3243 - Quays to the city

A warm day, went out in shorts and t-shirt
On the train to see Jo, had a coffee
At Tania's, her back's broken but not worse
Than it was before her brace (fits nicely)
Avoiding in Ramadan the city
Centre where possible, we caught the bus
Part way to Salford Quays, got off safely
Despite a madman on the bus, then passed
Some time in Costa, and sat on the grass
Then sat by Man U's stadium talkin' bout
Britpop and Madchester, that's what Josie
Likes now, the Gallaghers from Oasis
Blur and the Stone Roses, she knows their 'shit'
While it's all funny memories for me

3236 - Is it safe?

Been to see Josie, and her mum with her
Broken back in a brace, recovering
Or trying to, while perched on the sofa
Didn't go to Manchester, worrying
About terrorist attacks is spreading
Her mum and her were worried of the threat
Especially in Ramadan, with frightening
Reports on the news of some beheaded
Victim, or a mosque bombed, or beach of death
So went to Heaton Chapel, big dinner
(Lunch) and cheesecake, my stomach was hurting
Couldn't finish my Coke. Then to Stockport
Wandered round the shops and sat in Costa
Pleased that tonight, from drink I'm abstaining

3199 - New war

Oh my goodness, life is well, just a ride
And each day is precious, like to think I
See it as pleasure, not a chore, not snide
To other people, not two-faced, but try
To give and receive pleasure, that's the high
Point and message, nothing else is as good
Don't need a religion to justify
My intention of global brotherhood
In fact, religion divides, tribal blood
Is shed endlessly as they always did
The difference in recent decades was why
The west thought it ruled the roost, but it should
No longer think that, can no more decide
Alone thanks to its cheap technology

3079 - The so-called so-called

I haven't written much so far about
The 'so-called Islamic' threat to our lives
I must admit there's danger all about
From Muslims as from ebola and hives
And suddenly getting a bunch of fives
Or is there? No, probably not. But they sneered
At Churchill as he warned, like nagging wives
They said, 'Let's be nice' and the noise of jeers
Was deafening, until the Panzers steered
Across the border into Poland. Flout
The lessons of history, stay not alive!
Or stay not free! These worries now appear
I think things may eventually work out
But to be destructive, so many strive!

3066 - Poor people of Paris

Sad news about the killings in Paris
Religion strikes again, closed mind syndrome
A schizophrenic world-view, a virus
Which glorifies death and thy kingdom come
Let's not say that this is only Islam
There's been enough crusading previously
And it's not limited to religion
There's political ideology
That divides and rules with philosophy
No matter what we believe, seems we must
Resign ourselves to conflict both at home
And abroad. Education is a key
But what philosophy lies behind this
And must it always be liberalism?

2915 - It's a Sunni day

And now on to today, what happened next?
How about a quick news round-up, you say?
The main story - the US bombs Iraq's
Invading Islamic State force as they
Drive out ethnic minorities, the way
Almost clear for mass ethnic cleansing and
Unopposed Sunni Islam holding sway
As if there's that much difference from that and
Shia Islam, or Christian groups. The sand
Does not distinguish their feet. Gaza's fixed
Grimly for more Israeli rockets. Stay
Cool, Manchester's protesters. Make your stand
Peacefully about this far-off conflict
Finally, UK football's back today...

2472 - Chop phooey

Trial spotlight on a 'Soldier of Allah'
Father of six who chopped a man to death
His youngest had been born four days before
But still he did that, and hoped police would get
Him and kill him too, martyr him, he said
This is how crazy religion can be
A substitute for fascism, a dread
Manipulator of soul and memory
A perverter of our identity
Licence to become executioner
Validator of voices in the head
How violence gains respectability
A myth that the poor are rich, rich are poor
A promise of wealth - after you are dead

2382 - Mellow Malmo mood

Hello again! I'm back from a big night
At the King's Arms (where else?) and it was good
Dermot mislaid his Jesus beard, not right
And I was playing God, complete with beard
It's hard to make divine sense with covered
Mouth, but I've got eternity, practise
Will make perfect, I pray. Our spoken word
Of holy wisdom will win when once it's
Accepted by the powers that be, those shits
Listening to Paul Simon as I type, quite
Reminding me of Malmo's neighbourhood
Where I wandered last November with this
In my earphones, before the dark was bright
With light installations. Now - time for bed...

Tue 10 Sep

2361 - The Big Two

I felt pretty strong, well-rested today
But work was so intense, it was ... hard work!
Seems strange but true, it's not like yesterday
But there's no place to hide, no place to shirk
Will have to knuckle down, not be a jerk
Meanwhile, now I'm home, wrote comedy sketch
About religion, and with costumes, folks!
It's not too shocking, boundaries aren't pushed much
Just a bit of light-hearted heavenly kitsch
As it's written for two blokes, no Mary
Is present, although blokes can wear a skirt
So maybe in future there'll be a bitch
But not now, it's just God and Jesus. They
Are the Big Two, they're Spock and Captain Kirk

2535 - Where there's hope, there's war

A news feature, not done many lately
Egypt is kicking off, it's split in two
Muslim Brotherhood against the army
It's Iran once more, religion fights who-
Ever wants western values. Once, it's true
The States and GB abused these countries
So the religious painted themselves true
Nationalists, local heroes, freedom-fighters
The West still exploits when it can, the cause
Of democracy a phantom, money
And lifestyles being the real lure of the new
Young generation, while conservatives
Defend old values, places like Turkey
Iran, Egypt. Time favours the young, though...

