Just to explain

Happy Days

Hello everyone of my new and good friends. I have been away and so  I am sorry that I have not answered any of your comments or left anyway of my own on all your beautiful poetry and writings.

I have been discovering the beautiful Tuscan region of Italy. It is a land full of grapes, olives , green rolling hills which in the months before my visit were covered in amazing sunflowers. Imagine the scenery fields and fields of golden sun flowers dancing in the breeze. There were only a few left as we drove through  but we could see their dried up stalks and the occasional golden flower head still in the fields.

We visited many beautiful walled cities, towns and villages, people are living and working in the places straight out of history. Alive and vividly beautiful , full of echoes of the centuries  that have gone before. It is a shame that more countries have not kept their history alive in this way. I do realize that many countries , New Zealand, Australia, America, Canada and some of the newer South African states do not have centuries of history ……. but there are people who populated those countries before the new settles arrived and claimed the soil. I do know that many European  countries, mine among them,were war ravaged and so have had to rebuild loosing many original  towns and villages.

Tuscany , no doubt all of Italy , I only have knowledge of Tuscany , but as I was saying Tuscany celebrates its history and it’s present together. It is alive with beauty and sun and history. In may places I could feel the presence of all those who had walked the cobbled streets and looked out from the high walled walks of a castle and saw exactly what I saw, when they looked out from that same spot.

We stayed in a beautiful house built in the 13th century it was full of the sense of what went before . Our hosts were truly kind and welcoming people who made our stay so much more special. Also we were so lucky, in that all our fellow guests turned out to be beautiful and friendly people of all types and nationalities and we feel that we have made firm friendships with all of them.

Every evening we all shared a meal, at a long table and what ever mix of guests that was there each evening we always found that the mix of good food and wine was enhanced a thousand fold by the joy and fun found in banter and conversation with our fellow guests and our hosts.

So dear friends and fellow writers that is my excuse and explanation for my silence , I am back now so it is catch up time and hopefully the Tuscan sun, fun  and ghosts  will inspire me to write.

Nature in the evening glow

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Standing on the edge of nowhere looking out upon the night. Reaching out to touch the red and gold all my senses taken to flight. Mistress of all I see queen of my domain I have seen it all before yet somehow I still remain.

The breeze is mine I breath it in and out I also rule the tides,of that you need not doubt. I throw the stars out like dice to dance around the moon who’s reflection will be dancing upon the water soon.

I spin around and my skirt of blue and green begins to billow out, the children left upon the beach begin to scream and shout. I loose the sapphire clip that holds my flaxen locks it waves in the breeze and the fishermen can see it reflected in the sky as they line up along the docks.

I see the lovers old and young hiding in their trysts I lower my eyelids the light escapes and shows them all up, I smile at them as they shake their fists. I lift my arms and I fly up into the sky I see all below me  the beauty of it always makes me cry. I do my best to please human kind they often just ignore until it is too late , and that is so unkind. I shall just say that once  more and after you have chosen your fate.

Mistress of all I see queen of my domain I have seen it all before yet somehow I still remain. The dusk is rolling in but not for much longer, you have ravished me for too long and I am not growing any stronger. I am the evening glow I am mother nature but I may not rise tomorrow as you have exhausted me. I could extend your desserts and I could extend your seas if you do behave and  start taking  better care of me.

Fate intervenes

every morning at the window.

Sitting at window each day

He sees her as he passes her way.

He drives to work early you see

And she is usually there  drinking  her cup  of tea.

Each morning as she starts the day

She hopes the loneliness will go away.

With her  cup of tea sitting in the bay

A lovely way to start the lonely  day .

He wonders what she would say

If he plucked up the courage and knocked at her door one day.

Perhaps an evening would be best,

With a bouquet of flowers and in his smartest suit dressed.

Looking out she’d often see the cars passing by while she is sitting there.

A handsome young man always looks her way,

So often now she almost gave  him a wave.

He looks so cute as he catches her eye

Each morning as he passes by.

She wonders would he ever stop

And through her door a note he would drop.

They could meet, that would be great

But just how to curve the paths of fate.

Time moves on and so does he,

He is one she no longer sees.

It is a shame she often thinks

As she sips her morning drinks.

One morning being early for work

She stops for a coffee to give her mind that extra perk.

Standing in the queue eyes wander

Landing on a profile that makes her heart beat stronger.

He parks his car everyday

A tidy walk from his work away.

He likes to exercise, he always wonders if the girl in the bay

Has noticed he no longer passes her way.

She was so cute he thinks of her most every day. As  he stops for coffee at the usual place,

Waiting in the queue he sees a familiar face.

So as they both turn and come face to face

She smiles at him their  hearts  pick up  the pace.

He flashes her his biggest smile

As butterflies tango in his tummy all the while.

