Carole

Last revised: February 04, 2008

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Emotions from the heart

Carole Horton

A year in the life of a Bat - June 15th 2002

What do you know about BATS
cus' I have a story to tell
of these small and warm blooded mammals
The most seen - the small Pipistrelle.

This BAT could fit in a matchbox
It swoops over woodlands and Park
catching thousands of fly's and insects
at night when it's just getting dark.

The Daubenton's wingspan is larger
It swoops over rivers and lakes
It's high pitched sound tells it just what's around
by the echo from calling it makes.

BATS are furry with hair on their bodies
They're the only mammals to fly
Their wings like hands of a human
with skin stretched between flapping high

Early summer it's time for their rebirth
In autumn, well mating's the thing
Then they hibernate in the winter
and are terribly hungry in spring

On our BAT WALK we all had detectors
cus' the sounds were too high pitched to hear
We walked round in groups, I asked questions
cus' I'd wished for this outing all year

Remember that BATS are protected
You mustn't disturb them or harm
cus' each year there get fewer and fewer
They're not vicious so please all stay calm

So, if you have a BAT in your roof space
Just hanging about out of sight
Please don't be afraid or uneasy
They're a wonderful flying delight

*****

October 7th 1979

Olympus OM10 Camera Set

Bob longed to have a camera
and too many years had passed
'I've seen the one I want,' he said
'I'm having it at last'

We had regular hire purchase
at 250 pounds a time
'That's just enough to get it
so it's going to be mine'

I'd wanted a wall unit
and we argued with each other
From Monday until Friday
I'll go back home to mother

Saturday I went to work
rushing to and fro
Bob knows he's chauvinistic
he tells everybody so

I needed time away from him
he'd gone “his” own sweet way
And today's my mother's birthday
it was my excuse to stay

So I caught the bus to Birmingham
feeling in a state
We'll be better off apart I thought
while my heart is filled with hate

But Bob arrived to get me
his “EGO” had a dent
'You can't go running home to mum
with every argument'

I had to have some time alone
my “IDOL” lost his glitter
And in 15 years of marriage
I had never felt so bitter

'I hope you love that camera set
it meant more than our home
I thought you'd like a weekend
“snapping” on your selfish own'

That camera's caused much bitterness
throughout the years ahead
Bob's forgetful and on outings
it got left at home instead

A marriage should be compromise
and you talk til both agree
So we finally got the matter straight
when “he” agreed with me

Carole Horton

*****

1985

You want a job

You're very scared, that smile's pretence
you haven't got the confidence
But a job won't come – go out and look
think of the courage others took

Their job's secure, but there was a day
when they were scared to pathe “their” way
Think of the work you'd like to do
then write off for an interview

You'll feel so good once you've applied
and can say with truth 'at least I've tried'
Then you'll look back with pride immense
to when you hadn't got the confidence

Carole Horton

*****

Evening in February 1988

Mom has come to visit, but with her you cannot win
'close the curtains properly Bob, people can see in'
It really is unbearable to ask her up to visit
be pleasant mom, be happy, that's not asking too much is it?

I can't enjoy her company when I have to hear her groan
Do this, do that, fetch my pills and moan, moan, moan, moan, moan
We poured more tea, she had more toast, I knelt down by her chair
I reminded her to take her pills whilst she'd got them there

And then I read my verses and reminded her of things
That happened in the “golden days” – what pleasure the past brings
She listened and she laughed a lot and asked me to read more
So I felt a little closer, but how long will this be for?

Carole Horton

*******

'LES MISERABLES' by Carole Horton

28th June 1997

Bob bought tickets for a Musical
One I'd never cared to see
So he bought two early films of it
They soon enraptured me

Love, honour and compassion
My reluctance was to fade
As this touching, moral story
moved into the barricade

We bought the Concert Video
and we learnt the songs by heart
and with the special friend we took
were captured from the start

This 18th Century story
of a man who stole some bread
was befriended by a Bishop
had to hide til almost dead

It drew out our emotions
We were trembling when the drums
began to bang with words they sang
of 'LIFE WHEN TOMORROW COMES'

Carole Horton

JUST ANOTHER DAY AT WORK

Wednesday 8th April 1998

I looked out of my office window
I'd be sure to get caught in the rain
It looked like the heavens would open
It was gloomy and grey once again

I ran to my car through the puddles
It had suddenly come down so fast
I had to stop off for some groceries
so I hoped that the rain wouldn't last

When I entered the road from the car-park
I felt lucky to still be alive
cus' the window wipers did nothing
to help me see clearly to drive

In Morrison's Store claps of thunder
crashed down on the roof overhead
I wish that I just had not bothered
and kept on the road home instead

The store was in temporary darkness
which was quite an uneasy feeling
Everyone ducked when the next thunderous crash
sent dust falling down from the ceiling

The shopping now wasn't important
I didn't need any of this
I ran with haste to the 'emergency till'
with the thought of just getting home bliss

As I ran with my bags I was shaking
so I sat calming down in my car
thinking I shouldn't be driving in this
Still, Barton is not very far

So I drove having made my decision
through the rain like a sheet "What a Day"
But I knew that tea topped with whisky
would soon have me feeling OK

MY GARDEN
8:00pm - 1st June 2002

I watch all the birds
and I admire the flowers
I could sit in my garden
for hours and hours

The swaying of leaves
and the cool night air
There's nothing more pleasant
than just sitting there

The colour, the fragrance
The dwarfs by our pond
I feel as if God's waved
his magical wand.

The housemartin's high
and the Swift's flying low
My heart's in this garden
wherever I go.

Copyright Carole Horton 2002

Copyright 2005 Michael Coatesworth and Original Authors All rights reserved. Note: No part of any material on this and other pages can be reproduced in any way without any of the author's written permission. All rights remain with the author.

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