LEDBURY RAP

wake up!

 see what you’ve got

a house on stilts and a crazy town clock

a Welsh town crier

a few Billy Liars

a launderette and tumble dryers

you’ve got The White Hart

you’ve got the town clerk

broken glass  bottles in the park

a fine street sweeper

with time to talk

a market, a theatre and places to walk

places to eat

place to stay

Dog Hill Wood they’re making hay

hip hop pickers in the season

bring a little colour, rhyme and reason

Saturday night lads on a bender

simple as that no hidden agenda

gender-benders moneylenders

sad-eyed lonely e-mail senders

masquerading pavement parading

bring on the weather did I say it’s raining?

Cider Bill staggers with perfection

knows his nose knows the direction

Taffey Harris, Whispering Smith

chewing the fat, taking a piss

holding court in The Prince of Wales

a sense of nonsense here prevails

banter at a canter, humour within rumour

sitting in the squitter bar should have got in sooner

here’s to the fool in all his glory

here’s to the town

end of story!

The Cosmos Laughed

 

In the beginning I was animal,

I felt the pulse I was the pulse,

Perfect in my being.

I the horned one,

I the earth mother,

Balanced on the edge of time,

oblivious to the danger,

I lived out the dance of life with each wild step,

Rejoicing with the blood that filled my veins,

And praising all things wild.

Then from the lofty mountain came the flame,

That burned with raging beauty in my mind,

to the mountain mighty man was chained,

And I myself I had discovered time.

Then screaming silent in the void,

I asked the question, who am I?

I waited for an answer,

Then it came,

The echo of my question the reply.

And the cosmos laughed.

At that point of knowledge first received,

I stood newborn into the world,

I simply was,

Then infinitely slowly,

I stretched out my senses like a web,

Touching rock I felt its roughness,

I smelt the earth bitter in my nose,

I gazed upon the stars I saw their brightness,

I heard the owl upon the wing,

Running water music to my ear,

The growing things gave rhythm to the year.

With that rhythm I began to dance,

Soft footed through the seasons of the world,

But mind proud master of the heart,

Did the spirit break and make it cry,

I yield.

'twas then that ugly reason reared its head,

'twas then that upstart science began his lie,

And like some great dictator,

He soon became the greater,

It is I the great creator,

He did cry.

But I have felt the rain upon my face,

I have heard the oceans mighty roar,

I have climbed upon the rocks,

Seen the fur upon the fox,

And all is not lost.

For perhaps a few,

Maybe four or five,

Still recognise,

What is real.