A place in the sun

Susan and Frank are on telly, looking for a home in the sun
fed up with their life in blighty, they look ready to up and run
they think about the relaxing lifestyle, the culture and the heat
the terraced garden and the swimming pool, that England just can’t beat

‘’our family can come over, any time that they want
and friends too, will be envious when they visit on a jaunt’’
the sun beats on the glistening sea, there’s miles of soft warm sand
they sit down with an orange juice, and decide to move to a hot new land

Frank and Susan are smiling wide, with a backdrop of luxurious splendour
I wish them well and hope it works, and they’re still happy in December

Being 60

Well, where did that time go?
When I was a kid, 60 was ancient, and that was only yesterday
If I ever thought about it, or so it feels to me today
Even in my 20’s when work beckoned, and I started out
in what I thought was the real world, 60 was so far in the future for me
And the people already there were old wrinklies
With their metaphoric white flags held out for all to see
So, I get into my 30’s realising too late that
Your 20’s should have been about having fun
I’ve got children giving me the run around
And boy, how could they run!
I’m trying to pay the bills that come quite quickly
And work hard every day, every hour
Yet still, being 60 doesn’t register, as I protect my ivory tower
Hitting 40 was a wake up, its allegedly when life begins, apace
Realising that enough is enough and thank God (and Jan) I’m rescued from my dark place
And I recognised that Lennon was right, the truth is
All you need is love (and a good pension) to start again on a happier pathway
And then oh my god, I’m 50 and that landmark drops into view
And I question am I old or middle aged, I wish I knew
But does it matter really? And more importantly who cares
My world is so much stronger and I’m growing some new hairs (ears and nose mainly)
In my early 50’s I decide it’s time to seize the day
But ‘early’ is just a misnomer anyway
Carpe diem stayed with me, and I never gave a thought
To turning 60 one day and the consequences that it brought
That was until last week when the day came into sight
And I admit to being bothered about stuff
And then I saw the light
Now, I’ve accepted that I’m 60 and I won’t go on for ever
And for now it’s just a number, an insignificance in my endeavour
To live and laugh amongst you all and today I say with heart
Thank you all for being a part of it
Now eat, drink, raise a glass to me, I’m officially a grand old fart

The Devil’s Kiss

I awoke deep into the nighttime darkness
The atmosphere was dank, yet warm
My eyes stared hard, trying to adjust
Dreading the presence, pleading that it do me no harm
As I began to catch what little light existed?
And I recognise familiar shapes.
A form appeared, a grotesque face
Its features, stretched, bitter and twisted.
It moved closer as an awful stench filled up the air
My body frozen in fear, I scream, but no sound is there.
The silence burnt my ears; my fright hurt my brain
The horrid form leaned closer still, and its shadow caused me pain
I could feel that death was close at hand
It can only be a few seconds more
The dirty foam met my mouth and kissed
And I scrambled for the bedroom floor
Flicking urgently for the light switch
The evil sceptre stopped and grinned
Then the horror hit me deep into my core
With the devil I’m now twinned.