Sometimes it is easy

Sometimes it is easy

To ignore a notification

A breaking news story

In favour of a feel-good reel

When there was a time

The headlines were emblazoned

Across a broadsheet

Written in large letters

Hard to avoid

On news boards outside in the street

In neon above Picadilly Circus

Enough to stop the traffic,

Sitting in your car

On the way to the office,

Where people gather

Over coffee bemoaning the state of things

In a changing world

And wonder why you bother

Carrying a fantasy of escape

Driving off into the blue

Flying on Thunder Road

Rolling with Ludwig’s

Mambo

Number five

Number seven

Is more than a cosmetic.

Alternating between Classic FM

And Radio Two

As loud as the speakers can take it

Trying to imagine a life without

Responsibility

And an eight-track

Chasing a rainbow.

Finding the strength to keep going

Often lies in the simple things

Blackbirds singing in the dead of night

Are of little comfort if you are wide awake

Ruminating about foreclosure

Early retirement or redundancy

Sometimes it is easier to stop thinking

Turn up the volume

Sing Hallelujah with Len

Or boogie with Bolan.

Finding your way home

With Blind Faith

Is never as much of an issue

As losing track of your reason

To keep moving forward,

With purpose

And a belief in possibility.