shadow1950 Poetry (355)

The rain fell relentlessly
falling down in curtains
blocking things from view
cloaking the world in mist

Trees with near streams
running of their leaves
silvery puddles forming
joining together with others

An incessant sound of drips
drumming out all other noise
then a gleam of hope appears
as the sun weakly starts to shine

It bursts through the clouds
drying up all the landscape
droplets on leaves glisten
perfect prisms reflecting

Sit back and listen to the music
let it flood over you stirring your soul
as you listen to the oh so haunting notes
close your eyes and drift away on wings

Each note so sharp and crystal clear
what need for words as you hear
angel's wings beating up high
sails flapping aimlessly

As circling the dying ship
The albatross sweeps the sky
Hear the whoosh as he passes
the sounds of dead souls cry out

Ah Mr Fleetwood you inspire me
as I hear the hauntingly lovely notes
telling the story without words
just letting the notes speak for you

written 07/28/2013

Listen when you awake at crack of dawn
hear the chorus of all the birds singing
watch them as they scurry and dig the lawn
until a nasty cat sends them fleeing

How dull and bland without any birds
silence would greet us with it's bleakness
less colour everywhere, half mast halyards
how lucky to have birds to add brightness

So many feathered friends around
delighting us with their wonderful songs
the sound of harmony our souls surround
for the sweet mellifluous songs prolongs

Tunes everywhere blending in harmony
sweetly combining sounding like honey

Impress me

Don't try to impress me I know you all to well
the market trader look when planning a deal
I just know you are trying weighing the odds
to pull a fast one over some poor sucker

The sheepish look when you have cheated
flowers and chocolates by the score
tiredness the excuse as you roll away
so don't try to impress me my dear

Yet you being a great father and friend
goes a long way towards forgiving you
the loving way you help others in need
all of this is what impresses me the most


07/28/2013 written for Impress me contest

Homage to Kipling

Do you ever ponder on the purpose of life?
wonder why things turn out the way they do?
ever look back and think I did that wrongly?
then go and make exactly the same mistake?

("If you can dream- and not make dreams your master
If you can think-and not make thoughts your aim
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:")

What is the purpose of us even being on this planet?
Will our actions live on once we are gone from here?
Or like a breeze floating past will we just vanish?
Like the early dawn mists burnt off by the sun?

What will you teach your children about this coil?
Will you guide them well? make them fine citizens?
Leaving them to be your legacy of a life well spent?
They say a butterfly's wings beating changes the weather

All I know is strive to do right and be kind to all
To put others first before I choose a path in life
("Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!")

07/25/2013 passages taken from If by Kipling

A simple daisy
yet exquisitely formed
white and gold abound

My blackbird follows
me around in the garden
cheerful tune emits

snow white so lovely
you poke up your head through snow
snowdrop glistening

a robin redbreast
tugged at a juicy worm
he was so pleased

To Live is a blessing we take for granted
how often does one pause and enjoy
the simple things yet intricately made
splendorous beauty of hollyhocks bowing

Stop, look and think, study your surrounds
think of how each thing you see counts
how each relies on other things to survive
open your eyes and instead just take it in

Don't think of negatives, be positive
never live for tomorrow or the past
treat each day afresh and full of wonder
just be joyous that you are alive and live life

As I eat my bacon sandwich
I contemplate the leader board
so many jewels await me
which one shall I first peruse?
shall I take them in list order
or jump about from one favourite
to another out of so many
There's M.M a delight to read
or café so droll and clever
Spartacus's love poems
TruroRob always a surprise
dear Joy her words so fine
Chrissie with fiery words
Martina never the same
Sophia a true delight
yes these and many more
I sit and sip my coffee
knowing no matter where I start
I will have un-endless gems
to inspire me through the day

A single lonely cloud floating by
casting a small shadow on the ground
a shadow that changes as the cloud
is twisted and altered by a breeze

As it slowly moves on, it shape shifts
now a swan but wait a fiery chariot
that thunders by, a forest in the sky
mountains and houses, even a lake

The wind strengthens blowing more
clouds to combine into a shiny city
icicles hang down forming diamonds
that glitter and sparkle in the sunshine

A single lonely cloud floating by
captures my imagination setting it afire
filling me with wonder as I watch it
put on its own spectacular solitary show

The Breezes flowed through bright verdant meadows
the sky alight in blazing glory of azure and violet
the farmer on his tractor ploughs the field in farrows
pauses to watch the pretty maiden dressed all in scarlet

Golden ribbon in her hair, she brings him his lunch
they sit together in the sun chatting about this and that
as she collects the basket her father points out bunches
of multi coloured flowers down by the river near the muskrat

Her father back at work, she wanders down to the waters edge
picking a lovely posy of the wild flowers to give to her mother
trailing her fingers in the cool waters she lifts her skirt in a wedge
paddles in to cool her feet as it deepens she holds her skirt higher

What bliss to take some time to enjoy the scent of fresh turned earth
to drink in her surrounds and thinks how lucky she is living out here
keeping the age old traditions going, each season a time of rebirth
she heads off back to the farm liking that it is part of the final frontier

A damsel longed for a knight
a man to fight to fight for her causes
with whom she could love and unite

To be with for eternity
to kiss him under the arches
a damsel longed for a knight

A fine brave warrior to fight
protect her from evil witches
with whom she could love and unite

Dance a few reels with tonight
wearing a dress with fine brooches
a damsel longed for a knight

A knight to help her feel safer
a man who would spare her farces
with whom she could love and unite

At last she met her shining knight
together alone she blushes
a damsel longed for a knight
with whom she could love and unite

I rail against my feeble body that once was so swift
despair when tasks take three times longer now
it crept up on me seemly overnight, this thing they call age,
it pulls me down with it's agonising slowness

Always been the adventurer travelling the world
lived in some strange places with different rules
strived to live each minute to the max, exalt in life
taking no as no answer, digging under the surface

Many wondrous sights I have seen during my time
the miracle of birth, so fresh and new each time
so full of promise, a whole life yet to be lived
all that's before you is a blank sheet waiting patiently

I know for me that sheet is very full of doings
life is for living and boy, I have lived it in full
yet still I rail against age itself and the slowness
my mind can still take flight when it likes

Yet this shell in which I abide is crumbling
each year I seem to get slower and slower
such a pain, a burden and a strain on me
oh, to be young once more and be able to be fast