The ghosts of past decisions whisper in my ear, 
But they’re just hollow spectres trying to make their voices heard,
I’ve learned to deal with their fretful chatter without fear,
To disregard their wailing for the value in their words,
What had once the pain of being dragged across the open coals,
Now just offers reason, that and nothing more,
And once you realise every bridge you cross...

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We’ve been told to “Live every day as if it’s our last,”
But what would it look like if we, “Lived every day as if it were someone else’s?”
Would we make just a little more time, find just one more question to ask?
Be a little more kind, considerate, a little less selfish?
If we truly believed that it was our last chance to hear their words,
Do you think we might actually, finally, make time ...

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When life gave me lemons,
I made lemonade, 
But soon found it’s taste too sickly and sweet, 
So I gazed to the heavens,
And quietly prayed, 
To learn the true value of bitter defeat, 
And there as I knelt 
I heard a voice, 
And the words that it spoke, I knew to be true, 
“The cards just get dealt, 
How you play is your choice, 
And one day no more will be given to you.”
“So pick ...

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Call down the poets, for I just cannot find the words, 
Let them all wax lyrical and give shape to my tangled thoughts, 
Let the iron of their words be wrought, and ringing of their hammers heard, 
Let them forge their art in ink and paper as the truth is sought, 
Let them speak in ebony and stone and let their words be gilt,
To tend my broken spirit and mend my broken bone, 
And may the sou...

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Apathetic empathy distils into rage,
Aphoristic enmity scorches words upon the page,
Frightened of the Boogeyman? For fucks sakes grow up, act your age,
Winterize your heart, your home, your soul and step up on the stage,
Play your part with clarity, have courage in your cold conviction, 
Utopia's locked in permafrost, dystopian in its affliction 
Hope captured like carbon in its icy gr...

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Every passing stage of life that’s risen on the road to greet me,
Has quietly laid to rest, the stage that went before, 
And though I mourn the loss of what has gone, I do not mourn completely, 
For each gave me its all and never left me wanting more,
So as I slowly age and become ever more complicated, 
I do not shed a tear for the passing of my youth, 
For each age that has passed has...

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Cry a little stream of salt for all the things you’ve lost,
Let it’s bitter rivulets quench your weary thirst,
Try and pick the diamonds from the dirt to recompense the cost,
Of nuggets of your best from the detritus of your worst, 
Know that only by mistakes is it that we can find the answers, 
Little glints of light that pick out amongst the gloom, 
And that so called, “Winners,” are ...

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History will judge us all, like it not, 
Our actions, subtractions, additions and omissions, 
Retractions, and remissions and conditions and what not, 
Hope it judges fairly, and that you won’t be forgot, 
Accepts all your submissions and also in addition, 
Accepts your recognition of the ever looming, “Slot,”
Which will be your final resting place, 
Allows for all your best, in case,
...

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What does it take to be able to regard yourself as a good person, hmm?
What does it take? 
Is it that you always give to charity? 
Or have the clarity to never make a mistake? 
What does it take? 
Maybe you tithe, give money to God and think it odd that others don’t,
Or won’t, is that their mistake?
To want to have and eat every single slice of the cake?
And if all of their professed notio...

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In the quiet moments,
The lulls before the raging storms,
The space between the rise and fall of the waves,
I sit,
I sit in contemplation of the moments to come,
I sit in readiness for the time I must stand,
I sit because I am tired,
I sit because I can,
Knowing that no amount of protestation can calm the coming storm,
Knowing the futility of trying to fight the waves,
May as well t...

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When I think about the passage of time as it eats away at my bones,
I always remember Roy’s, speech, in his dying moments at the end of, “Bladerunner,”
“I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die.”
In that...

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Value time for what it is,
The most precious gift that you will ever receive,
More valuable than anything else life can give,
But the clock forever ticks, and offers no reprieve,
So value every hour, every minute and second,
Those that bring you shame and those that make you proud,
For one day your true worth upon this Earth will be reckoned,
And not in cash or conquests, “there are no...

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Structure your expectations. 
No, “Free rides,” no, “Free lunch,
No promises of happiness, nor even to be fair, 
Not one intention of pulling even a single punch,
No commitment set in stone to, “Always be there,”
No guarantee of, “The fairy-tale ending,”
Nor any, “Happily ever after,”
No pretension of intending, 
To fill your life with endless laughter, 
No easy passage through storm...

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This glass is cracked, that’s true, but it’s still half full of water,
Still intact enough to hold the sweet liquid of life,
And true it’s seen some use, perhaps more than it ought to,
And its shine's a little dull and its chips and cracks are rife,
And it can’t be held too roughly, cos this glass it’s seen some action,
But it still holds water and it’s stronger than you’d think,
And th...

