In The New Year.

                                            Before it is too late!

                      

                        Let's praise each other now and then,

                               Give credit where it is due,

                        Let's help the downcast heart again

                                To tackle life anew.

                        Let's pay the debts of love we owe,

                                Forget the debts of hate,

                        Let's say the kindest words we know,

                                Before it is too late.

                          

Happy Christmas Everyone.

                                           

                                          A little child,

                                          A shining star,
                                          A stable rude,
                                          The door ajar.
                                          Yet in that place
                                          So crude, forlorn,
                                          The hope of all
                                          The world was born.


         God bless you all, this christmas and always.                    

Christmas Time Is Here Again!

                             

 Christmas 2011.

This christmas as we sit to dine,

Although there be food and wine,

Let’s look back upon a year,

Where great loss has welled a tear.

This Christmas as we sit to dine,

Although the merriment be fine,

Let’s look back upon a year,

Where  life’s challenges have met with fear.

This Christmas as we sit to dine,

Although the parcels may all be mine,

Let’s look back upon a year,

Where loneliness was always near.

This Christmas as we sit to dine,

Although the lights and decorations shine,

Let’s look back upon a year,

Where the hope of love did disappear.

This Christmas as we sit to dine,

Although the meal maybe divine,

Let’s look back upon a year,

Where financial problems did re-appear.

This Christmas as we sit to dine,

Although no snow be on the pine,

Let’s look back upon a year,

Where despite it all, thank God we’re here!

The Metamorphosis of Life.

Our Beloved Roger . 

We might, or might not endure radical transformation?

Each individual to their own destiny.

Regret for those who are alive but have never lived.

Loneliness, as loved ones proceed us in this final phase.

The ultimate discomfort of what lies ahead.

With all our knowledge, we don’t comprehend.

The physical and verbal avoidance.

Without faith, darkness and fear.

To continue there can be no dwelling upon the future.

The utter impotence of times impartial race.

There is nothing stronger than the circle of life.

With all our knowledge, we don’t comprehend.

We bend and mould to our fate.

It’s a roller-coaster of emotions.

The body declines while the spirit anticipates it’s freedom.

No avoidance, no steering clear.

This time there is no choice, no free will.

With all our knowledge, we don’t comprehend.

It’s the great metamorphosis of life.

Humanity’s minute universal importance.

No matter the billions of tears all shed in vain.

The absolute truth. The one certainty of life.

And yet despite the centuries of death,

With all our knowledge, we still don’t comprehend

The Croc.

 There was an enormous croc,

 Who liked to eat kids a lot!

Out of the jungle he did come,

To get kids into his "tum".

          

 He played a trick or two

To try and fill his "tum" anew.

But although his tricks were quite clever,

Nothing came from his endevour.

                                                

The other animals saved the day,

By warning the kids in every way.

They loudly shouted out

That the enormous croc was about.

       

Frustrated at the delay,

Hungrier than ever he did stay.

And just when he thought that he'd won at last

The elephant was there to spin him fast.

                        

Round and round he did go,

  The elephant bellowed "No,no,no"!

WOOSH...into space he did fly.

"I've learnt my lesson" he did sigh.

                    

Now he only eats fish,

Very politely on a dish.

The enormous croc loves Sashimi,

Using chopsticks you should see!

                 

* This poem was based on Roald Dahl's story of the Enormous Crocodile and was adapted, especially the end part of the story, because it was presented by very small children...4,5 and 6 year olds. The drawings were also done by them.

                         Hope and Faith.

Nothing´s too hard if the will is there

and the will is backed by daily prayer.

There is no hill that a man can’t climb

If he keeps on climbing all the time.

No where is too far for a dream to stray,

For a dream can leap a milky way,

And take a rainbow in it’s stride,

Waiting not for time and tide.

There is no limit for Hope’s wide range

Though the way may be dark and the road be strange.

There’s no horizon so far away, that Faith,

Will not cross it, sometime, someday.

                                                                       Patience Strong.

 * By this time of the year we are all tired, but take heart folks, just think of all the  things you have accomplished during 2011.The many things we manage and take for granted seem to get lost in life's constant rat-race. It's when we are most tired that we tend to lose Hope and Faith. When I feel like that, I read this poem...it always helps....

Lonely.

                                                             

When one is lonely

To keep from going mad,

Life is spent in imagination

Which is both, pathetic and sad.

