HERE COMES SUMMER

Here comes Summer, longed for all year through,

School holidays are now fast approaching, too.

Exams will soon be over. What shall we do?

The choices vary between us, as our ages dictate.

Some will be restrained by parents with controlled play.

Others will have holidays abroad by boat or plane.

Budgets for many are oh so tight, they can’t afford such delight.

A part-time job, perhaps the first, comes into sight,

An experience some might remember for the rest of their lives.

Summer is a potpourri of feelings, not all dependent on the weather.

Sometimes friendships long cemented become fragmented.

New relationships burst into view, changing everything.

Ideas that have been churning around have time to expand.

Before you know it, a new business could be planned.

House reviews come to fruition: do we need all the clutter we have?

Wails of distress when you have to let go of things from the past.

Negotiations are required to retain those you love the most.

Summer weather can be a friend or foe.

It can disrupt, causing wails of despair when best-laid plans go awry.

An overabundance of sun interferes with travel and play.

Heatstroke can put you to bed for a couple of days.

Pets too can suffer, needing special care and no middle-of-the-day walks,

Otherwise, burnt paws may cause a trip to the vet and pain for your pet.

Carry water plenty to drink in the car; never lock and leave children or pets unattended in hot weather.

Just the right amount of sun is such fun and brings out the best in almost everyone.

Rain so needed can be such a pest

When it pours in deluges, destroying all the fun plans that you had so carefully made.

Quick thinking: rearrange everything indoors.

For others, it saves watering the garden, refreshing the lawn,

Filling up ornamental or fish ponds.

For some, it can bring destruction and despair to homes, animals and food-bearing land.

Yet it can be fun playing in the cooling rain, in puddles which appear and then simply vanish once more.

So, Summer so longed for, be kind to us, please.

Just the right amount of sun and rain for us to enjoy.

For holidays abroad with no energy and mood-draining queues.

The enjoyment of plans long in the making, just as envisaged.

House repairs and decluttering ticked off the to-do list.

Relationships repaired that had been showing some painful cracks.

New friends made, so we can look back and say, “Do you remember that Summer? Wasn’t it great?”

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

 

WELCOME TO THE GARDEN

Welcome to the garden, welcome to It’s peace!

Enjoy the scent of the flowers, listen to the bees!

Fine tune your hearing for the bird song,

For water music tinkling in the breeze.

Sit and slide bit by bit into a truly relaxing mood.

Reach out from time to time for a tempting cake to eat,

With refreshing drinks hot and cold to slowly and comfortably sip.

Listening to garden stories, no matter if they send you gently to sleep.

Just try to keep to a limit any unexpected snoring, please.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

 

VISITORS UNINVITED

Foxes on the lawn.

Heron waiting on the hedge.

Squirrel on the fence.

Pigeon on the roof.

Mole scrabbling under foot.

Parakeet screeching and swaying in the trees.

Every single one of you waiting to be fed.

The Foxes are capable of hunting on their own in packs.

The Heron I have asked to take his beady eye off my fish pond. There are a lake and a river nearby for him to take fish from.

The Squirrel has trees galore to pick nuts to fill his cheeks till full.

The Pigeon I have asked to stay away as we are about to seed a new lawn.

To the Mole I have explained we do not need holes and molehills in the middle of our lawn.

There is some wild country a little way beyond, where he can dig all day long.

The Parakeets are so noisy when swinging in flocks high up in the trees, I have asked them to move away during afternoon rest time, please.

They are uninvited visitors and we just have to learn to live together and try to get along.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

 

OH SUMMER!

Oh, summer have you lost your way?

It is northern breezes we need to wrench winter away.

Instead, the battle between you two is dragging on.

When you reach out to lift the gloom, winter fights back with fierce storms to chase, every ray of sunshine you send to warm our place.

The seeds in the soil down below no longer know which way to go.

Soil is eroding from the fields into the rivers, for fish to flee or suffer dangerous clogged-up gills.

Heating we are longing to put off to save the bills.

So stoke up your boilers and let heat fly free not too much mind, as we do not need over heating.

Push the bombastic winter on it’s way, to another country where their welcome mat is out. 

For you to dance, shout, storm about dropping rain.

So they can thrive and carry on living again.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

I WONDER

I wonder what starts, the miserable, cruel, crushing, evil thoughts.

That strangles and stops kindness, and caring being released by newly beating and developing hearts.

We were all born the same way with nothing, instinctively knowing we had to eat, drink, be cared for and loved by our parents to live.

A lack of any of these essentials in our early development, can have a drastic effect as to who we are and how we behave, as human beings.

It changes us from one another, giving us our first life survival challenges.

