never give in [writing task sixteen] (Villanelle)

When life strikes you take it on the chin
absorb it all and you'll be fine
remember: never give up, never give in.

And when your patience is wearing thing
with calmness you must align,
when life strikes you take it on the chin.

And when their words penetrate your skin,
where all your pride is on the line
Remember: never give up, never give in.

When you find that your head is in a spin
start thinking straight, just like your spine,
when life strikes you take it on the chin.

Start to think: losing control is a sin,
it is us our actions do define,
Remember: never give up, never give in.

In the end you will be first to grin,
your character will forever shine.
When life strikes you take it on the chin,
Remember: never give up, never give in.

you [writing task fifteen] (ballad)

I wait for my screen to light up
and then i see your name,
I read your message with a smile
I hope you feel the same.

I had to make sure I was sure
That how i felt was true,
But you just bring me so much joy,
I grin because of you.

We joke and say some stupid things,
'broken' you label me,
but my judgement is clear as day,
you're silly, you don't see.

You make me laugh and I want to try
and make you do the same,
I just hope my stupid attempts
don't make you think i'm lame.

I wouldn't say I need someone
to base my life around,
but for you and your companionship
i'm mighty glad I've found.

Go back to you're own country [writing task thirteen]

I believe it's hardly fair to blame
if they come for a better life,
upsticks and leave their family
to remedy their unemployed strife.

I too would leave a system
where there is no welfare state
and i'd work for pittance a day
to keep food on my plate.

I wouldn't want my children
to grow up and go without,
but we are far more concerned
by the nation's money going out

of a country so patriotic that
they don't celebrate their own saints day
and then complain when any other
nationalities get their own say.

"Go back to your own country"
a vocal tirade of abuse,
and use the fact it's where they were born
as a grounds and justifying excuse.

So when you blame them for taking
all 'our' work and jobs,
instead see them as actually trying
to be less like you benefit slobs.

My Grandad's shoes [writing task twelve]

Virtual blue, 208 active
with that lion badge on the front and back
the same one on my favorite childhood videotape,
and that Remote control car you bought me for Christmas; 206 W.R.C edition,
and the others that also parked on this drive.
fourteen hundred you say, two door, nippy, sporty.
ninety-five brake, nought to sixty-two in eight, I mention.
It's not the GTI model, but to me it might as well be,
fourteen grand you paid, my early nineteenth present,
you didn't want me to break down going to uni.
I joke about coilovers and new alloy wheels.

I wear your shoes that you used to take me back to school in,
you don't want my feet to get wet
or me to wreck my 'new' trainers.
We are the same height now, and neither of us stops being busy.
You're the reason i'm here, we are here,
the car is here.

I pop the bonnet and you top up the screenwash,
then hoover as you damp cloth the plastics
and shake out the mats as you wipe the seals.
Quick spray with the hose.
"mind yourself, you'll get wet"
you say before you almost drench me.
Lather up the shampoo and apply panel by panel,
Clean off the mud and unspoken words of the last 200 miles,
and rinse.
"It's a bit damp, too damp for wax today."
We spread the water with Nan's old pajamas,
using then for now.
Paintbrush the alloys and rinse,
stand back,
Admire.

"It's a good little car"
Thanks for doing this,
"it's a pleasure."

Think [writing task eleven]

Don't you think we have an uncanny knack
of saying things before we think or
have thought them through, although
they do contain a degree of truth?
A prime example:
through the tears and screams
you jump conclusions and say things
as they seem,
without full judgement. One sided. Defense or Prosecution.
But who are we to judge by evidence worded,
with more emotion than self-control
or regard for the future that might unfold
and present moments that are all around.
How can we admit what it is we want
When we don't know or feel
all our thoughts touch ground?
And yet we think we know what it is we want
but really we only think that we think we know,
What we want and what we actually get is
a product of uncontrollable factors, a huge budget
we never feel amongst our fingers.
And through a lack of thinking the truth upsets
and a lack of composure wraps us up in regret
you should forgive as well as forget
because it's harder to absorb than it is to deflect.

the Dichotomy [writing task ten] (sonnet)

Just like the living need warm sun rays
to warm the blood around their heart,
just like the nights require the days
we believe we need a counterpart.
Some dreams are too selfish to share,
I want to become all I long to be
as well as find someone to care,
I must appreciate me for me.
We must be similar to work
herself she must be to be my lover,
I will embrace all of her quirks
we must accept all of the other.
But it's all facade to reject the known
that we are all born to die alone.