Out of my depth

Out of my depth

I swan and sunk so low,

Deep down and far below;

On ocean floor I stood and knelt;

Mixed of many feelings I felt.

The viewing mask I wore

From the saftey of the shore;

The hefty heavy metal tank,

With all the weights and cranks!

I Held so tight his hands,

Feeling afraid in ocean sands;

So very scared and unprepared

But he was patient kind and cared.

I felt I went so very deep;

The memories in my heart I’ll keep!

All so bright and crystal clear

The little creatures as they appear.

Many colours, shapes and sizes,

Open my eyes to many surprises!

But feeling out of my depth,

As I concentrate on every breath.

From every colour - black to White

Their Technicolor so very bright!

With some neon sea creatures

All with their beautiful features.

Knelt and walked on ocean floor -

Never experienced this before!

Further down at 23 feet

So many different fish to greet.

Thirty minutes of ocean views,

Amazing colours, pretty hues.

I came and swam in the Red Sea

And discovered some beauty beneath me.

Copyright Linda Lawrence

5^th December 2018

Seasons

Seasons

Amid the rotting and decay

It shows such an amazing display!

Green, orange, red, amber, brown

A reddish sky at sundown.

Warmer clothes, hats and coats.

The time of year for sore throats!

Harvest away some veg and fruit

Hibernation is in pursuit.

Evenings' darker, gain an hour,

Another years’ flown by somehow.

Hail and storms with a strong breeze,

Leaves have fallen from the trees.

It’s looking frosty, it’s getting chilly

Sub zero, minus something degree,

It’s started to get even colder;

A scarf now covers all our shoulders.

Winter time, virgin snowflakes,

All six sided, no mistakes!

Sit cosy and warm with lit fire inside

And sleep through all yuletides.

It’s slippery in the freezing rain

A New Years’ been and gone again.

And as it thaws and slowly melts,

A warmer feeling has been felt.

And soon it’s the March equinox

We lose an hour on our clocks

The planted bulbs and the pretty flowers,

Awaiting rainbows and April showers!

A different colour a new hue

All reborn and renewed!

It’s looking pretty, green and lush

Spring time cleaning and paintbrush!

Perennials start to push through

Listen out for the first cuckoo;

Blossom flowers fall all askew;

Bluebell woodlands purple-blue.

It’s getting hotter, we feel the heat

Sandals worn for our feet!

This new warm season just begun

Sizzling in the summer sun!

 It’s humid now and we all frown,

A dip in the sea to cool right down!

We rub lotion deep within

So that rays don't burn our skin.

And if we’re lucky a holiday,

Something different, time away.

Lazing in the glorious weather,

Relaxing with some time together

Now the evenings are quickly cooling

Darker evenings there’s no fooling.

It’s now the September equinox,

We gain an hour on our clocks.

Back home now the wind and rain

It's all so hard to ascertain

Older by another year,

As autumn leaves they reappear.

Amid the rotting and decay -

Such an outstanding colour display!

See the fireworks; stars in the sky.

I wonder how and wonder why?

Copyright Linda Lawrence

Autumn 2018

Busker

Busker

He stands outside the shopping mall, his eyes they tell a story

And through the sadness of his face, he didn't find his glory;

He almost goes unnoticed but was born with such a gift

As another song is sung, his guitar finds a tuneful riff.

He's been around for many years, took his songs so very far,

Acoustic sounds that echo - through many people’s hearts.

Some well known, some sad or happy but always played with gusto

And each and every time he plays, he puts on a perfect show.

People pass, some may stop, or throw loose change into his cap

And others might dance to his music and afterwards might clap!

They listen to the lyrics and all between the lines

Life hasn't been so good lately and there have been some better times.

He takes a breath, strums gently, takes some time out to recover,

Where would his life been now if he'd had been discovered?

A soulful voice, full of love and emotion but some people stop and stare

At the busker, who doesn't ask for much, just some time if you can spare?

To listen to his songs he sings in the cold outside some shops;

He would of done anything to find fame on Top of the pops!

Stardom wasn't meant to be as he plays in this market town,

Hoping the weather will not turn wet, drench him through and let him down.

He wishes he could turn back the clock and try a second time -

While youth was on his side and he was fit and in his prime

But through the tired wood and strings, the ballads never die,

Still very much alive but see the tears within his eyes.

The buskers' chorus now distant as shoppers keep on walking,

They had little time to stop and give - then carried on with their talking.