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Conscience, my conscience,
Be the ever guiding light that illuminates my way,
Be my inner sunlight and shine brightest in the absence of day,
Conscience, my conscience,
Be the compass that leads me ever true north, when all seems lost,
Be the thing that guides my steps irrespective of the cost,
Conscience, my conscience,
Be my champion, my rod and my shield, in this long and lonely fig...

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Our flag is torn,
We were playing, “Tug of war,” with it,
And now we’ve gone and ripped it and don’t know who to blame,
We just got bored,
We felt we could do more with it,
Than tie it to a pole and let fly in everybody’s name,
Some took the left,
And some took the right of it,
And then from either side, we heaved with all our might,
And every thread,
Was straining at the heart of i...

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(A prompt from a friend from a quote from Alice in Wonderland, "I think of at least six Impossible things before breakfast)

This morning as the chime bell rings and wakes me from my slumber,
Before the fog of fitful dreams has barely chance to pass,
And I am lifted from the spell of dreams that I was under,
Though I would gladly stay there, but wake I must, alas,
My mind is brought to focus...

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Seneca once said, 
“Throw me to the wolves and I will return leading the pack,”
And in that ancient statement lies the key to being strong, 
Let adversity be the foil that sharpens your wit, strengthens your back,
That you may find your way even in the places where you don’t belong,
Face every challenge with a smile and an open mind,
Gird your spirit for the trials to come, turn your back on...

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How do I climb the next step?
When all hope is gone, when all strength is gone,
With barely even a wisp of will left to go on,
How do I climb the next step?
Why should I even try?
It seems like there’s answers for every question except one, “Why,”
And that’s the only one I really need but I ask and, no reply,
So why should I even try?
And what if I don’t want to climb?
What if this step, ...

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Take my hand brother, sister, 
As I have taken yours before, 
It doesn’t necessarily hold truth or answers,
My hand holds something more important, yours, 
And true, it cannot take away your pain 
Nor shield you from the rain in this stormy weather, 
But it might help you to stand again, 
And it’s just a little easier if we stand together, 
So take my hand brother, sister, 
As I have...

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I have no stones to cast, I am not without sin,
Nor so free of error, that my stones could be thrown, 
My, “house of glass,” is glazed with panes so thin,
The slightest pebble of hypocrisy would leave my windows, “Blown,”
And each of my mistakes, when counted on the ledger,
Would fill so many pages that the book would need re-writ, 
And every line and letter, acts as mindful measure, 
...

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 (An homage to the first proper poem I ever learnt and still one of my favourites, Jabberwocky. Although I always felt a bit sorry for the dragon, so I wrote this from his point of view).

Creep little dragon, in the wabe, where slithy toves do gire and gimble,
A vorpal sword hunts for your head so keep your footsteps lithe and nimble,
And please beware the beamish boy who wields that wicked b...

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Hand me the bitter pill, 
I’ll take my truth unsweetened, 
My shoulders broad, my back is strong, 
My spirit will remain unbeaten, 
And though my road is long, 
And my time upon it fleeting, 
I’ll face the things that I got wrong, 
With courage whilst my heart’s still beating. 

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There is no preaching to be had here,
No misguided self righteousness papers over the cracks, 
No delusions of grandeur nor knotted ball of fear,
Just open eyes, open ears and an open mind to both opinions and facts,
Open eyes to see past the ugliest acts of humanity, 
And to truly appreciate the beauty held within, 
To read between the lines of insecure insanity, 
And see where madnes...

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(Inspired by a line from one of my favourite poems, "Invictus," by William Ernest Henley)

Steady your ship, though the boiling waters lap at your hull,
And wind whipped rains lash down against your decks,
Your course is set, your sail is full
Keep going, “Better late in this life than early in the next,”
Don’t set your sights on false horizons,
Nor fret when you don’t have the best of the ...

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The past falls away behind me as Autumn leaves blown in the winds,
The future stretches out from here, in the uncertain threads of a dew soaked web,
Only the present, the absolute, “Here and now,” where history ends and chance begins,
Has any bearing on the things that must be done, the words that must be said,
The things that have gone before, have gone forever,
Only their lessons are n...

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Skip a stone across the pond then run with all your might,
Brittle bones will click and clack beneath this mirror of moonlight,
Little waves of water lap the shores on this All Hallows night,
Tittle tattle jaws behind closed doors will talk and give their kids a fright,
Tell them of the pond and then it’s awful secrets are revealed,
Tell them how each bracken frond around it’s edge keeps...

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Hush the wind that whispers in my ear,
Still the turning of the world, 
Brush the cobwebs from my eyes, that I might see clear,
Uncurl the words that upon my tongue lay curled, 
Unwind the threads that lay twisted in my mind,
Unravel the thoughts of untamed doubt,
Let the chains of uncertainty, fall and be left behind, 
Those are bindings I can live without, 
Dispel the mists and coil...

