Pebbles painted every colour

precious works of art

masterpieces by local children

a new craze they did start

Along the River Lune pathway

their tally grows day by day

the latest tourist attraction

a bright and cheerful display

Messages of praise and thanks

during the virus lockdown

for NHS staff and key workers

made by children of our town

Pl...

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Rooted deep in a limestone crevice 

On Hutton Roof Crags, high and dry

Harsh landscape for this lonely tree

Backdropped against the bluest sky 

Battered, barren and windswept 

Brittle branches, unruly and bare 

Trunk twisted, gnarled and angry

An old witch, messy twigs for hair

Photo credit Robin Ree

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Flowing deep, fast and furious

The River Lune is racing, raging 

Frothing, white wild water rapids

Showing no sign of easing, abating

Surrendering to the angry force

Old Tree trunks are submerging

Breaking the rivers new pathway 

The menacing torrent is surging 

Swelling deeper and ever deeper 

The River Lune water level rising 

Worrying locals watch from af...

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The River Lune

calm and still

on a peaceful summer night

Clear images

like a mirror

Reflecting the evening light

Stanley Bridge

astride the river 

carrying the road to our town

This photograph

a pure reflection 

turning the scene upside down

Photo credit Robin Ree

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In picturesque and peaceful grounds 

At the heart of our historic town

Stands the majestic St Mary’s church 

Embattled tower, her parapet crown

The church bells ring out on Sundays

But not for four months or more 

Due to the recent virus pandemic

She was forced to close her doors

Small services are about to resume

Once more church bells will ring

A reassurin...

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Rose Cottage by nature 

Rose Cottage by name 

Roses climb stone walls

Adorning the old door frame 

A Cottage garden delight

Lilac Wisteria, Acer trees

A rainbow of every colour

Swaying on a summer breeze

A small alpine rockery 

Ceramic pots of bright blue

A secret hideaway pond

Seating bench made for two

Clematis grows on trellis

Above a painte...

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Tick tock

The Dandelion clock

Puff blow

The seeds to sow

Tick tock

The time on the clock

Fly high

The time flies by

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High upon the Cumbrian fells

Howling at the hidden moon

The steely wolf silently calls

Night falls, draws in too soon

Heavy clouds gather and darken

Against a backdrop of grey skies

Still he knows the moon is up there

Concealed, shrouded in dark disguise 

Credit to local artist Andy Kay who makes these magnificent creations and sends them all over the world. 

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Beyond the edge of the shimmering sea

The old marina and boatyard you can see

Where local workmen spend all their days

Repairing every type of boat in many ways

Pushing, pulling, hammering, drilling

Planing, sanding, painting and filling

Flashing welding sparks flying blinding

Deafening loud noise of metal grinding

Scents of oil, grease, creosote and paint

Wafts on ...

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About cheery things I like to write

Not that smart and not that bright

I like to write about happier times

And try my best to make it rhyme

If my attempts help to raise a smile

My time is not wasted all the while

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Floating around in the swimming pool

I ask, since when did lilos get so cool

Hotdogs, pizza slices and avocados

Swans, ducks, unicorns and flamingos

Dolphins, crocodiles, whales and shark

Doughnuts, ice lolly, a mini aqua park 

When I was young I had a simple ring

A pair of orange inflatable water wings

I think back then I had just as much fun

Floating in the pool in the...

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Time flies by

when you are having fun

Time flies by

whilst you bathe in the sun

Time flies by

when swimming in the sea

Time flies by

whilst walking just you and me

Time flies by

when lying on golden sand

Time flies by

whilst strolling hand in hand

Time flies by

when there is no need to cook

Time flies by

whilst reading a good book

Time flies by

wh...

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Watching small fishing boats sail out

and extravagant super yachts sail in

Squinting in the bright morning sun

as dawn breaks and a new day begins

Sitting silent and still on the hillside

in prime position, and looking down

Commanding views over his kingdom

dominating our peaceful Turkish town

Admiring the stunning evening sunset

all its beauty reflected on the...

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In the playground of the mega rich

Expensive shops and restaurants

This is how the the other half live

All their wealth they like to flaunt

Relaxing aboard their mega yachts

Watching the lower class pass by

Staff to cook and clean the decks 

An unimaginable life to you and I 

I wonder does it make them happy

To everything that money can buy

I am not sure I w...

