Biting Comment

So the guy was hungry and had a little nibble!

It’s seldom been a friendly game so who are we to quibble?

I know it seems so childish and I wish that he’d grow up

But I’ve seen more dangerous things in this football cup.

Is it worse than tackles that seem designed to maim?

Or elbows that leave noses never quite the same?

Or head butts that could leave you fighting for your life?

Or kicks in tender places that could disappoint your wife?

I do not like to see a man just like a mongrel dog

But lets get some proportion in this media hyper-fog.

The man’s a football genius with one annoying habit!

Can players get injections in case he’s really rabid?

Parenting

I really, really hate it when I hear a parent shout

Haranguing little children, who’re naughty I’ve no doubt.

Whenever I was naughty as a little child

My mother always spoke to me in accents soft and mild.

Of course, this might be followed, by a spanking on my bum,

Delivered by the heavy hand of my loving Mum.

I always knew she loved me even though I erred

She never raised her voice to me so I was never scared.

I didn’t like my bottom smacked so I’d try to be good

Following instructions and hardly ever rude!

I tried with my own children to be strict but fair

But always meant to show them just how much I care.

I think I never shouted and they weren’t pushed or shoved.

I hope that I did nothing to make them feel unloved.

Times have changed for better and parents do not smack

But still the good ones, that I see, do not miss the lack.

They talk in quiet voices and lovingly correct

With just the sort of attitude, that children do respect.

Parenthood is based on love and mutual regard

But one thing I can guarantee. It’s really, really hard!

World Cup Dreams

While sitting in the sunshine there's beauty all around
With the birds conspiring to make a glorious sound.
The gentle breeze is fluttering the leaves and flowers in bloom
All a part of God's great plan to relieve us all of gloom!
With all of God's great goodness how can we be so sad
Even if our World Cup dreams turned out really bad?

Prayer

"More things are wrought by prayer
than this world dreams of"
Or so my favourite poet did proclaim.
How then do I not receive the answers
I ask for when I call upon His name?
I know my God arranges all things for us
And only gives us what He knows is best
But when I ask for other people's comfort
I trust that He will honour my request!

Religion

Why do all religions think they know it all

And think that gives them licence to do things that appal?

Each different branch of Islam will claim they have it right

And those they don’t agree with, they’re quite prepared to fight!

Christians in their history are bigoted as well

As one from Northern Ireland can very easily tell!

Look at the atrocities done in the name of God

Who preaches peace and harmony! Doesn’t that seem odd?

Look how we dealt with people who saw things differently

We butchered other Christians to stamp out heresy!

We slaughtered men and women when we went on a Crusade

I wonder what example our Christian forebears made?

I pray for all those people who are persecuted still

Be they Christians, Jews or Moslems. It is a bitter pill.

I am not religious and thank God that I am not

And yet I try to follow Christ and that should mean a lot!

I know what I believe in and I might share it too

But I will never, ever force it onto you!

The Sea

As I sit and watch the sea
So wild and strong and free
There's no place I'd rather be
As your power creeps over me

As it breaks upon the rocks
So unyielding to the shocks
Like some feisty bantam cocks
My stony heart unlocks

As it laps upon the shore
With the mighty oceans roar
I could not ask for more
Your peace fills me to the core

I hear the seagulls cry
As they circle in the sky
They are never shy
In their praise for God on high

On both fair and stormy days
As I watch the seas displays
I ponder on your ways
And my heart is filled with praise

I love a rebel

They told me that I couldn't go today to Normandy
For I am getting older and I can hardly see
Hitler couldn't stop me 70 years ago
So nuts to them I'm going and I told them so
They set up a hue and cry and tried to lock the gates
But here I am in Normandy together with my mates
Comrades all together we shared a yarn or two
All about the good old days and what we had to do
Death you cannot frighten me I'm much too old to care
I remember all my younger mates who we left lying there
So let's drink to the memories the horror and the fear
And glory in the mighty thing that we accomplished here
I'll go back to my care home and sleep another while
And when I think of Normandy I'll give a little smile

Is It Cricket?

Is it really cricket to play the game like that?

To come up and pretend to bowl is acting like a prat!

I’m sure that if he hadn’t stopped but simply carried on

The guy would not have left the crease until the ball had gone!

To sell the guy a dummy just to trick him out

Is certainly not the sort of thing that cricket is about!

I had the same thing done to me when I was just a lad

And ever since I’ve always thought the other boy a cad!

Mind you I reserved my scorn for the master who allowed

The boy to feel that he had done a thing to make him proud!

I have played cricket all my life and I still feel the same,

If you have to cheat to win, then do not play the game!

The cricket pros can have their say and quote the faulty rules

Do they think the public are nothing more than fools?

The bowlers aim was always clear - to trick the batsman out!

I still call that cheating and haven’t any doubt!

I will never stoop that low I’m very proud to say

I hope that it remains a game that I am proud to play!

NHS

We have a health service of which we should be proud 
But do we see its merits and praise them right out loud?
Oh no! We pick exceptions where something has gone wrong
And moan about it vehemently extremely loud and long.
Of course it is expensive and uses lots of cash
So let us cut its budget, who'd think that that was rash?
Better still we'll cut the cost of capital expense
And put it on their budget, they won't notice , they're too dense
The private firms make money by putting up their rent
How can that be a problem to any great extent?
As we squeeze their budget surely it's a scare
When some people tell us it will hit patient care?
Then we let our lawyers loose to prey upon the weak
And tell them they have every right to compensation seek.
This leads to a blame culture, but hey, it's rather neat!
Of course, the cost in damages goes on the balance sheet!
With all of this conspiring to make our medics fear
Is it any wonder we can't recruit this year?
Our doctors and our nurses leave and posts cannot be filled
But there's a boost in admin staff with which, I'm sure, we're thrilled !
Is it any wonder that those with private wealth
Choose to take their ailments to their own private health?
Maybe they are lawyers who sit in parliament?
Or funds could come from businesses who charge inflated rent?
Call me an old cynic but I really cannot see
How running down the NHS does much for you and me!
Let's celebrate the good things which far outweigh the bad
And recognise that politics is really rather sad!