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You’re drowning in the air, choking on hypocrisy,
And though many argue that that’s fair, it’s still sad to see,
You’ve spent so long shouting to hide your mediocrity,
And posturing and pouting about how you love democracy,
And telling us you’re a genius, despite evidence to the contrary,
And thriving in this atmosphere of toxic animosity,
Boasting of your weapons and their terminal vel...

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You are of the soil,
The blood runs in your veins as the rivers to the seas,
The fire in your heart rages, so as to burn away all doubt,
And allows your intellect to soar upon the breeze,
Your will is cast in iron, set in stone, 
Your wit is sharpened to a razors edge,
You took the shadow at your heart and named it as your own, 
And in so naming took control of all the danger of that i...

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Oh how we twist,

In the roiling firmament, this unrelenting mist,

Where no shape drawn is permanent, where nothing can persist,

Oh how we twist,

Oh how we turn,

A flicker flame of turbulence, watch it all burn,

In bitter flames of recompense, when will we learn?

Oh how we turn,

Oh how we coil,

Serpentine around the wrist, slicker than oil,

The tightening grip you...

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Will you dance in the meadows,
Or look through the window,
Will you move your feet to the wild, frenetic rhythms of life,
Brushed by the tall grasses with the wind in your face,
Or will stay, “Safe,” behind the pane of glass that separates you and the breeze,
Will you know the cut and scrape of the wild, enraptured dancer first hand,
Or will you try to capture that feeling vicariously f...

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Life seems to have revealed itself to me in stages,
Presented its lessons at a time when I needed to learn them,
Laid itself bare and at the same time hidden its meanings,
And the one thing I’ve learned above all other things is how little I know,
And as we all step blindly forward on the crest of the ever passing moment,
And into the ever unfolding unknown,
The one lesson that has been...

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Try and hold true to your truth,

Try and not lie, especially to yourself, 

Don't age prematurely, nor cling desperately to youth,

Attend to your spirit, your mind and your health, 

Don't overfill your pockets or mouth, 

Don't under-fill your heart or your mind, 

Never ignore the darkness that lives in both,

Show it the light, let it learn to be kind,

Know that a silent, sol...

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Be content with you,
Satisfied with yourself without being, “Self satisfied,”
We are a constant work in progress, true,
But the true value of yourself, to you, should never be denied,
Know that in the end, you are enough,
Because you set your own standard, decide your own will,
And a life valued in material stuff,
Will leave a bottomless void that you can never fill,
So be content that you...

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Dry your eyes and wipe the snot from your nose,
“Boys don’t cry,” you see, or at least that’s how the saying goes,
But your tear streaked cheeks deny every shred of this, and it shows, 
And every time you think about the scent of her, the river flows, 
So shed your tears ‘cos she’s gone and she's never coming back, 
Let them fall to the floorboards and soak through the gaping cracks, 
A hear...

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Something to remember,

Before you lose your temper,

Once you have a child,

You're not allowed to be a child,

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Uncle Sam is gasping, flailing at the surface.
Drowning in the cold and ever rising waters.
Churning it to foam, though that’s proving worthless,
 I doubt it’s what he wanted, or what his people fought for,
Uncle Sam is coughing, trying to shout out,
Trying to scream a message as he fights to stay afloat,
“If you want to save me, please be of no doubt,”
“The lifeline you can throw is contai...

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Bend a will to fit your need and wink your lying eye,
Sing a song of sixpence and a pocket full of rye,
Drown the loud dissenters at the bottom of the sea,
And lose your home and savings all because of me,
The king is in his counting house counting out his cash,
There’s less than he pretended hidden in his stash,
But he won’t let you see what goes on behind closed doors,
‘Cos he’s too busy ...

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This heart beats for the people in pain,
This heart beats for those who play the crying game,
For those that wish the day would change but know it will remain the same,
This heart beats for you, although it doesn’t know your name,
This heart beats for a world that slowly burns,
This heart beats for those that see the lesson but never learn,
For those with a one way ticket to Hell, ‘cos ...

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Never be, “Too tired,” to offer a consoling hug,
Never be, “Too busy,” to listen to their woes,
Never duck their questions and give them a dismissive shrug,
'Cos you’re the one with answers, if you’re the one that knows,
Knows their deepest fears and the things that stress them most,
Knows the things that make laugh, knows what makes them cry,
But only if you listen and holds them when ...

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“Out of the ground we were taken for the dust that we are, and to the dust we shall return,”
But your name may linger on past the coffin and the urn,
In the cold, hard light of day, history may remember,
The deeds you did upon this Earth long after you are ash and ember,
So aim high, be bold, be true, hold hard to rhyme and reason,
Plant your words as fertile seeds that stand test of tim...

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Let the light of love guide you on your way,
Though your mind be drawn to the dark of night,
May it grow bright and ever light your day,

Though broken-hearted, let that hold no sway,
Let the soft warmth alleviate your plight,
Let the light of love guide you on your way,

Gentle is the light banishing the grey,
As the new dawn breaks and drives away night,
May it grow bright and eve...

