Anthology of Poetry ~ Of Musings, Love and Life

This is the first time that I have written on my blog without loading a poem, which for some may be disappointing, however it is with great excitement that my first book has been published, an anthology of poetry titled "Of Musings, Love and Life". I know the old saying that everybody has at least one book in them, but I can finally say that mine is no longer in me, it is now in black and white, bound into a book that is now on sale. It is a slightly surreal feeling, but one that brings me great pride when, as I seem to do almost hourly, I flick through the pages with a broad grin across my face!

It has been 8 months since I decided to write the book, and it has been a fantastic journey, not just writing the actual poems, but also learning all of the elements required to get the idea into print and create a finished product. I know I am slightly biased, but it really is beautifully produced.

In the book you will find some very old favorites; The Lonely Tree, The Passing of Ages, Unconditional Love, Smoke Filled Rooms, Lay Down Your Guns, The Little Things and many more. I do hope that you will take the time to buy a copy and enjoy reading the poems as much as I have enjoyed writing them.

Initially the book is available via The Grove Bookshop http://www.grovebookshop.com/ telephone +44(0)1943 609335 or email to: info@grovebookshop.com. In due course it will be listed on Amazon and also made available in ebook format.

For now please enjoy the book and my thanks to all who stop by and read the poems on my blog, and hopefully to all those who will buy the book.

By the fire

The flames glinted wildly, their reflection in my eyes,

all the laughter and the tears, so much joy in my life.

From the love and the loss, to the beauty of my child,

sometimes mellow, sometimes sad, and yet often it was wild.

When the flames began to settle, my future found its way,

in the beauty of her love, we had forever and a day.

Another was still waiting, we lived it to the full,

never parted for a moment, always laughter, never dull.

The flames flickered gently, it was dusk no longer dawn,

in my peace I could reflect, my face was tired and so worn,

as I came to see my past, with a smile behind my eyes,

all the joy my life had brought, sometimes tears fell from my eyes.

Then the flames no longer flickered, they had faded into ash,

yet forever in my memory, I had lived once in the past.

Copyright © 2011 by Mike Sutcliffe

If I Were ~ Part 2

If I were a bird

soaring high up in the sky

I would watch the world beneath

see the people and their lies

If I were a whale

wandering seas and oceans deep

I would hide beneath the waves

for my safety I must keep

If I were a lion

roaming through my vast kingdom

I would cower at their guns

until the hunters were all gone

If I were a man

with the world beneath my feet

I would rape it for myself

it is mine for me to keep

Poetryman

Copyright © 2011 by Mike Sutcliffe

My Window

Shadows pass never looking in

through murky glass the lights are dim

watching the world pass silently by

sometimes they laugh, sometimes they cry

To glimpse the others from deep within

some tall, some fat, some round, some thin

I wonder where their haste takes them

as I peer from deep within my den

Afraid to venture to the other side

where reality exists, you have to live life

such fear strikes through my fragile soul

behind my window growing ever old

A cocooned world of safety and light

hidden from life, hidden from sight

Poetryman

Copyright © 2011 by Mike Sutcliffe

The Connection

Beep, beep. Beep beep

goes my text coming in

when I’m just pressing send

yes we did it again

it’s our pattern you see

being one

~ her and me

Way back in time

when my thoughts were just mine

I really couldn’t see

what she would truly mean

that this love could be

so real

~ for me

It may take it’s time

that love most don’t find

but one day it will rhyme

as you merge into one

with each others thoughts

playing just a single tone

This connection we found

after years milling around

until fate intervened

and made us

it seems,

finally be

we

Poetryman

Copyright © 2011 by Mike Sutcliffe

Lay Down Your Guns

wars and crusades all fought in His name

they think they are sane

to kill in His name

but it won’t bring change, it’s completely in vain

just bystanders slain

and the lucky ones maimed

Muslims and Christians, Gentiles and Jews

to whom you call God, is your right

to choose

be it Buddha or Allah, Elohim or God

whatever you call him, killing

is not

what God was meant

to mean, no bombs on the streets

for innocence lost

is not about God

to temples and mosques and churches

you flee

to worship and pray, with such love

and glee

for He you kneel

and you pray and you heed

taking His words

as you want them to be, ignoring what they

should really mean

lay down your guns and your arms

and your bombs

for your bigoted hatred, will win over none

just leave you alone

at the foot of His throne

for the way that we live, for us and for me

should be in peace

alive, safe and free

so lay down your guns, please let it be

lay down your guns

and let us

live in peace

Poetryman

Copyright © 2011 by Mike Sutcliffe

Hope Anew

Existing in the darkness of eternity

dreams lay amongst the waste

like splintered shards of light

shattered by pain now dulled

To live a life of day

in the confusing haze of chaos

wandering through shrouded mist

as a nomad in the storm

Searching for horizons

faint moonbeams in the dusk

glimpsing futures once thought lost

through hazy opaque eyes

The journey can begin

with steps that sometimes stumble

fates compass guides the way

as hope is born anew

Poetryman

Copyright © 2011 by Mike Sutcliffe