Author: Sue Young

The Stress Of Moving Home

I’ve gotten too big for my shell

Said the hermit crab

It really is too tight

It’s getting awfully uncomfortable

I need to put this right

I can’t swing a cat inside this home

Although I wouldn’t try

I can’t stretch my claws

I can’t even yawn

It just makes me want to cry

But it’s alright

For I have spied

A nice big shell quite still

I think it belonged to a sea snail

I’ll bagsy that I will

I’m pretty sure it’s empty

I think that shell’s ‘To Let’

I think he’s defo left it

I think that’s a sure bet

There’s no ‘For Sale’ sign

And there’s even a welcome rug

Oh it’s so big and roomy

I won’t be snug as a bug

I can have wild parties in this shell

Now I’ll never be alone

I really love this shell

There’s no stress of moving home.

Man or Mouse

Are you a man or a mouse

Is an outdated phrase

Quite sexist when you think

Sounds strange these days

We’re wise enough to know

We have to be brave

Can’t hide away

Or go live in a cave

Need to get away from the dark

Walk away from the pain

Embrace the future

The past has no gain

Courage is a friend

It has invested in you

Waits behind the cloud

Waits for your cue

After courage comes happiness

Elusive though it seems

Don’t give up on life

Don’t give up on your dreams

Life is for the taking

It’s yours and it’s mine

Reach out – be brave

Be strong this time

Walk down the long road

Move slowly if you must

At the end of it you’ll find

Love and light and trust

If things are bad

And you’re feeling really low

Then upwards my friend

Is the only way to go

So, no more darting about

With frustration and fear

No more twitching whiskers

No more pink little ears

Go into the light

Get out of the house

Go after your dreams

Stop being a mouse.

Evening

Snow lies thick on evenings gown

The colour suits her well

Dusk shines palest yellow

Upon her curve and swell

And as she moves across the land

Her many jewels fall down

The snowflakes are her necklace pearls

The stars above – her crown

The charming moon, now round and cold

Steps out from darkened cloud with flair

To add the merest touch of gold

To brighten up her hair

As tall, dark night draws closer

Evening strides away

She says she won’t be taken in

By his invitation to stay

But it’s far too late for her

Though she swears she’ll not let him win

With a long and gentle sigh

She softly yields to him.

Double Quote Of The Week

I love Nora Ephron. Sadly, she is no longer with us but her spirit lives on and I’m re-reading some of her stuff. I couldn’t decide between these two quotes, so I thought, I’ll do both.

‘Many years ago, when I was in analysis, my therapist used to say, “Love is homesickness.” What she meant was that you tend to fall in love with someone who reminds you of one of your parents. This, of course, is one of those things that analysts always say even though it really isn’t true. Just about anyone on the planet is capable of reminding you of something about one of your parents, even if it’s only a dimple.’

I tend to agree with most of Nora’s musings, but I don’t agree with this one. I side more with the analyst.

And second quote: ‘I now believe that what my mother meant when she said ‘Everything is copy’ is this: When you slip on a banana peel , people laugh at you; but when you tell people you slipped on a banana peel, it’s your laugh. So you become the hero rather than the victim of the joke.’

From ‘I Feel Bad About My Neck’ – Nora Ephron

Little Grey Men

You’re a little grey man

Glib and benign

Charismatic too

A very bad sign

No empathy or guilt

No conscience or remorse

Impulsive, grandiose

And callous of course

Lying is your forte

It’s the best you can be

Manipulative and cunning

That’s you to a T

With your superficial charm

As your main claim to fame

You charmed the socks off me

Again and again

Could have fooled me forever

But the truth is out

I’ve got your number

I know what you’re about

You didn’t succeed

I think you had a fail

I dodged that bullet

Escaped that jail

Little grey men

And women are here

Blending in so well

That they almost disappear

In families and at work

Among our very kin

Pretending to be nice

Destroying from within

Kings and Queens of the cowards

There’s many of them

They don’t deal in colour

These grey woman and men

Wolf in sheep’s pelt

They hide from the light

They’re very good at hiding

Right here in plain sight

When I meet your like again

I can’t guarantee

That I won’t be burned again

Another time or three

You go on your way

I took back all you stole

But psychopath-remember now

I SEE you by your soul

Quote Of The Week

‘In making my first appearance before the public, who have treated me well- in fact I may say I am as comfortable now as I was uncomfortable before. I must now bid my kind readers adieu.’

-Joseph Merrick from The Autobiography Of Joseph Merrick (from The True History Of The Elephant Man – Michael Howell and Peter Ford)

Joseph’s Favourite Verse:

‘Was I so tall, could reach the pole

Or grasp the ocean with a span

I would be measured by the soul

The mind’s the standard of the man’

– Isaac Watts