Outside of the family, war, famine, drought, flooding, unemployment, housing, too little or too much money, lack of friends or too many of the wrong kind, marriage, exhaustion, loneliness and depression.

It is a time of bombardment of the senses, a making of your life skills and choices good or bad.

Each of these add to how we thrive or struggle to exist. The choice is ours. 

All I know is that truth, education, love, kindness, thoughtfulness, compassion, understanding and justice are great tools to learn and grasp, as we live our lives, as human beings.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

 

💚🩷💚🩷💚🩷💚🩷💚🩷💚🩷💚🩷💚🩷

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

 

SAYING GOODBYE

Saying goodbye with no departure date,

Knowing you will never miss it or be late.

So, ahead of time, you prepare the way.

Powers of attorney carefully selected,

As you will entrust them with your final hours and earthly estate.

A will is essential or there may be permanent family discord.

Even in the best families, unless clearly expressed,

Emotions will arise causing division and distress,

As battles are fought over the smallest of possessions

You might have left.

Unless you wickedly choose to have your payback time

To relatives and friends who have been unkind.

Make sure those who inherit are those you really intended.

So, when the call comes, you can leave this world contented.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

 

WINDS OF CHANGE

Winds of change slowly gathering.

Anxiety rising, as whispers spread.

No sign of dust starting its swirling,

Just a scent in the air and anticipation.

A sound, faint at first, as heads turn to listen.

Growing louder and louder as fear rises.

Bombs and missiles start their journey,

Deadly accurate, but not for us.

We run like rabbits to find shelter,

To cover our ears and cuddle in a huddle.

Trying to make out what and who is to blame.

The signs were there, yet we thought it was war games.

The winds of change are now here, and we fear.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

 

THE TOUCH OF SUMMER

When wandering out onto the deck, to feel the sun and wind collectively.

Testing if warm enough to hold my ground, to be bathed in the tang of the sea.

Nostrils tantalised by orange blossom scent, freely flowing around and around.

With bees singing, their buzzing collecting song.

The wind lifted my hair lightly to cool my scalp.

What bliss I am unable to resist.

So stand wallowing in contentment, at the first hint of a Touch of Summer.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

 

TAKE ME

Take me by the hand into that wonderland, where the grass is always green and flowers proudly stand.

As we wander to the place where children laugh and shout, whizzing around on that super roundabout.

Running to and fro, playing hide and seek until found out.

Stopping to play hopscotch drawn upon the ground.

Climbing onto swings, flying higher, higher with squeals of delight.

On a rocking horse, proudly king of all I can see, with you pushing me.

Then the moment comes, time to go.

“Oh no! Please can I have one more go, just one more go?”

Soon, we wander on our way to tea, storytelling and bed.

I can’t help looking back at the wonderland that had been such fun for you and me.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

THE VILLAGE

The village settled in swathes of huddled green, with generations of nurturing and encouraging, giving strength to those that protect it’s beating heart. 

Anxious times are stretching the need for a close connection. Driving neighbours to stay indoors.

Into the history books, we must dip to see, what they might tell of what they did long ago. 

The message is a clear isolate, use natural herbs, sup gruel, mask up, and cleanse oh so well. If you want no sad chiming of the village church bells. 

Survive many will do, to keep this village alive and flourishing into a future new.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

 

Happy Insect Week!

I AM AN UGLY BUG

I am an ugly bug

A really ugly bug

No one wants to give me a hug.

People chase me away

Or want to kill me with one swipe.

All I want to do is live like you.

I have to kill to eat, then so do you.

How I do it is not nice,

Yet it is what I was designed to do.

My job is to keep the cicada population down.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

SANCTUARY

On approaching the door, in tribulation, in the dark.

The wind rustling autumn leaves, in their final disintegrating dance,

Around her legs, back into the air again, and away.

A light came on inside as she pressed the bell.

Voices murmured quietly, and someone came to open the door.

“She is here!” went up the call, before she had time to say her name.

“Come on in, lass. You are welcome here. I’ll take your coat. Come on in. The wife is on her way.

“What a night. Do you have a case?”

“Yes, inside the porch. Thank you.”

This is the way many have arrived at The Sanctuary. Exhausted, world and travel weary, emotionally drained, in pain.

The Sanctuary provides the time, space and gentle companionship to reconnect with life and a new sought-after future.

The interior and exterior of the house play their soothing part,

As time waits for smiles and joy to burst into view.

Sitting in contemplation on summer days, under the grapevines, listening to the soothing music the pond fountain quietly plays.

Banter and laughter flow freely over a good meal, and storytelling begins.

Forty-eight times this blessed house has performed its magic.

Forty-seven times, when restored and leaving, the thanks fly with calls of “We will be back”, “We will keep in touch”, and they do, from all parts of the world.

