Regret

His head was bowed as he walked down our street 

This young man in his twenties.

But he walked like an old man

Consciously pacing himself 

One foot after another.

I don’t know where he lived

Or where he might be going, 

But he was there 10am 

Every  Tuesday morning

With out fail.

I began to look for him and as he passed 

My eyes followed him to the corner

Where he turned and disappeared from view.

I often thought of  standing on the corner

To see where he was going

Every Tuesday at 10am.

But I couldn’t, it would be prying,

And I felt sure he would have noticed me.

One Tuesday he didn’t come down our street.

I was sitting by the window

Watching both the clock and the street

Until it chimed  the half hour.

I was curious even concerned ,

As to why after so may months 

 He had  not appeared.

Where had he come from. 

Where was he going.

His absence was disturbing.

I was constantly aware that he was missing.

If only he would come back, 

I would stand at the door 

And  try to raise a smile from him

By  calling out “Good morning.”

But he never did return.

Val Cook Sept 2011

The Rhythm of the Ride

I love a motorbike ride

An open road signals freedom,

Freedom from everyday restrictions,

Rules that keep me in check.

Nagging worries that drag me down.,

Its liberating, exhilarating,

Lying low, head down chin up,

Open throttle and feeling the wind

Whistling past.

Tyres on asphalt sing their song.

Engine finely tuned throbbing along.

Bobbing and weaving

Swaying left then right

Out of the traffic and into the light

Along narrow winding country lanes

Rolling round bends

Caution on the corners

Then back on to the highway.

Zoom zoom zooming free and easy

Riding the distance, free at last.

Feeling good filled with pride

At one with the machine

In tune to the rhythm of the ride.

Val Cook 2011

Separation

Over and over and over again

Over and over and over again

Thoughts of you

Send shivers through the core of me

I want to wrap myself around you

Dance and twirl

To the music in my heart

Over and over and over again

Hot tears cascade

I repeat your name

The familiar mantra

Filling my head

Killing me slowly

Over and over and over again

I wear your sweater

Inhale you

Taste you

Feel the agony of separation

Stealing time and comfort

Over and over and over again

V CooK 2011

A Trilogy

You are Who you Are

You are who you are for many reasons

Changing through time just like the seasons

Each season’s expectations are high

But often they change we know not why

Summer ’s can be wet and cold

Autumn warm or dark and bold

Winter extreme or mild

But Spring always wakes fresh as a new born child.

As does our years change us.

We can respond by accepting limitations

Living far beyond all expectations

To paddle along nicely

Or drown in self pity and remorse.

Reaching Out

Reaching out takes courage

Persistence and patience.

Often we grasp at straws

Not realising that disappointment

And heartache may be waiting

A few miles down the road.

Never give up and never give in

Is a common rally.

And its true, God loves a tryer

One day perseverance will pay off

The Eureka moment will come

I know, cause it has happened to me.

Love

Love has so many meanings

The young dream that falling in love

Is an all consuming magic moment.

A love that will last forever.

Parental love is a total life changing event

Understanding. patience and tolerance

Required as children develop and grow

Most of us love good food and drink

Clothes, music and movies the list is endless.

Children love attention, holidays toys and games.

I love reading and writing poetry

Plus all the above.

What do you love. VCook 2011

Night Demons

Night Demons

Oh how deadly these questions and doubts

Enter your mind

As you lie in Bed

Quietly waiting to slip

Softly into sleep.

These niggling nuisances

Nip in and out of your thoughts

Raising more and more doubts.

Its impossible to catch even a moment

Without fear entering , freezing your mind.

Nasty nibbling doubts and fears with

Little or no substance enough

To warrant their impact in the dark.

Suddenly you are wide awake

And as far from sleep as is possible to be.

Awake, I feel able to see more clearly

The issues that have troubled me.

I write them down dismiss them

With a feeling of relief

I return to my pillow.

And sleep.

Val Cook 2011

At That Certain Age

You don’t realise until you reach

A certain age

Just how much adjustment you have to make.

To your daily routine.

No more watching the clock they say

Your retired,

Your kidding

Time flies by fast you have to watch the clock

Otherwise you wont get anything done.

Bed, TV and the telephone

Can become obsessive, they take over.

And lists ,

You will need lists

To remind you when, where and how

To get things done.

You will forget time, appointments, names

Birthdays, telephone number and addresses.

If you don’t then you are the exception.

My priority now is comfort

Underwear and shoes top of the list

As a woman we have certain needs.

As our body succumbs to earths gravitational pull

We have to pull it back

And settle it into a comfortable position every day

The innocuous big knickers.

And no more tottering on heels

Or falling over in strappy sandals

Its flats that give support and balance

And avoid pressure on the bunions

A must is umpteen pairs of spectacles

Scattered around the house

A pair in every handbag

Bags of all shapes, sizes and colours.

Essential accessory to any self respecting woman

Having the ability to hold

Every conceivable emergency need.!!

And when going away, another case for the pills.

Face creams. Body lotions, Epilator and tweezers.

Makeup, toiletries and tissues.

Enough clothes to rig out a family of five.

To cover all seasonal changes.

Twice as much money in case of emergencies.

And phone numbers to keep in touch

With loved ones at home.

The Storm

The Storm

Before the storm comes the stillness

A quiet like the dead of the night

You can almost touch the silence

Delivered by brightness of light

The sky ablaze with its brilliance

Is soon in shadows as heavy dark clouds,

Creep and smother the sky

Suddenly claps of thunder roll across the heavens

As if someone is banging a hammer on sheet metal

Bolts of fork lightning strike down to the earth

Sheet lightning fills the sky for miles

Then the noise and flashes travel away, away

As we count the seconds between the hammer and flash.

Seconds later the rain comes down

Unremitting heavy and powerful.

Gutters awash with debri as rainwater pours of roofs

As quickly as it came, it is gone

The sun shines blue skies peek through

And life goes on.

Val Cook 2007