A DEAR FRIEND
R U F U S B E A R
My name is Rufus, Rufus Bear
I love the peaceful country air
Avoid the stress of Cleveleys' street
Where shoppers all my calm defeat!
'Prefer a a walk, no "madding crowd"
'Like sunshine, please, no rain and cloud
Foul Covid not so good for me
'Need travelling to set me free!
A peaceful place, like Beacon Fell
And Cyprus too, to "ring my bell"!
A walk with friends on Christmas Day
But England, please, in 'month of May!
Humidity... no good for me
A garden view, bird on a tree
When it's too hot, a Cyprus pool
I'm in the shade, nobody's fool!
Missing Pinkers, Uncle Peter
Try a walk to Anarita?
Timi, time to plan some walking?
'Stead of all that "coastal talking"?
Oft in the sack, that "poet" leads
A squirrel with some nuts he feeds
Himself a "nutter", 'has his street (Cleveleys)
Two metres?... many shoppers meet!
Soon on a plane, with pal B.T. (Baby Ted)
'Look down on fav'rite "Meddy Sea"
In Pafos 'land, Sharon awaits
"Then welcome, Ruf', to Heaven's Gates!"
His friends there too, Albert, Chantal (French)
A doggie too, his little pal (Kevin)
A comfy sofa, ocean view
You've guessed it too... with problems few!
I'm loving music, Catherine sing' (partner)
Baloo, Belynda, song "takes wing"
A Chopin waltz, Beethoven... more
With Schubert too, our spirits soar!
Idyllic life, with many walks
With Enid, J' (*), 'have many walks
I raise a glass to many trips (A boozy bear?)
A sip of Whisky pass' my lips! Yiamas! xx 23/03/2021 xx
(*) Jeanette xx
KALIMERA, CYPRUS!
W I S H I W A S T H E R E !
I yearn to walk along a Pafos shore
The sun is shining, peaceful is the scene
We're meeting friends and soon our spirits soar
Dear Jenny says: "We wonder where you've been?" (J.Seaman)
Hear music, Andrew's streaming opera song
The waves are lapping, lighthouse bows its head
The harbour's empty, gone the tourist throng
The sun is setting, with a glow of red
We're walking soon, a new day... Sea Caves' view
Dear Sharon smiling, planning Wednesday "stroll" (I bet!)
Remember now the Happy Wand'rers' "crew"
When finding tracks became our special goal!
I close my eyes and Pafos disappears
Instead the sight of Blackpool's famous piers... Amen 21/05/2020 xx
MEMORIES OF CYPRUS WALKING
N O M O R E H A P P Y W A L K S ?
No more Dear Georgie Bates to climb a hill
No more those happy voices Wednesday morn'
No more Rod Mayor's briefings all to thrill! (Help!)
A chapter closing, Hastings: Brand-new dawn!
No "Spring Of Life-ing", time to say "Goodbye"
A Leon pouring, Mark and Donald smile
A private tear is falling, 'heave a sigh
'Reflect on ten year's walking for a while
My sticks are lying, limp, cool GPS
'Hear raucous laughter, 'Rickerby to cheer!
We'll miss our Happy Friends, we must confess
Dear Keomann, he loves his Cyprus beer
To Walkers Dear, we raise a parting glass
"It's been a ball!", alas: "All Good Things Pass!" 25/04/2020
Updated from 04/04/2013, for Heinz Hube xxxx
S T R A N G E T I M E S !
D I F F I C U L T C H O I C E S ?
A nightingale o'er Coral Bay
I wonder what it's got to "say"?
"There's no one walking on the beach
This paradise is out of reach!"
Police, so busy... giving fines
And NO one parking 'yellow lines" (Really?)
It feels so eerie, birds won't sing
"I guess this virus is the king?"
Ten thousand steps, a daily walk..
Or... by the pool some beer and talk?
P's opting for a little drink
And then another, with a wink!
From U.K. Club... a daily quiz
And you can guess..'got lots of fizz!
Or is that just Prosecco, Dear?
Perhaps.. a glass of Keo Beer? (What choices!)
So many choices, walks or drink.....
What does Dear Peter really think?
A lounger or some cooling swims?
