A Few Bits of Poetry
COFFEE AND VANILLA SLICE IN THE AFTERNOON
With a smile and a wave I catch the eye
Of the waitress standing a short distance away.
She returns my smile, then asks, "Can I
Get something for you, sir, today?"
My answer is just as she expects,
Macchiato and vanilla slice, for two –
Nodding a 'thanks', she respects
My need to be alone with you.
She returns with coffee and cake quite soon
And closing my eyes, I imagine you here
As we sat, side by side, each afternoon,
At this very table, for many a year.
Tomorrow we'll each be back once more –
I'll drink your coffee (as well as mine),
We'll leave the waitress your cake (as before),
And we'll have each other till the end of time.
With a smile and a wave I catch the eye
Of the waitress standing a short distance away.
She returns my smile, then asks, "Can I
Get something for you, sir, today?"
My answer is just as she expects,
Macchiato and vanilla slice, for two –
Nodding a 'thanks', she respects
My need to be alone with you.
She returns with coffee and cake quite soon
And closing my eyes, I imagine you here
As we sat, side by side, each afternoon,
At this very table, for many a year.
Tomorrow we'll each be back once more –
I'll drink your coffee (as well as mine),
We'll leave the waitress your cake (as before),
And we'll have each other till the end of time.
A COLD WIND FROM THE EAST
Written in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
What words can shield against the shelling in the night
Cruise missiles fuelled by your power lust?
How can our children learn what’s wrong and right
When their dreams and future lie crumbled in the dust?
Your propaganda calls us “puppets of the West”,
“Fascists”, while scores of towns and cities burn
To keep your acolytes impressed
Your jack-boots gain you lebensraum.
I see the glacial eyes and the dirty hand
Of a playground thug, an untrained dog
Pissing on the pavement to claim some land
Yet masquerading as a demagogue.
Beyond redemption for your evil done
I’d pray for your soul – if you had one.
Written in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
What words can shield against the shelling in the night
Cruise missiles fuelled by your power lust?
How can our children learn what’s wrong and right
When their dreams and future lie crumbled in the dust?
Your propaganda calls us “puppets of the West”,
“Fascists”, while scores of towns and cities burn
To keep your acolytes impressed
Your jack-boots gain you lebensraum.
I see the glacial eyes and the dirty hand
Of a playground thug, an untrained dog
Pissing on the pavement to claim some land
Yet masquerading as a demagogue.
Beyond redemption for your evil done
I’d pray for your soul – if you had one.
FOR AMERICA, NOVEMBER 2020
Say a little prayer for those now lost,
Their ship in seas of torment tossed,
Torn asunder, ripped apart
By the lust for glory, fame and greed
Of one whose darkest heart,
Set out to feed
Humanity's basest traits,
All served on a plate
As a toxic stew of lies and hate.
Is that light in the darkness dawn or fire?
Who knows?
The world can only watch and wait
But more in sorrow and despair
Than in any hope this soon will end.
All the world can feel the tension in the air –
We have so little faith in those
On whom the future will depend.
Not my country, not my home,
I weep for thee as though my own.
Say a little prayer for those now lost,
Their ship in seas of torment tossed,
Torn asunder, ripped apart
By the lust for glory, fame and greed
Of one whose darkest heart,
Set out to feed
Humanity's basest traits,
All served on a plate
As a toxic stew of lies and hate.
Is that light in the darkness dawn or fire?
Who knows?
The world can only watch and wait
But more in sorrow and despair
Than in any hope this soon will end.
All the world can feel the tension in the air –
We have so little faith in those
On whom the future will depend.
Not my country, not my home,
I weep for thee as though my own.
IN MY HEART
Share my table and I can eat like you
Share my air and I can breathe like you
Cut me open and I will bleed like you
But deep in my heart I can never be like you
Until you open yours.
Share my table and I can eat like you
Share my air and I can breathe like you
Cut me open and I will bleed like you
But deep in my heart I can never be like you
Until you open yours.
ON THE CENTENARY OF ARMISTICE DAY
Let not your thoughts betray you while you bow your head
How can we remember when none of us was there?
