Image: Poets at the opening Pacanga and Anthology Launch of RGVIPF 2025,  at the Chamber of Commerce McAllen.

 

 

 

24.04.25 – 89:76) Time to get out of bed, there’s cats to be fed

The food’s found, they’re gatherin’ round

Soon they’re eatin’ away always a good start to the day

You don’t have to ask, it’s always a pleasant task

Now I’m up it’s not back to bed

Time for me to get showered an’ fed ready to face the day ahead

An’ make sure everything’s good an’ right

For the anthology launch tonight

 

90:77) Went downtown, to the library but the internet was down

No worries another library found to it I’m bound

Edinburg, not too far away for the first part of the day

Library named after one of its sons they lost, paying the ultimate cost

Picture on the wall with others an eternal band of brothers

So for a computer I ask, to begin my task

Photos and poems all to be, on my USB

Then take photos to tell the story far and wide

Of Edinburg’s sons remembered with pride

 

91:78) Back at Nianna’s she comes in and soon

We go out for the afternoon

An estate sale, bargains sought and bought

Pizza suggested, an idea that couldn’t be bested

Armando’s the place to be, Moonie joins us and makes it three

An’ it seems fair to get one to share

It comes it’s taste is a delight an’ it goes down alright

Good company, good eatin’, sure takes some beatin’

Eventually we have to alight an’ get ready for the anthology launch tonight

 

92:79) Chamber of Commerce we meet an’ greet

Shake hands, hug an’ smile, some of us ain’t seen each other for a while

Enjoy a snack, a joke to crack,

Or say, what we’ve been doin’ since we’ve been away

Now we’re back an’ things start to come alive as we start RGVIPF 2025

 

25.04.25 – 93:80) Reflect on last night, it went alright

Met with smiles, recited an’ had ‘em rockin’ in the aisles

Bad start to the day, cellphone on Hotmail don’t want to play

Later I see it works at the library, don’t get mad just be glad

Nianna’s away, Corpus Christie for the day

I’m gonna play the poet an’ fool at a local school

Always a delight, a festival highlight

South Texas World Scholars is where I’ll be

Speak slow so they understand me

 

94:81) Start the show let it flow,

Use the mic, use it not, give it all you’ve got,

From the start recite from the heart get the audience to take part

Make it their gain, to join in the refrain

Interject show them respect that’s due, remember they’re listenin’ to you

 

95:82) School done, dinner had, what next for this travelin’ lad

With a smile he goes an’ rests a while

Realisin’ evenin’ comes to soon he goes out for the afternoon

Somehwere he’s never been before Where to go, he’s soon in the know

The place remembering those who paid the price, the ultimate sacrifice

Thinking of those who have gone before.

Wondrerin’ how many more victims of war

Will there be, will we see world peace in our time

Or will poets write another tragic rhyme

And more until we see an end to war

 

96:83) Time to go cos’ soon I have to be

At Clark’s with his copy of the anthology

I’m there, he’s out, I wait, he’s not late

Soon he’s back we hug we talk We take Ivy for a walk

Then something that makes my day

Cardiologist has told him his heart’s okay

We have a light meal then I gotta go, get ready for tonight’s show

 

26.04.25 – 97:84) Alarm sounds I’m outta bed, cats to be fed

See Nianna to her car, she’s gotta go far

Coffee, reflect on last night it went alright

Did a reading, judged the youth slam it was a blast

As usual in the adult slam I came last

Neither mad nor sad, just to be there I was glad

Then shower dress then away for the first part of the day

To the library then realise I forgot my USB

Not filled with dread, catch up on Facebook an’ Hotmail instead

Then to Jimmy’s Egg where we’re meetin’ food really worth eatin’

As the waitin’ staff cater, we make plans for later

Also talk about what’s been an’ what we’ve seen

It’s swell everything goes so well

A pleasant mornin’ then we go’ cos’ soon I got a workshop in the afternoon

 

