A Rain of Torrid Summer , livre ebook

A Rain of Torrid Summer
Fergus Macneill
Austin Macauley Publishers
2019-11-29
A Rain of Torrid Summer About the Author Dedication Copyright Information © Puffy Italy The Storm The Wisest Fool in Christendom This House Any Corner of My Life Diana Everything Was Like a Rain of Torrid Summer The Devil’s Schoolboy Adopting the Dead A Postscript to Rain Stranger in This Town Moon, My Love Hell in a Cell But I Come with the Sun The Glen Pig Farm Mr Starman Last One Standing I Wonder… Mountain Lion House of Pain The River Into the Valley All Hail the Darkness I Will Leave This Land Sir William Swirling Mists of Time Great Spirit Devil’s Catwalk The Path Lone Wolf My Son, My Son Blues Girl Pickett’s Line Flay Their Hides and Steal Their Lives Rock ‘n’ Roll Queen Bon The Bell Sounds for Me Baby My Words Infinity Kill the Beast Eighteen-Seventy-One Bridge of Sighs Bart Empty Symbols Crying in a Restroom in New York City Our Eyes The Beast Rockin’ Crew Berry Turmoil The Mould I Like Cats Waiting Big Ben and the Tory Chimes And Who Leads the Way to Despair? Azioni Non Solo Parole (Actions, Not Words) Take My Hand
About the Author
Fergus Macneill is a writer and former journalist (for his, no doubt, sins). He is lucky enough to live and write in Italy and he still maintains his links to his native Highlands of Scotland. He is fortunate to have a son and daughter.
Dedication
For J and S.
To err is human.
Copyright Information ©
Fergus Macneill (2019)
The right of Fergus Macneill to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.
Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.
ISBN 9781528900720 (Paperback)
ISBN 9781528900737 (Hardback)
ISBN 9781528956888 (ePub e-book)
www.austinmacauley.com
First Published (2019)
Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd
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Canary Wharf
London
E14 5LQ
Puffy
Bright flash of gold, eye of green; white is in there too
Head turned up to gaze at you, as we thrill afresh; anew
For I am proud, my love; and I walk my life with you
And listen for me; watch for me – you’ll see that it is true
Set in my ways, you know it’s so; I’m aloof, called cat
Many words are used for me, I laughed there as I sat
Won’t ever change, the die is cast – you humans must know that
I walk alone, and in my way – slake thirst on life’s sweet draught
Sunny spot to lie in, easeful bliss, my guide to my own life
An easy way to do it, then – no bother and no stride
Razor-sharp reactions’ mine, my senses honed like knife
Thank you for the life we shared – my lovely human wife
I see my brother plaintive grow as he searches for me now
I hear his pad, and see him move; he gives another meow
But meet again we surely will; this, then, is My Vow
And once again I hear your voice; your touch upon my brow
Know this, friend, I loved you true, as we travelled on this path
Remember sun and friendship shared; many a good laugh
And food and fun with your young one – we didn’t do things by half
I caught those mice for you and him – all on your behalf
And now I go, I leave this life that you and I did share
I know your heart is heavy when you see that I’m not there
Pain, I know, that is at times, just too much to bear
Remember, dear, I loved you too – we were a lifelong pair
You were my life, my light, my love; and true it is, you know
Free your heart as we stay apart, and know this as I go
It’s all there now; life’s tapestry, the stage hosts our new show
And stay with me, by your side, as honours I bestow
So when you meander with your thoughts, remember this of me
I loved you firm, I loved you true – we’ll meet again, you’ll see
For in this great wide landscape of life; divinity
The bond cannot be broken still; our eternity.
Italy
Church bells ring in clarion cry to the flock
Soft sea on beach as sun shines on our walk
Beautiful are we; free, as love lies in our wake
And laugh at the people some of whom are fake
Il cibo; il vino – as glasses we raise
The square’s full today, and busy it does stay
And as we view the city from the heights of the tower
The country laid before us, in all of its power
Highways here have different rules
So long as you don’t crash – everyone is cool
Hotels are grand, and stuffed with artefacts
And I wonder silently if my old life has passed
For truth lies in actions, so grab life; be bold
The past is the past – new times will unfold
Ancient cities squat scattered across green verdant land
And all of these structures turned entirely by hand
The people can be gracious, wordy, and kind
And in this society perhaps, stranger, leave your troubles behind
For no one can say that this country lacks charm
And weather so kind that it means us no harm
San Marino poised loftily, impassive; and grand
Bologna is cold as we walk; hand-in-hand
Imola awaits; scene of cold death
Rimini impervious to those without wealth
Eternal City now as I await its embrace
Florence will show me her soft countenance
This place has it all; sun, and respect
And I wake with a jolt – it isn’t over yet.
The Storm
The storm has passed; its fury spent
No more for me the punishment
Of darkened view; of helpless terror
Of knowing my time was spent in error
The storm has passed; it could not win
Though I do know I have sin
The storm has passed; it did not break
That which it sought to unmake
Helpless in the face of its might
Living through one long night
But now, my love, I stand with you
And watch the bri