davidjhopcroft

June 8, 2023
by davidjhopcroft Leave a comment

One hand behind your back

One hand behind your back

With one hand firmly tied behind your back

You can only defend you are not allowed to attack

There’s a border with the enemy that cannot be crossed

Like driving with a windscreen you are not allowed to defrost

The enemy sends missiles launched from within their land

But you must wait until they cross the border if you understand

Who would want to be an archer with only one eye

The handicaps we impose simply mean more people will die

Imagine the boxer with one hand behind his back

Forced to defend and prohibited from attack

Pummelled by an opponent until battered and bruised

His capacity to fight on equal terms being refused

Tanks are available but there is a limit placed on these

For it seems we are unable to see the wood for the trees

We turn a blind eye as the enemy imports missiles and drones

Even though they do so to target civilian homes

No action will be taken on the sources of supply

Should we always look the other way? Can you tell me why?

We are watching a brave people being brought to their knees

Even though we could have given them far greater expertise

We pretend we do not want to risk any escalation

Watching whilst the enemy takes advantage of that situation

Let us give them the support and then let them attack

Until the hand that have we have held behind the back

June 8, 2023
by davidjhopcroft Leave a comment

River of Tears

River of tears

Born of a deity they grew up on the island together

Sharing a childhood playing with each other in the dirt

As she grew her beauty shone like a golden treasure

Until she felt something within as she tried to flirt

As they grew older her feelings grew stronger

How could he pretend he was not aware

As the years were to pass her love grew fonder

She knew this was wrong but she did not care

She struggled in her mind to contain the emotion

Her feelings strengthening and far transcending lust

The more time she was with him the greater her devotion

So often she would feel the swelling in her bust

As sister and brother there was so much that they shared

But that which she wanted most was forbidden

Her mind was tormented by a secret that could not be bared

How much longer could her feelings remain hidden

Her hand trembled with the pen as she wrote

To proclaim her love and to offer herself to him

For such love there seemed to be no antidote

He feared for what he believed was called sin

With friends he fled the island for another land

To found a city where he might dwell in peace

She stood watching the waves break upon the sand

Priests declared her to be obsessed by a beast

Her love still raged strong as she followed his trail

Only to find that her love was still spurned

Her sadness could not be hidden by a veil

Grief would not quench the love that still burned

She sat upon the limestone rock and wept

Tears flowed so freely from her face

For weeks she cried and never slept

The barren olive tree now marks the sacred place

Her tears formed an everlasting stream

That flows from these hills down to the sea

Priests still deem her love to be unclean

Others now say she’s the dryad of the olive tree

Her body was never found and some still say

Within these rocks she will forever weep

The legend is still believed today

For everlasting love can never sleep

(based on a legend of Kaunas at Dalyan)

June 7, 2023
by davidjhopcroft Leave a comment

Історія 2

Я побачив герб

Над каміном

Пройшов повз портрети предків

Карти землі, якою вони володіли

Така витонченість

Гобеленів, вивішених на стінах

Чудові столи

Де вони бенкетували в залах

Зберігається в межах прекрасних особняків

Щоб ми могли знати своє місце

Як дивно це здається

Привабливість у мене є

Щоб піднятися цими сходами

Вид з галерей

Символи сили та класу

Це залишило моїх предків

З життям, що живе в гною без грошей

Девід Хопкрофт квітень 2019 року

June 7, 2023
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History 2

I saw the coat of arms

Above the fireplace

Walked past the portraits of ancestors

Maps of land they owned

Such finery

Of tapestries hung from walls

Great tables

Where they feasted in halls

Preserved within fine mansions

That we might know our place

How strange it seems

The attraction I have

To climb those stairs

View from the galleries

Symbols of power and class

That left my ancestors

In muck not brass

David Hopcroft April 2019

June 6, 2023
by davidjhopcroft Leave a comment

Hypocrite

Hypocrite

I am against the war in principle I just wanted you to know

But you must realize my country has an economy that needs to grow

Of course the truth is that I did sell them guns and ammunition

Surely you would have done the same had you been in my position

I know this sounds so dreadful with all the lives that are being lost

But if I were to decide to take sides then that would come at a cost

You must understand the logic when we decided to buy his oil

That he has been a good friend to me and I felt I should be loyal

I did send an envoy for peace to show I am not on anyone’s side

I have been very open about this and really I have nothing to hide

What a shame that all those people who are innocent have to die

I know I sold him the drones and I’ve told you the reason why

You see I remember when things got nasty back at home

He was the one who came to my rescue with a large loan

So that I could buy tanks and war planes for my military

So I do see him as a fellow leader for a great destiny

I continue to oppose the war but you know I must abstain

From any vote that might suggest one side or the other’s to blame

So really I am just waiting for one side to say they’ll give way

But I am trying to trade with both so I will leave you to pray

I know this sounds nonsense to give guns then say don’t attack

You can’t send anyone over a border they have to come back

But this is reality and so I really see no reason to hurry

I’m sure someone will think of an answer but I am not going to worry

June 5, 2023
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Nocturnal Encounter

Nocturnal Encounter

He comes each night through the window that is closed

Walks through the wooden door that is locked

Traverses the walls that are built with concrete

Moves through the hedges and trees with such ease

Passes easily through the gate that is barred

He never misses an appointment

He has never been late

He is there to share pleasure for such is their fate

She feels his presence as the white sheets rustle

A beautiful chill spreads through the room

There is an aroma that just hangs in the air

Together they say he has arrived he is there

For this is the bed that they once shared

Where they cuddled together because they cared

She never believed the story that he was lost

Missing in action behind enemy lines

Each night she prayed he would come to her bed

Where they’d lie together just like the good times

She would make love then fall asleep in his arms

Until each morning she’d awake

To the sound of birds singing at dawn

In their song she could also hear his voice

He was not lost another love had been born

June 4, 2023
by davidjhopcroft Leave a comment

Forever with you

Forever with you

We are flying to those faraway places

Singing our songs and meeting new faces

Driving at leisure down life’s highway

Ever thankful that your way is my way