The wind rose early with the busying dawn,
And, rushing into the long avenue of beech -
Laid down years ago to accommodate labouring feet,
Began to scatter over neatly cut verge and lawns
With its own inimitable unruly gust, blow and fuss...
Within a cascading maelstrom of vivid bright yellowness.
Against strong trunks, held firm by steadfast roots,
Groans from creaking boughs as they upwardly heaved
Upon frantically thrashing branches showering
rusted, golden leaves;
Carpeting the rough stones below my trampling boots.
A mad kaleidoscope of leaping, swirling, skipping
colour
Where, as a child, I had once rediscovered...
Two green sandstone gate pillars sat well back
That ushered me under this arched, canopied track.
Categories:
labouring, appreciation, autumn, childhood, color,
Form: Rhyme
Instant the command
As decisions
In labouring the fields
A civil war of family's avoiding
Yet the enactments mimic
As bond as surety
In financing burdens
One wishes not to carry
Carriage as stable
Nightingales lost fables
Ferry in twist
Smirking gentle and smits
To the good Friday of Ireland
Categories:
labouring, anniversary, film, good friday,
Form: Free verse
On a sunny day
Right in my parlour
Laying on the couch
I was going through my phone
Then I paused for a moment
Because of the sound of our wall clock.
The time keeps ticking
Every second
You see how busy nature is
Why sitting without labouring?
Don't choose comfort
At the age of labour
Then you gonna labour
At the age of comfort.
If you don't roll the dice
You won't see the outcome
If you don't pay the price
You won't get it or there
Time waits for nobody
But there's time for everyone
That's putting in the work.
Categories:
labouring, africa, children, christian, community,
Form: Didactic
The little girl unfurls her dreams,
Bringing forth the visions within her.
Yet the night cloaks her dreams,
Blurring her vision.
Home was not a place of bliss;
The world felt like a bleeding star,
Gradually losing its brightness with each drop.
Each day brought its share of struggles, lack, and deprivation.
Her father was a peasant farmer,
Labouring to put food on the table.
But what becomes of the skills that prepare a child for tomorrow's demands?
He was later incapacitated,
Yet he held on until he was called to the beyond.
Her mother was a petty trader,
Doing everything she could to help.
Shattered by her husband’s death,
She lived in the shadows,
Where nothing worthwhile could bloom in the meadow.
Still, the little girl unfurls her dreams,
Though she was taken to a strange land.
The visions inside her found light;
Her aspirations reached great heights.
June 30, 2025.
Categories:
labouring, inspirational,
Form: Free verse
Silence!
A labouring sleep,
Got into trance
Of a great leap!
Away from residence.
The crush to say
As adultage,
Meant to be paid.
Has gained teenage,
Having hands of clay!
Those responsibility
A man gains
Bearing sensibility.
Inside the rain,
Has got his ability!
Soft gentle hands,
Got them to pawn.
Changing the books,
Also about the pen,
Beneathing piercing hook!
Congrats ERA!
Dreams broke,
Desires too!
After the father,
Of great gratitude!
Categories:
labouring, angel, care, child, childhood,
Form: Rhyme Royal
I can feel it,
smell it fragrant on the breeze
watch it in the leaves of broadleaf trees that bend to give me shade
taste it sweet upon my waiting lips
a kiss that comes to me
through every flower and bird and labouring bee,
not in gentle honeyed sips but fresh as new picked mint
every morning clear as day, bright as resting dew at dawn
I hear it whispered through the grass
summer is reborn
Categories:
labouring, nature,
Form: Free verse
Just as a child talks to his dad, talk to the Supreme Lord.
He'll fulfil your needs and show you the heavenly abode.
Praise him. Worship him. Glorify his name as it's holy.
You are a co-heir of his kingdom. Do not feel lowly.
When you lack food at night for your guest, won't you ask your friend?
Though he feels irked first, won't he answer your need at the end?
With an innate pulse, he knows all your needs before you ask.
As flies and bees, yet, labouring for your bread is your task.
Have you ever asked with faith and felt that you'd not heeded?
Though you searched like a seeker, were your efforts impeded?
Did your kith and kin spurn opening the door when you knocked?
From the sun, moon, and stars (nature's conveyors), are you blocked?
Your soul must be light like a feather, all the burdens shed.
You must twine with the Father, like a flower with the thread.
Categories:
labouring, jesus,
Form: Sonnet
“It is more blessed to give
than to receive…”*
Thus says the Scripture
carnal mind can’t accept
yet spiritual heart regards as truth
in vanquishing selfishness
as well as covetousness-grip
and smiting greediness-enclosure.
Indeed, giving is gaining more…
yes, more joy, powered by sharing
while insuring blessings
of divine abundance faith acquires
along sufficient provisions
midst supplies that meet needs, even wants
toward peaceful contentment
showered by heavenly fulfillment-triumph.