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Imagine that you’re living and not just, “Attending,”
That your existence in the world has meaning beyond mere observance of your time extending,
That you’re not chained to some empty endless toil,
And your value as a person goes beyond the, “Skin deep,” which time will inevitably spoil,
That your hard won insights could be of use to others,
Your experience of truly living, as Father, Si...

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The world turns beneath my feet as it should,
The skies pass above my head as they always will,
The winds whisper soft secrets to the trees of the wood,
My heart beats and my mind is still,
No worries can penetrate this endless calm,
No passing concerns can break this spell,
The endless frettings of a turbulent world can cause no harm,
My mind is still, and all is well,
As a spider ex...

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Memento Vivere, "remember to live,"

Bound by the knowledge that one day you'll surely die,

To take only as much as you give,

And in that taking, take only what you need, and know why,

To measure every breath and heartbeat as a gift,

To take joy in the teachings of every lesson learned,

To value abundance as much as times of thrift,

And that your brief time is measured by the t...

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Dispossessed and disenfranchised from the size of that dispossession,
Inner cries minimised by the cats’ eyes lining this procession,
The sullen silence of the passenger belies the lies in his expression,
Eyes fixed on distant skies quietly despising his concession.
 
Too young to rationalise the, “Where’s and whys,” of her decision,
Too young realise why she despised their long division,
T...

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Here I am, in the moment,
Focussed on the here and now,
Enjoying the day for what it is,
Not knowing why, not knowing how,
Just gliding on the wave of the eternal present,
Not fretting on the future, nor locked up in the past,
What do I know of what is yet to happen,
And of the things that I have known, only lessons should last,
I refuse to carry the useless millstone of regret,
I ca...

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Whisper a wish to waking skies that they might know your hearts desire,
Praise the rising of the Sun but don’t gaze upon that ball of fire,
For though it shines down on the Earth and drives away the still of night,
It’s incandescent heart would scorch the eyes of men, it burns so bright,
Let its warmth anoint your weary soul and give you strength to stand,
As it casts its light down on t...

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May life make you truly rich,
May your blessings be divine,
May your house be blessed with love,
May your life be blessed with time,
May your mind be filled with wonder,
May your heart stay strong and true,
May your fears be cast asunder,
May your courage see you through,
May your spirit always shine,
May the gods grant you my wish,
May your blessings be divine,
May your life be tr...

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Stalk the ashen streets of Hell that burn across the nation,
Let impassioned preachers speak of searing pain and bleak damnation,
It’s a cold hard road that leads to the heights, but better than this choking smog,
And a bold heart knows to bleed and fight, not whimper like a cowering dog,
So arm yourselves with knowledge for the flames lick at your very door,
Let each electoral college b...

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The point of life, I think,

Is not to find, "The Answer,"

But to appreciate that you have the ability to ask,

"The Question,"

And even if you knew every,

"What, Where, Who, When and how,

You would find yourself asking,

"Why?"

Perhaps the, "Answer," is to always ask the, "Question?"

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There is no reward in this life without sacrifice,
You’ll never know joy until you’ve known pain,
All rivers flow to the oceans, even those made of ice,
Waters still fall from the sky, though they may not be rain,
The day will make way for the night,
But dawn will come round again,
To scatter it’s cascading light,
On those with the strength to remain,
And as for the mysteries of life,
...

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Humanity has reached the next stage of its evolution,
The time has come to evolve or die,
Of all creatures we alone have the power to find the solution,
It’s just a question of, “when,” and, How,” now, we’re long past, “Why,”
It’s clear that there is no other way for us than progression,
There’s no going back to a simpler, “Stone age,” existence,
It’s true, our future does not lie in re...

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There are no real set rules, just guidelines,
Just some social norms to which we all conform just to keep the peace,
So don’t accept the stereotypes, swipe left on their mind games,
Set your own standards, your own goals, your own value system and beliefs,
I mean, don’t disregard good advice, but don’t accept it blindly,
‘Cos every day’s a school day and those that say it aint,
Are just...

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Take a broken barrow and load it up with stones,
Wheel it ‘cross the broken bridge made from broken bones,
Heave it to the hall of kings sitting on their thrones,
Leave it at the wall where rings of paupers cry their mournful moans,
Let them build their crumbled cairns in honour of the Gods,
Fill the air with empty prayer and hopeful eyes from knowing nods,
Let the lightning strike the ...

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The future stretches out in a blank canvas of infinity,

All that’s left for us to do is lift our brush and paint,

Some trust their instincts, others trust divinity,

Some splash their colours while others hesitate,

But all must paint their picture regardless of their style,

All must contribute until our labours cease,

This mingled, mangled mural is ours to compile,

And its wilf...

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None of us are wise enough to see the road ahead,

To understand each twist and turn we meet upon the road,

Even the river sometimes meandours from it's well worn bed,

And washes over barren lands where other waters haven't flowed,

It's a pointless task to ask what lies around the bend,

What lays beyond the sunlit crest of the next imposing hill,

The truth is you'll never know unt...

