OPULENCE AND CONTRADICTIONS Kings and Presidents dine The most opulent of food and wine While in Ukraine and Palestine … Contradictions of our times Poem 2050 Thursday 18th September 2025

THE RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH Is not just having the opportunity to Air your views in the public domain But allowing others the same privilege So they can do the same Even if you disagree That’s why it’s democracy And if you cannot do that Then you will not be free Poem 2046

THAT’S NOT THE JOB DESCRIPTION Today I will mostly Be sobbing In the market square In my Official capacity As Retford Town cryer Poem 2045 Saturday 13th September 2025

SIMPLE MATH … or …MATH FOR THE SIMPLE Guns = bullets Bullets = shootings Shootings = deaths Subtraction Take away guns What remains? Poem 2044 Friday 12th September 2025

HERE WE ARE AGAIN Back in school First day Feels like I’ve never been away Poems old Jokes too Haven’t forgotten what to do Even now After all this time Still in love with this job of mine Poem 2043 Thursday 11th September 2025

THAT’S MY EXCUSE ANYWAY Early start Long day Short poem Okay Poem 2044 Wednesday 13th August 2025

Today I was going to Write a sonnet but I just Couldn’t be bothered Poem 2038 Thursday 7th August 2025

QUESTIONS ON NATIONAL OWL DAY When they hoot Is there a technique To it To who Do they do it? Poem 2035 Monday 4th August 2025

LONG LIVE THE SUMMER Pleased with the current weather conditions The need for socks is negligible Which means life is easier Especially the left one That can take several minutes Involve grunting, groaning Angles, permutations, grimaces & swearing at wool Long live the Summer Sod off osteoarthritis

DEFENCELESS When hospitals and Children are the enemy Indefensible Poem 1992 Saturday 12th July 2025

NOTHING TO SEE HERE Cover ups Covered up Truth hides Where lies reside Poem 1989 Wednesday 9th July 2025

ALL TOGETHER NOW Someone once said that Some people think that football Is a matter of life and death. I can assure you It’s much more serious than that Well, he was wrong And whatever the colour of our shirts Whoever we pledge allegiance to Wherever we watch our team Right now We are all united

I FEEL LIKE I’M GETTING OLD WHEN SOME THINGS DON’T SIT WELL Freedom of speech Has become the freedom to preach The freedom to incite Whether wrong or write Soundbites, slogans, repeatable chants Cliché, profanity, shock tactic stance Maybe because I’m nearly 64 I just expect a little bit more

SUMMER IS NOT THE FRIEND OF THE POET Too many distractions Air conditioning, ice cream Reclining, cold drink in hand Half read magazines Lethargy, dozing off Half way through a verse … Waking up a little later Can’t even be bothered to make it rhyme Poem 1982 Sunday 29th June 2025

LOST IN A WORLD OF BOOKS I am lost within your pages Page turning is a journey That I want to end But don’t want to end Lost in a world of books Knowing the way out Is following the letters and words The end is in sight Poem 1981 Saturday 28th June 2025

Couldn’t Be More English Listening to Test Match Special Sat outside a pub With a pint of proper beer In the late afternoon sun Couldn’t be more typically English Except for the fact We comfortably won Poem 1978 Wednesday 25th June 2025

Daily poem, started yesterday ( inevitably from a Daily Star headline )

All The Right Ingredients Two cards One funny One serious Both heartfelt Classic Rock subscription A pack of nice beer Chocolate bar And a new strap for a ukulele Pretty much All the right ingredients Thankyou from A happy father Poem 1969 Monday 16th June 2025

THE KING’S BIRTHDAY Newspapers talking about Celebrations for the King’s birthday Fitting Today is the birthday of the king Who wore, not a crown But a mirrored top hat King Noddy the first National treasure Happy birthday sir Poem 1968 Sunday 15th June 2025

HI VIZ There are roadworks Cars are stopped There are men In hi viz luminous jackets So it is easier to see them Not working Poem 1957 Thursday 5th June 2025

CREAKING Walking up the stairs Carefully With a cup of tea And they creaked Except we haven’t got Creaky stairs Walking back Down the stairs They still creaked As did The front room carpet And tiled kitchen floor When I stopped Walking So did the creaking Poem 1956 Wednesday 4th June 2025

THE PAGE DOES NOT TRULY REFLECT THE SILENCES The chair creaked The pen twizzled The tea was sipped The tea was sipped The chair creaked The pen twizzled The pen twizzled The tea was sipped The chair creaked Until the tea was drunk The keyboard clicked And the words appeared

BIRD ON A WIRE Small bird in the church Perches on your black guitar Stays awhile with us Poem 1952 Saturday 31st May 2025

NO TIME FOR A POEM Appointments to keep Forms to complete People to meet Calls I must make Before it’s too late Writing can wait Jobs to be done Errands to run None of them fun Emails replied to Positions applied to I really have tried to ... No time for a poem Poem 1948

