Daniel Kemp

Christmas Cards

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Daniel Kemp

I never send my wife a Christmas card. I could say I believe them a rip-off in the sense of the price, the queuing to pay for it and the sentimental old tosh that’s written inside, but none of those are the real reason. I just hate spending money!

Instead, I write a poem then have it printed on a card that fits into her handbag and trust it’s liked enough to be carried. This is the one for this year (2015)

My heart had been split…………..Open wide

The love had been cut…………….From deep inside

My soul had been opened……… ..And then left bare

Without any hope…………………Remaining there.

The love you gave……………… Was free from cost

Its purity restored…………………That which was lost

Side by side we stood …………….As one

Until all but love………………… Had passed and gone.

Posted in Writer and would be poet. | Tagged Agents, BBC, Christmas Cards, Danny Kemp, dreams, europe and america, http://danielkemp.co.uk/, http://www-thedesolategarden-com.co.uk/, London, london cab, love, Lovers, Radio 4, Radio London, radio today, sky, Writing | 1 Comment

Mother and Child

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Daniel Kemp

Flickering raindrops on telephone wires.

Chimneys in the distance standing like gothic spires.

There is no sun only streetlights alight,

It’s the morning, but it could be the middle of the night.

Muddied meadows, swollen streams,

Did the mild autumn only exist in dreams?

“When will it stop raining?” asked the girl of her mum.

And will we ever see a return of the sun?”

Her mum thought hard and then did reply. “With every day, there comes a surprise

Only with some, they are beyond our eye.

The sun brings life, but so does the rain.

Life needs the both to begin again.”

Pastures green for the horse to graze,

Water reflections that do amaze.

Rainbows falling on pots of gold.

Lives to live before life grows old.

The wind that whips the blades of grass.

Reasons that are hard to grasp.

Why is the winter so wet and cold,

Is it God’s punishment for getting old?

Posted in Writer and would be poet. | Tagged cold, concept, Danny Kemp, dreams, europe and america, God, http://danielkemp.co.uk/, http://www-thedesolategarden-com.co.uk/, London, london cab, Radio 4, Radio Kent, Radio London, radio today, rain, sky, thoughts, wind, Winter, Writing | Leave a comment

The Act Of Thoughtfulness

Posted on December 12, 2015 by Daniel Kemp

Platitudes; overused words the meaning having been lost in time.

Just the same as the words I use in those silly rhymes of mine!

BUT WAIT………

Santa Claus is in trouble. He’s lost a sack and he’s now in disgrace.

He was slithering down a chimney when a child recognised his face!

Without thinking the child asked his hero, “Is all that for me?”

Sadly Santa had no choice, what could he do but agree?

Children can’t be blamed for being greedy, it’s adults that are to blame.

Worth is judged by possessions and those without; can go live in shame.

For every happy child, there are some that have nothing of their own.

Universal happiness has spread its wings and like a bird away has flown.

Now I’m an old romantic always believing good will overcome,

But if we are Christians what have we done for Christendom?

It should not be just at Christmas that we remember those with less.

Each day is a new beginning, another chance for more thoughtfulness.

Posted in Writer and would be poet. | Tagged Agents, BBC, children, Christmas, dreams, europe and america, God, http://www-thedesolategarden-com.co.uk/, kindness, London, london cab, Radio 4, Radio London, radio today, Santa, sky, thoughtfulness, thoughts, Writing | Leave a comment

Notice!

Posted on November 25, 2015 by Daniel Kemp

If you like sliding down chimneys and you don’t mind being pulled by a Deer.

I know of a job you can apply for that will be available soon this year.

You must like spreading joy and laughter and you’ll need a beard that’s white.

The rest of your appearance is not important, but you can’t give the children a fright!

Please report to Lapland with my blessing and make friends with the elves that are there.

You have almost a month before they’ll need you so watch carefully in the corner from a chair!

Come Christmas Eve you’ll be busy as there are miles that you must go,

But worry not Mr Santa as Rudolf travels fast not slow.

Do not eat too much of the offerings nor drink too much of the wine.

Please be careful on reading the labels and make sure you deliver what’s mine!

Posted in Writer and would be poet. | Tagged BBC, concept, Danny Kemp, europe and america, http://www-thedesolategarden-com.co.uk/, London, london cab, Radio 4, Radio Kent, Radio London, radio today, sky, Writing | Leave a comment

Beyond What’s Old

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Daniel Kemp

The crows fly low on a day such as this,

As the cold eats the air then blows it out as a mist.

Branches are naked their leaves now gone,

Leaving birds all huddled in a whimpering throng.

The stream rumbles over its icy bed

As autumn lays finished now burying its dead.

