The Circus - Karen Allaway

Glamorous circus arrives
In bejewelled principality.
A playboy paradise;
Yachts, prancing horses
Money and demigods.
In the pits
Fit chicks;
Barbie style!
Long bronzed legs
Go on for miles.

Chiselled features
There he sits -
Slim hips, tight fit;
In carbon fibre
Monocoque.
Highly sculpted -
Carbon and titanium
Wrapped aluminium V8.
Testosterone charged
High octane cocktail.

Nomex clad gladiators;
Podium finishers.
National anthems play.
Kisses and handshakes,
Glittering trophies.
Moët ejaculate
Tingles gustatory senses.
Back slaps
From faceless fans.
Circus Formula One.

Karen Allaway

Fishing Memories - Karen Allaway

Happy memories of fishing trips at St Sampson's harbour and the Castle Emplacement with my family as a small child was my inspiration for writing this poem. - Karen.

Fishing Memories - Karen Allaway

Looking into a bucket of sand
Rag and lug squirming under my hand.
Worms collected that very afternoon,
So we could go fishing under the moon.
A worm is carefully threaded on my hook
And then.......
I cast out as far as I can.

I can see my float dancing up and down.
Under the moonlight, I dance round and round.
I’ve caught a fish, I’ve caught a fish
I nice big bass my dearest wish.
I frantically wind back the reel and........
Nothing!!
Just a remnant of worm left on my hook.
Maybe I’ll just go and take a look........

........over here.

The cranes are not working now finished for the day
So I step in the bucket and begin my play.
I’m sitting on a ferris wheel that’s going round and round
Or maybe on a train and I make the sound
Clickety clack, “tickets please”,
Doesn’t the moon look like a big piece of cheese.
Hmm, I wonder what we’ll catch today?

I hear mummy calling, I run over and look
To see what my brother has got on his hook.
The family’s been busy while I’ve been away
Some mackerel, a rockfish we pack up for the day.
So home we all go to eat for our tea
The fish we have caught...
With new potatoes and fried tomatoes YUM!

Karen Allaway

Sweet Pain - Karen Allaway

Sharp fine metal,
Attached to vessel,
Pierces the skin.
The thumb goes down and the vessel empties.
Exquisite pain is plunged into my back and travels down the nerve to my toe.
Who could imagine that this pain would feel so sweet but me?
The nerve bulges waiting to explode but no, wait.
Numbness envelopes my leg like millions of tiny tentacles.
The pain recedes apart from point of entry.
Not once but thrice this has to be endured.
And now lie in wait.
I wait for the shots to take their effect

Karen Allaway

My Dear Friend - Karen Allaway

For Karla - a Special Friend

You stand alone again.
The same spot where just weeks ago you stood so tall and proud,
Grief hung round you like a shroud.
Telling of the woman who gave you life.

This time you speak of the man,
The man who took the woman for his wife.
Life is so cruel to have you do it all again so soon.
Where once you stood so tall and strong,

Now you are but a shadow.
A small, dark shadow about to break,
With what life’s cards have dealt upon you.

I stand there watching you my dear friend,
Willing you to be strong so to continue the words you must speak.

Take comfort now my dear friend,
No more pain for them.
For they are with the angels in Heaven,
At peace, never to be separated

Karen Allaway