The “on my marks” photo was taken at Olympia in Greece about 2009, and features on the cover of my 4th of eight now published books, as in the lead photo for this Blog.

Why am I on my marks then you may wonder, (or lol conversely may not)? The answer is quite simple really, for Like most of us I guess, have had enough of this Curse Covid half-life and want to get back to a whatever normal is, or was🙏.

To that end I am on my marks to start considering plans for when this half-life ends and we get back to whatever normal is, was, or maybe we will never know. I can’t believe things can be the same as before Curse Covid.

Anyway I am trying to look forward and have some ideas and even events “pencilled” in,

I will now post my first poem of this Blog, done for the second time as two nights ago i had finished it all, only to lose every single word. You may see the odd frustrated tear drop in this redone Blog🤡, but here is the poem from my 4th of eight now published books….

A Leader and the Pack

Many people have to bunch up

To follow the crowd like sheep.

But for others this is folly

And so to themselves they keep,

Being both confident and able

In their abilities and ways,

And while herds gets bogged down

They will look for better days.

It’s said who goes fastest, goes alone

And I guess that may be true.

But the strong leader type

Will always look for pastures new,

Where they seek out opportunity

They mould to satisfaction,

Whilst meanwhile the herd complains

Of their lack of life or action.

Though there’s safety in the pack

Jostling along with all the crowd,

Never having to worry much

As lateral thought is not allowed.

So with their minds stagnating

The herd moves slowly on,

But may later rue missed chances

After the prizes have all gone.

So why do people want to lead

With all that added strain?

Though I think many would do so

If they had the choice again.

For while there’s company in packs

With not very much to fear,

In that boring cheerless herd

Life is dark and very drear.

Thus the leader makes his way

Continuing to take his chance,

And while he may go wrong at times

His whole life he will enhance!

*

A leader or indeed an individual then, and maybe we all are a bit, but lol some more than others?

Although I am looking forward, I have also been doing a few things now in Curse Covid Land, and my monthly article for The Sussex Newspaper for March focused on Mother’s Day. Please look it up,

I was also thrilled to be invited again onto BBC Radio Sussex and Surrey on the wonderful Sylvie Blackmore show 14th March Mothering Sunday, to read out my very popular now tribute to mums entitled “Cradle to the Grave”, and Sylvie was kind enough to say at the end “wasn’t that lovely”😍. 

On air she also invited me back to do a poem for Father’s Day.

Due to a very close to home bereavement some of my family were unable to listen to me read out that poem as it was too upsetting for them, and me a bit too, but hey ho the show must go on…. 

I also posted it on my social media and again on The Sussex Newspaper for World Poetry Day, but the “Bosses of Poetry” had decreed a theme, but me being me, and thinking decent poets were meant to be ad lib and say their words about what they say and feel. I do and did, so this next poem from my 4th book again reflects that but please enjoy….

Heartfelt

A positive mind yields a happy heart

For troubles come, and some go slow.

But if you are steadfast in your way,

You can help any heartaches go.

For all of us will have challenges,

And must do our very best to meet

With strongest resolve we can find,

Or get knocked right off our feet,

By seismic shocks that shake you

And possibly cause you many tears.

Though if you tackle these heroically

You may have better future years.

For a positive mind yields a happy heart

And helps make worries seem smaller,

Thus meet them in a courageous way

And you certainly will walk taller.

For I feel I’m living proof of this

Being a very optimistic man.

Though I have had many troubles too

But met them the best way I can,

For even if I lost sometimes

I always stood back up again,

Which certainly was best for me

Although of course I felt the pain.

So onwards in life and upwards

We must make our merry way,

Because even if sad times prevail

We can still fight another day.

*

So that was my poem for World Poetry Day, and not “the” theme, but there you go😊

Ted n Beth our favourite teddy bears, and also with a photo included, have been getting onto me about having another of their own poems (about 30 now) on here, so I have conceded and post this poem from my 7th book.

