I Must Have Been A Naughty Boy - Tony Gardner

All  last  year  I  was  so  good
As  little  boys  and  grown  men  should
I  tried  so  hard  you  see  because 
I  had  written  to  Santa  Claus.
For  I  had  seen  on  Amazon
What  he  could  bring  on  his  next  run
Nectar  sweet  from  a  Scots  Glen
Brewed  for  discerning  gentlemen.
Much  better  than  cheap stuff  I  sip
Which  puckers  up  my  upper  lip
I  thought  he might  for  I'd  been  good
As  little  boys  and  grown  men  should
…..
I  went  excited  to  my  bed
Slept  soon  as  Pillow  touched  my  head.
Dreamt  I  could  see  old  Rudolph’s  glow
Through  the  thickly  falling  snow. 
I  woke  up  early  bleary-eyed
Hoped  he’d  left  something  on  the  side
Like  Single  Malt,  but  never  guessed
He'd  leave  a  gift  not  of  the  best.
Tiptoed  downstairs,  then  my  heart  broke
At  the  miniature bottle  and  small   can  of  Coke

Tony Gardner

Image : Pixabay - Ebweb/thuanvo

A Guernsey Carol - Tony Gardner

In  fields  above  the  bay  of  Saints  this  moonlit  Christmas  night
A  donkey's  old  folk  memories  rekindle  and  take  flight
    To  that first  night
 
The  blessedness  of  Christmas  Day  steals  over  all the  land
Enveloping  each  tree  and  field,  the  cattle  where  they  stand
   With  glory  grand.
 
Then  to  a  donkey  in  the  fields  came  age  old  memories  strong,   
How  brilliant  was  the  sky  that  night,  how  sweet  the  angels  song
   In  radiance  hung 
 
That  night  Christ  came  to  save  us  all,  a  pauper  yet  a  King
Poor  shepherds  came  to  honour  Him, the  Lord  of  Everything
   While  angels  sing
 
A  donkey  brought  the  blessed  pair  the  long  and  torturous  way
And  stayed  beside  them  through  their  trials,  until  that  won'drous  day
    When  softly  in  the  hay
 
Our  Lord  reposed,  at  last  God's  gift   so  precious  and  so  true
Here  amongst  us,  God  on  earth,  The  prophesy  come  true
   Life  for  me  and  you
 
In  fields  above  the  bay  of  Saints  this  moonlit  Christmas  night
A  donkey's  old  folk  memories  rekindle  and  take  flight
    To  that first  night
 
To  that  first  Christmas  night.

Tony Gardner


Image : Pixabay - geralt

La Roque Lane - Tony Gardner

In the nooks  and  the  corners  of  La Roque  Lane
Images,  memories  ever  remain
That  was  where  my  education  was  gained
In  the  soft,  mossy  corners  of La Roque Lane

There  I  learned  about  women,  much  as  a man  can
For  ladies  are  ever  so  not  like  a  man
Of  what  we  discovered  they  did  not  complain
While  learning  our  lessons  in  La  Roque  Lane

There's  a  green  shaded  corner in  La  Roque Lane
That  sweetly  and  softly  will  ever retain
Mem'ries  of  youth  and  of  young  love  that  died
Life's  lessons  learned  as  we  laughed  and  we  cried

And  though  I  am  happy,  content  with  my  life
And  deeply  and  dearly  in  love  with  my  wife
Sometime  I  dream  of  those  bright  days  again
In  that  green quiet corner  in  La Roque  Lane.

Tony Gardner

Image : Pixabay - JACLOU-DL

Silver Blue Eyes - Tony Gardner

Silver blue  skies
And  stars    diamond  bright 
Bring  nothing  but  coldness
And  frost  ghostly  white
Just  as  behind  beauty
A  cold  heart might  live
Selfish  with  no  warmth
Or   sweet  love   to  give
And  I  found  excuses
For  your  coldness  and  lies
But  the  truth  always  showed
In  your  silver blue  eyes.
 
Tony Gardner  


Image : Pixabay - cocoparisienne

Marry in Haste - Tony Gardner

She  met  him  on  a  Liner
On  a  Grecian  Islands  cruise
There beneath  soft,  starry  skies
And  quite  a  lot of  booze
They  fell  in  love one  evening
And  before  the  cruise was  done
The  Captain  of  the  ship had  spoke
Making  them  both  one
Back  at  home  cracks  soon  appeared
He  wanted  for  each  meal
Garlic  this  and  Garlic  that
Though  sick  it  made  her  feel
Then  they  were  both  invited
To  his  daughter  to  be fed
But  all  she  got  to  eat  there  
Garlic  chicken,  garlic  bread
She  couldn't  take  it  any  longer
Screaming,  out  the  house  she  ran
Straight  back  home,  she  couldn't  sleep  
And  the  murders  then  began.

