Best Tradesman Poems
There was a time when tradesmen,
Like plumbers or mechanics, were all fulltime people.
But nowadays a tradesman has to do multiple tasks,
Mainly because their number is dwindling.
When they are not available,
Householders have to do the job themselves.
It stands to reason.
Similarly, occupations like thieving, robbery, villainy, etc.,
Used to be carried on on a fulltime-basis.
You could tell such characters apart
By their behavior, dress code and looks.
Fagin, Phoolan Devi, and Veerappan are eloquent examples.
Even a street dog could easily single them out
And start barking loudly.
But nowadays, in these postmodern times,
Or Kali Yuga (if you like),
Such marks of distinction seem to be lost.
Obviously, such ‘trades’ nowadays have gone part-time.
But the question is: Why so many part-time people
(seeing that their number is ever increasing),
And when, evidently, there is so much scope?
Why don't people go fulltime?
Could anyone explain why or why not?
Where I live
The land slopes downward
Towards Merrick Road
Inviting me for a walk.
Stopping at a corner
I hear my name
Turning around
I say hello
To a neighbor
We exchange pleasantries
No need to say anymore
And I continue on my way.
My wife and I have roots here
Passing my daughter’s school
I remember that July
When fathers,
Tradesman
And office workers alike,
Toiled under a hot sun
Working together
To build a playground.
Near the park
I coached my son’s soccer team
Families came to watch
Their children run like the wind
Memory tells me
It was a good season.
On nearby streets
I helped neighbors
With routine chores
Lifting and pushing the unmovable
Shiny things for a kitchen
Or for the room upstairs
Odds and ends
We call possessions
My wife worked close by
To be home
When our children
Stepped off the school bus
Our house ran under
Her watchful eye
A job never done.
In return we are known here
And I take every opportunity
To walk through a quiet town
As early evening
Descends
On everyone and everything.
Self reliancy stimulates political independence,
pragmatic critical thinking spurs revocation of spurious Partisan information,
vigilanteism guards against the Juntas,
systematic interdiction of peoples' ability to to procure food, self educate,
self medicate, and to self defense is a vital instrument in disabling citizens' morale,
it is true that several Companies provide 'civil rights' that are subject to repeal,
but these liberties must conform to security & production for the State,
the more detached we become from the land the more immense our collective ignorance,
Will to struggle recedes like red from the dying rose, spirit is sterile,
sciences are employed to subvert the passion of men, to mire the maternity of women,
to emasculate the youth, to assault the temperance of ladies,
as the bison were decimated so to fascilitate the conquest of the feral Indian,
the Anglo-Saxon farmer & tradesman were displaced by manipulated Markets,
corporations rabid with greed, fawning to increase world trade
and to blowt stock exchanges, enlarging theaters of war & dictating foriegn policies,
an arsenal & circus of judges, lawyers, politicians, academics, entertainers,
elastic options such as Inflation, minting money, loans, and criminal dockets,
Abraham Lincolon & John Kennedy desired to reestablish democratic banking
and were both slain as dangerous heros,
cartel suzerainity always wins,
an agrian ethos is too intractable an opponent for oligarchial commerce,
as laws are ineffectual to dissuade a starving man, leaves don't stop the rains,
there is no need for insatiable government when one can grow crops, build homes & and micro manufacturies, where trade is honest& equitable, no swindles,
division of labor for maximum productivity at the expense of individual health,
eradication of heritage to ease trade, passivity in exchange for integrity,
can libertarianism be retrieved from the vice of the mold maker,
will we deliver this odious model into the depths of the galaxy,
will there always be captivity,
regulated life is controlled life, and that is enslaved living,
words ' make the world go round ',
we are subjects of international law codes,
Freedom dwindles -
J.A.B. Copyright 2012
This Composition Is Entered For Skat's " Democrat Vs. Republican " Contest -
A Dog’s best friend (a Cat)
A Cat’s worst foe (a Rat)
A flying mammal that shows its presence at nights (a Bat)
A deaconess soul-mate her church (Hat)
What a girl cannot do without her (phone)
The muscular structure of your body (bone)
What do kids use to kill birds (stone)
A sound that rings on your cell phone (ringtone)
A feeling that a man and woman share together (love)
A material use by race car driver (glove)
In order to eat, human being cooks on a (stove)
What’s the meaning of this poem, just look at the title stated (above)
In mathematics one plus two equal (three)
Bunches of leaves on a (tree)
An insect that makes honey a (bee)
An angry mob chases after a thief, what should he do? (Flee)
An auditor moves up within the social hierarchy, what is this? (delegation)
The lower class, Middle class and Upper class separate themselves from each other what is this? (segregation)
Buddhism, Hinduism, Rastafarianism, Judaism, Christianity are all (Religion)
Africa , Asia, North America, South America, Europe, Oceania are Continent (Division)
A tradesman never left is (tool)
A educational institution for students to learn (school)
Apart from the beaches, sea or river where else one can swim (pool)
Do you believe writing this poem makes sense, then why waste time reading it
This means you are quite the (fool).
