Flotsam

A driftwood log far out from shore,

a landgrown thing now lost at sea

as helpless out of element

as you make me.

With others I can chat and joke;

with you I don't know what to say.

The words won't come because you take

my breath away.

So now I wallow in the waves,

floundering where the currents flow

and drift uncaring in these seas

I do not know.

It's not just climate change that we're at war with;

there's so much plastic in the sea'

so many species threatened with extinction

and all because of our fecundity.

We have so many problems to do more with;

no use relying on technology.

It's not enough to save this ailing Earth with -

replacing gas with electricity.

There's only one thing we can still be sure with;

the rest is almost triviality.

It's overpopulation is the problem -

reducing too many people is the key.

Men in shorts

A man in shorts shows summer sense,

gains vitamin D in keeping cool

but men in shorts still in the winter

perhaps lack trousers, train as sprinter

or else just think they're looking cool

when really they lack common sense. 

Adolescence

I didn't talk to you

or touch you for I knew

that if I did the world

would crack and we be hurled

into a sinking sea

to watch each other drown.

Perhaps you dreamed of joy

believing girl and boy

could float on tidal waves

and find a beach that saves.

Now I can't face your free

uncomprehending frown.

Swim Stroke

Who chose such a silly name?

Fluttering used to label strength;

frailty mis-applied to power

plunging headlong down the length.

Surely nature can do better -

some improvement would be 'penguin'.

Or else use 'porpoise'. Why not 'dolphin' ?

Butterflies can't even swim !

After watching Bruno v Tyson

I had a peculiar dream

of a party with men and women guests

and some more in between.

And nobody knew who was intersex

but nobody minded telling

and nobody cared yet everyone cared

and everybody was gelling.

I try to do the washing up

immediately after the meal

or else the residue of food 

that's left will just congeal

and be much harder to remove

needing extra zeal.

Isn't that the way it is

also when we argue ?

The leftovers of hot dispute

will cool and stick like glue

unless we wipe the plate clean

immediately we're through.