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We arrived at the airport 

Adorned by our masks

Parked by the front door

Security was not a task

Shopping was a breeze

Free seats were a plenty 

I like to travel... when

The airport is so empty

The flight arrived early

Free rows were a plenty

I like to fly.... when

The plane is half empty

At our Turkish home

Friends we hope to see

Just a few...

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Arrived at the airport 

Adorned by my mask

Parked by the front door

Security was not a task

Shopping is a breeze

Free seats are a plenty 

I like to travel... when

The airport is so empty

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Grey clouds cast their shadows
Over the distant fields and hills
As the evening sun casts its rays
Over the magnificent Howgills

Photo credit Robin Ree

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Take a quick glance at the photo

and please tell me what you see

is it just a shaded wooded dell

with a few nettles under a tree

Look again, only a little closer

wild garlic, grass and in between

he sits there well camouflaged

clearly unaware he can be seen

First you will see his pink ears

then the black dot of his eye

he is oblivious to our presence

and ...

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The distant rumble and thunder

another weekend of sunny madness

as the motorbikes speed and race

the sound fills my heart with sadness

Why do they have to be so noisy

why to they ride at such high speed

do helmets provide superpowers

or come with eternal life guaranteed

First you hear the screaming sirens

followed by the whirling in the sky

the heroes in the...

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Dull, dismal, damp, dreary

depressing shades of grey

the drab colour of the sky

reflecting my mindset today

Bleak, glum, grim, gloomy

weather affecting my mood

grey clouds bring grey days

feeling listless and subdued

I dream of

Light, white, fluffy clouds

floating on a bright blue sky

a warm, gentle, light breeze

wafting those blues goodbye

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Act naturally, raises a question, is this impossible to do

if your actions are natural, can they be classed as acting too

Alone together, yet if you are together you are not alone

unless the other person with you, just happens to be a clone

Bitter sweet, can something so bitter ever taste so sweet

and if it tastes that bitter, could it ever be sweet to eat

Clearly ...

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He picks and pecks

to get his peck

He pecks and picks

to get his pick

He pecks and picks

the pick and mix

He pecks the mix

to feed his chicks

The Blue Tit is a fussy bird

With a particular preference of seed

He picks and pecks to get his pick of peck

The Blue Tit is a fussy bird indeed

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In the Westmorland Gazette today

I read the story of a mole

who despite all good intentions

got himself into a tight hole

He tried to make himself a home

in the donation box on the wall

he got in through a narrow tube

he must have been so very small

A handyman was called when

someone spotted his little snout

a two hour rescue mission followed

as the man s...

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I want to go back into lockdown

I liked it, living there

I could sit at home all day

without much of a care

I don't like this halfway in or out

it is filling me with worry

I seem to be getting nowhere fast

nothing gets done in a hurry

I have so many questions

I want and need to ask

No one answers my calls

it's a nightmare of a task

Phone calls las...

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As lockdown measures ease

and we adapt to our new norm

Lovely to see our local market

return in a new colourful form

Every Thursday is market day

in historic Kirkby Lonsdale town

Reopened with a fresh new look

after three months of lockdown

An outdoor shoppers delight

friendly stall holders galore

Handmade items to treasure

books, original gifts and more

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I wonder

In this world full of technology,

do children like to play outside,

pretend to be cops and robbers

go to the park to swing and slide.

Imitate cowboys and Indians,

not politically correct I know,

play swing ball in the garden

or build a snowman in the snow.

Hopscotch on chalked pavements,

make chains with wild flowers,

build secret dens in the woo...

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Am I seeing double

I rub my eyes and blink

Is that a cow with two bodies

Or have I had too much to drink

Photo credit to local photographer Robin Ree

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He made a cosy nest, protected from the cold

In a grey stone wall, in a steel pipe, very old

He could carry the post

He could race to the coast

He was a pigeon, who could not be pigeonholed

Photograph credit to local photographer Robin Ree

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For my son currently serving with 29 Commando Regiment, he just sent me this beautiful photo taken last night. I hope my poem does it justice.

