Image: Me and Jojo at Pease Park Austin with Malin a female troll holding a bowl. She reminds us that we should share the water and resources with the animals that live here with us. More than 80% of Malin’s Fountain is made from recycled, repurposed, or found materials.

 

 

 

 

 

 

01.04.24 32:1) Yesterday I landed, suitcase collected, through customs

Car collected things going like a song

Then at the motel things started going wrong

On the reservation list the receptionist looked

The said “Your stay isn’t booked”.

Like as not your booking reference has been forgot

But said they’d got rooms to spare, so no need to look elsewhere

She gave me a price, I thought “Very nice”

An’ my joy did mount when I got extra discount.

No need to be sore cos’ I saved a few dollars more

 

33:2) At yesterday’s end I looked in on a friend

A great meeting with a hug in greeting

An’ then some as we planned things to come

Real nice time to talk about the past but it didn’t last

I drove away thinkin’ “Tomorrow’s another day”

But things weren’t right as I moved off from a traffic light

Engine starts racin’ I’m hardly movin’ caught on the hop

But got the engine to stop

To my delight it started again and ran alright

But it would have been in vain had it happened again

So in at the rental firm I dropped, quickly it was swapped 

I’m thinkin’ shame David’s not here

Without doubt something we could laugh about

When he says “how many cars so far this year”

 

34:3) Car changed breakfast had then to AWR in my replacement car

I go in an’ say “Hi” and when I’m in

There’s a little deer lets me tickle its chin

An exotic African species so they’ll find

A special place for it with more of its kind

Take a picture of a porcupine, then it’s goodbye

Drivin’ away to carry on the day

 

35:4) Next task to go and ask

For a sim card to keep in touch with the friends I’ve come to love so much

Takes a while but I get one an’ smile

Thinkin’ distance don’t matter ay all

When all we need to do is give each other a call

 

36:5) The day begins to flow an’ I gotta go

To join Thom an’ the gang at KOOP Radio

Cos’ they got the notion to give National Poetry Month some promotion

Once again, it’s meet, greet, go in and take a seat

An’ Thom’s bought sweets an’ treats

Then in the studio we go to begin the show 

In turn goin’ round, an assorted poetry sound

My first about travellin the American nation

Country music givin’ me inspiration

My second the 10th anniversary of a Salutin’ Boy lookin’ out to sea

Two rounds an’ it’s the end of the show, time to go,

An’ to our delight, and event at Freddo’s tonight

 

37:6) At Jojo’s we reminisced about the year gone by an’ how time does fly

Well it certainly flew for us two Cos’ we had been doin’ what we like

Readin’ poetry at an open mic

Freddo’s at seven and eveinin’ of poetry heaven

Got there to my surprise before my eyes

At the end of the day, David joined the fray

I got in the first word “Two” I said clear,

“Two what” he replied I said “Two cars so far this year”

 

02.01.24 – 38:7) Once more begins the day an’ once more I’m away

To AWR I’m going, Country Music flowin’

But not doin’ my mood as good as it should

Things seemed to go wrong then on comes a certain song

Heard the intro play, knew it straight away

Cole Swindell, the boy from South Georgia

Singin’ about heads Carolina, tails California

My mood shifted, my thoughts lifted

Soon I’m singin’ along as I’m drivin’ along 

Almost know it to the letter, it’’makin’ my mornin’ better

An’ I find I arrive at AWR in a better frame of mind

 

39:8) Park my car then into the AWR

An’ there see the animals given tender lovin’ care

An’ the Yorkshire bloke gives some a lovin’ stroke

Camera out he snaps away, a short while later he begins his day

Baby possums an’ squirrels to be done in mammal room one

Givin’ some a caressin’ really is a blessin’

The suddenly with a bound, a squirrel’s out of the box and on the ground

An escape bid that came to nought, teamwork an’ he was caught

Only free for a short while but made us smile

Then ask about a task to take a picture today of a bobcat I saw yesterday

An’ I think “oh bless” when they say “Yes”

It’s not derision when they say, under supervision

It’s done an’ soon I can tell the photo’s come out really well

More to be posted advocating love an’ care

Here and Animal Rescue Centers everywhere

 

40:9) Soon it’s time to go, look in on Jojo

Make arrangements for tomorrow

An’ the poetry game, livin’ up to my Road Poet fame

But first to St Johns Library upload the photos to my USB

On which there are songs I cou play if my car had the facility

On this one there’s not but a radio it’s got

It’s playin, presenter talkin’ over intro

I’m thinkin’ that ain’t the way to go but it’s an intro I know

All too plain, they’re playin’ she had me at Heads Carolina again

 