Would she like a coffee she hears him ask,

She would and she tells him so,

Shall we drink it here have you time before you have to go.

http://www.123rf.com/

So shall we leave them sitting there together now at last .

They do look happy to have met. The shop is busy but they are all alone.

After work they both return to meet, she loves her flowers and then he drives her home……..

The chance meeting.

No words

I had no idea what he would  say when at the checkout I stop to pass the time of day. How are you doing , good that’s okay and   Ellen I heard she was  unwell is she okay .

He told me, my friend , his dear wife had only a finger hold left on life.There was no hope they have been told. His fortitude and his daughters face made my blood run cold.

I could see the pained look on his daughters face, both of them trying not to cry I’d reach out but this was not the place. I could say nothing he had not heard before. I told him this, then a look of relief in his eyes I saw.

It would not have help for me to have laboured the point, or to have said any more. It was clear he knew how I felt, and he would of  heard it all before.

They finished packing their shopping and as they left they promised to give her my love leaving me lost and bereft.

http://theawakenedlife.wordpress.com/

I hate Cancer it is so cruel it attacks anyone be they wise or a fool.  It has no respect for those who are good and kind it tears up your body and it slaughters your mind. If  I could kill it I really would it is wicked and bad and evil and does no one any bloody good.

Talk to the hand

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Talk to the hand the face ain’t listening . Don’t get that close to me I can see the tiny hairs on your neck bristling! Screaming at me like that is just so pointless I have done nothing wrong so why cause me so much distress.

I know every time I open my mouth I say something wrong and then the whole day goes south. Why is it you loose your temper with me when I am trying so hard to please you , any one can see.

Talk to the hand the face does not care. I try so hard to do things right,it just is not fair. I have been doing these things for many a year but since you’ve needed to take over at all my efforts you jeer.Yet you can’t understand why I take comfort and strength from being in here!

I do understand how hard you have worked over the years, now you have had to take  me on too. Just because I can’t do as much  why make me feel a jerk. There is no need to raise your voice I am neither stupid or deaf yes I know I can’t do all things, so don’t take away the things I have left.

Talk to the hand the face has gone out ,I am sorry but I can no longer react when you scream and shout. It is pointless me doing things, when however hard I try they just are not right for you and that makes me cry. I have known you so long but still you are a mystery to me that just can’t be right, really, how can it be?

I try my hardest not to say stupid or inappropriate things I watch my words because your anger, my heart stings.I really don’t mean to, I really do try but  I just open my mouth and out   it all will fly. If only I could just eat my words but sadly once out, they are all over heard.

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Talk to the hand the face wants to pass  I spend all of my life walking on broken glass. I have tried to be mediator between the kids and you  because you expect such high standards in all they say or do.Fathers and sons are not easy to handle why can’t you just relax and stop putting our relationships through the mangle.

When past meets the future

Ever since my mother handed  me, what we laughingly called the family jewels, I have been obsessed with its history what went before. Was it a history of wise men or of fools. As soon as it was placed into my hand I became its keeper and I felt my life and its history became laced entwined the same.

I sit here at my computer working late I lean back to ease my spine. Suddenly I see a flash of a woman working at her embroidery her stance the same as mine. I am intrigued, in truth I need to know who is                     this woman and why does she haunt me so.

My friends are all complaining , they ring me all the time. Urging me to join them they do not understand. My time just now is not mine. I have to find her, I have to know, her life is linked with mine the family tree tells me so. Hours I have spent researching the 16th century and it has paid off as there is so much of our family to see.

Carmel, she even had my name and her husband was a mighty lord, a knight of some renown. He was a fair man and ruled with kindness his domain. I found a painting of them upon the ramparts high.He was handing her a necklace which looks like mine. A  fact you can’t deny. A look of joy  between them as they are set against the evening sky.

Okay, I give in, I really need some sleep the information will still be here tomorrow my search for knowledge will keep. Turning off the computer the painting the last thing I see I slink off to bed closing  the study door quietly.

Gently now don’t wake him he too has had a long day, and he will only chide me for staying up so late, he cares in his own way.I was so tired and quickly I slipped into the sleep of the just or was it the dead the thoughts of Carmel Athloe gentle floating about my head.

The sun was out as we arose, such a beautiful day, lets visit the Athloe castle,your namesake lets go, Mike said, lets go today. I was in the shower and could not believe my ears , he always teased me about that fact my family own the  the ruin but had not lived there in two hundred years.

A quick call round to friends and a picnic soon prepared. It felt good to be going there a chance to clear the air. The food the wine the company the sun and sea too was glorious and our friends all said  how lucky we were to own this spot I replied  that, that, was true.

