Light of the world

Light of the world

When I’m standing in a dark place and the way ahead’s unclear
Each step feels so precarious, confidence disappears.
All I want is to be safe again, the way I was before
And I wonder who can help me, a ray of light restore.

In the darkness things are different, normal life takes on new forms
All my senses somehow muted, a thousand fears are born
Oh God, I cannot see you, for the gloom’s intense, complete
I’m aware though of Your presence and I hear you when You speak.

Your voice is like no other and your words are full of might
I am trusting you completely, holding on to you so tight
Don’t let go of me or let me fall, don’t let me pull away
When I seek my own direction, hold on to me I pray.

Oh light of the world shine on us, shine bright and pure and true
Shine in us, through us, round us and help us shine for you
Shine Jesus shine on broken lives, restore, revive, empower
With Holy, glorious burning fire through each and every hour.

……….

Are you struggling in your darkness?  Are you floundering on your own?
Jesus stands today amongst us and by Him you’re loved and known
Will you look into His face and see the light that He can give
Will you place your trust in Him alone and really start to live?


Karen Holmes
December 16 2011

Heavenly complaints

Having finally met up with a friend whom I first met on a stroke forum and then got to know better through facebook I was contemplating the fact that when bad things happen to us there are often some good things that come as a result.  Don't for one minute think that I'm saying the good outweighs the bad or the bad wasn't so bad after all.  Not so I'm afraid.  Our lives are changed, sometimes devastated by things but for me, in this instance I can say I have made a good recovery - not 100%, the tiredness is overwhelming and the cognitive reasoning problems are not good - but - I have met some lovely people and following a conversation yesterday with Damian I would like to share this verse with you all.

Damian this is for you - this is my response to my conversation with God in the complaints dept of heaven!  I am not suggesting it should be your response though.x

When I one day get to heaven
I will tell you what I'll do
I'll find the complaints department
And grab a place in the queue

I'm afraid there'll be no harp playing
On that fluffy cloud so white
Till I've had a word with God himself
And got some wrongs put right.

I may be there a while
For my list can't be condensed
I've had a rotten deal in life
Im raging!!  I'm incensed!

The hand that I've been dealt
Has not lived up to expectation
I'd like another chance at life
I'm claiming compensation.

"Ha Ha" says God, "I'm waiting
Your anger I do understand,
I'll hold the door wide open
and hear your every demand

But let me warn you child
If we should rearrange
Your life, and take away the pain
then other things will change

There's people whom you cherish
good friendships that you've found
they will be sadly absent if
we change your life around

For those whom you've felt blessed to know
May never walk your way
Your paths will never intersect
I'm sorry, child to say"

And I don't know what I would do
But deeply I suspect
I couldn't bring myself to live
without the friends I've met.

I think I'd be too fearful
to let go of your hands
and walk alone a different path
One that's unknown, unplanned.

So maybe when I make my way
Inside those pearly gates
I'll ask a different question
of the angels who await

I'll seek to be directed
to the choirs who sing in praise
to God who brought me lovely folk
to cheer my hardest days.

Karen Holmes
November 26th 2011

In praise of poetry

Some of you wanted me to write a verse for National poetry day - here is my offering!

It’s national poetry day and so
I am required to write a verse
And yet no subject comes to mind
It stays quite blank - what could be worse?

And so I’ll write my thoughts and see
If fruitful my endeavours be.
For what is poetry if not
The musings of this brain I’ve got?
Would I be quite as bold in speech
If poetry was out of reach?
Could I express myself as well
Or of my hearts intentions tell
If I had only prose, not rhyme?
I fear my heart might be confined
To reason, logic, cold, contained
Within a sentence - literal chains.
For poetry gives thoughts a chance
To fly and soar and leap and dance
It opens doors and breathes fresh air
Allows our love to be declared
Permits our fears to be explored
The rhyming words can’t be ignored
For in our hearts a welcome waits
For anything that liberates

And so today quite rightly so
We celebrate the art of rhyme
From days long past to present hours
It’s proudly stood the test of time!

