Image: Me an’ Jojo at The Lions Den Tea Rooms open mic, sharin’ the amusment my poem brought with the audience
09.04.26: 51-23) Suitcase and car collected, quicker than expected
Then drive to my motel on I35
Speed limits heeded drop off what’s not needed
To Jojo’s but to my cost, was almost lost
Missed the turn but soon back on track
Time abatin’ Becca had messaged to say Jojo was waitin’
Got there meetin’ up was a real delight
Hugs an’ smiles then cover some more miles
We’re away, it’s not too far, OPA on South Lamar
Thom and friends to meet, a real poetry treat
We went down well, it was swell
Jojo first to be heard, audience hangin’ on her every word
Then me shortly after, I had the audience rockin’ with laughter
Seemed like it was my best yet, sayin’ they really enjoyed my set
Yes last night was a real delight
An’ I can say “Today is another day”.
52-24) Last night collected the car it ran like a song
But when I got back to the motel I noticed something wrong
A warning said they hadn’t changed the oil
I thought I don’t want it to spoil, My tour and more
Didn’t want it breakin’ down, far from any town
So to the rental place at a steady pace
Soon a change for another car in the range
Drivin’ away I thought “What would *David say”
Would it be “Well Trev, so far it’s been a car a day”
53-25) Replacement car sorted, lunch and next stop
Red Traveller’s poetry work shop
Poems 54 to 59 written at the workshop following various prompts
54-26) When somethings lost what’s the cost
Searchin’, searchin’, it’s nowhere to be seen
Searchin’, searchin’ high and low, where it is I don’t know
Fears abound, suddenly it’s found
Same as a problem that has us stumped
Try as we might, we never seem to get it right
No need for it’s found straight away It always pays
When someone else finds it through a new pair of eyes
55-27) Didn’t serve
Didn’t last
Now it’s gone
All in the past
56-28) Question or long question
Do you make it long or short
Do you give it some thought
Either way, or do you just say
“Tell me, yea or nay”.
57-29) Some would love to drown us, in their own ideas and words
Have us wander, aimlessly round in herds. Brain numb, under their thumb
Then there are those indeed who will offer help in a time of need
Whether water or fire, will always inspire, to lift you higher
Until you’re found, back on solid ground
58-30) Holding on vs letting go
Do we hold or do we fold. Do we know when to let go
Is holding on in vain, do we hold and feel the pain
Or is letting go, time to begin again
59-31) Misunderstood, they haven’t a clue
How to get through to to anyone
I’m misunderstood
60-32) Away to chill for the afternoon, Have a rest so I’m at my best
To hopefully delight those at an open mic tonight
Tiredness won’t stop, let my eyelids drop
Nothing to loose have a good snooze
Then the open mic was calling, I woke to hear rain falling
Really comin’ down, thunder, lightenin’ an’ more
I’ve often seen in Austin before
Thankfully it slowed, before me an’ Jojo hit the road
Hoping we will amaze, the audience at Lazydaze
10.04.26: 61-33) Last night, Lazydaze open mic went alright
In addition to a rhymer I was a first timer
As was Jojo but we could tell,
From the audience reaction we went down well
And to our delight, they told us of another open mic on Thursday night
But for now, breakfast with Jojo an’ we can say, what we plan to do today
62-34) Jojo liked the sound of a visit to The Capitol Grounds
We sat a while, spoke to others with a smile
Pictures taken then away, we decided to be
At St Johns Library to upload pictures to my USB
From my camera, but it didn’t take them all, capacity to small
Not worried no fuss or drama I transferred some poems instead
Then away, Walmart the next port of call
A new USB an’ like as not, the other things I forgot
Then chill once more, before what else the day has in store
A trip to ladybird lake, relax in the sun, it never begun
Under the bridge the car park was a building site
So a drive instead, chill and collect a takeaway, then relax an’ call it a day
11.04.26: 63-35) Rose to face the day, soon I’d be away
To Jojo’s to enjoy the day, poetry free, just her an’ me
Breakfast first, make the most,
Of my specialty, scrambled eggs on toast
Which only means there’s no beans
Then the library to upload photos to my USB
Then Lake Travis as is our will, to enjoy nature an’ chill
Listenin’ to the birds, the wind, waves lappin on the shore
Who could ask for more
64-36) When we’d had enough for the day we came away
Steady drive back, no need to rush
Time to spare, drive with care then relaxin’, nothin’ overtaxin’
Later we feel, time for our evenin’ meal
So H-E-B sought, provisions bought
An’ once more, my sandwich making skills come to the fore
A tuna spread so good, Jojo couldn’t resist a spoonful more
She suggests a brief walk, an’ we talk
Now we’re on the porch, writin’ readin’ an’ recitin’
An’ as the light fades away, so ends another day
12.04.26: 65-37) This morning, rain, I can’t complain
No sun, so get some washing done
Lunchtime should be a winner,
We been invited to Rebecah’s for Sunday dinner
66-38) Rain still hittin’ the ground, to Rebecah’s we’re bound
Really lookin’, forward to what she’s cookin’
We knew where an’ were soon there
An’ me an’ Ron’s swappin’ travel stories
His about the UK, mine about the USA
Where we’d been what we’d seen
Then dinners out, it was great without a doubt
In my stomach it filled a hollow
To top it off, keyline pie an’ cream to follow
Then a rest to let it digest, we chat a bit more
Then away to Georgetown to Lark an’ Owl Bookstore
Road’s clear we get there soon,
Open mic once more I read a poetry score
Thinkin’ what a great way to spend an afternoon.