Tony Gardner


Image : Pixabay - tigertravel

Where I Belong - Tony Gardner

There  is  much  excitement
So  much  vibrance  and  delight
In  the  heart  of  the  big  City
With  the  garish  City Lights
And  if  that's  what  excites  you
If  that's  what  turns  you  on,
Well  go  off  and  enjoy  it
But  just  leave  me  alone
For  here  on  my  little  Island
I  have  all  that  I  dream  of
My  family,  childhood  mem'ries
And  the  people  that  I  love.

Tony Gardner


Image : Pixabay - cegoh

Rescue Dog - Tony Gardner

There’s no need to flinch when I lift my hand
No need to cower each time I stand
No need to run when I come near
No need to tremble, I see your fear.
You can sleep with both eyes shut,
Don’t need to jump when you wake up
Your food is yours to eat in peace
No need to fight to keep your feast.
No need to lie on the cold, hard floor
The beds and the sofas are yours to explore
Don’t need to sit out in the rain
The house is your shelter, your new domain.
I cannot erase the memories and fears
Cannot compensate for those awful years
But all that we have and all that you see
Is yours, ….you’re now part of our family.

Tony Gardner


Image : Pixabay - Alexas_Fotos

Bumble - Tony Gardner

Bumble on  the  Bramble blossom.
Busy, buzzing, bumbling  Bee
Blackbird  fluting from  the  branches
Leads  the pastoral  symphony.
Breezes  brush  their  baby  kisses
On  my  skin  to  pure  delight
And  the  summer  sun  is  warming
All  in  this  sweet  world  is  right.
Dancing  in  and  out  of  memories
Like  the  sunbeams  through  the  trees
From  the  long,  hard  years  I've  weathered
Scenes  return  to  sting  or  tease
Running  barefoot  on  the  shingle
Down  towards  that  crystal  sea
Still  I  taste  the  salty  water
Through  the  years  of  history.
Bumble  on  the  Bramble  blossom
Busy,  buzzing,  bumbling  bee
Taking  me  to  where,  I  wonder
Are  you  happier  than me ?

Tony Gardner


Image : Pixabay - Emphyrio

The Custard Fields - Tony Gardner

The  Custard  fields  are  now  in  bloom
It  must  be  harvested  as  soon
As  we  can  get  the  wet  crop  sold
And  turn  the  yellow  into  gold.
The  neighbours  so  admire  the  sight
And  beg  and  plead  with  all  their  might 
To  let  sunshiney-bright  plants  stay
And  cheer  us  just  one  other  day.

But  if  we  hesitate  we  may
Miss  the  market, lose  our  pay.
The  country's  crying  out  for  this
Sweet  yellow  custard   for  their  dish
Of  rhubarb,  apple  pie  or  prunes 
It   can't  be  a  day  too  soon
Tomorrow  t'will  be  cut  and  canned
And  there'll  be  smiles  throughout  the  land.

Tony Gardner

PS   I  hope  you  know  this  is  a  jape
It's  really  just  a  field  of  Rape.


Image : Pixabay - blickpixel

Thoughts on the war - Tony Gardner

The sun was peeping through the clouds
Every now and then.
The wind had died, the temperature
Was well above the 10
Pottering in the garden
Forking, planting, feeding and
I thought how lucky we were all
Living in a war free land
I thought of poor folk trapped and scared
In Russia's evil war
And wished that I could help someway
I pray, but should do more.
But I'll just keep planting Dahlia corms
And hope all turns well
That soon Ukraine will breathe once more
And Putin rots in Hell.

Tony Gardner


Image : Pixabay - ELG21

Mr. Froggy - Tony Gardner

My  name  is  Mr  Froggy

In  this  pond  I  was  born

I'm  back  again  to  fertilise

Another  batch  of  spawn.

To  reproduce  is  everything

I'd  like  to  make  that  clear

But  Tadpoles  are  no  care  of  mine

See  you  again  next  year.

Tony Gardner


Image : Pixabay - Couleur

The East Wind’s Breath - Tony Gardner

There's an icy tang to the East Wind's breath

It seems to carry the scent of Death

But I shrug it off for that's known to be

Just an old wives' tale from antiquity

So I trudge on through the cold, cold snow

Trying to keep my mind on which way to go

Just a month ago, such a lovely scene

But tonight all’s white instead of green.

And I hear a howl, from the snow-filled sky

Maybe just the wind, or a wild beast’s cry

But it may be neither, just in my mind

For my limbs are lead, my eyes half-blind

And I’ll have to stop, rest a little while

I’ve no more strength than a new born child

And sleep…..just a minute….or so……………..

Tony Gardner


Image : Pixabay - Printeboek

Stars - Tony Gardner

I'm wondering if all the stars

Are red and ruddy just like Mars

If all shine with a twinkling light

Or some are incandescent white

There may be some we’ve never seen

That glister with soft shades of green

But floating in the Milky Way

They may be forty shades of Grey.

