Autumn: A Poem

It's Autumn

And withered leaves

Die coloured

On the ground

I watched as you retreated

Down the platform

There was no final wave

As you stepped on train

Towards a destination

Unknown to me

A figure, cloaked against November's chill,

Will greet you with outstretched arms  

As I once did.

On the phone

My children pay lip service

As through the window

I watch wild birds

Squabble for crumbs in my garden

Autumn

And withered leaves

Die coloured 

On the ground

I shiver as Winter steals towards me

Will I ever know Spring again.

Philip's Army is now available to purchase on the Amazon Kindle from multiple countries.
Book Number ASIN: B008R7DD20

Alzheimer's: A Poem

Evening she potties me

Bathes me

Nappies me

And tucks me in bed

Then it's tablets always tablets

To help me through the night

Morning she sponges me

Dresses me

Feeds me

Then helps me shuffle, shuffle to a chair

Where I sit staring always staring at nothing

Holding an unread paper with shaking hands

In lucid moments I read

That one in five

Suffer this living hell

A grovel, sans grace, towards eternity

In these moments

I sense cloaked fear

As she grips my arm

To comfort me

I am afraid always afraid

A footstep creaks outside my door

Terrified I cry

We have a burglar

She embraces me

Calms me

"It's only your son,

He loves you

Your world is safe."

I want to tell her

How sorry, how very sorry I am

How I hate being a burden, always a burden

How I long to be strong

But I can't mouth the words

To tell her that after sixty years

I love her still

Vacantly I gaze at my beloved

Her steady eyes reflect my grief

As she absorbs the face of a stranger.

Philip's Army is now available to purchase on the Amazon Kindle from multiple countries.
Book Number ASIN: B008R7DD20

A Christmas Gift from Mary A Short Story

It was Christmas Eve and Jim Giles was determined on not seeing another one.  The clock on the cricket pavilion stared, at his once proud suit, as he shuffled past the cricket green.  The street lights, tall and aloof, pretended not to notice the pathetic, lonely figure, revealed by their beams.  Snowflakes danced above the darkening green, floated down, tried to land, failed and vanished without trace.  Jim stopped, produced a whisky bottle from his jacket and slugged the remaining few drops.

"Finished" he mumbled "Just like me finished."  Chucking the empty on to the pitch he ambled onwards.

How would his last day on earth end?  He had a vision of wading into blue-cold water and letting it flow over his head.
Jim was sixty-two, dirty, drank too much and was virtually unemployable. He had previously been employed as a skilled marine engineer who had lived happily and in harmony with his wife. Then one cruel day his life was shattered when a car, driven by a drug crazed teenager, knocked down and killed his loving wife. The offenders car was not insured and neither did the teenager have a valid driving licence.  To Jim's disgust the
offender was given a sentence ridiculous in it's leniency.  Jim hired lawyers and attempted to exact justice against the perpetrator but failed.  Jim accepted defeat and lonely and embittered  started to drink heavily.

He lost his job and gradually he drifted downwards into his present suicidal state.  His existence had degenerated into a carousel of welfare, begging and wine shops.  It was a bitterly cold night and his senses were as numb as his limbs.  Passing the war memorial, where nosey tree branches peeped at him over a wall, he felt tired.  Leaning against the wall he sank to the ground where his weary head soon found his knees and he slept.

The beat, beat of footsteps woke him.  Dazed he turned round and saw the figure of a girl running towards the common.  She soon disappeared and only the occasional yellow-eyed car disturbed the silence of the night

 "AAHA, AAHA" A new sound distracted Jim, a crying sound.  "AAHH AAHH," unfurling he found his feet and stood up. Where was the crying coming from?

 "AAHH, AAHH" Jim's fuddled brain isolated the whining to a spot just a few yards from where he had been sitting.  It came from a cardboard box.  Curious he approached the box knelt down and looked in.  

The box contained a baby not long born by its size. The child was wrapped in a woollen jumper and beside it was a feeding bottle and a dummy.  Placing the dummy in its mouth Jim contemplated this new problem in his life.  The baby was warm and very much alive, but for how long?  What should he do.?  A more logical
mind would have taken the baby to a police station but Jim, following instinct and remembering the fleeing girl, picked up the box and wandered off to try and find her. Something told him that she would not be far away.  She was somewhere close by watching him.  

The child was quiet now because his walking motion had lulled it to sleep. Minutes later he sensed the nearness of the girl and a rustling noise and a glimpse of white clothing betrayed her hiding place behind a bush.

"Hullo Missy! I know you're there, come on out, I won't harm you."

