3291 - Getting on with it

Wow, what a day, and also a great play
On guitar once back home, and now staying
In tonight, after three nights' comedy
But that's OK, because I am looking
Forward to the Bowie tribute act in
The Ruby Lounge tomorrow night, and I'll
Write a poem first, fit for publishing
In the next 'Evidently' - it's a while
Since so much has been right, there's many miles
To freedom, as the man said, and now hey
It's all getting rather good, I'm hoping
By continued focus, that these things will
Continue to get better still, and they
Will, if I go on doing what I'm doing

3259 - Account Dracula

Up late last night with bank accounts all spread
Over my desk. Emailed Block Company
To ask accounts man why on earth he said
I owed two hundred quid, that's too many
I reckoned it was just half that money
No reply yet. Paid off my Post Office
Credit card, now just the one left to pay
That's my Tesco card, lone source of my debts
Apart from the mortgage... but come now, let's
Not dwell on that just now. Keep a cool head...
After work, wrote and practiced comedy
Will try to do more when I've written this
But first, a shave, trim eyebrows, get sorted
While there's still some light so I can see me

3218 - Yesterday, today, tomorrow

Oh no, we didn't win the quiz tonight
First time we've not won when I have been there
A sinking feeling, when losers unite
I'm doing my best to fend off despair
Maybe my mistake was offering no prayer
Still there's always tomorrow, so they say
Next time maybe we will win once more
Trying to write this before a new day
Don't think I'll do it, one minute away
Can write quickly, but not that quickly write
Listening to Paperback Writer, writer
The Beatles on my headphones, Yesterday
It was yesterday when I heard that, right?
But now it's today, tomorrow is here

Tue 9 June

3211 - Hidden treasure

I've just been looking for poems to read
On Thursday night at Fuel Bar, Withington
After being invited today. Need speed
Therefore to select material to win
The so-called Word Cup poetry slam, book in
Hand in my case, can't memorise jack shit
Not with the other stuff that I'm volved-in
No time, and work besides. Good news - I've writ
(In February) a new rant that's never split
From my lips, spraying spit, bile and kill-weed
I'd forgotten its existence. It turned
Up on my hard drive this evening. Eyes lit
Up as I saw that now there was no need
To write a new poem, because it's done

3198 - That will be the week, that will

Just written four songs with funny lyrics
Replacing the conventional old words
A set I hope to do twice in next week's
Comedy slots - it may not win awards
It should, but we don't get our just deserts
However, enemies just make us strong
In order to survive their gunfire bursts
Like superheroes, we just can't be flung
Like superheroes, we can do no wrong
Our confidence can overcome their tricks
Our righteousness overcomes their absurd
And when the time comes to unleash our tongue
We'll spit them into space with verbal licks
They'll return to earth broken, sheathe their swords

3166 - Saturday sun

A lovely warm day, me and Jo were sat
In the sunshine on the railway platform
It felt like a holiday there, just that
Passing time on a bench, sat in the warm
With blue sky overhead, watching ants worm
Their way along the ground looking for things
I cut the day short so that I'll have time
To think about Monday night's act, writing
A few new gags - magic's the theme - keeping
The two comedy songs already got
So in fact it won't take long. Monday's theme
Is magic. Would be tragic though to fling
This gig away, must give it a good shot
Need two good nights' sleep, then I'll be on form

3159 - Slowhead

I've felt lethargic all today, maybe
Because I drank a bit last night, but still
It was only four bottles. Watched TV
Some music progs, got my nostalgia fill
Not done much today, found some material
That I'd already written, a joke song
I can use on Tuesday night. Tried as well
As I could in my state to sing along
In my head and learn the lyrics. Morning
Will come tomorrow and on the settee
I'll spend another hour in rehearsal
For Tuesday and the Monday following
I've two songs to learn for that too. But the
Big thing tomorrow's naturally football...

3158 - If music be the food of jokes

It's Friday evening, I'm happy at home
Thought up some new jokes, looked through some old ones
Got some beer in, but as yet I've had none
Been busy being useful, election's
Providing some topical humour and
This will help me in my performances
I'm in the next two Saturdays, and bound
To make the most of creative chances
To practice and write new stuff, I fancy
Could be good if I do it while fresh - some
Real good stuff can be done quite early on
In the morning, straight after breakfastses
And now for relaxation, all too soon
Some music progs on Beeb 4  that look fun

3144 - Deep dive

Off out shortly, but what to say just now
In my attempt to get this written quick?
What's in the news? That sad story of how
The German pilot took his plane down with
Passengers, into the French Alps, quite sick
In the head to take so many others'
Lives. Why not just take his own? A cynic
Might say he was vain, tried to make the news
Be remembered for something. No excuse
Can justify that evil action, though.
But sometimes sickness wins over logic
And right and wrong, causes us to abuse
Others who are innocent, make them bow
Their heads, randomly chosen for the stick

3143 - Ouch!

I've got a headache - it's dehydration
From last night's drinking, and a day staring
At a computer screen at work. So when
I've done this I'll waste no time in downing
Some paracetamol and ingesting
More drinks, but not coffee or booze of course
So pardon me if you think I'm rushing
This great important work of rhyming verse
But my head hurts and it's gaining in force
Oh damn, just realised something, oh damn
Won't have time to watch 'The Bridge' this evening
On Netflix, cos the debate's taking place
On Channel 4, to be precise, at nine
Cameron and Miliband being annoying...

