Daydreams

I sit every day in an office, and play

With a ledger that carries my name,

And stare from the window, the clouds scudding grey

On a sky that is always the same,

The river winds down by the weed-winding bank

But is sluggish and slow in its ride,

Heading on out to the estuary, carrying

Debris, adrift on the tide.

 

Just about here was the place, where in fear

They once straddled the river in chains,

And called up the hundreds, with helmet and shield

To defend this poor land from the Danes,

And often I peer through the rain and the mist

And the grime on the window without,

Imagining Vikings enmeshed in the chains,

And struggling there, to get out.

 

The office is staffed by grey people in need

Who would like to get home to the wife,

They mutter in tones of their essence and creed

While some of us just want a life,

But Caroline Chambers is not one of these

She’s a flower, sprung out of the weeds,

And I see, as she flits between coffees and teas

She’s a Saxon, her coffee is mead.

 

She pushes the trolley that carries the swords

And the helmets, and buckler’s too,

As she stands by my desk for a chat and a rest

She’s defiant; she’s one of the few.

As she stares out the window, I hear her declare

That she’s not going to put up with this,

The Danish accountant has stolen her chair

And her venom is mouthed with a hiss.

 

‘I’ll poison his coffee, you see if I don’t,’

And her Saxon blood comes to the boil,

I get fleeting visions of lopping his head,

Or perhaps we should boil him in oil?

She wanders away and she hands out the pay

As I ravish her there in my mind,

And she stares up at me from a puddle of tea

Mutters, ‘How could you be so unkind?’

 

The following day I can see the affray

As the Legions march into the town,

The Roman Centurions glitter with gold

With their standards held high, not put down,

And Caroline Chambers, Welsh bonnet and dress

With a lilt in her voice, brings the teas,

She stands by the chariot of Boadicea,

Brings the Legions of Rome to their knees!

 

 I sit every day in an office, and play

With a ledger that carries my name,

And stare from the window, the clouds scudding grey

On a sky that is always the same,

But Caroline Chambers has shared in my dreams

Though she has no idea, she’s my wife,

As I live in the daydreams of coloured and grey dreams

And desperately search for a life!

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Clayton Bardwell]

Like Caroline, I too am a Saxon. Like you I have spent many an hour in a land far away in a time once forgotten vanquishing dragons and swilling mead served by a pretty miss only too grateful for the protection of my sword and shield.

The mind is a fertile playground. These poems of yours brings my mind to life.

[Pratik]

This is beyond words.. the drudgery of office life giving way to the world of dreams where all our adventures come true. And what a backdrop to it! Royal and grand! My respect sir!

[Distant horizons]

As ever David, perfect. The flow and pace just carry you along in every adventure you pen. Your words should be taught in classes around the world as a perfect example of everything that brings poetry alive.

[The Random Writings Of ..]

I worked day in and day out like this for years of my life - staring out a window of grey, no matter if the sun was out. And yes the daydreamer hit me day in, all day sometimes, when the opportunity arose I GOT OUT! I absolutely adore this piece, because this was my life for LONG years. Chained to a desk and chair and the horrific thought of wanting to poison my bosses coffee :)
You work is filled with wit and humor, although touching on a matter that I think we can all relate to, you have made this a piece we can laugh at as well. Thank you for sharing as it is always a pleasure reading your work!

Nothing to say .. 100/100 .. wish I could give more .

[spiritwind]

I have never read anything on the internet more beautifully written, more true to a human soul, and frankly it makes my heart ache for people chained in a modern day office when they dream of a more vivid life... though I think the past might be a little less enticing when viewed close-up.

[Valentine]

Wonderful..if your day dreams carrry you back to olde times in Englands history,,I envy you as I have always wanted to go there..I know there were many battles and that wall was built at one time..I pray for pease in the middle east too..love to Lyn and you..Kathie

[Tate Morgan]

I think you have a winner here.How often when I was bored did I meander into the playground of my mind? Quite often i can tell you.Yours is as active if not more so than my own. Very good Dave

[Marie]

Sometimes daydreams lead to better lives.

[Emerald Seas]

Daydreams keep us from fully engaging in life. No wonder there is a desperate searching going on here. Wonderful story. I enjoy the historical context to these daydreams of Caroline as she flits about the offices assisting in any way to keep the workflow going smoothly. I can envision the scene!