Index

TOO LATE NOW By Patience Strong

When you caome we meet as friends, but when you say goodbye,

you leave a haunting sadness like the echo of a sigh ...

Merry  is the laughter, gay the talk and  bright the scene,

but underneath it all I hear the words: it might have been.

Yes, indeed, it might have been.  I see it in your eyes.

We might have loved each other once -  but things went otherwise,

Life works out its own designs, and we survive somehow.

All si for the best, they say. Too late for loving now ....

Too late for disentangling the frayed and twisted thread;

too late to obliterate the foolish words we said.

For a differned kind of life the stage had now been set.

Burden  not the present with the ashes of regret.  

Index

MAKE A RAINBOW By Patience Strong

If your world looks gloomy and you're feeling grim and glum,

make a rainblow for yourself, don't wait for one to come.

Don't sit watching at the window for the clouds to part.

There'll soon be a rainbow if you start one in your heart

Take some lovely thought out of a poem or a prayer,

turn it over in your mind and let it linger there. 

Keep out every memory that dims the light within,

and hold on to the magic word that lets the brightness in.

Work your own small miracle and make the dull days glow.

Put some sunshine into life and let the glory show.

Make a rainbow for yourself with colours brave and gay,

and underneath its golden arch your cares will fade away.  

Index

FAR AWAY By Patience Strong

Far away -  by distance reckoned - yet how near you seem to me!

Seperated, yet together in the realms of  Memory.

Far away, but here in thought.  The miles between us melt away .......

Parted, yet in spirit meeting - every hour of every day.  

Index

HAPPINESS WAITING FOR YOU By Patience Strong

There is a light at the end of the tunnel,

there is a calm at the end of the storm ...

there is rest at the end of the journey,

and a hearth that is welcome and warm.

There's a star on the top of the mountain

you can touch when the last crag is scaled.

There's a certain reward for the faithful

at the point where they think they have failed.

There's  a spring at the end of the winter

and behind the black cloud it is blue ...

There's a song at the heart of your sorrow,

and happiness waiting for you.  

Index

THE SWING By Patience Strong

Swing high,

Swing low,

Up to the top of the tree you go,

Seeing the mill at the water's edge,

Seeing for miles over field and hedge.

Swing high,

Swing low,

Down to the ground and then up you go.

Cathing a glimpse of the old green pond,

The church in the lane and the woods beyond.

Swing high,

Swing low,

Just like a bird on the wing you go,

But what would you say if the swing swung high,

And left you up there in the bright blue sky?  

Index

MOTHER'S SON By Sue Russell

A little further child, she said,

watch with step with eyes of dread,

knawing hunger, biting thirst,

which, she asks,will claim him first?

Cheeks all hollow, eyes so big,

Will it be his grave I  dig?

not for this I  gave him birth,

please stay awhile upon this earth.

Fight my son with all your heart,

stay with me, we must not part.

The light of life gone from his eye,

the time has come to say goodbye.

Now he runs in meadows green,

and drinks of waters pure and clean.

No longer had he hungers ached,

he'll pray for us for mankinds sake.

Index

SHOWING THE WORLD By Patience Strong

If you've a song,                                      Where there's a wrong,

Try it.                                                       Right it.

If you've a tear,                                       When life is grim,

Dry it.                                                       Fight it.

If you've a cross,                                     If you've a hand,

Bear it.                                                     Give it.

If you've a joy,                                         If you've a creed,

Share it.                                                   Livc it.

When hope grows faint                           If you've a faith,

Brace it.                                                   Show it.

When trouble comes,                              And let the world know,

Face it.                                                     Know it.

Index

THIS THING WILL PASS By Patience Strong

  The wind is beating at the pane--in frantic

gusts of sleeting rain--Like lashes of a whip it

falls on the windows and the walls, thrashing

through the tortured trees--at the house,while I

at ease--sit comfort safe and warm--from the fury of the storm.

  The demon wind must spend its force--have

its hour and take its course...Remember this

when trials increase. Rest in faith and be at peace.

Throught the turmoil and the din--Hear that still

small voice within--speak above the crashing

brass--saying, "Trust, this thing will pass."  

Index

CLOSE TOGETHER : FAR APART By Pam Ayres

We live close together and so far apart,

Joy in our faces and grief in our hearts,

There's no common ground left between us at all,

But we love our children,

They're helpless and small.

Who'd have foreseen it would turn out this way,

No lover, no friend at the end of the day,

Must we be joined in a battle of wills,

Who pays the mortgage

And who pays the bills?

Who gets the custody, who will it be,

Who gets the holidays, you or me ?

When can they come and how soon must they leave,

Who gets the birthday,

Who gets Christmas Eve?

Who runs to comfort the cry in the dark,

Who gets weekends and the walk in the park?

It's business as usual, divorce is no shame,

Oh, but where will I be

When they're calling my name.......

Index

IN PASSING By Patience Strong

He fell upon the field of battle as his boy was born,

and did not live to see the coming of that happy dawn....

Through the secret Gates of Death he left this troubled earth -

as the new soul entered by the mystery of birth

Did they come together at the Gates of Life and Death?

Just before the wondrous moment of the babe's first breath -

Was there an encounter? Did he touch that tiny hand?

Did they meet in passing as they crossed the borderland?  

Index

TAKE YOUR TIME By Patience Strong

Take your time - or time takes you and drains

your strength away. Take a minute, maybe two

throughout you busy day - for slowing down to

meditate- from wordly things apart - in a quiet

place to wait with a receptive heart. Take your

time to think about the greatet things of all -

take your time to work it out before the curtains

fall.

Why the worry? what's the hurry? Take your

time and stroll - picking from life's wayside

hedges that which feeds the soul ....Take your

time and walk on grass; to look at flowers and

trees - wandering and pondering on wonders

such as these.... slacken pace to see the view.

Take your time or time takes you.  

Index

SOMEBODY SAID THAT SOMEBODY SAID By Patience Strong

  Somebody said that somebody said. Trouble

was caused and suspicion fed. Somebody passed

an idle word. Someone repeated what

someone had heard.

  There has been many a broken heart. Many a

marriage has come apart. Many relationships

have been changed. Many a neighbour become

estranged. In many  a home where peace once

reigned affection and loyalty have been strained,

and many a life is incomplete all because

someone was indiscreet.

Many a friendship has been wrecked -

through gossip unfounded and unchecked.

Mischief was made and a rumour spread.

Somebody said that somebody said.