The Greatest Mystery of All – Tyler Kershaw

In my heart they will always remain

Tyler Kershaw is a Film Student at Leeds Trinity University who has very kindly decided to submit his work to Voices. Tyler is extremely passionate about poetry and writing, and we thank him for his contribution.

The greatest mystery of all

As I sit here in modest reflection,

I think of the lives that fill my heart with affection,

Scottish neighbours down the road,

Nana and Grandad whose love they bestowed,

Benny, Izzy Lula dogs most faithful,

My feelings for them forever grateful,

In the folly of youth I thought them immortal,

Feeling their affection I forgot they were mortal,

So many sunny days and happy nights,

Their aura, their power shining so bright,

This fire they made lit me up like a lantern,

Brush strokes on my life left me with a pattern,

In my house I see their pictures,

The memories up there just fading fixtures,

My question to the cosmos the universe at large,

Are their spirits up their or just a mirage,

Do they watch from the heavens under Heimdallr’s eyes?

Or is this comforting thought a torrent of lies,

I think I understand this affronting mystery,

There is more that’s left than just plain history,

In my heart they will always remain,

Their existence was always more than a brain,

The power of the soul forever eternal,

The spark the fire forever infernal,

Although I weep at the physical loss,

I can’t help but smile they’ve passed across,

On to the boundaries of a new existence,

I will always remember them with all my persistence,

At times it makes me mellow it makes me sad,

But this feeling and force I’ll always be glad,

Tyler Kershaw, 21, Leeds

Did you enjoy this poem? Why not visit Maggie’s website at: Maggie’s Centre Nottingham to find out more about their exceptional work and/or make a donation. Do you have a poem you would like to submit to Voices? Feel free to do so by email at: voicespoetry@outlook.com or via the ‘Contact’ page on this site.

Nimbus – Luke Nutt

bright like an idea or a movement in dance

Luke Nutt is a university graduate with a passion for English and creative writing. He often draws upon personal experiences but decided to create ‘Nimbus’ in honour of a friend’s sister who was recently diagnosed with cancer. Thank you so much Luke for sharing your talents with Voices and entering the competition.

NIMBUS

a hair becomes ash
for fingers to play
to write a play.
crespucular in mood
but bright like an idea
or a movement in dance.
there is no snuffing you
no forcing you from the sky –
your cloud is as I say

your cloud.

mammoth of nimbus
you are no dowager
you live, sky blue,
sky and blue,
light hue on a damaged canvas.
and like the cloud’s tears feed
foliage;
it, too, feeds the stream
next to which we build cities,
churches, homes. keeping hope
remaining
hopeful
for the droplets
that contain
you.

Luke Nutt

The Grief in my Mind – Macee Grace Atkins

Like a broken mother, I mourned for someone

Macee Grace Atkins has had a love of reading, writing short stories and poetry from an early age. A tragic accident which resulted in the loss of a fellow student at Macee’s school inspired ‘The Grief in my Mind’. We really appreciate Macee taking the time to share her talents, and address a very difficult so topic eloquently through the medium of poetic verse.

I didn’t quite know you and you didn’t quite know me,

but somehow. The silence of the crowds,

and the parting of the clouds, made me wish you peace.

For it wasn’t meant to be.

Like a broken mother,

I mourned for someone I had not loved but somehow lost.

Trickling droplets of grief

cleansed me of the purity of happiness. Until

a single angelic sign settled on my right shoulder.

Reminding me of hope,

that of which I have for you, Aamer.

Macee Grace Atkins, 15

Stephanie Hewitt – Hope

give things time..we’ll heal…we’ll smile..

Many thanks to Stephanie Hewitt for her entry to Voices. Stephanie’s mum, who is sadly unwell at present, provided the inspiration to the poem – and she loves her very much. The poem reminds us of how quickly life can change for better or for worse. We appreciate Stephanie’s kind decision to share.

Hope

Our lives are full of wonder..of how each day will be..

we hope it’s full of love..good health..but we have to wait and see..

Our lives can take a tumble..when we’re sure it’s turned out right..

It can turn our lives upside down..and darkness hides the light..

But don’t despair..be sad..or weep..It’s just a passing day..

give things time..we’ll heal…we’ll smile..Everything will be Ok..

Stephanie Hewitt, Great Ayton, North Yorkshire

We Are Blind – Caoilinn Hughes

It’s easy to ignore problems

Thank you Caoilinn Hughes for her potent and relevant offering to Voices. We appreciate her decision to share her work for a very good cause.

