Yes once again it's across the pond to America another poetry tour, this time solely in Texas, once again I hope to record it in rhyme. I fly out on April 3, this time instead of waiting till I go before writing I have already started at various stages of prparation as the inspiration took me, hence the title. The poems have no title but the date they were written and comments in (italics and brackets).

 

Image: My updated ESTA Electronic System for Travel Authorisation, no ESTA no entry

 

07/10/11 - 1) Time to get my flight booked

So on the internet I looked

Monitor screen scanned dates and times planned

Where to board the plane to fly out and back again

Decision made money paid

Now wait for departure date

But not on my laurels lay I need to find somewhere to stay

And if I’m going far there’s the need to hire a car

Not forgetting like as not to insure the whole lot

Oh and yes also hire the GPS

Cos I’ll say it plain "I don’t want to get lost again".

 

18/10/11 (Nothing ever runs smoothly or doesn't seem to)

2) Now to book accommodation so with great expectation

One premise looked good I had a hunch

Providing both breakfast and early lunch

But it wasn’t what I expected first one card then the other was rejected

So on a call it depended to the agency that recommended

Travel lodge but would they dodge

The issue in hand would they understand

Find it hard, to say why I can’t use my debit card

But as hard as I did try I couldn’t get a satisfactory reply

Couldn’t get the gist so asked to be taken off their mailing list

Still it would be easy to fix I’d use Motel 6

I knew the score I’d used them before

I joined them on line and it all went fine

For arrival and departure somewhere to stay

And sort out the rest on the way

 

31/10/11 (Does  anyhing ever go to plan?)

3) Accommodation booked also the flight everything was going right

For a month I’d stay, fly out in April come back in May

In my hire car touring not at all boring

Along the highway’s I’d run in the hot Texas sun

But in an e mail I found, in Austin things had changed round

The committee had voted almost to a member

To move the Festival to September

The mail said it would be the norm, to keep it in its current form

Go out twice I thought “good lord”, another trip I can’t afford

I wondered how many had done the same

And were now thinking ‘what’s the game?’

Cos’ I’d already promised to give my best,

Promoting the Lamesa Forrest Fest

 

20/11/11 (It can pay to shop around, this time it didn't)

4) I was going far and needed a car

So to aspire as to what I could hire

I looked for offers to match what was in the coffers

I went to the firm I used last year, conditions and prices made clear

A choice of cars there was a bevy, so I opted for a chevy

I used one last year, no problems and nothing to fear

There would be no catch but I thought can others match

No animosity just satisfy my curiosity

So other offers did mount each offering a discount

One was no good at all for the same price it was something small

What really made me sore was for the same model they wanted £200 more

Another didn’t go as far alas it was not Austin but pick up in Dallas

And if that wasn’t enough to drive me up the wall

Others didn’t do Texas at all

So decision made and deposit paid

Just one click did the trick

All booked still with nothing to fear the same firm I used last year

 

30/11/11 (This time it did)

5) Advice heeded, insurance was needed

My trip I’d insure so to assure  

I wouldn’t bewail if my health did fail

And calling the trip off wouldn’t be a rip off

I thought I’d have nothing to fear ringing the same firm I used this year

There was no form filling but over the phone it was a grilling

Asking almost everything but the colour of my eyes

Then there came a big surprise

Another condition I had made things seem really bad

They said it would cost a lot more I asked why when it hadn’t before

And so did say I wasn’t prepared to pay

They didn’t seem to care so I went elsewhere

A better deal found, my payment to them bound

But as it turned out I’d overlooked another condition and re booked

It was accepted problem solved I wasn’t dejected

Now it’s just be patient and wait hoping I don’t sleep in on departure date

 

21/12/11

6) Cold wind blowing down the street, bringing forth snow and sleet

Animals in field or on hill seek shelter from the icy chill

Faded memories of autumn’s gold now the oncoming winter’s cold

Bringing snow storm so wrap up warm

Not doing things by half out comes the cap and scarf

Nights getting longer wind blowing stronger

Travelling a drudge through the sleet and sludge

For busses having to wait, leaves on the line making trains late

Or to drive you up the wall stopping them coming at all

Still Christmas is on its way, for some a family day

But for now when you go out, hardly space to move about

People everywhere, rushing, rushing there.

Yet chance to stop a while, listen to the children with a smile

The carols they’re singing, wondering what Santa will be bringing

Will it be clothes? Will it be toys? Something for all girls and boys.

