When Sonny Liston was World heavyweight boxing champion the World was a much different place
Though before he won the title from Floyd Patterson the first man had been to outer space
I recall photos of him after he lost his title to Muhammad Ali the look of disappointment in his face
Long before he knew adulation and glory he only knew of failure and disgrace.
From the night he lost his title to Ali for him 'twas downhill to failure all of the way
No more moments of glory for the ageing Sonny Liston he was then well beyond his prime day
In the rematch with Ali he did not regain his title and he returned to his old ways of crime
Yet memories of the man known as the big bear are destined for to live on for some time.
That he did take his own life Sonny Liston just to think about to say the least seems sad
He may have had many criminal covictions but there was worse than him since he was not all bad
He was one who knew of shame and glory and he is one well worthy of recall
And though his end one might say was far from glorious death in one way or another will come to us all.
When Sonny Liston lost his title to Ali before the onset of this technological age
I recall a memorable photo of him in a newspaper a headline caption in the sporting page
The poor bloke had such a sad look about him a memory with me that still remain
Of one who knew of disgrace and glory, discrimination, insult and hardship and pain.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
No Such A Thing
No such a thing as an untalented person for each one at something or other is good
Some are good at sketching and drawing and others are good at sculpting of clay and wood
And others are good at tennis or cricket or golf and others are good at baseball
And some are good at carpentry or plumbing and some are good at building a stone-wall.
Some are good actors and some are good at writing and some as good horse trainers and jockeys are known
And some know how to breed and train greyhounds and like they say to one and all their own
And others good swimmers and athletes an untalented one you will not find
Some good with their hands and making things whilst some have a creative mind.
Some are good as motor mechanics and others at the programming of computers are great
And others are born inventors such useful things they do create
And some have a good way with people that too is a gift after all
And some are good at chess and at billiards and others are good at football.
Some are good as electricians and others are good engineers
And some are good at caring for others they work as social workers for years
There's no such a thing as an untalented person for each one at something is good
And why human beings are so very gifted will never be fully understood.
Some are good at sketching and drawing and others are good at sculpting of clay and wood
And others are good at tennis or cricket or golf and others are good at baseball
And some are good at carpentry or plumbing and some are good at building a stone-wall.
Some are good actors and some are good at writing and some as good horse trainers and jockeys are known
And some know how to breed and train greyhounds and like they say to one and all their own
And others good swimmers and athletes an untalented one you will not find
Some good with their hands and making things whilst some have a creative mind.
Some are good as motor mechanics and others at the programming of computers are great
And others are born inventors such useful things they do create
And some have a good way with people that too is a gift after all
And some are good at chess and at billiards and others are good at football.
Some are good as electricians and others are good engineers
And some are good at caring for others they work as social workers for years
There's no such a thing as an untalented person for each one at something is good
And why human beings are so very gifted will never be fully understood.
Sir Windbag
The big bloke with the loud voice puffs on his fat cigar
As he tells us all of how great he is down at the local bar
He talks about his business success his beautiful young wife and young family
And his three most used words not hard to guess are I, myself and me.
He has been told by more than one that he is over the top
And that to his over emphasis on self they would like him to stop
But he does not listen to their advice he just waffles away
Narcissism is like an incurable disease some have been known to say.
He tells us all of how marvellous he is Sir Windbag his nickname
In his own mind at least he feels he has great wealth and fame
And though others of him quickly tire few wish to hear him brag
And some people have an apt nickname and his is Sir Windbag.
The big bloke with the loud voice boasts of his brand new car
And of his job promotion and house extension down at the local public bar
But of him people quickly tire they find him quite a bore
You hear some say no not again we've heard that one before.
As he tells us all of how great he is down at the local bar
He talks about his business success his beautiful young wife and young family
And his three most used words not hard to guess are I, myself and me.
He has been told by more than one that he is over the top
And that to his over emphasis on self they would like him to stop
But he does not listen to their advice he just waffles away
Narcissism is like an incurable disease some have been known to say.