A slim shadow moved into the glare of a solitary street light   The beam revealed a young girl who looked no older than fourteen or fifteen.  Jim saw that she was pretty and from a pale elfin face dark eyes watched him warily.  A delicate hand pushed back a mass of chestnut curls.  Nervously she asked:
"What will you do with my baby?" Jim pushed the box into her arms.
"Take the mite home and care for it."
"I 'avent got a home. I left Portsmouth two years ago; lived in squats ever since"  she seemed proud of the achievement.  Lost for words Jim remained silent.
"Baby was born a week ago another girl 'elped me.  The guys in the squat can't stand my little darling crying so they kicked me out  I can't live there no more."  
Jim studied her as she rocked the box, cradle-like, in her arms.
"What about the child's father?"
"Him! a sailor I shared a smoke and a tumble with, I don't know his name or where he is."
The girl shivered,
"Cold aint it?" Jim made a decision.
"I have a house, it's not much but you can come there with me if you like; keep us all out of the cold."           
"No funny business mister?"
"I promise you there will be no funny business."
"OK.'Andles Mary, what's yours?"
"Just call me Jim, Jim Giles.  Well are you coming?  Or would you rather freeze to death?"
"You're the boss Jim lead the way."

They set off for the council house Jim had shared with his wife.  The house he had thought he would never see again. At his house Jim lit the gas fire and sat Mary and her baby in front of it.  In the kitchen he found some beans and stale bread, which he toasted.  He took the meal and two mugs of tea to his unexpected guests.  

"It's Christmas Eve today Mary, this will have to do instead of turkey, pudding and wine.  Still it's something 
enjoy it love."  Jim sat down and watched his new friend wolf down the simple meal. Mary smiled at him
"Best meal I've ever 'ad Jim thanks.  Your 'ouse is a bit of a pigsty but I'm glad to be here.  Tomorrow, after a good nights sleep, I will clean it up for you."

"You want to stay here with me?"
"Why not? I've nowhere else I promise that you will not regret it."  Mary had never experienced security which, made her determined not to let this chance of happiness pass her by. As they sat there, enjoying the warmth, the baby started to cry again. Mary took the babe in her arms.

"He's 'ungry bless him, I do love him you know, I just panicked and didn't know what to do for the best."  

She unbuttoned.her blouse and placed the baby on a small, firm breast.  The girl was unaware of how beautiful she looked, in the glow of the fire, feeding her child.   Jim felt uncomfortable because he realised how dirty and scruffy he must look. To his delight the depression that had plagued him for ages was gone.  

Could this pretty young thing and her baby actually share his house with him?  He had been certain that this Christmas would be his last on earth but his chance encounter with Mary had installed joy and hope in his heart.  

"I'm pleased that you are are staying Mary I have plenty of room."  Warmth had restored colour to Mary's face and glancing at him she enquired:
"'Ave you any money Jim?"  Jim thought please Mary don't let me down by taking my few pennies and running away tomorrow.  Mary read Jim's glum features.
"Don't be daft Jim, it's just if you 'ave. a few quid stashed away I will visit the shops and rustle up a Christmas dinner for us."  Jim went to a vase on his mantelpiece and explored its interior with his hand.

Triumphant he flurried a twenty-pound note.
"I forgot I had this Mary, it wont buy much but you can go shopping tomorrow for a chicken or something  and perhaps a bottle of wine for us to celebrate and don't forget the mite if he needs anything."  Mary smiled, reminding Jim of a painting he had once viewed of the Madonna and Child.

"'Ave you had a Christmas gift yet Jim?".
"I don't know anyone and most people avoid me, I can't blame them really"
"I'll give you a present.  I will call my little son after you Jim.  Would you like that?"
Stunned Jim answered:
"I would like that Mary, thank you, I'm tired now, I'll be off to bed; you can have the other room and I will give myself a wash and a shave in the morning."  In the sanctuary of his room Jim realised, that for the first time in years, he was happy. Kicking off his shoes he flopped on to his bed.  Mary called from the front room:
"Goodnight Jim and a Merry Christmas to you."
"Good night Mary,God bless you."  Jim murmured as he closed his eyes.  The vision of Mary feeding her baby had soothed him and soon he was in a deep, contented sleep.  


        

Philip's Army is now available to purchase on the Amazon Kindle from multiple countries.
Book Number ASIN: B008R7DD20

Which Way to Go A Song Lyric.

Hordes of workless downcast treading

Treading downcast on their dreams 

And little children violent begging

Begging violent for ice creams

Which way to go?

I asked my betters

But they don't know

No they don't know

Which way to go?

I asked a madman

Dancing naked in the snow.

He said now boy go love the tin man

And you can learn much from the sand

Take out your knife and cut the poppy

And burn the grass from off the land

He said now boy destroy the old books

They're full of lies and prophecy

The truth it lies within each person

The answer is HUMANITY.