At best we stand in silence and contemplate the dead;
At some point though our minds drift, like as not, elsewhere –
These days a minute, perhaps two, can seem like hours
Not to check mobile phones for news we might have missed,
A text from a friend, or the latest football scores.
School kids might know that 'Dulce et decorum est'
Is not ice cream, but gas – GAS?? Is that your biggest threat?
Aren't nuclear missiles or cluster bombs now the story,
Or napalm, or even a hijacked passenger jet
Crashed into a tower block pro deo mori?
We're no further forward, let's not try to pretend –
The war to start all wars is yet to reach an end.
© Gordon Lawrie 2018
Let not your thoughts betray you while you bow your head
How can we remember when none of us was there?
At best we stand in silence and contemplate the dead;
At some point though our minds drift, like as not, elsewhere –
These days a minute, perhaps two, can seem like hours
Not to check mobile phones for news we might have missed,
A text from a friend, or the latest football scores.
School kids might know that 'Dulce et decorum est'
Is not ice cream, but gas – GAS?? Is that your biggest threat?
Aren't nuclear missiles or cluster bombs now the story,
Or napalm, or even a hijacked passenger jet
Crashed into a tower block pro deo mori?
We're no further forward, let's not try to pretend –
The war to start all wars is yet to reach an end.
© Gordon Lawrie 2018
WHO KILLED THOSE KIDS TODAY?
This is actually an unaccompanied song. Self-explanatory, sadly. If you want to hear what it sounds like, click on the file on the left.
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Who killed those kids today –
Cut them down in school that way?
Not I, said the man whose store
Sold the killer a weapon of war.
"I remember it well, he just stopped by
Bought the gun and some beer like a regular guy
He might have been crazy, but how would I know?
When you're a kid-killer, it doesn't show.
No, I didn't cause those kids to fall
You can't blame me at all.
Who killed those kids today –
Cut them down in school that way?
Not we, said the NRA
We're pledged to defend the American Way
We need guns to protect, we need guns to fight
The 2nd Amendment is an American right
Shoot to defend is in the design
Give everyone guns – it'll all be fine!
No, we didn't cause those kids to fall
You can't blame us at all.
Who killed those kids today –
Cut them down in school that way?
Not I, said the President
Don't you see? It's evident
The guy was mad, the guy was sick
We need to arm the teachers Goddam quick
The votes of gunowners, that's what counts
And whatever I tell you on my Twitter account!!
No, I didn't cause those kids to fall
You can't blame me at all.
Who killed those kids today –
Cut them down in school that way?
©Gordon Lawrie 2018
Cut them down in school that way?
Not I, said the man whose store
Sold the killer a weapon of war.
"I remember it well, he just stopped by
Bought the gun and some beer like a regular guy
He might have been crazy, but how would I know?
When you're a kid-killer, it doesn't show.
No, I didn't cause those kids to fall
You can't blame me at all.
Who killed those kids today –
Cut them down in school that way?
Not we, said the NRA
We're pledged to defend the American Way
We need guns to protect, we need guns to fight
The 2nd Amendment is an American right
Shoot to defend is in the design
Give everyone guns – it'll all be fine!
No, we didn't cause those kids to fall
You can't blame us at all.
Who killed those kids today –
Cut them down in school that way?
Not I, said the President
Don't you see? It's evident
The guy was mad, the guy was sick
We need to arm the teachers Goddam quick
The votes of gunowners, that's what counts
And whatever I tell you on my Twitter account!!
No, I didn't cause those kids to fall
You can't blame me at all.
Who killed those kids today –
Cut them down in school that way?
©Gordon Lawrie 2018
"It's not for me": the four words an aspiring author are most likely to see start any letter addressed to him (possibly with the exception of "Amount Due on/before...").
It’s Not For Us
It’s not for us, said the publisher,
Your rejection slip is attached
We always reject the books authors send
We know they’re not up to scratch.
Yes we know we’ve not read it, we’re run off our feet
This is a business, you know.
We get agents to do our unpleasant work –
Sadly, that’s just how things go.
But keep up your writing, you’ll surely improve!
