Thank you all for your comments, I have come out of the dark woods & into the light.
Keep that light burning, Robert 
Rob J you ain’t bad at this poem writing at all. Feel inclined to offer a few of my own else you might corner the market 
.
Looks like you are out of the woods for now chum.
Feel free to post your own stuff, it’s lonely on this pedestal & I keep falling off of it.
Mmm. Showing a bit of insight there me old chum which is a bit disconcerting .
Keep em coming as they are very good 
.
I’m not always bright and cheery
Life can drive me round the bend
Events can make me tired and weary
But I don’t want it ,just yet ,to end.
(thinks) I wonder what MKJ meant by that?
I’m the same dear Robert,
Lifes not always a breeze …
In the summer I burn up,
In the winter - I bloomin freeze !
[CENTER]POEM IN THE STYLE OF HENRY LONGFELLOW
Little things go
bumpy bumpy
In the night
makes me jumpy
Shall I rise
Get out of bed
I stop and think
send wife instead
If burglar there
Wife sit on him
stop him moving
She not slim
The cheeky man
Been at my booze
Call police van
A burglar loose
Put extra locks on
Just this year
they’ve been spot on
Cept’ him here
He must have used
His slender frame
To take and abuse
Thinks he, a game
He is skinny
Put him away
Or he’ll come back
Another day
© 2013 RJ[/CENTER]
[CENTER]Time to reflect
Time for reflection
On natural selection
It’s the main reason why
The strongest survive
Programmed to finish
While others diminish
Survival of the strong
Mother natures not wrong
But life brings surprises
A new life, it rises
It’s fixed in our midst
And here is the twist
It was there from the start
The love from the heart
Redeems all the wrongs
And sings a new song
Love is stronger that hate
And the chaos it creates
So , don’t let your head rule your heart
For the head whirrs and imparts
Don’t let your heart rule your head
Use your wisdom instead
© RJ 2013[/CENTER]
[CENTER]I waited
I waited and I waited
For my chin to have some hairs
With expectation unabated
Some did grow there
I waited and I waited
To be more mature & wise
I hadn’t anticipated
Life could oft surprise
I waited and I waited
Adversity came my way
Those things I contemplated
Shaped my view of life today[/CENTER].
[CENTER]Wealth
Wealth and money are in fashion
But its not that way for all
Where is the spirit of compassion
The world is heading for a fall
The news programs are quite depressing
The world has gone quite mad
It’s easy to forget the blessings
That in our lives we’ve so far had[/CENTER]
[CENTER]BRAIN DRAIN
What is happening to my brain
I think I’m going mad
My memory just won’t retain
Memories that once I had
I write things down in a little list
Of things I need to remember
Just key points giving me the gist
Can’t find my list for September
What is happening to my brain
I think I’m going mad
My memory just won’t retain
Memories that once I had
I have a little notebook
In which I make little notes
Every day I have a quick look
On the cover there’s some boats
What is happening to my brain
I think I’m going mad
My memory just won’t retain
Memories that once I had
Each days the same
My brain just drains
Things I once could do
Float out of view
What is happening to my brain
I think I’m going mad
My memory just won’t retain
Memories that once I had[/CENTER]
All my poems are original, and in theory copyright, although I daresay no one else would want to poach them,
Robert, I do enjoy reading your poems and if you ever created your own personal book of them, I would definitely buy it. 
I loved the hairy chin one, that reminded me of my son when he was about 16 and passionately shaving off all 3 hairs on his chin 
The Wealth one - spot on.
Brain Drain - right there with you Robert!
[CENTER]MY DANDERS PERT
WE limp along our chosen road
Sometimes carrying a heavy load
Old age has now caught up with us
Once we could easily run for a bus
I never used to feel so old
It happens to us all
that’s what I’m told
Just as well I have the net
Where great new friends
I have now met.
Soon I’ll be an old age pensioner
Nurse Gillian too
Or did I already mention her?
Each day brings new adventures
Where’d I put my old age dentures
It’s no good pretending I think I’m old
I’m fresh as a daisy
No sign of mould
My minds alert
My dander pert.
The end,
Addendum……………
don’t ask me what
a dander is or
when its pert,
I just can’t
remember[/CENTER]
[CENTER]Why does life always go forward and not back
wouldn’t it be great if we developed the knack
Of saying “see you yesterday” if you did so choose
That way never a day you’d lose.
Life grinds on mercilessly every day
That’s because time goes only one way
Backwards AND forwards is the only solution
Going forwards will have an ending gruesome
Life goes on tirelessly every day
This is what I’d like to say
Why does gravity pull things down always
There’d be more room if stuff went straight up
You could tie important stuff down in safe ways
You could easily retain just enough
Cups and saucers bowls and plates
Of course at first you’d make mistakes
The stuff would not always be very near
But you’d soon find ways to save it
floating up to the stratosphere [/CENTER]
[CENTER]Fancy that, I have reached sixty five
I never thought I’d still be alive
I have rowed my boat to the end of the lake
To be far away when the decisions made
“Come in RJ, you’re time is up”
Handing me the poisoned cup
“You’ve had your time, and now it’s ended”
Time to see your gifts you have tended.
Generosity you have succeeded well always
In large, in medium and lots of small ways
Exceeding any man’s expectations greatly
BUT with money you didn’t have oft lately
You were gifted in all things written
Some admirers were totally smitten
And you took all the credit
Stupid boy, you just didn’t get it.
Words given to you were for giving & sharing[/CENTER]
And in that - you have succeeded