River of Gold – poem on graduation

14 June 201514 June 2015 / Waves and Pebbles - random thoughts and writing on life, memories and creativity / Leave a comment

Copyright 2013 Kinshuk Kashyap, Flickr, CC-BY, via Wylio

I wrote this poem on the train en route to my son’s graduation back in 2011.

RIVER OF GOLD

A droplet in the ocean

no different than the rest

The world is filled with motion

yet there seems no special quest

There’s such a special journey

for one that is so small

A ripple, one of many

some are heading for a fall

Life gives them such a blessing

with gifts for all to seek

Within is where they’re hiding

and the secret is to peek

Search for true hidden talents

the playful ones count too

Don’t let them say it’s nonsense

deep inside you have the cue

To learn the many reasons

for this and that and how

Till knowledge is the river

leads to taking such a bow

The prize is yours forever

to take you far and wide

The river it is golden

rippling ever more with pride

Poem on a much delayed train journey to Brighton – untitled

31 May 2015 / Waves and Pebbles - random thoughts and writing on life, memories and creativity / Leave a comment

Copyright 2011 Alexander, Flickr, CC-BY-SA, via Wylio

Just found this poem. I was on my way to Brighton to visit a school friend I had not seen for very many years. It turned out to be a very special day. This was written spontaneously on the very long (much delayed) train journey there after gazing out the window at the surrounding countryside.

I am life.

I am a leaf

growing out a place.

I live here,

here on the bank.

The trains pass me by,

no-one sees

‘cept those frustrated

with their time-thieved lives

and they are too blinkered to see.

I am a leaf of life.

Words – what would we do without them? Random poetic writing

30 May 201530 May 2015 / Waves and Pebbles - random thoughts and writing on life, memories and creativity / 2 Comments

Copyright 2012 Denise Krebs, Flickr, CC-BY, via Wylio

I have just stumbled across these verses written early one morning in the summer of 2010 sitting by the river whilst holidaying at Statford upon Avon. The desire to write and getting stuck seems to have remained with me!

Aren’t words the wonder of all

they bring such treasures our way

Without them we’d fall with nothing to call

and life would be dull day on day.

We’d sing, no lyrics would come

we would hum, laa laa, dee dee

What would be the point, well ok for some

but for most so lost would be.

So writers what would they write

no way to convey their thoughts

However they tried, as hard as they might

they would drift and be out of sorts.

How would we share all our joys

that come bursting through our voice

Whatever we feel, whatever the noise

the message is not our choice.

With no words no wonder is

unless an artist could be

With colour and light, some pencil and vizz

would say all there is to see.

Words are the key to my life

without them what would I do

Be lost for a while, my thoughts would be rife

till vision could see them too.

A lesson it is for me

to be the best that I can

A story will write, for all it will be

for children, for women, for man.

A puzzle this has become

it didn’t set out to be

I will paint and draw, I will sing and hum

till the words they come to me.

The Impact of Place – Wellbeing, Inspiration and Creativity

20 April 201521 April 2015 / Waves and Pebbles - random thoughts and writing on life, memories and creativity / 2 Comments

A short while back I talked about my creativity being blocked and trying to overcome this. I’ve not yet overcome my inability to immerse myself in a creative zone but I will share my thoughts and progress. Having spent two months in hospital, and a further month at home, mainly but not exclusively in one room, I have had little chance to get out and about and when I do most visits are for appointments at the hospital. In the past few days I have realised what is perhaps the obvious, the effect of place on my ability to relax, switch off and become entwined in my creative quest. At a basic level, I have had to relocate my bedroom to a lower floor, losing the broad view of the sky and my cosy writing corner. Then there is the effect of being restricted, not going out to walk and explore different places. So I turn to my memories and love of water. Water in all it’s natural forms is inspiring, be it sea, river, waterfall, stream or lake. In pondering this blog I recalled a holiday at Lake Bled, a most magical place in Slovenia. When I visited many years ago I had not started writing but I recall how I felt when I surveyed the view from the hotel balcony on the night of arrival and the many hours enjoyed walking alongside the beautiful lake. Perhaps if I can allow my mind to drift and recapture the essence of the special places I have visited – with a notebook to hand – I will be able to move forward with my creative pursuits. Even on a rainy day, Lake Bled is a magical place.

