No choice in the matter

Have you ever had the experience where you've no wish to do a particular thing until you know you can't and then suddenly you really, really want to?! If so you will understand this poem.

It's cold out and it's raining

Though the snow's begun to thaw

So the shops are full to bursting

Car parks full at every store

Not long now until Christmas

So there's sales on everywhere

And it's 3 for 2 as usual

I suppose that's more than fair.

And on any other day like this

I'd be glad I had no need

To rush round like the manic crowd

At a frantic, panicked speed

I'd be smug and self contented

For my shopping's mostly done

But because I know I can't go

It takes away the fun.

Have you noticed that's the way it goes

When you haven't got a choice

Though you wouldn't go out anyway

You somehow can't rejoice

Yes I know it's very silly

but I wish I had good health

So that I could mingle with the crowds

And grumble for myself.

I know the trains are crowded

With not a seat to spare

And cafes overflowing

Vacant tables but no chairs

Though the city would be brightly lit

The market stalls would be so busy

With people getting in the way

Enough to make you dizzy.

But I wish that I was well enough

To decide I wouldn't go

To declare it would be foolishness

to everyone I know

To say how stupid people are

To leave it all so late

to sit at home in comfort

And gloat at others fate!

Karen Holmes

4 December 2010

World AIDS Day 2010

I remember in the 80's

When AIDS first hit the news

Adverts which really scared me

And many different views

They said “Don't die of Ignorance”

Yet many lives were lost

And many grieving relatives

Were left to count the cost.

And mud was thrown, harsh names were called

Old friendships cast aside

Hence weeping families hid the truth

Of how their loved ones died.

Today I'll light a candle

Today I'll say a prayer

“Dear God, please help those who are ill

and all the folk who care,

Dear Lord, please stop the prejudice

Let finger pointing end

Dear God please bring new hope and love

Your touch of healing send”

Will you join me in making sure

that nought but truth is spoken

And all who would complacent be

Are from their slumber woken?

You may feel that it wont affect

The ones you know, or knew

But everyone is vulnerable

Including me and you

And someone might just long to share

their hidden fears with you

But feel they must stay silent

cos of what you'll say or do.

Today on this “World AIDS day”

Let's pause and just reflect

On those who struggle daily

and show them our respect.

Karen Holmes

1 December 2010

Crazy Winter

The buses won't be running

I doubt the trains will go

The tracks will all be frozen

Cos we've had a bit of snow.

The bins will go unemptied

Bags of rubbish uncollected

And cats will tear them open

if the smell of meat's detected

There'll be no salt in Sainsbury

It's all been bought in bulk

To spread on icy pavements

And make the children sulk

Their ice rink now destructed

And all schools closed for days

They'll go in search of mischief

And pray this weather stays.

The pipes will all get frozen

The toilet turn to ice

It's not a laughing matter

Frozen assets are not nice!

The national grid will falter

As thermostats all rise

Cos it's winter and it's snowing

It's not such a surprise

Yet the promised preparations

Are each year doomed to fail

There's no grit in the country

When low temperatures prevail.

The met office is struggling

to keep us up to date

We're buying up thermal knickers

And getting in a state

Our winter comes round annually

We're used to it, although

There's nothing quite so crazy

As Britain in the snow.

Karen Holmes

30 November 2010

The First Snow of the Season

Little flakes of frozen water

How can they cause such a stir

Young and old are filled with wonder

At the first snow of the year

Somehow we are held enchanted

By the most familiar scene

Little flakes of crunchy whiteness

Oh so perfect, oh so clean

Well known paths become distorted

Hardened edges freshly blurred

Like a blanket draped so softly

Usual sounds are silenced, slurred.

In the snow our world looks different

Slightly softer round the edges

Footprints suddenly are noticed

Made by birds on window ledges

Twirling dizziness inducing

swirling snowflakes from the sky

Return us to the days of childhood

Building snowmen, you and I.

Karen Holmes

30 November 2010

Live Long and Prosper!

After several attempts to find a statin that did not cause me side effects, I decided to give up. My doctor, knowing of my previous poem, “an ode to my novopen” suggested I write one on statins...............

Live long and prosper!

At “Statin Pharmaceuticals” in the land of Make Believe

They toil over their wonder drug, mistakenly perceived

To make “world peace” reality, and put an end to strife

The healthy live for ever and the dead are raised to life.

With test tubes lined up neatly and a row of Bunsen burners

They churn out all their potions, potentially good earners

Their mission is to save the world, cholesterol to defeat

There'll be no strokes or heart attacks when their task is complete

Be gone triglycerides and fat, you're blocking up the way

You lipids have been conquered, farewell, you cannot stay

Let blood flow freely as it should, let clots desist from straying

For statins are the wonder drug for which the world's been praying.

At “Statin Pharmaceuticals” they've hatched a cunning plan

Their pills contain the answer to all problems known to man

A miracle like this would have no limit to it's worth

And everyone should take them from the moment of their birth

Of course there may be side effects, but nothing to concern

Inherent risk is everywhere, and think of the return

Extended life and good results when blood testing is done

And so the joyful news is spread that statins can be fun!

They're trying to make a version for the chip pan when you fry

To stop the problem at it's source and make sure we don't die

Or maybe grind them up in salt for adding to the chips

The deadly fat would all be gone before they reach your lips

But therein lies a problem for salt's another foe

Drug companies are quite hard pressed to choose which way to go

We all demand a hasty cure for ailments and woes

But sadly they don't always work as every doctor knows.

Come raise a shout, a hearty cheer to all who lead the way

In little pills which chase our ills and fear of death away!

To “Statin Pharmaceuticals” I drink to your good health

May you live long and prosper, and not need your drugs yourself!

Karen Holmes

20 November 2010

Christmas Leaflets

Christmas is coming

With leaflets through the door

There's brightly coloured baubles

Throughout the Wilko store

A picture on the cover

shows said baubles on a tree

The tree is white and frankly

It don't do much for me.

With baubles blue and pink and green

And spotty ribbon too

I wouldn't give it house space

I don't know about you.

The local garden centre

have joined the leaflet game

They too have got a Christmas tree

There all the bloomin same

But this is more traditional

At least their spruce is green

But it's overloaded badly

It's the busiest tree I've seen

With baubles, hearts and other bits

It's tiring on the eye

Perhaps someone might like it

But I can't imagine why.

The Debenhams leaflet shows a tree

Quite tasteful all in gold

With tiny little shining lights

To chase away the cold

But if I had to choose the store

Whose leaflet comes out top

I'm confident that I would pick

The one from the co-op

No Christmas tree depicted

But chocolates, sweets and cake

They get my vote with stuff like that

They win – make no mistake!

Karen Holmes

12 November 2010

Remembrance

Remembrance

The Poppies return every year

in November with splashes of red

Their delicate petals so fragile

Their vibrancy mourning the dead

For two minutes we will remember

With bowed heads we stand very still

Eternity ticks by in silence

Come join us in prayer if you will

For peace we cry out, God for peace

We utter those words so aware

That in our sad world the fighting goes on

For somebody's loved one, somewhere.

So many through vast generations

Have laid down their lives, not returned

Left widows and orphans to weep and to grieve

And hope that the lessons are learned

And still peace remains so elusive

I fear it will always be so

And with heads bowed we stand and remember

How much to those brave folk we owe

“They will not grow old” words familiar

to those who grieve still each November

Lets make sure we honour their memory

By pausing each year to remember.

Karen Holmes

7 November 2010