I know it’s a mountain to climb,
And here’s our good wishes for your future in print
Perhaps you’ll be lucky next time.
It’s not for me said the agent,
I just can’t consider your book
I get so many scripts, I’m run off my feet
I can’t spare a second to look
Yes, I know I’ve not read it, but that’s not the point
But I know that it’s not any good
Be grateful I bothered to get back at all!
Not every agent would.
But keep up your writing, you’ll surely improve!
I know it’s a mountain to climb,
And here’s our good wishes for your future in print
Perhaps you’ll be lucky next time.
It’s not for me, said the critic
My experience helps me decide.
Just from the paper, the feel and the smell
I can tell it’s substandard inside
Yes, I know I’ve not read it, but I can’t read them all
And so many belong in the bin
It’s quicker to dump them all there at the start
And pick out the odd lucky one.
But keep up your writing, you’ll surely improve!
I know it’s a mountain to climb,
And here’s my good wishes for your future in print
Perhaps you’ll be lucky next time.
Well it is for me, said the reader,
And I’m the one who counts
If a book gives me pleasure it’s all that I care
The others don’t matter an ounce.
I was lucky to read it, I can’t read them all
There aren’t enough hours in the day
But finding your book on the library shelves
Was a stroke of good fortune, I’d say.
Please carry on writing, and thank you again
I know you’d a mountain to scale,
And if you get round to writing some more
Be sure that I’ll read that as well.
©Gordon Lawrie 2014
It’s Not For Us
It’s not for us, said the publisher,
Your rejection slip is attached
We always reject the books authors send
We know they’re not up to scratch.
Yes we know we’ve not read it, we’re run off our feet
This is a business, you know.
We get agents to do our unpleasant work –
Sadly, that’s just how things go.
But keep up your writing, you’ll surely improve!
I know it’s a mountain to climb,
And here’s our good wishes for your future in print
Perhaps you’ll be lucky next time.
It’s not for me said the agent,
I just can’t consider your book
I get so many scripts, I’m run off my feet
I can’t spare a second to look
Yes, I know I’ve not read it, but that’s not the point
But I know that it’s not any good
Be grateful I bothered to get back at all!
Not every agent would.
But keep up your writing, you’ll surely improve!
I know it’s a mountain to climb,
And here’s our good wishes for your future in print
Perhaps you’ll be lucky next time.
It’s not for me, said the critic
My experience helps me decide.
Just from the paper, the feel and the smell
I can tell it’s substandard inside
Yes, I know I’ve not read it, but I can’t read them all
And so many belong in the bin
It’s quicker to dump them all there at the start
And pick out the odd lucky one.
But keep up your writing, you’ll surely improve!
I know it’s a mountain to climb,
And here’s my good wishes for your future in print
Perhaps you’ll be lucky next time.
Well it is for me, said the reader,
And I’m the one who counts
If a book gives me pleasure it’s all that I care
The others don’t matter an ounce.
I was lucky to read it, I can’t read them all
There aren’t enough hours in the day
But finding your book on the library shelves
Was a stroke of good fortune, I’d say.
Please carry on writing, and thank you again
I know you’d a mountain to scale,
And if you get round to writing some more
Be sure that I’ll read that as well.
©Gordon Lawrie 2014
The Shore Of Shame
Where’s my mamma?
Where’s my mamma? I’ve lost mamma and I’m all alone I want my mamma I want my mamma I want my mamma to take me home Let me gather you up, take you in my arms, Keep you safe from the shore of shame Sleep tight my darling, you can’t feel the storm You’ll see your mamma very soon again You’ll see your mamma very soon again Can I play on the beach? Can I play on the beach? I’ve only got here please don’t take me away Let me play here awhile Let me play here awhile Please let me play here, mamma let me stay Let me gather you up, take you in my arms, Keep you safe from the shore of shame Sleep tight my darling, you can’t feel the storm You’ll see your mamma very soon again You’ll see your mamma very soon again I want my mamma I want my mamma ©2015 Gordon Lawrie |
In the week this was written, these photographs dominated the news. I wasn't sure if it was appropriate to post them here, but eventually I decided we had no right to shut our eyes.