No money changes hands, just love, lots of love.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

National Writing Day

 

 

HELPING A STRANGER

Hopping along singing a song,

I was enjoying myself till a strange sight shuffled into view.

A little voice said “Please give me a hand. I fell down a slope headfirst into the sand, straight into a prickly bush, ouch! 

Each time I move it hurts!”

“Oh dear let me see, my name is Hoppy, what a mess! I am a frog with skin so thin, I will try to do my best. But you are a hedgehog, prickles should not hurt you!”

“Oh but these do! They slip between my prickles with their sharp ends digging in. My name is Sensitive, as at the slightest sign of danger I curl up in a ball. Now I cannot do that at all! Boo Hoo!

Can you please help me anyway at all?”

Hoppy sat still thinking hard about the difficult task, before saying I need the help of a friend. Stay still I will be back in a mo.” He hopped into the bushes heading for the pond.

Sensitive pondered who the friend might be. She anxiously waited for the help to appear. She hoped they would be friendly as her defences were down. She could no longer turn into a ball to keep herself safe.

She need not have worried as Mr. Snail crept into view. Muttering, “good gracious what has happened to you? Don’t worry we will soon put things right.” 

Hoppy took control, asking Sensitive to move under a low-hanging branch, and stay very still. His next request was for Mr. Snail to crawl to the top of the branch, he would be there too. The next bit would be tricky as he wanted Mr. Snail to hold onto his legs, sticking him like glue to the overhanging branch. So he could dangle out, to gently pull each prickle out and not get hurt himself.

The task was completed to the delight of all, and Prickle the hedgehog could once again turn into a ball. Thanks were expressed as they went on their way, to meet as friends some other day.

2025 © by Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

I READ

I read a poem this morning, that opened wide my eyes!

Made me shake up my thinking and quickly realise, I could do a whole lot better if I concentrated much harder.

Believed in myself a great deal more.

Perhaps spreading the need for self-belief to others stuck in the same wretched disbelief hole.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo by Pixabay

 

MUSIC IS MAGIC

Happy World Music Day 

Music is Magic!

With one turn of the switch, you can be twirled around your room or transported out of the house and onto a stage... 

Or magically moved thousands of miles, into countries and cultures you have never seen before.

Music is Magic!

It will tantalize and titillate your nervous system into action if it strikes the right notes...

Or have you curled up in rejection pleading for silence after a savage attack on your delicate senses?

Music is Magic!

You can throw notes out in song, plucking others out of silent instruments, when waiting by themselves. 

Music is a magical healer when recorded and played on its own.

So let the music flow on and on and on!

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

COME CLOSER 

Come closer, come closer, let me whisper.

Come closer, come closer, let me say

How much you have meant to me as my husband,

Every night and every day.

We have not always been angels; that would not be true.

Our sharp words of disagreement fly by in a moment or two.

As we support ourselves and others with our love and wisdom during lives well lived.

Come closer, come closer, let me whisper.

Come closer come closer, let me say

Now we are getting older, time speeds faster, it seems.

We take longer to do simple, remembered things.

Memories become a little confusing, and names are difficult to recall.

We back one another in sorting them into order once more.

Our delight at the ring of the doorbell when someone comes to call.

The sharing of new stories as we retell ones from our past recalled and recalled.

Come closer, come closer, let me love you.

Come closer, come closer, let me say

Our youthful passions have dwindled, yet love has grown.

A touch, a smile, a laugh, a look kindles a tingle every time.

Our pledge of love, long-lasting, staying together is true.

As we take one day after another, sedately muddling through.

How about a cuddle and a kiss? 

We are never too old for love.

Something we are so glad we have had together and never missed.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo by Sven Mieke on Unsplash

 

It’s World Giraffe Day 🦒

THE BABY GIRAFFE

I landed with a thump and woke into a strange world. My mum was pulling something off me and giving me a good wash with her tongue.

Making small quiet air grunting noises which I found very comforting. Other giraffes came to greet me with a touch and a puff of warm air.

They were so tall and I felt so small, yet I somehow knew we were a family. I had to have a few tries at attempting to stand up, Mum nudged from the rear.

Finally, my legs lined up splayed and locked into place, suddenly I was taller but still not tall enough.

This was a struggle I had to win to reach up and suckle my mum’s vital milk. It was something I was born knowing, don’t ask me how.

Staggering about I finally made it, and found the teat I had to nuzzle. Oh the joy, hard to explain, as I guzzled as fast as I could, to fill my stomach with this glorious food.

Day after day I gained in strength, and my legs strengthened, as I followed the herd with my mum.

I learnt I had to reach up as high as I could to find the tenderest and the tastiest food. As other animals shorter than us, stripped all the leaves off the lowest branches of trees and bushes we passed.

