What Forgetful Brothers Do

This year I managed to do the following to both my brother and my sister, so I wrote this by way of apology:

What Forgetful Brothers Do

They mean to call you on your birthday,
They find they can’t get through,
Then what happens next
Is what forgetful brothers do:

‘I’ll email them tomorrow’,
They decide, and so they ought
But when tomorrow comes around,
Life’s crowded out the thought. Continue reading

Past

Where now the fangs of yesteryear
That pinned us to the dust,
Reminding us of all our failures,
Weaknesses and lusts?

All shattered by a holy cry
As He hung on the cross,
And all I thought enormous gain
Is now but minor loss.

The ghosts that haunt our murky past
Now give us different pause;
To treasure His abundant love,
His mercy and His cause.

Friendship and Art – What are they Good For?

I would like to do something different this week, because about two weeks ago I saw something on youtube that moved me so deeply that I just have to discuss it. I know I am very late to the party, as this all happened half a year or more ago, and many of these things have most likely already been said, but I just cannot keep these thoughts to myself. There are so many areas to talk about, that this has ended up taking me a lot longer than I initially planned.

I am going to talk about Jonathan and Charlotte, a singing duo that took part in Britain’s Got Talent last year, finishing second. Continue reading

Thirteen Email Years Ago

As is tradition, each year on the anniversary of the first time I emailed the girl who is now my wife, I write her a poem and send it to her on the 1st of May with instructions to read it on the 2nd. Here is this year’s effort:

Thirteen Email Years Ago

Scattered thoughts, deflated hopes,
My lonely soul was on the ropes.
Resigned to life without a love
And then He sent one from above.

He used an unexpected route,
No lightning bolt or vision cute.
Instead a boy who liked to tease
And made us both feel ill at ease. Continue reading

Frozen Hope?

Continuing the theme of contest entries, this is my entry to another contest, where it beat out a whole other entry to win, so I’m not sure that can really be counted as a victory. Entries had to include the words fire, ice, black and white.

Frozen Hope?

Huddled round a fire in the days of old,
Hiding from the ire of the burning cold.
Under the stars and the grey-white moon,
Comes hope from afar that will get here soon.

A fortress of ice that gleams in the day,
With beauty to entice down a dangerous way.
“Onward, you hounds! Pick up the pace!”
Drowns out the sounds of the maddening race. Continue reading

Seasons

Well, I found out this week that my entry to a major poetry competition was unsuccessful, I didn’t finish in any of the winning places (that’s the last time I pay to enter a poetry contest). I submitted two poems, Once (Which I posted on this blog last year) and this effort:

Seasons

Forested deep purity
Dusted with a winter’s glow;
Crystalline perpetuity
Takes its place in nature’s show.

Fresh sunlight plays with diamonds soft
That glisten as they sing
In silent awe that drifts aloft
A peaceful offering. Continue reading

Walking

One from last summer, about my fourth son:

Walking

Taking my baby for a walk.
Enjoying the shadows that play across his sweet little face
As we move in and out of the trees.
A gentle breeze rustling the leaves, distant birdsong,
The calm clatter of pram wheels along the cobbled path.
Watching the curious look in his innocent eyes
As he takes in the scenery passing by.
Is there any moment more peaceful, more wonderful,
A greater advert for life?
The only way to make this memory any better
Is to share it with you.