDOW,
BLEW YOU KISSES FROM MY BED.
AND THAT,WAS THE LAST YOU SAW ME.
BUT ME? I'VE WATCHED FROM OVERHEAD.

WE TRIED SO HARD TO HAVE YOU,
BUT IN A ROW WE HAD ALL BOYS,
AND THOUGH,WE LOVED EACH ONE OF THEM
YOUR ARRIVAL,WAS JOY OF JOYS.
YOU,WERE OUR LITTLE GIFT FROM HEAVEN,
ALL WE WANTED, SO IT SEEMS.
YET THE TIME WE'VE SPENT TOGETHER,
HAVE BEEN IN MAINLY PRAYERS, AND DREAMS.

BUT,YOU KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING,
I'VE SEEN YOU BLOOM AND GROW,
INTO A VERY SPECIAL WOMAN,
THIS I THINK THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW.
HOW YOU'VE WATCHED AND CARED FOR MUM
FOR SO MANY, MANY YEARS.
SEEN HOW CLOSE YOU'VE GROWN TOGETHER
THROUGH THE LOVE,THE LIFE AND TEARS.

AND ANGELA,I'M SO PROUD OF YOU,
WITH EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE.
I LOVE YOU FOR THE WAY YOU ARE,
AND OF ALL THAT YOU'VE BECOME.
I SEE BIG DAYS AHEAD OF YOU,
SO I SEND FROM UP ABOVE,
ONE ANGEL TO ANOTHER,
A FATHERS GENTLE LOVE.