But come Christmas and I can look beyond to Texas in April over the pond

As along the interstate I’ll run ‘under the hot Texas sun

Travelling with nothing to fear, meeting the friends I made last year.

 

21.01.12

7) Christmas came at what seemed long last,

Then before you could blink it was past

And the adverts did regale us with news of the latest sale

But not for me the rush, in the Boxing Day sales crush

Poems to be writing open mics for reciting

Practice so as to give my best at the Lamesa Forrest Fest

Book a taxi to the airport on departure day last thing I want is a delay

Or just relax and for a while find I’m back in Texas in my mind.

 

23.01.12 (Written knowing things were to come)

8) Yes I had already booked my flight, thinking the time was right.

For April I’d read, was what they had said

Only to find they’d changed their mind

As I remember they changed the AIPF to September

It wasn’t at all funny, but it wouldn’t be a waste of money

Cos’ Austin to my delight boasts an open mic every night

And they also abound in the area around.

Plenty to say, be it night or day

And say some more the perfect end to my tour.

My tour was I thought sorted, I wouldn’t be thwarted.

But even I couldn’t aspire to what would transpire

As an e mail was sent, to me with news of another event

Of poetic glory but that’s another story

 

24.01.12 (Marc in this poem is Marc Carver from England last year he won the award for best overseas poet at Lamesa)

9) As if out of the dark came an e mail from Marc

Like dashing out of the alley news of poetry in the San Fernando Valley

Not the San Fernando in a refrain about a last train

That was the one they had, in Tobago and Trinidad

So without doubt let’s find out what it’s all about

A visit to the site and to my delight

I could have a ball. Poetry wall to wall

A slam for adults a slam for the young, reading poems we’d all brung

Be in an anthology but watch for cacology

Poetry to order on the other side of the border

To go to Mexico a chance see if the hat really does dance

I looked and found more readings around

Out and about with out doubt

Open to the public for free this was the event for me

So inspired I enquired.

They sent me a form as was the norm

Filled in and sent but back it came

A few things I forgot to proclaim

Not to be thwarted it was soon sorted

And as I wished registration accomplished

South of Texas down Mexico way,

All I need now is somewhere to stay.

 

26.01.12 (All change again, I'd booked the remaining 10 days in Austin and now had to change to accomodate the Valley Fest)

10) I’d booked once and it seemed right but I needed to change a night

I needed a clue as to what to do

So a request was sent to customer support it went

The reply came back making it plain, cancel and book again

An easy task to do as they ask

It was sorted or so I thought, then news of a festival I caught

To which I’d be bound after changing things round

Would there be gloom as I once more cancelled my room

Would I find they’d say “make up your mind”.

But they can still be cock–a-hoop

Cos’ I’ve booked a motel in the same group

 

03.03.12 (Sat Nav sorted)

11) Round Texas I would be bound I’d need help to get around

The correct equipment I would have and so hired a sat nav

The same firm as last year and travel with out fear

And so there was no distress this time put the correct address

And again checked so my plans weren’t wrecked

By it coming late so now it’s a matter of sit and wait

For the paper work to come forthwith  for the car to use it with

 

07.03.12 (Hire car sorted)

12) The e mail said click to confirm on your voucher from the car hire firm

That your details are correct it need to be checked

Plus advice to be heeded, what else was needed.

All in a list so it wouldn’t be missed

To my delight everything was right

In the middle of the note a reference number to quote

Now print it off and another trick in case of loss save to memory stick

And just if all else decides to fail, post them to myself and pick up on my e mail.

 

19.03.12 (Coming together a brief summary)

13) It’s no jape my tour now taking shape

Accommodation sorted I’ll not be thwarted

Motels, hotels beginning and end

In between a short stay with a friend

Places to visit on my itinerarty list,

Don’t think there’s anything I’ve missed

Documents printed there’s quite a range,

Some still waiting in case there’s a change

Sat nav’ll be here two weeks today, two weeks tomorrow I’ll be away

The way I feel I can hardly wait, once more to be in the lone star state.

 

14) Austin is the start of my tour of poetry art

Then to Texas City I’ll run, stopping the night at Galveston

Corpus Christi and Harlingen making the most as I travel down the coast

Laredo, Del Rio, Alpine and El Paso

Done in that order along the Mexican border

Then this travelling lad will have two nights at Carlsbad

Then to Lamesa to give my best with others at the Forrest Fest

Back to Austin for a short break before the road to McAllen I take

Open mics slams and more another highlight of my poetry tour

Then back to Austin the end of my roan

Chill out and reminisce before the flight back home