Neverending Journey

(Picture Credit - Flickr)

Life is a journey through an infinite universe.

Even before we die,

We pass the baton to the next generation.
For them to continue the race.

Ages ago I read of a teacher

Who taught kids to write free verse.

I cannot find the book he wrote on this,

But he let them express themselves

And play with words,

Completely free.

Since then I’ve written free verse

Myself,

Though from time to time

I like a rhyme,

Iambic verses too.

Or a Clerihew.

What a to do!

May the verses run

So we have some fun.

You want to write?

It is your right.

No need for perfection,

Just build a collection.

I write each piece

For my great nephew and niece.

They may not be poems

Bringing in coins,

But I have the gift,

You get my drift.

Thanks to Mum and Dad

I ain’t all bad.

It’s so exciting

To keep on writing.

Paul Butters

© PB 30\4\20. (New 4th line suggested by Norman Stevens).

(From an idea that came to me while taking a bath).

This poem is dedicated to Jacob and Rosie Gamble).

Delicious

 (Picture Credit - The Daily Meal)

Television cooks rarely do

Fish, chips and mushy peas

With spotted dick for afters.

No

It’s got to be

Creamy coconut curry

With Balingud Zalud

Soaked in Chimichurri sauce.

Or Jalapena Lime Slaw

Accompanied by spicy Sriracia mayo

And Rachero Sauce.

Plus a side-dish of fluffy soufflés.

The starter is a vibrant veggy ratatouille

With sashimi, tacos and tortillas.

But then there’s always vemuelli noodles,

Pommes frittes

Teriyehi

Thana messala

And Enchilada Casserole

Covered in Romesco Sauce

Or Hollandaise

With Falafels and couscous.

Then Neapolitan Ice Cream souffled Erotica.

All impossible of course.

But don’t we love

The sheer seduction of those Words.

Paul Butters

© PB 28\4\2020.

The Upside

 (Picture Credit-Howtodoright com)

Covid 19 is shockingly lethal,

Killing thousands all over the world.

We are imprisoned in Pandemic Lockdown,

Confined to our homes for seemingly endless days.

Yet these clouds have silver linings.

No more daily social drinking for me.

Complete control of what I eat.

Time, oceans of time, to get my house in order.

Time to reflect and write.

I might even get

Into good shape.

The skies are clearing too.

Much less pollution

From factories and cars.

China can be seen from space

Free from smog.

Animals are returning.

We saw a squirrel in our close the other day

For the first time in twenty odd years.

And the gulls have come inland

For more food.

Chaffinches and robins on my lawns

And foxes even bolder than they were before.

All this is showing us:

There is another way.

We don’t have to ravage Mother Earth

Chop down the trees

Or fill the air with smoke.

Nor do we need to classify us all

As Patricians or Plebs:

Iniquitous inequality.

Or make Money our God

Like modern Midases.

There is indeed a better way.

Which begs the question:

What will it take to make the human race

See sense?

Paul Butters

© PB 27\4\2020. (Slightly amended 28\4).

On Being

Maybe there must be Existence

For Non-Existence to exist,

Life for Death,

Death for Life,

Finiteness for Infinity,

You can work out the rest.

Love and hate, pain and pleasure,

All a continuum,

All inevitable.

Existence cannot be denied

Even if we live in a virtual world:

A fantasy penned

By who knows who?

For thinking is being,

We all know that.

So enjoy while you can

Before you get written

Out of the script.

Spring turns to summer now

In a seemingly endless circle

Even a globe.

Make the most of it

And party on

As best you can

In your own unique way.

Paul Butters

© PB 25\4\2020.