Life was good for Mum and me, with Dad and my family always nearby.

Then one dawn with no warning men and lorries started chasing us, Mum fell with no warning and struggled to move. I stopped and stood beside her I did not know what to do.

The lorries stopped and men came towards us talking gently, Mum was all floppy.

They took her first gently, shepherding her into the back of a lorry up a ramp. I meekly followed as close as I could. It was very scary and I shivered a lot.

After a while, we were safely underway, bumping along on the rough ground. I did not have a clue where we were going too, till I heard someone say.

These are the lucky ones who are going to an animal sanctuary and breeding programme in the U.K.

Not that I knew what that meant, though I do now. It is home and safety, but somehow Dad got left behind. Mum was upset and so was I for quite a long time.

I grew and grew and met some young friends, Mum met a handsome kind stranger and that is where this story ends.

We are here, to ensure giraffes will always be seen roaming freely restored, to the free African Weald.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

 

DON’T LET ME SAY

Don’t let me say I love you when I don’t.

Don’t let me say you are wonderful when you are not.

Don’t let me accept all the beatings and bruises, while keeping a smile in place.

Let me keep getting stronger and stronger.

Let me build my self-worth a bit at a time.

Let me tuck away a bit of humour to support me.

Reminding me of the approaching better times.

Soon I will face the future without you.

Soon I will do everything I want to.

Soon I will be beautiful again with no bruises shining through.

Music will send my heart singing and maybe a dance or two.

Now I feel confident I am on my way.

Now I will have a new place to stay.

Now I feel ready to live a new life on my own.

Oh, what an adventure; a bit scary maybe.

However, it will be my life, run only by me.

I have cut the strings and I am now free of you.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo by Sinitta Leunen on Unsplash

 

TRYING TO KEEP A SECRET

Trying to keep a secret is extremely hard to do.

You almost need training or to ask James Bond what to do.

Especially when the secret you are trying to hide is for someone close to you.

Occasionally, there is a slip-up. It is so easy to do.

When someone rings at your door with a hot water dispenser for 62.

It is then your quick-thinking explanation has to meet an earlier calculation of afternoon tea and cake for 15.

The phone that keeps ringing, and everyone rushing to grab it before “you know who”.

It’s the cake shop, calling for measurements to be checked even when the name they have already got.

As, surprisingly, this type of error happens quite a lot.

Invitations have been sent by email, to prevent a nosy parker from sussing the lot.

Neighbours gathering in huddles, with rapid dispersing when the culprit comes to join in.

One person is dedicated to head them off with innocent explanations, as order is quickly restored.

The strain is shared by all ’til the day before the special day.

When I choose my moment to say, “We are going to the Mitre Hotel by Hampton Court on the Thames. Just you and I to celebrate in private your 90th birthday.”

The minute we left, an army of neighbours descended on the house to free it for its dressing, ready for the next day.

When tables and chairs arrived in pairs to be spread around the garden, umbrellas colourfully upright, for sun or, please not, rain.  

Dining room table arranged for self service for 58.

The penny drops with a clang: “What is going on?”

Time to come clean.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

 

 

A SCREECH OF TERROR

I was sitting restfully for a moment after an active afternoon when screeches of terror shattered my peace again and again. 

An animal in trouble: what and where might it be? I listened for a second or two, trying to decide which way to go. 

Then a dog barked and growled aggressively around the side of the house. My first thought was that the dachshund had come for a return visit.

I headed for the front door, anxiously wondering what I would find. The screeching continued, seeming to come from across the front lawn. 

On opening the door, I caught sight of a young fox running towards the main gate, still crying pitifully in terror.

I equally anxiously clapped to attract the animal’s attention; the dog went on to join a couple in the lane; the fox ran back in, still screeching. 

Streaking across the lawn, it headed straight for a neighbour's solid wooden gate.

I gasped in despair: what are you doing? Only to see it flatten on the ground, squeeze its way under the gate and vanish.

The cries ceased and peace returned. I just hope it did not receive any injuries in the encounter. 

My other hope is it finds another escape route, as it was a young, growing fox and might not be able to wriggle under the gate much longer. 

Take care, my young friend, take care.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo by Linda Jake on Unsplash

 

FLYING FREE

Lying relaxed upon the grass, gazing skywards on a summer's day.

Light breezes touch my hair as they whisper by.

I watch in fascination at birds flying freely up and down.

Soaring in the thermal currents we cannot see, which sometimes tumble them around.

Occasionally drawing them upwards, sun-bound.

The birds break free and circle around and around.

My concerns drift away while I watch the performance in the sky.

’Til eyes involuntarily close and I, too, am flying free.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

FAVOURITE CUP

One sip as my favorite cup,

Touches the lips and from its rim,

Hot refreshing tea is sipped.

