He gained his teenage kicks 
In the knotted garden 
Smoking weed. 

He looked at his fingers, 
Trying to figure out what made 
Them tick. 

He stared long at the sun 
Wondering, eventually, 
Why he was so blind. 

He listened to the distant 
Call of the cuckoo, 
Asking if he could join in. 

The hanging stench of Jasmine 
Made his ears hurt, 
His throat spike. 

Kneading his temples 
He kneed the earthly temple 
Needing restoration. 

Telegraphing his intentions 
He fell slowly into stupor,
Like a zombied mushroom. 

Ancient and modern clashed 
Within his extent 
And fell to the floor with a clatter. 

Like smashing glass at midnight 
His weird eyes flashed wide 
Like two black dishes. 

The sound returned with pain 
Like two white hot pokers 
Forced into his ears. 

And then his nostrils flared 
As odour invaded 
Like rampaging Vikings. 

The contents of his brain 
Were upturned in violence, scattered into the  
Smashed corners of his mind. 

He cascaded into catatonia, 
His system overloaded, 
His vigour twisted. 

The present kicked him, 
Like a teenage bull 
Escaping a matador, 

And he lowered his mind, 
He lowered his attention 
And he lowered his standard.

Capability Brown, English landscape architect, was baptised today in 1716.

John Peel, English radio presenter and producer, was born on this day in 1939.