Shall I take some grain to Asia?

Should I put fish in the sea?

Shall I stop making blue mushrooms?

Shall I set the prisoners free?

Rich men hide

 They hide in terror

In terror hide

While priests are shot

It's raining hard red rain of madness

Madness rain is what we've got

Which way to go?

I asked a madman

His answer was HUMANITY

His answer was HUMANITY.

Philip's Army is now available to purchase on the Amazon Kindle from multiple countries.
Book Number ASIN: B008R7DD20

It's in the Nature of Things: A Song lyric

I had a letter from my Ma 

Which said come right away

Your dear grandpa is ninety-four 

And he hasn't long to stay 

So if you want to see him 

Before his great adieu 

Then grab yourself a berth my son 

On the rocky mountain blue.

It's in the nature of things

All creatures die

We're born we love we fight and strive

It's called being alive

It's in the nature of things

We can't stay on

There has to be some Winter dark

Before we are reborn

Well now I found my old grandpa

A rocking  in his chair

He didn't seem at all surprised 

To see me standing there

Laughing merrily he said
You've come to say goodbye
Well youngster I have news for you
I'm feeling very spry

Then grandpa tottered to his feet
And said boy come with me
The exact spot to bury me
I want for you to see
It's where I courted Mary
So many years ago
The very place
Where she said yes
Her lovely face aglow

It's in the nature of things
All creatures die
We're born we love
We fight and strive
It's called being alive
It's in the nature of things
We can't stay on
There has to be some Winter dark
Before we are reborn

Then grandpa lifted some fine soil
And held it in his hand
He said son in the scrap of earth
Are all the years of man
The blood of my grand pappy
And your grand pappy too
Are living in this mite of earth
It's our soil through and through  

Well ever since that talk with him
I aint been scared to die
Although I'm not so sure as him
There is a bye and bye
We buried him that next years fall
Beneath his favourite tree
And on his grave sweet flowers bloom
As purty as can be.

It's in the nature of things
All creatures die
We're born we love we fight and strive
It's called being alive
It's in the nature of things
We can't stay on
There has to be some Winter dark
Before we are reborn.

Philip's Army is now available to purchase on the Amazon Kindle from multiple countries.
Book Number ASIN: B008R7DD20

The Breath of Life A Song lyric

He left a letter on my pillow

Where he used to lay his head

His wedding ring beside it

With its date when we were wed

He wants me to forgive him

Cos he didn't mean to stray

But he loves this girl so deeply

He must now go away.

He was my world

He was my destiny

He was for me

The breath of life itself

Does he not know

My life has ended now

He was for me 

The breath of life itself

This house we warmed with love once

Is now an empty shell

And walls that echoed laughter

Now mock me in my cell.

He was my world

He was my destiny

He was for me 

The breath of life itself

Does he not know

My life has ended now

He was for me

The breath of life itself

I know he wont forget me

And perhaps she'll treat him wrong

He'll remember then I love him

And come home where he belongs

He was my world

He was my destiny

He was for me

The breath of life itself

Does he not know

My life has ended now

He was for me

The breath of life itself

He was for me 

The breath of life itself. 

Philip's Army is now available to purchase on the Amazon Kindle from multiple countries.
Book Number ASIN: B008R7DD20

The Street of the Outcasts. A song lyric

I squat in the gutters of London

And beg from the folk passing by

They smile to hide they don't like me

But I'm numb and smoke dims my eyes

The smoke and the strong ale inside me

Help me forget who I am

Just one of the drifters in London

Who sleeps wherever he can

Chorus

I live in the street of the outcasts

I live in this street without hope

I aint got no morals worth counting

And I'd sleep with bag Annie for dope 

I can't read or write or speak proper

But a tramp who has settled near me

He had a fine education

I think he has a degree

But his learnin'  helps him no-how

He still sleeps in shop fronts for free

And he'll argue the toss over ten pence

The price of a warm cup-of- tea

Chorus

Now one day a warm hearted lady

Took me to her fancy pad

She bathed, dressed and fed me

And said I didn't look bad

She promised a new beginning

I'd leave the old life behind

But pretty soon I got restless

And robbed her of all I could find

Now maybe one day you will find me

A holding out my hand

The grin on my face might deceive you

That I'm not one of the dammed

The nights are cold and my bones ache

My chest is wheezy and tight

I'm one of the outcasts of London

Who hasn't the bottle to fight

Chorus 

Philip's Army is now available to purchase on the Amazon Kindle from multiple countries.
Book Number ASIN: B008R7DD20

Crushed White A song lyric

Where do you come from?
Children of despair
Yesterday with teddy bears
Now tears beyond repair
Ruined little bodies
Drifting through the streets
Eager for the poppy seed
Your overwhelming need

Chorus
Crushed white in the city
Crushed white in the park
Crushed white in the limousine
Cruising after dark
Crushed white in blue shadows
Crushed white in my bed
Crushed white in the gutter
Crushed white lying dead.