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It actually has a tune of sorts as well. I'm not particularly religious, but I really hope someone's looking after him right now. All of them, actually.
After a particularly poor spell of weather.
Meteorological Misunderstanding
Midday: the lights are on everywhere.
The frost took its time to clear
But now there is rain, horizontal,
Driven by the howling winds
Against my window, then against my face
As I race for the shelter of the car
With children who’d hoped for
A visit to the park this afternoon.
Not now my dears,
Perhaps later if the day improves
We’ll manage a trip to the swings
In your welly boots and coats.
Mind you, look out of that window
And you’ll see the dark clouds building –
That’s thunder and lightning coming for sure...
They call this summer?
©Gordon Lawrie 2015
Meteorological Misunderstanding
Midday: the lights are on everywhere.
The frost took its time to clear
But now there is rain, horizontal,
Driven by the howling winds
Against my window, then against my face
As I race for the shelter of the car
With children who’d hoped for
A visit to the park this afternoon.
Not now my dears,
Perhaps later if the day improves
We’ll manage a trip to the swings
In your welly boots and coats.
Mind you, look out of that window
And you’ll see the dark clouds building –
That’s thunder and lightning coming for sure...
They call this summer?
©Gordon Lawrie 2015
Written for National Poetry Day 2017. As an experiment, I read it (right).
A Dream Last night I dreamed no bombs were falling from the sky No siren sounds disturbed the city's gentle rest, No rattling gun, no rumbling tanks, no battle cry Punctured the darkness, leaving all around distressed. I dreamed the morning light laid out a fresh spring day Or summer's vivid flowers, or rich autumnal glow; Cold winds would surely sweep the foulest air away And leave the purest calming drifts of winter snow. I dreamed that all the Earth was whole again once more That all we passengers had settled up our dues That want became plenty, that peace had replaced war That a just and fair world would be the world we'd choose. But I awoke, and it was just another dream, I knew; Another day awaited me with so much more to do. |
A Study In Hypocrisy was written in answer to Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy's poem "Politics", an angry criticism of politicians during the MPs' expenses scandal. I didn't see it quite that simply.
A Study in Hypocrisy
Sure, I took what was there but I followed the rules,
I served you well and I broke no laws,
While smugly you sat in your company car,
Fed from the trough of your business accounts,
Paid guitarists and footballers stupid amounts -
To pleasure yourself in your lust for a star.
I may have behaved as one of the fools
But I gave my career for a nobler cause.
Submitting my life to the fiercest inspection,
You watched me unravel and relished the fun.
You pointed the finger yet made no connection.
Consider this thought when the day is done -
If the mirror provides your only reflection,
Perhaps you're made blind by the light of the sun.
©Gordon Lawrie 2009
A Study in Hypocrisy
Sure, I took what was there but I followed the rules,
I served you well and I broke no laws,
While smugly you sat in your company car,
Fed from the trough of your business accounts,
Paid guitarists and footballers stupid amounts -
To pleasure yourself in your lust for a star.
I may have behaved as one of the fools
But I gave my career for a nobler cause.
Submitting my life to the fiercest inspection,
You watched me unravel and relished the fun.
You pointed the finger yet made no connection.
Consider this thought when the day is done -
If the mirror provides your only reflection,
Perhaps you're made blind by the light of the sun.
©Gordon Lawrie 2009
Still on politics, this was written in 2001 to try to explain voting systems to 16-year-olds. It's slightly dated, but only slightly.
A Review of the Direct Vote System and Proportional Representation in the Form of a Poem in the Style of William Topaz MacGonigall
Students of Higher Modern Studies! Note:-
The way in which UK citizens vote
Is in Western Europe quite unique
Which requires all of us now to seek
The Advantages and Disadvantages of the system we use
And examine some that that we might alternatively choose.
The Direct Vote System - or First Past The Post -
Or FPTP as it is shortened to by most -
Is simple to follow; indeed FPTP
Could be understood by a chimpanzee
Which means the voting everyone can see
Which is very good for democracee.
Another good thing about FPTP
Is it tends to produce a clear majoritee.
