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Arlene Phillips Poem
Do not judge me, you have not walked in my shoes
Do not judge me, you know not 'the why' or the reason I chose,
This path I took , the decisions I made, did not come easy,
and I was oft afraid.
Much I regret, but can do nothing about,
others I am thankful for, I have no doubt.
The hand of Fate can be cruel or kind,
and often the choices are a test for the mind.
One path can look welcome , with many friends,
the other , quite lonely and with unseen bends .
But sometimes friends are not always true,
they can turn their coats and lose interest in you.
Offtimes the path that you took as a duty
, can reveal a vista of astonishing beauty.
But chose one we must before our life is through
and live with the consequences , of which we may rue.
Arlene Phillips 2019 ©
Copyright © Arlene Phillips | Year Posted 2019
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Arlene Phillips Poem
Do you ever wonder why old people cry?
reasons unknown to you and I
here are some thoughts that come to mind
there are many more I'm sure you will find.
A well loved son killed in the war
now only a photo kept in a drawer.
A family pet who gave so much pleasure
just a precious memory that will live forever.
A silly quarrel with a once dear friend ..
regretted now, but too late to mend.
Little children who once sat on their knee
Now all grown up ,too busy to call,or off on a spree
Holidays and outings with friends and lovers
brings back happy memories of exciting things discovered
.
A day at the races for the first time ever
I chose the winner, you chose the other
I laughed at you and called you a loser
You took the huff and stomped off to the boozer!
Our old cat, Fluff , who caught many a mouse
and scared us to death bringing a live rat in the house.
A chat with a neighbour by the garden gate
unburdening all our woes,
of war and rations friends and allies
and who we thought were foes
Old fiends drifting past in our mind's eye
we thought it would never end and one day would say goodbye
But it does.
That holiday in Spain where you taught me to dance
The Pasadobla, the Tango...or was that in France ?,
Days at the beach when the children were small
building sandcastles , eating ice cream, sunburn and all.
trying to teach them all to swim, the splashing the shrieks, they made such a din.
Our daughter was wed at twenty three
and prouder parents there never could be,
two years later she had a son who did not last the year,
the grief felt by all was immeasurable 'twas almost too much to bear.
Time hangs heavy now I've lost my spouse
the ghosts and memories haunt the house,
so don't wonder as we age lost in memories of times gone by
So now you know why old people cry.
Arlene Phillips 2018 ©
Copyright © Arlene Phillips | Year Posted 2019
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Arlene Phillips Poem
I walked my dog
I walked my dog to the woods today
of beech and oak and lime
he chased his ball , and chased the squirrels
we had such a wonderful time.
I walked my dog to the sea to-day
That looked toward distant lands
He was ever so brave as he swam in the waves
then buried his ball in the sand.
I walked my dog to the fields to-day
He sniffed the delights in the grass
he chased his tail , followed mysterious trails,
How was I to know, it wasn't to last.
I walked my dog to the Bridge to-day
with Rainbow hues in the sky
of red and green , purple and blue
and kissed my dog goodbye
Author, Arlene Phillips 2017 ©
Copyright © Arlene Phillips | Year Posted 2019
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Arlene Phillips Poem
Take a grey and murky sky and wash it with some rain,
it will leave a clear blue canvas, for Nature to make a lane
She'll gather some flowers from the meadow , of every shade and hue
and also pluck some grass so green where once the daisies grew.
Then choose the flowers one by one and place in a golden dish
add Angel's tears, some fairy dust, blessing each one with a wish.
She'll take some fronds of feathery grass and bind them with some fleece
that will be the paintbrush, to create her masterpiece
she'll dip the paintbrush into the dish and sweep it across the sky
A beautiful arc of many colours where Fairies and Angels fly
She'll sprinkle it with memories and happiness around
Nowhere in this beautiful place will sadness ever be found.
She''l call the animals one by one , when their life on Earth is through
To meet old friends who've long gone and make others anew
All pain and sorrow will be swept aside , and happiness will be reborn
Games and fun and loving kindness in future be the norm .
