Portchester Castle

These sunkissed stones drenched in the past
the vast weight of centuries within this space
The hardened flint, the distant masts
the rippling water, the parchmarked lawns
This open ground within these walls
holding memories of two thousand years
The tiled Roman patterns, the hard Norman Keep
the Church still used after all this time
The laughing children, a family day out
the people of tomorrow greeting those of yesterday
The everyday world beside the wonders of the ages gone
a memorial kept to educate the world to come
In stillness I can hear the tread
of those that passed this way before
Emperors, kings, prisoners, rich and poor
their footsteps fade and I am alone once more

A share of the blame

A good meal and all fire is quelled
no room for ire when the belly is full
no agitation or revolutionary angst
just the bliss of being fed well
But what of those who do not dine
upon the feast we call our life
those shut out from our banquet
those who know only hunger and strife
Do I spare them a thought
as I fill my ample gut
can I deny a share of the blame
for those who die at my feet

Dinner at the Holiday Inn

The peaceful setting sun
the tinkling water's soothing fall
the dappled grass, green and yellow
the sunlight warm upon my face
The gentle hum of conversation
so different from the night before
music in the background bringing back memories
of a childhood and home now long gone
The conversation swells as more diners arrive
yet still a sense of calm I feel
writing these words as I wait
for my meal to come