When Music Makes a Sound

The times were tense in Austria,

On the cusp of the war,

When the Nazi’s began their invasion,

Changing times forever more.

Those that loved their country,

Refused to cooperate,

And looked at trying to escape,

Controlling their own fate.

The Von Trapps’ were such a family.

Respected in their town,

Who entered a local pageant,

With a plan that was profound.

Singing as the Trapp Family Singers,

They chose the perfect song,

Allowing them to leave the stage,

Each one by one by one.

They all escaped to a waiting car,

And then to a Nunnery,

Where they waited to escape on foot,

Across the mountains they planned to flee.

But the Nazis tried to foil their plan,

And followed them right there,

But the Nuns’ refused to help,

The Trapps’ presence they wouldn’t share.

And whilst the Nazis’ looked for them,

One Nun disabled their car,

Which prevented them from leaving,

Allowing the Von Trapps’ to flee afar.

As the Von Trapps’ climbed the mountain,

Each in single file,

They sang their songs with gusto,

As they embraced their self-exile.

Frosty Photo

I look upon this photo

And ice crystals I can see,

In delicate formation,

They look so pretty.

Of many shapes and sizes,

In intricate display,

A photo of nature’s beauty,

An organised disarray.

My Dog

It is a strain,

My dog is lame,

At the Vet again,

He’ll have to remain.

At home waiting,

Contemplating,

Hesitating.

My heart breaking.

Then the call,

That said it all,

Back to playing ball,

Injury was small.

Happy again,

My dog, free of pain,

He can now remain,

On his own terrain.

Toni Newell  

Tiger the Tabby

Tiger was a tabby,

The cat that lived next door,

He’d often roam around our yard,

And show the birds his claw.

And every day, close on five,

His name was called out loud,

But on this day, when he was called,

He, could not be found.

We all chipped in and searched for him,

We all looked high and low,

We looked in drains and gardens,

On fences and below.

We looked at roofs and tree trunks,

And there to our surprise,

We found him in the fork of a tree,

He couldn’t move, we realised.

The neighbour fetched a ladder,

Then a volunteer stepped in,

And climbed right up that ladder,

To try and rescue him.

She reached the very top and saw,

Poor Tiger wedged right in,

She gently tried to lift him out,

With care and nurturing.

On descending, there was applause,

By those who stood below,

They cheered and clapped and sang their praise

For the volunteer, the hero.

They waited for them to come down,

And Tiger loudly meowed,

As the neighbours rushed to take their cat,

The volunteer just bowed.

Toni Newell      29th May, 2019.

Billy Joe

Billy Joe is lots of fun,

Curly brown hair,

And a very long tongue.

He loves to play,

And runs around,

Picks up toys,

That make a sound.

He chases birds,

But mostly balls,

And always runs back

When he’s called.

He loves his dinner,

And his treats,

He loves his walks,

And meet and greets.

He loves to snuggle,

Head on knee,

And just close his eyes,

And snore quietly.

He almost loves us,

More than we love him,

If that’s at all possible,

For our love’s to the brim.

Toni Newell    20th May, 2019

Lamb Chop , Shari and Friends

Lamb Chop was a little lamb,

Who shared a sock with Shari,

And Shari shared her voice with her,

And never made her hurry.

They used to talk a lot about,

People and various things,

And Lamb Chop could get feisty,

With Shari and her castings.

Lolly Pincus was Lamb Chop’s friend,

A bestie you could say,

Who had a crush on Hush Puppy,

Another friend at play.

However, more than often,

She would speak before she thought at all,

And Shari would have to rescue her,

To keep her from the fall.

Lamb Chop could be ever so sweet,

And she could also be mean,

But most of all she loved Shari,

And the puppet team.