Gradually warmth seeps,

Into the wrapped around grip.

Preparing to relax you,

For the emergence of a new day.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

YES, I KNEW

Yes, yes, it was you,

I knew it was you at the very first glance.

You swept me into your life entranced

Round and round with the very first dance.

Years have slipped by not all bliss, just enough for me and you.

Money was tight and we had the odd fight.

Yet we loved well and stayed true.

Yes, it could only be you, I knew at first glance

Love moved in unexplained to last and last

Yes, yes, it was you,

I knew it was you at the very first glance.

You swept into my life,

Round and round with that very first dance.

Today we are back here once more

To celebrate all that has gone before

Memories we have treasured amongst friends,

As we glide across the floor

For our anniversary waltz together.

Yes, yes, it was you,

I knew it was you at the very first glance

Love moves in unexplained to last and last.

As you swept me into your life and around the floor at our very first dance.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

GIVE ME A TUNE 

Give me tune, a lively one will do, that I can dance about vigorously to.

Play me a romantic melody I can sing out loud, gently taking listeners back to the romance and excitement of their day, encouraging them to sing along with the chorus, allowing memories long locked away to come flooding back.

Sweep me off my feet with an orchestra grand, in full flow, stimulating my imagination, releasing new thinking with their emotional playing.

Music has the power to move and change feelings at all levels.

From the thrilling music attached to a murder mystery, encouraging me to cover my eyes, to the lovely words delivered by the hero, with music that lingers and lingers around in my head.

Now, a lullaby is needed as my day has just come to an end, as I curl up in bed and let the music comfortably take me away as it flows.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

TOMORROW

Tomorrow I will sing, sing, sing!

With the joy of living pouring out of me.

Words of feeling to share around, to help feet strengthen on the ground.

Tomorrow I will sing, sing, sing!

With my body in rhythm swaying, telling a story to lift spirits to take them to a joyous place.

Tomorrow I will sing, sing, sing! 

With my heart releasing each word with as much feeling, to send everyone into happiness reeling.

Sing, sing, sing! 

Everybody sing, sing, sing!

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

DEPARTING TIME

The first morning after the last farewell.

One remembered painfully so very well.

Each anniversary a week, a month, a year.

Will return feelings reviving a tear.

Time will never erase the ties of love.

Just makes them more bearable as it slips forever onwards.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo by Sandy Millar on Unsplash

 

DAISIES

In field and field and roadside edges, you burst into life in pristine white display, with small yellow faces.

Swaying in gathering sheets of white giving generations years of delight. 

Daisies continue your brilliant showing to help the endangered insects to keep on growing.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo by Olesia 🇺🇦 Buyar on Unsplash

JUST ONE CLICK

Just one click and we are connected.

Not true with me—one click and I am disconnected, and the hunt begins.

Are any of my support group available? They can reside in any part of the compass; they just need a courtesy call.

Call rejected. WiFi unavailable. This call has been sent to a mail box.

Hold on, it is back. What was I trying to do in the first place? Give me a clue.

Thanks, one click leads to two. I start to relax and become complacent. A box appears: update now required. What for? We were doing well.

Being the obedient soul I am, I clicked a blank screen. On its return, I am faced with a totally different layout.

Now what? Read the instructions; they are usually online.

An amazing number of pages, in the smallest of print, challenges the eyes as it rolls by.

Is this progress; is it? More and more items appear on the desktop, many I will never have the nerve to try.

My courage is being challenged more frequently by scammers and hackers, as I struggle to protect my work, using the most up-to-date virus checkers.  

However, they say the human is the weakest link so, in fear and dread, I delete emails with no name, or numbers I fail to recognise.

So I apologise right now if your kind enquiry, of business or friendship, receives no acknowledgement or reply.

I am just a terrified computer user who has to write stories or poems all the time.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

STRANGER IN THE GARDEN

I was sitting quietly in my back lounge, trying to avoid the national political debate that had been heralded all week. Each candidate was examined critically, from every possible angle, for strengths and weaknesses. Each utterance was scrutinised almost clinically for any deviation from the truth. Every hesitation was pounced on for signs of exaggeration or incompetence.

I needed peace and quiet, so I retreated with Lily to write something. We settled together on the couch, glad to be away from all the hassle and noise.

I started writing, just getting into my stride, when Lily took off like a jet-propelled rocket, skidding to a stop at the glass door, spinal fur raised as a warning noise rattled in her throat. Intrigued, I arose to see what had attracted her interest, thinking it might be one of the fox family who lived in our garden.

To my amazement, I was facing a black and brown dachshund which was wagging its tail in a very friendly manner. Lily, on the other hand, was showing who was boss in this establishment. 