Winter strikes hard as its gavel strikes

And its wind blows through you; your bones to bite!

Short cold days with longer colder nights,

Inside we sit with the fires alight.

Roasting chestnuts with a glass of wine.

For all its faults winter can be a splendid time.

Spring, then summer now autumn fades

As the chill of winter invades our days

Snow covered pastures, a scene to behold

New life to breathe beyond what’s old.

Posted in Writer and would be poet. | Tagged Agents, BBC, Danny Kemp, europe and america, http://www-thedesolategarden-com.co.uk/, London, london cab, Radio 4, Radio Kent, Radio London, radio today, sky | Leave a comment

Time For A Funny One

Posted on November 19, 2015 by Daniel Kemp

A Woman Rugby Player…

There was something about Emma that reminded me of Frank.

I couldn’t put my finger on it, but she smelled quite rank!

It could have been the odour that oozed from her body,

Or that she liked gutting fish in her spare time as a hobby.

As she drew nearer I could stand it no more!

I ran onto pitch not opening the changing room door.

There was mud underfoot with rain threatening to pour

But as she followed the smell grew more and more.

She played Hooker with me as the Tight-Head,

At the first scrum I passed out; almost dead!

I recovered to see her make the winning score,

So we married that day and we don’t wash anymore…….Boom, boom.

Posted in Author/Writer, Raconteur, Writer and would be poet. | Tagged Agents, America, BBC, Danny Kemp, dreams, europe and america, http://www-thedesolategarden-com.co.uk/, London, london cab, Radio Kent, Radio London, radio today, sky, Writing | Leave a comment

With Violence As Your God

Posted on November 18, 2015 by Daniel Kemp

To hallucinate from reality, not excepting the truth.

To live a life of fantasy, in the mind of a youth.

To hide your mind from darkness, seeing only what shines.

Is to worship an evil God, who speaks from a false shrine.

Some see uniformity as a barrier to their own way

Some see inequality as the terror that rules the day.

Death by some is preached as a way to free the oppressed.

Others hide their feelings, never wanting them expressed.

The young and old have values, some shared, some kept apart.

But the young and old share one thing; they each have a heart.

A heart should be beating with love and not to the tune of hate.

To all who preach violence I say;” first accept it as your own fate!”

Posted in Writer and would be poet. | Tagged BBC, change, concept, dreams, europe and america, fear, God, http://danielkemp.co.uk/, http://www-thedesolategarden-com.co.uk/, London, london cab, love, Peace, Radio Kent, Radio London, radio today, sky, terror, Writing | 1 Comment

Spread A Wing

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Daniel Kemp

If there be treachery of love on tongues that mouth

The lies that damn our sacred vows,

Then burning death awaits its call

On devil’s wings and those that crawl.

Death too sweet for an arrow strike.

That taste of death before comes the smell of afterlife.

The condemnation as a curse

On those who use lies to coerce.

Speak of love, say loud the wise

Of truth, that denounce all the lies

Of a love that passed and disappeared,

Within innocent eyes filled only with tears.

Waste, what of it? Do we care?

Enough to the throw compassion bare.

Strip your heart, expose the flesh!

Show it quietly to those who rest.

Those who waited for the crashing sound

As truth was buried in sandy ground

Now hide those ears so once deceived

By the lies you all so once believed.

Throw wide the eyes, free the dove.

Let flourish only the true words of love.

Posted in Writer and would be poet. | Tagged BBC, change, concept, dreams, europe and america, http://www-thedesolategarden-com.co.uk/, London, london cab, love, Lovers, New York Times, pain, Radio 4, Radio London, radio today, sky | Leave a comment

The World Should Cry For France

Posted on November 14, 2015 by Daniel Kemp

The attack on Paris last night is an attack on the freedom that all of us in the western, civilised world currently enjoy, but what is a civilised answer to it and is there a single one?

I would imagine that most of France have a violent solitary solution this morning that amounts to the wholesale slaughter of others.
Although that is a natural reaction it’s not a rational one, however, this is not a rational situation!
In all probability these killers wanted a dramatic reaction, the problem is they might not get the reaction that’s needed.

I believe the answer must come from within these radical groups and the ‘people’ who support them with their silence. If these killers were Muslims, as seems highly likely, then genuine followers of that religion will be as shocked and affronted by this murderous act of barbarism as are the rest of us. But unlike the rest of us, some that hide behind the religious banner of Islam must know who the leaders and financial backers of these terrorists are!

I’m no prophet, but it’s not an unreasonable proposition to foresee a war raging soon on the streets of every major city in the whole world. A war where there will be no winners, only the casualties of freedom.