We Are Blind

We are blind to what we don’t want to see

And deaf to what we don’t want to hear

We accept the inequality in our world

And ignore all the hatred and fear

Global warming, plastic pollution

Oceans filled with waste

Starvation, thirst and poverty

Yet we remain stone faced

It’s easy to ignore problems

When helping is too hard

But if we open our eyes and ears to the world

At least that would be a start

Caoillin Hughes, 17

That Day – Jackie Kirman

From the back of the church, it might be a normal service,

Special thanks to Jackie Kirman who is a Creative Writing Teacher with a passion for producing both poems and short fiction. Jackie has had some of her work published in the past and we really appreciate her kind decision to share ‘That day…’ with us.

That day…

we left in a hurry.

The rest in our wake,

break neck speed.

Holding hands, our three;

fingers enclosing fingers,

enclosing fingers.

Past the three

storey flats with

names scrawled

on dim-lit doorbells.

Past the long haired

cat, with its hanging

tail who circled

three times.

And our three

flowers, bruised

stems, bleeding.

From the back of the

church, it might

be a normal service,

but the congregation

slowly turned.

That morning…

I woke early,

the noise in my

head like a loose

storm door in a gale.

I dreamt

I had no legs,

just an old board

with wheels.

I thought I would

make a sign to hang

around my neck.

Jackie Kirman

Come Home to the Hearth – Judith Bristow

Bathe in fire’s glow

We really appreciate Judith Bristow’s fantastic submission to Voices. Judith is an amateur musician and Early Years Practitioner living in Helston, Cornwall. She loves writing poetry ‘inspired by the sea, the art and gift of storytelling, and human compassion.’ Thank you Judith.

Come Home to the Hearth

Come home to the hearth

Where your ancestors wait

To embrace you in

bearskin, wool, cotton and lace

The twilight seeks in

The day is all won

By you, or some other

No matter – it’s done

Sit down by the warmth

Bathe in fire’s glow

Tell your stories – or not;

No matter, they know

Rest your head on old shoulders

Feel your hearts beat in time

Trust in the wisdom

Of your constant guides

Open your hands

Let the love come back in

You are safe and beloved

Next the hearth with your kin

Judith Bristow

Sonnet – Atmosphere Hayden Van Zeil

At the edge, space is drawing near

Hayden Van Zeil is from Hayling Island and enjoys sport and reading. As part of his Duke of Edinburgh award, Hayden has decided to create poetry. He enjoys experimenting with different styles and genres. Thank you very much Hayden for sharing your work with us!

Sonnet– Atmosphere

The atmosphere contains many layers,

Closest to life is the troposphere,

The sight of it can answer people’s prayers,

Blue as the ocean, shining like a chandelier.

Next to come is the stratosphere,

12 to 50 Km from the earth’s brittle crust,

If you voyage there, you’ll require space gear,

And one immense spaceship thrust.

3rd out of the 5 is the mesosphere,

Its purpose is to burn up the deadly meteorites,

Thank god were safe! Hand us a beer,

Shooting stars! What a stunning sight.

The Thermosphere is where the northern lights arise,

It is the largest layer of the earth’s atmosphere,

Thermo means heat, its Greek, that’s a surprise!

The distance from earth is 1.0570008 x 10-10 of a light year.

The last layer, furthest from earth,

At the edge, space is drawing near,

This layer has many uses and lots of worth,

Its name?… Exosphere.

Hayden Van Zeil, 14, Hayling Island

Bones – Beth Ascott

let me doze on onlys, ifs, and maybes

We appreciate Beth Ascott’s decision to share ‘Bones’ with us, and we are sure there are many readers who will be able to relate to this powerful poem. Thank you Beth.

Bones

My bones swell from aching and blood vessels fuse to their skin soothing them like red wine; intoxicate them until they cry marrow through their cracks and my bones bend, only to snap back when ventilated airseeps into my lungs. Hang me on a drip and let me doze on onlys, ifs, and maybes. Take my blood for yours, mix the double helix, pull the stems apart and let me feel the tear. Ease my feeble frame into a slumber of drunkenness and wake only if you are there.

Beth Ascott

Grey – Gill Garrett

she wept a winter for her loss

Thank you Gill Garrett for her decision to submit ‘Grey’ to Voices. Gill taught nursing and health care for thirty five years. She currently writes poetry and creative non-fiction.

Grey

It grew back grey.

Chemo sapped her strength,

stole colour from her life and hair.

She wept a winter

for her loss.

–

It grew back grey.

Soft beneath a hand’s caress,

sleek silver under April sun –

spring and love

restored her.

Gill Garrett