Who made us laugh when he ran for some ducks And ended up in the lake – SPLASH!
Who taught us patience when he sniffed EVERY tree ‘reading’ ALL the tracks, making us wait – not finished yet.
Who looked out the door and turned straight round When he detected ‘wet’, present or future – let’s wait a bit.
Who tried his best in training class and learned to sit, lie and fetch And jump for a treat - when HE wanted.
Who greeted us after 3 hours of absence Like long lost friends and brought us toys to share.
Who mediated in disputes, human or animal Because he considered it his job.
Who lay down in front of our 3 cats Never a threat, always peace loving.
Who happily crunched carrots in the beginning And then got choosy, but never refused cheese and liver.
Who was dragged and pulled And forgave us for it immediately.
Who hated fireworks and ended up under the table A quivering mass, fed with treats, to distract.
Who chased squirrels perhaps in the hope he would not catch them. What would he do then? End up with a scratched nose?
Whose paw beckoned you to stay longer And stroke some more, and then he settled and smiled.
Who demanded his place on the sofa At 9 o’clock sharp, after class - and got it.
Here’s to Rusty Whose place under the table is now empty But who lives on in our hearts and memories. Forever!
Like a phoenix Poetry rises Telling of rebirth Again and Again Of a new life Another chance to get it right.
Like a phoenix Death precedes birth Glowing embers remind you Of what you are leaving behind Of the fire that purified And carried you Towards the new light.
Like a phoenix Every end is a beginning Suffering will pass Hope and endurance prevail Darkness will be turned Into flames of glory Always leaving the glowing embers.
BBarrett29/10/14
I Wonder
August
Perhaps it's time for stillness and un-doing For drifting and letting be Time for nurturing and learning And turning in to visit me Time for listening deep inside And going with the flow For quietly planting a precious seed And giving it space to grow Time for plodding and thinking With hope and with grace And accepting with courage What's in front of my face Time to find truth and clarity And peace and kindness within To lighten the load, reveal my purpose And help me get ready to win.
BBarrett 01/14
The smell of apples ripening On branches bending laden with fruit The sound of them dropping The shadows lengthening Earlier every evening The angle of the light Deepening the colours The sky dressed in hues From indigo to oppressive grey The air going through its repertoire Wild creatures busily preparing For winter or a long sleep The forest paths Filling with deep muddy puddles The sun spreading a gentle warmth Abundance in everything Yet rest is near ….in August?
BBarrett 08/12
Letting Go of You
With every fibre of my heart I loved you With every thought in my
mind I tried to understand you With every hope in my soul I prayed that you would be alright
I went down with you to despair I went up with you to delight I decided to be strong for you and seemed to become weaker Fear and Worry made me lash out in anger Belief in change made me give you yet another chance
Now the fibres of my heart have been stretched to their limit The thoughts in my mind are jumbled and sad The hope in my soul has transformed into resignation and loss
I find it ever harder to come up from the downs of your despair And the fear of it not lasting makes me careful and reserved in the good times I must now be strong for myself and separate our lives I must turn fear and worry into loving boundaries live my life to the full and let you live yours.
Birgit Barrett 29/06/11
My Kite
With help from friends And God’s breath in the wind I get it off the ground. Holding the reins in my hand I tentatively try to keep it up. Too close to the trees It will get tangled, Too high above It will break loose. I am learning To slacken the ropes When it’s tumbling And to tighten and labour With the next gust To make it soar. Once up, with good control It’s easy to keep it there, Until I get tired Or God holds his breath And it dives to return To where it came from.
BBarrett 06/13
When Time Stood Still
Planes gliding noiselessly, Nothing stirring, No birds twittering, Eerie. Only the noise of the traffic, The air thick and unbreathable, The sky lined in gloomy forboding, Just me and my dog Moving silently. The darkest, greenest greens I’ve ever seen. The sun a colourless crescent Behind hazy clouds, A lonesome runner. In stark contrast The thundering sounds of cars Going down the A406.
Birgit Barrett, 04/07/10
A Still Day
Not the slightest breeze Disturbs the trees, Though the clouds tell Of something ‘brewing’ in the sky. The sun peeks out like a golden field Under a heavy blanket, The colours of heaven too manifold to count, Yet the colours of earth parched and dull. The trees show the first signs of Autumn, Some yellow and brown has sneaked Into the darkest greens. Too calm, it fills me With a sense of stagnant sadness. Who’d have thought I’d miss the wind?