This tends to lead to decisive government
Which is what most people meant
The electors of Britain like to have a clear say
When they vote for Parliament on election day.
And if you want to write to your local MP
Or visit him in your local library
Or even invite him home for tea
Then your representative is clear to see
For this is one of the things people like the most
About our system, which is known as First Past the Post.
But now to the problems - and there are quite a few -
If you live in a safe seat it’s hard lines on you.
It’s in the marginals that elections are won
And it’s only the voters there that have the fun
In a democracy everybody should have a say
But under FPTP it sometimes doesn’t seem that way.
And it gets worse - in the system we use
There is only one candidate you can choose.
If you wish to vote for a particular partee
And a block of wood was its local nominee
You might have to vote for the block of wood
Which could mean your MP wouldn’t be very good.
Your love of our current system further cools
As there are no prizes for second under UK rules
The leader of the Liberal Democrats bleats
That the minor parties get too few seats
The Lib-Dems suffer the most by far
Which is one of the reasons why they want PR.
Under PR, the coalitions which would soon arise
Could our government stabilise
The system has led to consistencee
Of government in Sweden and Germanee -
And after all they seem quite well off today
So why do we not choose MPs that way?
Ah, but all is not simplicitee
As well as Sweden there is Italee
Governments there seem to change by the hour
Because small parties have so much power
Not by election is government won
It’s behind closed doors that deals are done.
And in the German Republic of Weimar
- Where they had more or less pure PR -
The system allowed Adolf Hitler to seize
Power on behalf of the Nazees
And because Hitler was completely mad
For democracy in Germany this was very bad.
The List System is understood with ease -
The percentage votes equals percentage of MPs.
But the party lists are by the parties chosen
So out of the choice voters are frozen
And what is more you have no contituency MP
Which is a very bad thing for democracee.
Another system is AMS -
Used by the Scottish Parliament, no less -
It’s a bit of the List and of Direct Vote
But critics of AMS ask you to note
That it might create two (constituency and list) MSP tiers
Which is something many a politician genuinely fears.
Finally, there is STV
The system the Lib-Dems would like it to be.
It may be fair, as the experts said
But with its quotas and transfers you’ll scratch your head
And if the voters can’t be sure that what they get is what they see,
They’ll not believe it’s democracee.
Whether List, AMS or STV
Or even good old FPTP
To say what you want and choose your MP
Is all you can ask from democracee
And apart from these, it is clear from our analysis
All you can aim for is a system that avoids governmental paralysis.
A Review of the Direct Vote System and Proportional Representation in the Form of a Poem in the Style of William Topaz MacGonigall
Students of Higher Modern Studies! Note:-
The way in which UK citizens vote
Is in Western Europe quite unique
Which requires all of us now to seek
The Advantages and Disadvantages of the system we use
And examine some that that we might alternatively choose.
The Direct Vote System - or First Past The Post -
Or FPTP as it is shortened to by most -
Is simple to follow; indeed FPTP
Could be understood by a chimpanzee
Which means the voting everyone can see
Which is very good for democracee.
Another good thing about FPTP
Is it tends to produce a clear majoritee.
This tends to lead to decisive government
Which is what most people meant
The electors of Britain like to have a clear say
When they vote for Parliament on election day.
And if you want to write to your local MP
Or visit him in your local library
Or even invite him home for tea
Then your representative is clear to see
For this is one of the things people like the most
About our system, which is known as First Past the Post.
But now to the problems - and there are quite a few -
If you live in a safe seat it’s hard lines on you.
It’s in the marginals that elections are won
And it’s only the voters there that have the fun
In a democracy everybody should have a say
But under FPTP it sometimes doesn’t seem that way.
And it gets worse - in the system we use
There is only one candidate you can choose.
If you wish to vote for a particular partee
And a block of wood was its local nominee
You might have to vote for the block of wood
Which could mean your MP wouldn’t be very good.
Your love of our current system further cools
As there are no prizes for second under UK rules
The leader of the Liberal Democrats bleats
That the minor parties get too few seats
The Lib-Dems suffer the most by far
Which is one of the reasons why they want PR.
