A Hebridean Evening
A Hebridean Evening
With a howling dance and a sudden outburst
the final tantrum had more power than the first
like ball bearings pulverizing innocent rocks
and cresting up foam on scraps of scattered lochs
the mountains have now all disappeared from view
yet more squalls are signing up to join the queue
the child's toys are all lying on the floor
as he screams and wails and plays up some more
that frenetic energy though was all but soon spent
hung around for a while and very soon went
in the gold of the evening the sun's glory shone
sweet peace will reign supreme.. until the next one!
The Secret Waterfall
Come follow this path to a hidden waterfall
where anxieties plunge into the pool below
it's not on any map so nobody will know
just trust your inner voice and the secret will call
So come on and let's find this secret waterfall
just past the rubycon that's obscured by the trees
where your cares will drop off you like autumn leaves
under the dominance of Foinaven's sprawl
nothing can stop the crashing effervescence
or restrict its irresistable power
perhaps you could linger here for an hour
and let the sun pour its gold on your convalesence
upwards you climb holding ascendancy steady
as rainbows dream out of your gushing outpour
edenic beauty through your twin bouldered front door
I'd disclose more but I've said too much already
Rodel - peace on earth
Humps of green are soaking up your silvery light
echoes of sunset usher in the peace of the night
tarry a while and breathe in this unruffled air
let your thoughts roam like the sheep without a care
drink water from the burns that run so clear
that flow down the hill as free as the deer
every year has its roses and some have their thorns
but peace is a vibe Rodel always adorns
hearts beat slow here like a butterfly's wings
and extinguish the stress that modern life brings
come and dream by the river that's always blue
and let the mural of time pass slowly through.
Dreamer
There you stand on cherished hills of yesterdays
caprice of fortune yet master of the field
bonding with memories down a twisted line of bays
but the poetry in your heart was always sealed
the flower fell down from the tree where it grew
and blossomed by itself for many long years
where the grass was always green and the sky always blue
as pockets of resistance would hold back the tears
then a fresh breeze agitated the leaves on the ground
like the hourglass of time had been forced to pause
deftly following the light without making a sound
against having whimsical dreams there are no laws
as your frescoe of time stretches further into the past
mother time will soon strike her imperious gong
everyone has good times and hopes they will last
moving irresistably towards the end of your song.
Huisinis
You don't have to tune up the orchestra here
the soprano of the hills is sweet and clear
music of the womb from the earliest hour
waves break in perfect time with peaceful power
the breathing tide is seductively consistent
but the ribbon of road is becoming more distant
in disuetude a pier juts out from the shore
but boats don't come along here anymore
the sun twinkled on the waters of understanding
somewhere a parcel of Oystercatchers are landing
over the strait there lies the isle of Scarp
where children no longer dance to the sound of the harp
when the lady of the hills started to weep
the unseen assailant lulled you gently to sleep
as lovers you walked along the beach hand in hand
your signature in foam is now left on the sand
Ode to Ducks (for Roland)
See the happy ducks glide down the calming stream
the Slea flows onward, rendered sweet by time
on a well trodden path with a cheerful team
all on different stages of lifes long climb
then the first cool breath of autumn came
waves of happy chatter still hung in the air
but clouds filled the sky that night will soon reclaim
so we handle fragile matters with prayer
it's frantic below but calm on the water
our well oiled feathers help us to be wise
when this evil world gives us no quarter
talk with your hands but always smile with your eyes.
A Haiku quartet
the blink of an eye
that is the the only difference
between life and death
when you were younger
every leaf was vibrant green
but then autumn came
bad things can happen
pain will always be there, but
time smoothes things over
the finest moment
'when clouds reveal mountains'
by the Great Artist.
Loss
Alone she strolls along the sea shore
against the backdrop of the roaring sea
no thought about her past anymore
she just said she wanted to be free
freedom of not doing as you're told
but soon she learnt the sea wasn't her friend
maybe that pot at the end isn't full of gold
sooner or later good things come to an end
waiting to die but still anticipating
amidst vast expanses of green and blue
there on the shore of hope, stood there waiting
of one day being reunited with you
Still
Boulders that will never reach the floor
frozen in time on a forlorn mountain side
as silent as the dawn, there they stand
as quiet as a painting, there they stand
a bothy is ensconced in solitude
the introvert that couldn't be in a crowd
as quiet as a deserted church, there it stands
as cold as the dew, there it stands
humanity will always be fractious
our lives will always be complex
the river of time will always move swiftly on
yet the Highland wilderness is always there...
still.
Serendipity
Discordant notes in a symphony unwritten
communion with the day when you were smitten
limpid waters usher mist towards the copse
as layers of cloud obscure the mountain tops
tiptoeing cadences down an unseen staircase
drifting through the decades with a primrose embrace
grasping each moment of sweet lucidity
basking in moments of serendipity.
Ladies drive tractors
Am I ambitious, proud or even just sad
lost in the past of a hope I never had
then I saw something that made me stop and think
'ladies drive tractors' written in indellible ink
I have gorgeous petals, I know I also have thorns
but do not oak trees grow from tiny acorns
determined to keep my furrow running straight
'ladies drive tractors' do not them berate
as the spindle of time keeps steadily turning
in the face of reality we slowly keep learning
the chains are now broken see our spirits soar
'ladies drive tractors' we couldn't of wished for more.