Demeter Edwards
A mere lad of fifteen years
Amid a life of bullying and tears,
I set out one day to end my fears,
I went to join the Engineers.
The recruitment centre I soon found,
The place that made me Army bound,
My medical check soon came around,
Of mind and body I was sound.
To Chepstow I went off one fine day,
My mind and thoughts in disarray,
No going back, I had seized the day,
In the Army I had chose to stay.
A camp in Wales was where I was sent,
I'd never heard of a place called Gwent,
I entered there full of wonderment,
I hoped that now I would be content.
Boys from all places, far and wide,
I was now part of that human tide,
I was not tough, at night I cried,
Somehow I knew here I would abide.
The life was hard, make no mistake,
But I knew the road that I did take,
My spirit, I knew, just wouldn't break
From a boy, they said a man they'd make.
The life I left was a bitter pill,
The life I chose was all uphill,
We spent our days just doing drill,
Each day to me was such a thrill.
Days filled with learning at my trade.
Electrician RE was to be my grade,
Educations foundation was also laid,
Into a Soldier Tradesman I was made.
They worked us hard so until when,
The boys we were, soon became men,
We were trained with rifle and with bren,
Fit to fight wherever and when.
From day one through trials and fears,
Our training was to last three years,
Then came the day of jubilant cheers,
Our badges said we were Engineers.
It was worth all the effort to me you see,
I knew that a Soldier I wanted to be,
The training had made me proud to be,
A Royal Engineer, A brother RE.
© Dave Timperley. R.E.
Small Towns Revisited
by Edmund Siejka
We Long Islanders
Live near a large City
Of
Tall buildings
High end stores
Apartments with gated windows
A place where people live like strangers.
Here, where we live
The land slopes downward
Towards Merrick Road
Inviting us for a walk
Along the way
It’s just like a neighbor
To call our name
We say hello
And exchange pleasantries
There is no need to say anymore.
Our families have roots here
Passing our local school
We recall that July
When fathers,
Tradesman
And office workers alike,
Volunteered
To help build a playground.
Wives worked nearby
To be home
When children
Stepped off school buses
Homes managed under their careful eye.
Near a park
Our sons and daughters played soccer
Families came to watch
Their children run like the wind
Memory tells me
It was a good season.
On nearby streets
We helped neighbors
With routine chores
Lifting and pushing the unmovable
Shiny things for a kitchen
Or something for the upstairs room
Odds and ends
We call possessions.
In return we are known here
And we take every opportunity
To walk through a quiet town
As early evening
Peacefully descends
On everyone and everything.
In our neighborhood during the second world war
At the side of each house were a porch and a door.
And, believe it or not, it was always unlocked
When a tradesman or stranger or visitor knocked.
Around dawn men arrived who at doorsteps would lay
All the baked goods and milk patrons needed that day.
And the women would once a week purchased their meat
From the truck of a butcher who stopped on our street.
Before fridges, remembered by we who are old
Was the ice box in kitchens that kept the food cold.
