Image: With Kat Copeland we've known each other for a numbe of years, she is a great suporter of poetry events in West Texas and helped get me some venues after Covid. Sadly a back injury means she can't get out as much, it was great to meet up with her, long may our meetings continue.

 

 

18.04.24 – 64:49) Thought of breakfast at Denny’s,

Useful if you’re watchin’ the pennies

Waitress said “be with you in a minute” but was movin’ slow

Time was abatin, 5 minutes later I’m still waitin’

Couple behind me have gone so I decide to follow on

Decide to hit the road pick up something on the way

Call at Jimmy Johns prices more that I usually pay,

An’ there’s no one about so I come straight out

Local store next door, gran an’ go, just so

Hot dogs an’ coffee a delight an’ the price was right

Eaten then I gotta go I got a slot on KCKM Radio

 

65:52) I’m there waitin’ time to prepare what I’m gonna say on air

Laurel an’ Tarja arrive in we so soon to start the show

Poems relevant to the past, World War 1 and canon blast

About a man who dies and was three times denied

A poem of hope an’ aspiration two about work read out

An’ I told how they came about an’ what we can give to help others live

Another four from this year’s tour

An’ went on to say three were written only yesterday

Goin on to teach about the differences in our speech

Then we’re done, hugs and goodbyes said

Back to Midland I head to get things right

For my date with Bonnie at the theater* tonight

*Note use of Ameican term 

 

66:53) Quick call before I go to check up on Jojo

Phone rings a while I pick it up an’ smile

I can tell she sounds really well, in the main it’s great to hear her again

We talk about where I’ve been an’ what I’ve seen

Time for recollection an’ reflection

She tells me, things are as good as can be

Then I go, but say, I’m gonna ring her tomorow an’ every day

 

67:54) Bonnie picks me up at four an’ were away,

To Odessa to see a Shakespeare play, stop for a meal on the way

Tried some steak fingers, how the taste lingers

Cymbeline we’re getting, Shakespeare in a modern setting

It’s got the usual complicated plot

Including tragedy and comedy but you can depend

On romance and true love winning in the end

 

19.04.25 – 68:55) Waken from my napping by incessant tapping

Source seeking, it’s found, refrigerator unplugged and leakin’

Plugged back in water mopped, leak stopped

Then back to bed, for a few hours more sleep before the day ahead

 

69:56) Still watchin’ the pennies, try again at Denny’s

This time straight to a seat and I’m able to choose my own table

Menus comes, make my choice, 55+* looks nice and always a good price

Breakfast ordered, arrives an’ soon eaten price can’t be beaten

So filling I leave with a smile thinkin’ I’ll not want anything else for a while

*Many places do a seniors discount, it's great 

 

70:57) This morning once again time a plenty, head to the preserve off I20

Chattin’ to visitors an’ they tell me the wildcats still ther an’ it’s a she

With kittens in her care. They got static motion activated camers set up

So that when they’re gone, they can still see what’s goin’ on

Evenin’ with the rising of the moon, coyote an’ raccon

How nice it is to be there once more

An’ get inspiration for another poetry score

Videos an’ photos t send home, keep my family updated on my roam

An’ as this part draws to an end, I’m gonna look in on a friend

 

71:58) I didn’t see Kat last year I thought it remiss

After all she’d done, I didn’t want to miss

A chance to catch up on what has passed, since we met up last

A chance for recollectin’ an reflectin’

She opened the door an’ gave me a greeting

Then Cheryl an’ Marlene her daughters I was meetin’

We sat for a chat then time to dine, food was real fine

In the main great to meet up again

An’ also time to share some of my rhyme

But time passed a bit too fast and I had to be, somewhere else at three

Goodbyes said, away I head, don’t wanna leave others in the lurch

Cos’ I’m expected at Midlands One Hope Church

 