Still waters run deep (for Leilah)
Feeling so full of uncertainty and indecision
tears roll down your face holding you in derision
yet everything remained serene and strangely calm
some hearts beat slower so there's no cause for alarm
look! The barley fields are still shimmering with gold
embedded within are so many tales untold
like that main of hair blown against a backdrop of beige
oblivious of the wind and its howling rage
in the static of the evening there's a chill in the air
still a childish innocence is percieved in your stare
as the drama of the day gradually tapers down
a wholesome jollity begins to transform your frown
please climb to the top of the stairs and see the view from above
a butterfly is smothering every person with love
fear not nature's child sometimes you will still have to weep
maybe then they will know that still waters run deep.
He died upon a tree
to set all mankind free
through a ransom sacrifice
we can live in paradise
but does anybody care
that he hung just dying there
hanging on a stake
waiting for his heart to break
dying upon a tree
to set all mankind free
he bore the ultimate pain
that any man could sustain
it was a long time ago
most people don't even know
what he did for you and me
when he died upon a tree.
when you thought that you couldn't carry on anymore
when your spirit was worn out and listless to the core
when you felt like you were going to call it a day
He said "fear not, your blue skies will never turn grey"
when you thought that the hill was too steep to climb
when it seemed you were even running out of time
when your life was passing before your very eyes
He said "you are not going to miss out on lifes prize!"
when you're world turned dark and you thought you couldn't cope
when the light went out and you were void of any hope
when you'd had a fall and were completely heartbroken
He said "please come to me, my door is always open".
Distance
In sequestered thoughts and forgotten dreams
across the lovely water on sunlight streams
cozy lights are twinkling there in midnight blue
all but a short distance between me and you
on opposite shores of the same loch of water
echoes resonate of a lost beloved daughter
still etched on the shed door where you once calved your name
the distance will never put out the hope of the flame
long abandoned wounds scattered around like childrens toys
they could not deny or overshadow our joys
the distance could one day help us make a fresh start
as your name is indellibly etched into my heart.
A Flow Country Lullaby
Is that a smile playing around your face?
Winter has departed leaving but a trace
Pippits still happily cavort in the grass
as a long highland summer day has come to pass
just another Curlew evening on sun strong gorse
winter has now passed yet you show no remorse
the wind plays tig on a lochan splattered moor
near the remains of a fort from a long forgotten war
the wee burn still chatters as the soft light spreads
now it's time for Primroses to rest their weary heads
so why do you smile when you didn't do before?
Because peace is immortal and war is no more.
Goliath is dead (for Justy)
take heart my servant you are never alone
I would never let you do it on your own
so you tackled your problems head to head
but please remember, Goliath is dead
please reflect on what future blessings will bring
David as a young lad, had a stone in his sling
so who was the one who directed the stone?
The same one who said 'you are never alone'
the stress on your brow, it is sometimes showing
but your steps are made, so just keep on going
I know you felt insecure, useless and small
against intimidating problems so tall
how troublesome moments can rip you apart
though I can clearly see that you have a good heart
but the stone was directed to the giants head
fear not my servant 'Goliath is dead'
Windswept Hill ( Cnoc Badeirach na Gaoithe)
Far away from where mountains and tourism meet
there's an unbroken horizon on a sea of land
feeling the pulse of ground zero under your feet
keeping under the radar in the beauty and the bland
a stark beauty over the bare bones of creation
yet hill walkers never bother with this windswept hill
is it the snarling malevolance of each passing striation
or the feeling of desolation that is hanging there still?
big skies are reflected in a loch of polished glass
you can connect with the flow but you must leave no trace
all its rough edges on the badge of the morass
a lonely sentinel in your own pride of place.
Early Morning
Nothing here but silence on this empty stage
before the world wakes up with its constant rage
caterpillars are clinging on to blades of grass
alongside the Slea that runs as clear as glass
as the chill of the morning brushes your skin
it evokes childhood memories from deep within
when you thought joy and laughter would always last
but time moves on so you can't cling to the past
just as two worlds may touch but never collide
that chill in the air will gradually subside
summer days will abound with butterflies galore
so you can bravely shoulder lifes burdens once more.
The Haunted House
It's safer not to show your feelings in the rain
in a castle built from bricks of long forgotten pain
but when you look at those languid pictures on the wall
your sunshine smiles were difficult to recall
this is a haunted house
from deep coversation no escape route can be found
pessimism, harshness and cynicissm resound
emotionally cornered by another verbal shutdown
by a BBC voice with a permanently furrowed frown
this is a haunted house
pretending not to notice the futility of it all
a hollow home with no photographs on the wall
please show me the glory for all that he achieves
as in the end we all dissappear like autumn leaves
this is a haunted house.
The Gift
You whispered ancient secrets but noone listened
in bold defiance they gathered up their dreams
on the lucid waters the sunlight still glistened
swans with their cygnets float by on calming streams
but how do autumn leaves always know when to let go?
Why do we all make our way down to the sea?
Wisdom spoke through the serenity of the flow
"the swans wanted peace so they moved down the Slea
the world gave you old age and care homes but no hope
in the end the graveyard is your final resting place
leaving you helplessly swinging from rope to rope"
the Heron looks on as the cygnets embrace
in silent music on corridors of green
enraptured by nature that makes our hearts burn
you gave us a gift that to many goes by unseen
when all you wanted was appreciation in return.
Oh Weeping Willow
Of sweet music and love
and the birds up above
with a thousand arms swaying
above children playing
not a grey hair to be seen
in your long braids of green
there's no softer pillow
Oh weeping willow
I neither speak nor cry
as years pass me by
it is not wrong to weep
when your wounds are so deep
copious tears have been shed
so let's put them to bed
on the softest pillow
oh weeping willow
yet one thing is certain
behind the green curtain
your tears they will dry
under a peaceful sky
when all war it will cease
in permanent peace
that's the softest pillow
oh weeping willow.
warmest wishes, Marky xx
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