A proverb is written below. Writers and poets are then invited to write up to a 30 line poem or a 300 word story incorporating it. Send your submissions to [email protected] and they will be published on this page. In time they will feature in their own book. Good luck!
April 19, 2024
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence...
March 18, 2024
Actions speak louder than words
Words
Spouting mere words can come easily,
but actions come much harder, each day.
Anyone can just say words for all to hear,
but it's whether we do what we say!
Thus words are empty if not carried out
and meaningless and just a lie.
If we do not back them up somehow,
the least we can do, is but try!
Laura Sanders
Lying Louse
He said he loved me, and what a glorious thing
that I'd always be the "apple of his eye!"
I waited and waited patiently, still no wedding ring.
Old and grey now, the years have now, passed me by.
He said he would help me and make me his wife,
so I would have to strive no more.
I've been stuck in this dead end job, all my life
his words were a meaningless bore!
He said together, when right, we'd have a family,
two or three kids, would be a gift.
Today I am childless, can't he see
it's now too late, so I am miffed!
He was always bragging, boasting to me,
sending sugary, cards with flowers and birds,
I just wish he'd prove truly he loved me,
'cause actions speak louder then words.
No glitzy ring, no wedding band of gold,
no wedding ceremony, or my own house.
His words were false, fake, I was sold,
wish I hadn't met the lying, disreputable louse!
Laura Sanders
All wind and no rain
Man enjoys one trait above all other creatures
from the baby’s first “Mama” to all the words
of loved ones and teachers
though this unique gift to speak has two ways about it, both sweetness and dramas
like when expectations fall short because of broken promises.
Words offered in apology are consoling where there’s injury and condemnation
if he responsibly applies the energy for correction and rehabilitation
but cheap talk won’t repay a debt or sow kinder temperament with neighbor or home
say nothing until you can mean what you say then respect will come back and maybe be shown
so if you’re drinking too much then put the jug down and go to AA
quit making promises then meet at the waterhole the next day
meet your obligations, speak sincere and you’ll start getting taller
you might find you like it to be a doer not a talker.
Tom Bowler
Actions speak louder than words
Do you remember Marcel Marceau?
A mime artist of great renown.
He called mime the “art of silence”
and on stage he was Bip the Clown.
He spoke to you via his movements
and the expressions on his face.
A visual vocabulary,
a word never out of place.
His Walking Against the Wind routine
inspired Michael Jackson’s moonwalk.
An incredible achievement,
not requiring the need to talk.
This man was truly a genius
his performances quite absurd.
With painted white face and a flower,
always seen but never heard.
Garry Davidson
January 31, 2024
A bad workman always blames his tools
Cowboys of the West
The workmen rushed off hastily,
time was money they knew.
But the window frame they'd fitted,
whistled shrilly, as the wind blew through!
The garden lawn looked peculiar,
the landscape gardeners tried their best,
the turf dried up, and shrank - all brown,
they were the cowboys of the west!
The shed the craftsmen erected,
crashed down, in a gale force wind.
It revived itself as a garden fence,
the idea soon got binned.
The plumber came to fix a leak,
couldn't find where it had sprung.
A swimming pool of water, swamped the house
from the ceiling lamp, the owner clung!
Their mugshots ended up on Watchdog,
they'd blamed lack of money and shoddy tools.
The people in the neighbourhood had said,
"Do you take us for bloody fools!!
"We want our money back,
we know that you all lied.
Work firms saying they are the best,
today there's no standards, or pride!!"
So Watchdog shamed the villains
The Cowboys of the West.
Told folk to look at the reviews,
to decide who was the best!
Laura Sanders
A Voicemail From My Builder
“Allo mate I got yer message,
I’ve been meenin' to call yer back,
troof is I’ve ‘ad a few tuff jobs,
and it’s knocked me a bit off track.
About the winder I put in for yer,
I got it to fit best as I could,
but the ‘ammer and nails I used for the job,
wouldn’t go froo the wood.
I tried a screwdriver and some screws,
electric, it cost a few bob,
but although I tried everyfink,
it wouldn’t do the job.
The silicone should ‘old the winder togevva,
I piped it round the edges meself,
just to give it some extra oomph,
I stuck the bottom to yer shelf.
The sink woz a bit of a bugga tho,
I ‘ad a problem wiv the washers,
I turned the water on, there was a leak,
and I ‘ad to wear me galoshes.
The last job you wanted woz the wall,
but the cement mixa wouldn’t start,
I ‘ad to mix the cement by ‘and,
I fink I’ve done somefink to me ‘art!
Oh yeah, annuver fing about the wall,
they sent the wrong size bricks,
but I did me best and got it dun,
using some old builders’ tricks.”
