Tom W. Timms

Kirkby in Ashfield, UK

Born 3-1-25 at Selston, Notts. On my father's side there are generations of miners strong in the arm; a sporting family, boxing, football, and cricket. On mother's side, "Johnson" grandad's were steam engine drivers, on the Notts-London Run Durinda during the First World War, my mother worked on shell munitions. I married Eunice in 49; she is a brilliant pianist, music conductor and church organist. We have two children, Roger, a Governor in the prison service and Rosemary, a computer trouble shooter; five grandchildren: Jane B.A. in music, Alan B.S. in computer research, others are still studying. We enjoy most sports; I was Secretary for Nottinghamshire Table Tennis Association for 8 years. Starting work on my 14th birthday at a local pit, I was a winding engine man until the pit closed; since retirement, I enjoy painting scenes from D.H. Lawrence's country side and Newsteads Lord Byron.

The Way

Let me go quietly
Not forced to see life through to the last painful gasp
No long and protracted parting
For there is no virtue in pain
And I have seen before the unpleasant lingering
Let go the hold you have on my hand
and dream I'll race, young again, across the sand.

Hand Gliding - No!

The day I visited Baslow
A famous Derbyshire place
I heard a passing swallow say
"Hello-Hello What's this then?"

"Is it a feathered migrant bird"
"A flying dart" - "a bald eagle hen"
"Or a Russian sputnik that I've heard??"

Their is a need in modern man
To reach towards creation
So I watch a brave young lad
Take a fool hardy jump into obliteration

The laugh he gave at my concern
Told me I had alot to learn
About jumping out into space
From the ledge of a cliff top face

He winked his eye as he flew bye
Soaring high into clouded sky
The first unpowered flight
I ever saw ("Oh My")

Durdle Door

From the safety of the cliff top hide
I watch the antics of the sail boat ride
Its follow my leader boys
And off they go - through the sea's roar
Straight on through the "durdle door".

Some of us are bred to hack the coal
A thousand Ft. Below
Some are born to till the land
And watch the turnips grow
But "darzets" lads are born
To the sea
These boys waving showing
their skills to me.

Two Brothers

"First up best dressed"
Young brother - teased the other
Neither lad had guessed the rest
This would be their last game together

"Right half" died of grave wounds
In the trenches of France so quick
"Left half" survived two world wars
Hewing coal - "seam so thin - air so thick"

Slaving on all fours
Lying full of coal dust harm
"Tarzans" back to privatize
Let's hope he closes the lot.

Contact With Outer Space

How many surprises will the new millennium yield
On this earthly orbiting planet
Shall we really make contact with outer space
How shall we greet them face to face

Would it be with derision and atom blast
Destruction of their outer planet caste??
Like kiddies watching open mouthed (Let's say)
Star Wars shown on T.V. today

The cloning of Tessa the lamb shows us the way
Our creator wants us to go "Some Day"
Woman no longer reliant on a male mate
For the continuance reproduction of a child state

"Cloning" females only - may be the best
Would it eradicate mans seed test
Outrageous - outcast - outsider shout
Will Adams curse never die out

The holocaust victims "prayed" but none was saved
War weary men still fight and rave
Could twelve chosen maidens show the way
Brought up to rule all nations some day