My
Poems

Tormented
Souls
Complex
person.
Abstract
thought makes sense
to
rare few.
Perceptive
minds
unravel
the mystery.
Life
–
complicated
and unpredictable.
So
far away.
Just
out of reach.
Souls
yearning.
World
spinning uncontrollably.
Or
is it,
just
you and me?
Helpless?
Drifting
forever in a maze of fate,
never
drifting apart.
Just
out of reach,
never
quite touching.
Strained
emotions,
infinitely
unsettled.
Circumstances
unyielding.
Complex
people.
Composed
in 1978
The
Image
(for
Adri)
Image
of life,
originality.
Image
of reality,
expectations.
Image
of dream,
fulfillment.
Reality
of dream –
dream
of reality.
Blindness
versus intelligence.
Perception.
The
Individual
struggling.
Confusion
–
undermines
all thought . . .
Is
life but a vision, my friend?
Composed
in 1979

I
Am But One
(for
Julian)
The
world in fragments.
Individuals
picking
out pieces,
discarding
conventions,
stereotypes
non-existent
in
his world.
Still
searching.
Never
lingering long enough to be caught
in
the tide of monotony.
A
minute particle
in
a vast universe of mass production,
struggling
for originality.
Creativity
dominates ignorance.
the
‘ideal’ image fruitless,
never
given a chance
to
take over the world.
A
continual battle
for
a sense of identity.
Composed
in 1979

Invisible Walls Still
Human
(for
Jenni)
A
warm , yet detached smile.
A
tender, yet cold touch.
So
near and yet so far.
Distant
from
the problem.
Just
lending a sterile hand
to
responsibilities so great.
Frustrations,
of
having to remain aloof.
Strangers
become patients,
remain
strangers,
draining
you –
of
attention,
and
love,
and
emotion,
until
there is nothing,
but
a stone cold shell of a person
in
a stiff uniform,
mechanically
dutiful.
Exigency
of life
so
fragile,
sometimes
you
wish you were dead.
Exhaustingly
exhilarating.
Still
coping with the demands,
never
quite losing touch
with
reality.
Composed
in 1979

Inner Conflict
(for
Julie)
Stranger,
among
a sea of new faces.
Old
one reappearing,
demanding
attention.
Torn
between past and present.
Afraid
to hurt,
yet
inner mind
tranquil,
knowing
years
can never separate
The
Bond.
Friendly
faces
eager
to please.
Never
quite the same.
Still
a stranger
in
many ways,
leaving
transient impressions,
except
to few.
Composed
in 1979

The Pale Shadow
(In
Memorium – Chris)
The
presence
of
the dark wall
so
threatening
I
see
Nothing
beyond
the darkness.
Onerous
pressure
envelopes
the whole;
the
grey vision
imperishable.
Mind
spinning,
body
aching,
all
anguish,
all
frustration
is
drawn out,
and
numbs beyond numbness.
Unrelentless
to all.
Unforgiving.
Pain
forever implanted.
Sorrow
a
sediment –
disturbed
by
the presence of the forboding wall,
willing
to quell
unexpectedly,
with
stoic ease.
But
the evanescent shadow
continues,
eternally
bound,
to
follow
many
unaware
of its
diaphanous existence.
Composed in
1979

Insatiable
Moods
Blank
minds
continue
to
suppress.
Us
–
so
lovely,
so
vulnerable
to
modern starvation.
Transitional
emotions
concealed
by
shallow mirrors
of
aloofness,
reflecting
literal
existence;
while
we stand
motionless
–
waiting
with
anticipation,
for
the world
to
stop,
and
listen
to
our minds
crying
out
in
soulful desperation.
Composed in 1979

Quintessence of
Living
What
is life,
but
an immeasurable unit
searching
endlessly
for
meaning beyond.
The
power to observe
more
clearly
with
the inner eye.
Solitude
tortures many.
Yet
this silent companion,
an
alter ego
to
the perceptive ilk.
A
stranger among men in this world –
inflicted
with consternation,
unless
we
have the strength
to
strive for deeper understanding.
To
expand the creative milieu;
to
alleviate the conventional restrictions;
to
eradicate superficiality.
Must
retain our individual identities,
if
life is to hold . . . a
purpose.
Composed in
1980

Translucent
Journey
Immortal
pain
so
deep
and
unpredictably violent,
stabs
the soul,
inflicts
the body –
limb
to limb,
muscle
to muscle,
bone
to bone.
The
threads unwilling
to
give way.
Desperation,
in
silent attitude,
fighting
against
disintergrating
strength
and
mere helplessness.
Ultimate
pressure
unmercifully
tautens
all
rational moves
with
insensitivity.
The
mind stands
unprotected
before
Fate,
innocent
and confused,
frightened,
yet
accepting decimation
as
the only
possible
path.
Futile
existence
insignificant,
losing
all grasp
of
the complex thoughts
rarely
perceived in society;
unable
to
support
the
fragile body
of
subtlety
any
longer.
Unique
amongst
the oblivious,
struggling
for sympathy
from
the masses,
so
often misunderstood
until
eternal peace
becomes strangely inviting.
Composed in 1981

