As Luck Would Have It By Bronwyn Ellis

Luck for some is more than chance, A gift that can't be bought, Some people sail through life unscathed, Whilst others straws are short. He never knew if luck would change, But still he took precautions, In staying far away from things which added to misfortunes. White heather graced his gardens, He had horseshoes on his door, And nailed to every window frame a dainty rabbits paw. His hair was cut by waxing moon, At breakfast he sneezed thrice, His fingers would be always crossed in hope for something nice. For years he'd lived life unemployed, Each day just like the rest, No funds to lift his troubled mood, No money to invest. He hoped that soon the winds would change, To start his life anew, And sure enough a few months on he'd gained an interview. The morning brought a sky of faith, He felt his look awaken, He sneezed three times and threw the salt he'd spilt whilst making bacon. He drank his tea and donned his clothes, Then with a cheery smile, He set off to impress the boss, who'd made his life worth while. A little way along his path, As time was ticking by, He saw a big black kitty cat, With menace in its eyes. It smiled and purred across the street, And cocked its pretty head, But being a clever man he took another route instead. He trudged on through an alleyway, And lent against wall, A ladder stood preventing him from passing through at all. He hastened to another street, Now nine o'clock had gone, He prayed he'd make his job on time, Before much more went wrong. He ran across the city bridge, And as he traveled over, From out his trouser pocket fell his lucky four leafed clover. The petals shone an emerald green, It floated wild and free, Then as the wind grew tired and faint, It drifted to the sea. The man's heart jumped into his mouth, He watched his luck descending, How could he chance an interview with fortune not attending? And thinking fast or not at all, He dived with flailing arms, Deep down into the depths below, To reach his lucky charm. He hadn't questioned what he'd do, After he'd dived in, But superstition hid the fact, He'd never learned to swim. Misfortune happens on us all, But too much leads to trouble, A man drowned by obsession, Now exhales a dying bubble.

Copyright ©2009  Bronwyn Ellis

This poem can also be read on iPoetry, the poetry app for the iphone/ipod touch available on the Apple iTunes App Store.

Poetry - Moonwalking and Whalesong By Rivelino

Moonwalking eternally across the earth in silhouette, America watched you shedding skins contaminating ethnic colouring's, she reflected back an inverted dream where white is black, history's eye filtering slavery and genocide through distorted sight. King of pop crowned with fire composing songs on a cosmic lyre, heaven withheld Read more...

Poetry - Lily Pond By Joe Hakim

In the autumn of the last year when I felt the need to know everything about everything, I had the power to turn gardens into Read more...

Poetry - Ever Decreasing Circles By Belinda Barchard
	The river echoes the pains, Of broken hearts, of broken minds, Even if I embrace my heart and my mind, It can never feel so sweet, Like a melody already played, Forever in your ears, But lacking the intensity. Read more...

Poetry - Hull Big Screen By Mark Walmsley
	What a bloody eyesore Tinned noise and what for? We leave our sad life behind Only to bloody well find Another TV we've got away from To see this giant abomination This broken down screen Hull's supposed to be green, yet, Read more...

Poetry - Long Long Ago (Fado Fado) By Dayne Coyne
	Long, long ago And oh so far away I can't remember Did it ever really happen? It must have been far, far away And oh so long ago I can't remember Did I ever really know Read more...

Poetry - As It Was By Mike Watts

Shower light's still on Cheap coffee's gone Been asked where I've been Can smell Mr Sheen A liner in the bin Pornography's missing Toilet flushes blue Read more...

Poetry - On Yer Todd By Joe Hakim

I'm the last piece of spaghetti in the jar in the cupboard, I'm the kid picked out by the nit nurse, I'm the unclaimed purse in the cloakroom. I'm the only coin in the Read more...

Poetry - On Patrol in Afghanistan, A Soldier's Tale By Andy Grant

	The call to prayer as dusk falls in The moonlight starts to shine All around fear grows within With the sound of gunfire rounds, The mortar flash the home made bomb The small arms fire afar The dessert night is cold and still Read more...

Poetry - The Unhappy Clown By Bronwyn Ellis
	A glance at his reflection before painting on his face, His scarlet smile stretched wide across a pure white, pallid base, The gaudy stripes of colour worn in contrast to his frown, A teardrop in the cornflakes from this poor and saddened clown, A lifetime making others laugh makes humour seem so tragic, The repetitious magic tricks had somewhat lost their magic, Balloons transformed to animals before the children's eyes, Read more...

Poetry - No Practical Skills Required By Mark Walmsley
	Congratulations and well done, on the purchase of your new kit The enclosed easy instructions, will show you how to fit All the packaged items, contained and arranged as seen Will give you years of good use, the best that's ever been Take out the parts from box 'A', and place them on the floor Place bags '1','2','3' and '4' with the hammer and a saw Get yourself a screwdriver, a tape and resin Glue Read more...

Poetry - Lonely Boy By Dayne Coyne
	Suspended in the world of twilit sentiments That flickered dimly through his sad grey eyes Resigned to stagnant future the boy viewed himself As now constrained by fate to tread the aisles That retreat into the past Between the half-forgotten memories Where sorrow's line is cast Read more...

Poetry - Flag By Laurenceaux

I saw our flag flapping and stuttering against its pole. I saw our flag straining, writhing and contorting in a wind of change. I saw the pole unbending. Dogmatic in its stance, leashing and lashing the flag Read more...

Poetry - Soldier, Farewell By Patrick Henry
	Under the flag he chose to serve, Marching no more down roads aflame, The soldier fallen lies held in where the pall Bearers pass the ranks for his last time. Few words will tell or heal the loss. Bugle notes stand for the unspoken thought. Those nearest share the deepest hurt. Read more...

Poetry - Winter Rain 09 and A Tale of Romance By Phil Pretheroe

	She wore red, always. A dress, floaty. Like it was summer, it was December. She danced, gracefully. Read more...

Poetry - 500 Yards By Mike Watts (Video)

I side step Dog shit A syringe A wounded tampon From some Dirty minge A crushed can On somebody's bonnet Read more...

Poetry - Fall of a House in Ulster By Patrick Henry
	To go across the sea to Northern Ireland, Could mean curtains for you, closing your last day. Thinking to see sunset ablaze along The Lagan, It's your house torched by those wanting you out of the way. Memory of tense times recent in The Troubles, Jogs at sight of boarded windows, from where some had flown, Read more...

Poetry - All To Come By Mike Watts

Amid the intensity Of summer When I meander Through afternoons Chaotic With crowd And colour Read more...

Poetry - The Modern World - Art Girl By Scott Rorrison

	Art girl Innocent retro Art girl: How I've watched In rapt summertime bewilderment The rattle-bump Of your steel framed shopper Careering down 'Grannies Hill';Read more...

Poetry - Lukewarm Water and Loneliness By Laurenceaux

Like water I flow around you giving at every turn, carrying you above the rocks and trying to cushion your life. But water dammed for too long can overflow its banks, Read more...

Poetry - Interpretations By Joe Hakim

This poem is about getting up in the morning getting washed, getting dressed and heading out into the day This poem is about stubbing your toe on the edge of a door This poem is about all the people who are desperate to see you fail Read more...