Using tongs, blocks of ice were delivered by men
Who before they had melted would come back again.
Also, door-to-door salesmen would try to persuade
All the wives that their products were best ever made.
And our neighbor would daily come by for a spell
To a recipe share or with gossip to tell.
In the middle of autumn, the coal truck returned
To replenish the piles that the furnace had burned.
Down long chutes made of metal would tumble and roar
Tons of coal that filled bins on our bare cellar floor.
Roving hobos quite often would rap on the door.
Without jobs or a home, they for food would implore.
The depression still lingered, so mothers would feel
Sympathetic and always provided a meal.
And to parents'displeasure, the screen doors would bang
As kids hurried from houses to be with the gang.
We would gather on lots that were vacant to play
Or would wander the countryside nearly all day.
When it rained, on a porch that was covered we'd meet
To with checkers or Clue or Parcheesi compete.
We swapped marbles, pitched pennies, played poker for fun,
And our comic books read till return of the sun.
At the back door we'd weekly the paper boy pay,
And the mail was delivered then two times a day.
If it weren't for the doctor who'd come when we call,
We would never had needed a front door at all.
Our local Church is falling down; it’s in total disrepair,
Father Murphy is beside himself for no one seems to care.
The coffers are near empty so there’s need of volunteers
to refurbish what neglect has caused over many years.
But a call from Father Murphy didn’t quite have the effect
he believed would offer him support, the way he did expect,
for on the day that he proposed to have a working bee,
the promised helpers on his books had whittled down to me.
And I am not a carpenter; a sparky or a plumber.
If he’s looking for a tradesman, he won’t find no one dumber.
I listened to his explanation and his fears that our dear Church
without a huge influx of cash will leave us in the lurch.
Father Murphy stated fetes and card nights hardly even rate,
and lately there has been so little dropped into the plate.
And no amount of threats can intimidate his flock,
and then the room went quiet when we heard a knock.
Opening up the manse front door there standing face to face,
is Father Murphy with a well-dressed man who carries a briefcase.
But who he is, is still unclear … is he a spiritual debater?
One minute and clear as a bell … he’s a tax investigator.
And information that he’s seeking concerns one of the flock,
Ted Hourigan has made a claim that’s not as solid as a rock.
Father admitted he knew Ted, and in his flock he’s one,
but Father Murphy’s apprehensive about what Ted has done ...
... until the investigator nearly blew him off his perch …
“Did Ted Hourigan donate ten thousand dollars to your Church?”
Father Murphy’s prayers are answered; to tell the truth he’d be a dill;
so he looked this bloke fair in the eye - and said “Oh yes, he will.”
The Internet
by Robert (Bob) Moore (c) 2016
Always check the internet, for what you want to know
who was the actor in that film?, where do I want to go?
I’ve got a rash, what can it be, I know what I will do
I’ll check the ‘net, and then I’ll know, at least I’ll have a clue
How can I build a brick wall, or lay a concrete floor
I’ll just check on the internet, youtube tells you how and more
Don’t need to be a tradesman, and study half your life
the internet is there for all, can’t get in too much strife
The brakes I fixed aren’t working, the brick wall’s fallen down
the concrete has all cracked, and my wife said I’m a clown
the rash is now well spread, and I think it’s getting worse
the cure that I downloaded, guess she was not a nurse
Guess I’ll have to spend a quid, and tradesmen have to get
I know where I can find them, I’ll go on the internet.
We lost a good guy within the last week
Name of Dean Parry Val halla did seek
A full military career this gentleman had
His family and friends are now very sad
We've known Dean since the age of sixteen
When we joined a life in green
A top soldier and tradesman for sure
Serving abroad in many a war
Tommorows the day he'll be laid to rest.
From all of us you were one of the best
The current climate won't let us attend
But we will raise a glass for this absent friend
You join Andy perks at the bar in the sky
Leaving us behind wondering why
We know about demons that you had
Now they are gone and you can be glad
Our condolences to your family
I hope it goes well. as well as can be
R.I.P Dean Respect to thee.