I DO know this will please our Henry the First, and hopefully the youngsters of Charlotte, quite new on here. Hello Charlotte 🐻🐻

Ted n Beth at Prayer

We must now hush and be silent

Making no disturbance or move,

For Ted and Beth are at prayer

Their consciences trying to smooth.

Like Christopher Robin in his story

When no one whispers or dares,

To interrupt a boy, or bears now

As they offer up their prayers.

Those teddy legs bent in tribute

And holding together their paws,

This is exactly how I found them

In this reverent pose indoors.

With both pairs of eyes closed

To keep worldly distractions out,

Our bears seek some forgiveness

For their noise and mucking about,

And making domestic disruption

Which to them is a great laugh.

Like when they went much too far

And overflowed their bath!

But Ted and Beth will continue

In their most mischievous ways,

Because they are both rarely quiet

Causing chaos on most days.

So although they don’t want to stop

They do realise they are naughty.

Which gave them this idea

Of a little prayer offering sortie,

To close those little teddy eyes

And offer up a contrite refrain.

But knowing in their hearts

They will just be naughty again.

*

I hope that has made Ted n Beth and their many fans happy, and I ALSO know the bears love the jokes, so here they are…..🤡🤡

JOKE TIME

1) Atheism is a great organisation as is non prophet

2) R I P Boiled water, you’re going to be mist

3) Farmer asked me to help round up his 18 sheep. I said sure, twenty.

4) My mate won’t talk about his psoriasis; he prefers to sweep it under the carpet.

Near the end now and I hope I have included all I intended as I mentioned earlier, this is my second writing of this having lost all my completed first try,,,,, GGRrrrrrrrr, but like “The Murphy’s” I’m not bitter….

I know I mentioned my wonderful Website Guru James, now also my publisher, and I likened him to the Bette Midler song, “Wind Beneath my Wings, so thanks again James, or is it Bette?😏

Last poem then and it is a “Romance” poem that are always popular, and NOT just among the ladies, although I know who is particularly partial to a romance poem❤️❤️❤️

Message from the Heart

Eyes can only see and admire

Objects of wonder in their views,

Especially when widened in awe

At a stunning hoped-for muse.

So an alert goes through the body

With the blood streaming around,

With an awakened amorous idea

That a gorgeous siren’s been found.

But we have little control over this

And must obey it from the start,

Within this “action stationed” frame

Hearing this message from the heart.

All people and the sights once seen

Have now faded from your sight,

Reduced to mere bit-part players

By this seismic feelings might.

Now the brain will try to balance

These vibrations, so very strong,

But the senses now have a target

Though the brain thinks it’s wrong.

Thus now nervous and infantile

A besotted body makes its move.

With new and aroused emotions

That the brain tries to approve.

So embarkations to possible grief

By the heart are now fully set

Off onwards, to hoped for passions

With this siren, very newly met.

*

A nice poem there then and hope for everybody, young and old…….

Time to close then and as ever The Journey Continues “off our marks” and positive👍

Thanks to you all for being there and,

Love, Peace & Light to you all

Laurie xx

All eight of my books :–

Poetic Views of Life

More Poetic Views of Life

Reviews of Life in Verse

Life Scene in Verse

Life Presented In Verse,

Poet Reveals All (in your world).

Poet Reflects Your World

Poetic Seeds to Fruition

These all ensure my donation to the excellent charity I support, promote and donate to, that being Help for Heroes.

My first 3 books are only priced £4.99 each, with my 4^th and 5^th bigger books at £6.99. My new 8th and sixth & 7th books, all bigger are still £9.99. and all are for sale on Amazon, book stores or preferably from me ………….. lw1800@hotmail.co.uk Or 07967 355236

I can now also write a “Personal Poem” for you, your family, any event or your business too…….

I also have a Facebook page “The Psychy Poet Laurie Wilkinson”, and a website:- www.psychypoet.com please sign/join up absolutely free.