Poetry Thursday 154 - Control

We like to think that we are in control of our own lives. People take years out to 'find' themselves, which I didn't, so it has taken a little longer for me to complete the process. The poem below should be several verses longer and may become so in the future, but I think you'll get the idea. 

Control

 

If you work hard all your life,

if you save hard for your future,

if you stay straight as a knife,

and are never an aggressor,

you may have some control.

 

If you pay all of your taxes,

refuse to fall into debt,

fit in with expected agendas,

treat others with respect,

you may have some control.

 

If you make your political choices,

and demand reasonable requests,

listen to authoritative voices,

always polite to the guests,

you will have little control.

 

If you go off to fight their wars,

suffer the outcome in silence,

knowing the choice wasn’t yours,

conned to duty in their defence,

you have no control.

 

Don’t step outside your circle,

maintain the status quo,

do nothing that’s abnormal,

stay steady as you go,

Still no control.

©David L Atkinson July 2026 

A hint of what may be possible occurred on Christmas Day 1914 

during The First World War.

God Bless 

Poetry Thursday 152 - I Swear

 My father was a very principled man, and if he was with my mum and someone was swearing in their vicinity, he would ask them to stop, stating that there was a lady present. 

I swear

 

Cursing is a common thing

it’s linked to the emotions

it comes out when you stub your toe

or suffer other abrasions.

 

When your team does it’s best but then still loses,

or when the lights go out at home and you have no fuses,

then your language discipline goes south,

and all sorts of expletives escape your mouth.

 

 There are times when usual words don’t just cut the mustard,

you need embellished ones like apple pie with the custard,

you remember forbidden words dredged up from your youth,

that mam said made you sound vulgar and uncouth.

 

Sometimes letting rip a barrage of invective,

can, as a de-stressing tool, be remarkably effective,

but casual swearing as part of normal conversation,

is negative socialisation.

 

It happens with younger people on ego trip,

seen as an alpha sign when you let rip,

too much of the swearing makes it hard to detect,

whether or not they deserve any respect.

©David L Atkinson July 2026 

God Bless 

Poetry Thursday 145 - This History

 Every day that comes and goes becomes part of our history, so we are making history daily. Taking that fact into mind, how will we be seen in 100 years? 

Historical

 

One hundred years from now,

how will life be remembered?

Who was driving the nations plough?

How was the populace respected?

 

Will this time be known as the age of technology?

Will it be for entrepreneurship?

Perhaps the worship of oligarchy,

or the increase in personal hardship.

 

Maybe this time will provide the spark,

to level the living playing fields,

elevating man from the industrial dark,

consolidating too many equality shields.

 

Did Magna Carta teach us a lesson?

Have we learnt from the middle ages?

What was the point of Victorian tuition?

What great mark left on history‘s pages?

©David L Atkinson May 2026  

God Bless 

Poetry Thursday 144 - Awakening

 The political atmosphere around the world is at least disturbed and very possibly volatile. In the UK, there are signs that many people are desperate for a change in the system. I believe that is also the case in other countries, not least the USA. Change has already occurred in Hungary. 

Awakening  

There are signs change is coming,  

mist lifting to reveal a watery sun,  

the promise of a positive dawning,  

generating political fun.  

 

Change from younger generations,   

crying out for something different,  

tired of status quo dictations,  

demanding a fairer way to present.  

 

Beware of youngsters energy,  

take care of dangerous choices,  

no space for rampant apathy,  

avoid vested interest voices.  

 

First reclaim national media,  

don’t be fooled by sponsored bias,  

research all aspects of the area,  

avoid opinions of the old and pious.  

  

 

Don’t be swayed by political decadence, 

it’s time to make your choices,  

having examined all the evidence,   

let the nation hear your voices.  

©David L Atkinson May 2026  

God Bless 

Poetry Thursday 142 - Screens

 I remember our first TV - 1955. One channel and time-limited. If memory serves, programmes ended around 10.30pm and finished with the National Anthem. If you watched TV for too long, you would develop square eyes. The law, according to mother. 

Screens

A while ago it was all TV,

don’t sit too close or you won’t  see,

your future ambitious hopes and dreams,

but that’s in the past now it’s screens.

 

Screens for shopping,

Screens for gaming,

Screens for navigating,

Screens you can ask, 

Screens for every blessed task.

 

No more talking face to face,

remote communication for the human race,

a generation walking with faces on screens, 

social interaction is for us has beens.

 

And now we need to limit screen time,

protecting children from internet crime,

and now an age limit for social media,

apparently the internet is somewhat seedier.

 

As if we don’t have enough to worry us,

now there is a new source of electronic fuss,

this time we are ceding control  of our lives,

to disembodied electronic AIs.

 

Having square eyes because of TV,

or poor results due to lack of sleep, 

small beer in comparison to,

AI living life for you.

©David L Atkinson April 2026  

God Bless 

Poetry Thursday 140 - Aspirations

 If you have even a smidgin' of a creative gene and have considered what is good and what is bad creativity, then you will understand where I'm coming from. Unfortunately, there are more questions than answers, and in some circumstances, no answers at all. Why is the Mona Lisa art? Why is Warhol's tin of soup art? Why is Emin's messy bedroom art? I have an answer. The establishment likes what it sees and decided it's art. It is all very subjective. Similarly, with writing and the Booker and other awards for 'good' writing, the judgments are subjective. I am not referring to technical skills such as grammar, but simply the created work. In short, its is very subjective and subject to shifts in fashion. 

Aspirations

 

So you think you can,

you’ve practised till blue in the face,

then some clever-dick, know-it-all man,

comes and puts you in your place.

 

Years of experience looking and judging,

forgotten the tears and sweat required,

thinks nothing of a little ego-bashing,

dismissed his memories of what inspired.

 

A checklist of lauded ‘expert’ opinions,

backed by a plethora of fashionable attitudes,

a blinkered officially recognized minion,

a failure backed by meaningless platitudes.

 

When is a tin of soup art,

or a smelly bedroom a sculpture,

who decides what keeps them apart,

fashion and a shrinking ‘official’ culture.

  

In short irrespective of which artistic branch,

your art is what makes you feel,

fans may not come in an avalanche,

but to you the creation is real.

©David L Atkinson April 2026 

God Bless 

Poetry Thursday 134 - Precious Words

 The Trump administration, MAGA, is convinced they are doing God's work. They are entitled to their opinion. After this week's attack on Iran I felt this poem/prayer was relevant. 

God is in the Rain

 

When we pray to God looking to the skies

we see the clouds before our eyes,

and as we pray to God we ask questions

for ourselves and others, for His suggestions,

on how to live each and every day

and keep illness, fear and trouble at bay.

 

When we pray to God looking to the skies

we see endless expanse before our eyes,

and as we pray to God we confess our sins

looking for the peace His forgiveness brings

to our aching souls and tortured lives,

bringing gentleness that we may survive.

 

When we pray to God looking to the skies

we see the sun before our eyes,

and as we pray to God we give our vow

to live as He would expect from now

so that the world will be a better place

for us and the rest of the human race.

 

When we pray to God looking to the skies

we see drops of rain before our eyes,

but as we pray to God we fail to see

the extent and infinite care that He

lavishes on us time and again,

as frequently as every drop of rain.

© David L Atkinson November 2014 

God Bless