Under PR, the coalitions which would soon arise
Could our government stabilise
The system has led to consistencee
Of government in Sweden and Germanee -
And after all they seem quite well off today
So why do we not choose MPs that way?
Ah, but all is not simplicitee
As well as Sweden there is Italee
Governments there seem to change by the hour
Because small parties have so much power
Not by election is government won
It’s behind closed doors that deals are done.
And in the German Republic of Weimar
- Where they had more or less pure PR -
The system allowed Adolf Hitler to seize
Power on behalf of the Nazees
And because Hitler was completely mad
For democracy in Germany this was very bad.
The List System is understood with ease -
The percentage votes equals percentage of MPs.
But the party lists are by the parties chosen
So out of the choice voters are frozen
And what is more you have no contituency MP
Which is a very bad thing for democracee.
Another system is AMS -
Used by the Scottish Parliament, no less -
It’s a bit of the List and of Direct Vote
But critics of AMS ask you to note
That it might create two (constituency and list) MSP tiers
Which is something many a politician genuinely fears.
Finally, there is STV
The system the Lib-Dems would like it to be.
It may be fair, as the experts said
But with its quotas and transfers you’ll scratch your head
And if the voters can’t be sure that what they get is what they see,
They’ll not believe it’s democracee.
Whether List, AMS or STV
Or even good old FPTP
To say what you want and choose your MP
Is all you can ask from democracee
And apart from these, it is clear from our analysis
All you can aim for is a system that avoids governmental paralysis.
A daft haiku...
Gordon Lawrie's entry for the 2020 Haiku Of The Year Non-Competition
I've not won a thing
My work is undiscovered
There's always next year
This, of course, is a fine example of Gödel's "Liar Paradox", first seen in the statement "This sentence is false". Should this Haiku itself win anything, I would of course be instantly disqualified and the haiku therefore cease to exist.
It's also a complete pest because I keep having to update te year.
Gordon Lawrie's entry for the 2020 Haiku Of The Year Non-Competition
I've not won a thing
My work is undiscovered
There's always next year
This, of course, is a fine example of Gödel's "Liar Paradox", first seen in the statement "This sentence is false". Should this Haiku itself win anything, I would of course be instantly disqualified and the haiku therefore cease to exist.
It's also a complete pest because I keep having to update te year.
I suppose this could be an even dafter haiku.
Pointless Haiku
Haikus are good things
To write if you’ve a subject
But sadly I don’t
© Gordon Lawrie 2014
Pointless Haiku
Haikus are good things
To write if you’ve a subject
But sadly I don’t
© Gordon Lawrie 2014
A Scotsman Looks At Thanksgiving
It's St Andrew's Day
We're not eating turkey here
I think I'm relieved
© Gordon Lawrie 2014
It's St Andrew's Day
We're not eating turkey here
I think I'm relieved
© Gordon Lawrie 2014
Artistic Haiku
Pure five-seven-five
May freely be thrown away –
Jackson Pollock would.
©2014
Pure five-seven-five
May freely be thrown away –
Jackson Pollock would.
©2014
Anticipation Haiku
Friday Flash Fiction
Gives me so much amusement –
Can next week come soon?
©2014
Friday Flash Fiction
Gives me so much amusement –
Can next week come soon?
©2014
Three Autobiographical Haikus
I – On Being Big
A 2XL is
Too small, so's a 3XL –
I'm just a monster.
II – On Being Not a very Good Poet
I wish I could write
Clever haikus that made sense –
Mine are gibberish.
III – On My Strengths as a Poet
The best thing by far
About the haikus that I write
Is that they're all short.
©2018
I – On Being Big
A 2XL is
Too small, so's a 3XL –
I'm just a monster.
II – On Being Not a very Good Poet
I wish I could write
Clever haikus that made sense –
Mine are gibberish.
III – On My Strengths as a Poet
The best thing by far
About the haikus that I write
Is that they're all short.
©2018
A nonsense poem in the style of Edward Lear and so many others.
The Tea Party
The day the great turtle came here to tea
With the owl, the frog and the bumble bee,
We sat in the shade of the chestnut tree
And gazed at the view of the Solomon Sea.