3102 - Fun and work combined

I'm listening to Spotify, guitar played
Not eaten yet. Have also written some
Comedy material for Tuesday, afraid
Otherwise there's not much time, since I'd planned
To go to the Castle, Monday eve, and
Watch 'First Draft' for the first time. It's
Looking like a good week ahead, the end
Of a good week just gone. Louis has split
From London to come here, no sign as yet
Of him, wonder if he'll turn up... she said
He would, Pearl did. So expect him to come
Here, but maybe not til awkwardly late
Soon I'll break off and cook something and taste
Pure relaxation, well-earned, not humdrum

3096 - Shopping and hunting

A fun day out with Josie - some shopping
With her birthday money - two pairs of boots
And a shirt - plus yet more gammon eating
And a look at the make-up racks in Boots
Popped into Vee's flat, terrorised by cat's
Manic attacks, but funny nonetheless
Took Jo back home, then back for some more chats
With Vee and Louis, who's moving out this
Weekend to flat hunt in London. Back there's
Where he hopes his future lies, job hunting
Also to come, the main hope they'll recruit
Him into films before too long - success
Beckons with his clever critic's writing
And other creative writing to boot

Sat 7 February

3084 - Inconstant muse

Oh muse, hast thou to the bowels of hell flown?
I have no inspiration, no ideas
For poems to write. Leave me not alone
Flow from the fount, the motherlode, the seas
The moment I give thee, quill pen, a squeeze
Let ink duplicate the blue waves of doubt
The squiggles of desire, blots of disease
Let it flow, thin blue lines, within, without
Joined up inking, spell vowel and consonant
Inconstant love, inconsistent froth, foam
Please succour me, I'm sucked down to my knees
In slime, let rip, let rhyme, reason appears
Oh muse of mine, mine my mind, grind and groan
Til I've signed my name, kissed you, and gone home

3071 - Write-off

Louis is back after four days away
He's been staying at his Mum's flat in town
But he's asleep, maybe I shouldn't play
Guitar as I was going to, the sound
Might wake him. I'm surprised he's lying down
Right now, he must have worked real hard writing
While staying there, not just lazing around
If so, then from him I should be learning
A lesson in application, keeping
Going til the end of a project, stay
With it for a change, learn to keep ploughin'
On regardless, eyes on the prize, pushing
And hustling, but I hate that, can't obey
My own will. Drinking again. End of moan

3068 - Inside write

Three times this week I've been at work til six
Or beyond - unheard of! But now I'm back
Home, and here comes the weekend with its mix
Of boredom and ... no, not really. Might crack
On with some writing. Have become quite slack
In that regard lately, so if it's quiet
Then that's an opportunity to smack
Pen on paper and scribble, nay, and write
Both poetry and short stories. I might
Again work on the Oldcastle tales, pix
Of life in a fictional town, a pack
Of funny characters, their recent plight
Being my long neglect of them. Now, my pick's
Ready for guitar strumming, which I like

3057 - Cold cold winter

Back to work, like back to school, just as bad
Quiet though, few in, a few chats here and there
A bit more of the condoc written, had
The chance to do more, but by four, no more
Could be borne, I was bored, so at half-four
I wound my way home, via Sainsburys
Yes sir, yes sir, two bags full but no more
But nothing that will help me with the freeze
Keep the door shut, don't want balcony breeze
Easing its way in, stay out there, I said
To the wind which I talk to, I can't bear
It on a winter night though, silences
Are fine, put conversation to the sword
Wrap up real warm and turn on the heater

3052 - It's Christmaaaaaaas!

I must admit I forgot my sonnet
Yesterday (Christmas Eve), I'm a day late
I'll try and remember not to forget
Next time, but Christmas puts you in a state
I went to work, made my brain operate
As far as I could, with Christmas looming
Left early, got the train to Mum's, was great
To be with her and bro Rob, both catching
Up on news and what have you. Relaxing
In the evening, no drink for me, no wet
Alcohol, not even to celebrate
The time of year that's now fast approaching
I read for a while before going to bed
Then went on Facebook, late chat to create...

Wed 24 Dec

3042 - The lamb in winter

Sunday Sunday at home today Sunday
Think there should be no punctuation now
I have begun this unorthodox way
Its OK if you are enough highbrow
A bit ee cummings Im an off show
Its cold in winter thats a big surprise
Not I should say like the size of a cow
Although it could be a baby cow size
Never assume words are true could be lies
All these are are pastimes to pass time hey
Best to pass time easily cant somehow
Motivate to activate pressurise
Myself to get big things done just the way
Ive always been can I ever change though

3018 - Dreams in a cold climate

Trying to write, but what to write about?
What's happened today, boring work day, see
The difficulty? Was tired, went without
Good night's sleep, too cold to doze off quickly
Took me til almost two to finally
Check out of Tuesday and into dreamland
Tried hard at work to be a busy bee
One worthy of Manchester's symbol found
In and around the Town Hall, and around
My arm in tattoo form too, looks quite cute
Beethoven's Eighth is playing now slowly
But now it's the last movement, and I'm bound
To finish this sonnet and hit the fret-
board of guitar for an hour, then TV!

3017 - Maybe tomorrow

I should be at the library, writing
But when I left the office, I turned right
Out of habit, homeward route following
And unfortunately realised too late
Maybe tomorrow I'll go there about
Five, maybe sooner, after Building Our
Future (don't ask!), and then maybe I'll write
Some poetry or comedy, some more
Short stories (what became of them?), and / or
Even try making music - exciting
If I can use some software, I'll be quite
Pleased with that, able to arrange and score
It's vital I get in a new routine
Of creating, not sitting in each night