67-39) Open mic done, back to Austin we run
Rainin’ again when we left, were not bereft
Soon it stops an’ it’s a clear run back the day’s on track
Lazy rest of the day, nothin’ on tonight
Rest, take it easy an’ chat
Supper, chat some more, finish this score then head for bed
Today’s gone alright now it’s “Goodnight”.
13.04.26: 68-40) Sky once again grey at the start of the day
We decide not to rush, but enjoy the morning hush
Leisurely breakfast had, pancakes made by the Yorkshire Lad
Covered in syrup, they go down a treat
My effort not in vain, looks like I’ll be makin’ them again
69-41) We decide to rest, later we’ll give our best
On a KOOP Radio poetry show
So once more we bring, our coffee to the porch swing
The phone rings an’ someone’s tellin’ me what they’re sellin’
An’ suddenly a fear, my family won’t get away this year
But a message stops me feelin’ blue
They’ve made it on holiday too
70-42) Time to move, get into today’s grove
We go to KOOP radio
Not far, West Yorkshire flags flying on the car
But one flew off on the way there, flagpole standing bare
To late for it to matter, it’s time to give some poetry patter
71-43) Rebecah rings to say, “tomorrow can you stay
At home don’t roam, you have to be there from 10 – 3
Physical Therapist and Nurse coming so we’ll be knowin’
How Jojo’s health is goin’”
I say “that’s ok with me, I can’t think of a better place to be”.
An’ my next bit was the best “sounds like a nice house arrest”.
72-44) To KOOP I’d bee there before an’ so knew the score
No dismay, despite goin’ the wrong way
Once there, a from to fill and sign
To agree to our work being shared, that’s fine
Final instructions given, with anticipation riven
Then to the studio to say what we got to say
Introductions and we’re away
73-45) Show went fine, of us there were nine
So great to be there an’ share our talents live on air
An’ who knows maybe on day, one of the listeners may
Be inspired to write and be on KOOP Radio themselves one day
74-46) Back to Jojo’s rest up for tonight, an old venue under a new name
A regular happenin’ in the open mic game
Quiet or loud, it’s the same old crowd
Same host knowin’ how to get an’ keep things goin’
It’s Zach an’ I tell him it’s great to be back
Me an’ Jojo there at the newly formed Arts Share
14.04.26: 75-47) A great night had by all, really had a ball
Driving away at the end of the day, on I35 I’d learn, I’d missed the turn
Still to Jojo’s bound, we’d go the long way round
Pressed the wrong window button and to my cost
The surviving Yorkshire flag was lost, just the remaining pole standing bare
But it’ll come down before we go downtown
But for now maybe rest an’ write, somethin’ for Lions Den tonight
76-48) Waitin’ in we got a call from Rebecah to say
The Therapist won’t be comin’ today,
She went on to tell, us she was not well
But soon in the afternoon
The Practice Nurse came to look at Jojo’s contusion
On her face to allay any confusion
Checked her vitals, all ok and no problem with her sight
So that was alright, no problem she said going out
It seems you’ve nothing to worry about
Just beware and take more care
Rung Rebecah an’ she was pleased, as were we all, our worries eased
77-49) We nipped to the library, once more to upload to my USB
Photos an’ poems to different files,
Showin’ an; tellin’ how we’ve covered the miles
On my 2026 Poetry Roam, of Texas, my spiritual home
78-50) Tuesday’s when, there’s an open mic at The Lions Den
Tonight it’s poetry so one more time to share my rhyme
An’ Jojo’s not blue, cos’ she’s comin’ too
So to there we’re bound, an’ yippee a parkin’ space found.
So lets get in, an’ let the evenin’ begin.
15.04.26: 79-51) At the Lions Den Tea Rooms last night,
Jojo said “I needed this tonight.
Relaxin’ with one of their speciality teas. Takin’ our ease
Before delightin’, the audience with our recitin’
Now today, we’re once more away
Therapist been an’ seen Jojo an’ says things are goin’ okay
Now time to go out to play where we’ve never been before
Forecasters say it may rain, we ain’t bothered we’re takin’ the train
Looked like we weren’t gonna get away, ticket machine didn’t want to play
Cash only expected kept getting rejected
No dismay, pay on the train an’ we’re away
Sit, relax, enjoy the ride an’, let the train take the strain
80-52) We let the train take the strain, rode downtown and back again
Rode to Leander but nothing to see, so a brief walk an’ hot soup at H-E-B
Then back to the train an’ home again
It all went just right, now rest before OPA tonight