From all the reprobates of 87C
Champion Squadron
Champion Recruit troop
1st Sept 87
I'm waiting on a tradesman
I've been waiting now for months
The place is falling down around me
While I'm down in the dumps
The plumbings making noises
The lightings on the blink
Can someone fix the cupboards
And replace the laundry sink
Please fluff up the insulation
A paint job wouldn't go amiss
All of this I can't do myself
Because my skill set is remiss
My job is pushing pen and paper
And its only now I realise
That in hindsight my career choice
Was perhaps somewhat unwise
I could be making the big bucks
And raking in lots of dough -
Oh, if only l'd been a tradesmen
I wouldn't have this tale of woe!
A dealer of sorts, in the finest antiques,
Sir Reginald of York, was his name.
By chance, he encountered a sale on one day
that brought him closer to fame.
For upon a table, all tarnished and worn,
laid there, but everyone passed by,
It was something of value, or so he thought,
as he saw it from the corner of his eye.
He ventured to ask the tradesman its worth
and he just stated, “two quid.”
Reginald, the bargaining man that he was
knew it was more, yes, he did.
He paid off the tradesman and went on his way,
eager to examine his find.
The entire ride back to his home on that day
was with riches that flowed through his mind.
So, there Reginald sat cleaning this find
now able to read an inscription,
“All those that will use this to attain power and gold
will be dealt an evil infliction”.
A curse, so he thought, was a lot of baloo
and he wasn’t worried this day.
He just went on cleaning and determining worth
that anyone would be likely to pay.
Upon then, completion, it turned out a grail
that he had found on that table.
He, with dollar signs still in his eyes
completely forgot of the label.
So, out went the cup, placed in plain view
with a price tag, too high, to say.
Though, he proudly stood, awaiting the time
that someone would come by to pay.
He waited and waited and waited again, still,
for twenty five years and a day.
Upon breathing his last breath on that very last day
he knew, his life, for the cup, he did pay.
Reflecting too fast, on that fateful day
when finding the cup upon the table,
he realized just then, that the price he’d pay
was written on that very label.
carries his merchandise
every day in his stomach
thinks all is safe there
two eyes watch me from that banyan tree,
evening on my stroll back through woods,
I feel them pierce the back of my neck,
but I dare not raise my head and look,
they tell me they belong to a tradesman,
who lost his life in a violent robbery,
I feel he is waiting for someone,
does he seek a friend to ferry him home,
or just waiting for time to set him free?,
would he harm me if I got near,
and like a mist would he suddenly appear,
would he slowly fade away with time,
join the rest from the house of the dead?
last time I walked past those woods,
saw migrant cranes had set nests,
may be he will travel when they fly,
so I may walk the woods and not be spied.
Ghost contest
Julia Ward
free verse (any rhyme not intended)
17 lines
written 15/02/2021
Would you like to play a guess game?
What kind of the person would be like
Based on the following verbal comments
Made by people from all walks of life?
"A lousy parent, who had never driven a car."
"A bad road user, who paid no car's rego nor petrol"
"A stingy person, who never pay for one music lesson"
"A handy person who never hire a tradesman"
"A dodgy citizen, who paid no taxes but rates and levies."
"A rich and lucky person with no income nor expenses"
"A stubborn person who never changed their mind nor words"
"A rigid person who never broke their promises".
"Stingy with words, because they never used negative and abusive languages".
"A hoarder, who collected and kept everything, except living creatures."
"a loaded person, who have had everything and nothing was already plenty enough for them".
How old was the person?
Few wrinkles compared to fleckles,
Wore no spectacles, when working with needles.
Talked and walked slow, like a disable person.
Had natural teeth, needed no denture but only eating soft texture.
Drank nothing but only water.
Hardly moved their body but constantly fiddling their fingers.
Spoke lousy English but understood eight different languages.
Was targetted by many people while reaching so many targets.
Yes, that was me. I heard all of these for years.
Those words were still echoing in my deaf ears.