You talk to a photograph

Invent a situation

Laugh out loud at a thought

Make-believe,becomes a fixation.

And in the lonely silence

While you sit with God.

You wonder if you brought this on yourself

Or is life,just giving you a prod?

In the hight of my performances

Reality comes a’knocking

The time lost in dreamland

Is just too damb shocking!

Loneliness is all around,but mostly within

Invoking desperate measures to run and hide,

Or just pretend and grin!

But no matter how you try,when you close the door,

There it is...your old friend,to haunt you,as before.

Around The World We Go.

                                            Around The World We Go.

Around, around the world we go,

Over mountains high, and rivers low.

Through forests wet, and deserts dry,

And wind and snow and blue, blue sky.

Around, around the world we go,

Making lots of friends and saying “Hello”!

Visiting churches, museums and statues,

Taking photos galore and eating natchos.

Around, around the world we go,

On a bullet train or a camel slow.

Watching the dancing, singing and fun,

Football, carnival and carioca sun.

Around, around the world we go,

The more we see, the more we know.

The friends we make are friends that stay,

Cause we’ll be back for sure, some day!

* This poem was also written for children around the ages of 6/7 years old. It was included in a presentation about travel and all that can be learnt from other cultures.

Mother Nature.

Despite respecting all scientific theories and religious beliefs, when I observe all the magnificense in nature, untouched by man, I see God. As hard as I try, I cannot conceive that all this beauty can be resumed to a human explanation...And when I look around and see what we've done to His great creation, I wonder...do we deserve to be part of it?

    

            

Man's Best Friend.

God made the earth and sky.

The flowers and the trees.

He then made all the animals,

And all the birds and bees.

And when His work was finished,

Not one was quite the same,

He said I’ll walk this earth of mine,

And give each one a name.

And so He travelled land and sea,

And every where He went.

A little creature followed Him,

Until His strength was spent.

And when they were all named upon the earth,

And in the sky and sea.

The little creature said “Dear Lord,

There’s not one left for me”.

The Father smiled and softly said…

“I’ve left you to the end,

I’ve turned my own name back to front,

And called you dog my friend”.

                                                             - Author unknown.

* I have many favourite poems and this is definetly one of them!

Growing Old.

                                

      Growing Old.

As I grow old I smile and think,

How it all passes in what seems a wink.

The ups, the downs, the laughter and the tears,

Continue to happen despite the years.

Maturity advances and the lessons prevail,

Live life fully, before the body goes stale.

What mattered before, now petty and small,

Life’s serious challenges, at this point, stand tall.

Letting go of the dreams is the hardest part,

It’s like sticking a knife right into your heart.

But the time comes, when enough is enough,

To age gracefully, one has to be tough.

By watching the elderly from day to day,

I can’t help wondering if I’ll be that way?

A profound respect I have come to feel,

Getting old is indeed, an enormous deal!

But let’s end on a happy line,

Let’s make it to a healthy ninety-nine.

Because the alternative I’m not ready for,

Give me life… I want more, more and more!

Butterflies.

                                   Butterflies.

              Some butterflies came flying by,

               And the world exclaimed “Oh, my!”.

               What dainty creatures these,

               Whom our eyes so often please,

                They colour our lives so,

                As they flutter high and low.

    * This was a little poem written for a presentation with small children (6/7).

Time Line

Time Line

We are born - life is great,

The doctor though - is not a mate!

Learnt to walk – all is new,

Mum and dad go – Ah! and ooo!

Happiness now we can speak,

All are questions leave them weak!

Here we are at the big, big school,

Trying to show that we are cool!

Now we rock  ´cause we’re thirteen,

The coolest teenagers ever seen!

University – Oh! We’re so bright,

Gown and hat – what a sight!

All grown-up – a job at last,

Earning money - what a blast!

Getting married – a dream come true,

All are friends are marrying too!

Somethings happening – tummy’s mov’in,

Someone inside - is really groov’in!

We are born life is great,

Time for us all  - to CELEBRATE!

  * This poem was included in a presentation by children of 7/8 years old. They mimed the actions in pairs, with a few props. It turned out to be hilarious!  

Trying to write a poem

Trying to write a poem.

Here I sit trying to make sense of my feelings.

They are such tender and emotional dealings.

I wish I could write what I really want to say,

But inspiration has gone – well, at least for today!

Maybe endeavouring to express myself in a song?

