Let me stretch, catch my breath, where's the food?
Vitamins and minerals, so minuscule I can consume,
been standing here for centuries, these are my roots,
but to tell you the truth, life's been a little tough to get through.
I heard from my tree mates, the earth quaked, soil cut loose,
some of my cousins were cut down by machines you humans use,
other trees drowned in a random flood,
my sisters, my brothers, my tree sap my blood,
burnt to ash by blazes upon flames,
since then life's not been the same,
but I remain calm, I remain full of hope,
the highest leaf upon me, can see brightness within its scope.
We have heard vibrations of humans who care,
about every inch of our leaves, compare it to your hair,
they want us thrive, we want to live, not just survive,
they want us reach our highest heights, grow into trees as tall as the skies,
from my seeds to my roots, I call them parachutes,
as they will fall, shoot, then bloom into something new,
something grand repopulating us through the fight,
the antithesis of photosynthesis, catch a flash of life,
trading flames for growth, pain for hope,
we will live together in peace with all of you folks,
where our soil grounds us both,
feel it between your toes,
I feel it in my roots, through my trunk, my skin, the bark on me,
to my branches and leaves the air that I breathe,
we are one together on Earth, we refuse to be earth less,
we trees and humans, together have purpose.
Lunatics living under the moon, admit,
that humans twist stories to hide their dark side,
to make them seem luminous, limitless, infinite,
but deception fades as even lunatics stop and stare at the lunar eclipse,
portraying their true darkness to all who exist,
yet the true light will banish darkness, as it falls to the pits
of opaque minds, if only positive human traits could shine,
as light forms an orb that elicits,
the very reflection of you, yet to view it is hard,
selfishness, a total eclipse of the heart.
I love the big screen IMAXimise
my time to watch a masterpiece, relax the mind.
This is not quite an epic poem like Homer, oh but it's odd I see (ODYSSEY),
you were thinking of the Simpsons, but no I meant the new Christopher Nolan piece,
my poetry's a Trojan Horse, I'm exploding like OPPENHEIMER,
Duke's here, about to nuclear, watch the timer,
no reversing this verse, no playing, TENET,
this protagonist about to damage flip, upset
the set like Eminem and go berserk,
dropping bombs DUNKIRK,
it's set in time, I'm about to blow up and finally make this landmine,
send my pen and rhymes INTERSTELLAR,
I wish I was never in to Stella,
but this DARK KNIGHT RISES,
drink, the Bane of my life,
it effected my dreams, it was testing alright,
didn't know if I was awake or asleep INCEPTION, I'm fine,
on a lonely DARK night (KNIGHT), I nearly gave up the fight,
the class clown the Joker, it was nearly over,
but I started posting my poetry, tried to get sober,
I have no twin to stand in for me, no magic, just belief,
I don't do it for the payment, or THE PRESTIGE,
I do it for me,
I began like BATMAN BEGINS,
before I became a madman, trapped from within,
I'd go to work all day and in the night, I didn't sleep, INSOMNIA,
I would write to try and make these rhymes full time, no wanderer,
I built momentum when I picked up the pen, oh,
I knew my poetry could be of help, like a little MOMENTO,
if I didn't take the leap, I'd still be wandering,
but I built a business first, now it's time to grow a FOLLOWING.
My stomach is doing flips,
I can taste the summer salt,
as sweat drips to my lips,
oh, I hope this summer's hot,
simmering, sweltering, hear the burgers on the BBQ sizzling,
reminiscing of water fights
those water balloons cooling off under the blue sky, no cloud in sight.
I must remember to drink water, hydrate,
no being a stranger to hydrangeas,
see summer in its full colour,
the bottle brush, red brooms have bloomed,
purples and blues,
yellows and oranges,
Summer cold? Get down those lozenges,
pose with a rose,
watch the blackberries grow,
dragonflies darting amongst snap dragons,
hear natures tunes,
but I refuse to hop on any band wagon,
you should go with your flow,
never blow your own trumpet,
be humble like a bumble bee,
do not swat the wasps,
let nature free.