Large cup of tea or glass of Pimms?
We guess it's Pafos or U.K.?
I wonder what Dear Pete will say?
I'm staying put, no B.J. here! (How lucky!)
And reaches for another beer!
The sun is shining, painting done
'Guess isolating can be fun?..
Unless you're back in Mansfield Town
'Prefer to smile and never frown!
That perfect scene: a pool-side meal
A day of rain has no appeal
The choice is made, P's gone to sleep
And I'm collapsing in a heap! Happy Peyia 19/04/2020 xx
D A Y O F L O V E !
M E M O R I E S O F J O E !
"Unerneath The Arches"
Grandad used to sing
Strauss 'chose for his marches
Singing was his "thing"!
Playing spoons, he's smiling
'Hear a "rum-te-tum"
All of this I'm filing
Singing with my mum?
Ilkley, still he's singing
"Cliffs of Dover" thrill
Time for food, bell ringing
Warms the Winter Chill (February 1987)
Even when he's fading
Melodies recall
Mem'ry bank I'm raiding
Jazzman, Kenny Ball
"Something Simple" singing
Rocking to-and-fro
'Heaven's door he's "winging"
Let that cancer go!
For Dear Joe, 'still grieving
Playing Chopin piece
Warm thanks now receiving
From death's grip release!
Kenneth Dodd expiring
Tickling stick no more
Of his jokes, not tiring
'Love them more and more!
Ken and Joe we're toasting
Hugs from all the world
Day of Love I'm hosting
Flags of peace unfurled! Updated 17/04/2020 xxx
DESERTED STREETS!
A L L C L O S E D !
Dear Comfort Zone, as closed you stay
Perhaps beyond the end of May?
A prayer we send to those in need
Great privilege our friends to feed
And Blackpool Town, deserted too
No tourists here... Give us a clue!
A virus, striking rich and poor
Great prayers we're needing, more and more
The B and Bs are empty, sad
No trains arrive, it's really bad!
The Big One silent, Pleasure Beach
No trams run either... out of reach!
No cafes open, "Peppermill"
And me, I've lots of time to kill
I hope our clients are well fed
We used to give them daily bread
A place to sleep, no alleyway
Stay warm and safe, for this we pray
Like all of us, 'need hope and peace
Please, from dire poverty realease!
We're thinking of the NHS
They're heroes all, we must confess
Those care homes, needing lots of help
Hear cries of joy, no dying yelp!
A police car passes, on patrol
'Keep people safe, it is their goal
'Can only hear a noisy gull
When they are here, life's never dull! (Really?)
Dear Comfort Zone, we'll open soon
We're planning for a date in June! (Really?)
Until that time, stay safe and smile
As "poet" leaves the Golden Mile 14/04/2020. For "Comfort Friends" xx
H A P P Y T I M E S (S O N N E T)
A L L T H I N G S M U S T P A S S !
Oh, Happy Times, with ev'ry day the same!
The sky is blue, when will we have our walk?
'Watch "Jerry Vine", a man of greatest fame.....
Now could I guess the topic of the talk?
Inventing fifty ways to read a book
I start at Chapter Twelve... and then reverse
'Reduced to watching: "Ready, Steady, Cook!"
It's all a part of dreaded "virus curse"!
But soon I enter garden's pleasure place
I'm sitting on our bench and eyes soon close
Not even wanting screeching gulls to chase?
The Beauty of Dear Nature, growing rose
"All Things Must Pass", I play a diff'rent "tune"
Release from grip of danger will be soon! (Ask Mr. Trump!)
13/04/2020 xxxx
"W H A T ' S N E X T?
"S T R I C T L Y P I N K I E"
'Nother day: "What are you planning?"
Are you "bottle-ing or canning"?
Orange juice or Keo Beer?...
'Think the juice might send you queer!
Little walk to rusting tanker?
Conversation with a banker?
Book a holiday to France?
We know Pinkie likes romance?
Fifty circuits of the pool, please!
April, might be cool for P's knees!
'Long the coast, meet Andrew O' (Herr Oliver)
How he loves his music so!
Fine Pucini, maybe singing?
Soon you will be "ding-a-linging"
P'rhaps the Beatles: "Love Me Do"?