Karen Holmes
October 6th 2011

He inhabits our praise

Written for the service at church on 2nd October this poem is all about the extra "stuff" we take with us to church - and often everywhere else.  I'm a good example of this is a natural sense as I always have a bag of stuff - jelly babies, insulin, blood test kit etc etc.  Spiritually though we carry a lot of extra "baggage" emotional stuff, worries and fears for the future.  This poem suggests we own that stuff but declare to it that our God is bigger!

I have turned up this morning with baggage
I take it wherever I go
There is worry and illness and fear and concern
For my family and folk that I know

I’ve compressed it as best I know how to
In the hope it will take up less room
But there’s times when it all overwhelms me
And I worry I’ll explode one day soon.

I’ve been told to lay all of it down at the cross
And I do - very often I’ve tried
But it seems there exists and invisible thread
With a knot that I cannot untie.

So I drag it around - such a burden
And it’s here again with me today
And I’ve told God about it in detail
All my pain He has heard when I pray.

But this morning let all that still holds me
Bear witness and grow ever weak
To learn just how great and how mighty
Is the God whose due praises we speak.

Let the bonds of each worry be loosened
That invisible thread become frayed
For Jesus, God’s son brought us freedom
When our debts on the cross He repaid.

He inhabit’s the praise of His people
In His presence is fullness of joy
And liberty, freedom, release, restoration
Are ours, despite Satan’s vile ploy.

We’ll lift up the name above all names
And our vision of Him will increase
So that we can move forward with courage
And take a step nearer true peace.

Karen Holmes
24th September 2011.

An ode to Boots

To explain the background to this poem - Boots had sent me a big glossy letter saying that they knew I loved their hair removal cream and therefore they would give me loads of extra points when I next bought it.  The problem was I'd never bought their product, and so I wrote this verse and sent it to them.  They replied ever so seriously and sent me a fiver...........

Dear Boots, you’ve disappointed me
By sending me this letter;
I thought that after all this time
You’d got to know me better

I do not understand
What makes you think I’m rather keen
On spending all my money
On your hair removal cream.

Your letter would imply
That I am buying it every week;
You must think I am ape-like
And I find that quite a cheek!

It’s make up that I buy from you
It goes on like a dream
So send me points for that
And not your hair removal cream!

My Birthday is approaching
And alas, I’m over 40
I shouldn’t ask for presents
As I know it’s rather naughty.

But, come on, You’ve upset me
And I’d like nothing better
Than a lovely Boots gift voucher
Included with a letter

A gesture which assures me
Your mistake is rectified
And you know I’m not as hairy
As your letter had implied!

So, thank you Boots for listening
And though it might seem strange
I’d like to wish you great success
With your hair removal range!

Karen Holmes
 

A Cry To God

I think this poem starts off encouraging us to stand and believe in His promises, take hold of our inheritance, walk in the truth of who we are in Christ.  Then in the second bit it recognises how intensely hard this is, how often we are crushed by life, knocked down by circumstances, defeated by illness and depressed and forlorn.  It ends in a cry for help, a desperate return to the cross, a clear moment of crying out for help - Oh Christ - be all in all, my desperation hear, my anguished troubled call….is that you today?  It is all of us at some time in our lives……..


Let us hold firm, and not be moved
Although the world looks on and laughs or disapproves.
Let us stand strong, unshaken, firm
And in the moments of uncertainty we learn
That He is still unchanged and stays
Forever trustworthy, reliable always
He does not err, He does not fail
He still is God and will prevail
So lets not falter, lets take heed
Of all He’s promised to provide in times of need
Let us stand tall on Holy Ground
Claim our inheritance whilst here on earth we’re found
Today He’s ours, no need to wait
What thieves have stolen he has said he’ll reinstate
What we have lost, He’ll multiply
And when we stumble He is there to lift us high
Oh saints of God, can you not see
These small sad lives are not all that we’re meant to be
We’re meant to be His hands, His feet
Not just absorbing Him until we are replete
Can we affirm His spirits power
Can we walk through the deepest sea or darkest hour
And still declare that our God reigns
Through all our struggles and our illness and our pains

Oh Lord it’s hard, will you surround
My trembling soul and set my feet on solid ground
Oh lift me Christ - be all in all
My desperation hear, my anguished troubled call
And I will cling to you and claim
The promises and power that come in Jesus name
Oh God I can’t survive unless
You come and heal, restore, revive and bless
And that’s my prayer so I can stand
And walk in all that you designed and planned
When first you dreamed of who I’d be
When you were making and creating me
Oh God I cry - come meet my need
As at the cross once more I fall and plead
For grace to live, for strength to stand
Until I reach that promised Holy Land.

