Choose a positive path
Standing behind you
In the coffee queue
You, a swish of raven hair
Waiting with expectant air
Best bag, boots, nails, brow
Gets what she wants, and how
Made up with no place to go
Ordering a fancy macchiato
A princess, model, engineer
I could ask with you near
But there’s a strong chance
You can judge by appearance
And that all there is to know
Is already ostentatiously on show…
Professional. Not a hair out of place
Clean shaven, moisturised face
Suit, shoes immaculate state
In a hurry, don’t make him wait
Branded bag, branded belt
Expression like it’s you he smelt
High end watch beyond his means
First sign all is not as it seems
Second glance. Cheap shirt
No coat of any particular worth
Wannabe banker wanting more
A mini masquerade but what for?
Looking for status, copy their style
Sounding strong; empty all the while
Stand tall on the tube. Confidence exude.
A polished shell with everything to prove.
There she sat for half an hour
Enthralled entirely in her power
You didn’t raise your eyes or cough or say
Anything to draw her attention away
From the laptop she worked at constantly
From minute one to minute thirty
Instead you grabbed a glance or two
Thought about what you might do
To ask for her number or give her yours
But now she’s left through the cafe doors
Two men talk about work near the window
Teenage girls compare apps and pics
Mum and dad treat grown up kids
I’m in the cafe corner but not in the mix
No doubt there’s a buzz of voices shared
Background music hanging in the air
A pointed laugh every once in a while
Behind noise cancelled headphone wall; I don’t care
Smiles and frowns but no anger shown
All of life as a topic to explain and prod
Beings living, socialising, engaging
In the corner this solo worthless sod
Clamber, cautious, out of self dug trench,
Remove the guards and barricades let people in
Believe in people; the promise of belonging
Don’t delay, step forward, just one act to begin
We part for the day,
Take care, have fun,
We say.
Spend our time apart,
Good luck, safe journey,
Comes from the heart.
Trust my troth to others,
Miss you, kiss kiss,
Is all one mutters.
A last look, stored to last,
I love you my love,
Enough, until this day is passed.
Little by little, by every step that he took
The story played out as if in a book
His prologue; a poisoned childhood
Early chapters; him up to no good
His turning point love for a woman
In who’s name he’d summon
The best of himself and all he could be
To save her and their combined destiny
But on this grey day, autumn commute
Before he’d met her, he was in dispute
Fighting himself, self destructive fall
Trying at things no conviction at all
No goals, no hopes, no dreams
No idea yet of what life means
It’s been a week tumultuous
Busy, bossy and boisterous
Bed has barely had a look in
Never mind a lazy lie in
So when it comes to Friday
And the usual away play
Body and brain take fright
It’s time for a quiet night
It’s a sunny day
So why don’t I feel that way
I’m blue thinking about us
With no future, I can’t focus
Everywhere, a mood of hope
So why exactly can’t I cope
There’s trouble in my mind
Trouble of the unsettling kind
People at their highest height
So why should I take flight
It’s wrong, what we’ve got is wrong
No hiding that I don’t belong
Skies might be clear and bright
But that doesn’t mean all is right
The end for us is nigh, that’s why
I can’t look the day in the eye
Are you romantic?
Why can’t you be more romantic?
Hopeful and damning but what do we mean?
Why refer to something unknown, never seen
Romance is dead, more romance is undefined
What we want, or want to be is totally entwined
I simply want someone to care how I am
Think of my day, my feelings, of me being their man
I want someone to share with, care for, protect
Talk to, think of, make happy, respect
Two people experiencing new lands as one
Two with eyes wide open like life has just begun
Someone to lie with, a hand to hold
Someone to look to over the years as we grow old
A romance can be a story about how we come to be
Our romance is a life together as you and I excel as we
Ours is a practical love
I express myself each day
So judge me by my actions
Judge what my actions say
The meal I cook to feed us
Says I want to keep you well
The call I make to check on you
Means I love you, can’t you tell
When I tidy before you visit me
It’s not the cleaning I’m seeing to
I want you relaxed and happy
Before i spend the night with you
Making sure our dates are set
And all our nights are planned
Is not calendar OCD
Making the most of us I demand,
The pair of socks I bought you
Say I want to meets your needs
Want you well homed and happy
Comfort and joy, our love exceeds
I’ll not write a flowing poem
Or create a song for you
I’ll love you in a practical way
Judge me by what I do
Quest for Love 
Love Listens