As the Candle Burns

 

As the candle burns

The pages turn

With history in the making

But as we read about our past

Of things we thought would never last

And of time that life was taking

 

Page on page our lives unfold

Of the story to be told

In many years from whence we came

Of battles won, of things invented

People with lives not so contented

No one page is just the same

 

So as it flickers and sheds is light

We read on well into the night

History unfolding before our eyes

Be it a novel or a book of fact

It takes time for us to react

To release that inner, disguise

 

As the Candle flickers and burns

The wax down the candle onward it churns

Illuminates the flower bowl as ease

Its red leaves flutter in the light evening breeze

As through yonder window it creeps

While everyone else in the house quietly sleeps

 

What wonders do we discover and take in?

A wondrous feeling since we begin

To understand from whence we came

Compared to history our lives today are tame

So as I put down my nightly read

Sleep succumbs if I succeed

 

To contain my excitement of what I have learned

Collected that for which I have yearned

Some detail of our former existence

The love, the pain with no resistance

As slumber overtakes my mind

I am sure tomorrow more knowledge I will find

A little bird flew into my garden

It was a Robin I think

Lands on my bird table and sits in the water

To bathe and to have a drink

Oblivious at first

To any other thing

Seemed to be enjoying himself

Fluttering his damaged wing

He had obviously been hurt

In some mishap or a scrap

And was taking advantage

Of the water laid on tap

But lurking in the undergrowth

Was Blue, next doors cat, an English Grey

Whose was thinking to himself no doubt?

To catch our robin redbreast

Before he flew away

So stealthily creeping nearer

As our little friend did rest

Oblivious to the danger he was in

So far away from his safe nest

But I need not have been worried

Because when the cat did pounce from off the floor

Our Robin was more alert than I thought

And flew in through my door

Standing on my kitchen table

He looked a funny sight

With one wing barely moveable

As he twittered by the light

I put out my hand and he jumped on

As if to say, I know I will be all right

Then I bathed his little damaged wing

And used matchsticks as struts to mend the break

Then bandaged it all up together

A real injured soldier did he make

He stayed indoors with me for almost a week

Sleeping in a box underneath the stairs

His injuries keeping him in a sedate mood

Until, I removed his temporary repairs

Then he flapped his wings and chirped away

So, I opened up the door

And he flew away so majestically

Sadly for me, to be seen no more

In Slumber

 

In slumber I gently rest

My knees upon my chest

Wings outstretched behind me

A symbol of a spirit free

The stars shine brightly in the sky

They know that I am so nearby

Trapped here in this windowed heart

Of which it and I will never part

I sleep to dream of a life now past

The heavenly die has now been cast

No longer mortal I may be

Now an Angel’s life forever for me

Look through my window what do you see

A bright new world, a heart so wild and free

My past is past, my future a magical mystery tour

For a Guardian Angel am I for evermore

 

The Old Man

 

At evening the old man would play

As if colours sighed themselves in strings

Like a rainbow he lit the room

With every note or tune

Love and loves beauty, echoed out

Like water to flowers

His violin spoke like it was alive

Like telling his music in words

To those who would listen and enjoy

Outside in the streets the sound

Rang out for miles

His dedication to his art

Came from within his very soul

He creates a magical world of sound

As each note is played with love and deep attention

His mind with only one thought

His music, his solace

Played through a heart that comes alive

With each passing note played

Each night he would play until early morning

At day when he could

Never tiring of his creations

Under his guidance the Violin became alive

It spoke to him, and he listened

That’s what made the Music so wonderful

They created it together

With love and perfect harmony

Together

 

Knocking on Heavens Door

 

Here I stand a-waiting

To join that special band

On my way to St. Peters gate

To enter the Promised Land

I have lived my life, my time has come

Now I go to a better place

No time to weep, no time to cry

Thank the Lord my life was no disgrace

As I ride my cloud up to the stars

Where Heaven awaits me now

I always hoped that’s where my time would end

Always knew it would somehow

The staircase seems long and winding

As my steps get heavier as I walk that walk

Only time to think and dream

I have no time to talk

Even in my own mind it seems

It’s an endless path to what may never exist

The higher I seem to float along

These negative thoughts I must desist

What if I am refused entry, what will I do?

Could that really happen to me

Of course not when standing at my side

I have you my Guardian Angel, looking after me you see

 

Grandad land

 

Grandad land is a place like heaven

Where one can disappear

Shut out all the daily noises

A place granddad holds so dear

Where women talk in silent voices

And the kids are rarely seen

We are spared the great indignity

Of being called geriatric, senile, or unclean

It is a place that time can pass

So blissful, serene and quiet

Away from the nagging and the incessant chat

And any impending family riot

The world where Rainbows shine every day

That wonderful place only he can know

So when you see Grandad looking vacant in a chair

That’s where he is, so now you know

The Greenhouse or Garden Shed

His main place of refuge when

He needs some space to be alone

In peace and tranquillity once again

He has selected hearing

For those moments which he cares for less

And occasionally you have to wonder

What planet he’s on I guess

But he will always still be Grandad

The one who will always care

As he smokes his fag and sits and dreams

In his old comfy chair

So spare a thought next time you see

That he’s drifted into his own world to get inner peace

Because when he awakes he will always say

What, when, who of course I was listening, wonders will never cease 

 

