The Bright Yellow Band

In darkened alleys

And streets foreboding

They lie in wait

For Lorries unloading.

With yellow lines

Around their cap

They don’t half talk

A lot of crap.

You can’t park here

Upon these lines

Otherwise you’ll have to pay

A lot of fines.

To which the lorry driver replied

Under his breath

If you don’t scarper

There will be a death.

The traffic warden held his ground

The lorry driver made no sound

But became increasingly thrilled

When the traffic warden fell into a hole.

Which was about to be filled

The traffic warden certainly did swear

Waving his cap high up in the air

The tarmac then filled where the hole had been.

And when you looked all that could be seen

Was a little scrawny hand

Holding a hat

With a bright yellow band.

My Christmas Wheelchair

 

 

I’ve got Christmas lights and holly

Decorating my wheelchair,

A Christmas woolly hat

On what used to be my hair.

I’ve got polyphonic stereo

Playing Christmas carols, jigs and reels,

Merry Christmas on my bumper

And snow-chains on my wheels.

 

I’ve got mince pies in my pannier,

A hipflask with whisky too.

A pair of heated gloves

To stop my fingers turning blue.

I’ve got a length of rope behind me,

In case I need a tow,

And a pair of skis upon my feet

In case we have some snow.

 

What the weather will be like,

We really do not know.

Whether it will be raining

Or whether there will be snow.

But if there’s snow upon the ground

As deep as it can be.

I’ve got an ingenious plan,

With six huskies pulling me.

 

So wishing you all a Merry Christmas

And a prosperous New Year.

I hope your hearts will be filled

With joy and festive cheer.

So if you see me approaching

Or hear my polyphonic sound,

Let’s hope we don’t have a frost

Or ice upon the ground.

Otherwise you’ll hear me screaming,

And as you wonder why.

You’ll realise that I cannot stop

As I go skidding by.

 

The huskies have all deserted

All of them broken free.

Blue lights are now flashing,

And the police are chasing me.

My feet are numb and frozen.

You don’t know how bad that feels.

I’ve been issued with a fine

And clamps around my wheels.

They’ve confiscated my stereo

And eaten my last mince pie,

RSPCA have got my dogs

And I think I’m going to cry.

 

Copyright ©IanmAllan2020

 

(16) My Christmas Wheelchair

I’ve got Christmas lights and holly

Decorating my wheelchair,

A Christmas woolly hat

On what used to be my hair.

I’ve got polyphonic stereo

Playing Christmas carols, jigs and reels,

Merry Christmas on my bumper

And snow-chains on my wheels.

 I’ve got mince pies in my pannier,

A hipflask with whisky too.

A pair of heated gloves

To stop my fingers turning blue.

I’ve got a length of rope behind me,

In case I need a tow,

And a pair of skis upon my feet

In case we have some snow.

 What the weather will be like,

We really do not know.

Whether it will be raining

Or whether there will be snow.

But if there’s snow upon the ground

As deep as it can be.

I’ve got an ingenious plan,

With six huskies pulling me.

 So wishing you all a Merry Christmas

And a prosperous New Year.

I hope your hearts will be filled

With joy and festive cheer.

So if you see me approaching

Or hear my polyphonic sound,

Let’s hope we don’t have a frost

Or ice upon the ground.

Otherwise you’ll hear me screaming,

And as you wonder why.

You’ll realise that I cannot stop

As I go skidding by.

The huskies have all deserted

All of them broken free.

Blue lights are now flashing,

And the police are chasing me.

 My feet are numb and frozen.

You don’t know how bad that feels.

I’ve been issued with a fine

And clamps around my wheels.

They’ve confiscated my stereo

And eaten my last mince pie,

RSPCA have got my dogs

And I think I’m going to cry.

Copyright © Ian m Allan 2018

(15) Yoakley House

The Yoakley Poem

Brick chimneys stand tall in the sun

Cottages neatly lined up in a row

Sunsets on gardens of bloom

Where flowers and lawns of green grow.

Many a year has now passed

Since foundations for Yoakley were laid

Built with bricks, dedication and foresight

Great plans for the future were made.

The sun will always shine upon Yoakley

Where birds on the wing will fly

With vigour, pride and with courage

Those in their care will soar high.

The years may come and go

In seasonal colours are dressed

Through the glare of the sun and the wild winter wind

Yoakley will surely be blessed.

Copyright©IanmAllan2017

(14) Classical Architecture

St Peters Road, Margate

St Peters Road Margate

Arches, Archivolts, pillars Roman

Ionic, Corinthian and Greek

Acanthus, Acroterion and Aedicule

Architecture’s own language to speak.

Architrave, Astrigal and Ashlar

Balcony, Balustrade, Banderol

Batter, Beak Moulding and Bell Gable

One day I will know them all.

Belvedere, Billet and Bulls Eye

Broken Pediment and Buttresses too

I never realised how much to know

And how much I never knew.

The names of various Brackets are many

Modillion, Queen Anne and Sawn Scroll

I find it intriguing but baffling

To discover all their names at all.

So when you look at the buildings

Think of this poem as a tease

For whether you prefer Greek or Roman

I only went as far as the B’s !!

Copyright © IanmAllan2017

(13) With these Hands

When looking at an old brick wall
So upright and majestic stands
I wonder what you were thinking
As you crafted it with bare hands.

Was the sun shining so long ago
When brick upon brick the wall you made?
Or did it fall in shadow
As upon your shoulders some heavy burden laid.

As you placed each single brick with care
Did you wonder how long your wall would remain?
With calloused hand but eye so sharp
The bricks of Queen Victoria’s reign.

Copyright ©IanmAllan 2017

(12) Dalby Square

Thomas Dalby Reeve, the Margate Mayor

Gave his name to Dalby Square

Originally named Ethelbert Square

Now Regeneration there.

Buildings used as Hotels there stood

Ashley, Belgrave and Buckingham too

Glidewell, Granville and Huntly

To name but a few.

Private schools for girls and boys

Palmer, Skelsmergh, Sultan and Queens

Providing quality education

For growing teens.

Tennis courts centrally placed

Ornate buildings with sculptures graced

Dalby Square overlooking the sea

Once again the place to be.

Copyright©IanmAllan2017

The Original Dalby Square Sign

Number 16 New College Boy's Boarding School

Amazing Balustrades

The Refurbishment Begins

                                                                 

A New Build in the Square

 The same building as above as Dalby Square is continuing to be  Refurbished