Mike McLean POETRY

COLLECTED POEMS

By Mike McLean

"tribute to a dying man's wife"

I saw a tall man locked in sorrow
His end a near tomorrow
Large eyes, weak stance
His skin chessboard of ill complaint
By his side, there for him,
His bride until the end

Loving him and spending time
Making his last the best
"I love you so"
"And when you go"
"We had the utmost beauty"

She stands by him
A second honeymoon
Another journey to celebrate
Although it involves their parting
A romance with an end

Good god how moving
To see them slow dance floor grooving
Or simply sitting thigh to thigh
Watching waves glide by

"i"

You may never know

That ‘I" feel for you

And "I" never know if

You for "I" as well;

But "I" want you to know

So that at least some

Of this torment built

Up inside of "I" is let

Out so that at least

Even though you don’t know

Who "I" am you do know

How "I" feel

There are days

There are days
When all seems empty and pointless,
Hopeless and impossible;
Knowing what is possible
But not sure how it will become

And there are days
When the power is in you
And you move with a calm intensity
That lifts you higher
Than those in the streets around you
And on these days
You are happy and hopeful,
Confident mood wise
(For confidence is always present)
And the world is at your feet
Even the grey looks OK.

"When rain comes"

As rain coming down
I’d push you to warmth
Prompt you to seek company
And induce deeper thoughts

As water freshly fallen
I’d be-jewel your surroundings
And watch you wonder
If giant snails had passed

As a world re-awakening
I’d leave you in youth
Refreshed, full of vigour
And fall again once you’d aged

"little star"

Gentle star, Gentle star

Upon winds blown so far
Gently down here to me
Right down upon my waiting knee

You’ve come here to lie
Were you lonely up on high?

You’re the cutest tinkly thing
Speak of joy you wayward thing

Beautiful Beautiful weeping sighs
Ocean smoulder in your eyes

I will smooth your glittering hair
Before you climb upon the stair

I’II look away and softly mourn
As you go and are gone

Back to jewelly tarmac night
Glittering up on high in my sight

"The swing"

"moody"

I GUESS YOU COULD SAY
MY MOOD WAS TIRED THAT DAY
AND LUCKILY
GREY CLOUDS FILLED THE SKY
SO DON’T QUESTION Y
OUT THE DOOR I DISAPPEARED
TO LET GLUMNESS ON MY FACE PLAY

NO SOCKS IN MY SHOES
JUST TOES SWISHING PUDDLES
LEG HAIRS MARKING THEIR WAY
SO OFF WITH MY SHIRT
LET OLD NIPPLES DISPLAY
ATTENTION TO COOL SENSATION
AND SALUTE
MOODY BLUE SAD DAY.

XXX

"Love's Journey"

My heart sat with me
and together we would gaze
out across your glitter and wonder
what lay beyond and below
your rippling entrancing mystery

as do the clouds that pause
and hover there
as though to drink their fill
of something greatly intriguing

my head full of noble deeds
I set out
on a raft laden with gifts of homage
to find the centre of your sea

for many days till the last
birds that see me off
dare to go no further
and no shore I see
just you and me

I look upon your depths
and throw out my fruits
and offer flowers to you
inner candles burn
and deeper words are spoken
till all fails me
and I am indside out

and then you rise up against me
thunder and waves that no rose can pacify
masts jousting madly with the sky
where are the deeper depths that caress?
your jewels that I longed for?
that drew me here
that rippling beauty

yet still running waves beat me
and although
your taunts skim the surface of my sea
they all sink to lie heavy below in time
parasites on my mind
corrupting my soul
and I am an ant
delirious and terrified
in a sea of raging honey
till you spit me on barren shores
where I sit amongst the scattered ruins of my raft
left to blame myself 4 your cruelty
as butterflies fluttering by
pause to dry my cheeks wingwise
and the sun rushes to hide the day
and its softer twin rises to watch over me

and so....
the sea will smother one's lovestruck raft
as uninterested woman will crush the hopeful breast

"The Waiter"
....

I’VE SORE KNEES
A BAD BACK
AND A CHIP ON MY SHOULDER

A POET AT HEART
PAINTER BY TRADE
WAITER BY CIRCUMSTANCE

I’VE MANY ASPIRATIONS
DREAMS AND PHILOSOPHIES
BUT MANY OBSTACLES
SO MANY HURDLES

I,VE HAD TO THINK
THINK ABOUT FAILURE
I BREATHE EMOTION
RIDE ON A ROLLERCOASTER

I UNDERSTAND HUMANITY
KNOW ABOUT BEING A HUMAN
WELL KNIT SUITS OF SUCCESS
KNOW NOT OF SUCH THINGS
(LOFTY PERCHES IN THE SKY)

I AM A GIFTED KING
IN TOUCH WITH THE GUTTER

I’VE SORE KNEES
A BAD BACK
AND A CHIP ON MY SHOULDER

A POET AT HEART
PAINTER BY TRADE
WAITER BY CIRCUMSTANCE

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Yesterday

Yesterday,

A younger man looked away

Now my vision will not sway

Yesterday,

Foolish pride turned love away

Now I’m humbled, here to stay

Yesterday,

I could not hear you say

Now I’ll listen without delay

Yesterday,

You were solid and true to me
Now I’ll soldier home to thee

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