72:59) Not too far Yorkshire flags on the car

Let the GPS say the best way

Arrive in good time an’ goin’ in I see, they got a tin of Yorkshire Tea

Makes me feel at home on this part of my roam

Bonnie gets us started we recite whole hearted

Veterans, rhymers, first timers

Al with something to say an’ sayin, it their way

A great event in the main, an’ great to meet Chief Luis again

 

73:60) Me an’ Luis hugged when we met, an’ when it was time to part

Knowing distance separates the body but never the heart

 

74:61) Bonnie said “how do you feel about goin’ out for a meal”

I said “I’ve a wish to try catfish”

Venue’s called Cracker Barrel found, to it we’re bound

An old country store for food, shoppin an’ more

Said to be the best value if you’re lookin’ for some good ol’ home cookin’

Table found, order placed it comes we chan an’ eat I decide I’m beat

Not to worry thought I get a box to go

No need for sorrow it’ll do for breakfast tomorrow

We pay, hug each other an go our own way,

An I’m thinkin’ that’s another perfect day

 

20.04.25 – 75:62) Before break of day I’m away,

Once more somethin’ I’ve never done before

Somethin’ of which I’ve heard an’ seen,

Somethin’ to which I’ve never been

So away I run to the cross on I191 Sunrise service, celebration an’ elation

On the day it’s said Jesus rose from the dead

Soon I’m there, cold wind a chill in the air

Music playin’ people gatherin’ round Pastor Kyle to the stage bound

He starts to say what happened on the third day

Out he’s reachin’ with his preachin’ way to go let the story flow

Kept us enthralled, never stalled

Didn’t disappoint kept straight to the point

As slowly rose the sun, a prayer, a guy sang a hymn an’ then we were done

It ends we shake hands an’ say goodbye like frioends

An’ then away to enjoy the rest of resurrection day

 

76:63) Joined Bonnie at her church to celebrate the day

Service over we came away

A few of us a happy bunch went for lunch

Mt adventures I regaled and shortly after we were rocking with laughter

A great time had, sadly time flies we said our goodbyes

Being with Bonnie’s been a delight

I hope she can make my last event tomorrow night

 

21.04.25 - 77:64) Rested an’ spent time in a local park

Back to the motel before dark

This morning my final show on KCKM Radio

To share my rhyme, Ivana’s there this time

We get goin’ get the show flowin’

Poems relevant to this time of the year, comin through good an’ clear

A score, from a poet that’s with us no more,

He’s passed, the poem I was proud to read was his last

Something else I laid down was the Road to Emmaus set in my home town

Then we’re done an’ once again

I leave thinkin’ “next year I hope I’m back again”.

 

78:65) Time for lunch I know where to go

Won’t be so dear, same place as last year

Food as good as it looks an’ it’s only five bucks

Eaten an I’m away, carry on with my day

Cos’ tonight I’m gonna give my all

My last event in West Texas at Odessa College Wilkerson Hall

 

79:66) Bonnie said “traffic may be bad, I didn’t want to get mad

Not good at my age, road rage

When all said an’ done, no good for anyone

So, USB found, to Ector County Library bound

Spend some time transferring my rhyme

Also have a look an’ upload photos from Facebook

Time to go but to my delight, Bonnies rung an’ she’s gonna be there tonight

 

80:67) We get there both with time to spare

Our usual greetin’ hugs on meetin’

An’ I think on I’m sure goin’ to miss’’em when I’ve gone

 

81:68) At Odessa College Wilkerson Hall we’ll be heard,

An evenin’ of spoken word. Food comes in we’re told “dig in”

Only a few plates there so me an’ Bonnie share

Then it’s make a start on our spoken art

Reciting away something to say one at a time in free verse or rhyme

I let my imagination lift an’ my thoughts drift

Once more I find, poetic images in my mind

Afterwards we stay a while, chat an’ smile

Then I have to be gone I hit the road tomorrow

I’m thinkin’ “so begins another page bring it on”.