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Turn the dial for the clocks tick and tock and never stop,

Spare a smile for those who keep their guard and never let it drop,
It’s a cold heart that stares out into the world and denies that beauty trickles in,
And the boldest part of the girl that sees the truth above the sin,
Her gift is that love runs through her to the core,
And when the world offered hurt she took that love and offere...

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The eagle has been caged,
Wings forcibly furled, while it slept,
It cries for the skies that are its domain,
It cries for the freedom to which it was born,
It cries in anger at the hard steel bars that surround it,
It cries for the memory of flight,
It cries for the lies of its captors,
For the death of rapture in this king of raptors,
It cries for the killing of its young,
It cries ...

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Call the news apocrypha to shore up your walls of sand, 
But know the tides of truth will wash them to rubble,
You hide behind “Stone ramparts” but fail to understand, 
We can see straight through the flimsy skin of your bubble,
And as your, “Circle of trust,” collapses in upon itself, 
And you begin to realise this, “Stretched balloon,” will pop,
And the fallout will take no account of...

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Close your eyes and kiss goodnight to safety in your bed,

If trust in truth is "King," then weep because, "The King is dead,"

Shake the dust of waking sleep firmly from your weary head,

Swim a lake of mingled blood before we sit down and, "Break bread,"

The, "Black and blue," of centuries rests upon our kin,

For no better reason than the colour of their skin,

Some pay no attentio...

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Fan the fires, light all the pyres, the smokescreen serves my need,
Don’t aspire to something higher 'cos you’ve got fires to feed,
Cover my incompetence with your impassioned cries,
Let me weave a simple sidestep right before your eyes,
Don’t remember the 100,000 lives that I have lost,
Or the lies that I have told you, regardless of the cost,
Don’t hold me to account for all that I’ve...

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I just saw a poetry teacher say that we should write in our own way,
Speak in our own dialectic tongue,
No fancy poetic language, just rap our crap as we would in the neighbourhoods where we belong,
Don’t fret about scansion, or rhyme, or rhythm, or our own distinctive dialectic style being understood,
And to be fair it just made me smile and think, “Ok, good,”
So I started thinking, “we...

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Draw your steel and wield it,
Let me see if I can feel it,
Let me taste it’s bitter bite against my flesh,
A chance to sample something fresh,
Rest your mirrored blade against my pulsing throat,
You’d best move quickly though, I wouldn’t stop to gloat,
Place your razors edge against my beating heart and swear,
That can see within my eyes as you hold it there,
A single sign of fear ref...

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This old dog is tired of being kicked,

All hurts recorded, all wounds licked,

All the battle scars from long years of abuse,

Have left him tired and angry at years of misuse,

As those who own the callous feet, carelessly step over his prone, broken form,

And pay no attention to his strained whimpers of pain,

They would do well to recognise that this state of affairs is not the, “...

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Crush the world into this single moment,

Allow the birds to still their twittering news in hushed peace,

Let not the cacophony of voices nor choices speak,

Abandon all but relief at the release,

And as you are drawn across event horizons,

And into ever slowing, growing concentricity,

Allow the violent silence to infuse all perception,

As the crushing stillness draws you to it'...

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Give me the spaces between the words,

Give me all the implication in intonation,

Give me your intent,

Don't circumvent for the sake of convenience,

Show no lenience, as you vent,

Give me the spaces,

Let the sweet melody of your discourse,

Gain added force in the breaks,

For both our sakes,

Give me your pent up emotion in the whispers hid within your oration,

Release y...

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That’s all I wanted,
That’s all that mattered to me at the time,
It’s all I wanted,
And I was flattered that you said, you’d be mine,
I never thought I’d find anyone, that would want me,
I never was really good enough, but I can be,
'Cos you understand me,
It’s all I wanted,
Just one last chance, to make you mine,
And all I wanted,
Was to dance with you baby, one more time,
Our lit...

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That’s all I wanted,
That’s all that mattered to me at the time,
It’s all I wanted,
And I was flattered that you said, you’d be mine,
I never thought I’d find anyone, that would want me,
I never was really good enough, but I can be,
'Cos you understand me,
It’s all I wanted,
Just one last chance, to make you mine,
And all I wanted,
Was to dance with you baby, one more time,
Our lit...

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There is a broken place,

At the core, right at the very centre,

Like a gaping weeping wound it bleeds,

It steadily draws the lifeblood as a leach at the vein,

And though I try and stem the tide,

Staunch the flow,

I labour in vain,

And the oozing wound remains.

It knows all the pain and trials it has seen,

It knows of unanswered prayers and unsatisfied needs,

It knows ...