41:10) Library work done, to Jojo’s I run

With the intent of getting her fire ready for a zoom event

We didn’t seem to get it sorted everything we tries we were thwarted

Thinkin’ what could it be, nothing we could see but we got a plan B

I try again an’ suddenly it goes fine

End of dejection I think “Houston we got a connection”

We smile have supper, talk a while, time to go, meet up tomorrow

An online coroboree, more poetry

Drivin back, round a corner I’m steerin’

Suddenly I can’t believe what I’m hearin. An’ once more I’m singin away

To She had me at Head Carolina for the third time today

 

03.04.24 – 42:11)  Sun up another Texas day an’ I’m away

From where I’m stayin, I got the radio playin’

An’ then, another song I know, Alan Jackson singin “I Remember When”

An’ I’m remeberin; the day I first drove this way

An’ would do it many times more

Being inspired to do many a poetry score

At the AWR showing I care, workin’ in animal welfare

An’ soon more memories came to the fore, so many more

Of the past, they’ve been a blast

My American adventure an’ then I thought “Yes I do remember when”

 

43:12) Coroboree this afternoon was a delight,

When Jojo accepted my invite

Bringin’ her device to my motel room, on online event on zoom

Internet connected an’ as expected,

Thom’s on the line waitin an’ times abatin’

Two coffees an’ we’re good to go

But we found thee was a strange sound

Move our device, reception better ready to do more

Then Jojo dropped her coffee on the floor

To reception bound, a mop found

Poetry not stopping, me an’ Jojo’s mopping

Then it’s done we sit back down to read a score

Or two an’ share out poetic thoughts once more

 

44:13) Coroboree done let the afternoon roll

Away to Pease Park to see Malin the Troll

Depicting woodland power

Made from recycled wood from an old water tower

More photos so they can be seen

On my Facebook album showing where I’ve been

Enjoin’ the sun, before the fun

An’ more delight an OPA’s open mic tonight

 

45:14) OPA menu has quite a range, go veggie for a change

Lentils, veg, olive oil broth poured over rice

An’ warm seasoned pita, really nice

An’ now I’ve been fed

Bring on the open mic an’ let my poems be read.

 

04.04.22 – 46:15) Breakfast this mornin’ MacDonald’s the first of the tour

Will there be more

It was a chance to WhatsApp home so my family’s knowin’

How things is goin’

An’ they can tell me what’s goin’ down in my home town

Then away to carry on the day, first place to be, the library

One of my regular places, seen again those familiar faces

Welcomed with a smile, gonna be there for a while

Transferrin’ my poems to usb so they can be preserved for posterity

Then once more on the move, day slippin’ into a familiar groove

To Jojo’s then a venue sought for written thought

We gotta be at Red Traveler’s workshop for poetry

 

47:16) To Lazydaze drivin’ steady to many cars about to dash,

Don’t wanna crash

To Lazydaze drivin’ steady we’re there, now let’s get ready

Steadiness done now for poetry an’ fun

Poems 48 to 54 written at the workshop, the subject is in the first line.

 

48:17) One song can be all it’ll take to ease your heartbreak

One song music to your ears can ease wall your fears

One song simple and plain can ease your pain, make you smile again

One song in rhyme, a memory for all time

One song can say many things about what life brings

One song can help when you’re feeling blue

The one song that sings “I love you”

 

49:18) Comfort can be the worst addiction

Getting stuck in a groove, not wanting to move

Wantiong to stay there in bed or chair

Stayin within when apathy is settin’ in

Away from friction, yes Comfort can be the worst addiction

 

50:19 What we have learned so far

Don’t get out of a moving car

Don’t upset someone in a bar

Don’t try to go so far

Some like to wish on a star

What we have learned so far

Can be in vain if we forget and haver to start again

 

51:20) Shadows of water rippling, shadows of acrobats tippling

Shadows of doom, shadows of gloom casting a giant shadow

Shadows made giving shade, shadows so dark make their mark

Shadows can be scary, frightening the unwary

But whenever as shadow is there it means a light is shining somewhere

 

52:21) Family of one blood Friends of many

Life can be bad if you haven’t got any

Family who purport to give you support

As you’re yearning, to be growing and learning

Friends who’ll lend a hand when life is anything but grand

Family with you through trouble and strife

Friends best ones for life

Where would we be without friends and family

 