It will be named as Rainbow Bridge , and is just a waiting place
for pet and master to meet again when they come face to face.
So ye on Earth who have loved and lost a dear departed pet
Take heart to know that someday......you will meet again
They will not forget.
Copyright © Arlene Phillips | Year Posted 2020
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Arlene Phillips Poem
We'd wash it down with a bottle of pop, that fizzled and tickled up our noses
and when we'd done we'd get up again and maybe to gather some posies
We played in cornfields with corn up over our heads,
the cornflowers blue and long slender poppies in brightest shades of red.
We gazed in wonder when we saw Mother badger feeding her babies three
she led them to the stream to have a drink, then back to her den under the tree.
We splashed in the stream and guddled for fish and got ourselves soaked to the skin
we laughed and teased each other in fun , and took it all with a grin.
when the sun goes down we'd say with a frown I think it's time to go home
So come on Mary, Pete , Tommy and Jill, not forgetting little Ben
Home we must walk before it gets dark, but tomorrow we'll come again
When we were children we were unaware of the beauty we had in hand
But preserve it we must, before it is buried beneath concrete and dust
and we have lost our treasured fair land
Arlene Phillips 2015
Copyright © Arlene Phillips | Year Posted 2019
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Arlene Phillips Poem
COVID -19
Irrespective of what your size is
You are not immune to Coronavirus
So stay at home is sound advice
As you may lose at the throw of the dice
Man, woman or child, it does not care
So dice with death...if you dare.
This evil curse is here for a while
He conducts his business with artless guile
To offer the path of least resistance
You must be sensible and keep your distance.
This is not a disease to be treated lightly
And one that will not go politely.
Before he does he will take his toll
Of thousands of humans and not trouble his soul.
If you are lucky enough to escape his scythe
Consider how others managed to survive.
Often by the unselfishness of the NHS
Those doctors, nurses, carers we will forever bless
If it was not for the unselfish acts of public health staff
There could many more treading a one way path.
Arlene Phillips 2020 (c)
Copyright © Arlene Phillips | Year Posted 2020
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Arlene Phillips Poem
THE NIGHT THAT RABBIE VISITED ME
One night in spring I couldn't sleep I heard knocking on the door
I got out of bed, walked to the window to have a peep ..what I saw made me gasp, and nearly fell to the floor.
A gentleman stood there dressed in old fashioned wear and I felt the blood rush tae my cheeks.
my hands were shakin and my knees were quakin as I stared at him quite hard I couldna believe what I was seein, cos - I was looking,- at Rabbie - the Bard
He looked up at me and mouthed silently come down as i'd like to talk, I bottled my fear and walked down the stair, and he took my arm for a walk.
[He took me on journeys my mind only knew, to groves and burns and braes, and told me of tales of mice and men, and schemes, that gang aft agley
. of the poor wee mouse turfed out of his house , and daisies being tramped in the stoor when the cruel coulter passed, wi such a blast
they were alas no more.
My heart was singing with the tales he was spinning and I asked no, I begged, for more.
We walked along the Banks o' Doon where the rose and the woodbine twine., he told me of his sad lost love an I told him of mine.
He pulled a rose from it's thorny tree, and placed it on my brow, the dew , like a tear run down my cheek that rose is with me now
We wandered on the banks of the Nith, where the linties sang sae sweet and knelt and pu'd the gowans fine that were bloomin at our feet. .
The sun was rising in the sky, I knew it was time to part
it will be so hard to say goodbye, for he had stolen my heart
Then Rabbie took me by the hand and said so seriously what poem can I leave with you, one that you'll treasure or gives you pleasure, that you will remember ME by
I looked at him and paused , A'e fond kiss please, Rabbie
He obliged
and that kiss was like honey on my lips.
Ae fond kiss and then we sever
Ae fareweel, Alas forever
Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee
Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee.
Had we never loved sae kindly
Had we never loved sae blindly
Never met ....or never parted
We had ne'er been.... so broken hearted.