The Silent
Heart
(for
Gwen & Clive)
Three
as one
with
such propinquity,
in
many ways
helping,
sharing,
guiding.
Friendly
faces
crying
out
in
laughter with you,
in
sorrow with you.
No
pretences.
Carefree,
dutiful,
and
sympathetic to one another.
Emotional
unity
within
a concentrated circle.
An
esoteric sphere,
tightly
binding
this
infinite bond.
Composed in
1981

Birth of a Great Nephew
(for
Sharon & Steven)
Love
beyond words
delicate
tender
fulfilling
a
longing desire.
Fragile
dream
bestowed
with
greatest
of
Christmas joys.
Composed in January
1993

Fragile Beginning
(for
Jenny)
A
memory sweet
a
glowing warmth.
A
burden of deep
condolence
sought.
A
tearful parting,
aching
hearts,
a
painful yearning,
a
tentative start.
A
little treasure
of
you and me,
will
drift forever
in
memory.
Composed in
1994

Birth
A
loving touch
a
warm embrace
strong
sensations
a
moments rest.
Hearts
pounding
the
hours long,
trying
to focus
energy
gone.
Helpless.
Frustrated.
Lack
of control.
Time
drifts on
in
a spiraling swirl
of
voices
and
feelings
and
pushing galore.
No
closer.
No
further
than
before.
So
sweet darling,
as
dignity fades,
a
sudden appearance
of
our long awaited babe.
Emotions
burst forth
and
tears of joy
override
this precious moment
with
the birth of our boy.
Composed in
1995


Ode
to Zebras
Graceful and
free
muscles
tense
with
anticipation
beneath black and
white
diffused
against
a withdrawing
horizon.
Panic
stricken,
their soulful
eyes
seek
escape
as clouds of
dust
envelop
them
with unbridled
pleasure.
Composed in
1999

Ode to Sixty Years of
Marriage
Twenty five years have been and
gone,
Then fifty came
around.
Now it’s sixty years of true
devotion,
An achievement to be
proud!
We look back in admiration,
Of the losses you had to
bear,
As you parted from friends and
family,
For a better life
elsewhere.
Arriving in Australia,
To a culture of carefree
living,
With a language difficult to
master,
And a climate
unforgiving.
In jest and ridicule were you
betrayed,
In your many attempts and
persistence,
To speak and learn this new
language better,
Which at first made little
difference.
Despite the negativity,
You had one goal in
mind,
To secure a home for your
family,
Which you were determined to
find.
After some moving from place to
place,
And tough times along the
way,
You remained steadfast in your
dreams,
And eventually came the
day.
When you finally arrived in a far out
town,
A long way from Albert
Park,
To a little place called
Warrandyte,
Where you settled and made a
start.
From precious little your hard work
began,
To create the best for us
all.
We often wonder how you
managed,
As it must have been quite a
struggle.
You have experienced so much in your
life,
Things we could never
comprehend,
We cannot fully understand the
war,
And the hardships this inflicted
‘til the end.
Not only have you lived through such
times,
You then moved to an unknown
place,
Where opportunities you truly
believed,
Would be easier to
embrace.
Although sometimes it was a
challenge,
As you had four daughters to
raise,
You never wavered in your duty as
parents,
And were always ready to
praise.
We rarely caught a glimpse of
disagreements,
Or bore witness to your worries
and stress,
You made sure we never went
without,
And filled our home with love and
kindness.
You seldom thought about
yourselves,
Placing others needs before your
own,
Your wish was to give your
girls,
A life we could not
bemoan.
As if you had not enough to do
already,
You made time for others in
need,
The fact they were not always
family,
Were honorable gestures
indeed.
But that is our Mum and Dad all
over,
Never asking for anything in
return,
Overflowing with generosity of
spirit,
Humbly grateful for everything
they earned.
Then your daughters grew up and
married,
They had children of their
own,
Some of these children now have
children,
And your family has truly
grown.
We may not always have thanked
you,
And our appreciation never
waned,
Without fail you loyally
supported us,
Even when our mistakes were to
blame.
We thank you now for all the pain and
sacrifices,
You have shouldered for us over
the years,
We appreciate every effort you
made,
And more clearly understand your
tears.
There must have been moments of
frustration,
And times of discomfort and
despair.
You survived every setback and
with stoic pride,
You still showed us how much you
cared.
We feel your deep respect for one
another,
And can see your strong bond in
life,
You may not always openly show
your love,
But it’s there - as parents,
husband and wife
No one can dare accuse you of
selfishness,
Or of not trying your very
best,
You have continually done far and
beyond,
What would have been done by the
rest.
Look back with pride on all your
achievements,
And the incredible distance you
have traveled.
Many would have faltered well
before now,
Taking the path in life’s journey
you have followed.
Composed in January 2007

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