A cup of kindness

 A cup of kindness

 

Another year gone; another year gone by,

Wonder how the days seem to fly so quickly by.

The decorations and tree now taken down,

A brand new date begins but not without a frown

 

There was so much dust to clean up and settle,

Like the debris in war zones, concrete and mangled metal.

Room looks like a battle zone needs some resembling

Frightened men and women crying out and trembling.

 

Our many thoughts turn to the last few years,

Celebrations finished, drunk all our wine and beer.

While madmen and despots just want to be killing,

Wish it would come to a halt, with God willing.

 

Baubles, bells and tinsel back in their Christmas box.

Wanting Spring to arrive after the winter equinox.

A cactus plant in the place of the pretty Christmas tree

But what will the following months mean to you and me?

 

The fireworks were lit and burnt down in the night

And back to thinking about these non sensical fights.

Cheering Auld Lang Syne the song that’s sung worldwide,

A cup of kindness, all we need - or tensions will collide

 

Back to normal life and work, back to our reality

Wish we had a magic wand with a sense to foresee.

Lives in the hands of unstable leaders and politicians,

The rulers, the corrupters, with bent trade off conditions

As we link our arms, kiss strangers, singing New Year joy,

Wrap your arms around the world and please do not destroy

A treaty and love are overdue, to live our lives in peace,

A wish so deep, around the globe, all these wars must cease.

 

Copyright Linda Lawrence

 

01/01/2025

Greetings

  

Greetings

 

I didn’t receive  a card this year

From a friend I love so dear,

I am frightened to pick up the phone

In the case of no one being at home.

 

We’ve had delays with the mail,

It seems each Christmas it’s curtailed.

I’m hoping this must be the reason

Now we’re in the festive season.

 

Will send some greetings just in case

And hope she remembers me and my face.

Good friends, back then, in our prime

Now it’s just birthdays and Christmastime .

 

Cannot get out to visit, or just call in

The days of going out have got so thin.

Cards are so precious as time goes by

And it they don’t arrive, we wonder why.

 

Mobile phones and  the internet,

For me, it’s difficult to use this tech.

Don’t understand how it all connects

Have tried, but always incorrect.

 

On the landline, I can barely hear

But a card received is bright and clear.

It makes me smile and makes my day

To have it delivered from you today.

 

And in time the letterbox rattles

Been worried with my mental battles.

It’s her! Although it’s very late December

I’ll remember her birthday in September!

Copyright Linda Lawrence

 

17^th December 2024

 

Inspirations working in care

Another heartbeat

 

Another heartbeat

 

I remember all those years ago pushing my baby in a pram

And now in just a heartbeat, he’s become a grown up man.

And my little girl on the way to school, holding her tiny hand,

A precious daughter who was born after choosing the wedding band.

 

Mums’ that walk along the road with a coloured plastic bike,

The years will pass so quickly when he’ll own a motorbike.

Leaving school, found a job, gone his ways childlike

And in the shed, from yesterday , a little coloured bike.

 

From the window, walking along, carrying a scooter,

Put away for a rainy day and in its place a computer.

The favoured doll, her pretty clothes now in its place a router.

So independent now and she does all the things to suit her.

 

Nursery rhymes that are sung today, I sang them yesterday,

Now the wheels on the bus that went round have long but gone away.

The little girl and little boy are still young in my mind today.

The many friends and games they played along the winding pathway.

 

The slides, the swing, the happy things that time cannot erase.

Pets my girl and boy loved, in their hearts a special place.

The laughs throughout their life, it’s hard to keep a straight face.

Many photos of my special babies kept on the fireplace.

 

 Mums’ and Dads through the window, the school run will be short,

In the sun, rain, wind and snow standing on the stone forecourt .

Finding a parking place for the school run car transport,

But in another heartbeat, time will pass, no longer to escort.

 

The toys they had, forever loved, we loved them all as well!

When Christmas came, it was havoc while singing Jingle Bells!

Now dinner for two, one cracker pulled, feels like a dropped bombshell.

Still keep the teddy Bear in the cupboard, trying not to dwell.

 

Days at school are short lived, schoolbooks stored in the attic

A tear or two looking back to memories, I am so empathetic.

I was you, not long ago, through the half terms so erratic!

I’d bring that all back in another heartbeat now life has become so static.

 

Hold those tiny hands as long as you can, they won’t be small for long.

Sing the same nursery rhymes, sing them all year long.

Your little girl and little boy will sing them to their newborn

And hold their tiny hands in yours , they will never be outworn.

 

The pushchair you sat in and outgrew, long ago it sold.

A car you drive from A to B, the emotions that I hold,

Tiny little people walk along the road, recollections that Unfold

It’s quiet now, while I look out of the window their childhood’s I withhold

 

Copyright Linda Lawrence

 

23/11/2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turkey

 Turkey

I am so full

My  belly is fat

A Turkish hotel

Can do just that

But over the Med

There are so many fights

While we swim

And visit beautiful sights

Rubble and death 

Just over this sea

While we sip our cocktails 

Just you and me

Families destroyed

Many displaced

While we slide the flumes

With a smile on our face

There is so much hunger

And disease

But after a delicious meal

We're relaxed and pleased

While we scuba dive 

To see pretty fish 

To stay alive and unharmed

Would be their only wish

The beautiful world

We'd love to see

Is now up in flames

You must hear our pleas 

Copyright Linda Lawrence

10/10/2024

Living here

 

Living here

Bats, cats, rats – they all live here!

In my house, with a mouse

And my spouse!

An owl with a snail and fowl,

A crow and doe,

A sloth with a moth!

All sorts of insects!

With a pug ,slug and ladybug!

A dog, frog and hedgehog,

Moles, voles, hares and mares!

The butterfly and dragonfly

Did not pass me by…

A squirrel with a nut -

So good for his gut.

They all live together

With their fur and feathers!

A fox and an ox

All knitted and sewn together with love,

For a baby crib to hang above.

 

Copyright Linda Lawrence

1^st September 2024

This year

 

This year

I’ve seen a few Red Admirals

And one Adonis Blue,

The Fritillaries thin on ground

The Painted Ladies too.

 

A Small Copper in my garden,

A Comma and Green Vein White.

Made a friendly moth catcher

But so far, nothing in sight.

 

From a distance a Blue Holly

But not the Blue that’s common.

This  year has been so sad

Though none have been forgotten.

 

Spotted a Small Tortoiseshell

On the top of my shed door.

Where have they all gone this year

Just want to see some more?

•  

Planted some wildflowers

For those pollinators,

Attracted Slugs, unwanted

Where are those pretty angels?

 

Spottled male and female Brimstones -

Marbled Whites’ beautiful  display!

The Chalk Hills were worn out.

The Skippers were betrayed.

 

Seen plenty of Gatekeepers

And some Meadow Browns,

Just want to nurture and keep her

But their meadow’s being cut down.

 

Got closer to his Majesty

But not his purple shimmer.

Hope next year is better

This year has got much grimmer

 

I’ve seen a fragile flutter

In woods, ethereal and white.

Just one type of Hairstreak

Fluttered in the sunlight.

 

The sun is hot and shining

The flowers out array

Looking for my favourite creatures

But not seen one today.

It’s coming to an end

The season is nearly over

Haven’t seen an Orange Tip this year

They’ll all be gone in October

 

Copyright Linda Lawrence 28^th August 2024

For all butterfly lovers

And my Dad