My Grampy's Pet

A long time ago
When ships had sails
My Grampy was a sailor
Sailing from Wales

His father before him
Sailed the wide blue
In ships full of young
Enthusiastic crew

My grampy sailed to the African Coast
And picked up an animal
That was finer than most

He was oh so tiny
His fur was so black
His eyes were so doleful
Nothing he lacked

My grampy brought home
That beautiful boy
Nurtured and cared for him
Like a special new toy

But that tiny monkey
Just grew and he grew
Until he was so big
My grampy didn't know
What to do

So he put round his neck
A thick steel chain
To stop him from running away
In the rain

But the creature grew so strong
It snapped every link
And bit my dear grampy
Oh! What to think!

My great-grandmother cried
"This thing is a killer!
How could you bring home
A massive gorilla?

"You must let him go
I can bear it no more
Please take this animal
Out of the door!"

"OK dearest mother!"
My Grampy replied
"I will send him off!"
"Oh good!" she sighed

"But please do not hurt him
I don't want him to be
In terrible pain because of
Your foolery!"

So great granny went out
To bring in provisions!
My grampy had to make
An important decision.

How to get rid of that
Creature so black!
To Africa he couldn't
Take the boy back

So he went to a neighbour
And borrowed a gun
And shot that poor creature
Who weighed half a ton!

The moral of the story is
Do not bring back
Cute little creatures
So tiny and black

They may not be 

What you expected at all
Like the big black gorilla 

Who was 6 foot tall...

©Carolyn Davison

Apparently so the story goes - my grampy DID bring back what he thought was a cute little monkey who grew up to be a massive male gorilla. The creature bit my Grampy (in the neck), broke his chain etc! 

My grampy and is brother apparently shoot the poor animal while their mother was out - they cleaned up the house where they shot him before their mother came home and told her the gorilla didn't feel a thing!

Whether this was just an adventure story made up for his kids and grandchildren, I don't know - my grampy was a character - he died in 1990! (He did have a scar on his neck)

He used to play for Shirley Bassey in the pubs before she became famous! (I wonder if she remembers him...) He played banjo (and I think guitar)! Cool guy with a great sense of humour!

Elvis' Songs Story

OK, not technically a poem, but here it is all the same:

As I walked in the ghetto one day there was trouble when I stepped on someone's new blue suede shoes and tripped over their hound dog! A guy yelled across the street and said,

"Hey little sister, don't be cruel, you got a wooden heart?. If you keep that up it's a matter of time 'til ya unplugged!"

I have to admit that I was all shook up and felt like I had a fever on my brow.

"You don't know me," I shouted back, "I'm not the devil in disguise. A fool such as I doesn't mean to do those things. It's just too much that you think I'm cruel. I feel so bad and I beg of you to treat me nice. How do you think I feel? I just can't help believing that I've got a lot of lovin' to do. I have a feeling in my body that I have to surrender to you! I am wondering, are you lonesome tonight? I gotta know!"

"Lawdy Miss Clawdy, a little less conversation. You're a heartbreaker so I've heard! I got stung once before by way down in the bar called Blue Moon of Kentucky! In good ole Nevada! Viva Las Vegas is all I can say!"

"But it's now or never! I am paralyzed by your gaze, just don't have blue eyes crying in the rain. I'm doin the best I can under the circumstances. I am looking for fame and fortune, but also a guitar man who is playing for keeps. Reconsider baby or else I may have to stay in heartbreak hotel and you wouldn't want that!"

"That's alright mama, my happiness is a good luck charm to me - I don't need no one else, little darlin'!"

Sentimental me - that's who I am! I guess it would have been a one sided love affair anyway! Poor boy, it's him who's missing out! If I can dream then where's the harm in that? I guess he will be always on my mind! I have one broken heart for sale now because I was trying to get to you and be in your arms! I thought I was the one and you would love me tender! Such a night of romance we could have had! But instead you would rather be at home with old shep! I'll hold you in my heart and never return to sender. The wonder of you makes me think that any place is paradise!

