Image: As with all my radio programmes involving poets they are promoted in Facebook events with the logo of 5 Towns Radio and who the guest is. This year I recorded the 5 shows I would be away for and decided to use the logo with an image of Texas to depict where I was at the time of the show.

 

14.08.17 - 1) I thought the time was right to book next year’s flight

Before the prices got higher for this poetic flyer

Not funny when you’ve to pay a bit more money

So like as not strike while the iron’s hot, see what bargains can be got

Plan hatched quote matched, decision made, price paid

So now is the time to start Tour 2018’s journal in rhyme

 

The following was a message sent to my fellow poets in America letting them know my flight was booked.

2)Flight booked, see you in April once again

When I come over on the plane

Hoping for decent weather

And my suitcase and me arrive together

For poetry and more on my 2018 Poetry Tour

 

19.08.17 - 3) Time to think about booking somewhere to stay,

Next year in the USA

Tried a motel group I’d used before but it didn’t seem right

20 dollars more for a Friday and Saturday Night

Not even a breakfast thrown in that was a sin

And like as such even with over 60’s discount it was still too much

So a search begun for another deal, a better one

On the screen the deals were seen

Tick the boxes for what you need, breakfast included or excluded

Move the sliders to say, how much I want to pay.

No cancellation fee, morning coffee free

As a rule I’m not bothered about a swimming pool

So the best deals were found for when I’m Texas bound

They were filtered through to find one that would do

So I looked, one was found and booked, I feel I’ve got a good deal,

 

29.08.17 - 4) Car sorted nothing to fear

I thought using the same company as I used last year

Dates submitted, accepted, confirmed then things got hard

The system wouldn’t accept my debit card, try and try again all in vain

Online help I thought would save the day,

Still the system didn’t want to play

So it was sorted on the telephone, dates, time all very nice

And I got a better price

 

22.11.17- 5) I heard from Thom, Expressions was to be no more

Closing at the end of the year

Thom was saying from next year they would have to be paying

For what the Ba Hai Centre offers but no cash in the coffers

So no more opening night at the end of my flight

As I begin my poetry roam with Thom saying “Trev, welcome home”.

 

29.11.17 – 6) A phone call said it all

At the end of my roam a change to the flights home

I wouldn’t be going via Chicago but like last year straight to Heathrow

Flight through the night arrive in the morning at 10 and then

A few hours later I would be touching down in Manchester at Terminal 3

Later than planned, I would find but didn’t mind

Finding out I didn’t have to be, at Austin airport till after three

So no need to rush but take my time and as another tour ends

A chance to say a proper goodbye to all my poetry friends

 

16.01.18 - 7) Christmas came with all the hype and the gripe

Then it was spent towards the New Year we went

Soon that was past and into 2018 at last

Two weeks and it’s all done and we wondering if there’s anything to fear

Go forward in a so called brave new year.

Two and a half months and once more I’ll be away

Across the pond to Texas USA

Once more another poetry tour

Once more online make sure the travelling goes fine

Sat Nav ordered should arrive 5 days before I go

Now it’s a matter of wait with baited breath for departure date

 

10.02.18 - 8) There came news I didn’t want to here

There’d be no Forrest Fest this year

I really felt blue, my tour down from 3festivals to two

Too much for one person to do no offers of help at hand

Move it to Big Spring was a thought but not enough support

Things looked bad I felt so sad

No more making my way at break of day up the183 to the 29 then

West I run before the rising of the sun, an’ I’m on Highway 71

Brady then Highway 87 drivin’ with care,

San Angelo an’ I’m over halfway there

No more to take a lunch break

At Big Spring then fuel up and it’s the last push no need to rush

No more seeing the soil so richly brown as I drive into Lamesa Town

At the end of the days roam and the feeling that’s like I’m coming home

Yes my tour could be really poor, knowing that it could be Lamesa no more

 

15.02.18 - 9) In my favourite West Texas town,

It seemed nothing was going down

Then an e mail came it seemed someone had dropped my name

A man in the know it was said, as I read

Would I like to be part of an event dedicated to vocal art?

Using my knowledge of the past things sure would be a blast

A chance to prove my worth at a festival dedicated to Mother Earth

An idea took seed they had everything they’d need

For Poetry slam, music jam, workshops too,

When they sent the plan to Castleford’s poetry man

What I would find would blow my mind

The emergence of poetry convergence

An’ I could do the poetry venue

They said I would have a bed an’ I would be fed

How did that feel I said throw in a shower an’ you got a deal

Now things is back on track

Get ready Lamesa, the Road Poets comin’ back

 

23.02.18 - 10) Will they cheer with delight

When I tell them it’s my last night

Or will they feel sore thinking no more to hear my latest poetry score

Or will they smile when I say it’s only for a while

An’ say I’ll be back in May

An’ hopefully regale another poetry tale

And more from the Road Poet on tour

He’ll be found, round Texas bound

Taking the time to record it in rhyme

Always welcome in Texas but will they ever get the hang

Of poetry with a Yorkshire twang

So I won’t be here next month but

While I’m away I hope Bill never again finds the chip shop shut

Bill: Is Bill Fitzsimons, (Poetry Worlds Mr Chips) usually nips out for a tray of chips at the break, this time the chip shop shut early so he came back empty handed. It fitted nicely to the end of the poem

 

03.03.18 - 11) They’d forecast an icy blast called the Beast from the East

It would blow and bring snow,

Yeah they thought the newspaper pages had been saying it for ages  

But it came blowing day and night, no respite

Driving snow relentlessly so

Shifting, drifting, Power lines down

No trains, busses static transport erratic

Traffic stuck for most of the day on a transpennine motor way

As the beast unfurled the UK became like the third world

Then the thaw and things got worse as water pipes burst

The people were without just like a summer drought

Now it’s sorted, water and power restored the roads clear

And my 2018 tour drawing ever near.

 

19.03.18 – 12) It seemed winter wanted another go,

Soon another blanket of snow

Temperature dropped, almost everything stopped

Rock salt and shovel stowed before we hit the road

Drive with care make sure I get there

Snow still fell made things a slippery hell

Steadily homeward bound got there safe and sound

Then a thaw and snow no more melted away

Soon it will be springs first day

 

20.03.18 – 13) An e mail came to tell

Plans for Lamesa’s Earth Fest were going well

Things look very intense, three days of events

Something for one, something for all

Right from the start from poetry and song to earth art

I’m even hosting an open mic show on Local KPET Radio

So there’s something for one, something for all.

Sure is gonna be a ball

 

21.03.18 – 14) I’m on the bus at Leeds I’ll alight

The to Briggate where I’ll recite

As my work I bring on the first day of spring

Plenty to say, it’s World poetry day

Taking the time to recite in prose or rhyme

Soon we were knowing it was a cold wind blowing

But we carried on an spoke cos’ we were Yorkshire folk

After 90 minutes we were done, still cold but we sure had fun

 

21.03.18 – 15)

The week before the week before my flight,

I went to Harrogate to a poetry night

Saying I’d been given advise by another bloke

About writing a poem and turned it into a joke

Adding he said get it all on paper, what’s in your brain

Everything don’t be vain

Take out all what’s not needed, his advice was heeded so I said

As the audience waited for the poem to be read

And it brought forth laughter and applause not rage

As I showed them all an empty page

 

30.03.18-16) Done my last open mics, and last radio show before I go

Hard to believe it’s departure eve

Tomorrow come sun or rain I’ll begin another tour again

Same friends as before a new venue and more

Another tour of voluntary work and sharing my rhyme

I just hope my suitcase and me arrive together this time