2449 - Tory Tory Tory

Dave Cameron's in trouble with his mates
In the Tory Party, because they are
Against gay marriage and Europe. Mistakes
Have been made in trying to get with the
Younger, more tolerant future voters
No, they can't appreciate changes in views
They'd rather enforce standards from old years
Than adapt to what they see as wrong, new
Devilish trends undermining the pews
Of the old Anglican way, which just hates
All that's not Biblical. Still fighting wars
Against Muslims, though similarities
Are apparent. Soon they'll be at the gates
Of rejection by the younger voter

Mon 20 May

2439 - Sallying forth in Salford

Tonight straight after work and dinner, I
Went on a Salford historic pub tour
Beginning at the King's Arms, probably my
Local pub, and possibly even yours
From there we went to Trinity Church, where
Wesley was thrown out, on to the Eagle
Tucked away on a back street somewhere near
One barman, thirty customers, struggle
To get served, but managed a beer, then all
On to Greengate, car park, once cemetery
Then along the Irwell, ending up so near
My office, Manchester Martyrs, the wall
Where they hung is gone, then on to Bexley
Square, and the New Oxford pub. Bye, folks, bye!

2310 - Life and death science

Welcome to 2013, we're all teens
Again, like we were in the First World War
Learning the harsh truths again, although seen
Through gas clouds darkly. Pax Nucleana
Has saved our souls lately. Are we before
A new technology replacing bombs
With something else that kills, but saves the floor
And buildings for our vanquishers? What comes
From hoarded wealth, if not emptying homes
Of poor opponents worldwide? The earth teems
And cash can't be spread that thin. Jehovah
Sent witnesses to warn there wasn't room
For more mortal life, but confess your sins
New births will stop, and we'll live forever

2226 - You better believe it

Slight runny nose - wonder whose germs I've got
Hopefully my immune system will win
It's fighting ability's usually hot
Even when I've got a cold deep within
Right now I just can't seem to stop sniffin'
Meanwhile on TV Christian creationists
Are arguing against evolution
Even now, some people seem to have missed
The intellectual ark. Just let them twist
Reality into myth, lose the plot
I'd rather stay free to be enjoyin'
Life the way I want to, same as they must
Feel about their belief. Now - Oh My God -
Transporter 2 is on - more mush for brains!

2211 - Love, work and rain

Love... load of bollocks isn't it? Today
I endured a long day at work and then
Walked through the incessant rain for some play
At a writing workshop. Two drunken men
Almost ruined it, as they do, but pen
Overcame sword, and I came away with
Some drafts that might become average poems
Or comedy sketches, whatever, if
I can be bothered. Learned more about life
It's funny, thank God, there's no need to pray
Yesterday finished The God Delusion
Next it's God Is Not Great. Poor God's such strife
Convincing us he exists. Science says
Not so, but death demands our exemption

Mon 24 Sep 2012

2207 - Who do we think we are (divine version)

Does God exist? What is God? Or a god?
There are so many, they're like a species
With many branches, some long fallen out
Of favour, landed, rotted 'neath the trees
Trodden on by insensible feet, leaves
Of yesteryear, once beautiful, living
Now rotten, defunct, dethroned, no-one sees
Them or knows they ever reigned, creating
Our ancestors but not us. We're living
Now, not then, so we don't know who's the God-
Father of our god. Get the software please
To work on the ultimate family string
Who was the prime mover of all the gods?
Surely he's the real one (or maybe she's...)

2073 - Snake in the grass

For you my eyes will be like microscopes
My hands will be surgical instruments
My mouth a hungry beggar, trying to cope
With all it can eat, a banquet immense
In size and richness. You'll have no defence
From my invading arms that snake all ways
Up and around, in and out. To the fence
To the bed, to my heart, you'll be tied, dazed
Disoriented, amorously amazed
You'll be a starstruck nun, I'll be the pope
Your robes will be thrown off in five seconds
Leaving you sighing and gasping in praise
Sleep denied, and of salvation no hope
We'll tumble head over heels, lovers, friends

2020 - An evening with Jesus

I've got a cold, my first one for ages
An itchy nose, running a little bit
Tired, could have had one of my sick days
But cos I'm so hard-working (!) I didn't
Luckily I'm staying at home tonight
I've got 'Jesus of Nazareth' with me
A miracle, please Jeez, make me feel right!
How come I have such blessed company?
He's only on a borrowed DVD
I like to watch this stuff as Easter nears
His life story - or myth - is hard to beat
It describes cleverly how life should be
And still has relevance today - all those
Who believe, derive their false hopes from it

2005 - Boyne Baby Boyne

Dubya Bush's back (why?), Iraq at polls
Kyrgyz trouble, China says Taiwan's ours
Pope JP2 dies, Benedict enrols
I'm in my new flat in Salford some days
Then back to Wilmslow, domestic affrays
Blair wins third election, bombs in London
Hurricane Katrina, south USA's
Day of dread. Baghdad bridge is falling down
Muhammad cartoons, Kashmir earthquake, and
Saddam on trial. French face transplant unfolds
My job is excise policy, the laws
That govern aggregates levy. We've gone
To Dublin and the Boyne Valley, car rolls
Along Irish roads with Pearl and Louis

1997 - You can run, but...

Divorce finds Ireland, Tamil Tigers fight
Algerian war and Tupac in Peru
Hale-Bopp Comet, suicide at Heaven's Gate
Versace shot and Blair PM, woo-hoo
Bertie Ahearn hello, bye Mobutu
Hong Kong goes back to China, and Di dies
Louise shakes baby, Teresa dies too
Scots and Welsh parliaments soon, French truck strikes
Block ports, hello to Mary McAleese
Luxor shootings, Kyoto saves climate
JK Rowling and Philip Pullman do
Kids sci-fi, Titanic and Girls of Spice
Mike Tyson bites an ear, I run up quite
Tall hills, drive my green Ford, and move anew