Long Puddings Poems

On this day 40 years ago in 1978 my mother, Jacqueline Anne Trestrail, left this world after a relatively short battle with cancer - she was 46. Jimmy Carter was President and Annie Hall won...

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In a hellish nightmare pit, soldiers stand...
Along the Western Front's cruel, jagged land,
Where blood and tears paint the earth's sad lore,
They mourn their fallen with bitter taste, hearts torn.

They heeded not the cries of pain,
Nor...

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The Avenue of Gastronomic Delight

Down the broad avenue called Gastronomic Delight
City life gathers when twilight awakens;

In eateries, drive-ins, greasy spoons and taverns – jumpin’ joints jumpin’
Like Snoopy with his dish doing the suppertime dance;

Lured by...

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"CATAPULT"



fire from 
the Hell 
within

lit the heart 
fuelling 
the drowned soul

warming 
the cold hole
left within

to bury 
the ignorance 
of the past 

strength comes
from travelling 
to Hell 

battling 
black 
hearts

all the unseen
murderers of dreams 
in their...

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Farewell Advent!
by James Ryman
translation by Michael R. Burch

Farewell, Advent; Christmas has come;
Farewell from us, both all and some.

With patience thou hast us fed
Yet made us go hungry to bed;
For lack of meat, we were nigh...

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Here I am sitting on the ground looking all around
Here I am sitting on the ground extending my empty cup
and hoping that I could get some luck
The afternoon is far gone and everyone must be...

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Branches of beans wave most predominantly in stormy weather but heavily prevalent are the many climbing chimps whose antics please the spotted cloud and cause a clap in the sky. But half a cup of...

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Peter Perkins loved tasty pumpkin, in pies, in puddings and etcetera;
Which filled their house with tempting smells, so said his wife, Elena.

Beloved Elena was a splendid cook, to which fond Peter could attest,
With hand over...

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Georgie Porgie was a little overweight, since he loved tasty desserts,
Like puddings and baked pies; or green woods, full of robin concerts.

Georgie was ten years of age, possessing an impish sense of humor;
And played tricks...

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A priest once told me that the lump
on my hand was a ganglion,
a fortress of fat besieged by health.
At last it burst and the hand swelled
like an old man's,
shovel shaped and splayed.

It was her black...

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I remembered how she would each Thursday or Sunday bake sweet pudding ...
And except for Christmases (which shall never more with her be shared)
Then the aroma of sorell, her cakes, and her gungo-peas-rice slow cooking
Filled...

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Your diary is filled with dates of meetings and functions that you have to attend; graduation ceremony and wine tasting events and meeting with the press secretary.

 I wasn’t sure if your assistant had documented...

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Feather to feather on a branch, this early winter morning,
Are they planning outings for the day or of grave dangers warning?

A predator comes swooping by, a red-tailed hawk in plunder.
As of one mind they fly...

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They say you can tell what a person is thinking by the expressions on there face,
But what if all they are doing is smiling? What are they thinking then?

I like to sit in a garden...

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Jam roly poly, treacle sponge
And sticky toffee pudding head the top of my list
But apple pie, rhubarb crumble
Or a decent cheesecake are hard to resist

Banana splits, eclairs or brownies
Dumplings, nougat, cheese board or mousse
Crème brûlée....

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‘ Legendary … ’    ( Part  1  (of)  4 ) 


Step with me into History
Step with me, to ‘Days of Yore’ Pageantry
Let Time and Mind, March Back Momentarily
Let Mist...

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Gods of my Birthwaters
I carry your heart with me (I carry it in
my soul) I am never without it (anywhere
I go you go with me) and whatever are my thoughts 
(you are in the thoughts)

Gods...

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The feeling of happiness, I see in your smile
Wonder what the secret is, what is her name
How long have you felt this, is it for real
Don't get hurt boy, look loosely at this
Did it start...

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Puddin  Day
Christmas Begins

they come on a Saturday 
in November, the Puddin People,
brothers, sisters, nieces arrive.
family with their arms full of parcels 
sacks bulging with ingredients
and of course the maestro to orchestrate.

bags of raisins: sultana,...

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I REMEMBER (1)

Candles & nightlights
   flickering bright
blackout curtains
    shutting out light

Dripping setting
   from Sunday's roast
spread  thick
on Monday's toast

Paper chains
    cut and glued
beer in glass
     bottles brewed
Christmas puddings
   with threepenny bits
 Meccano kits
     made to fit

Sunday school outings
      upto Coombe hill
my first ever train ride
         so quite a thrill
Summer walks
    to the Bugle Horn
crisps & lemonade
     upon their lawn
A weekly soak
  ..in a round tin bath
towelling off
 by a fire in the hearth

I REMEMBER (2)
afterschool
on a
          tuesday
  my treat
   awaiting on gran's
baking tray

a spicy aroma
  filled
the air
 t'was
  freshly baked-
my
 weekly share

bread pudding
piping hot
   drizzled with honey
moreish&
          yummy
a moist mouth
 watering
             confection
in
a
 sultana delectation


I REMEMBER (3)
my clerking 
ever on the go
the junior
   lowest
                of the low

the office
 with  partners just two
pens   pencils
  nearly-new
daily drudgery
  reality soon shone thru'

the 'old man ' yelling
      'ere lad
  chop chop
get me baccy
   from t'corner shop

 tea-break brews'
                   in a stew
bellows of hurry-hurry
from  the back-office crew

another  task
       to get done
this time
   for the partner's son
    no time to stop &chat
  he'd forgotten the fish
          for his wife's cat

    the switchboard clicked
           the doorbell chimed
&
skills to learn
  juggle & prioritise


whew!
    nearly half five
&  knock-off time

    just one task
still to do
fetch the 'boss's
  evening  news

  was this really
           the career    to choose?...

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Have you ever tried balancing sideways on a silver spoon holding nine goldfish? Thought not. I suppose it could be considered quite a dangerous act. Largely overlooked are the ants in a ceiling beam. But...

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I hear Christmas is coming,
Santa songs people are humming.
Crazy days and cuddly nights,
Joy and love, fairy lights.
Hushed tones, mindless giggles 
resound,sweet memories, curious glances 
all around.
Yes, I hear Christmas is coming.
Can you hear the festive...

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There was Turkey and sausage meat, gammon ham too,
Four pigs in blankets for me, you and you
I did Yorkshire puddings and parsnips well glazed
Sprouts, roast potatoes: I’m thus far unfazed…

But then there was broccoli, cauli...

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It's a thin line travelled on a daring dustbin lid that caresses time. Dutiful are the Daisuke Daoism of daisies whose appearance is quite superb and unsupervised in a midday storm swish. Putting platters place...

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What Does Maisie Smile About?

(or A Tale of 3 Ladders)

“I wonder what Maisie smiles about, 
when she stares out of her window?”asks Jane, 
the new carer at St. Mary's, is curious,
about the aged figure watching...

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