Sunday 21 July 2013

Starlight Sanctuary


The dew damp dawn calls an ending to the night,
the first bird song, a tolling bell, a call to flight.
Some now wake, some now sleep, all follow nature's lore,
the hidden starlight sanctuary, shelters from the waking dawn.

The stoic sun, as ancient oak, whose eyes belie its stare,
gazes down upon the battlefield, of war in Poseidon's lair.
Mermaids flight, dolphins fight, ashore the unicorns run,
all seek the starlight sanctuary, veiled from the raging sun.

The axe now rests, its work is done, the fire burning bright,
tall tales are told, no truths unfold, beneath the fading light.
Through glinting eyes, shrouded by the night, a secret to remain,
for the hidden starlight sanctuary, all will look in vain.

Embers fade, ash fresh made, the blood red moon above,
searching for the starlight sanctuary, its forever secret love.

Copyright © 2013 by Mike Sutcliffe

I wrote this poem in dedication to the wonderful children's book, The Starlight Sailor, illustrated by the talented artist, Jackie Morris. It happened that I took my family to Pembrokeshire and stayed in a Mongolian yurt at Trellyn Woodland Camping. The canvass of the yurt had been beautifully decorated by Jackie with characters from the book ~ mermaids, dolphins and unicorns. After the most inspiring of weeks, it seemed appropriate to try and put into words the spirit of her book, combined with my feelings about the experiences I had. I hope you enjoy.

Friday 1 March 2013

The Lonely Tree


Have you sat under The Lonely Tree,
taken a moment, had a day dream?
Did you ever look, pause for a while,
musing his past, did it make you smile?

A whole life spent weathering storms,
crooked and bent, slightly deformed.
Scarred and worn, bark partly eaten,
standing up proud, still never beaten.

What of the others, where have they gone,
once there were many, now just one?
Long it had been since friend or foe seen,
so long it had been, for The Lonely Tree.

If you are passing just stop a short while,
pay your respects, it may make him smile.
As time goes by, for you and for me,
we all will become The Lonely Tree.

Copyright © 2011 by Mike Sutcliffe

Friday 22 February 2013

Vienna


those few moments
do you recall
we lived in love
I consumed you all

you held my hand
lost in your eyes
the moment took us
just truth ~ not lies

our love as deep
as it can be
you breathed me in
and made me see

we lived a dream
a life together
blinking our eyes
in our Vienna

how time mocked
so wrong for us
I tried so hard
yet ended lost

we should have been
just us forever
in our beautiful city
Wien ~ Vienna

now you are lost
my heart still trembles
you live within me
I am forever humbled

you were mine
and now it is never
the love we shared
is gone forever

yet in my heart
we will always be
in our Vienna
just you and me

Copyright © 2011 by Mike Sutcliffe

Thursday 31 January 2013

Mad Love


Oh no not again
there’s his child within
doing what he shouldn’t
a cardinal sin
raising my anger
from reality he hides
I can feel myself raging
deep down inside

“Do as you’re told”
I scream in my head
desperately wanting the frustration
to end
it’s burning me up
with a knot in my gut
whatever I say
he just won’t give it up

Try as I do
when he says
me?
“YES YOU!”
he melts me inside
with his puppy dog eyes
my shoulders sag down
with a huff
and a sigh

“God you’re annoying”
I say through my grin
in my anger I smile
I can’t help but love him!

Copyright © 2013 by Mike Sutcliffe