The Pathway to Eternity

 

As you walk down by the Lake

Just as the Sun begins to brake

The Clouds now moving across the Sky

Drifting slowly as they pass by

The old Jetty, quiet and serene

Stands majestically, ever still, as it has always been

As you walk along its path to the Gazebo at the end

All light up, a forever friend

Walking slowly to the gateway, you enter in

And see the water, so blue so thin

That you can through it to the bottom of the Lake

A rippling sensation a water break

 

As you look down you start to think

If you jump in you will surely sink

To the darkness right down below

And into to oblivion you would go

Is Paradise on the other side, that’s what you may believe exists

Or is you mind just playing tricks

Why spoil what is truly a work of art

With malicious thoughts, a world apart

Just revel in the beauty you see before your eyes

Blue water rippling its gentle sighs

Take a moment, sit ye down

Wallow in the tranquillity, nary a sound

A Seagull lands upon the roof

Walks around feeling quiet aloof

As he coos his immortal tune

You look skyward and still see the moon

Disappearing on the horizon far away

Whilst the Sun has welcomed a bright new day

The lights on the pathway now disappear

But will be back tonight, never fear

It’s time to rest, to fall asleep

By the Lake with its soul so deep

The water has worked its magic charm

Now sleep well you will not come to harm

A single soul travels the world

Forever seeking salvation

Looking for that lost love

It has held since its creation

In its earthly body it hid away

Deep with a heart

Whose pumping blood helped to ensure

A living being from the very start

A walking, breathing entity

That could hold love within that heart

And hold it deep within that soul

The important, magic part

With Eyes to see the wonder

Of the world in which it had been created

A surrounding labyrinth of beauty

That would never become outdated

Staring she kindles the street windows

Of wisdom within

Like it had been written in the stars at the beginning

A fire that rekindles in her heart

Wounds filled with pain

Within her eyes you gaze

Those whom she tries not to touch

Whose eyes pursue her eyes to much?

One who watches all alone?

Memories buried deep within her soul

Through all the ages and hidden years

Her heart would melt the tears

Strong as the wind and thunder

What lies between us and the shadow shore?

A forgotten hope and a disastrous dream

Lovers of love

In a garden left alone

Waiting for you to come home

She dares to wait for a return

Of warmth again a light a heart beat

That makes the heart forget the touch of grief

A symbol of thy self made visible

In a precious pearl of hope

The voice more gentle than the rain

A single soul of salvation

 

It’s Just Life

 

We all begin in the same old way

As a baby pure and small

Learn to breathe, walk and talk

Sometimes along the way we learn to fall

Our parents try to bring us up

As we grow through our childhood years

Ina way that’s straight and true

Experiencing many fears and tears

As we grow older we become

Like our parents used to be

They’re now older than their years

Just because of me

The Air we breathe, the Sun that shines

We rely on constantly

To help us on our merry way

Throughout each and every lifelong day

Our laughter lines show our true worth

To all that we have been around

Just keep smiling in adverse times

Happiness lives in the lost and found

At last our parents say goodbye

When at last we leave the nest

They look forward to the rest of their lives

That time should be the best

 

The Cemetery Mole

 

Down in the Churchyard

in amongst the graves so still

is a little problem

and it makes me ill

 

A Mole has made his home

in the family plot

as for our feelings

he does not give a jot

 

Every time I go to tend

the grave with love and care

I am greeted by this mound of earth

so I know that he has been there

 

He digs away to his heart’s content

the mound gets bigger every day

so I am going to have to trap him

try to catch it in some way

 

So I will dig a little hole into his mound

and set a trap for him

a passer by walked over

said what are you up to Jim

 

Trying to catch this little varmint

who is causing me concern?

I have to teach him a lesson

so that he will learn

 

To leave my family plot alone

go somewhere else to dig his tunnels

because all the mounds he leaves behind

looks like a row of funnels

 

So I set my trap, and off I went

home for a good nights rest

satisfied I had done my duty

to catch this little pest

 

As I fell asleep, my mind did dream

this little creature with his pick and shovel hard at work all night

dragging the dirt to the surface in his little cart

so it would be there for me to see at early light

 

Suddenly there was a clanging sound

as the trap snapped down on his neck hard and fast

trapped, struggling to break free

but soon to breathe his last

 

I awoke with such a start

shouting Oh Lord, what have I done?

I have killed one of Gods tiny creatures

on with clothes and out I run

 

Down to the Cemetery at high speed

till I reached the family plot

I yanked on the trap protruding

to see what I had got

 

To my relief there was nothing there

I must have dreampt it all it seems

my little friend was still alive

not dead, like in my dreams

 

I quietly flattened out his mounds

Thought I can do that every day

It can be a special thing between us

A game that we can play

 

After all what harm was he doing

tunelling away

my relatives now had company

and that’s how it will have to stay