*Acts 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
December 7, 2024
2nd place, "Counterintuitive" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Suzette Richards; judged on 12/10/2024
Categories:
labouring, blessing, christian, faith, giving,
Form: Dramatic Monologue
The other day
I lay for an echo of my heart
The technician scanned my chest and sides
I could hear my heart pant aloud
Oh boy! Was that a chugging train,
a distant wail, water gurgling,
or a rhythmic rub inside an empty tub?
The guy sure was at frantic speed
wailing all the while
Thank the Lord
He has made sure
we never hear
the perturbations
of this friend of ours
labouring inside each of us
all twenty-four hours
Categories:
labouring, heart,
Form: Free verse
Labouring like ants and bees, humans of goodwill gather
Being sloth-filled like sloths, does one have the right to scatter?
With nobleness, each being should acknowledge the other
If one fails to hail the other, will the other bother?
Those who help others in the accomplishment of mission
Those who join their neighbours in their battle against Satan
Such as these would follow you, carrying daily crosses.
Sharing each of your gains, they would also share your losses.
Humans, in their conspiracy to mar others, blasphemed
Forgiving these, towards them, your forgiveness unfastened
As scorpions and snakes venom those who try to save them
Their abhorrence towards those who saved them was at its helm.
Why should one oppose the truth and chock another's graces?
To be saved, should one roam holy places after places?
Categories:
labouring, humanity, life,
Form: Sonnet
Murmurs of the dust and bricks of the house of your dad called
Dialogues on the mystic ways of the kingdom enthralled
Food for your psychic power, from cosmic secrets you drew
Winds of words of your wisdom, around the environs, blew.
The earth and the heavens were adorned with rainbow attire.
To spell out the soul of salvation, you were on fire.
Awe filled the deep souls of beings in each interaction.
Weren't you the saviour who salvaged humans from destruction?
Joseph knew this. Emmanuel had a mission assigned.
The wisdom you gained from the heavens, on earth, you applied.
Mary treasured your wizardly ways and meditated.
Seeds of a hope-filled dawn, in human hearts, vegetated.
Learning, teaching, labouring... realism, like rivers, flowed.
Each day of existence, with rays of godly graces, glowed.
Categories:
labouring, jesus,
Form: Sonnet
"I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive."Acts 20:35 of the King James Bible
Yes, I desire to help
Yielded as care giver
Yon meaningfulness of
Youthful achievements midst
Yawns in struggling to stay
Yoked for reaching-out with
Yahweh’s strength through the years.
April 18, 2024
Categories:
labouring, blessing, christian, faith, god,
Form: Pleiades
ANOTHER TIME
It was another time, not at all like now
None thought history was in the making
Hard labouring with sweat on the brow
A full day’s work and limbs were aching
Some were still waiting for that new age
And said it was so, but were only faking
For most, life stuck forever at that stage
Retirement only when an old body failed
Many folk were ready to turn that page
Years later, new work heroes were hailed
Trades Unions formed with collective voice
Striking, like a rebellion, as workers railed
Today, there seems to be another choice
Work, or stone the Chairman’s RollsRoyce
Categories:
labouring, inspirational, political, rights, work,
Form: Terza Rima
You fascinate clearly
Once you're out of your hive
Flitting here, landing there
Keeping gardens alive
There's a sweetness, and yet
Nasty sting so beware
Your work all consumes
As you zoom through the air
On return to the den
Over-share with a flurry
Of your flower-full journey
Full of buzzing and scurry
You waggle your tail
With your moves; figure eight
So your bee-chums to flowers
Can with ease navigate
You are sharing the load
And you hum as you go
Your communal spirit
More successful than solo
I envy you somewhat
Though your lifespan is shorter
That you dance while you work
I think more humanoids oughta
For we stress and we toil
Little sweetness to show
For our labouring lives
Whether sunshine or snow
Yet the Spring flowers beckon
In the garden of life
Perhaps to shimmy's the answer
To this trouble and strife
Categories:
labouring, dance, feelings, flower, flying,
Form: Rhyme
It would be amazing to live off grid
Just think no hustle and bustle
No alarm screaming at you
to wake naturally at dawn.
One would settle into new patterns
mainly following the sun hours
labouring for one's self, no boss
to answer to. building your shelter
Getting water to it from higher up
from a clean stream loving the taste
sunlight from solar panels for night
planting and harvesting your own crops
No pollutants in them just healthy nutrients
fishing for what you need or maybe a crab
working the land and cutting timber for wood
Nature can provide what you need to be fit
Using natural medicines when you need
digging down for your outhouse
taking a swim in pond with a water fall
yes that sounds a good way to live.
A dog for company and chickens for eggs
Other off girder's but not too close.
Like wise a small town half a day away
no taxes to pay just wonderful freedom.
Categories:
labouring, dog, freedom, inspirational, nature,
Form: Free verse
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