Hope

Life

‘Life is like a journey’, at least that’s what they say
I guess, as an analogy for learning, that’s okay;
Though we’d describe it better, I’m sure that you’ll agree,
As a journey on a cruise ship through a sparkling silver sea.
And I hear the food’s amazing,
and the air is sweet perfume…

But we’re never going to find out,
Cos we’re in the engine room…

And all we’re doing every day is shovelling the coal;
It’s dark and we’re exhausted, and nowhere near our goal.
And I get a sinking feeling, and I’m trying not to panic,
But it’s a possibility this ship is the Titanic!

And even if, by lucky chance, we make it safe to shore
We might just find we can’t get back to where we were before
I’ll turn to my fellow stoker, my face obscured by grime,
And wonder if I knew him once, once upon a time.

It’s time to cut the engines, to say ‘Oh what the heck?!
What’s the worst thing that can happen if we all go up on deck?’
Go where the currents take us, let’s forget the race,
Take a look around us and just enjoy this place.

Sod the bloody engines!
Let’s go for a swim
In shark-infested waters
On a wistful childish whim.

Sod our destination!
Have adventures on the way.
Single-minded purpose leaves us little time to play.

They say that life’s a journey, let’s be more exact
Life is work and work is hard, and that is just a fact.
But I’ve done work I’ve hated, and I’ve done work I love
And I know I’m the lucky one, cos when push comes to shove,
There’s moments when it’s clear to me, there’s times I have a choice:
Look down in gloom to bleak despair – or look up and rejoice.

Let’s jump ship together, look up and grab the rope
That’s hanging from a sky ship flying on the winds of Hope.
For even on the darkest day in rain and pain and gloom
Love can give me wings to fly from any engine room.

Fire-flies

Like fire flies, we are wrong to think our lives long
In the lazy hazy summer days, when we are young.

Look up, and see a wondrous sight:
Light after beautiful twinkling light.
Shining like day
Lighting our way.

How did I not see before
The leading light our elders bore?
Our first teachers, older, wiser,
Patiently playing the role of adviser.
And yet, I let their books sit on my shelf
Inventing new rules all for myself.

Darkening skies. I lately perceive
My guiding lights are seeming to leave.
Each one lost at too much cost
Their learning gone, their lessons tossed
Gone from the world.
Hurled.

What draws each light up to the sun?
Shooting past me, so fast
Were their labours truly done?

Some sad lights don’t shoot, but fade
Their eyes confused, their minds un-made.
The tangled webs of lives un-spun.

How did I not see
This, the greatest tragedy?

It’s always ever been this way.
But it’s not
It’s not OK.

One spark of hope I think I see.
Could it be, is it me?
Does the sun get a bit more bright
With each and every joining light?
Dare I hope? Is there a way
Some blessed guiding light might stay?

When we’re dead and truly gone
Does the love we give live on?
When, at the end, our lives our done
Might we bequeath a brighter sun?

But one

I am but one
One pixel in a 7 mega mega pixel picture
Just one, in such a vast array.
Does one pixel even have a say
In what the whole picture may be?
Can one pixel ever even see
The big picture
Restricted as its view is?

7 billion pixels seem close to an infinity
One pixel more, or just one less,
Can’t make creation from this mess
Where every pixel gets free choice
Of what its nascent colour is.
It doesn’t know
It has no say
If dark, dark night or brightest day.

Why bother then?
Why even try?
Why?
I am but one.

But

I am one.
And, if I choose, I can be
One spark reflected in the sea,
One tiny little bit of sun.
For no other dot, not even one
Can choose my hue
For just like you
I can be,
Any shade I wish to be.

And each day brings another chance
To light my light
To dance my dance.
And if, today, I’m feeling grey
Tomorrow is another day.

You’re not made one shade
And  fixed in varnish.
You’re made of stuff
That doesn’t tarnish.
You’re made of stuff
That’s free to glow
With any colour that you know.

And if, around you, all is stark
Dark
Your speck of sun, seen from afar
Might look a little like a star.

And if, around you, everyone
Decides to be a speck of sun
Just think how bright it could become.

I am but one
But, I am one
And as I’m one, I will be
The best one I can try to be.

One moment in time

How often have I thought, “If I could but be caught
Out of time,
In one time,
For all time,
Make it now!”

But how?

One moment cannot last forever; no sword can sever the hands of time.

You wish that time would freeze, and you could squeeze this moment:
Hold it tight, print the sight: save it, engrave it
Tattooed in your brain to visit again
And again.

This one moment when you suddenly see that there can never
Never EVER
be
better than this.

Angels kiss

What triggers this moment for you?

An incredible view at the end of a climb?
Knowing that I’m here by your side?
The perfect ride? A blazing sky?
The way birds fly?
A wedding? A baby?
The feeling that maybe you’re touching God’s grace?
The smile on a face that’s only for you?
A small hand in your hand?
A love that is new?
Family? Friends? Travel or home?

The list never ends. We could fill up a tome
Or two
Yet, the moments are few.

And only you can open your eyes and realise
THIS
Is your moment. The moment for you
To seize
And squeeze
And hope lasts forever but

they never do.

For just as you try to distil the feeling
It’s stealing away.

The light changes. The smile goes. Time passes. The child grows.
The image drifts in my head, the moment is dead
And gone.
The world moved on.
Bright fades to black.
We can never go back.

And as it fades, are you afraid that THAT was IT?
Life’s best bit?
Gone, behind
And never NEVER will you find
That feeling again?

and there will be pain?

Don’t be afraid.

The memory’s made.
The moment was real. The feelings you feel live on in your heart
And that’s a great start.
Build your store of hope, and you will cope with more,
For you know that tomorrow may well bring you sorrow
or pain
Again.

But there’s your reason to carry on
Even though THAT good time’s gone, another one will come along.
It will.

Be still.

Only one rule is clear and explicit
Keep your heart open – you don’t want to miss it!