53:22) Words of all religions can say how they began

Words like thee, thy and thou can

Make you think the bible was written by a Yorkshireman

Words of all religions gleaning different but with the same meaning

Words of all religions have their places in a world of all races

From whichever God above words all meaning love

 

54: 23) Aromas can suggest may things

Memories of what life brings. Where we’ve been, what we’ve seen

Smell of burning wood, flames getting’ higher,

Cosy nights in front of the fire

Lasting long, reminds me of Boy Scout campfires and song

Smell of citrus lemony zest

When life was young, growing and at its best

Air smelling fresh and clean after the rain has been

Aromas we find keep things emerging in our mind

The smell of freshly cooked toffee, wake up an’ smell the coffee

Night or day, memories only a sniff away

 

55:24) Mementoes collected, Lazydaze done away we run

Pick up Jojo’s poems because we got an open mic in San Marcos

So we head to Wake the Dead, a place keepin’ poetry alive since 2005

OI35 heavy goin’ traffic keeps slowin’

Following the gps something not right

As when we get there we’re in the middle of nowhere

Right road wrong location, quick check have I been in slumber

I’d entered the road but forgot the number

Rectified away we had and soon find Wake the Dead

Then we feel, time for a meal Seafood Gumbo Louisiana style

Then back we go to Wake the Dead an’ let the poetry flow

 

56:25) Called to the stage I find I’ve left my war poems behind

Wonderin’ where they could be, back at the motel

Or last night’s venue I think “Oh hell”

But no dread, I read Country Music inspired poems instead

Then hoped they would enjoy an improvised version for The Saluting Boy

Followin’ me Jojo with her poetry

Once again, a real delight, once again a really great night

 

05.04.24 – – 57:26) Coffee to go I’m on my way, another Austin day

Thinkin’ about last night and time spent at Wake the Dead an’ how it went

I was glad we bid goodnight when we did

Cos’ on I35 was lurkin’ some overnight road workin’

Slowly we ran through ‘em an’ were done

Now to AWR I head thinkin’ about the task ahead

Plenty to do, always something to look forward to

Make a start in Mammal Roon 2

Saying “C’mon li’l critters y’all raise that sleepy head

The poetry guys acomin’ to make sure you’re all fed”

Somne ned pickin’ up an’ gently tippin; nose dippin’

Into the formula soon they’re sippin’

On puppy chow munchin’ on veggies crunchin’

My morning work done once more away I run

Once more to see what the day has in store

 

58:27) Drivin’ to the library I’m wonderin’ if KVET’s playin’ just for me

As Cole Swindell comes on once more an I’m singin’ along

Played it four times now, I love it an’ how

Always makes my day when I hear it play

 

59:28) St John’s Library closed for safety’s sake so I take

The route back to my motel where I’m gonna dwell

Cos’ I gotta send a recorded poem to a friend

Distance no object it’s for a project

He guides me through it, don’t want him sayin’ I blew it

It’s done, he says “Thanks it’s gone okay”

Now once more into the fray as so carries on the day

 

60:29) To Spicewood Library bound it’s soon found

Where for a small cost I can print off the poems I lost

Jojo calls me wanting to return the favour

After last night’s Seafood Gumbo to savour

She makes lunch an’ soon we’re havin’ a relaxin’ afternoon

Sun’s beginning to scorch while we’re restin’ on the porch

Reflecting on the past how things have been a blast

An’ what we got to come, another open mic an’ then some

 

61:30) Downtown to 3rd Eye Mediation Lounge before dark

Once there it’s a devil to park

Almost felt like grieving but a guy waved to us as he was leavin’

Parkin’ machine complicated I stood there in doubt

Another motorist helped me out,

As I stood there looking lost wondering about the cost

Wasn’t hard, paid by card sorted not thwarted

 Got to the venue not many there only a few

Then as if someone had willed, the place slowly filled

First the host with the intro then Jojo

Followed by me, others too a god night I thought worth the parking fee

But the part I enjoyed most was being congratulated by Davy

An Austenite born on the Yorkshire coast

 

06.04.24 – 62:31) Havin’ a bit of a lay in’ In bed I’m stayin’

