[Karen W.]

Very nice Neil!

[Karen W.]

Curse the demon who burns and cuts! What have i done to deserve the never ending eternity of pain and blindness?!

Ben These are very good..words I like your usage!

[Andrew K Fletcher]

THE THIRD OF FOUR

Sun being mellow
Had lost it’s heat
People felt cold
And stamped their feet
Ground white over
Flaked with frost
Seasons  change
Much to our cost

Trees laid bare
Without a leaf
On the ground
All had come to grief
Crinkly brown tinted with gold
Crunched underfoot by young and old
Spider webs seem out of place
Thick  with dew hang into space

Plant life which we tend to keep
Gently fade away
In need of sleep
Wet dull mornings car wont start
Battery flat fair brakes your heart
Daffodils crocus within their cycle grow
In bitter weather still
Their vivid colour  show


Little snowdrops with bells pure white
Proudly stand throughout savage winters bite
Migrating birds long since  gone
To a climate where
The sun shines on
As flu abounds
Or a runny cold
Signals another years end
Towards making us old

AUTHOR KEN FLETCHER
BLACK COUNTY POET

A poem or two from my Late Father

[Andrew K Fletcher]

There Is Always One

As you make your way through life
A sinner or a saint
I think the biggest crime of all
Is pretending to be
Something that you ain’t
You can talk about things you know
They say they know more
That’s when people catch them out
And know they are just a bore
If more people enjoyed life
And lived it to the full
Their mates would know
They told the truth
And not a load of bull

Author: Ken Fletcher
Black Country Peot

[Andrew K Fletcher]

TIME

Time we chase
Across an endless sky
As no wings
Yet seems to fly
Seconds rush swiftly
Like a flowing spring

Like a flash of lightning
Our life does pass
Which we tend to treasure and preserve
Throughout life’s everyday dash
From dawn till dusk
We try to cope
But ever passing of time
Gives us little scope

On and on like the sea years flow
And just like a cork
We get tossed to and fro
Everyone’s life around time revolve
A mystery which no one
Seems to ever solve

AUTHOR KEN FLETCHER

BLACK COUNTY POET

[Andrew K Fletcher]

LEST WE FORGET

The weather bleak
Home far away
Trenches filling with comrades
Before light of day
Brow cold from dripping sweat
Tired body shaking from battles roar
As a  front line soldier had
Seen it all before

Thoughts dwell to a far off land
Way out of reach
To that nice little cottage
By a sandy beach
Some day this bitter war will cease
And my chances of
Survival increase

Time running  out
Will soon be gone
With the rest of the lads
To a dreaded front line
Where battle rages on
Over the top lads
Came that commanding cry
All as one
They charge on by

Light seemed to end
Time had stood still
As another unsung hero
Fell never more to rise
At the foot of
His last hill

AUTHOR KEN FLETCHER

BLACK COUNTRY POET

[Andrew K Fletcher]

A Sight To Behold


In a blaze of colour
Bursts forth an early spring
A multitude of plant life comes alive
And birds begin to sing
In the distance a lark calls from the sky
Bringing a peaceful feeling to all passing by

Summer clouds flow across the milky way
Wildlife of every breed
Flit along by light of day
My eager footsteps
Take me across fields so green
As my thoughts dwell on each breathtaking scene

A light wind softly caresses blossom filled trees
Surrounded by a swarm
Of hardworking bees
Year after year
Still have that same feeling
As I witness natures beauty
Get more revealing

Think’s if only the whole world could see
Such a beautiful show
That’s standing here in front of me
Not one or even two
But a hill covered
With a sea of blue

A host of bluebells
Stand out so proud
Impressive to each one
Of an ever increasing crowd
Another wonder of our world
A majestic sight that lies unfurled

[Andrew K Fletcher]

HELP PRESERVE OUR HEDGE ROW

Miles of hedge row snake out
Across the land
Some manmade others nature planned
Each have a part to play
Helping wildlife survive
Throughout their stay
Birds can shelter among
Their branches high
And watch for marauders
That circle the sky

They divide the land
Section by section
While traveling along you can
View them in any direction
Farmers till the soil
And plant their crop
Some of which turn up
In your local shop
On a summers day
It’s a sight to be seen
As your eyes take in each
Refreshing scene

Rivers and streams wind lazily
Over the country side
Some straight and narrow
Others deep and wide
Livestock graze as they wander around
Anglers fish silently trying hard
Not to make a sound
As you roam over our pleasant land
You can only hope mankind
Will try to leave it
As nature planned
AUTHOR KEN FLETCHER

BLACK COUNTRY POET

[Karen W.]

Wow Andrew Those are wonderful... It sounds like your dad loved to write and well he did!
Thanks so much for bringing verse back into the thread!

[neilep]

Wow Andrew Those are wonderful... It sounds like your dad loved to write and well he did!
Thanks so much for bringing verse back into the thread!

erhmmm !!! *cough cough*



I agree, Andrew, thank you for sharing these wonderful poems that your dear father wrote.It's clear he had a passion for such wonderful verse and is such a wonderful celebration of prose that he leaves for you to share with us.

Though, I have to take issue with karens statements as I of course have been bringing verse of ' quality' back to the thread too !!