I can see you have a bright fuchsia, among your leaves,
'Summer, Summer, Summertime,' is a time to believe,
oh you better believe, the seagulls are not evil, people,
but beware of the swoops and your ice cream scoops,
everybody seems happier when the suns out,
tops off, going on runs with the guns out,
time to have fun till it runs out,
oh no, I hope that's a sun cloud.
The light in the days will get shorter,
sun rays will fade, no more fights with water,
shall we do the maths?
If I could sum up summer before we get to the fall,
well it's the heat, the colour, plus the class poetry of nature, that sums up it all.
The birds are singing, the earth is wriggling,
worms beginning to surface,
surf the face of the soil on morning dew,
A new morning's due.
No more grim cold, as the wind slows, out pops the primrose.
I mean cold mornings are cool... but
now the sun is heating the sky,
it's warming my skin,
I got a spring in my step,
upbeat in my chest.
I see you spring, fluttering those eyes,
utterly stunning butterflies passing by,
dragonflies, pass the butter knife,
take a slice of toast, sit outside with warming cuppa coffee,
as colour swarms, we are lucky aren't we?
Incomes the hums from the bumbling bees,
dandies are out with manes of a lion,
daisy chains for days!
Passion filled daffodils, yellowing massive hills,
cherry blossoms, poppy's popping like Mary Poppins,
popping in, dropping by, stopping off, but no umbrellas are needed,
just laughter for this season!
Ring the bluebells,
here we go,
snowdrops,
let me kiss with tulips,
hyacinths give a sound of higher synths,
as I hire symphonies to introduce to thee
foliage of golden Magnolias,
the flowers are holding its extraordinary scent,
extraordinary sense.
The poplars are popular,
apple blossoms, no stopping ya,
like you have hit a giant springboard, preparing for the somersault...
Spring you are blooming, blooming!
This poem was written with Dai Woolridge for Easter.
See and hear the poem being performed on YouTube.
DUKE AL
I take one step then two,
I hold your hand, look up,
I wish I could be just like You,
sinless
I try to sin less,
sin is a sickness and I'm ill,
Your forgiveness is the only cure.
When I step onto the water,
I sink to the depths of my core.
You walk upon the water weightless,
pull me up,
I take a breath then I walk,
I hold Your hand,
look up I wish I could be just like You,
Lord,
I'm trying to be a better man.
DAI WOOLRIDGE
Like you.
I want to be like you, cos there's no-body like you
You are omniscient - and I categorically know that nobody knows like you know, you know?
Like You - the same you who called out and the cosmos answered
Who matter of fact - made matter fact
And Made it matter?
And I want to thank you -
Cos I want to be like you,
but I couldn't be like you
if I tried - and boy have I tried,
to be like you
Yet to not avail,
I try walk on the water
Yet my feet fail.
DUKE AL
I wish I could always say the right thing,
always tell the truth,
have no fears, only fear you,
when I'm caught by intrusive thoughts,
hit by compulsions,
I wish I could have strength to not give in,
give my worries to You have faith, that my problems you can solve them.
I wish I had the courage to speak how I truly feel,
in an articulate way no matter the consequences, or potential ordeal,
I wish I could say I love everybody, I love thy neighbour,
I try my best to see people as equals, but I get thrown by some human behaviour,
I wish I had the courage to try and be braver,
I wish I had the compassion of You my Saviour,
I wish I was less of a people pleaser,
stood for what I believe firmly, a leader,
not worrying about what people think,
overthinking leading to the drink.
I know you made me in Your image,
I'm sorry if that image is diminished,
reflecting an ugly spirit,
I am trying to be a better man,
Just like You,
I can't stand the saying,
'but I'm only human',
it's a foolish excuse.
I wish I could be,
wholly, Holy,
but my mind is aloof.