I wonder why he spent time today to sing in our home town,

In spite of lack of interest, he'll be here until sundown.

By the end of the day a few quid has been counted from the donations in his hat;

All the years he spent writing have fallen a bit flat,

But hence to say, he did perform, there were some that heard

And just to let you know, I hung on to every word.

Copyright Linda Lawrence

9th November 2018

Making decisions

Making decisions

I am a little white and grey and know I can’t keep my age at bay

But I still enjoy the time of day, sitting in the garden or just to go astray;

Or wile away the hours, watching the bees suck nectar from the flowers;

Even when it’s hot or showers, late ‘til the night-time after hours!

So please don’t put me down, for you I love to be around,

I feel like I’m a little run down and maybe, just lately, let you down.

I have got fussy with things like food and walk away in a mood.

It’s not because I’m being rude, nor because I’m being shrewd!

I love to sit out in sun, have some fun or go for a run!

Or just be with my loved ones. Sleep on bed when day is done.

Glance at TV in my favourite place; take it easy now – just in case!

 What I do now must be paced and cuddles are now more embraced.

There have been times I’ve eaten grass – it’s not because I’m lower class,

There is no need to feel aghast; it’s something I’ve done in the past.

It is a way of some self healing and chew on this for the way I’m feeling;

I know it sounds so unappealing but I do do it for some meaning!

Think it’s something that comes with aging and know we’re gauging,

That things are changing and know quite soon we’ll be facing

Some decision making and even heart breaking, painstaking,

Or some other undertaking – we’re still debating.

I’ve lived with you for so long and we’ve mostly got along!

Things were quiet before I come along - but I’ve belonged!

I’ll make the most of the time I have with you, like we always do,

Sit on your lap and hope I’ll be stroked -purring unprovoked!

For Molly

Copyright Linda Lawrence 1^st September 2018

Feeling humble

Feeling humble

People stop and people stare;

It's not my fault, it isn't fair.

Why don't you look the other way

And give me a break for today.

I am an intelligent human being;

You've no idea the hell I'm living

In this prison every day;

Just give me a break for today.

I barely walk without assistance,

It's rare that I can walk the distance.

For me it's all hard work, no play

Just give me a break for today.

I wish you had some understanding

That I need some help with manual handling.

So don't be cruel to look at me this way,

I need to be left alone today.

I may be ill but I’m not dumb -

Can't remember the last time I had fun;

I cannot keep my illness at bay

So why can't you give me the time of day?

People stop and people stare

It seems the world just doesn’t care.

For the vulnerable, who need a little aid

But you look at me as if you're afraid.

So when you see me in the street

Don't look at the way I walk with my feet.

Look me in the eyes and say

I'm feeling humble that I met you today.

For Sue

Copyright Linda Lawrence

26^th August 2018

Sixty

Sixty

Don't want to be sixty

Didn't want to be fifty!

And hated being forty;

Being thirty just transfixed me!

At twenty, it convinced me

Was an age until I’m sixty!

How I got here is a mystery-

And years before it hit me!

Now sixty, so much history.

(Not feeling very frisky)

But please do not dismiss me!

Now it's here to afflict me

And no longer feeling nifty;

Am itchy bitchy, twitchy witchy

Hormonal, antisocial, very vocal

Amazingly am still tea total!

Feet up – another cup of tea

Now it's here to inflict me!

Get it over and done with quickly

Before you have to assist me

To stop me getting typsy.

Copyright Linda Lawrence

 25^th June 2018

Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy 

The doctors have not forgotten

About the camera to look up my bottom!

Eleven whole foot-

Stay still and stay put!

It's all made me feel quite rotten.

I've eaten far too much cauli

And now feeling melancholy,

As well as quite peckish,

Am fed up with lettuce

And feels like i'm off my trolley!

You're having a look up my butt- 

I'm sure it will all be clear- cut!

I've been feeling crappy,

Just not very happy

At what's going on in my gut!

What's going on in my gastrointestinal tract

As I've not been able to crap?

I keep breaking wind

And just want it binned;

It's been a bit of a handy-cap.

I know you must find this all anal,

But really just want to be able

To sit on the loo

And be able to poo

Without finding it all so painful.

It's all become a pain, 

Not to mention a terrible strain!

Am so constipated

It's become complicated

Not to be able to pull my chain!

So just before this investigation

Am feeling like a gas station!

My bowels are now empty

There's nothing left in me!

Hope it's the end of my frustration.

Good luck Jen xx

11^th June 2018