As evening arrived I went up upon the ramparts high there I stood my back to the sea as I gazed towards the sky. Breeze came up , my hair began to fly then as I looked down about to jump from my place on the rampart I could not believe my eyes. For standing right in front of me was Carmel from the painting. The golden glow of evening seemed to slip away all was odd and all was changed every thing had gone grey.

We stood so close, we were so alike she gently touched my face and ask from whence I came we both told each other things that we could not explain. This gentle Carmel was besotted by me and my necklace too, it seemed irrelevant but I seemed to feel that very soon she would have one too. She was so gentle and and delicate in every way, then I remembered reading that she would soon have a child ,before I turned and left her I told her so and she smiled.

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I hear Mike and the others calling, Carmel was smiling at me her husband drawing near I felt something inside me move, my heart beat moved up a gear.

All of a sudden I awoke to see Mike standing over me his eyes were full of fear. Oh! my God you frightened us why did you disappear we looked for you everywhere  and then we find you fainted here.

Again next morning I was up and out early I had a mission in mind I headed towards the chemist the answer to a little test I had to find. I guess I have the answer but I needed to see it and know that it was true. I think Carmel and I had something more in common, true…………….

When Future meets the past

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The light was fading , my lord and I could no be sure but for an instant I saw a vision of a woman here on the ramparts her back to the shore. The skies were alive with evening colours gold, red and pink when suddenly all was grey and she was there I did not know what to think .

She was beautiful my lord the strangest sight I have ever seen. She wore the shortest gown, her hair jet black  and she had eyes of green. Her lips were blood red and she had colours about her eyes. Her cheeks sparkled with a glitter as she looked up to the skies.

Long , long shapely legs she had my lord , they were bare and golden. Her tunic, page like, fell off of her  shoulder I have never seen the like. Of a sudden she brought her gaze to me her eyes glared her nostrils flared as if she had had a fright. I did not know what to do, stand still or take flight.

Rooted to the spot we stood, my lord. Neither of us knowing what to do. At length she stepped down off of the rampart and crossed the space between us I could not move I had no strength. Our eyes met, we were of the same hight , are you real she asked of me, I am I said, flesh and blood but what of thee.

She touched my face and my black hair,my lord. We both laughed a nervous laugh, “why” she said “you are really here! ” I was rooted to the spot marvelling at the fact that we could be sisters our hair, our eyes, even our voices were the same. “Tell me,” I asked this strange woman “what is your name.” Carmel she told me I could not speak I needed to laugh again for as you know that is my given name.

“Where are my friends” she asked, my lord. I said I did not know. She seem agitated by my maids approach and said she needed to go. Please stay awhile I beseeched for I was spell bound and did not want to let her go. Where on earth am I she kept asking and spinning round and round. “Carmel” I said and steadied her gently with my hand “I need to asked you one thing more “, she stopped and smiled and looked at me whispered, anything.

I had to ask her, my lord because I just had to know. If she was married lady what was her maiden name , she told me she was single, what that is I do not know but the strangest thing is her name was just as ours.  Her name was Carmel Athloe. All of a sudden she asked me the year. 1511 I told her she asked me twice again she just saying “No way ” again and again.

I saw it , my lord, just before she left. Around her neck  in gold and emerald  necklace. I put my hand up to my neck my a necklace the like of such I would love to wear.We both uttered the same question as  we looked so alike and then of course we both shared our  name. She called that “a double strike.” I understood her not yet again.

Just as you came into view, my lord she was telling me she was from 2011 the good God knows what that is. Do you think sir she could of come from heaven. Then all at once she heard her friends call, you know I heard them too. In one swift move she was back upon the wall she waved to me and said I would be with child soon she also said my lord you would be over the moon??

She seemed to know, my lord, what I have not yet told even you. I am with child my lord I am I am it’s true. I am sure I knew her we both had the same name she knew about my our child my lord.

What news what news my lady dear I think you need to rest , I think your meeting a secret we shall keep, I think it for the best. How wonderful our child now you carry. Come with me  I have a gift for you I hope you will always wear. A golden chain with emerald ……….

the necklace

The Hairdresser

hair cut http://my.opera.com/

At the hairdressers’, shampoo rinsing in the sink behind you, water drip drip drip. Towel drying your tresses then combing out  the knots slick slick slick  time now for the magic scissor blades eating at your hair clip clip clip.

Talk of last nights conquests, who was with who and did what dig dig dig dig. Would you like a coffee, tea or water, coffee black  no sugar, please sip sip sip . Get the feathering done now, scissor blades flash hair falls snip snip snip snip  Oh! that’s my favourite song, oh yeah! it is just so good to dance to click click  click.

Are you holidaying this year?on safari my, me? not this year I can’t afford the trip trip trip. The junior brings the  coffee in her pretty flip flops painted toes go flip flip flip. Spraying lacquer, styling mousse , firming  gel and hot brush, hair goes flick flick flick.

