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Pete's Poetry Corner

Southend Speakability Self-Help Group Member, Pete Clark, uses poetry as a way of expressing his emotions, especially when he has found something enjoyable.

If you have written a poem which you would like to share on Pete's Poetry Corner, send your poem to [email protected] or post to Speakability, 1 Royal Street, London, SE1 7LL.


Here, There and Everywhere (Too Many Marrows for One Club to Share)

Please take a marrow, we've got plenty to spare,
We had a great crop and now they are everywhere.

We've got great big huge ones and baby courgettes,
Grown on our allotment under the safety of nets.

Oh please take these marrows away from me,
Take one home - you can try taxidermy.

You can stuff it with onions and all kinds of meat,
When you have finished you've got a nice tasty treat.

I've also heard they can make quite good pets,
Easy to look after and no trip to the vets.

As I try to sleep, they invade my dreams,
Trying to haunt me, or so it seems.

So PLEASE, for the sake of my own sanity,
Won't somebody take these marrows from me?

By Pete Clark, Southend Speakability Group

Jubilee Jubilanty

Red white and blue are the colours on view
Our gracious Queen Elizabeth the Second is worthy of this hue,
Her sixty years of glorious and faultless leadership we give her due
Through times of austerity and plenty we passed through not a few.

This June we join crowds cheering Hip, Hip, Hurray
On our happy and most auspicious very special day,
She has surely shown the perfect and right way
What enemies we may have had has been surely kept at bay.

The flags will come out and the bunting as well
We will all have a good time our offsprings later to tell,
Playing the Royalty Card never fails to ring the bell
All colours and backgrounds never ceasing to yell.

As the crowd gather hailing from Lands End to John O Groats
We shall yell God Save The Queen with a lump in our throats,
If she was up for election she could count on my vote
But alas as I am a commoner and no one of note.

She has reigned over us through bad times and good
Though people regard me as a stick in the mud,
I'd like to do something special if only I could
But in her Majesty I see nothing but good.

As the years speed past we look back into history
And the part played by Elizabeth 1st. Victoria shrouded in mystery,
But my God and her's has shaped our destiny
Having ruled country and commonwealth well down to her excellence.

The years have sped past and it's destined to last
The dye has been cast and our colours fly proudly from the mast,
We show our appreciation to our monarch, our devotion is vast
Shouting in harmony God Save The Queen and stand back aghast.

By John V. Waby, Lincoln Speakability Group


Time To Talk

Thank you all for giving me help and for giving me hope
Together, with fun and laughter, we are learning to cope

When you talk to me, there is no need for you to shout
Just give me enough time and I'll get my words out
Give me time - that's what you should do
Beware - for tomorrow it could happen to you

By Pete Clark, Southend Speakability Group

Growing Pains

I'm purple wheelchair Pete, I'm on parsnip patrol
Something has gone very wrong they've grown out of control
I planted the seeds with lots of love, attention and care
I even got out of my purple wheelchair
The garlic I planted hardly grew at all
You'd be better off going to the market stall.

Hey hoe
What can you grow
Down at the allotment today?

Once I had a raspberry cane
But it will never be the same
Since I pruned it very hard
As instructed on the card
Now it stands there as lifeless as a brick
A sad and lonely, dried up bit of stick.

Hey hoe
What can you grow
Down at the allotment today?

Somewhere under a raincloud, many crops grow just fine
Why, then oh why don't mine?

By Pete Clark, Southend Speakability Group

Saturday Night Fever….(Oh What A Night!)

On Saturday the 22nd of May
We went to Hyde Hall Gardens for the day
We were there for about five hours
Listening to the birds and looking at the flowers
At lunchtime I was really pleased to be able
To walk from the car to the picnic table

And then back home and on to the music night
We had no idea it would be such a delight

The performers had so much talent – from the old to the young
Covering all types of music with something for everyone
From the wailing guitars of Freebird to the spellbinding Cry Me A River – it was really great
Definitely worth staying up past my bedtime and getting home so late

I want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone at Southend HDA
For a wonderful evening to end a lovely day.

By Pete Clark, Southend Speakability Group


Speakability

We go to a meeting called 'Speakability'
It is open to those who suffer from Aphasia,
Problems with speech, members improve our ability
Our carers accompany, it's as good as fantasia.

Free to join to improve our impediments
A wide and comprehensive programme of events we indulge in,
Most are victims of stroke and the aftermath so we experiment
We trust that eventually we are going to win.

Some have lived long and useful lives
Our memories are full of better things gone by,
Wives and husbands, husbands and wives
To be speech perfect is our ambition, we all will try.

