I never sought the bright lights
it is not my way or style
or risen to the great heights
Or even given them a trial
I’ve never wanted fame
I like being in the shade
anonymity is my game
I don’t want to make the grade
I’m happy being me
not flirting with the world
but when I've left I do agree
my skills may be unfurled
My skills are not yet evident
I appear a hapless chap
When I leave behind I covenant
that I’m never coming back
Hooray hurrah you say
bursting out in raucous laughter
saying that’ll be the day
when you leave us with the after
Inwardly I quietly smile
as one day they will find out
I have often gone that extra mile
That's what I’m all about
The Bright Lights
I've written lots of stuff
and drank from the cup of life
but that was not enough
I’ve struggled and survived
I've quietly followed my ambitions
Not gone the way of the Crowd
set my own rules and conditions
whenever I was allowed
I know I've caused some harm
and of that there is no doubt
but I’m not stranded on the beach
where life's tide is always out
I have now reached the conclusion
That life isn't really so bad
Bringing love and joy into fusion
That's the experience I have had
Although there were hard times
when things were always grey
and my poems lost their rhymes
Somehow I found my way
Michael April 2019
copyright Michael King
copyright Michael King