A few years ago I had Cancer - it threw a whole new perspective on life! The only time in my life that I sat still! I used to go into the Garden and just sit and watch and listen. I was suddenly aware of the beauty all around me. I think it takes looking at death to sometimes see more clearly.
Around this time in my life I started writing Poetry. It's not Wordsworth, Burns or Keats ~ it's just me. I hope you enjoy my 'nonsense'!! and like my paintings ~they are done in Pastels ~ they were the originals for Greetings Cards that I used to make.
Enjoy
Blessed be
The Candle Burns
The Candle Burns throughout the night,
The stars shine in the sky,
The moon creeps into places tight ~
As on my bed I lie.
My thoughts, my very secret dreams
Flicker through my mind,
Racing ahead with fantastic schemes;
Not possible by mere mankind!
This time of darkness comes each day,
When candle light fills our world.
And dark deep thoughts will have their say
As my souls inner self is unfurled.
No I'll not tell you what I think ~
For what I think is mine alone!
But from the realms of fantasy I drink
While my body rests at home.
Now into a place of solace I creep ~
The sun rises, so the candle will die.
Into a world of peaceful sleep
As on my bed I lie.
Click here to add text.
My Sunshine
Little boy full of wonder,
how I watch thee with delight.
Running round and round the garden ~
catching everything in sight.
Arms and legs never stopping,
always asking questions galore.
Constant chatter ~ constant laughing
knowledge always seeking more.
Happy in your little garden ~
digging holes and finding worms!
Beetles, slugs, snails your best pals,
no fear you for catching germs.
Climbing to the top of trees ~
making my heart leap with fear!
Then quickly running to my side,
cuddling me tightly as you see a tear.
Exhausted by the day, you drop.
eyes still searching ~ not quite sinking!
Mischievousness clear behind your gaze,
if only I knew what you were thinking.
Little boy, full of wonder,
how I watch thee with delight.
Running round and round the garden ~
catching everything in sight.
A Babies Thoughts
Oh no ~ not again!
I just get into a nice sleep,
Then they wake me up!
I open my eyes ~ there they are.
Looking down.
"Goo Goo Goo"
Just because I can't speak the Queen's English
Doesn't mean I'm stupid!
" Give us a smile"
I bare my gums!
" Tickle tickle"
"Look, he's kicking his little feet".
Yea, trying to kick you out of the way.
When I grow up I hope I don't act as daft as you lot!
" Give us a smile"
" He's sucking my finger ~ he must be hungry".
I had to suck your finger,
You put it halfway down my throat!
I wish I had teeth ~ lots of them!!
" Oh, his little lip has dropped".
" I think he's going to cry".
Look at them back off.
Works every time.
Mere hint of a yell and they run!
Well - here goes.
Time for a good SCREAM!
"Can I Have a Light"?
"Can I have a light"?
She walks on by.
Someone else is coming
"Can I have a light"?
Oh, she's gone the other way!
I lower myself,
My feet ache standing on tip~toe
To see through the hole.
There's an officer coming ~
"Can I have a light"?
Someone else is calling now.
Oh great! Give her the light first!
Bloody cheek!
I've been standing here calling for ten minutes.
I don't think I'll bother.
I think I'll give up smoking!
Sod it ~ I'm going back to bed.
Someone's coming ~
Quick, where's my fag!
"Can I have a light"?
Thanks Officer!
Harsh Words
Very often in life
the ones we hurt the most
are the ones we love the best.
Very often in life
we say such wicked things to one another
only later to regret all we have said.
I wish now more than anything else
that we could step back in time
to before the harsh words were spoken.
I sometimes wish we could go back
to the very beginning of our friendship
and start all over again.
Having learnt by our mistakes
we would then respect each others views
and realize that we are both individuals.
We should remember that we do not own
each other body and soul.
We have to learn to be more tolerant
towards each other and never to
take each other for granted.
But the best thing to remember is that
at the end of the day,
when everyone else has failed us,
we have each other to come home to
and to love.
Will They Want Me?
I hear a car approaching,
it stops outside the gate.
The echo of voices coming near ~
I wonder what my fate!
So many here to choose from.
Will I stand a chance?
I'll put my head up in~the~air,
I'll take a friendly stance.
She looks a kindly person ~
and he's holding fast her hand.
Who ever is the lucky one
will lead a life so grand.
Oh my! they're looking straight at me,
I can't believe mu luck!
I'm old and shaggy and not very big ~
and I waddle like a duck!
She slowly bends down to the ground,
and gently says my name.
A kind soft hand caresses me ~
my heart feels all aflame.
They say they want to take me home,
I'm just what they're looking for.
They didn't want a great big dog,
a companion they wanted more.
And as I jump into the car,
I feel my fears unload.