, his voice melted faintly into the morning mist .
though years may come and years may go, these memories are mine
They'll stay with me till eternity, to the days of Auld Lang Syne.
The night that Rabbie visited me
Was it all a dream ????????
© Arlene Phillips 2017
Copyright © Arlene Phillips | Year Posted 2019
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Arlene Phillips Poem
A Rainy Walk
Me and Bertie's off for a walk,, he isn't very keen,
He's worried he may fall in a puddle where depths are quite unseen
But Mum will be very careful and test the water first.
Oh he loves his Mum so very much his heart is fit to burst.
But as she's only 5' naught, so she's got to take great care
Cos if a puddle swallows her up too, neither of them will be there.
Copyright © Arlene Phillips | Year Posted 2020
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Arlene Phillips Poem
I liken it to another bite of the cherry, oh you loved that first bite and relished it's sweetness, you never thought you'd need more. But it's gone.
Then one day another cherry appears and invites you to have a taste. It's tempting, will you enjoy it as much, will it be as sweet?
Try it…..don't let the memory of the first spoil the unknown pleasure of the second
Memory can be a jealous Mistress, she wants to keep you to herself and keep all others out., preventing them from sowing the seeds of possible pleasures.
Be kind to her but be firm do not shut her out, let her see you have not, nor ever will forget her. Her juice will always be the sweetest, but you must be brave and try that other bite of the cherry. , or you may be left behind, . Life goes on, ride it.
Author Arlene Phillips 2016
Copyright © Arlene Phillips | Year Posted 2019
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Arlene Phillips Poem
How often the old dog had heard that said, at the end of a good walk? ‘ OK we’ve had fun now it’s time to go back home and get some work done’ , and it was done with good grace, as Mum’s word is law.
On this occasion he couldn’t quite make out where the voice was coming from, he couldn’t see her nor was he aware they were out walking, perhaps it’s another dog being called. So the old dog lay reminiscing. Mum had gone out without him this time.
His mind went back through the years, his legs twitched as he was a young dog running free with his companions, There was big bold Tarc, we always felt safe when he was around, then bossy little Whisper, always wanted to do things her own way, he was happy just to go along with whatever they wanted to do, but boy did we have a lovely life, lots of walks, swims, how he loved splashing in the sea, when the ball was thrown and he brought it back halfway then Tango took it out his mouth and fetched it the rest of the way, as he didn’t like to go in deep., travels to dog shows, meeting up with old friends, making new ones, no demands, eat, sleep and play, it was a dog’s life.
The others had to work for their living, doing clever things at the shows, like finding things and fetching other stuff, staying in one place for a while everyone went away, but Mum said I wasn’t cut out for it so I was what they call a passenger, BUT I had to do what I was told when it came to the commands of ’indoors, or when the walk was over ‘Home dogs, time’s up’ and it was immediately.
I didn’t mind as there was always a biscuit when we got there.
I remember when Tango came along, he was a little squirt of a thing, I felt big and bold next to him, we became the best of friends when Tarc and Whisper went on the last walk. He was awfully clever though and got lots of prizes for doing things that I just couldn’t understand, but Mum never made me feel bad about it, she said she loved us all equally. We had such wonderful times together.
I noticed lately I’ve been slowing down and not running as fast as usual, and get awfully tired, some days I just don’t feel like going out, though when I do it’s not too bad, but am glad to be home again where I can curl up and have a sleep.
Once again he heard the voice ‘Home Jet, times’ up. I looked around for Mum,
‘Come on lad, she’ll be all right ‘said the voice.
The old dog gave a sigh , he understood now., had one last look around and closed his eyes for the last time.
At that moment the woman was coming back from the walk with the others, and by the gate saw the black dog , ‘Jet, who let you out’ she cried, the dog gazed at her with eyes full of love, twitched his tale and disappeared into the woods................. She knew.....
Jet's time was up.
Copyright © Arlene Phillips | Year Posted 2019
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