Karen Holmes.  June 29th 2011

And which of us does not feel that we've lost out somewhere along the way, be it hopes, dreams, jobs, careers, family.........He says He will reinstate it, He will give us the desires of our hearts.  Stand tall then on Holy ground! xx

Qualified?

Inspired by a quote found on Status Shuffle on Facebook - “God does not choose the qualified; God qualifies the chosen”

Qualified?

For what am I qualified, Lord? What can I do?

I suppose I could type up a letter or two

I could set out a spreadsheet or a new database

If you've need of some office help, I'll take the place!

Oh I'm very well qualified for admin and such

My typing speed's excellent, it doesn't take much

To do some word processing, produce an agenda

Sort out the mail, return rubbish to sender

I can use any franking machine, sort all the post

I'm just being honest not wanting to boast.

Do you need my certificates? Shall I go hunt them out?

Oh....you don't need to see them? Then what's this all about?

Huh, typical of You Lord, you want someone unskilled

for the task you've in mind, and the vacancy's filled.

Well I think you will find you've a challenge ahead

You'd be better of using a trained person instead.

What? You're taking me on, for a job I don't know

And you're sending me places I've no wish to go?

And I can't join a union, there's nowt to dispute

It's a job so unique that only I suit?

Well I didn't sign up, Lord for this kind of action

“Please find someone else” is my truthful reaction.

Yet You tell me that I am the only one who

is perfectly fitted for what You'd have me do.

God doesn't look round for the qualified folk

But rather creates someone perfect, bespoke.

And that could be me or you, chosen and named

For His special purpose, His only to claim

Though we might not like it, for this he's well known

He calls us to walk far from our comfort zone

And often we struggle and question His plan

We can't see the reason, for only God can.

And He will equip us, and grant us each skill

That we will be needing His plan to fulfill

So walk where He leads you, be clothed in His grace

You were perfectly made for this time and this place.

Karen Holmes

16 April 2011

Stroke 1

I have been advised that writing my feelings down in poem form might help me overcome all that is going on right now, and so here is poem 1.  It ends on a positive note although I do not feel positive at the moment.

Stroke

Why did you feel you had the right

To barge into my life that night?

We'd never met, although I knew

The barest details about you

Did you suppose a welcome waited?

Is that what you anticipated?

A friendly handshake, maybe tea?

Let me be frank you sicken me.

My life was difficult enough

I've always struggled, had things tough

So why on earth did you decide

To live with me, then try to hide

when scanned, you coward, were you scared?

Then what of me? – so unprepared,

Can you imagine how I feel

since you strode by intent to steal

my love of writing, turn it to

a chore I try hard not to do.

You thief! You're wicked selfish, vile

I hold you in contempt, your guile,

your craftiness do not impress

For in your wake you cause distress

You devastate, tear lives apart

I've heard the pain, the broken hearts

But here I cannot speak for others

Fellow survivors, sisters, brothers

For here my issue is with you

you've changed my life, it's fact, it's true

Now I must cut you down to size

And try my dreams to realise

Or maybe new dreams to create

To fit in with my altered state

To value life, perhaps reclaim

it, goals define and somehow aim

For something more, for something great

My purpose here to reinstate

To fear less, stand firm, be bold

To seize today, before I'm old

You came to rob and yet in time

Maybe my life you'll redefine.

Karen Holmes

29 March 2011

In Sure and Certain Hope........

In sure and certain hope

How can I declare that I'm assured eternal life

Proclaiming that my faith is sure and strong

And then admit that sometimes I get frightened

Does that invalidate my words or make them wrong?

How can I discuss the bible and be thrilled by it

How can I find strength to face another day

Then be tearful and afraid of all that lies ahead

Does this counteract my words in any way?

Is it possible for me to have a faith that's certain

And yet still be human in my hopes and fears

Can I know my God and stand upon His promises

Though my walk with Him has changed throughout the years?

