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Raven

Raven

The day we watched the funeral,
when all the nation grieved.
Sat inside with children home,
Choirs on TV.

A raven watched beside us,
Beside the open door.
Catching little snippets, 
Coming back for more.

Black were all her feathers
Black were her bright eyes.
But though the day was heavy,
The sun shone in the sky.

Other ravens gathered,
Smart in feathered suits.
Regal, loyal, slick with time
Wearing formal boots.

Lined up at the palace,
Making good the tower.
Celebrating Queen’s long reign,
Warm and strong in power.

Nobody was counting,
Looking at the sky.
Watching for the minute when,
Their Monach passed them by.

So, nobody missed her,
One less precious bird.
Hanging on the commentary,
Huw Edwards every word.

Solemnly she stood there,
Forgetting I was there.
Forgetting all the other birds,
High up in the air.

And as the crowd stood sombre,
Her majesty was led.
A million mourning faces.
A raven bowed her head.

She turned then from the TV,
A tear filled, beady eye.
And left me to my musings,
As she soared into the sky.

Liz Walker

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It’s not easy being green

Summers end, new school year, pencils in a row.

Children reinvent themselves, some refuse to go.

Autumn hides the cobwebs just as spring brushes them clean;

Subscription to the promise of a new you yet unseen.

Starting fresh sounds simple, leave the ghosts behind.

Clear the debts from credit cards, from lovers, heart and mind.

Open up the blinds again, paint the rolling view,

Truly understanding what it feels to know your you.

Hold your nerve a little longer, time is still at play

You got through the hardest part, first few steps, first day.

All the courage you require is curled up in your heart,

Every move in this game now awaits your hand to start.

Who could squeeze their life inside a tiny little room?
Make their food with dolls house plates, a bucket and a broom?
Trust in friendships lasting from another place inland
Feel that even far away, their hands are in your hands?

 

Looking past the clutter, seeing what’s beyond.
Pushing through the brambles to the lilies in the pond.
There’s a view beyond the spot we stand on in the rain.
There’s another path beside this bumpy, strange terrain.

Keeping safe your mindset when the noise is getting loud,
Standing still and centered in the roaring gush of crowd.
Slowing down each racing breath, finding space inside,
Moving air to crushing lungs where fear is trying to hide.

Starting life in places new, without an anchor firm,
Centres you from deep directions, ones you’ve yet to learn.

Sometimes taking one more step beyond our comfort zone
Further than we ever dared, far away from home;

Distils every drop of courage, cleaning jewels of fate
Suddenly where once were walls, there’s an open gate.
Suddenly where once was distant; brush it in your hand.
Suddenly no longer dreaming, walk on soft green land.

Take this moment look around, all the steps so far,
Nothing vital left behind, perfect as you are.
Friendships travelled with you, words and thoughts and line,
Breathing slowly when you feel, nowhere close to fine.

Every gloomy hurdle, every battle won,
Finds your light the brighter, closer to the sun.
For every moment conquered, everything you feel

Shapes the life you’re made for, every dream made real.

LW

For my Treasure xxx

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Home


I’ll let you know my secrets,
I’ll give you what I know.
I’ll tell you all that made me,
I’ll show you where I go.

There is no understanding
Without first feeling pain.
The blinding light of breakthrough sun,
On shoulders soaked by rain.

The humble yet delicious
Crust of bread, with butter – cold,
When hunger is upon you;
Rich and crumbly; yeasty gold.

A gift wrapped box beside a glass,
A pair of soft, warm socks.
A fire lit, the record slow.
The doors and windows locked.

Temptation to exceed our needs,
Surrounds our daily world .
Intoxicating thoughts, that need
the freedom, to unfurl .

Plenty comes and plenty goes,
In circles round and round
Shuffling things and thoughts and dreams
Re-rooting feet to ground.

Take a moment, separate
Desire from what is meant.
Sometimes lives and shelves of books
Are fleeting, borrowed, lent.

Only to be found again
In other guises, hands
Unearthing glinting treasure
Hidden in the hearts of man

A pure and sweet elixir,

The taste that brings you home.

Unlocking every bolted latch,

Switching off the phone.

A thousand miles can take you,
To the place you started from.
If what you have already lives-
In you, where it belongs.

This bottle needs no label,
Drink me, eat me, turn the key.
For I know that finding you,
Is finding home in me.

LW

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Limbo

There’s a place called land of Limbo
On the outskirts of the town,
A place where friends are seldom made,
In case you let them down.

In case the big black dog returns
Claws sharpened on your door.
And all the bags stored under beds
Are hurled in cars once more.

