ROGER TABER'S

TERROR ON TRACK


Sneaking like a snake
through long grass,
homing in on trusting heart,
teasing unquiet mind
with senses lacking any sure
foundation,
brave thoughts defying
suspicion,
getting on with living, no
interruption
in spite of a stalking poison
reaching out
to suck us in, break the spirit
waging war within
against raw threat obscene
creeping up on us,
biding its time, selecting prey
not quite at random
in spite of tabloid speculation
on the depravation
of each chilling revelation,
Innocence subjected
to dissolution by crusaders
for revolution against
repression, measure of need
beyond understanding
why snakes in our grass
feeding on us


R. N. TABER c2002

Poem No 152

by John Dixon

Winds

Poem No 153

by VIVIANI KETELY

BED OF ROSES

When a woman longs for a man she wishes to see her face in his soul,
To put out her hand and touch her dreams,
And to lie on the bed of roses.

She wants to believe that there will not be another time
To give herself up at the end of a new love song.

The other day I heard it said that dreams are for fools.
Yet I close my eyes and give myself to those foolish dreams.
Lay me down on the bed of roses

Give me your kisses

That I may know the truth of your love

In your arms I shall touch the stars

And find heaven’s door

But I shall wander out of my life at dawn

Find myself again

And return to the bed of roses              

Poem No 154

GORDON LINNELL'S

STIRRED EMOTIONS OVER TEA CUPS

In a tiny little tea-room in Tarporley

One bright Tuesday afternoon at ten past one

Miss Sally Taylor sat sipping her Darjeeling

And nibbling on a scrumptious buttered scone

Trevor Timpson was on his way to Nantwich

To a business meeting set for half-past three

He parked his silver Peugeot in the high street

And looked for somewhere nice for toast and tea

Trevor chanced upon the tea-room down the alley

Walked in briskly but found unhappily

That people were ensconced at every table

Though the small one at the side had one seat free

"Pardon me,"  he said politely, "may I sit here?"

Sally Taylor looked up shyly from her snack

There was something in his eyes that made her tingle

Sudden shivers ran the whole way down her back

As all at once she seemed a trembling jelly

She stammered out a nervous "y-yes, p-please do"

The stranger smiled and took his seat beside her

Placed his order then smiled at her anew

She'd never known her pulse rate race so madly

As he asked lots of things about herself

Of course she didn't mention she was lonely

And at forty-five felt left upon the shelf

Simply thrilled that he was showing lots of interest

She took her courage in both hands and warmly smiled

His dark brown eyes just seemed to penetrate her being

Her senses reeled, her pounding heart was quite beguiled

But Trevor, unaware of the impression he was making

Took away the new-found hope in Sally's life

"Excuse me, nice talking to you, got to go now

I'd forgotten that I have to ring my wife."

Sally went back sadly to her office on the high street

Then typed her boss's letters until five

Recalling that today had not been just like any day

Today, for half an hour or more, she'd felt alive.

(Have you read Gordon Linnell's short stories)

from DAMIAN DEUS