Encouraged by our umbrella organisation whose staff are kind
They ring us up, send emails and write,
Convincing us from time to time we are not on our own
We know that they are aware of our plight.

So I say three cheers for those at head office
Where would we be without their concern and encouragement?
I'll tell you where, for I am just a novice,
We'd all be up the creek without a paddle and totally discouraged.

By John V. Waby, Lincoln Speakability Group


Poets Progress

The snow has gone the frost has too
It's two thousand and eleven; Spring's on its way there's a lot to do,
Spring-cleaning is upon us we will have a go
The spirit is willing, the body not so.

So off to the decorators it will cost us a packet
Returning heavily laden O what a racquet,
We follow the instructions on the back of the jacket
The smells and the effort we can just about hackit.

The garden is crying out for a bit of a tidy
And hibernating creatures emerge from being hidy,
With lengthening days I can vacate the study
Always plenty to do but I'll get my boots muddy.

The birds are returning they are looking for food
Tomcats on the prowl he's up to no good,
We must humour him just look where he's stood
As he sharpens his claws on a piece of wood.

Weeks come and go and so do the seasons
It's part of a plan and I know the reasons,
God is in his heaven and He is on the beacons
If I play my cards right I might become a deacon.

By John V. Waby, Lincoln Speakability Group


For Better or For Worse (The Royal Wedding)

Wedding bells peal out for William and Kate
Must get going don't wont to be late,
There'll be crowds of people it's an occasion of state
The combination of events since that first date.

The sun will shine best clothes will be worn
Subjects looking forward to this day to dawn,
God bless them all on this happy morn
I will redeem my best finery by getting it out of pawn.

We shall all be awarded the day off to celebrate the occasion
For once we'll forget about the horrible inflation,
Come up for air and forget the degredation
For once we shall be free to celebrate with the rest of the nation.

Many before have shown by example
It's all give and take rather than a bit of a gamble,
With hearts intertwined it is a situation you can handle
Flame of love is ignited do not blow out the candle.

There will be good times and bad times all manner of things
The congregation will gather and everyone sings,
So here's to the future whatever that brings.
Who knows, eventually William may join the ranks of kings.

By John V. Waby, Lincoln Speakability Group

Stroke

A stroke is not nice, not nice for all! Did you know it happens to anybody, any ages, any time and anywhere.
Yes I do know I am a Stroke surviour. Very lucky indeed.
Did you know (1) Heart Failure (2) Cancer (3) Stroke
Stroke is the biggest killer in the world. Very lucky indeed to have families and friends.
At a friend's BBQ when its happens, its feels horrible. First my legs buckles, sickness comes later. A huge headache and whirring in my right ear.
In the hospital (for two months) Yes I have stared at brickwall at Queen's (Romford) East London.
Four walls at Miles End (London) A black & white TV doen't help especially World Cup!
At First I kept saying "Why me!""Why did it happens to me!"
The Doctors didn't explain to me or don't know why.
I have accepted a long time ago.

Have lost the love of my life. Its not easy to move on but have to.
When it happens I didn't know, my girlfriend at the time weren't sure. I can't remember but only bits. I remember I was crawling to the toilet as was about to vomit. My head was pounding.
Remembered being carried out by ambulance.
Remembered at hospital with girlfriend's sister and her husband. The whirring in my right ear made me vomit.
Two days later. Was told by (husband) I had a Major Stroke.
It's didn't hit me at first but later at hospital. It's did and was overwhelmed. Have accepted it.
I try and explain ( I blooming can't) Its not nice and hate it when people who misjudge, assume or think.
No one should judge, think or assumes for themselves.
No one a winner or loser. Nobody perfect!
For a very long time people should accept it. All I can say it's their problem not mine. Money is overpowering to all.
The trouble with me I don't take sides. The blame is me. No one else.
All I'm doing is always be truthful and honest. The past is the past. Some stick, some don't.
The communications behind my back is the problem and its seems I'm the last person to know.
I'm okay but there is no rush. It's very hard to deal with it and for all. I can do things, will let you know if any problems.
Some people don't realise and take it for granted.

Have been told the 1st two days of this stroke was critical. Very upsetting for all. There was a big swelling in my skull.
Thank God I'm here and not six foot under.

It's hard to explain. How's many times I've said it. Please all understand I'm not the same Danny as before. It'll take time.

Now have Balance problems,
Dysarthria (communications problems),
Weak left arm and weak right leg (yep I'm weird!)

I have words in my head. When I speak I try very hard of what to say. Its very hard when interrupted because I lose concentration very quickly of what to say. Very frustrating! I do know its a very very long process to be well and normal. I have alot of patient, being positive and to "go with the flow".
All I am doing is to learn and start again from scratch.

By Danny Knights