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Buds on the tree of life,

Each and every one,

Infant, adult, husband, wife,

Straining to bloom, under the Sun,

Spreading our petals as far as we dare,

Hoping to leave our mark,

Hoping to find the strength from somewhere,

To carve our name into the bark,

Hoping the bees will spread our seed,

To other buds on the stem,

Hoping they’ll help us fulfil our need,

To leave...

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You've got enough years on the clock to wonder, "What's the moral of this story?"

To bring your fable to the table and lay it down before me,

With a sense of, "Priviledge," that having lived it, you deserve some answers,

Some meaning that goes beyond. "I made my plays and took my chances,"

But the truth is, I don't know any more than you,

And maybe that's surprising but the fact is ...

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Why do we always insist on trailing a hand in the water,

As we travel the Styx with fate at our heals?

We know its chill flow will give us no quarter,

But we just can't resist how it feels,

And there it is, an answer without reason,

With nought but the humble need to implore,

To beg at the end of life's final season,

That we have one last chance to feel it once more.

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Born in the chrysalis of a locked down society,

Spreading it’s new wings under the rising Sun,

Casting off the mantle of its grubbish impropriety,

A new day dawns as the old days are done,

And as the winds of change solidify its purpose,

To go into the world and pollenate the fields,

The, “Meadow Brown,” abandons its cocoon now that it’s worthless,

And the damage of it’s greed...

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Hang your head in gentle dread, for all the fools mistakes you’ve made,
For all plays of the game un-played, and all the words you left unsaid,
For all the terrible trades you made, for solemn oaths you pledged and broke,
Apologies you left unspoke, and tip of scales you left un-weighed,
For all the charges on your scroll, and coins of silver in your hand,
Heaved in vain across this land, for...

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Know,

That your hopes and your fears,
Fall on deaf ears,
And eyes that strain,
Can you get them to see,
The bile from the brain,
The smile through the strain,
Do think they can see?

Can you get them to pray,
For reasons and God’s,
Not pockets and thieves,
For warm air through cool leaves,
Can you make them concede,
That they will need,
To open their hearts to the world,
And clos...

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Our souls, beaten black and blue,
Broken in two, by the pouring rain,
Can you explain, why we stay true,
To the broken rules, of this hurtful game?

Can you even explain, what comforts you?
Enough to get through, to the end of the day,
What stars guide your way, what light shines on you?
What keeps you true, what makes you stay?

What do the moonbeams say, that can mend your heart?
When...

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Let me show you the treasure I found in the ditches,

Let me share the lessons failure has taught,

Let me share my wealth, though I have no riches,

Let me tell you the story of every scar wrought,

Let me tell you of times of hunger and envy,

Let me tell of pain and the lessons it taught,

Let me show you the wheals that the whips left upon me,

Let me show you the scars of t...

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Grind the wheat upon the stone that we may bake the masters bread,

Bind the feet to shape the bone and lay down in the masters bed,
It’s a cold hard trope to grip the throat and stop the screaming,
And a bold heart’s hope could slip its rope and drift if it just stops believing,
Hold hard to the seamless, senseless dreams of yesterday,
Cold hearts cannot seem to dream those dreams again tod...

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I don't need your validation to know my wrong from right,

Don't need your conversation all the live long day and night,

I don't need your permission to ease me on my way,

But I do need you to listen to what I have to say,

To treat me like a "Broken toy," now that was a mistake,

'Cos I wasn't your toy, and I wasn't yours to break,

Then to act as if I don't exist? Was foolish, ther...

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We have to make some changes, and this is a wake up call,

And please don't think me brash for saying this, or rude,

But if you think it's bad watching adults fight for toilet roll?

Then wait until you see them fight for food,

We just can't continue to consume as if it's endless,

To want, want, want, and be told that it's alright,

To have a thousand, "Facebook friends," but, "Face...

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The clock’s stuck at “12.25,” and we’d best acknowledge that fact,

And rather than, “It floweth over,” the, “Cup of Life,” is cracked,

And we’re, “The White Rabbit,” frantically fretting over the ticking device,

And even though we know it’s only right at 12.25 each day? We know it’s right twice,

And even though the,  “ Goldsmith Doomsday Clock,” says it’s 100 seconds to midnight,

Th...

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Let’s get this straight,

Before it’s too late,

Before we unnecessarily aggravate,

Those who might save our lives at a later date,

The point of the, “Lockdown,” isn’t to impose a police state,

Or surrender our liberties to one who would dictate,

Nor is it designed to negate,

The freedoms our forebears fought to instate,

It’s not designed to cause division,

Truth is it com...

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It is sad beyond measure that we live in a world where those who shout loudest get heard,

Where truth is lost amid the din and the real cost is the quietly spoken word,

Maybe one day we'll realise that hidden beneath this loud and angry protestation,

Is someone calmly and quietly sharing thoughtful, considered information,

Strange that a creature so proud of its intelligent, reasoning ...

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Give me the armour to battle the, "Dragon,"

It's already smashed through our, "Circle of wagons,"

Killing our people with venomous breath,

Give us the armour to save them from death,

I have a, "Sword of care," to wield,

But need my armour and need my shield,

That I may battle this monstrous strife,

So give my armour, let me save your life.