Lonely once I loved one
Never knew her name
She robbed me during dream time
She was devoid of shame
Woman with a child's form
Living for today
You'll flower a few brief seasons
And then fade fast away

Chorus

 Used and abused
Children of decay
You once were someone's love child
Who now lives far away
From this city jungle
Where you hunt in packs
Unwashed, uncared and desperate
You sleep in paper sacks

Chorus

Philip's Army is now available to purchase on the Amazon Kindle from multiple countries.
Book Number ASIN: B008R7DD20

Philip's Army: Chapter Sixteen The Forest is Normal Again

Select Chapter:
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• 10
• 11
• 12
• 13
• 14
• 15
• 16

This book is now available to purchase on the Amazon Kindle from multiple countries.
Book Number ASIN: B008R7DD20

It is an indisputable, but unknown fact that all the forests in the world are controlled and governed by a witch.  In this story, the reader is introduced to the attractive Evergreen: our very own 'Witch of the Forest'. Evergreen is faced with a problem; her domain is threatened with annihilation because of the action of a dotty squire, who has hired workmen to cut down her forest home.

By means of magic powder, Evergreen influences two children: Philip and Becky. They are the children of the local blacksmith, and recruit the animals who live in the forest into an army; the intention being to stop the destruction of their home.  Can Philip and Becky, with the help of Rabbit, Barn Owl, Fox, Otter, Wild Boar and others, possibly manage this impossible task?

'Philip's Army' is an attempt to educate children of the impending disaster to the environment caused by the money-grabbing, ignorant and insane behaviour of man.

Perhaps our young children may realise the danger and stop, before it's too late, the destruction of our green and beautiful planet.

Chapter One The War Council can be read for free here.


Philip's Army is now available to purchase on the Amazon Kindle from multiple countries.
Book Number ASIN: B008R7DD20

Philip's Army: Chapter Fifteen The Forest is Saved

Select Chapter:
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• 10
• 11
• 12
• 13
• 14
• 15
• 16

This book is now available to purchase on the Amazon Kindle from multiple countries.
Book Number ASIN: B008R7DD20

It is an indisputable, but unknown fact that all the forests in the world are controlled and governed by a witch.  In this story, the reader is introduced to the attractive Evergreen: our very own 'Witch of the Forest'. Evergreen is faced with a problem; her domain is threatened with annihilation because of the action of a dotty squire, who has hired workmen to cut down her forest home.

By means of magic powder, Evergreen influences two children: Philip and Becky. They are the children of the local blacksmith, and recruit the animals who live in the forest into an army; the intention being to stop the destruction of their home.  Can Philip and Becky, with the help of Rabbit, Barn Owl, Fox, Otter, Wild Boar and others, possibly manage this impossible task?

'Philip's Army' is an attempt to educate children of the impending disaster to the environment caused by the money-grabbing, ignorant and insane behaviour of man.

Perhaps our young children may realise the danger and stop, before it's too late, the destruction of our green and beautiful planet.

Chapter One The War Council can be read for free here.


Philip's Army is now available to purchase on the Amazon Kindle from multiple countries.
Book Number ASIN: B008R7DD20

Philip's Army: Chapter Fourteen Linda and Mary Visit 'CEDARVIEW'

Select Chapter:
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• 10
• 11
• 12
• 13
• 14
• 15
• 16

This book is now available to purchase on the Amazon Kindle from multiple countries.
Book Number ASIN: B008R7DD20

It is an indisputable, but unknown fact that all the forests in the world are controlled and governed by a witch.  In this story, the reader is introduced to the attractive Evergreen: our very own 'Witch of the Forest'. Evergreen is faced with a problem; her domain is threatened with annihilation because of the action of a dotty squire, who has hired workmen to cut down her forest home.

By means of magic powder, Evergreen influences two children: Philip and Becky. They are the children of the local blacksmith, and recruit the animals who live in the forest into an army; the intention being to stop the destruction of their home.  Can Philip and Becky, with the help of Rabbit, Barn Owl, Fox, Otter, Wild Boar and others, possibly manage this impossible task?

'Philip's Army' is an attempt to educate children of the impending disaster to the environment caused by the money-grabbing, ignorant and insane behaviour of man.

Perhaps our young children may realise the danger and stop, before it's too late, the destruction of our green and beautiful planet.

Chapter One The War Council can be read for free here.


Philip's Army is now available to purchase on the Amazon Kindle from multiple countries.
Book Number ASIN: B008R7DD20