CARERS FROM AFRICA
by Tom Leonard
To Terry and Luckman
They nurture my old age
Out of the cradle of civilisation
They shower, top and tail me
As Nigeria is still exploited and repressed
They give me cereal, coffee, and toast
For wake-up breakfast,
And soup and meat sandwiches
For my next to last supper,
As the pains deflate my chest.
They are the gods from Orion
Who Amon brought.
They are the soul of the Universe,
Who I have always sought.
Manchester City
Manchester City
CHRYSALIS
by Tom Leonard
Dedicated to Cameron, music maker
On becoming a butterfly,
A caterpillar breaks free from its bonds,
Like a leaf turns into a tree,
And flies into golden ponds,
Like a child chrysalises into the adult
They wanna be.
You can evolve into the great artist,
Newtonian polymath,
Celtic footballer,
Or river dancer of your dreams;
Even when you fall flat on your backside,
And make a pig's ear of everything,
Just shut you eyes and see,
Welcome is a lamb that becomes a lion,
Who defies the locusts of repression,
Who stands for the vulnerable, and the weak,
Who tries to climb the spiritual peaks.
You can chrysalise into your fantasy;
Just imagine, and wait and see;
You have the insights of a Confucius of old;
Just break free.
