The Weather

Don't we have some funny weather,

You don't know what it's going to do,

You listen to the weather men,

They haven't got a clue.

You put the washing on the line,

You think, well, it's nice and fine,

You just get back inside,

When the heavens open wide.

By the time you rush out and get the washing in,

The sun's popped out and it's fine again.

There are people all over the world,

Who live in deserts, hills and plains,

All they get is sun, sun, sun,

It never snows or rains.

So let's be thankful for our weather,

I know at times it's a pain,

I think I will pop out to the shops,

Oh no, it's started again.

H Bennett, Esh Winning

The Gift of Sight

As I looked up to see

The blossom on the tree,

And the stars at night,

How wonderful to have your sight.

To wake up everyday,

And see the children laugh and play,

To look at boats and ships at sea,

How I am glad that I can see.

RM Jeff, Richmond

Do As I Say - Not As I Do

An MP whose surname was Straw,

On all speeding drivers made war;

But when his own car,

Broke the limit by far,

He exempted himself from the law.

His crony, whose surname was Blair,

Demanded all parents take care,

That their offspring behaved,

But when his son "raved",

Cried, "It's just youth's high spirits - be fair".

William Nicholson, Shildon

Mortality

Value your life.

For it is some special journey.

Of thriving and learning,

about human mortality.

Have love for yourself,

for you are eternal.

Your emotions are tools.

which nurture your soul.

Have respect for your body,

it is a learning machine.

It is a mortal stepping stone,

to a greater spiritual being.

Develop personal philosophy,

for cogitation it is a key,

to life and its lessons,

and for future harmony.

Do not fear death,

after death comes reflection.

Distilling life's lessons,

In a communal spiritual plane.

Lucinda Brighton, Bishop Auckland

Recollections of a Holiday

I'm back from my holiday, had a wonderful time.

Feel much better for it, after weather sublime.

Ibiza is lovely and though we've been there before,

Still found places of interest to explore.

We went for a walk to a church on a hill

Everywhere seemed so quiet and so still.

What a beautiful view we had of the bay

And the little white houses we passed on our way.

The flowers are gorgeous and grow everywhere,

Even on stone walls the flowers are there.

When we got to the church, 1 opened the door,

(Which of course wasn't locked) and I looked round with awe.

There were beautiful statues of the kind I've not seen,

In a real velvet dress was Mary - serene.

Of the crucifixion of Christ, I noticed as well,

They portrayed blood from His knees, which was caused as He fell.

The church was quite old and around it I gazed,

To take in the wonderment, truly amazed.

What tales it could tell of poverty and strife,

And made me feel glad I've got Christ in my life.

Jean Allaway, Darlington

A Lament

Five lovely ladies lolling in the sun,

A joy to behold when my day's work is done.

Gowned in their crinolines, so pleasing to the eye,

Greatly admired by all passing by.

Five deep pink roses, gathered on one stem,

Grown to perfection, every one a gem.

Suddenly the postman, with his heavy sack,

Pushes past my ladies, giving them a hefty smack.

Pink petals spinning, all around,

Pink tears falling, gently to the ground.

Gone is their beauty that was there for all to see,

Gone is the pleasure, they had given me.

Olga Ramshaw, West Rainton

Paradise

As we stand still in lost thought

Time flows around us,

Showing memories of love and happiness

With dreams of paradise calling.

From the end of the rainbow

Rises love of sweet tenderness,

On a softly blowing breeze

Comforting saddened lonely hearts.

Keith Hall, Gilesgate, Durham

Take Five!

My friend Alain Garnier,

Is somewhat overweight.

At 5 ft 9, he creaks the scales

At 17 stone 8.

His wife Andrea nagged at him

To go get something done,

In his present condition

He just was not much fun.

So, he waddled to the surgery,

And looked up Doctor Brown;

And asked for some assistance

To get his weight back down.

Doctor Brown examined him

Heart, and lungs and all.

And said: "I'm really quite surprised

You made it here at all.

"Your heart is working far too hard,

Your lungs are full of tar;

And underneath your fat I can't find

Where your muscles are."

"You're extremely over-nourished,

And severely overweight;

If you're aiming at an early grave

You are doing really great."

"Cut out all the beer and fags,

Today's the day to start;

A little gentle exercise

Takes the pressure off your heart."

"You've GOT to get your weight down

If you want to stay alive;

So, miss out three big meals a day

And just make do with five!".

LP Brighton, Darlington

Small Town Gossip

Small town lives

Small town minds

Small town gossip

GOSSIP

GOSSIP

GOSSIP

Swap it

Shop it

Make it

The currency of their day

The currency of their night

At the butchers

At the post office

The Spar shop

The bus stop

In the street

In the pub

The club

The house

Make a mouse

Into a monster

Turn the innocent

INTO THE GUILTY.

The men gossip

And never realise

Gossip doth not maketh a man

The women gossip

And never realise

HOW EMPTY THEIR LIVES MUST BE

The adults

The parents

The mother and father

Never realise

They commit

The crime

The sin

Of teaching

Their children

Their son

Their daughter

HOW TO SLAUGHTER

Another human being

By gossip

Peter Green, Darlington