I served them slices of Devonshire meat
Followed by scones as a special treat
By half past five we were all quite replete
Gently content in the afternoon heat.
Then the frog said “Goodness, now there’s a surprise –
There are silver-lined rainbows up in those skies
You can see them behind you, but cover your eyes –
Beyond the horizon a wonderstorm lies.”
The owl looked bewildered – “I see nothing yet!
Will the wonderstorm come here and make us all wet?”
Said the bee, “We’ll stay dry, I’m willing to bet
It’s a beautiful day, there’s no need to fret.”
Then the turtle awoke and said “I must go,
For my journey back home is exceedingly slow,
I’m not a fast mover these days, as you know
And my journey will take me an hour or so.
Said the bee to the frog, “This must be our cue –
We can’t stay all day and look at the view.
We all should be leaving, you, too owl, you, too –
So let’s fetch our coats and we’ll bid our adieu.”
I fetched all their coats and ventured to say
“It’s been super to have you this lovely fine day.”
In no time they’d left and were far, far away,
For their welcome they knew they must not overstay.
I tidied the plates and the peppermint urn,
Gathered the table and chaise longue in turn.
When the garden was clear, it was time to adjourn
For now that they’d gone they could always return.
© Gordon Lawrie 2014
The Tea Party
The day the great turtle came here to tea
With the owl, the frog and the bumble bee,
We sat in the shade of the chestnut tree
And gazed at the view of the Solomon Sea.
I served them slices of Devonshire meat
Followed by scones as a special treat
By half past five we were all quite replete
Gently content in the afternoon heat.
Then the frog said “Goodness, now there’s a surprise –
There are silver-lined rainbows up in those skies
You can see them behind you, but cover your eyes –
Beyond the horizon a wonderstorm lies.”
The owl looked bewildered – “I see nothing yet!
Will the wonderstorm come here and make us all wet?”
Said the bee, “We’ll stay dry, I’m willing to bet
It’s a beautiful day, there’s no need to fret.”
Then the turtle awoke and said “I must go,
For my journey back home is exceedingly slow,
I’m not a fast mover these days, as you know
And my journey will take me an hour or so.
Said the bee to the frog, “This must be our cue –
We can’t stay all day and look at the view.
We all should be leaving, you, too owl, you, too –
So let’s fetch our coats and we’ll bid our adieu.”
I fetched all their coats and ventured to say
“It’s been super to have you this lovely fine day.”
In no time they’d left and were far, far away,
For their welcome they knew they must not overstay.
I tidied the plates and the peppermint urn,
Gathered the table and chaise longue in turn.
When the garden was clear, it was time to adjourn
For now that they’d gone they could always return.
© Gordon Lawrie 2014
A statement on the nature of Scottish identity.
I Love My Country
I love my country
Break me open like a stick of rock
And I’m sure the word ‘Scotland’
Runs right through my entire body.
I describe myself as ‘Scottish’, not ‘British’
I reject all labels of “Inglese” while abroad
And yet I do not hate my neighbours.
I’m not a subsidy junkie
I support the economy like a crutch
But I do not feel the need
To take away that helping hand
That thing that makes us strong
Not just Scotland, but England, too
It makes no sense to separate
When the world needs more to unite
Not to stand apart and stare.
Not for a moment do I doubt
That English arrogance
Has brought us to this point
Not for a second do I doubt
That an ill-divided land
Bears bitter fruit
And those who stand
To take us away
Are right to say
That we in Scotland would be worthy
Of our nationhood
We’d be all right if that’s how it turned out.
But we’re worth more than that
We Scots are surely higher made
And when provoked and goaded,
By observers, who
Like mindless visitors to the zoo,
Jab their sticks to see
How we’ll react,
We act with grace,
With dignity
We do not lose the place
But rather offer a hand in peace.
Let us not then betray our souls by reacting in haste
Scotland can assert itself better from its present place
We’re already four united nations, not just one.
Let us go forward together, not apart
And secure the place of Scotland
In Europe and the world, under the sun.
