Friday 3 June 2011

Resurrection

Today I heard that Andrew’s condition

is worse than we knew – another Syndrome

whacked his nervous system long

ago - and bashes lifespan even more -


- so, after the deepest heart-wrench and sobbing,

after the leaning on walls – head in hands;

when that roller coaster line on a page

(which psychiatrists draw) has been scribbled,


then what?

Well, the courage of Orpheus

living his fate-line

worked out by a master who chose (long ago)

to come-in as a teacher of heart in each moment;

rich as a rainbow melting like snow.

Wednesday 1 June 2011

Still Rain

It’s raining in Scotland,

falling like tears

and the sky looks as gloomy

as a million years


and the Forth Bridge is standing

- a line in the grey -

with boats on the estuary

languid - today;


unraveling the traveling,

it’s seagulls that call

‘come on, you’re a moving

slow train - on a rail’


I’ve got furrows to plow -

purposeful - now.

Monday 30 May 2011

Self Pity

Here again - on a train

and on a diet - on and on -

and on a railroad - rattling on

and (though I try my best)


to muster hands and voicebox, me,

I fail and fall and ache inside

while fields and rivers flash-on by:

(like Grantchester) poor me - ah me -


but (oh) what courage when a boy with Down’s

steps away on wobbly legs and toes

out towards uncertainty (unknown)


more brave than many – ever - even muster

depending - surely - on his aching heart

to hold him safe and look and gaze and smile.