Philip - Age ( Well a few years ago!) The Rocking Horse Riding, riding, riding along, My horse is so faithful, His back is so strong. Riding, riding, riding so free, Riding for his sake, And riding for me. Riding, riding, riding some more, I’m such a brave soldier, And not yet reached four. Riding, riding, riding till when, My mother says bedtime, It’s night time again. © 1999 Philip G. Bell The following poem is the despair of most parents at some time or other - years later its funny! Overflow! argle gargle spluttery glug Spit in the basin Pull out the plug Sloosh around the water Splash it on the floor Slip on a bar of soap And crash into the door argle gargle spluttery glug Devil in the bathroom lying on the rug Run the bath and shower As fast as they will go Mix a lot of bath foam And make it overflow argle gargle spluttery glug A tiny little tearaway dying for a hug Mommy calls, it’s teatime Leave it all to flow Oh look the water’s following And running down below argle gargle spluttery glug And just who was responsible? The answer’s just a shrug. © 2000 Philip G. Bell My daughter when younger used to get annoyed when people spelled her name wrong. I wrote this in memory of those days Lissa There are two s’s in my name I’ve told you all before One is insufficient It’s becoming quite a bore There are two s’s in my name i’m cross as I can be One’s a different person Two is really me So if you cannot get it right Please don’t communicate By letter or by email It’s something that I hate! © 1999 Philip G. Bell Memories of small children watching the first flakes of snow ...... Alone it falls The lonely snowflake Formed by chance, To perform a dance In the Winter air. A flake of beauty Crystalline, Concubine Of the Winter King. Floating to and fro, Frosted here, Wind sheer, Tumbling down. Touches a childs finger Cold felt, Warmth melt Into an angels tear. The child smiles. Thoughts of some More to come. A gift of Winter snow. © 1999 Philip G. Bell I like nothing better on a summer's day than to sit by a river and watch nature's performance Riverbank Theatre All along the riverside Soft sounds fill the air Grass lined auditorium Birds and Crickets share Stage lit by crescent moon Reflections from the river Owl hoots his midnight call Making listeners shiver And so the curtain rises Upon this nightly play Till dawn itself arises Welcoming the day © 1999 Philip G. Bell That special beach moment! Sun, Sand and Surf  In precious plains of sand swept shores Kissed by the ocean spray I lie Soaking in the rays of the yellow sun And the sea breeze cools my skin  And as I rise and run towards the waters edge I enter that first moment of bliss When my feet skim the surface Aquaplaning until the depth applies the brakes  My upper torso thrusts forward into a dive And the adrenaline rushes through my heart As the cold water flows over my body And that strange mix of water and sand rushes past  I rise above the surface my head shaking left and right Hair sweeping water droplets around Picking up that rainbow from the sun And I gasp for breath - Life's ecstasy.   © 2000, Philip G. Bell

(Poetry Club - Poem of the Week and Month Winner) The following poem is really about me ! Thinking Jamie was a thinker, Thinking oh so much. Jamie thought of lots of things, Of this and that and such. Jamie had a special thought, And kept it deep inside. Jamie wouldn’t tell this thought, But would rather run and hide. A penny for your thoughts today, His Aunt would often say. But Jamie wouldn’t answer this, He’d rather scoot away. As Jamie grew, the thoughts grew too, With so much on his mind. His head grew heavy and weighed him down, It really was unkind. A dear close friend then spoke to him, Hey Jamie you must share. Your head is full, you soon will burst, And that is very rare. So Jamie talked of what he thought, And soon he could not stop. On and on, through night and day, And then his friend went “Pop”! © 1999 Philip G. Bell Comparing me with Tea? Illustrates the child inside me! The Me Pot I have a little me pot To brew some good strong me This is how to do it To make the finest me First you make the mettle To bring right to the boil Fill all of life’s true essence Pure, so not to spoil Warm the little me pot Before you add the me Then just one extra spoonful For you and thou and thee Then add the boiling essence Upon the blended me Allow to brew so gently Before you pour out me. Prepare the cup of life my friend With the milk of kindness flow Add sweetness if desired Until I am just so © 2000 Philip G. Bell My favourite soup of all time - Water Cress Soup Oh Master soup Thou hast a way Of warming bowls Upon the tray And just as warm The spoon that takes Your liquid form Creating wakes Eddies warming In the mouth Oh blessed soup Is heading south And when its gone Content doth rule An empty bowl  Is now to cool © 1999 Philip G. Bell My wife and I have been married since September 9th 1972 - This poem is perhaps the briefest way of describing our time together Me and ‘er ing Me and her have been together now for many, many years Our lives have thus been bonded by many, many tears But love keeps us together in spite of many, many fears So when at sea, our love boat returns To many, many piers © 2000 Philip G. Bell That wonderful warm feeling when you have something to share with a loved one. Isn’t it? Isn’t it wonderful? Isn’t it grand? Isn’t it beautiful? This is our land. Isn’t it early? Isn’t it late? Isn’t it timely? Here at the gate. Isn’t it our house? Isn’t it great? Isn’t it fortunate? Here is our fate. Isn’t it time now? Isn’t it so? Isn’t a family? Now on the go. Isn’t it terrible? Isn’t it known? Isn’t it past time? Children are grown. Isn’t it wonderful? Isn’t it bold? Isn’t this land in? Autumnal gold. Isn’t this the last year? Isn’t this our life? Isn’t this true love? My darling wife. © 1999 Philip G. Bell   Friendship is special, sometimes a friend is just there to listen True Friends Listen When the sky is falling When the walls are down When light has turned to dark When trust is broken When flowers wilt When the future seems so stark When all have left When cares are broke When nothing seems to mend When you’re really down When you need to cry You only need one friend © 2000 Philip G. Bell This Church is in Newcastle on Tyne. My Grandfather & Grandmother were married and their children baptised here. St. Michael's  There's a church in a city Stands all alone One priest to look over Our sins to atone  Built for the people But they are all gone The houses demolished Redevelopment won  Surrounded by industry D.I.Y. Depots are top You pass by too quickly No need to stop  A lonely old priest Devoted he cares But the futures not bright Except for his prayers  There's a church in a city Stands all alone But my heart is still there Embedded in stone    © 2000 Philip G. Bell