The wall I built
February 09, 2020
I wake up early, another day
Eyes closed tight, I start to pray
Pray for peace from up above
My open heart is craving love
Love to feel, love to stay
Take all my hurt and pain away
Away to a place far from me
Selfish people, just leave me be
I’ve built a wall to shelter me
Standing tall for all to see
Brick by brick, it’s built so high
Will it crumble? I start to cry
Tinged with sadness, filled with fear
Head bowed low, a falling tear
One of many down my cheek
Lacking strength, I feel so weak
People know just who they are
Inside my soul their fading scar
But I’ll walk away and fight the fight
Out of darkness seeking light
Warmth of the light, I feel at peace
No pain or hurt, a calming ease
Walking forward, I’ve left it all
Memories past, behind the wall
Tracey Clifton-Jow
Life Can Be Troublesome
January 13, 2017
Life can be troublesome, many burdens we fear
Who do we turn to? Who do we hear?
A soft spoken voice, his presence so near
Candle flames flicker, put out by a tear
"Oh Lord is that you"? I shout from my sleep
"It is my dear child, no more shall thy weep"
"Christ please help me, the road seems so long"
"Walking your footsteps will help keep me strong"
Emotions deep inside that put me to the test
"Guide me through oh Lord, and lay them all to rest"
As I walk along beside you no more shall I fear
"I died upon the cross for you" he whispered in my ear.
Tracey Clifton-Jow
Heart
November 04, 2016
I cant come to terms with what I've got
No one really understands
Well not a lot
I live every day in fear and dread
About what might happen
If I lose my head
I love those around me
My wife and my kids
But do they really know what I did?
A heart made of stone
That's what people say
But I love you more day after day
If I could just show you how I felt
I'd wrap my arms around you just like a belt
I can't come to terms with what this is
But one day just one day I might just say
I love you and I'm here to stay.
Ash Hickman
A walk on the wild side
October 20, 2016
As a man of great habit, I’ve always loved my morning walk,
Occasionally a friend would join me, and as we went we’d talk,
Round the pond, up the hill and back, that was our normal track,
The doctor told me, mate “loose some weight or you’ll have a heart attack”,
Then one cold grey morning I was feeling down and lonely,
And as I walked today it looked as if I’d be the one and only,
Then without a word and nothing heard one fell in step beside me,
A total stranger I’d never seen before, my heart was filled with glee,
Together we went around the usual route, not a word did he speak,
But greeting all in a friendly manner without as much as a squeak,
My hair was thin and silver almost going bald; yet his was thick and neat,
Spirits uplifted no need to talk at all, I just had to watch where to put my feet,
My heart was fairly pumping, my old frame warm and sweaty,
This mornings’ walk was swell, we’d made it back to the jetty,
At journeys’ end I was a feeling a little puffed, but greatly pleased and chuffed,
I turned to my walking companion, to thank him for his deed,
And as he left he almost smiled, wagged his tail, cocked his leg and peed.
Ted Belly
Beyond the Wire
October 18, 2016
Once more a quarter of a century
A lonely figure approaches the gate
That boy that became a man, me
Oh my heart it does exasperate
That barrier holds a new life
That barrier saved my life
That barrier my friend lost his life
That barrier behind me closes to strife
Once more a quarter of a century
That trials and tribulations it made me
That boy became a soldier
Oh what does it mean to be free
That barrier holds me
That barrier scolds me
That barrier scares me
That barrier closes on me
Once more a quarter of a century
Uniforms changed,
My body torn and twisted from me
My mind scarred with war, estranged
That barrier opens for me,
That barrier accepts me
That barrier closes behind me
That barrier vexed and fixed releases me
Richard Cave
Emily
October 17, 2016
They wheeled your tiny form into the light,
Attention centered just on you alone,
An hour when little minds should fill the night,
With sweet imagined whimsey of their own,
But no! With long incisive stroke, the knife,
In surgeon’s hands cut deep from throat to womb,
(which will produce no offspring to give life),
Exposed your heart, still beating, to the room,
Your heart should have been won by love’s degrees,
Not excised, packed in ice and rushed away,
Yet logic overcomes the mind’s unease,
Your heart will beat again by break of day,
Your name, unknown to others, yet is bless’d,
In them you live, although you lie at rest.
David Borrows
I have done very many flying jobs all over the world. At one time I was working in Chicago and I often flew the organ transplant team from the University of Chicago Medical Center to harvest human organs, usually in the dead of night (when the OR is free from routine ops). As I got to know the transplant team, they began to invite me into the OR, initially to observe, and later, to participate as a member of the team. I was 'scrubbed in' for the removal of the organs from a little 3 year old girl who was brain dead following an accident at home. She was a tiny little blond scrap of a girl. This op, more than all the others, made a mark on me. I wrote a sonnet to clear my mind. Please forgive any Americanisms of spelling.
Tinittus
October 16, 2016
Tinnitus
It visits us
The sound of hearing
Disappearing
Rory Smith
Armageddon
October 16, 2016
Born of an almighty explosion and cosmic chaos our beautiful planet earth,
Millennia passing and endless modifications with agitation and shifts galore,
A cooling steaming amalgam creates the paragon for all of life’s virgin birth,
Humanity as yet unseen but single cells erupting much like lava from the core,
Basic fauna timid yet desperate strain to spread and thrive for all their worth,
In the oceans and the land many changes, the flora too is coming to the fore.
Almost unnoticed the bipeds appear and in time we humans slowly evolve,
From caves to agriculture and industry begins our sad path to new prosperity,
In dismay the last century has seen our planet’s beauty and resources dissolve,
If left unchecked we greedy lot will swallow all the good in an act of barbarity,
Global recognition of extinction and dangers faced must sharpen our resolve,
Fearlessness and bravery now a must if the hierarchy is to lead us to posterity.
Creatures now disappearing for ever at an alarming rate, does anyone care,
Plants and trees trashed and burned, rivers polluted and our oceans spurned,
Madness abounds for wealth at any cost as progress creates a horrible despair,
Thank goodness my time is nearly done and I won’t worry once I am burned,
But please think of our children, to leave them no chance or future is so unfair,
Urge, impel, force even threaten if you can its almost too late now to repair.
Ted Belly
The battle of Armageddon refers to the final war between human governments and God. These governments and their supporters oppose God even now by refusing to submit to his rulership. (Psalm 2:2) The battle of Armageddon will bring human rulership to an end.—Daniel 2:44