But I have no talent…it would sound all wrong.

A poem is what it’s turning out to be.

A poem which makes no sense to you or to me.

I am putting pen to paper to write,

Senseless words about an inward fight.

A poem with no love, no fairies and nothing witty,

And nothing about up-lifting values or a beautiful city.

I don’t want to write about sadness and tears.

The world is saturated with despair and fears.

So as the beautiful thoughts don’t come,

I’ll just have to sit here and suck my thumb!

Spinsterizm

Spinsterizm.

Illusion and heart-ache,

pressure and pain.

Down through the years,

a constant strain!

The same old mistakes,

committed and past.

The time rushes on,

The spell holds fast.

Some are lucky.

Some just learn.

I go trying and wait my turn.

As time runs out,

and the future unfolds,

my dream, once bright – no longer holds.

Alas, time waits for no one,

And no one waits for me.

I’ll get used to having fun,

With only my t.v!

Tudor Times

Tudor times.

The plots, the threats, the lies,

Treason, poison and trusted spies.

Court was the place to be,

Execution was a fun thing to see.

Theater was at it’s best,

Shakespeare, Marlowe and the rest.

Explorers or pirates with their loot,

Heroes or villains ? – How astute!

Grammer schools for the rich,

The girls at home, were taught to stitch.

Big mansions were built in certain places,

With decorated chambers and private spaces.

The nobles clothes had jewels and all,

And fantastic self-portraits on the wall.

Bear-baiting was the cruel delight,

Both Henry and Liz loved the sight.

The Holy Bible was translated,

Catholics then were doomed and hated.

The Armarda was the Spanish fleet,

Which were forced to scatter and retreat.

Tudor England had a lot to offer,

The English, on the whole did prosper.

The historical facts are there,

For future generations to learn and share.

* This poem was also included in a performance by children who were 10 at the time.

Poems

                                    Poems can be written in many ways,
                                    Some are quick to create,
                                    Others take days and days.

                                   To be inspired over a certain theme,
                                   Can help the creative process,
                                   And the writing then, becomes a dream.

                                   Or better still, with no theme at "beck and call"
                                   You suddenly find yourself writing madly,
                                   About nothing at all!

                                  Personally, my poems have to rhyme,
                                  Don't ask me why?
                                  I guess it's something to do with music and time.

                                 I love to hear the words match,
                                 Making the writing more difficult,
                                 But oh! magic, when you hear the click and latch!

                                And when the poem's done,
                                What satisfaction to sit back,
                                And re-read the birth of yet another son!

                               I don't rhyme for folks to judge or see,
                               I write to explore and have fun,

                               It's part of me.  

Thirteen Retirement Steps.

                                                                  Rejecting.
                                                                  Regretting.
                                                                  Reminiscing.
                                                                  Readjusting.
                                                                  Revaluating.
                                                                  Recommencing.
                                                                  Rediscovering.
                                                                  Relaxing.
                                                                  Realizing.
                                                                  Relinquishing.
                                                                  Reigniting.
                                                                  Reemerging.
                                                                  Reliving.

Such is love.

                                  The inward joy, ah, the bliss,
                                  The feeling of being loved.
                                  The warm and passionate kiss,

                                  Ah....such is love!


                                  The whispered words shared by two.
                                  The hope of things to come.
                                  The tender stare used to woo,
                                  Ah...such is love!


                                  The sparkling eyes the happy look.
                                  The hours that fly by.
                                  The excited chatter, the attempt to cook,
                                  Ah...such is love!

The British School

                                  In this ever changing world in which we live,

                                 To our future adults we give,

                         The strong values that mould the young,

                         So let the praises of our school be sung.

                       The British School of Rio is in our hearts.

                           Tradition and education it imparts.

                         Each generation we shape and guide,

                       Giving them opportunities far and wide.

                     The seeds for tomorrow's happiness we lay,

                        And character we build from day to day.                    

                                Always striving for the best,

                        So that our youth can triumph with zest.

                             Exploring what the present holds,

                         So that tomorrow's secrets will unfold.

                      Our school will be the essence of our souls,

               Something to look back on, when we've all achieved

                                            our goals.

     * I can't remember what year this took place but, I was asked to write a poem that could later be put to music with the idea of having a school anthem. It never happened, and I found the poem in the middle of all my papers and wanted to share it....After all I gave 30 years of my life to this establishment!