Outside the Royal Citadel, standing tall and proud,

backdropped by a summer sky and dappled cloud.

A memorial for those who paid the ultimate price,

we remember them, lest we forget their sacrifice.

A memorial for members of 29/95 C...

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What was once bright green,

strong and unfurling.

Is now brown and shrivelled,

decaying and curling.

Blown around and around,

in the gutter it stops,

resting on a delicate cobweb,

diamond like raindrops.

An image caught on camera,

a moment to treasure.

created by mother nature,

nothing lasts forever.

Credit to local photographer Robin Ree

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She liked the simple things

She lived her simple life

She loved her simple husband

She simply was his wife

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Hooray, my gym is to reopen at long last

I need some excuses and I need them fast

Four months of slacking and not working out

It's going to be hell on earth, there is no doubt

Lift the lightest weights I will groan under strain

Can it really ever be worth the torture and pain

Kettlebells, dumbells, deadlift the weighted bar

Spinning on those bikes, never gets me very far

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As rain falls heavy on the Cumbrian fell

down in the valley streams fill and swell

Storm clouds rock and roll across the sky

the magnificent River Lune is rising high

Thunder roars behind the forked lightning

a wild raw wind, furious, bitter and biting

Battered trees bend, creek, snap and crack

rainwater floods over submerging tarmac

Torrential downpours turn into...

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Unprecedented times, the like never seen before

This pandemic has shaken us all to our very core

A whirlwind ripping through our cities and towns

The evil coronavirus wearing its invisible crown

It does not care if you are rich or poor

A Royal, a minister or the boy next door

No matter what age, wealth, colour or creed

Affecting us all, and with devastating speed

We have a ...

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Do not lie to me, I have evidence,

you tried to leave without a trace.

Your crime was caught on camera,

see the guilt written all over your face.

Temptation was obviously too much,

the tasty leaves from the grapevine.

A delicious alternative to green grass,

Sunday lunch with a soupcon of wine.

I accept your excuse and in your defence,

I agree a change of diet w...

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Today I bumped into an old friend,

we have not met for many a year,

such a lovely surprise to see her,

but this encounter has left me in fear.

In a flash, in a moment of madness,

forgetting the lockdown rules in place,

and without giving it a second thought,

we hugged each other, a fleeting embrace.

In a flash, in a moment of madness,

in my defence I was caught...

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https://www.facebook.com/ChangeYourThoughtsToday/videos/10154389931406439/

Age three she looks in the mirror and sees a Disney Queen

Age eight she looks again and sees a young wannabe teen

Age fifteen she looks and sees an imperfect, impossible case

too fat, too thin, too tall, too short, braces and a spotty face

Age twenty she looks and hides behind her made up complexion

t...

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A ladybird landed on my finger

A beetle I would not let linger

Unless for sure

He was a fab four

That Beatle would then be a singer

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I am sat here in my kitchen

watching the pouring rain

waiting patiently for news

of when we can travel again

The flight webpage is open

ready to press next and pay

worry and panic escalates

do I really want to go away

Do I want to go at the airport

can I cope the queues and stress

could I wear a mask for hours

toilet restrictions cause distress

Wo...

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It’s raining it’s pouring

Storm clouds warring

The heavens have opened

About to get drenched.

Splish splash, drip drop

Spit splat, plip plop

Tipping it down

Bucketing down

Falling from the gods,

It's raining stair rods.

Spitting, drizzle

Sunny shower 

Teaming deluge

April shower

Raining cats and dogs,

Nice weather for ducks and frogs

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The untitled poet

Could that be my poetic name,

should by writing poetry,

I happen to find fortune and fame.

or

The uneducated poet

Not knowing wrong from right,

lacking vocabulary intelligence,

my work is dull and far from bright.

or

The uncomplicated poet

Noting the simple things in life,

content just being myself,

a proud mother and a happy wife.

or

...

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We ask where you came from,

how long do you intend to stay.

You are not welcomed here,

please checkout and go away.

Perhaps you came from a bat,

sold on a market selling meat.

Purchased and ate by a man,

who preferred rare meat to eat.

Maybe you were a vampire,

sustained by the cull of lives.

Could the blood in your flesh,

resist heat and somehow survive.

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