Constructive Thoughts - Stephen A. Roberts

There is no satisfaction in
the pushing of the pen
helping to make money
for the suited men

For years my soft hands
and mind served these fools
before I found my true love
was wielding power tools

The whine of the bandsaw
the smell of fresh cut wood
the sweat leaking from me
felt equally as good

Pavilions and pergolas were
created with my hands
solid and enduring on
life’s shifting sands

No more presentations
of sales graphs and trends
running things up the flagpole
as a means to an end

My tangible constructions
rise up from the earth
spreadsheets are forgotten
I’ve found a new sense of worth

Stephen A. Roberts

Commuting - Stephen A. Roberts

To Town; from Town, 
every day 
the metal river ebbs and flows 
crawling along by the sea. 

Bumper to bumper 
suspended in transit 
this sluggish gyre churns out 
a stream of empty thoughts. 

Watching the grey rollers and breakers, 
I wait for the steel tide to take me 
and spew me, lifeless 
on to the tarmacked beach. 

Stephen A. Roberts

The Working Week - Diane Scantlebury

Moany Monday

Monday’s for misery
Monday’s for groaners,
Whiners and complainers
Monday’s for moaners,

The grumpy and the grisly ones
Are never the stay at homers,
They love to spread unhappiness
For Monday’s for moaners,

The angry ones, the unreasonable ones
Always shouting down the phoners,
They save it up all weekend
Till moan day,
‘Cause Monday’s for moaners!

Terrific Tuesday

Tuesday’s a better day
Hardly ever manic,
A time to reflect day
When no one’s in a panic,

Tuesday’s a calm day
A perfect day for meetings,
Everyone seems so relaxed
With more time for greetings,

Why Tuesday’s such a nice day
Isn’t down to things specific,
A relief from moany Monday
Tuesdays are terrific!

Strange Wednesday

What’s the point of Wednesday?
It’s neither here nor there,
A middle of the week day
When no one seems to care,

Wednesday’s such a strange day
Sometimes it’s full of woe,
A shelter from the rain day
When there’s nowhere else to go,

Wednesdays can be busy
Most times they’ll start off quiet,
Just occasionally someone kicks off,
But it’s not a day to riot!

Crazy Thursday

Thursday’s a crazy, busy day,
Thursday’s always manic,
Waiting room noisy, full to bursting,
The Staff are in a panic,

Angry parents with tempers frayed,
Kids bored, around in circles run,
Such an unforgiving day,
Crazy Thursdays aren’t much fun!

TGIF

Hurrah, hurrah for Friday
A day that should be fun,
Friday’s the day to thank the Lord,
‘Cause the working week is done!

Diane Scantlebury

Nora’s Still Working Hard - Diane Scantlebury

Nora's still working hard,
Nora knows her place,
She always says
She's happy to see you,
With a bright smile upon her face,
Expertly serving coffee
Deftly pouring the tea,
Nora stands for no nonsense
From the likes of you and me,

Nora's always working hard,
Nora's in her place,
Nora has outstanding patience
With the foibles,
Of the human race,

Nora is a trooper
She'll soldier on and on,
She always goes that extra mile
Where no one else has gone,
Coffee pot in one hand
Tea pot in the next,
Nothing's too much trouble
No order too complex,

Nora has a private life
Not that you would know,
She cordially smiles
And greets us,
But never puts her feelings on show,

Nora can't help working hard,
Nora loves her place,
To many she's invisible
But she never forgets a face,
No one knows what Nora thinks
Or cares if she lives alone,
She fills her days
By obeying others,
Then quietly marches home.

Diane Scantlebury

You Call This A Golden Handshake! - Lester Queripel

Today's poem is a "Golden Oldie" and was originally published here in December 2012.

A golden handcuff, a golden handshake
Surely there’s been some kind of mistake
I’m only fifty-five
I’m still very much alive
Yet I’m being shown the door
They don’t want me anymore
I’ve still got a lot to offer
Yet I have got to suffer
I have to stand in the unemployment line
Wait my turn…………………and sign
They’ve dispensed with all my knowledge
I will now have to summon all my courage
I don’t know how long I can cope with the indignity
We’ll have to wait and see

Lester Queripel

Run, Run, Run - Kathy Figueroa

Run, run, run
Go, go, go
Gotta get things done
And can’t be slow

Work, work, work
Can’t hesitate
There are too many things
That just won’t wait

Go here, go there
Go up and down
Work at home
Make a trip to town

I don’t want to spread
Myself too thin but,
At times, I’ve so much to do
I don’t know where to begin

Something always
Needs to be done, so
It’s easy to work too hard
And forget to have fun

But a sense of achievement
Is my reward and
I never get depressed
…And I’m never bored

Kathy Figueroa

Run, Run, Run was first published in The Bancroft Times newspaper on July 23, 2015.