Hollies hire a "Bus-Stop Crew"?
How about some "Pooly Cleaning?
Searching for a hidden meaning?
Davy Jones' Locker's here
Serving cooling Leon Beer (Yiamas!)
'Bet you're planning loads of walking
Droushia 'stead of distant Dorking?
GPS is in your hand
Time to form your "Peyia Band"?
Play a trumpet, 'hear your trilling..
Pete would rather hear some drilling?
Dancing: Agios Georgios place
"Strictly Pinkie"...Really ace?
'Nother day, What are you planning?
How about some poolside tanning?
Prostrate with a glass in hand
Yes, this is the promised land! 09/04/2020.
T H A T P E Y I A Q U E E N !
T R A V E L L I N G T I M E
What y'er doing, Peyia Pinkie?
Leading walks before I "blinkie"? (Likely?)
Only problem... You've got Pete
Has he still got walking feet?
'Long the coast, a lighthouse passing
All those steps you are "amassing"
Twenty thousand ev'ry day....
Ending up in Coral Bay!
Yialos tavern'... and you're walking
Not a lot of "footie talking"?
Never mind, 'find "Cowboys" here....
And a glass of Keo Beer! (Or six!)
Magic carpet, safe and easy
This won't make your chest so wheezy!
Rising in the atmosphere
Glass of wine and.... Leon Beer!
Not much sign of Wanderers hiking?
Tony Rafe, I guess, still biking?
Soaring over Koili Hill
Can you see Dear Pollard Bill?
Three o'clock, it's time for wine-ing
'Got a picnic, "High-rise dining"
"Splendid!", that's the way to fly
Carpet's wonky... 'Wonder why??
Nearby island, where you're landing
"Swimming back, not so demanding?"
Strap the carpet to your back
Trying crawl, P's got the knack!
Tandem-Time, as back you're going
Rather wobbly, to-and-froing!
Fast asleep by half past nine
"Travelling Life is so divine!" 06/04/2020. xxxx
"C H A P E A U X B A S !"
Y I A L O S T A V E R N A
Dear Yialos tavern', sun is beating down
See Pete and Margaret, glasses in their hand
Sea Bream is cooking, soon efface all frown
Pete telling me: "This is the Promised Land!"
Relaxing day, a walk before we eat
A Sea Caves' view, it takes my breath away
I know Don' Fin', unlikely him to meet....
His memory won't spoil our splendid day!
The meal arrives 'begin to salivate
Such quality, we give this place Five Stars
Another Leon, What an awful fate!
A peaceful haven, not one sign of cars!
We thank our friends, unique this special place
We're leaving, only smiles upon our face'! "Yiamas!"
05/04/2020 xxxx
P A F O S..... O R.....C L E V E L E Y S?
T H I S A N D T H A T
"Knicker Corner" (Washing Time)
Fine Jack Horner
"Braveheart", written by James Horner
Birds are tweeting, sparrows fly
High into fine Cleveleys' sky
Amargeti
T's Spaghetti (Tina, "Spring of Life")
Georgie Bates still is the Yeti"
Donkey track to thrill the soul
Peaceful walking is our goal
Magic Money
"Land of Honey"
Sleeping rough is NOT so funny! (Blackpool!)
Looking after those "off-shore"
'Bet they're paying tax no more!
Pinkie! Pinkie!
Tinkie-Winkie!...
Partial to the "smallest drinkie"?
'Syphons down a liter wine
Sea Caves' Life is so divine!
Pinkie's Island
Could be our land?
Better than that Brexit England?
"Yialos" tavern', food divine
Tingles going down my spine!
"Question-Time-ing"
Poet rhyming
Happiness we're only mime-ing?
England 'bout to sail away
Europe really "Had its day"?
"Wander Happy"
Swift and snappy
Oldest walker wears a nappy?
Hiking till your'e ninety-two?
Underneath a sky of blue
Pafos, Preston
Eastern, Western
Still, I have my walking-vest on!
Strolling through a leafy wood
'Have both "worlds", that's if I could!
Updated for Lady Pinkie, 04/04/2020 xxxx
This started with the washing in our garden in Anchorsholme!