When the pen takes control.

I was out sailing in my dinghy yesterday

in the English Channel twixt Dover and Calais

I fired a distress flare at half past five

then waited for hours for a lifeboat to arrive

it wasn’t because lifeboat crews couldn’t care less

but they have no time for real sailors in distress

those people who work or just enjoy being at sea,

for now they’re too busy looking for refugees

Cells start to divide

from each half new life will rise

strength in division

I looked at the photo above and thought surely

a passage between the carriages there ought to be

so that in first class the gentry for tea could beckon

by some form of signal to their servants in second

and we all know tea should be not just warm but hot

so they wouldn’t need to wait for the train to stop

Because it was a special Bank holiday

I decided to lie in yesterday

going downstairs I found the table laid

eggs, bacon, toast and marmalade

which was the lime version to my relief

it doesn’t leave zest sticking in your teeth.

Nostrils snorting steam

red the colour of the beast

fresh blood stains the sand

Charles had an appointment with his mother

for protocol sake there could be no other

he said to her Mama I think even you can see

that this year an outcry there would be

if you let these two young people dictate

their appearance with you on affairs of state

so I think for the sake of our family

forget them appearing on the balcony

She examined her two rows of iris

radiant in their blue and white

then thought perhaps that she could try this

and it gave her much delight,

for the blood red bloom though not so tall

turned out the most colourful of them all

Down below these planks of wood

cowers a girl who prays she could

break the bonds that hold her tight,

between each plank a chink of light

she above her head can clearly see

that holds the promise to be free,

though thoughts of death may still be near,

thus gently acting to salve her fear

although no matter how bad this may seem

when she awakes will find ‘‘twas just a dream.”