Winter Olympics

Weather the storm
the icy blast and angry swollen rivers

Emergency evacuating livestock
and protecting property

Saving lives must always be
our aim and top priority

The PM said today
that money is no object

This is not a blank cheque
said the Secretary of Transport

Money's not the issue
but someone disagrees

And here again we have
the rhetoric of prudence and good sense

With reference to good housekeeping

While hiding under cover
of frank discussion and genuine concern

As always they continue
to pursue their own agenda

Core voters who support
the small state ideology

And all the while the rains falls
unabated on the saturated ground

In the work being carried out
to deal with this crisis

Who knows what is right
and what is wrong ?

When the war goes on in Syria
and Korea has the bomb ?

-

What do nomadic tribesmen think
when they see gay women ski in Sochi ?

And far away in space
a probe is landing on a comet ?

-

Who can you trust these days ?

Is there someone out there ?

Someone you can trust
and someone to admire ?

Raymond Williams ?

Stuart Hall or the legacy of Thatcher ?

What plays to the public ?

Who cares ?

Well I do for one
and also so does everyone

This is the spirit of our time
which brings us all together

When we're pumping out the water
and fighting for our homes

Hubris

Would we do well to heed the call
and take up arms against this tyrant ?

Or is this what enables us
to find a husband or a wife ?

To raise our children and discern
the meaning of our lives

Should we be guided
by Churchill's definition of success ?

To go from one failure to the next
without losing confidence

Or losing concentration

Or will such good advice
just lead us down the path to self delusion ?

It sounds to me more
like the motto of the man
who would lead us into war

No more than hubris in extremity
the pride before the fall

A recipe for King's
who lose their heads

Or burn their buns
as prelude to disaster

Thoughts on the New Year

In all his future publications
the writer would many times
refer back to this time and describe
the year 2013 as his epiphany

One single continuous epiphany
all be it for occasional lapses
and but for several interruptions

A continuous flow of inspiration
and dutiful inscription sustained
from January to December

Throughout all twelve months
of that extraordinary year

-

I say ok to education
But which kind of education ?

And I say ok to democracy
But which kind of democracy ?

And to death also I say ok
if that is what must be

But which kind of death will it be ?
We'll have to wait and see

-

Loyalty to royalty
lies heavy on the heart

Long live the King

The King must die

The King is dead

We start to sing His praise
expecting Him to come

The King of Kings is ours

Close Your Eyes

Close your eyes
and open them again

Then try to look around
and see every time you blink

As once again returning
from the vision of the Dharmadatu

Arising in the Form of the Deity

Who presides as witness
to enjoyment of the senses

Of Wisdom and Bliss and endless
realisation of Truth in the Pure Land

-

Taste the words

In the movement
of your mouth and lungs

Muscles shaping syllables and vowels
as the breath departs your body

Imparting blessings to all beings
in all directions and all times

Reassuring them
that through their suffering

At last Peace can be found

-

Reassuring them of this
that through their pain and suffering

At last Peace can be found

Honour and Obey

I write these lines before the dawn
beneath the shadow of the moon

I write these lines to please myself
and keep the company of angels

But there's a voice inside my head
which tells me to obey

If you'll do anything I say
how could you throw my books away ?

Now learn this well and keep it safe
within your memory

And teach the children how to read
their lessons in philosophy

For wisdom found by memorising
lines of ancient poetry

And guidance that you find
in poems of prophetic scripture

Remember angels who forget
shed tears and fearing for the future

Too late to make amends
they feel regret for their demonic nature

O ye women of so little faith
so stubborn hard to tame

Give praises due to God and pray
in the Good Lord's name

How dare you throw away like this
my school books and my stories ?

Beyond a Mother's duty true
you know you have no right

O ye women of so little faith
so stubborn hard to tame

Give praises due to God
and pray together in His name

I write these lines to pass the time
and also to remember

On the morning of the last day
in the dark month of December

Granny and the Egg

-1-

Don't try telling Granny
how to suck an egg

All these years she's managed
and she does it very well

She makes a little hole
and then she gives a little pull

Sucking in her cheeks so well
until her mouth is full

She's puffing out her cheeks
and now she's sucking with a will

She'll press her lips around it
till it's just an empty shell


-2-

Don't try telling Granny
how to suck an egg

She'd much prefer it if you learned
to show respect instead

So wait your turn and listen
when she says what must be said

You're far too young to understand
so knock it on the head

Can you appreciate it
when she shows a bit of leg ?

(Or is your) brain soft and runny
like the yolk in Granny's egg ?


-CHORUS-

'Cos Granny likes an egg
when she has a cup of tea

So mind you say your Ps and Qs
and thank you if you please

Yes mind you say excuse me
thank you very much indeed

And now she'll wash that egg
down with a lovely cup of tea


-3-

No don't try telling Granny
'cos she's really very sweet

She'll chew it with her gums
and then she'll stamp her little feet

She'll push and wiggle with her tongue
and rattle her false teeth

She'll make the children giggle
till they bounce right off their seat

She'll hold it tight between her knees
and give that egg a squeeze

So mind you say excuse me
thank you very much indeed


-CHORUS-

(Now we) really mean this most sincerely
if you're thinking she's a tease

Why don't you ask just try asking her
to show you if you please ?

(Yes you) only have to ask her nicely
Please say please and thank you

(Say) please and thank you and excuse me
Thank you very much indeed


-REFRAIN-

Raw or boiled or poached eggs
with salt and pepper too

Fried or scrambled
on some toast

Would you like one or two ?

-

Raw boiled poached
fried scrambled over-easy ... (x3)

-

If you can't see the funny side
she'll take it on the sunny side

Up and down see Granny go ...
she's sucking on an egg

-

Wham bam
Thank you Ma'am

Can she do it ?
Yes she can

She knows how to do it and ...

She'll tell you how you do it
if you want to suck an egg


-CHORUS-

She's tried it with an egg cup
and she's tried it with a spoon

She tried it in the sunlight
and beneath the big fat moon

She tried it in the morning
also in the afternoon

And in the evening when she's done
she falls down in a swoon


-4-

You'll discover soon enough
it's time to end this tune

So don't try telling Granny
'cos she'll tell you what to do

No don't try telling Granny
how to suck an egg

She'll tell you all what for
and then she'll send you off to bed

No don't try telling Granny
how to suck an egg

(She'll be) sucking eggs all day
that's true until the day she's dead

In Praise of My Wife

All praise to Lin Fang

Our Empress
and Hero of the World

Ten thousand no
One hundred thousand

Comely maidens
with pert and gorgeous
breasts displayed

And fine pink nipples
all up standing

Sway from side to side
and lift their slender arms

And dance in unison
and sing her praises

They sing out loud with
melodious and charming chorus

As She rides past
the crowds adoring Her

She's mounted on
a noble white elephant

Resplendent with ornament
of precious jewels and golden glow
upon Her Throne of Royal Stone

Taken from the Holy Mountain
in the West with the blessing of the best

With pomp and pride

And celebrated guests
admiring Her achievements