©Gordon Lawrie 2014
I Love My Country
I love my country
Break me open like a stick of rock
And I’m sure the word ‘Scotland’
Runs right through my entire body.
I describe myself as ‘Scottish’, not ‘British’
I reject all labels of “Inglese” while abroad
And yet I do not hate my neighbours.
I’m not a subsidy junkie
I support the economy like a crutch
But I do not feel the need
To take away that helping hand
That thing that makes us strong
Not just Scotland, but England, too
It makes no sense to separate
When the world needs more to unite
Not to stand apart and stare.
Not for a moment do I doubt
That English arrogance
Has brought us to this point
Not for a second do I doubt
That an ill-divided land
Bears bitter fruit
And those who stand
To take us away
Are right to say
That we in Scotland would be worthy
Of our nationhood
We’d be all right if that’s how it turned out.
But we’re worth more than that
We Scots are surely higher made
And when provoked and goaded,
By observers, who
Like mindless visitors to the zoo,
Jab their sticks to see
How we’ll react,
We act with grace,
With dignity
We do not lose the place
But rather offer a hand in peace.
Let us not then betray our souls by reacting in haste
Scotland can assert itself better from its present place
We’re already four united nations, not just one.
Let us go forward together, not apart
And secure the place of Scotland
In Europe and the world, under the sun.
©Gordon Lawrie 2014
Written for someone whose good friend had recently died. You can change each 'his' into 'her', too.
For Jan, On Her Loss
When dust has settled on this mortal coil,
Three score and ten the Book allots our span,
Too often does the traveller find his toil
Cut short, cheated, the race he fairly ran
Has reached the earthly finishing line.
Then do his friends review what’s left behind,
See naught, and wonder if life’s grand design
Is, through death, to torment all mankind.
But though the human debris may be gone
Much of the human spirit lingers on
In each of us, in those who knew him well
Remains a piece of him, and we in turn can tell
With pride: I liked him; I always will;
I was his friend; I am his good friend still.
© Gordon Lawrie 2014
For Jan, On Her Loss
When dust has settled on this mortal coil,
Three score and ten the Book allots our span,
Too often does the traveller find his toil
Cut short, cheated, the race he fairly ran
Has reached the earthly finishing line.
Then do his friends review what’s left behind,
See naught, and wonder if life’s grand design
Is, through death, to torment all mankind.
But though the human debris may be gone
Much of the human spirit lingers on
In each of us, in those who knew him well
Remains a piece of him, and we in turn can tell
With pride: I liked him; I always will;
I was his friend; I am his good friend still.
© Gordon Lawrie 2014
Finally, this was written to mark the arrival of a grandchild.
Tiny Creature
Tiny creature, nameless yet,
What adventures lie in wait
For you, what simple twists of fate
Will shape your destiny?
How will fortune dictate
Your journey?
If God exists, I'll ask him this:
Protect this little one with all of His
Heavenly power, wrapped in a kiss –
But tiny creature, never fear,
If there's no God or he cannot hear
Those who love you will be there
To love, to hold, to feed, to care.
Go forward, tiny creature, go
Yours is the day that's yet to come
Yours is the world I'll never know;
May those tiny, sleepy eyes some day
See where a better future lies.
Pretend I can cast some magic spell –
I do it now and wish you well:
Enjoy your life, enjoy the show,
And as you grow, the world will grow
©Gordon Lawrie 2015
Tiny Creature
Tiny creature, nameless yet,
What adventures lie in wait
For you, what simple twists of fate
Will shape your destiny?
How will fortune dictate
Your journey?
If God exists, I'll ask him this:
Protect this little one with all of His
Heavenly power, wrapped in a kiss –
But tiny creature, never fear,
If there's no God or he cannot hear
Those who love you will be there
To love, to hold, to feed, to care.
Go forward, tiny creature, go
Yours is the day that's yet to come
Yours is the world I'll never know;
May those tiny, sleepy eyes some day
See where a better future lies.
Pretend I can cast some magic spell –
I do it now and wish you well:
Enjoy your life, enjoy the show,
And as you grow, the world will grow
©Gordon Lawrie 2015