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Humanity's insanity is manifested,

By valuing investment over the invested,

By allowing unfettered material greed,

To Trump our spiritual, physical needs,

How can we claim that we are the pinnacle?

That we stand alone as, "Creations miracle?"

That we stand alone as the, "Moral master?"

When money is how we measure disaster,

Tell me the value of each individual?

Tell me t...

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To say, “I am a good man,” would be misleading,
But equally, “A bad man,” would also not be right,
The truth is on balance I’m left conceding,
That in a world of cruelty, I lean towards the light,
To say, “I am a wise man,” would be a conceit,
To say, “Then I’m a fool,” left without insight,
Would deny the truth and so I must repeat,
In a world full of darkness, I lean towards the light,
T...

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I will mourn the passing of yesterday's me,

And make the best of the things that it chose,

But remind myself, respectfully,

That it did not know what today's me knows.

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(The sad truth of the current crisis for those that go to hospital is that they have to say their goodbyes at the front door, just in case.)

If this our last goodbye, I'll say it at the door,

Please believe me when I say I couldn't love you anymore,

You are my morning Sunrise, my moon, my very breath,

What you gave me saved me, and that is why I don't fear death,

You are my soo...

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I sit and wait for the sunrise,
For todays virgin light to shine from its celestial height and warm me,
Because it’s true to say that the light of day will drive away this cold , endless night before me,
And it will shine bright,
Bright enough to shine a light on all my past mistakes and inform me,
How much I should give thanks for the light that warms me,
A chance to repay the kindness of t...

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The world is changing,
And in these strange days our ways hint at fearful fall of man, 
There’s a silent killer that stalks the streets and leaves them empty since its reign began,
And it grips at the hearts and lungs of the world starving them of breath,
Choking the life out of those worst affected in a muffled shroud of death,
And people have died,
While some who could have warned us ...

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The troubles of the day focus to a needle point,

As the edge of a blade cutting through the clatter,

Focussing the mind, shutting out the dissonant,

demanding understanding at the crux of the matter,

Skillfully wilful in discourse with each participant,

The softly spoken whisper drowns out the shouting,

The, "Twitter," of the little birds no more than an irritant,

But the righ...

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Burn my weary soul in the fires of adversity,

Lay my battered body on the anvil of despair,

Let the blacksmiths hammer rain down it's blows incessantly,

Let the ringing of its impact fill the very air,

Quench my hardened spirit in a bucket full of bitter tears,

Then plunge it once again into the scorching flames

Let the hammers do their work 'til they've beaten out all fears,

...

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Bless the angels that fell to earth and cast aside their wings,

To face the dangerous times ahead and Nurse us through our sufferings,

Bless them for their bravery, their selflessness, their strength,

bless them for their promise to go to any length,

To care for rich and poor alike, no matter what their worth,

Bless the wingless angels that bravely walk the earth,

Bless their str...

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The future is uncertain,

The past remains unchanged,

Only the now is truly forgiving,

Worry is a burden,

Regret drives you insane,

Surrender both to the moment and start living.

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Sing little bird,

And let the courage in your song be heard,

Let not winds nor pouring rains still your voice,

Open your heart that we might rejoice,

In the beauty of your lilting melody,

And let its clarity act as remedy,

For the aching pains that surround you,

Let your song be the thing that grounds you,

But does not still your wings,

For they are beautiful things,

...

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Ring-A-ring O' roses,

Cover mouths and noses,

Keep the front door closed lest,

We all fall down.

The King has told the masses,

The schools will hold no classes,

Until the Covid passes,

Or we'll all fall down.

The bird upon the steeple,

Spies defiant people,

That still walk the streets 'til,

We all fall down.

The Doctors and the Nurses,

Pray for...

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(Stunned by the ignorance)

Stack the boxes high full of, "Ignorance is bliss,"

In the, "Poisoned apple sleep," of a casual Covid kiss,

Heave a heavy sigh at deniers in the streets,

As they brush passers by to make their ignorance complete,

They close their eyes and minds to the horrors in the news,

Pretend that it's all fine as they don their hiking shoes,

"Be the fool that br...

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Let the rock to which I lash my storm battered soul be called, “Hope,”
Let no winds nor swell of tide wash me from this place,
Even if only by my fingertips, let me cling to its craggy face,
As the roaring waves come crashing heavy on its slopes,
Let me not question the strength at its peak,
Nor doubt that its solidity will give me strength to cope,
Let it be my foundation whenever I feel we...

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(Following a recent diagnosis of FND, it all begins to make sense)

The world slows to a crawl as my first footfall hits the ground,
A hush descends on the waiting world,
Time imperceptibly grinds into low gear,
And I am here,
Right behind me,
The, “Me,” that you and I see,
I’m a passenger watching myself drive,
Wondering what time that me is planning to arrive?
And sounds are too v...