I quickly retreated, closing all the doors one after the other as I moved through the house to the front door. Stepping onto the porch, I called soft doggy noises, trying to encourage the dog to come to me. Sadly, I was not speaking the right language or one she understood. So I retreated to get my walking stick before proceeding outdoors; not to protect me against the dog, just to keep upright.

Going around the house and finding the side gate open, I wondered if it had just wandered in; maybe her people were looking for their dog in the lane or along the main road.

As I entered the back garden, there was my stranger, standing looking at me, with tail wagging in friendship, and with Lily bashing the glass in fury with her paws. Calling the dog over, I was delighted when it followed me around to the front of the house. Things then turned serious, as I had no lead or rope to restrain my wandering new friend. We are near a lane and a main road, both heavily used by traffic.

So, seeing a collar, I made a grab for it, to see a dangling bone-shaped name, address and telephone number. Only one problem: my eyesight is not very good in the rapidly approaching dusk.

Just at that moment, three knights (without shining armour) appeared in the lane. As a true lady in distress, I asked for help. They very kindly picked up the dog, read her collar information and called her owners to inform them that we had Sky. One of my knights held her uncomplaining in his arms until her owner appeared to claim her. 

Once the handover was complete, I thanked my three knights and told them about WobblingPen and its gifts of stories, poems, and audiobooks available for them, if they wished and, if they liked them, to pass the links on to others.

Saying goodbye, we went our separate ways and I hurried indoors, suddenly feeling the chill of the approaching night and carrying a warm glow in my heart at the lovely encounter.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

 

TOUCHING CONNECTION

In the mirror now I see, a glimpse of mum and gran, with a touch of dad, aunt´s, M and C, gazing back at me.

You see it when you are old, with a casual glance on passing a looking glass, the gene´s of your heritage.

Suddenly presented to thee, be it in a second or two. 

Highlighting the families history stretching out behind you.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

 

I AM WORMY, THE WORM!

I am wormy, the worm!

I wriggle and I squirm.

All day and night, airing the Earth, increasing its value for you.

I stop only when a long-beaked bird is near, or a mole is digging a hole to find me.

I am their favourite meal, so I stay very still, ’til they move away.

I am wormy, the worm!

I wriggle and I squirm.

When you first see me, you shout in dismay and move away.

Fling your arms about, making an anxious, funny face.

I don’t bite; it’s bits of mushy food and leaves and that sort of stuff I love to eat.

When I have chewed it through, the soil, the subject of my toil, is beautiful to see.

I am wormy, the worm!

I wriggle and squirm.

Please leave me undisturbed, my work to carry on.

I am very important, you see, so be kind to me.

Just come to say hello if you are alone.

I love a quiet chat as, when you are there, you keep the birds and moles away, so I can rest a while, listening to you.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

I CHOOSE FREEDOM

My choice is freedom!

I can say what I want within politeness and good neighbourliness.

No big brother breathing down my neck.

I can visit whoever I want to in my own land.

Overseas never used to be a problem to me.

I can behave in a civilised manner obeying international rules.

Sharing dreams to protect the future for everything living here on Earth.

I can make new strong friendships, to share and give as much knowledge and care back.

None can stay healthy in isolation for long, we each have something worthwhile to give in return.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

 

DINING AT SEA

Tables prepared white with silver glistening, arranged in twos and fours or more.

Waiters and attendant at their stations, patiently wait and watch as we settle to scrutinise the menu for something new and tasty to eat.

Once we start chatting amongst ourselves, casting glances surreptitiously, some critical, most friendly, around the room, the waiters know it is their signal to ask if we would like to order, or if we need more time for contemplation.

Pens poised over small pads of paper, they busily squiggle and scratch away, stopping now and then to advise or repeat the awkward culinary names we failed to catch.

Sommeliers pause to describe wines refined, others quite exotic, taking orders to match the meal you have chosen.

Away they go, attentive, some swinging big trays aloft, going out empty, returning full right to the top.

It's a period of constant action complicated on occasions by the sea's devilish sway and drop.

Catching both passengers and waiters off guard, sending them reeling into complicated balancing displays, which are hard to stop.

Above all this is laughter, together with gentle, quiet attention and a joke or two to take away, as off we go, having had an elegant sufficiency, happy and warmly content.

We send our thanks to the kitchen for our food and our gratitude for not having to do the huge piles of accumulated washing up.

Note:

Written while on a cruise on The Black Prince.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

TOSSED AT SEA

Tossed to the left!

Tossed to the right!

When I think I've got your rhythm, mister, you quickly slip in another vicious twister,

I'm lost; I can't get it right.

On land, I've seen the pattern, as drunks weave their way home from the pubs.