"The lady loves me!" He said turning to his girl, "but she's not you - Phew!" he said looking at his woman! "I'm left, you're right and she's gone and as long as I have you, let me be your teddy bear!"

His woman was a girl of my best friend. I had such a night of sadness and a mess of blues! Oh well I was trying to get you, but now you've lost that loving feeling I will have a blue Christmas and be solitaire forever!

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The right of Carolyn Davison to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988

No part of this blog may be reproduced, by any means nor must any of its content be displayed on a website without prior permission from the author.

Gentle Baby - Dying Lamb - Risen Saviour

Gently formed in maiden’s womb
The Redeemer of mankind.
Small and weak and helpless
Being formed to heal the blind

Tiny arms and tiny legs
Stretching in the womb
Being formed to die for us;
To defeat death in the tomb

Gentle babe, no kingly robes
Swaddling band as humble sheet.
Naked in birth, naked in death
Nails will pierce His feet.

Fingers grasping Mary’s hand
Smile upon His face.
Nails driven through His palms
He dies to take our place

Safely in His mother’s arms
No love for Him she lacks.
Becoming sin for all He calls
His Father turns His back.

Beautiful babe in animal stall
Life in every breath.
Lying in a darkened tomb
Conquering hell and death.

Heavenly babe lying still
Prophetic gifts are given.
Tomb lies empty
The Saviour lives!
He intercedes in heaven.

©Carolyn Davison (written 3rd December 2009)

The Precious Gift

No shining tinsel in the stall
No Christmas wreaths upon the wall
No lights nor tree, no singing stranger
Just a small babe in a manger

No decorations in the stable
No plump turkey on the table
No moist pudding or Christmas cake
But a babe who came for our sake

No ringing bells in church steeple
No celebration, nor laughing people
No stockings, no baubles on the tree
Just a babe who was from eternity

No pomp offered to the King
No rich palace for Him to live in
Just a manger and a stall
For the only Precious Gift of all

No religious leader came to Him;
But shepherds and some wise kings.
A lowly place of manger and stall
For the only Precious Gift of all 

©Carolyn Davison

There is a Time

Christmas is a time for giving
A time for self-sacrifice
A time of fun and laughter
A joyous time for living

Christmas is a time for sharing
A time for songs
A time for eating and drinking
A time to start caring

Christmas is a time for family and friends
A time for peace
A time for lights
A time we wished there was no end

Christmas is a time we should remember
A time to reflect
A time to recall!
It's not just another day in December

In the fulness of time God sent
His only begotten Son
Who lived a life we could not
To Calvary He went

In the fulness of time He will come again
From the place beyond our comprehension
He will take His redeemed
To the place where there is no time

©Carolyn Davison

The Virtuous Woman

Who is this wife

So rare and precious

Who has a worth above a gem?

Who is the man

Who safely trusts her?

He is above all other men.

Who is this wife

Who does him good

Who works hard with her hands?

Who cooks with love

She brings him food

From a myriad of lands.

Who is this wife

Rising at night

To feed those in her home?

She works with love

And tenderness

With joy, and not a moan.

Who is this wife?

She sees a field

She buys it for some vines

To grow fresh grapes

So she can make

Some rare and precious wines.

Who is this wife

Who works all day?

Her lamp is lit all night

She spins and weaves;

Makes fine clothes

Her heart just shines with light.

Who is this wife

Who sees the need

Of those so poorly fed?

She reaches out

Her eager hands

To give them living bread.

Who is this wife

Who has no fear

Of snow within her breast?

Her family are

Always clothed

With the finest and the best.

Who is this wife

Of wisdom rare

Kindness upon her tongue?

Glory, praise

And honour are hers

As a song of joy is sung!

Blessed is this wife

Who works

For the glory of her Lord

Strength and virtue

She shall wear

And honour is her word

Deceitful is all

Worldly charm;

Beauty passes away!

But the one who

Serves and obeys the Lord,

A crown will wear one day.

©Carolyn Davison