Do these people take us for fools?
We all know a bad workman always blames his tools.
Garry Davidson
January 10, 2024
Many hands make light work...
Another pair of hands
There are a multitude of tasks I must do each and every day,
household chores - that will not go away!
I wish I was a squirmy Octopus, with tentacles of eight,
so I could do lots more, and my work would soon abate!
But alas, I only have two small hands, to get everything done!
Praying for help, another hand, from someone - anyone?!
Peel the potatoes, retrieve the post, comb mum's hair,
do the shopping, make dinner, it is me, who HAS to care!
A carer's work is never done, they say, and I agree,
but who will look out for and help, little ol' me?!
So I prayed and wished, yearned for another pair of hands,
to make my work lighter, hands to show concern and understand.
Then my wish came true, and my fairy godmother came,
and waved a magic wand, so things were not the same...
My chores were lighter and were easier to do,
a kind heart came to my rescue, a love so real and true.
It made a huge difference and when I relaxed from my work,
I felt strangely redundant, as work, never did I shirk!
So yes , many hands make work lighter, team work especially.
It sure makes our lives flow and helps us cope, more easily!!
Laura Sanders
When we all pull together, we make life flow,
doing God's work on earth, it's how it's supposed to go.
Easing the burdens of life, on each and everyone,
but working as a team, soon gets the workload done!
Managing, supporting, helping - we all can do our bit.
Like fitting pieces of a jigsaw, to make a whole picture knit.
It is what life is about, as many hands make light work,
all aiming in the same direction, no one wanting to shirk!
Laura Sanders
Many hands make light work,
an old German proverb you know.
I met a man in Bremen once,
he’s the one who told me so.
“Can you tell me the origin?” I asked,
“Of course,” came his reply.
He sat right back in his chair,
and looked up at the sky.
“Many years ago lightning struck,
hit that beacon on the hill.
It put out the light instantly,
to fix it required some skill.
I chaired a public meeting,
they said, “Hans, we need electricians”.
I offered my family company,
but that aroused a few suspicions.
Finally they all agreed,
so I mustered my cousins and brothers,
coincidentally they are all called Hans,
but we invited along a few others.
We set a date to do the work,
assembled men and machinery on site.
They were all totally focussed,
on rekindling that blessed light.
After many hours of sweat and toil,
the odd blown fuse and quirk,
the people let out a massive cheer,
many Hans make light work!”
Garry Davidson
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence...
March 18, 2024
Actions speak louder than words
Words
Spouting mere words can come easily,
but actions come much harder, each day.
Anyone can just say words for all to hear,
but it's whether we do what we say!
Thus words are empty if not carried out
and meaningless and just a lie.
If we do not back them up somehow,
the least we can do, is but try!
Laura Sanders
Lying Louse
He said he loved me, and what a glorious thing
that I'd always be the "apple of his eye!"
I waited and waited patiently, still no wedding ring.
Old and grey now, the years have now, passed me by.
He said he would help me and make me his wife,
so I would have to strive no more.
I've been stuck in this dead end job, all my life
his words were a meaningless bore!
He said together, when right, we'd have a family,
two or three kids, would be a gift.
Today I am childless, can't he see
it's now too late, so I am miffed!
He was always bragging, boasting to me,
sending sugary, cards with flowers and birds,
I just wish he'd prove truly he loved me,
'cause actions speak louder then words.
No glitzy ring, no wedding band of gold,
no wedding ceremony, or my own house.
His words were false, fake, I was sold,
wish I hadn't met the lying, disreputable louse!
Laura Sanders
All wind and no rain
Man enjoys one trait above all other creatures
from the baby’s first “Mama” to all the words
of loved ones and teachers
though this unique gift to speak has two ways about it, both sweetness and dramas
like when expectations fall short because of broken promises.
Words offered in apology are consoling where there’s injury and condemnation
if he responsibly applies the energy for correction and rehabilitation
but cheap talk won’t repay a debt or sow kinder temperament with neighbor or home
say nothing until you can mean what you say then respect will come back and maybe be shown
so if you’re drinking too much then put the jug down and go to AA
quit making promises then meet at the waterhole the next day
meet your obligations, speak sincere and you’ll start getting taller
you might find you like it to be a doer not a talker.
Tom Bowler
Actions speak louder than words
Do you remember Marcel Marceau?
A mime artist of great renown.
He called mime the “art of silence”
and on stage he was Bip the Clown.
He spoke to you via his movements
and the expressions on his face.
A visual vocabulary,
a word never out of place.
His Walking Against the Wind routine
inspired Michael Jackson’s moonwalk.