[Andrew K Fletcher]

FIFTY YEARS ON

Once again that dreaded sound
Fills the air
Sending people scurrying
Into shelters every where
Overhead enemy bombers
Have that deadly drone
Bringing fear and dread
To anyone being alone

Wave after wave
Seek their destination
As into the air
Go our salvation
Spitfires hurricanes
To name but a few
Backed up by gunners
Firemen police and medics too

While battle after battle
Is taking place
The way our lads and lasses fought
Was no disgrace
Wardens patrolled each street
At night
Making sure no one
A chink of light

In the face of bombs
Or a raging fire
Praise or bravery
Will come no higher
With a powerful barrage
And their job done
They watched in relief
At the departing hun

AUTHOR KEN FLETCHER

BLACK COUNTRY POET

[Andrew K Fletcher]

Glad you like Dad's Poems he has many more.

GETTING AWAY FROM IT ALL

Down velvet mountains
Flows a crystal spring
Gently ripples and to
Listening ears softly sing
Ever winding seems no end
As it twists and turns
With  every bend

Sun brightly shines
From a clear blue sky
Adding warmth and cheerfulness
To all passing by
Wild birds sing
Rabbits run and play
Brightening up a glorious day

From fresh cut meadows wafts
The smell of new mown hay
Making a joyous relaxation
Throughout your stay
A refreshing feeling
Stems from a gentle breeze
As it softy caresses nature’s trees

In the country
People love to ramble
Down sandy banks
They slip and scramble
On and on mile after mile
As they clamber over countless style
Into a wilderness
Where insects bite and sting
Those eager ramblers follow the trail
Of that elusive spring

AUTHOR KEN FLETCHER

BLACK COUNTRY POET

[neilep]

WONDERFUL ANDREW,

Truly !!.....I presume he is unpublished yes ?.....shame !!

[Karen W.]

Wow Andrew Those are wonderful... It sounds like your dad loved to write and well he did!
Thanks so much for bringing verse back into the thread!

erhmmm !!! *cough cough*



I agree, Andrew, thank you for sharing these wonderful poems that your dear father wrote.It's clear he had a passion for such wonderful verse and is such a wonderful celebration of prose that he leaves for you to share with us.

Though, I have to take issue with karens statements as I of course have been bringing verse of ' quality' back to the thread too !!

Yes Andrew These are wonderful. It is great of you to share them with us here.

And Neils right he has been trying to add color to the thread again as only he can do!!!! LOL   Exception Noted Kind Sir! The Quality you add is sorely missed and greatly loved by us all! LOL!

[Andrew K Fletcher]

I made a promise to Dad shortly before he died. That promise was to publish his work. For the first time in my life, I saw a tear in his eyes.

I have not yet fulfilled that promise to dad. One night while laying semi awake in bed, I heard dad's unmistakeable voice. He said I'm not talking to you Andrew. I was absolutely stunned to hear him and have searched for a logical explanation. I have no idea why I am telling you this, I think I just need to offload some of the burden his death has delivered to me.

I found a tape after clearing his house, it was a tape of his poems being read out on radio programmes. One however was read by Dad, I have not played it since.

The drug metformin killed Dad, I have done much homework on this drug. Metformin is given to people with type 2 diabetes. I begged Dad to throw the medication away, pleading with him to change his diet instead.

While Dad was dying in hospital with cancer of the pancreas, liver, and gall bladder, I turned to ask the doctor who had been doing diabetes tests on Dad and in front of my brother, his wife, my wife and myself, asked the Doctor a direct question.

That question was; Does my dad have type 2 diabetes? The reluctant answer came back No your father does not have type 2 diabetes.. Next question was; Has he ever had type 2 diabetes? Answer again was No.

Next question was. Why on earth has my father been prescribed a drug that is known to alter the cells in the liver and pancreas, (confirmed by a specialist in the U.S.A.).

Answer; Your father was given this drug just in case he developed type 2 diabetes?

Dad died of a very painful cancer which spread to many areas of his body. He died without taking so much as a single paracetamol! Such was his distrust in the medical profession. Dad lived with horrendous leg ulcers and his legs were like raw meat. He still managed to climb his ladder to clean windows right until retirement. I helped dad to heal his ulcers and dramatically reduce swelling and bulging veins when his bed was tilted  back in 1996 if memory serves me correct. Occasionally his legs would break down, but recovered again in a few weeks. I suspect during the last months of his life he contracted MRSA in Russell’s Hall Hospital and my last memory of him was horrific.

WONDERFUL ANDREW,

Truly !!.....I presume he is unpublished yes ?.....shame !!

[Carolyn]

Andrew, please see PM.

[Karen W.]

ANdrew I am sorry you are hurting I do understand. I am so glad you have shared these things with us here. I am amazed by your diligence in trying to keep your father healthy and the degree in which you went to learn more to try to help him and others. I am sure that your efforts will not go with out regard as well as your fathers courage to continue on in the face of the pain he must surely have endured during his sicknesses. It is alway shocking to here the stories such as yours and I am privileged to have been able to read it. Thank you Andrew ..

 I also will listen and discuss with my doctor the bed therapy after surgery on Wednesday.. It may be a while.. but if we have moved in a timely manner I am hoping to heal and be able to give your bed incline a shot!

Your fathers writing is wonderful and full of life.. Thank you for sharing with us.

[Nobody's Confidant]

Yes! Sucess! I am cleansed from my pain! The procedure of this merciful act remains unknown, but i am free to see!

[Karen W.]

Ben these are teriffic lines so mature and very good!

[Nobody's Confidant]

Thanks i thought they were rad, dude.

Hahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa just kidding.