But honestly, alcohol I have yet one drop to sup.

Still, I'm tossed to the left and then to the right, I'm lost; I can't get it right.

I've looked forward to this voyage, for rest, relaxation, and gentle perambulation.

To dress in new creations and sparkle like a toff.

The reality is my muscles ache, with the strain of maintaining, my balance and preventing you, from tossing me to the floor again.

I'm lost; I can't get it right.

The menu is quite extensive and tempting to the eye.

Each time I think it's safe now to eat, to give food another try.

But as I stand to leave the table, my stomach's on the move.

It's tossed to the left and tossed to the right.

I'm lost!

I can't get it right!

So come on Mr. Neptune!

What have I got to do?

To change your playgrounds, monstrous waves to a mill pond's glassy gentle hue.

Maybe then I would learn, the art of standing feet apart, admiring incredible views of you.

Then I'll be okay, I'll have got it right in partnership with you.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

TO THE DESERT

Desert of deadly heat and freezing cold, entices to trap you there.

Where if unlucky, your where about’s may never be told.

Yet within these extremes, life still goes on from the tiniest creature to the big and strong.

Your beauty has captivated poets, writers, singers of songs.

As spectacular coloured visions, appear at dawn and dusk to dazzle the eye.

With the wind playing music, carried in the sighing of shifting sand.

Painters, Photographers, Explorers have to risk life and limb to capture and write a truly lasting descriptive vision and love of you.

Though I have been to deserts before, seeking wonders I can no longer through age truly explore.

Tourism allows me to be transported to swelter in a tent in the heat of the day.

Night temperature drops freezing me wrapped in a blanket, as I stare upwards in wonder at the expanse of your star-studded amazing and thought-provoking black sky.

It is our duty as writers, to share our experiences with those adventurous hearts less able to travel.

Please keep your pens, stories, and information flowing in new books, to help less able thrill seekers' imaginations to keep going.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

LOVE

Love is on my mind, it is such a powerful emotion.

For generations, it has been talked about, written about, sung with musical scores about, painted and sculptures made about. 

It has been longed for, lost, rejected, and slow to appear.

At other times it arrives with a glance, a touch, a kiss that lasts a lifetime.

Amazingly love can move compassion across the World to people and animals unknown and unseen to us.

That is powerful! 

Its power is in how it affects us in our relationships through life, starting in the womb with our mother and later with our husband or wife and our children.

It is not plain sailing, jealousy, gentle letting go, total rejection and loss hang on this emotion called love. 

If not handled carefully can blight others over time.

Love is like sand in your hand, some sticks, the rest with no feelings left to slip off.

How does love fit in your life now?

What benefits does it give to you?

What care and knowledge about this emotion long studied and experienced called love, can you pass on?

See what a difference you can make in the name of love.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

THE SPLIT

The split when it came was devastating.

The audiences vanished, hard to replace them.

My music burned and raged in me, with no release.

No one to give appreciation.

Loneliness descended, finance too, yet you never left.

Just increased the desire to write and write.

When will this virus take it’s leave, so I can share the music trapped within me.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

CLAP HANDS

Clap hands, stamp your feet, dance along the street.

When music in your headphones provides the exciting beat.

Sing loud and strong.

You won’t hear it but other people can.

They will join in, too, every time you stop and stand.

Don’t be shy; you can do it.

Clap hands, stamp your feet, then move along the street.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

MUSIC LOST

I am a fairy that needs music to keep my heart in tune.

I can clap my hands and stamp my feet in joy.

My heart provides the rhythm helping me to dance and sing.

Today Mr Frog passed by. His croak was out of tune.

Mrs Snail crept soundlessly along. She had nothing to say.

Mrs Deer could not chew the grass.

Mr Owl said, “Sorry I have lost my too wit to woo!”

Even the birds stayed silent.

They refused to play.

“What is the matter with everyone today?”

Mr Heron said, “Have you not heard the human Queen has passed away.”

He lowered his head in sorrow, as miserable as could be.

As fish, swum right up to his feet that he could have had for tea.

I went to the river and sadly sat upon a rock,

remembering the Fair Queen saying once, “life has to go on.”

I listened to the river it had not lost it’s song.

It’s voice still bubbles on gently at times, at others loud and strong.

I moved to a patch of grass and joined in with a gentle river dance and a song of praise to a lovely Queen now gone.

The others joined in those that could, lifting our spirits helping us to move on.

The word was, for a while human’s would not have a Queen, to a new King they would have to give honour and bend a knee.

Our fairy Queen flew down to say, “his name is King Charles the III.”

One by one we found our voices to sing in praise and dance for their new king,

With the hopes of more cheerful musical days ahead, giving us reason to sing.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

A SONG TO RAISE THE SPIRIT

The music reached out and touched the silent singer.