Last touches now,a tease here, a lift there.Wow that looks good don’t ya think ! slick slick slick  Time to pay into your purse you unzip zip zip ,zip and a tip yes, another dip dip dip !

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cutting your souls

Men and women come in for styles outrageous as they dare dare dare.  Couples too come  for his and hers styles and I do the pair pair pair. They are always pleased and say my rates are fair fair fair.

They come to me once a month so I can cut their hair hair hair. I  make them beautiful so their friends will stare stare stare stare.   They say my styles are beautiful, amazing yes I have a flair flair flair.

They have no idea I am collecting their souls, they don’t care care care.They get the unique styles they want, I get souls which I will not share share share share. As I sweep up the cuttings from the floor, well they are spare spare spare.

I am never late, my job is my life and I live up the stairs stair stair  stair. This is my life cutting their souls for me it is like breathing  air air air air ………………………..

Where is she.

canyou see the answer

Can you the answer see, can you please where is the person who used to be me. I have tried to find her and searched high and low, in and out but she is hidden somewhere I cannot see her though. She was bright and she was funny always had a song to sing a job to finish and a question to answer her smile bright and sunny.

No it is just no good she is gone ,disappeared like the last notes of her song. All here dresses fluffy and light gone in a poof , like those beautiful purple shoes she wore to dance all night.

No it seems she is no longer here, her bright broad smile has been replaced with a tear. I have looked for her , I have, I’ve really tried. I have looked in the mirror to see if she is there, beaming with pride…. she wasn’t, what I did see looked like someone who’s best friend had just died.

I just wish I knew where she had gone the fancy dresser , the happy woman you’d depend upon. I really feel lonely and lost you see so can you help me, help me please?

 

Remember the living too.

I know I have already written a poem on this subject this month. So much has been said and written on this 10th Anniversary that I feel I need to say some more. I hope you will indulge me.

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They could of not of known when they woke up how they their day would pan out. They had no idea that their life would never be the same .Their world simple, no longer safe and with no doubt.

They all boarded the plane, the train, the bus the car some even walked. They all followed the pattern of life they could not know what was to be. They greeted the news vender, bought coffee met friends, talked.

Arriving at the airport, the fire station, the precinct building,the hospital or paramedic  station,  the office whatever or they waived them off before taking the kids to school, all for the last time ever.

They knew they were different they had planned this for months, they knew exactly what they wanted to do. They wanted to kill they were not like the others that morning. They were not like me or you.

2,752 souls

It all started out so ordinarily boring even nothing different or new God knows what was in their minds as in to the targets their captors  flew. The people at work taken unaware those in the street stood mesmerized as they watch the ball of flame from which the black smoke rose.

The fire crews , police and paramedics were scramble and into action flew when the news came that there was another plane flying into the other tower, yes two!

Helicopters police and news crews where there trying to rescue a few but even if they could of reached the roof with all that smoke what could they do.

The day had been unremarkable when the air controllers watching over Washington’s  skies saw a plane on course for the Pentagon OH! God it happened in front of them death en route  before their very eyes.

184 souls

The people on the plane suffered the same as their fellow passengers in New York  not all of the souls on the ground perished thankfully some lived and walked. The dark and heat and the choking acrid smell must of been so terrifically shocking in fact it must of been like hell.

Who knows where the passengers on the fourth plane found the fortitude and the strength,with the crew they decided to fight back. They tried their very hardest to avert this evil hijack . They phoned friends and loved ones and told them all to be brave, then they all gave their lives for they wanted another city from an air crash to be saved

Both heros and hijackers all dead

They couldn’t of known what was before them when they all set forth on that morn . No one in the world would ever of thouht how a nations heart would be ripped and torn. We grieve for those on the aeroplanes we grieve for those on the ground we grieve for the keepsakes that were lost not all of them found.

Remember those souls today, carry your stories in your heart think of the innocents airborne and grounded their lives all blow apart .

Don’t forget as you think of them today the many, many heroes and heroines who found strength to help on that day. The police, firemen, paramedics who picked up illnesses  from the smoke debris and detritus that engulfed them , they could not get out of the way. The doctors and the nurses who worked like the others till they dropped on their feet and don’t forget the ordinary good souls who help they were minutes before passers by on the street.

So God Bless the Dead and their families we will never forget them, but spare a thought for your cities’ heroes and heroines some of them ill and suffering yet . God Bless the services of  Stonycreek  Township and Shanksville Pennsylvania  and Washington and New York. They all worked so hard and selflessly and that is what makes it so unfair, they, whilst working in the dust, metal spray and smoke clouds their lungs were damaged by the air.

So God Bless the living  make their suffering less, we will always remember you as you did your very best. And so to all the families I can not equate your loss , the secretaries and colleagues drinking buddies or the boss, it is the same for all of you let our thoughts and prayers help you carry on.