He tells us all of how marvellous he is Sir Windbag his nickname
In his own mind at least he feels he has great wealth and fame
And though others of him quickly tire few wish to hear him brag
And some people have an apt nickname and his is Sir Windbag.
The big bloke with the loud voice boasts of his brand new car
And of his job promotion and house extension down at the local public bar
But of him people quickly tire they find him quite a bore
You hear some say no not again we've heard that one before.
Believe In Your God
Believe in your god if it suits you but to your god do remain true
For if for your god you wish to harm others your god will not be happy with you
For if your god is as great as you say he is for others he would not wish you to harbour hate
For inflicting injury on others is something you should not celebrate.
Believe in your god if it suits you but for your god war do not wage
For if there is a god he is a kind god and on his behalf he would not wish you to rage
Against those who do not believe as you do a true god difference would embrace
And those who wage war in his name god would disown in his heart for them there's no place.
Believe in your god if you choose to but leave others to their own way
It does not mean that they are bad people if to a different god to your god they pray
To their beliefs they are entitled to each to their own or so they say
There is one thing to make us all equal we all will and must die one day.
Believe in your god if you so wish to but respect those who to you feel quite differently
'Tis our differences that make us interesting though with that you may not agree
You feel too full of your self importance you talk about the us and the they
But have you the right to condemn others because to a different god to you they pray.
For if for your god you wish to harm others your god will not be happy with you
For if your god is as great as you say he is for others he would not wish you to harbour hate
For inflicting injury on others is something you should not celebrate.
Believe in your god if it suits you but for your god war do not wage
For if there is a god he is a kind god and on his behalf he would not wish you to rage
Against those who do not believe as you do a true god difference would embrace
And those who wage war in his name god would disown in his heart for them there's no place.
Believe in your god if you choose to but leave others to their own way
It does not mean that they are bad people if to a different god to your god they pray
To their beliefs they are entitled to each to their own or so they say
There is one thing to make us all equal we all will and must die one day.
Believe in your god if you so wish to but respect those who to you feel quite differently
'Tis our differences that make us interesting though with that you may not agree
You feel too full of your self importance you talk about the us and the they
But have you the right to condemn others because to a different god to you they pray.
The Ageing Sugar Daddy
With a blond beauty in her early twenties he swaggers down the street
The ageing Sugar Daddy so full of self conceit
They smile and laugh together he kiss her on the cheek
Financially quite wealthy but 'tis said his heart is weak.
He buy her the most expensive clothes and her he wine and dine
Does she love him for his money or as a father figure your guess is as good as mine
He is at least three times her age with brown dye he cloaks his gray
Though he'd be the last one to admit that he has known a better day.
His heart bypass operation was successful he will live on for awhile
And with a young beauty to snuggle up to him he can afford to smile
He is infatuated by her for her he left his old wife
And she is feeling bitter but sadly such is life.
Considering his age and heart condition he may not have much time left
But without him his young beauty need not feel all sad and bereft
Of suitors since she will have his money and with youth and beauty to catch the eye
Many years of love and loving she has left to enjoy.
The Ageing Sugar Daddy with one a third of his age
A beautiful young woman just past the girlie stage
Hand in hand they go out walking he buys her a good time
And he well over sixty and she not in her prime
The ageing Sugar Daddy so full of self conceit
They smile and laugh together he kiss her on the cheek
Financially quite wealthy but 'tis said his heart is weak.
He buy her the most expensive clothes and her he wine and dine
Does she love him for his money or as a father figure your guess is as good as mine
He is at least three times her age with brown dye he cloaks his gray
Though he'd be the last one to admit that he has known a better day.
His heart bypass operation was successful he will live on for awhile
And with a young beauty to snuggle up to him he can afford to smile
He is infatuated by her for her he left his old wife
And she is feeling bitter but sadly such is life.
Considering his age and heart condition he may not have much time left
But without him his young beauty need not feel all sad and bereft
Of suitors since she will have his money and with youth and beauty to catch the eye
Many years of love and loving she has left to enjoy.