Tony Gardner


Image : Pixabay - GooKingSword

Belief - Tony Gardner

Tim  was  only  6  years  old
But he'd  heard  schoolfriends  say
That  Father  Christmas  wasn't  real
And  didn't  drive  a   sleigh.
That  Rudolph  was a  fairy  tale
Elves,  just   imagination
But  Timmy  knew  that  they  were  wrong
And  he  had  confirmation
For  just  last  year  he'd  seen  them  all
The  reindeer  and  the  elf
He'd  sat  on  Santa's  lap  and  asked
For  more  than  just  himself.
He  asked  that  Mum and  Dad  might  stop
The  arguing  and  fighting
And  be  just  as  they  used  to  be
Loving  and   inspiring
Santa  heard, and  so   this  year
Is  beautiful and  gay
So   Tim  believes  in  Santa  Claus
No  matter  what  they  say.

Tony Gardner


Image : Pixabay - mohamed_hassan

Standing Up - Tony Gardner

I   miss  my  younger,  fitter  self,  with  aches  and  pains  unknown
Maturity's  crept  up  on  me,  my  youth  has  long  since  flown
There's  much  I  can  no  longer  do like  drinking  all  night  long
Or  pulling  in  the  Tug of War, to  the  beat  of  Rugby  songs.
It's  simple  things  that  I  miss  most, like  picnics  with  some  friends
In  meadows  where  the  grass  would  tease my bare  feet  and  finger-ends.
I'd  lay  full  length  in  soft,  green  grass,  in  Eden's  Fields  I'd  reign
If  I  lay  there  today  I  doubt  I  could  stand  up  again.

Tony  Gardner


Image : Pixabay - Fotorech

Dark Nectar - Tony Gardner

Through  soft  September's  early  morning  mists
I  sally  forth  in  sturdy  thorn-proof  clothes
To  face  the  prickly  blackthorn  which  resists
My quest  to  reap  her  lovely  blue-black  sloes.
Soon  I'm  homeward bound  with  hard  won  prize
The  sun  breaks  through,  a  bird  sings  merrily.
But  now  it's  time  for  work  and  methods  wise
To  tell  and  mix  the  ancient  recipe;
 
       "Pick  and  prick  the  purple  berries,
       add  the  sugar  and  the  gin.
       Then  the  almonds,  not  too  many,
       seal  it,  let  all  soak  in."
 
For  months  it's left  until  at  Christmas time 
With  carols  sung  and  turkey  eaten,  then
Before  the  fire,  our  glasses  we  all  prime
With  dark  old  nectar  sweet,  -  our  own  Sloe  Gin.

Tony Gardner

Image : Pixabay - LaMaLaMa55

Bee-hind - Tony Gardner

Is there anything lovelier under the sun
Than the wonderful sight of a BumbleBee's Bum ?
Though they can be white or yellow or red
They're a vision of splendour it has to be said
It makes me smile every time that I see
A BumbleBee flashing his backside at me.

Tony Gardner

Image : Pixabay - ekamelev

The Old Oak - Tony Gardner

There's a big old tree in the corner
Of the field just along the way
It's the only tree around here
So it's special....well to me anyway

I've known it since I was a nipper
When I used to climb up and sit
On it's branches so strong and sturdy
And contemplate Life for a bit.

I loved to see new leaves in springtime
And the acorns as they grew then fell
Many's the time I would wonder
What stories this old tree could tell.

Did it grow from a careless dropped acorn
By a bird flying so high above
I like to think someone with vision
Planted that acorn with love

Maybe he dreamed it would flourish
And that many years after his time
A boy would climb its strong branches
And be moved to write a small rhyme.

Tony Gardner

Image : Pixabay - mbll

Daffodils - Tony Gardner

I wandered lonely as a cloud
In search of golden Daffodils
I rambled through the freezing cold
Over lonely Dales and Hills:
I rambled where the rivers run
I didn't spot a single one

....................................................

This morning on my couch I lay
And now my heart with pleasure fills
Sun-shiny flowers in the vase
A host of golden daffodils
I found them not on Hill or Down
But at Sainsburys in town


Tony Gardner(with apologies to Mr Wordsworth)

Image : Pixabay - JillWellington

Blue Woods - Tony Gardner

Blue bells nod their sleepy heads
In old sun-speckled woods
To spring time music of the birds
In glades where once she stood.
Her laughter rang like Fairy bells
In youth when Life was gay
And often we would wander there
Along the blue bell'd way

Today I walk that path alone
But still she's there with me
Her shadow dances soft upon
That old sun-speckled tree
I hear her laugh like Fairy bells
And I'm not sad you know
I can always find her here
Where the Blue Bells grow.

Tony Gardner