In case the roots you want to grow
Entangle up your heart;
And all the dreams they cut from you,
Will never get to start.

In Limbo, safely nurturing,
Your life behind the hedge
A world away from breathing deep,
And stepping from the edge.

A world away from what you were,
The girl whose almost gone.
Before the tiniest of smiles,
Was painted daily on.

Cross the tracks to Limbo land
The hardest place to find
Routes are snared and treacherous,
Especially in the mind.

Limbo isn’t on the map,
Or on the subway line
Destination, final stop; keeps
Changing all the time.

In real world , time is still sometimes;
A breath deep, drawing, peace.
Surrounded by the simple pleasures,
Books and flower and leaf.

.

Feet are anchored, roots are long;
Earth’s rich, musty loam,
Precious heady, springtime mornings
Finding our way home.

There comes a moment when we turn

to see our shadow roam,

when all the holding fast is done,

and we can feel we’re home.

One day the door of limbo land
Is left wedged open wide,
And finally the everywhere
Comes tumbling in outside.

In Seeking , travel is a choice;
To step along each track.
And find exciting different routes,
When its time to go back.

No need to drag out dusty cases
Hidden under beds.
You’re here already,  listen , hear
What all your friends have said.

A spell in Limbo is essential
Patch up broken wings,
But wings and meant for flying
And your soul now needs to sing.

And if we see as wise ones do,
Life not in black and white.
The jewel colours swirl freely,

On the silky tails of kites

For all the beasts who gave you strength

showed what was never you,

And made a life outside of Limbo

feel so fresh and new.

Take respite under limbo ‘s spell
A warm , soft, heavy blanket
Then, Hear your instincts loud and clear
Trust what you love and thank it.

And where you land, the route you take,

hold onto all you’ve learned.

Your self respect and courage now,

is well and truly earned.

LW

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Patience


When I was little sweets were banned,

and only for rare treats.
There’s plenty fruit and bread for toast,
You don’t need these to eat!


But shops had jars all glistening,

and sparkling sugar beckoned.
And being young,  the thought of waiting: even for a second,
Was torture for my little head,
And I became adept,

At savouring each morsel as the pleasure long, I kept.


When others scoffed their chocolate bars,

in one enormous bite,
I’d wrap each piece and have a store,

for secret stash at night.


It’s true to say if you can handle, 

hurdles from above
Boom ! down they come, like rain from Heaven ,
wrapped in bows with’ love.’


‘Cause ; you can wait a little more,

for life to be complete,
You proved that , when you nibbled chocolate
underneath the sheet!


But now I’m 50, It is time,
to raid the corner shop.
To stock up on Lindt chocolate
until my Jeans go pop.


If sugar is a metaphor
for all good life can bring,
Then now I want to paint and love
and laugh and eat and sing.

And never wait a moment,
for a sugar laden pleasure,
I’ll be a mad old blue haired woman,
taking things at leisure.


Patience is a lesson,
which has kept life at the door.
So now I’m off for doughnuts
and a travellers explore.


To places dreamed, while under covers
on those torchlight nights.
Patience has paid off,
and the vista is in sight.


The dream is always there,

waiting for your chance to take it.
And nobody can make your Patience
worth it ’til you make it .


I’ve been like marmite to the ones
who couldn’t work out why,
That one so cheery was not simply.

watching time go by.


You must have faith that there are flavours,

morsels still to find,
For time and days are side-lines

if you sweeten hands and mind.

The rainbow jars of favourites,

will be waiting on the shelf.
All their colours shiny, urging
Us to treat ourselves.

And when the day will come at last
The first foot out the door.
That first breath, first step,
A new world we’ll explore.

Like popping candy covering
an ice cream rich and sweet.
New flavours will explode and burst
And joy will be complete.

Never underestimate
how lovely it can be,
To savour favourite dishes
when the fridge has been empty.

Or feel the breeze in windswept hair
Too long indoors and dry.
And gazing at the lucky Robin
Wishing you could fly.

Look at the woman standing there,

with wisdom pure as taste.

Who cares what others think of her

There’s no more time to waste.

Time will Swerve back round again
Just like she never left,
A few more wrinkles , wisdom deeper,

Our souls endure no theft.

If you are waiting for a taste
Of something you remember,
As time speeds up, and tries to win
Don’t let yourself surrender.

For at that point,  the pinnacle
Is nearly in your sight,
The hilltop peak, the ocean floor,
The will to win the fight.

And that’s the sweetest taste of all.
When patience can be savoured.
When all your courage, strength and love
Comes back in rainbow flavours.

