This is the only coffee shop in town
That’ll give me dog something to eat.
He sits stretching in the sun,
Looking for stomach rubs and treats.
After a walk in the park,
Chasing pigeons, chasing me.
Barking at the squirrel,
Who’s hiding up the tree.
He sees the best in everything,
Every person, every soul.
He’ll slether your face in a second,
All in one go.
(c) Paul Andrew Sneddon
The rain fell steady that night. He opened the window and could feel the moisture in the air. He turned the lights down low and listened as nonfiction drifted out from the speakers.
The acoustic guitar, bass and harmonica all drifting in together.
He put down his phone and sat on the floor at the side of the bed, looking up through the big bay window at the grey sky and rain tapping on the window.
He loved the rain.
Was just as well living around here because you certainly got plenty of it.
He found it comforting. Reassuring.
Better than melting beneath a 30 degree sun. He wasn’t made for that.
The piano started up in the chorus, notes dancing around the vocal.
He picked up his acoustic and played along with the record listening to Chris Robinson’s soulful tones.
His head back against the bed. He just breathed.
Sometimes living wasn’t easy. But small moments made it worthwhile.
Like hearing Jimi Hendrix for the first time.
Or a Joe Perry guitar solo.
Or hearing ‘talking about a revolution’ for the first time.
He tapped his foot along to the beat. He opened his eyes and saw a bus rolling up the street.
Soon there would be work to do. Responsibilities to meet.
But for now.
Just breathe.
(c) Paul Andrew Sneddon
Would you dress it up in gold,
when it’s made of rust?
Build it to the stars,
when we return to dust?
But if not this,
then what?
In this little snapshot,
life is all,
all we’ve got.
Sometimes,
rust makes the best instruments.
(c) Paul Andrew Sneddon
It’s always interested me when you hear about people getting up at the very early hours for work or self-improvement. I’m more of a night person. I’m sitting here writing this at 2am. It got me thinking about someone really desperate to emulate and join the ‘5am club.’
***
I’m setting three alarms for 5am tomorrow,
I’ll get going and get stuff done.
While the world is sleeping and people dreaming,
I’ll already have one battle won.
Nothing’s going to stop me now
I’ll get myself a step ahead
Laser focus, got iron will, going to kill
I’ll sleep in a gold crypt when I’m dead
I’ve tried before and it’s not easy,
The Rock, Wahlberg and Ali inspire/
I’ll work out strong, get carved and buff/
I’ve got passion, I’ve got fire.
I can see it now, my name in lights,
My family is going to be impressed.
I’ll pay for their holidays, hard work rewards.
I’m a big achiever, I’ll ace this test.
But wrapped up here good and warm.
Outside the air feels cold and mean.
Later there’s work, responsibility, and more.
I’ll just switch off my phone get back to my dream,
With the barmaid from Joes.
We were just getting a drink.
Anyways,
Goodnight.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
(c) Paul Andrew Sneddon
Why is it you always see people being interviewed on the telly or YouTube or whatever, and it’s always in front of a tonne of books?
Lined up perfectly on a shelf.
We get it.
You’re smart.
You read a lot.
Or do you?
Twenty copies of the same self-help book.
Some pristine. Unopened.
Like virgin snow.
I’m sure it started off innocent, some poor soul had a couple of books behind them.
The next person saw it and thought, This’ll blow them away. Straight onto Amazon. Credit card screaming. Fifty books and a bookshelf from IKEA.
You can pay someone now to pick the right books for you. It’s a job. A whole career. Do it just right and it almost looks like you’re sitting in the Mitchell Library.
“It’s okay. You can trust me. I’ve got books.”
Just once, I’d love to see somebody sitting there with the telly on behind them, Chewin’ the Fat reruns blaring, maybe shouting upstairs,
“Oi! I can hear you snoring!”
(c) Paul Andrew Sneddon
Paul Andrew Sneddon 