The Ageing Sugar Daddy with one a third of his age
A beautiful young woman just past the girlie stage
Hand in hand they go out walking he buys her a good time
And he well over sixty and she not in her prime
Beyond Our Control
Some people in their wisdom say we can fulfill our every wish
But the fish that swims in your fish tank can only be a fish
And as for me I feel our destiny is beyond our control
The same as for the billionaire as the one on the dole.
The billionaire walks down the street on a cold and stormy day
And the reaper at the corner for him lurks his end moments away
The roof tiles loosened in the gale and one downwards did fly
Hitting the unsuspecting in the head and he instantly did die.
Despite his wealth he could not change the course of his destiny
To die by the big house at the street corner for him was meant to be
And though only in his early forties and a decade past his prime
The reaper was his master since the reaper named his time.
For him to exit from the land of the living the reaper had named the second and the date
His time was up and that was it and time for none does wait
She will not go short of suitors his young and pretty and very wealthy wife
And all of the money in the World will not bring him back to life.
He wished for to be very wealthy and very wealthy he became
And though his money did not bring him true happiness his money brought him fame
But his money did not buy the reaper he now is with the dead
A tile blown from a rooftop killed him when it struck him on the head.
But the fish that swims in your fish tank can only be a fish
And as for me I feel our destiny is beyond our control
The same as for the billionaire as the one on the dole.
The billionaire walks down the street on a cold and stormy day
And the reaper at the corner for him lurks his end moments away
The roof tiles loosened in the gale and one downwards did fly
Hitting the unsuspecting in the head and he instantly did die.
Despite his wealth he could not change the course of his destiny
To die by the big house at the street corner for him was meant to be
And though only in his early forties and a decade past his prime
The reaper was his master since the reaper named his time.
For him to exit from the land of the living the reaper had named the second and the date
His time was up and that was it and time for none does wait
She will not go short of suitors his young and pretty and very wealthy wife
And all of the money in the World will not bring him back to life.
He wished for to be very wealthy and very wealthy he became
And though his money did not bring him true happiness his money brought him fame
But his money did not buy the reaper he now is with the dead
A tile blown from a rooftop killed him when it struck him on the head.
Sometimes In Flights Of Fancy
Sometimes in flights of fancy my thoughts are far away
In the old fields by the river and the sweet scent of new mown hay
On a bright morning in August in the northern Summer-time
Such scenes of pastoral beauty have inspired the poets to rhyme.
For migrants to love their homeland seems such a natural thing
As natural as birdsong in the prime months of the Spring
Whatever their reason for migrating their love for the homeland dear
And they often sing the old song 'If we had the old land here'.
Sometimes in flights of fancy I can hear the babbling rill
Winding it's way to the river when the moon shines on the hill
Through the old fields by the mountains far north as the crow might fly
Nostalgia is with the migrants until the day they die.
Sometimes in nostalgic moments I can hear the robin sing
And the young birds chirping in their nests in the green woods of the Spring
And in fancy I can hear the curlew pipe o'er the bog again
And the blackbird on the hedgerow sing to tell of wind and rain.
In the old fields by the river and the sweet scent of new mown hay
On a bright morning in August in the northern Summer-time
Such scenes of pastoral beauty have inspired the poets to rhyme.
For migrants to love their homeland seems such a natural thing
As natural as birdsong in the prime months of the Spring
Whatever their reason for migrating their love for the homeland dear
And they often sing the old song 'If we had the old land here'.
Sometimes in flights of fancy I can hear the babbling rill
Winding it's way to the river when the moon shines on the hill
Through the old fields by the mountains far north as the crow might fly
Nostalgia is with the migrants until the day they die.
Sometimes in nostalgic moments I can hear the robin sing
And the young birds chirping in their nests in the green woods of the Spring
And in fancy I can hear the curlew pipe o'er the bog again
And the blackbird on the hedgerow sing to tell of wind and rain.
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