As she passed the well-known notes around in her head.

Gradually relaxing shoulders that had been held too tightly.

Breathing in deeply to expand the lungs little used for singing now.

Lifting her diaphragm comfortably upwards to release the breath.

Allowing gentle sounds to flow.

Gaining confidence as music and lyrics combined.

Not quite the quality obtained years ago.

Yet joy flowed to every part of her spirit as she sang to the empty room.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

THE CALL OF MUSIC

 

Walking along the street, I hear music calling, 

Louder, louder, louder!

My pace starts to change to match the beat, 

Faster, faster, faster!

One step forward, two back, three forward,

Stamp, stamp, stamp!

Step to the left then to centre again, and to the right and back again, 

Sway, sway, sway! 

Arms up, swing to the left and right, above head, wrists join the action, 

Clap, clap, clap!

My whole body moves to the wonderful sound, and I Sing, sing, sing!

Music has the power to move us as it grows louder, faster, encouraging, stamping, swaying, clapping, singing and quiet listening. 

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

GIVE ME A GIGGLE

Give me a giggle, give me a laugh!

Make my sides heave with a breathless gasp. 

Let’s chase all the gloom away.

Give me a funny face or a clean comical joke. 

To make me laugh and splutter when drinking my coke.

Do dance with lots of quick wriggly stuff. 

Making everyone laugh as they try to copy us.

Changing partners and dancing with the jokes and laughs gently flowing.

Till the last dance with you, when filing our way out calling cheery greetings as we make our home.

Let’s keep the laughter going till our front door, where we will tap tap the knocker.

Laugh and laugh and giggle our way through the open door.

2025  © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

CIRCUS WASH DAY

In the Circus, in South Africa, wash days are sometimes very exciting and at the same time very anxious times.

You can never be quite sure what might happen, as often there is only one water tap, for all the animals and the humans too.

The water runs into a long open tank. Can you just imagine that?

The humans have a timetable, which tells them when they can use the tap and tank.

However, wild animals can smell water from a long way off and do not know anything about working to timetables.

They just appear when they are thirsty or fancy having a bath.

It takes a long time for elephants to have a drink?

They don’t just have one or two cups or glasses of water like us.

They have gallons and gallons of water at a time.

During this, a lot of sucking, splashing, spraying and dribbling goes on.

The humans have hardly any warnings about these untimed visits.

They are sometimes unable to move their washing or dishes out of the way to safety, quickly enough.

No amount of shouting or waving stops the thirsty animals.

So cups, plates and spoons are often trampled underfoot, in the mud!

Skirts are occasionally worn on the elephant’s head, like big colourful fancy hats.

Trousers too are flapped around by the elephant’s trunks, to use as towels to dry their backs or chase clouds of very irritating flies away.

Once the drinking is over mud begins to fly, and the area around the tank and tap becomes muddy.

Elephants are very sensible and use mud-like suntan lotion to protect their skin from the very hot African sun.

The mud is sucked up their trunks and blown over their backs in a dark, muddy, brown spray and sometimes they roll in it, legs waving in the air.

Elephants, when they leave the water tap, have no respect for washing lines.

Often in triumph, they carry them off, as they go on their way, trailing all manner of clothes in the mud and dust behind them.

Leaving very angry humans, to collect their scattered clothing and start another big washing day.

What a wash day!

Glad we don’t have any of those, as it could be very irritating and expensive, but oh what fun!

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

LOVE OVERFLOWING

While the world in torment fly, you and I cling together with kindness and love overflowing.

Trying to shut out all that is sad, with endearments and caresses, and hopes that things will get better.

Reluctant to untangle and become one, to face the world to see what can be done.

Take care darling till we are again together.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen 

Photo: Pixabay License

 

FROM THE FIRST TIME

From the time we met and became forever entwined.

The shared glances, with no words, spoke volumes.

Moments of separation, are necessary sometimes.

The reunions with much to say, and even more to give.

Love tested, shared, and given so generously.

I give my love and devotion to you and only to you.

As it is hard to find words to express my true feelings.

You are everything to me: I hope these words and my arms, as I gather you up for a hug, say it all.

I wish you, my darling, a wonderful birthday!

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo by Swapnil Deshpandey on Unsplash

 

LOVE WANING NEVER!

Let me see your beauty, I need to gather you near, as my eyes do seek, yet cannot see till well up close.

Let me smell your scent kept especially for me.

Your hands once smooth yet have worked so hard for us.

Your heart beats in time with mine with the occasional skipped beat, an ageing sign.

I gather you close, for an embrace of remembrance of our youth, those sexually heady caresses.

Now, it is with heartfelt gratitude for the love we have shared all this time.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License