The cocoa bean is innocent. It’s man that makes it sinful.
I can’t just eat one little piece, I eat it by the binfull.
There’s milk, and plain and bitter sweet, each on it’s own is lawful.
But I can’t stop, I eat them all, I give in and it’s awful.

Oh, bitter sweet is heavenly, and plain is just divine.
And fruit and nut cannot be beat; I eat it all the time.
Pure chocolate is wonderful, so why am I complaining?
It’s just, and I’m ashamed to say, I’m useless at abstaining.

A bar of chocolate in my hand I’m like a beast that’s grazing.
And every single greedy bite is totally amazing.
When they bring out a new delight I feel that I’m in clover.
And so my clothes are far too tight, my bra cup runneth over.

Oh why do the confectioners keep making new creations?
And try to make another sweet to add to my temptations?
They gather the ingredients combined to sheer perfection.
And make the ultimate in sin…immaculate confection.

The leaf fluttered down like a wounded bird
But before it touched the ground
The wind caught it up in a merry dance
And it spun the leaf around.

It rose and it fell and it glided on
And turned circles in the air.
It cried to the wind “I owe you so much
I knew I was born to fly.

For all through my life I have felt confined
With my life stuck in a tree.
But now at my end I can be content
For at last my soul flies free.

The clock stopped dead at half past four,
The time that Steve died in the war.
The bread and cheese were cut for tea,
And we all prayed for victory

Before we ate we stood to pray,
Not knowing Steve had died that day.
We prayed that God would stop the war.
Just as the clock struck half past four.

Our son, nineteen, so full of joy,
To fight for country, still a boy,
He’d been called up one month before,
And died that day at half past four.

Whilst in a field, far over sea.
Whilst we were sitting down for tea.
There would be tea for him no more.
The bullet struck at half past four.

How many lives were lost that day?
How many futures blown away?
How many hearts would beat no more?
The clock’s, and Steve’s, at half past four?

No more we hear the clock bell chime.
Like us, it ceased to know the time.
Like other casualties of war,
For us, time died at half past four.

Rays
When no sun can be seen in the sky,
And the day is at it’s blackest,
When the storm is raging over head,
And you are buffeted about in the wind.
When all around you is being tossed by the gale
There is always a silver lining waiting in the wings.
As the clouds pass above you, remember,
The sun is still there, although out of sight.
Waiting to shine down on you,
To warm you and light your way.
Be still, when you least expect it,
There will be a gap. However small,
It will be big enough to reveal a ray of light.
A promise of the calm to come.
A reminder that the sun is never far away.

And also remember this.
As the sun is hidden behind the clouds,
The rays are a promise of the hidden sun,
They are a pale shadow of the Son of God.
And He too is still there, unseen, waiting to shine upon you.
Sending out rays of hope to a desperate world.

Rainbow
Do not love the sun and yet run from the rain.
Don’t bask in your happiness, wallow in pain.
Remember I’m with you wherever you go.
And I send the rain to make every thing grow.
I’m crying there with you each time that you weep.
And through times of testing your roots can grow deep.
So dearly beloved, when skies appear grey.
Remember, the rainbow is not far away.

Practise random kindness and senseless acts of beauty,
A gentle word of comfort, a kiss before goodbye.
Take the time to listen and spread a ray of sunshine,
And give the world a present to leave before you die.

Life is but a journey, each day a new beginning,
So paint the sky with laughter, no matter where you are.
Share the pain of others and never be judgmental,
And speak in gentle whispers, a prayer can travel far.

Give when least expected, a rose has many petals,
So scatter them before you wherever you may go.
Keep each doorway open and leave a candle burning
And shine in people’s presence and leave a welcome glow.

Learn to be forgiving, be there when others need you,
And in a place of darkness find how to spread the light.
Know the more you’re giving somebody’s load is lightened
You’ll find the world you live in will fill you with delight.

Listen when G-d calls you and hear what He is saying
And open up your heart to the One who is to come.
And if we all obey Him, then heaven will be closer,
And that would be my wish for the new millennium.

The penguin is a loving soul,
He only has one wife.
He takes a fancy to a bird,
Then sticks with her for life.

They wander over craggy rocks
And catch fish in the sea.
They frolic over sandy shores,
As happy as can be.

And when it comes to mating time
The female does her best,
And sets about collecting stones
With which to make her nest.

So many penguins gathering
So spare stones may be few,
And if she hasn’t quite enough
What is a girl to do?

And here this tale of webbed feet bliss
Becomes less black and white.
For Mrs has been known to stray
When hubby’s out of sight.

But don’t condemn this clever girl
‘Till all the facts are known.
She’ll only love another male
If he gives her a stone.

How like the female of our kind
This won’t come as a shock.
A diamond may be girl’s best friend,
But penguins love a rock!

He’s untidy…I am neat
He’s aggressive…I am sweet
I dress smartly…he’s a slob
I wish he’d get a job!

I’m polite and he is he is rude
I’m genteel and he is crude
He is Labour, he is Tory
All the books he reads are gory.

I like giving…he is mean
He drops litter…I’ve gone green
I play Chopin…he plays noise
He stays out drinking with the boys.

I speak softly…he just yells
I love bathing…yes…he smells
I move quickly…he goes slow
He isn’t very nice to know

I am truthful…he tells lies
He is foolish…I am wise
I am gentle…he is rough
And I’ve really had enough

He is lazy…I’m his slave
I just want him to behave
But when all is said and done
I have to love him…he’s my son!

There’s a place my heart belongs,
Land of sights and smells and songs,
Poor man’s rights and rich man’s wrongs
Called South Africa

Orange skies and turquoise sea
Rolling hills of greenery
Vast majestic scenery
Glowing Africa

Wealthy whitewashed bungalows
Olive trees in perfect rows
Vineyards where the nectar flows
Rich South Africa

There’s another kind of sea
Spread as far as eyes can see
Lives of pain and poverty
In  South Africa

Townships where the poor  reside
Hovels squashed in side by side
Scenes which  mark the vast divide
Here in Africa

Forty homes, one lavatory
Rotting food, unsanitary
This is not how life should be
But it’s Africa

Beds sleep three or four or more
Others  have to use the floor
This is truly being poor
Real South Africa

Roofs of corrugated  tin
Cardboard walls or wood worn thin
When it pours the rain seeps in
This is Africa

In the searing heat of day
If inside you bake like clay
Try to swat the flies away
Hot South Africa

When it’s cold  inside you freeze
But at least it kills the fleas
Someone help these people please
Cries South Africa

Yet inside this poverty
Lies a real community
This is one big family
Proud South Africa

When I was a romantic child
And easy to convince
True love would conquer all
And every princess won her prince.
In fairy tales you always knew
The frog was in disguise
And Cinderella in her rags
Would walk off with her prize.

I liked to dream my charming prince
Would suddenly appear.
He would be handsome, brave and tall,
Slay dragons without fear.
But as I grew I watched
My fairy bubbles all explode,
For every time I kissed a prince
He turned into a toad!

Although the dragons are no more
And princes are but few,
Just as I’d given up my quest
I found a love that’s true.
This love of mine cannot be seen
And not all heed His call.
But when compared to all the rest
My love is best of all.