An incredible achievement,
not requiring the need to talk.
This man was truly a genius
his performances quite absurd.
With painted white face and a flower,
always seen but never heard.
Garry Davidson
January 31, 2024
A bad workman always blames his tools
Cowboys of the West
The workmen rushed off hastily,
time was money they knew.
But the window frame they'd fitted,
whistled shrilly, as the wind blew through!
The garden lawn looked peculiar,
the landscape gardeners tried their best,
the turf dried up, and shrank - all brown,
they were the cowboys of the west!
The shed the craftsmen erected,
crashed down, in a gale force wind.
It revived itself as a garden fence,
the idea soon got binned.
The plumber came to fix a leak,
couldn't find where it had sprung.
A swimming pool of water, swamped the house
from the ceiling lamp, the owner clung!
Their mugshots ended up on Watchdog,
they'd blamed lack of money and shoddy tools.
The people in the neighbourhood had said,
"Do you take us for bloody fools!!
"We want our money back,
we know that you all lied.
Work firms saying they are the best,
today there's no standards, or pride!!"
So Watchdog shamed the villains
The Cowboys of the West.
Told folk to look at the reviews,
to decide who was the best!
Laura Sanders
A Voicemail From My Builder
“Allo mate I got yer message,
I’ve been meenin' to call yer back,
troof is I’ve ‘ad a few tuff jobs,
and it’s knocked me a bit off track.
About the winder I put in for yer,
I got it to fit best as I could,
but the ‘ammer and nails I used for the job,
wouldn’t go froo the wood.
I tried a screwdriver and some screws,
electric, it cost a few bob,
but although I tried everyfink,
it wouldn’t do the job.
The silicone should ‘old the winder togevva,
I piped it round the edges meself,
just to give it some extra oomph,
I stuck the bottom to yer shelf.
The sink woz a bit of a bugga tho,
I ‘ad a problem wiv the washers,
I turned the water on, there was a leak,
and I ‘ad to wear me galoshes.
The last job you wanted woz the wall,
but the cement mixa wouldn’t start,
I ‘ad to mix the cement by ‘and,
I fink I’ve done somefink to me ‘art!
Oh yeah, annuver fing about the wall,
they sent the wrong size bricks,
but I did me best and got it dun,
using some old builders’ tricks.”
Do these people take us for fools?
We all know a bad workman always blames his tools.
Garry Davidson
January 10, 2024
Many hands make light work...
Another pair of hands
There are a multitude of tasks I must do each and every day,
household chores - that will not go away!
I wish I was a squirmy Octopus, with tentacles of eight,
so I could do lots more, and my work would soon abate!
But alas, I only have two small hands, to get everything done!
Praying for help, another hand, from someone - anyone?!
Peel the potatoes, retrieve the post, comb mum's hair,
do the shopping, make dinner, it is me, who HAS to care!
A carer's work is never done, they say, and I agree,
but who will look out for and help, little ol' me?!
So I prayed and wished, yearned for another pair of hands,
to make my work lighter, hands to show concern and understand.
Then my wish came true, and my fairy godmother came,
and waved a magic wand, so things were not the same...
My chores were lighter and were easier to do,
a kind heart came to my rescue, a love so real and true.
It made a huge difference and when I relaxed from my work,
I felt strangely redundant, as work, never did I shirk!
So yes , many hands make work lighter, team work especially.
It sure makes our lives flow and helps us cope, more easily!!
Laura Sanders
When we all pull together, we make life flow,
doing God's work on earth, it's how it's supposed to go.
Easing the burdens of life, on each and everyone,
but working as a team, soon gets the workload done!
Managing, supporting, helping - we all can do our bit.
Like fitting pieces of a jigsaw, to make a whole picture knit.
It is what life is about, as many hands make light work,
all aiming in the same direction, no one wanting to shirk!
Laura Sanders
Many hands make light work,
an old German proverb you know.
I met a man in Bremen once,
he’s the one who told me so.
“Can you tell me the origin?” I asked,
“Of course,” came his reply.
He sat right back in his chair,
and looked up at the sky.
“Many years ago lightning struck,
hit that beacon on the hill.
It put out the light instantly,
to fix it required some skill.
I chaired a public meeting,
they said, “Hans, we need electricians”.
I offered my family company,
but that aroused a few suspicions.
Finally they all agreed,
so I mustered my cousins and brothers,
coincidentally they are all called Hans,
but we invited along a few others.
We set a date to do the work,
assembled men and machinery on site.
They were all totally focussed,
on rekindling that blessed light.
After many hours of sweat and toil,
the odd blown fuse and quirk,
the people let out a massive cheer,
many Hans make light work!”
Garry Davidson