Kyrielle

Kyrielle

8 syllables

3 quatrains

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All meaning in life had been lost
My searching was bought at great cost
In anguish I cried out to thee
By your mercy I am set free

You invited me through your door
You welcome the rich and poor
Beyond ME I am truly me
By your mercy I am set free

I remember Allan Holdsworth

I remember Allan Holdsworth

I remember Allan Holdsworth

The guy from Thorpe Edge Estate

Who became the revered guitarist

That the world’s best musicians rate

I remember he did an album

Called ‘Igginbottoms Wrench

A musical voice from Bradford

That for some might as well be in French

I remember his swift elevation

With Nucleus and Ian Carr

In Tempest he blew with Jon Hiseman

Hazard Profile a Soft Machine star

I remember him joining Lifetime

Tony Williams and he played sublime

One of my favourite drummers

He played with most in his time

I remember I bought an album

UK was the name of the band

Bill Bruford and Allan inspired

The best prog band in the land

I remember the solo albums

Never willing to sell out

His music was always a credit

His bank balance suffered no doubt

I remember he liked a pint

 A gifted but modest man

Never content to follow

Always seeking the Secrets of Sand

Everyone comes from somewhere

But Allan was one of our own

The 4:15 Bradford Executive

Finally bringing him Home

Mike O’Leary April 2017

My New Brother

My New Brother

I'm going to get a new brother
My Mum says he's coming soon
I didn't ask for a brother
I'm not even sure we've got room

I'm going to get a new brother
I hope he won't take my place
Cos I am still only little
I hope he won't get in my face

My Mum says I'll love my new brother
But I'm not really sure about that
Cos when he comes home to live here
I might have to sleep with the cat

My brother came home yesterday
He's alright but he's wrinkled and small
I suppose I'll get used to him one day
But I've told Mum, no more, that's all

Mike O'Leary - January 2016

The Best of Days

I danced my way

Through 1001 nights

With beautiful girls

On fanciful flights

With girlish charms

And womanly airs

A flashing of eyes

A flick of the hair

We loved and laughed

with youthful zest

The days were long

The nights, the best

The joy, the play

The making hay

Those surely were

The best of days

Mike O'Leary - September 2014

Ineedsomespace

Ineedsomespace

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computinganalysingcodingtraining
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tobeornottobecontinued...

mikeolearyoctober2014

IQ Haiku

IQ Haiku

High IQ not needed

Writing Haiku

Just seventeen syllables

Mike O'Leary - May 2012

Easter

Easter

 Bede, an English Christian scholar

In his treatise, 'De Temporum Ratione' *

Said that 'Easter' derived from Eostre

Earth Mother, Pagan Goddess of the North

Spring, did lambs bring to existence
 Gambol turned to gamble, sacrifice
Blood, once spilled upon the altar
No longer need be, to alter your life

Death, rebirth and renewal
Final sacrifice, atonement, redeemed
The route offered, back to Eden
Clean slate, cleansed heart, new life

Mike O'Leary - April 2012 

* The Reckoning of Time - The Venerable Bede

It's Mother's Day

It’s Mother’s Day

                                                                                           

When we were young she kept us alive

Feeding heart, mind and body, helping us thrive

Now we are older and live our own lives

But to her part of us will always be five.

"Don’t buy me a present for Mother’s Day"

"Don’t waste your money" you’ll hear her say

"I’ll be happy enough with a visit or call"

"I’d be happy enough with nothing at all"

So here is a poem that cost not a thing

But carries a fortune in feeling and thought

Here is a greeting from your son which conveys

Much Love and happiness dear Mum on this day 



Mike O'Leary March 2012

Drummer

Never tell a drummer that he's out of time

Metric Modulations and Polyrhythms

A drummer for many a year

Changes in metre I hear them

But my feet and my wrists can't I fear

I still feel the rhythm flow through me

Though my body won’t dance to the beat

Heart pumping faster

Breathing much harder

To master being on the drum seat

As we get older

We have to get over

The things we can no longer do

Even now they tell me

'You should play again'

'Must play again'

'Tell us that's what you will do'

But lo and behold

I'm more rocket and rolls

Than rock and roll, now

Sad but true!

Mike O’Leary September 2011

Freedom

Freedom

Free to choose, I choose to care

Free to lose, my losses bear

Free to care, I care for free

Free to gain from giving freely

Freedom from, freedom to

Licence will what freedom won't

Licence says, do what you will

Freedom says you can, but don’t!

Free to starve, free to freeze

Got no money, free to sneeze

Free to live a life unhindered

 Food or heating, fires untindered

Free to live on dreams and hopes

Free to struggle, not to cope

Free to think ‘It could be me’
Can’t buy a ticket for 50p

Free to work, free to play

Free to do what others say

Free to vote, x to win

Cameron, Cowell, factor in

Free to smile, free to frown

Free to be up, free to be down

Free to want to see some justice

Free some day, free markets busted

Free to dance, free to move

Freedom song, freedom groove

Free to listen, free to voice

Is everything just a matter of choice?

                                                       Mike O'Leary November 2011