Nora - Diane Scantlebury

Nora serves the coffee
Nora serves the tea,
Nora clears the debris
Left by you and me,
Nora wipes the tables
Keeps everything spotless and clean,
In the background she silently does her job
Virtually unseen,

Nora has a boyfriend
Not that you would know,
On her day off they drink wine and beer
And to the cinema go,
Nora’s happy in her world
Never lets her feelings show,

Nora sets the tables
Nora mops the floor,
Nora makes everything perfect
For the evening shift,
Then she closes the restaurant door,
Knowing tomorrow will be like today
And the same as the day before.

Diane Scantlebury

I’ll Just Call Facilities - Rod Ferbrache

The day was hot and sunny and heat was pouring in,
The air con set to cooling, we knew we couldn’t win.
“Too hot” the cry came from a desk right by a window pane.
I can’t bear another moment, and blow the solar gain!”
“I’m going to call Facilities; they’ll know just what to do,
They’ll understand the reason, I won’t sit here and stew.

The one wrapped in the blanket, with woolly hat and scarf,
Overheard the conversation and said “hey, don’t you make me laugh!
You say that you are boiling, and sweating from the heat,
Well come and feel my hands and feet, they’re lumps of frozen meat!”
“I’m going to call Facilities; they’ll know just what to do,
They’ll understand the reason, I won’t sit here with flu!”.

Across from these two people sat with a smile from ear to ear.
A happy warm employee, they had nothing they need fear.
It mattered not if sun or rain were forecast for the day,
They knew that it was certain that the temperature would stay
Exactly how they liked it, neither hot nor cold – just right.
“I won’t call Facilities, and share my colleague’s plight”.

The moral of this story, though common, and quite true,
Is there needs to be more people who love being in a stew.
Or else be pleased at times to freeze, so mates can be just right.
There are bigger battles out there that we can face and fight.
Yet if you call Facilities, they’ll know just what to do.
They’ll go out on an errand, and leave you red or blue!

Rod Ferbrache

The Christmas Season - Jenny Hamon

Christmas is coming, so much to do
The shopping and cooking and cards to write too
There’s presents to buy and parcels to send
The tree to decorate, write letters to friends

I’m rushing, I’m dashing to get it all done
There’s mince pies to make before I have won
The fruit cake to stir and the wishes to make
The cleaning to do and house to decorate

On top of all this there’s a party and fun
Friends and relations have been invited to come
I have to be bright and cheery to all
With a kiss under the mistletoe in the hall

I am exhausted, the job is complete
I’ll just sit and relax in my comfy seat
But I’ve overlooked the real reason
For the celebration of this festive season

The birth of a child on this holy night
Is the reason we remember that star so bright
It shone over the stable and the manger bed
Where this baby, our saviour, laid his little head

Now lest we forget in the rush of the morn
The reason for all this, Baby Jesus is born

Jenny Hamon

You Call This A Golden Handshake! - Lester Queripel

A golden handcuff, a golden handshake
Surely there’s been some kind of mistake
I’m only fifty five
I’m still very much alive
Yet I’m being shown the door
They don’t want me anymore
I’ve still got a lot to offer
Yet I have got to suffer
I have to stand in the unemployment line
Wait my turn…………………and sign
They’ve dispensed with all my knowledge
I will now have to summon all my courage
I don’t know how long I can cope with the indignity
We’ll have to wait and see

Lester Queripel

Take Back Your Power - Lester Queripel

Working every day just to pay your way.
No time to think or have your say.
Have another drink, it’ll make you smile.
Take your mind off things for a while.
Might make you feel ‘alright’.
But, in truth, it’s only a brief respite.
Because it’s all an illusion: a tragic delusion.
The truth is my friend, you are living for the weekend.
The rest of the week you have to pretend.
We left our dreams behind when we left our youth.
Why are some of us so afraid of the truth?
This is not a rehearsal: you won’t live your life twice.
Please permit me to give you my advice.
Time is precious so treasure every hour.
Take back your life, take back your power.

Lester Queripel

Ode To Housework - Kathy Figueroa

Ode To Housework - Kathy Figueroa

It's time to clean
This house
Though I'm allergic
To dust
Someone will
Be over soon
So tidying
Is a must
Let me think
Of this drudgery
As something
That's actually fun
Otherwise, it's going
To be awhile
Before I get this
Housework done
Let me delight in
Washing the floor
Instead of thinking
It's such a chore
The cat boxes
Will be fun to change
I'll whistle a tune
As I rearrange
The laundry will go
In the washing machine
The plants
Will be watered
So they stay green
Scrubbing the sink
Won't take as
Long as I think
And then, after I do
I'll polish the loo
Cobwebs can be swept
Away with a broom
Then I'll vacuum
The living room
(Note to myself:
Remember to take care
And make sure I get
All the dog and cat hair)
Yes, I guess
My house is a mess
I could do more
And procrastinate less
Then, in no time
This house
Would be clean
And I'd be
The happiest
Person you've seen

Kathy Figueroa

(This poem was first published in The Bancroft Times newspaper on January 5, 2012.)
A special, 'thank you,' goes to, 'Walter Inkster, the Devil's Artisan,' for allowing the use of this fabulous illustration.