For they wont put me in a box
and leave me by the road!
How Hard Life Can Be!
There is four of us in this room:
Jackie is opposite me.
She is in her late thirties.
She is an alcoholic,
She is bisexual.
She has two daughters
Who live with her mother.
Jackie has been here before for arson
And she is in for arson now.
She's un~convicted, waiting for a court date.
It's nearly the end of March,
She's been here for a month
Un~convicted ~locked up!
She says she didn't do it ~
I believe her.
Opposite, to the left of Jackie, is Cary.
She is in her late thirties.
She's always asking me if I'm alright ~
Trying to cheer me up.
I'm not sure why she is here,
She gets confused.
Cary has been here for months,
She is from Southampton.
She's convicted, but waiting for a place
In a psychiatric hospital at Fareham.
She shouldn't be here
Locked up most of the day.
She only leaves the room in the evenings
Between 5.30 and 7.30 for association.
She had a little boy nine years ago.
Cary suffered a nervous breakdown due to
post Natal depression.
She had to give her child away!
She just sits there most of the time
Fidgeting and rocking to and fro.
She's been very kind to me.
To my left is Helen.
She is four foot ten inches tall and weighs six stone.
She is in her early twenties
But only looks about sixteen.
She has very very short hair ~
She's a tom~boy.
She torched a warehouse.
She is convicted.
They haven't put her name
On the outside of the door yet
So we keep telling her she is a figment
of our imagination!
She laughs.
She doesn't stand a chance in life!
She left home at sixteen
And has been in trouble since
In and out of prison.
She takes pills to control the voices
In her head.
She is a lonely girl.
She found a piece of glass in the garden ~
She went into the loo
She scratched her arms.
She said the voices told her to do it!
She needs help.
She's a nice girl.
In this week these people
Have looked after me.
Listened to me
Held me when I cried
Reassured me when I was frightened!
They have been my Friends.
Night Of Terror
She glided through the water
Her engines filled the air,
The moon shone down around her bows
Her beauty, vast and rare.
Then all at once the bells rang out
And a voice yelled "Stop the ship"!
A mighty crash and a thud I heard
As an Iceberg took the bit!
Panic ~ not at first appeared,
We ran onto the deck.
Playing ball with the chunks of ice ~
Unaware out life's they would wreck.
Slowly, an emergency crept about
The lifeboats began to fill.
Women and children were sent away ~
That was the sinking ships drill.
Then suddenly, a colossal noise!
And the Bulkhead ~ it did fall.
Then we knew that we were doomed
This ship so splendid and tall.
The gangway doors were opened.
The lifeboats slid down the ship.
Coloured lights exploded above
The distress rockets were lit.
I saw a boat hit the water
And a man did stand and cry:
I heard a voice gently praying,
Please God ~ don't let us die.
The boat by now was listing
And panic was now all about.
The last lifeboat was set adrift
But not an angry voice did shout.
I'd never seen the sea so dark,
A terrifying mass below
And the only lights that I could see
Was the doomed ship still aglow.
The Captain shouted "Abandon ship"
"All men now for themselves".
Quickly I ran towards the stern
And into the deep cold water I delved.
And all this time the band played on,
Their music sweet and light.
To the sound of "nearer my God to thee"
The Titanic slid from sight.
Secret Wishes
If wishes really could come true,
I'd wish you were still here.
I'd wish that we were holding hands ~
just like we used to do.
Through woods of bluebells we would stroll,
where only lovers go.
Through meadows green ~ with rabbits running,
and sweet forget~me~nots grow.
I'd wish that we could climb a mountain
right up to the top!
To watch the golden sun burst forth,
and sink to rest again.
I'd wish that we could sail the seas
and find a paradise lost.
Where we could live for ever more,
in dreams of happiness.
I'll stand and watch the sky tonight
and make a silent prayer.
That a wishing star will fall to earth
and tell you that I care.
Click on Images to enlarge
Cut Mill
Silver and shadows rippling by
Graceful birds fly down from the sky.
Tall straight trees reaching far above
Arms stretched wide looking for love.
A flock of geese appear from nowhere
Struck by their beauty, I stop and stare.
It's winter now ~ no leaves on the trees
Time stands still, not even a breeze.
I'm lost in the water as it flows gently by,
I hear no sound, not even a sigh.
Yet as long as the sky reflects in the pool
Life will go on acting the fool!
But I won't be here in this peaceful place,
For I'm caught in the wake of life's busy race.
The trees will go ~ they will chop them down!
And the earth will then slowly drown.
But the water will still flow gently by
No birds ~ No trees ~ just the bleakest sky!
(This poem of mine was published in ' 1994 Anthology London by Arrival Press') think I'm owed some royalties!! he he!