A bit longer, the call of the pillow the stronger

Later decide to rise and be at Spicewood Library

Breakfast on the way, I get there an’ then

I realise it’s Sunday they don’t open while ten

La Unica motel’s close by so I decide to look in

An’ confirm my end of month book in

To my delight it’s alright

Looks like a nice place I’m thinkin’ as I’m comin’ out

One less thing to worry about

Just hope things are in hand at my motel in Midland

An’ it’s then I decide to look in on Jojo till the library opens at ten

 

63:32) Library open no time for lurkin’ get a computer and’ get workin’

Poems an’ photos to usb safest place for them to be

Takes w while but they’re done, back to Jojo’s I run

We take a mornin’ break, coffee an’ cake

Country and classical music sure is a boo

Get us in the mood for the AST* open mic this afternoon

*Art Parks Texas, a group for disabled poets that welcomes anyone to their events to read bringing diversity and inclusion to poetry.  Poem 65 speaks about it 

 

64:33) We set of in good time to AST to share our verse an’ rhyme

Jojo looks in her folder to find, the war poems I thought I’d left behind

I sat keep ‘em as a souvenir, of the time we had while I was here

The venue found, looks familiar then I remember 

I was here two years ago come November

An’ one thing’s plain, it’s great to be back again

 

65:34) Running order done, open mic begun

Disabled or not get up and give what you’ve got

Partially sighted or wheelchair bound

Whatever, were all here on equal ground

Proving there’s no better equality

Than coming together to share our poetry

 

07.04.24 – 66:35) Roadworks last night sent us all of track,

I’m thinkin’ will I ever get back

Eventually back I head and straight to bed

This mornin’ I’m away on the horizon clouds of dark grey

Poole of water seen where the rain had been, air smells fresh an’ clean

Call for gran an’ go, next thing I know

Guy havin’ his photo took so with perfect aplomb I do a photo bomb

An’ give my name so others’ll know it

Was photobombed by a travellin’ Limey Poet

 

67:36) AWR once again I decide to do, the opossums in mammal room two

Before I start things go grand

When a porcupine an’ baby deer come an’ sniff my hand

The mix some food so the opossums can be fed,

An’ pillow cases for a clean bed

Labour of love that takes some beatin’

A feeling of pride when I see ‘em eatin’

Then I’m done an’ away I run

Not a moment to soon cos’ I got a gig in Georgetown this afternoon

 

68:37) Georgetown Library to share my rhyme,

Turns out I’m there for the first time

The last time was a coffee bar Me, Thom an’ David usin’ my hire car

We had a great time then an’ how, we’re havin’ a great time now

 

69:38) Guy says “Hi Trev” I look an’ it’s Ron

Whose often used my poetry to inspire a song

How nice to meet up once more sharin’ song an’ poetry score

Only a few there so after a lull

We spoke an’ sang like the room was full

More an’ more cos’ the room was booked till four

It comes an’ we’re done, away we run

An’ to our delight we got Spoken an’ Heard Kick Butt tonight

An’ one thing more Ron wants to do a song about my 1914 poetry score

 

08.04.24 -70:39) Kick Butt last night

My tee shirt brought humour an’ delight

A map of the UK showing the rest if it wrong and Yorkshire right

Hot Tamale saying with a cheer “You can tell it’s April Trevor’s here”

But come May when the stage they look upon

I’ll not be there, like a migratory bird I’ll be gone

 

71:40) April 8 a special date an’ we’re waiting as time’s abating

Excitement growing as folks are knowing

The moons on its way to darken the day

Waitin’ to see it run across the sun an’ turn daylight into twilight

Solar eclipse in he past had a different meaning, towards bad omens leaning

Fear and blood rituals done to bring back the sun

Today not rejection but feeling s of awe and connection

It comes we watch shadows gone it’s at its height, we’re in twilight

Moving on shadows back, moon on track

It ends an’ I’ve enjoyed watchi’n it with friends

 

72:41) Eclipse gone. Afternoon rolls on

Relaxin’ to a different sound, rain really comin’ down

Thunderstorm air still warm

On the porch take our ease, listenin’ to the raindrops hittin’ the trees

Hope it don’t go on too long

Cos’ tonight we got an outdoor gig of poetry an’ song

 

73:42) Rain stopped we’re away time to go sing an’ say

Hope it holds off while we perform at Freddos on Congress an’ Oltdorf

We get there, wind’s cool but no dismay, as long as the rain keeps away

Running late cos’ our host chap crashed with a post eclipse nap

But he’s soon there and poetry an’ song rend the air

It’s goin’ fine an’ we’re told, it ain’t gonna rain till nine

So we sing an’ say under a sky of grey

An it’s the last time this year I share my rhyme

Once more ending with a new poetry score

In a few days I head West for more poetry an’ the rest

But never fear, God willin’ I’ll be back next year

 

09.04.24 - 74:43) Showered dressed an’ away.