Workshop poems 98 - 100

98:85) Workshop in plenty of time so I do today’s first rhyme

An’ rested in the sun before it all begun

Then the rest of the bunch came in after lunch

So, let’s get it underway, cos’ there’s another event later today

Not wanting to be caught on the hop, it’s at a local coffee shop

 

99:86) We had a discussion, a chat then take a comfort break

Then the second part utilise out poetry art

Occasional poems what we’ve seen where we’ve been

Write with good intent about a special event

National or local, make it good an’ vocal

Get about speak it out, loud an’ clear so all can hear

Seize the day with what you got to say

So, when asked “how went the day?” you can tell

“How went the day? went the day well”

 

100:87) North of the Rio Grande, poets gather in a band

Like sisters, brothers and others come together as one, rain or sun

With good intent an annual poetry event Givin’ our talent, givin’ our time

Free verse or rhyme, poems to treasure always a pleasure

All good friens givin’ our best

Enjoyin’ out time at the Rio Grande international Poetry Fest

From Austin, to Midland to McAllen, along interstate across plain

Along them I travel letting my tour unravel

Whatever the weather sun or rain it’s great to be in my spiritual home again

 

101:88) Love Letters on North Ware soon I’m there

Last event before the Pachanga tonight

Special coffee’s a delight room ready I’m first to go, let it flow

Others follow everyone gets a go

My poem was about a move scene that had been

A work of verbal art ending with the holding of a body part

An’ all agreed with out doubt, it was a good job I didn’t act it out

 

102:89) My last event done, back to Nianna’s I run

Thinkin’ how great it’s been, new poets heard an’ seen

Some travelin’ mile to share different styles

Daniel thanked us all sayin’ “as usual it’s been great an’ it’s been fun

The things we’ve shared an’ done”

Adding “there’s food left take it we don’t want to waste it”

I did thinkin’ “tomorrow for breakfast I’ll taste it

Before I go on another jaunt to Mexico

 

27.04.25 – 103:90) Nianna arrived home with tray upon tray

Of food she’s brought away from her meeting in Corpus Christi

She didn’t want it thrown out, with so many hungry people about

I saw how much and was slightly shocked

Wonderin’ where it would all in go in a fridge already well stocked

We got it all in before turnin’ in

Now day’s dawnin’ I’m enjoyin’ some for breakfast this mornin’

 

104:91) Writing done for now, soon I’ll be found Mexico bound

Not quite loco in Acapulco, more espresso in Progresso

Or even goin’ whacko with a taco

Got- there it looked familiar, it was as I knew I’d been there in 2022

Car parked, dollar paid our way made

Over the bridge into the town see what’s goin’ down

Vendors regale whet they got for sale

Cool drink needed, body’s warnin’ heeded

Then we’re on our way to enjoy the day

Lookin’ in the shops an on the stalls to see

What they’re sellin’ Kevin. Trier an’ Me

At our leisure, another memory to treasure

Lunch them make our way back, keep the day on track

Leavin’ there’s a setback, weed is smelt on Trier’s backpack

Search of her back an’ what she’d bought

Customs Officers polite and respectful as so they ought

To be, there’s no fuss, we see Trier comin’ back to us

Back at the car park we wish each other well

Trier heads for San Antonio an’ tomorrow she leaves for home

Alberqurque. New Mexico and he end of her roam

Me an’ Kevin wish her well an’ watch her drive away

Then shake hands an’ each of us go our own separate way

 

28.04.25 – 105:92) Mexico went well an’ as was my will

For the rest of the afternoon I decided to chill

Nipped over to Clarks for a chat, his festival tee shirt to deliver

I could see, Ivy was pleased to see me

We sat an’ had a great chat, about our love of music an’ more

Right down to my last poetry score

Watchin videos and photos of our past, then I thought “oh my

Doesn’t time fly, so back to Nianna’s as yesterday was endin’

Time spendin’ talkin’ an’ watchin’ tv,

Now the cats are fed an’ I’m ready to face the day ahead

Gotta go I don’t wanna be late

Cos’ I’ meetin’ Terry for a breakfast date

 