Copyright Maurice, Flickr, CC-BY, via Wylio

Morning Pages and an untitled poem

29 March 201529 March 2015 / Waves and Pebbles - random thoughts and writing on life, memories and creativity / Leave a comment

Many years ago I came across Julie Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way. One very important thing I gained from this was the practice of morning pages (which can be done at any time of the day when you have peace on your own). For those that don’t know, this involves having pen and a large notebook, a quiet and comfortable space on your own, and then writing a set number of pages (I believe it’s 3) without stopping. Write about anything that comes to mind, don’t think about it or plan what you are going to write. If you don’t know what to write, just write ‘I don’t know what to write’ repeatedly until something else appears on the page. This may sound silly but from my own experience it really works and it is really surprising where the writing may lead. Sometimes I have written poems this way and below are some verses that appeared one day.

Whatever dreams you may have

Let them sway

Like the trees in the wind going with the flow

With good roots, know that they’re OK.

Whatever thoughts you may have

They’re precious

Like jewels sprinkled on a moonlit pond

With respect, know that they’re secure

Whatever love you may have

t’is a gift

Like nothing else in the world

With love, know that you love.

Light

29 March 201529 March 2015 / Waves and Pebbles - random thoughts and writing on life, memories and creativity / Leave a comment

This poem was written some while ago and was inspired by a documentary about light and how important it is to our lives.

Light

Where does light come from

it comes all around

We take it for granted

till it can’t be found

What if it left us

and never came back

Our lives would be ruined

with such a big lack

What is its value

and do we all know

that light is our leader

controls where we go

Our clock it is ticking

we live day to day

and light is the reason

we find the right way

Yet do we take notice

of what our soul feels

and do we respect it

the natural wheels

I gaze with such wonder

at all that light is

A miracle surely

without it we’ll zizzzz…. or not!

The Sea’s Gift

28 March 201528 March 2015 / Waves and Pebbles - random thoughts and writing on life, memories and creativity / Leave a comment

When I was sorting through papers the other day I came across a copy of one of my lost poems – one of my favourites. So here it is … The poems I have written to date are spontaneous as they come. This one reflects the beneficial effect that walking by the sea can make to me.

The Sea’s Gift

Swirling, swelling, choffing about

ever there, forever no doubt

Wondrous feeling, breezing hair

Visual landscape, no compare.

Softly, seeping, lapping away

ever there, forever a day

Gentle ebbing, loving cure

Sensual feelscape, yet so pure.

Twilight, twinkling, milling anew

ever there, forever for you

Heaven crying, flowing deep

Mystical dreamscape, I will keep.

Sunshine warming, glist’ning delight

ever there, forever my might

Soulful cleansing, giving hope

Miracle seascape, I can cope.

Welcome to ‘Waves and Pebbles’

20 March 201528 June 2015 / Waves and Pebbles - random thoughts and writing on life, memories and creativity / 3 Comments

On the day of my first post in March 2015 what a lovely surprise to receive a beautiful bouquet of such vibrant colours. One week after returning home after a long stay in hospital, they were a heartfelt reminder of the kind thoughts of others and how precious they are. Going through a very unexpected and difficult time, it was the amazing love and support of family and friends that made such a difference to me.

I have a long journey ahead to fight my illness but I am not intending this blog to focus on my diagnosis and treatment. Instead it is about doing something that helps me achieve some of my goals at a time when I am very restricted as to what I am able to do. It is about making the most of life, often by enjoying some of the simplest things.

I believe in the value of memories and creativity. For me, journalling opened up the world of creative writing and poetry. I have long had an interest in photography and have discovered the therapeutic benefits of painting and colouring purely for fun. A life-long learner, I have had many interests. My bookshelves are filled with self-development and life coaching books, alongside many years of cookery books which include a precious Cordon Bleu cookery course set. More recently, it is the Social Sciences that have opened up a new world.

I am not sure where this blog will lead but I hope you may wish to join me on my journey and make some new discoveries that will inspire you and enhance the quality of your life.