To the AWR for my final day

But there’ll be one more at the end of my tour

For now thought its get the little critter’s fed

An’ clean pillow cases for a bed

I’m workin’ away, hear a noise above, look up n’ see

Two squirrels lookin’ down on me

Hard to catch, heir energy I couldn’t match

Help called for to the room it was bound

Three of us but they still gave us the runaround

Thinkin’ it was a jape tryin’ to escape

Comin’ to naught eventually they were caught

After what seemed an age back in their cage

So formula’s mixed food prepared make a start

Li’l critters sure captured my heart

An’ some as usual don’t mind a stroke form the poetry bloke

Then we were done, take a few more picture which’ll be

Saved to my usb

Ready to tell of my adventures there

At AWR givin’ the needy of God’s creatures love an’ care

 

75:44) Final pictures taken, squirrel in x-ray an’ I’m done for the day

Goodbyes said an’ away I head

To the library to upload to my usb more photos an’ poetry

Special file for AWR so they can see what being there does for me

An’ photo sharin’ of carin’ deeds attendin’ to the animals needs

 

76:45) After lunch the sun come out so it’s follow

For the first time this year, the road to Hippie Hollow

One of those day’s it’ll be great to feel the suns rays

There caressin’ my skin then the sun goes in

Still warm, sat relaxin’ gentle breeze blowin’ through the trees

Then something not so warm, raindrops heralding thunderstorm

It crashes, lightning’ flashes

Watchin’ the rain fall it ain’t abatin’ it turns to hail no point waitin’

Any longer the call of our evenin’ meal the stronger

For a while it was good, no need for gloom

We got an online event tonight on zoom

 

77:46) Event joined we found we couldn’t get sound

No crying keep trying, to stetting bound volume control found

Search not in vain got sound again

Ready to go let the poetry flow

It flowed like a stream, evenin’ went like a dream

Outside the thunderstorm’s ongoing, inside the poetry’s flowing

Three times round we read an’ then we finished at ten

Soon away I’ll head, through the storm to the motel and a comfy bed

 

10.04.24 – 78:47) Last day in Austin before headin’ West

Two more event to give my best

Got to be on my mettle need to get my stomach to settle

First a meeting on zoom,

Don’t want it spoilin’ keepin’ goin’ to the bathroom

So to the medication pack to help my body fight back

Taken as suggested things calm down

Set off for Jojo’s coffee to go see how it goes

Things seem to settle, not a moment too soon

We can get out for a while before the coroboree this afternoon

 

79:48) Away to where, there’ll be more memories to share

We go to Gallery of Pets to see, the biggest tortoise there ever could be

Called Alice with a temperament so mild at 28 she’s still a child

Get some pictures too, free advertising on Facebook

Then to Umlauf Sculpture Park and Gardens where

I find it’s grown since I was last there

New statues catch my attention others I recall from memory retention

How nice it was to remember and delve

Into the archives of my memory

Remembering and saying parts of the poem I wrote in 2012

As once more I find, The Lovers still in each other’s arms entwined

Again Pieta depicting death and sorrow, children out hope for tomorrow

New ones I couldn’t miss, such as The Kiss

Father and son, mother and daughter I see

Then one of Jesus saying “Come to me”

Lazarus who longed to be able to eat what fell from his masters table 

Round I’m goin’ emotions flowin’ inspiration for a rhyme

An’ again I’ll recite an; share my experiences there

 

80:49) Coroboree not the full time spent

After 90 Minutes most of the readers went

So me an Jojo relax a while as is our style

Before the next gig come alive in Dripping Springs at 5 

I’ve been there before, before covid came to the fore

First for an open mic that was going down in that friendly little town

Later a visit to see how it got its name and any claim to fame

Where one of the founding fathers dwelt words couldn’t describe how I felt

Writin’ down all I could see, an’ getting’ it all in my poetry

 

81:50) Traffic heavy plenty of time journey on track

Arrived in good time, felt great to be comin’ back

A decent run in the afternoon sun

An’ read a poetry score, who could ask for more 

We got it really nice, got to read twice

No thunderstorms for distraction just good poetry interaction

An’ in the main, how good it felt to be in *Drippin’ again

*How the locals refer to the town