LW

❤🧡💚💚💙💜

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Daughter

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If all we have is here and now, wrapped in the moment's arms
To see the line of sunrise bleeding inky peaceful charm.

To crush the darkest fears at night with fingers laced in mine
And deep in your blue eyes I see your joyful vibrant shine.

To wash away the worry of the meals and plans and musts,
For this is all that matters and you've given me your trust.

By candlelight we laugh and shout and eat toast by the fire
And find the spaces in between the gadgets, noise and wire.

A thousand seconds just like this, made Christmas warm and good
No power, rules and structure
No doing what we should.

In gratitude we say to  darkness smothering the scene
 with no distractions light Shines brightly, from a new formed teen.

How you are is my best gift, this year: and all to come.
I humbly write my thankyou card, I'm blessed to be your mum . 

LW



xxx

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Soup

As the temperature changes and jumpers are sought

We get to discover the sale stuff we bought

 Last winter from Next where we queued like grey dominoes

To purchase more clothes, where straight under the bed they go.

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And finding soft clothes fitting dark cooler days ,

Is akin to the lure of the slow cooker haze.

 And the scent of the fireplace of wood burning smoke ,

Follows fresh pairs of socks when your feet have got soaked

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In Autumn the promise of capturing friends,

 To nurture hot drinks and then start one again .

  Some bodies do well in the rain and the cold,

 Preferring to ski and go swimming -so bold

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On the beach, are the wild ones, I watch and admire

Whilst swathed in a blanket inside my armchair

For some, it’s a seasonal obstacle course to get through

When everyday life leaves your hands white and blue .

Image result for cold hands

Because your immunity loses all reason

And messes your energy most of the season.

This isn’t a tale about how to get fixed

 If this is reality, you’re expert in this .

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This is a hug for all those who dream

And whilst loving Autumn; still silently scream

 A hug for the days where the damp makes you weep

From moving the route you could do in your sleep.

May be an image of nature

In Summer your joints hurt but pain you just bear

When sun on the skin in the flip-flops you wear

And breezes that brush you like kisses from fairies

Don’t punch like six boxers in pub crawls gone lary.

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On wet days as two eyes gaze at leads by the door

And despite doggie patience, can’t cross one more paw

You battle the elements for today’s mini drama

Ignoring the pain in invisible armour.

Attempting the route which is suddenly hard

And crying a little while hips feel like shards

Of glass and things spiky : and push their  way in

And you must just make it to put out the bin.

And friends say how are you? And what do you say?

You’re fine on the outside, you say I’m ok

But all that has happened with wind, chill or rain

Has stolen your energy ,swapped it for pain.

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Immunity plummeting, temperature cool,

You’re a blood boiling, bone aching ,gland swelling fool

 Fit for your duvet and slippers and tea

Not out in the world where the others can see.

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 Except life can’t give us a six month reprieve

 From autumn and winter and all that she breathes

We battle on each of us: through knowing eyes

 Determined to catch at least one bright sunrise .

May be an image of twilight, sky and nature

We all know someone who can relate

To managing what life has plopped on their plate

But sometimes a gentle reminder or two

Shows us just how to walk in their old winter shoes.

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Is not such a bad thing For those you hold dear

Who bounce round in summer, but have now disappeared

 Know that seasonal changes, the glory of Fall

Can come with a minefield, not welcomed  by all .

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Like dormice, exhausted, curled in Autumn dens

 sometimes we exist to let friends down again

There’s is no timetable, days plunge into gloom

 And Covid was quite normal, spending months in your room.

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 If you know someone precious, and you care they stay yours

Their needs will be be different behind their front door

They might need more sleep at wierd times of the day

Or struggle to move in their usual way.

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Or feel guilty because they can’t be that friend yesterday

Who left you with this face, gone lifeless and grey

Social media will not show the fog Winter brings

The lonely months of time, before warmth of Spring.

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 Be kind, patient, knowing, we aren’t all made the same

For we all wish we could leap puddles in the same rain

Tomorrow will be better after rest, Netflix and soup

And soon we will feel human and be back in the loop.

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A thousand thanks for all the eyes that make my path more clear

 For dancing leaves and Autumn light which decorates my year

Our bodies aren’t so easy to decipher from outside

They don’t have labels telling us the things we often hide.

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 This season as the lights go down and you chop up for soup

 Extend a hand for quiet ones and keep them in the loop

 For as you’ll know they may not ask for extra love they need

So lay a spoon , a bowl and crust and give their soul a feed.

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From our hearth to yours, Liz at the Beach Hut xxxxxxx