Climbing the Volcano

Climbing a volcano
Is not my idea of fun
The map says it is dormant
"How d'you know when it is done?'

I ask my husband
Who's going off to climb
Up a volcano
His choice, not mine

He pulls up the map
Says these islands were made
When volcanoes erupted
He's not dismayed

My husband likes trekking
The risk is small, he doesn't mind
His group walks up volcanoes
They say that love is blind

I used to wonder why
People lived in a volcano's reach
Why after a tsumani
They lived beside the beach

Some people gloat at taking risks😃
Volcano watchers stay alert, grow excited
They rush cameras to danger
When it erupts, they're delighted

Others shrug at dangers
Say, 'When it's your time you go
What will be will be
Only God can know.'

Others are simply scientific
Say: 'Carbon makes fertile soil
The ash for planting is terrific
Abundant crops and less toil.'

They say, 'In the long run
We are all dead.'
Reaching a volcano's summit is
Just a dream, or nightmare, in your head.
-ends-
Copyright Angela Lansbury 2020 Feb

Rainbow People

Some people are rainbows
Not just black and white
They keep changing colours
Not all wrong or right

A rainbow by day
Lost in black in the night

When you look at me
You see sequins and red
And orange and yellow
Inside, outside, all round my head.

Some people are green
Some people are blue
My friend adores pink
Disney Princess hue

Some people are rainbows
Not just black and white
They keep changing colours
Not all wrong nor all right

Dark at night, by day bright.
-ends-
copyright Angela Lansbury Feb 22 2020

Today Is A Day

Today is a grey day
A nothing to say day
The day, or I, should go away
No sun, no fun, no play, no way




So I shut my eyes and dream of honey
Dream even harder and dream of money
I'd be satisfied if it were sunny
Or lots of pals were smiling and funny

I smile at the mirror and see my smile
Maybe life'll change in a little while
The chairs are green as stain-free grass
Lamps beam sunlight which lasts and lasts.

by Angela Lansbury
Fab Feb 2020. 

Kirk Douglas Died at 103

Kirk Douglas died aged a hundred and three
What does this mean for you and me?

It means we can read and write poetry
If we both live to a hundred and three.

Angela Lansbury
copyright Feb 6 2020

Never neglect to say goodbye

I say hello, later goodbye
I know that you will ask me why

Never neglect to say hello
Never neglect to say goodbye
That way you never lose a friend
Start well and that's how you should end

A friend will be there when you laugh
And therefore stay there when you cry
Make sure you always count two smiles
To compensate for when you sigh

One day, tomorrow you will die
So never forget to say goodbye.

Then when you reach the pearly gate
I guarantee you won't long wait
But you'll see friends you used to know
And they'll be glad to say hello.
-ends-
Copyright Angela Lansbury Jan 2020

Never neglect to nod hello

I always like to nod hello
To all folks as I come and go
It's what grand hotel workers do
It should apply to me and you

The Japanese enter your lift
Even if you don't have to shift
Their culture says smile, nod, 'Hell-low'
Chat, nod, 'Good boy,' when forced to go

My motive when I say hello
When off to swim I come and go
My physical and mental rule -
They'll watch if I drown in the pool!

But now that I've got in the habit
I do it like a programmed rabbit
My ritual's part of the scene
To leave it out looks odd and mean

The lady on security
Most days will answer waves from me
Today, head down, she was busy
That problem left me in a tizzy

Today she did not see me wave
I wondered if I ought to save
My bright, friendly, goodwill greeting
For another morning's meeting

But I decided it was no
I won't walk on, let this chance go
I shouted, 'Hello!' then, 'Good morning!'
She looked up, smiled, light was dawning

It worked. I felt good. Told you so
Never neglect to say hello
Greet neighbours as you walk along
It helps you feel that you belong.

I met a sweeper in the hall
Moving the dirt from wall to wall
He didn't have a mobile phone
He waved his mop, all alone

Today I added, "How've you bin?"
Got answered with a gap-toothed grin
He didn't have a lot to say
But I could tell I'd made his day.

'Not what you know but who you know'
Never neglect to say, 'Hello!'
-ends-
copyright Angela Lansbury 2020 Jan 24 Just before Chinese New Year

From Young To Old by Angela Lansbury

You run so fast from young to old
You run so fast from hot to cold
You run so fast from cold to hot
From yes I can to I cannot

Fast learn the skill of one who can
Watch folks fast change from woman to man
If you keep busy every day
How fast your life will pass away

You run so fast from cold to hot
From I remember to I forgot
You run so fast from rival to friend
You run so fast from start to end

You run so fast from hot to cold
You run so fast from young to old.

- ends-
Copyright Angela Lansbury

Friday 17 January 2020.