God bless things multifunctional
and things that bring us glee
like my favourite mug - it can hold a KitKat
as well as gallons of tea

I hold you
you’re barely a minute old
all eyes, screams and unfounded dreams
wrapped tight like a sushi roll
 
you’re ten million karats of gold
I can’t bear to put down
I want to raise you above my head
parade you around the town
 
but before I burst out the chorus
of The Circle of Life
your mother smiles, sighs and says
“Al....not tonight.”
 
even if I can’t present you
to everyone like a king
I’ll just have to give you the world
and much more
my everything

sugar-soaked in Snapchat sepia
our expressions embellished like squashed licorice
a sticky tattoo on tattered sleeves
an exhibition of adolescence
 
smiles that should split our faces sore
                      bearing chattered gnashers
                                                gnawed from student anxieties
                                                                     stained from library coffee and
                                                                                                    polished by budget toothpaste
 
our salted skin doused in vodka
and coke – making the memory sweeter
with bar-time brothers
oblivious to the incoming traffic
 
I remember hearing the Wednesday swansong
“Don’t look back in anger”
I rarely do

​it’s evening
the rain is heavy
lamplights
on a cul-de-sac 
 
inside a bedroom
he feeds her chocolate
from the bedside table
already broken up
into little squares
the crumbs melt into the carpet
 
her eyes wander around the room
she communicates through nods
and tired smiles
 
hours pass
others enter and leave
asking if they could help
or if she needed anything
 
she gives off a dry cough
before clicking her tongue twice
 
he closes her eyes
and leaves to tell others 

We have finally arrived to the epic (okay maybe not) conclusion of this three part series. You can remind yourselves of what's come beforehand in in Part 1 and Part 2. But for those who have, let's crack on.

Ballad of a Hero – Kate Tempest
I have already given high praise for Tempest in one of my first blogs, but “Ballad of a Hero” is a great one to learn for its emotion and rhythm. It’s one you can feel the hurt and suffering in for all the characters involved: the inconsolable father, the distraught mother and the innocent child. Tempest performs it superbly – dig around for it on YouTube and you’ll find yourself a poetic treat.
 
A Subaltern’s Love Song – John Betjeman
This is a poem about hot days in the South London sun and a flustering middle class romance – and in my mind – one of the best poems of the 20th century. It tells the tale of a man besotted by a tennis player. Sure I’ve seen this tale before in a rather average rom-com....

The Charge of the Light Brigade – Alfred Lord Tennyson
This is another one that stuck with me from when I did LAMDA classes at school. The theme that hung onto me when I learnt this was blind optimism, 600 soldiers trying to cheat death in the field of battle. It’s basically 300, but a bit less heroic. 

Prayer – Carol Ann Duffy
I’ve never been an avid reader of Duffy’s work but I do enjoy this sonnet (yes it is an English sonnet – look closely children) for its smart rhyme and rhythm. It’s a poem to hold dear and remind you that we have a lot to be thankful for. Like a fresh wedge of cake on Sunday afternoons....mmm cake. 

Nightsong – Adrian Henri
Inspired by Lord Byron’s “We'll go no more a-roving”, this is just a nice poem to read out loud, despite it being about reminiscing the good times with an ex. Okay if you are going through a break-up, don’t learn this one by heart. Seriously. I don’t want to be blamed for rekindling thoughts of your failed relationship!
 
Coffee in Heaven – John Agard
A short and sweet poem to finish this list. I’ve added it not just because Agard recites it as a sweet little song, but also because its about coffee. I like coffee. Especially when I am writing. And now I’m craving coffee at 9pm....and cake dammit! 
 
And there’s my list of 20. What did you make of it? Have a missed out anything so glaringly obvious that it makes you want to slap me in my sleep? Then drop a comment and let me know what you think.