A BIT LIKE TOAST AND JAM Opening the cupboard And it was there A doughnut isn’t necessarily A breakfast food but It is pretty much like Bread and jam So that’s okay then Poem 1947 Monday 26th May 2025

PRESSURE The poet was tired Flat Let down Often full of air An inflated opinion of himself But right now Deflated Sorry, did I say tired? I meant Tyred Or maybe it’s time To just stop Not work any more Then the poet would be Retired After that line Maybe he should Just jack it in

TEAM ANDY I am not a Spurs fan But last night I was Well, more a case of Team Andy He’d have loved it And, had he been here He would have been here We’d have watched together As we always did So Andy I cheered on your behalf You would have loved it Poem 1943 Thursday 22nd May 2025

NO APPLICATION He saw the position advertised On site poet but didn’t apply Just too shy to commence Always a writer in reticence Poem 1942 Wednesday 21st May 2025

LAST MEN STANDING Once ramrod straight, now Age has wearied them, still they Stand to attention Lionhearted, proud They can never forget, so We remember too Poem 1930 Thursday 8th May 2025

AS LONG AS I DON’T MOVE, THEY’RE OKAY Still got the tee shirts Can’t throw them away Remember the gigs Like yesterday They seem to have shrunk All by themselves Just by staying On those shelves If I don’t breathe at all They just about fit Forty years on I haven’t changed a bit …

HAIKU FOR BROOKS WILLIAMS If I could write words Like Brooks plays guitar then all My poems would sing Poem 1916 Sunday 27th April 2025

ALTERNATIVE SAINT GEORGE’S DAY POEM It’s the dragon I feel sorry for So maybe we should say From henceforth, this date shall be National Dragon’s Day Poem 1912 Wednesday 23rd April 2025

A TALE OF TWO BALCONIES A man on a balcony Gives an Easter message Of hope, love and humanity Peace and reconciliation Meanwhile, another man on another balcony Gives an Easter message of banality Cliché and division While stood next to a six foot tall Easter bunny

Daily poem NO DOUBT

STONEHAVEN ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON Fish and chips by the sea A perfect place to be As long as you dodge the seagulls Big as golden eagles Poem 1769 Saturday 19th April 2025

EASTER JOURNEY My journey today 6 hours or so on a train north To see my daughter So, one well worth making Not bad Good for a Friday And I’ll be making my return In 3 days Unlike the journey Made two 2000 years ago Not such a good Friday Although there was also A return 3 days later

STONE AGE TAN CAVEMEN WORE SUNSCREEN So says the front page Helped the tan so stone age man Became … the Bronze Age Poem 1767 Thursday 17th April 2025

Daily pun NEVER MIND THE PROG ROCKS Dark side of the moon Rapidly enjoyed Hey – ho! Let’s go! … Punk Floyd Poem 1764 Monday 14th April 2025

The Y3/4 children absolutely loved seeing the brilliant @paulcooksonpoet.bsky.social and #lizmillion in Gainsborough today. Liz’s illustration will take pride of place in school. Thank you!

AN ALLITERATIVE START TO THE DAY Tea and toast Coffee and croissants Cereal and smoothie Sausage sandwich Bacon buttie Fresh fruit Or Everything With eggs? Poem 1755 Sunday April 6th 2025

HEADLINE IN NEED OF A SPACE Trump piles On International tariffs Just about Sums it up Poem 1754 Saturday April 5th 2025

DOING THINGS RIGHT Socks It has to be the right one first Can’t do the left one first Doesn’t feel right Obviously Right leg Of underpants and trousers Right arm of shirt Right shoe and laces Story of my life Trying to do the right thing first Poem 1753 Friday April 4th 2025

NO CARD NECESSARY I don’t need mothers’ day To think about mum Every day, there she is Somewhere along the way Thank you Poem 1748 Sunday 30th March 2025

PROSTATE POEM Came here To write a poem About prostate problems But The words Just Didn’t Flow Proper … ly . . Poem 1747 Saturday 29th March 2025

FOR JOAN There are those for whom today Will be the longest, hardest day Saying goodbye to a loved one Remembering the unforgettable This poem is a prayer that says You will get through this day You will be you and you will be strong We send our love and stand with you

AT MY AGE It seems that I have reached the stage Where every movement Can be accompanied with a noise And when did Premier Inn baths Get so high that it requires slow dexterity And careful negotiation to get in and out? Pffff … Poem 1744 Wednesday 26th March 2025

IT’S NOT FAIR She said at the end Of assembly this morning You are just too funny Poem 1743 Tuesday 25th March 2025

I SUPPOSE I’D BETTER CARRY ON AS I STARTED Dear Mister Starmer, I expected more Not just more of the same If you attack the poor and old Then you deserve every blame Vocal on selective wars You play the same old game Yes, I expected much, much more Not more of the same old same

FIVE YEARS Five years ago The world stood still But I was moved Moved to write the first poem Put it online Share it with friends A habit that hasn’t stood still Ever since Every day, a new poem Admittedly, some days they are short And you may be short-changed But still – every day, a poem

Daily poem - something visual for the first day of a new season. And the well known phrase is …