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Toss the wistful dreams of men as coins into the wishing well,

That they perchance be answered as they land upon its bed,

Watch the anglers hook the fish that can't resist their skillful spell,

And cast their careful crafted lure to bob above the fishes head,

Pray the fish that's caught that day holds the essence of your dream,

Pray the patient fisherman who gently reels it in this ...

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I stood in a place so silent that the wind spoke to me,
It told me that it would stir the meadow grasses whether I listened or not,
That it would whisper in the branches of the trees endlessly,
That it would continue to move across the world long after I had been forgot,
I stood in a place so silent that the birds sang to me,
They told me that I would outlast their brief existence, but not th...

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Know that you are forever loved,

That the stars in your skies,

Are the light in our eyes,

And the echos of their brilliance will forever be reflected in them.

Read more …

I've enjoyed the majority of my life so far, against the odds,

And surprised myself and the watching god's as I wrote my story,

But the passage of my days was eased by learning one small phrase,

And repeating it to myself each day, "Memento Mori,

"Remember you must die,"  and that is why,

You must value every moment of the passing days,

It isn't always easy to be grateful, but yo...

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I’m grateful for the time I got,
Lord knows I never thought I’d amount to a lot,
But I’m happy, with what I’ve achieved given that I never even thought I’d get a shot,
And all those misspent days of youth,
Where I burnt the candle at both ends and in the middle,
 Mean that it’s no riddle why I am the way am, that’s just the truth,
And if I needed proof I’d see my Doctor,
Or ask anyone that ...

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A thousand miles of scattered dreams lie between us,

But I can still see you,

Still see that iridescent smile,

That shines on each and every one and each and every mile,

And it warms me,

It casts a light that warms my soul,

Makes me feel like the halves of, "We," are once again whole,

But they're not,

And it's like, just for that briefest moment I forgot,

But that's ok,

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Show me your bravest face,

The one you use to keep your fears in their place,

The one you show the world when it tries to scare you,

When it wants to hurt you but just wouldn't dare to,

Show me that face,

The one that inspires,

That lights fires,

In the hearts and minds of those around you,

And let them astound you,

By showing you theirs,

Let them prove to you that it...

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The temple slowly crumbles as the passing years take their toll,

The prayer wheels no longer rumble on their spindles as they roll,

Worn spindle thin by the passing wishes of a thousand hands,

Scorn mingled in with a lasting feeling no-one understands,

The rivulets of rain have washed the features from the faces,

They stimulate the brain and lock the speeches in their places,

It'...

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Find me, mid afternoon,

Hidden away, where the songbirds croon,

Drifting on their whistled wishes,

Running my hand through the bullrushes,

Knowing, not where I'm going,

And caring less than I'm knowing,

Bye bye, to all the noise that I dread,

I'm going down, to the river's edge,

And I say, all the rains, will bring us riches,

Jewels of sky to wash out the ditches,

Let...

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The world is broken and token tears are wept by those who slept through the decline,
The people choke upon the smoke as spoken fears are swept under burning pines,
There are those that wish to tell us all is well and that we need not fear the licking flames,
Nor all the waste that chokes the fish or heat that burns the forests in their names,
Carry on as normal, buy our oil and plastic, it wil...

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I have two ears and one mouth and use them in just that proportion,

I like to listen twice as much as I speak, it's true to say,

It's wise to pay attention, to cut out all distortion,

As I might learn something that I didn't know this way,

And though I have opinions, I'll avoid the hard temptation,

To, "Bump my gums," incessantly in order to be heard,

For if we truly listen to ea...

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Sticks and stones may break your bones, that's what we used to say,

We always knew it to be true that words could hurt as well,

But we were raised by warriors who'd faced true evil every day,

And they knew you either toughened up or your life would be hell,

A generation that had seen the true horrors of man,

That fought through raining bullets to defend your right to speak,

A gen...

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Show me your true name, the one you can't disguise,

That no-one can pronounce but is written in your eyes,

The one that hides in plain sight in your averted gaze,

The one you keep from passers by and save for he who stays,

Please show me that name, that's carved upon your soul,

For I that know the half of you would like to know the whole,

Let me see it naked, with all it's fragil...

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Know why it's an, "Adventure," to live in the moment?

'Cos if you look into tomorrow the vision that confronts you,

Is all the same old yesterdays coming round again,

And that simply just won't do.

Know when you realise that adventures not your thing anymore?

When, "Living on the edge," fills your heart with dread and sorrow?

It's when you look back on all those, "Yesterdays...

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A solitary ring of gold marks marks the move from child to man,

Gifted by the man who brought this child into the world,

One more golden band sits, third finger, left hand,

And represents true, undying love for the girl,

Then one of Titanium holds the strength of forty years,

And represents the gift of truly knowing who I am,

And finally the largest, cast in silver, represents th...

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