DAI WOOLRIDGE
My feet fail, as I walk upon the waves
Yet you're the who saves, you're the lifeguard,
The thief comes to steal but In you I'm safe, you're the safe-guard
No prison guard can keep you locked up behind prison bars
Death couldn't clock you off, you rolled the stone, resurrected to life, and gave out P45's to the tomb guards
You bodied the brokenness
You're the body-guard
Costner's got nothing on you
Cos though 'I will always fail to love you'
Call Houston, there's no problem
Cos You say you'll always love me
and then some.
Mockers took the Michael, you got Caned
Crucifixion - the Italian job
body Bloody, yet you were always meant to blow the tomb doors off!
And now the gloves are off
Cos You went 12 rounds with death and fury, got KO'd but like Tyson from the canvas you rose - it's not just wild, it's wilder
I walk upon the waves,
I'm drowning - shipwrecked without you
But the ocean's a walkover for you
Heck no wonder - the sea has waves
Cos you made them to.
and you waved first
They're only waving back at you.
You - I want to be like you
Walk like you
Talk like you
But you
You became like me.
You who called out mount and Everest replied
You who swapped perfection for rejection
And who suffered and died
Resurrected to life
So I may live.
The greatest switch-a-roo in history
You took the guilt I built
And flipped it so my guilt is history
And your perfection becomes my story
I want to be like you
But thank you, for becoming like me.
DUKE AL
I tried to save myself,
when You are the Saviour,
I tried to guide myself,
You are the Father,
I was blinded by alcohol,
You are the Holy Spirit the only Spirit I ever need,
I tried to find strength alone,
when we are Almighty in You,
I tried to figure life out, learn to be wiser,
I am higher through the Bible,
the wisdom offers freedom the way to the Kingdom
and I love words a wizard with a wand but magic doesn't exist only miracles,
healing through the word, I see You everywhere,
I know You're not invisible but invincible and I love superheroes,
but You are the superheroes hero because He rose, You rose for us, You saved us,
even when we act villainous or commit hideous crimes like the Sopranos,
maybe I am preaching to the choir,
You are the Messiah,
when I did wrong I tried to recreate myself,
You are The Creator,
we have looked to Rulers,
but nobody measures up to You,
we try to be Kings you are the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords,
we try to lead our own lives and get people to follow us online,
You, are The Shepherd,
we are the lambs,
born in Your image,
please cleanse, please heal my spirit,
I surrender to Your grace with love,
allow your word to be spoken through these lyrics,
for You have saved me,
I only desire You,
I only worship You,
as I grow older your wisdom floods through my blood,
You are the most high the most wise,
I wish I could be just like You,
full, of unconditional love.
You built a man upon a rock,
Unstoppable, unrockable.
No matter the pain from acid rain,
the scrapes, tiny chips and cracks,
this man stands unshakeable.
You built this man upon a rock,
your motivational speeches are my rocket fuel,
you taught me to talk about my worries,
to be honest, speak how I feel,
even when sorry seems to be the hardest word,
you raised a rocket man,
who shoots for the stars,
zooms past the moon, darts past Mars,
who gets back up even when smacked down to rock bottom,
because Mum when I was at rock bottom,
you were the rock,
my rock,
I could never truly hit the floor,
You built a man upon a rock.
No matter the erosion,
my rock stands strong with hope,
not even the ocean can rock my boat…
But you Mum, you rock my world,
I can remember when you bought me Rocky Balboa,
then the entire rocky boxset,
inspired by fighters by hard hitters,
when life got rocky, I was box set,
ready to hit back harder at life,
but you are the true fighter in this story,
you got back up,
you kept moving forward,
taking hit after hit,
jab after jab,
job after job,
exam after exam,
operation after operation,
loss after loss,
until you won.
But you were always a winner in my eyes,
you are a winner in my eyes.
A champion, a superhero.
My rock.
My Mum.
I don't know how you did it,
raising all of us against all odds,
but you did
and you didn't just raise us, oh no,
you built our foundations on a rock,
on you,
I stand strong,
I stand unshakable as a man with tremendous will,
because I was raised by you Mum.
You are my rock.