106:93) I’m there on time Terry’s late so I decide to wait

She arrives we hug I show her to her seat, we sit order an eat

Start chattin away, talkin’ about my roan an; my family back home

Where she’s been, her time in London an’ the musicals she’s seen

She hears a woman chattin’ away, it turns out she’s from the UK

I can’t resist goin’ to see her, we tell each other our age

She laughs sayin’ we’re both on he same page

She’s lived in Swindon and we both knew where

They’d had speedway there which we’d both been an’ seen

Someone said “what are the chances of such an event”, it was so well meant

I replied same is in 2012 when I met a bloke

Who’s come all the way from Basingstoke

An’ in Austin one year to sat the least

I met an Austinite for England’s North East

 

107:94) After breakfast it was Cosco bound, bargains found

An’ I get to say some of my poems on the way

Then MacDonald’s sought smoothies bought

More poems recited Terry seems delighted

Back to her house I help unload then I’m away

Back to Niannas’s an’ I’m reflection on another wonderful day

 

29.04.25 – 108:95) Bathroom needed call of nature heeded

Sith an’ Miracle by my bedroom door, as if tellin’ me they’re needin’

Their mornin’ feedin’ It’s still early so get them fed then back to bed

Soon I was back sleepin’ as mornin’ came creepin’

Then at a decent hour it was rise and get a shower

Coffee, breakfast then away for the first part of the day

To the library, upload poems and’ pics to my USB

After a while it’s done an’ once more away I run

Gonna save me a heap at a place where tacos are cheap

 

109:96) We’re at The Quarter, me Kevin an’ Clark

Food Louisiana style, prices made me smile

Taco’s 50 cents cheap as can be buy a minimum of three

Once again, we chat an’ smile an’ after a while

Nianna lets us know she’d like some to go

Ordered an’ done, to her house I run

Let the afternoon flow, before I go

To a book launch tonight, it’s gonna be a delight

 

Last day of NapoWriMo

30.04.25 – 110:97) Her name was Amanda Puryear EL

Book launch went really well.

Fantastic poems from the start spoken from the heart

Another great memory to take home at the end of this roam

But this morning things went slightly astray

The washing machine didn’t want to play

Eventually it worked so my way I was able to wend

To Jimmy’ Egg for breakfast with another friend

Time abating, Cath was there waiting

We greeted, sat, menus came, she ordered I had the same

Then time for realxin’ let the conversation flow

Learnin’ about each other then it’s time to go

An’ I’m thinkin as this part of my tour draws to an end

What a great breakfast shared with a very special friend

 

111:100) I should be at a school tomorrow but things ain’t just so

I had to be at Valley ISD

Apparently a new rule when you visit a school

They need to see, if you’re clear of TB

Makes me blue, another hoop to jump through

Something I’ve never had to do

Details given now it’s wait, but one things plain

If they say “No” I ain’t offerin’ again

 

113:98) One thing ain’t dour, Costa Mesa Happy Hour

Everything half price sure does taste nice

Was a blast, me an’ Nyssa meet at last

Great time had by all, laughin’ and jokin’

Take care we don’t want to end up chokin’

Five-o-clock nothin’ heard from Valley ISD, no more wait an’ see

It’s their loss because

I tell the group I leave for Austin tomorrow, no need for sorrow

I’ve had a great time sharin’ my wit an’ rhyme

But sadly it has to end, an, my way to Austin I’ll wend

An’ I know one friend who’ll think it’s grand

Meetin’ up a day earlier than planned

 

113:100) It’s nearly ten, tomorrow’s when I head to Austin once more

For the last leg of this years poetry tour

Not quite grievin’ but sad to be leavin’

As Sith comes for a stroke form the poetry bloke

Perhaps he’s knowin’ that tomorrow I’m goin.

Yes, time for us to part

But him, Miracle, Bobo, Grendlewald Pepper an’ Shishi

Will always travel in my heart