shadow1950 Poetry (355)

the drums could be heard far away
across the savannah they travelled
spreading, telling the awful news

one village drums talking to another
as much as fifty or so miles away
dreadful news they told the listeners

of the worst drought in living memory
people dying like flies with thirst
animals stuck in mud trying to reach

the last few drops of brackenish water
bloated carcass's everywhere you look
hopeless in people's eyes watching

the drums beat ever louder and faster
but no help can they bring to sufferers
only water can do that, can rejuvenate

bring back life, and fresh greenery for all
now the drum tone changes becomes insistent
rain two hundred miles away will it reach?

soon the rivers burst their banks flooding
in what seems an instance all springs back
that life saving water has rejuvenated all

The Stag

by Linda Hillier 21/01/2011


The moon was shining brightly in the glen
The air was so still it seemed to be holding its breath
Gentle murmuring could be heard from the brook
When into the starlight stepped a beautiful stag

Tall and proud he stood a true king of the night
Sniffing the air he softly called to his herd
One by one they filtered into the glen to browse the sweet grass
Their fawns jumping and playing in the moonlight

Mock fighting with one another striving to win
For one day maybe they too would be kings of the glen
A loud roar and a crash through the trees another rival appears
The stag roared back his anger challenging the intruder

A mighty clash of antlers as they fought pushing each other
Equal in size and strength it was a battle royal
For over 3 hours they strived to defeat the other
At last the resident lord overcame his rival and roared his victory

Whilst the loser slunk away to lick his wounds
For such is life in the wilds to the victor go the spoils
it will be his fawns that grace the herd for another year
The stag calls to his does and leads them back into the forest

Today I write a few words for you
that is not here any more
it was your time to go
you were my best friend

giving me unconditional love
cuddling up to me in the night
snuggling close letting me know
that you were there for me

twenty wonderful years we shared
you always knew when I was down
and showed me so much extra love
you would jump up into my lap

rubbing your face against mine
how I cried wanted to die as well
the day the angels took you away
Gambit my friend the best cat ever

We come into this world
naked and helpless
does it get any better?
as we grow we face trials

each one different from the last
sent to try us in many ways
we struggle trying to live right
sometimes succeeding often not

people talk of hell and its horrors
well I believe that here on earth
we are already living in that pit
that these trials and tribulations

are a life of living breathing hell
take war living through the mayhem
the atrocities that are committed
surely it makes sense hell is here

take the different pains we suffer
the loss of loved ones even a child
taken well before its had time
to live and grow explore have fun

we are born and return time after time
until we reach a perfect state
become a good person who does no harm
only then do we leave this hell behind

I prowl through deep forests
following faint hidden trails
looking for prey hearing rustles
made by various creatures rooting

I hide up near water which I love
hot summer's day I like to swim
I lay in wait soon a tapir approaches
I jump on its back biting through its skull

drag it away deep into the forest
there to feast at my leisure
now I am over two I call for a male
when we meet up we fierily mate

I am likely to scratch and bite
as I don't like other cats
in time I will give birth
to 2-4 cubs who live with me

for up to 2 years hunting together
cubs leave the birth den around 6 months
now I begin to teach them to hunt
how to stalk and ambush the prey

males I chase away as they will kill
my cubs if they can, so as to mate
perpetuating their own lines
I will fight to the death to save them

my favourite food is an armadillo
my powerful bite breaking open
that shell with ease releasing
the tender meat concealed underneath

I am solitary most of my life
with no predators apart from man
I roam wild and free marking territory
whoa betide any who dare trespass

The carpenter went out into the woods
he was looking for a very special tree
not quite sure what he wanted he wandered
checking out various types shaking his head

deeper and deeper until in a sunny clearing
he saw just the one this would make the frame
chopping it down then into different lengths
he carted it back piece by piece to the valley

a sturdy log cabin with handcrafted furniture
only a master carpenter can achieve this detail
each sculptured piece was placed by his hand
making a thing of beauty that blended in well

from far and wide they came to buy his furniture
each intricate piece carved to fit and enhance
a happy man this carpenter living contentedly
in the woods doing what he loved best of all

There was a strong metallic smell
it came from the bodies scattered
pools of dark blood glistened
murder and mayhem all around

pillage, rioting and rape
had left a village smoking
lying in its own ruins
a manky cur sniffed around

where was it that this came to pass?
try any war zone in any land
look around you then look again
this is what happens time again

for what? so rich men can line
their pockets at others expense
sitting safe far away taking tea
not knowing or even caring

that families all wiped out
in a matter of hours not days
all for a bit of land or gold
how can the human heart survive

that most tender of organs
take in and accept such carnage
yet lay with a loved one making love
tenderly kissing a crying child

what terrible things we do
the atrocities committed
yet most people are kind
reaching out a helping hand

what is to become of us
if we continue this way
when will man be happy?
when all is destroyed?

A seed is blown on the wind
hither and tither it goes
finally coming to rest
in a patch of fertile earth

for a while it lies farrow
slowly a crack appears
a tip pokes out its head
then burrows downwards

splitting shooting into multitudes
roots now everywhere they sprout
a tendril shoot starts its growing
reaching up high towards to the sky

now the leaves start forming
twigs shoot out in all directions
each one turning into a branch
that stretches up and then out

remember that small tiny tendril
now it's become a mighty big tree
climb up it to the top of its canopy
you can now see for miles and miles

stand at its base your arms can't embrace
then lean back and gaze up towards its top
that tiny seed once would fit into a hand
now has become a magnificent full grown tree

for some grief lightly brushes by
a person they didn't really know
within a few months totally forgotten
these are the lucky ones
for most, grief is a devastating thing
so many things to remind you about them
time really doesn't exist, just the loss
and the heart-wrenching pain
some days easier to leave behind
the next bringing you to your knees
all it can take is a chance word
an action, even a line in a book
and crash it all floods back in
so people try to remember
just because your life has moved on
for others try though they will
it has not, it is still fresh, bitter
and so devastately still in their face
so pause when you see them cry
give what little comfort you can
just remember one day sadly it may be you
who will have this loss and pain to bear

Oh how beautiful you are
waving on your stem
a perfect picture
to behold

your attar floods my senses
so sweet and fragrant
deep musky scents
that beguile me



your hips full and plump
rose water or tea I make
or rose scones to eat
a chocolate I savour

standing in stately splendour
full blooms reaching skyward
I pluck one so that its
perfume I can extract



how can I not admire thee
as you climb up a wall
or smother a fence
with wonderful blooms

you creep alone the ground
or soar high into the sky
stand upright in beauty
you have it all to show



so many colours
all different hues
Rose, I worship thee
as my soul you delight

My heart wanders the lonely empty skies
floating, drifting through azure seas

seeking, searching forever hunting
for its other half it is looking

somewhere on this verdant planet
as rain flows down, each droplet

as it lands refreshes my soul
so I strive on seeking my goal

when one day, at last, we met
we will sing together in duet

such sweet music in total harmony
hearts beating knowing no boundary

joined now for the rest of eternity
we come together in love so courtly

two halves should never be asunder
so now and always our love we aver

Ode to Poets Corner


Over here in our corner
Dwell mighty Poets
Each one a true star

To each their own style
Oh heck brain overload

Poets in clover maybe
Or yet in deep dispair
Edit that word right now
The lines form too slowly
Some never rhyming

Correcting, we slash it out
Oh yes, of course, Eurika
Realising our mistake
Next verse popping out
Each word a celebration of
Rymhe, rhythm and reason