Do I have to feel the same way as my fellow man

Can I dare to be quite different yet maintain

a living, vital, relevant relationship

with God and in His presence still remain?

I am reminded that my Jesus didn't toe the line

He didn't fit into the pattern or the mould

He reached out to those whom others may have cast aside

He searched for lost sheep and returned them to the fold.

And how He wept with real tears when Lazarus had died

His grief and passion He was not afraid to show

He turned the teaching of his day completely upside down

And when He needed space, He'd turn around and go.

So I believe He knows my frailties, my weakness too

And I'm convinced He does not stand in condemnation

For He's aware of how I often struggle in this world

For it is only through His grace we find Salvation.

So be encouraged all my brothers and my sisters

For we do not cower away from Him in fear

But with boldness we can come into His presence

And be certain He delights to have us near.

Karen Holmes

March 28^th 2011

Oh God be God

This is one of my older poems but appropriate to a conversation today on Facebook.

Oh God, be God

When You listen to my prayers, Lord, do You wish I’d ask for more?
Do I plead with You for crumbs, when You have got a feast in store?
Do I simply scratch the surface of Your measureless provision?
Oh my God, don’t act according to my earthly, finite vision.

When You hear my struggling prayers, Lord, do You open wide the door?
Are You glad I knocked upon it just to get to know You more?
Do You thrill to hear my voice, Lord, do you wish that I’d stay longer?
For You know that every moment spent with You will make me stronger.

Am I satisfied too easily?  Should I be pushing through-
My misguided, human wisdom for a bolder walk with You?
Have I put You in a box, God, have I somehow made You small?
Am I limiting Your power till You’re not God at all?

Oh today my cry is urgent, “Act according to Your might”
And I’ll wait in expectation of Your answer to my plight .
Translate all my feeble murmurs into fervent, faith filled praying
Holy Spirit take my groans, my sighs, make sense of what I’m saying.

Oh God, be God, fill me with awe and faith for what I’m asking for
Transform my prayer time, let me see the vastness of Your Sovereignty.
Creator, Healer, Saviour, King, the one to whom my prayers I bring;
Oh act according to your nature - who You are and what You do,
Act in mighty, boundless power - to Your character be true -

God who parted seas, who holds the universe in place
God who raised the dead and scattered all the stars in space
Make me bold in what I pray, and see beyond the words I say
Though my faith is weak and frail
May Your will, My God prevail.


Karen Holmes 2007

Oh taste and see...........

Oh taste and see...........

“Like newborn babes crave pure, spiritual milk so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1Peter 2:2-3”

Friend have you tasted that the Lord is good?

Has the flavour whet your appetite for more?

Are your taste buds all a tingle with His presence?

Are you longing for the keys to heavens store?

Do you seek to taste and digest every morsel?

Are you hungry with a great anticipation?

Are you ravenous for all our wondrous God contains

Does He fill your heart with love and adoration?

A word of warning as your longing for Him deepens

Learn to recognise the flavour of His word

Learn to identify the pure milk of Father

By your knowledge and the message you have heard

Seek only Him, and He alone will prove sufficient

Crave only Him so that your growth will wholesome be

His truth alone can bring redemption, grace and healing

His truth alone can ever set the prisoner free.

Let others speak but weigh their words against Gods flavour

If they're too salty or too bitter, let them go

If they do not contain the nutrients for growing

Then they are not the things that He would have you know

Now you have tasted for yourselves the Lord's great goodness

You can grow up in your Salvation and can learn

How to distinguish between mans words and the Father's heart

What's genuine you will be able to discern.

Like newborn babies you can recognise what's good for you

So let your cry be always, only unto Him

Then let your growth be measured by your love and wisdom

Let earthly voices be drowned out til they grow dim.

Don't be deceived by sweeter sounding new ideas

But hold firm to the truth you've tasted to be real

And as we grow let each of us not get complacent

But remain full of expectant, fervent zeal.

Karen Holmes

20 March 2011.

Dear Brain

Following my stroke last August, I have made a very good physical recovery.  My hand is almost back to it's former self although my signature is difficult, writing a letter now takes several days and getting coins out of my purse when I am tired is a slow process.  Very often people say "you don't look as though you have had a stroke" or "you have made a total recovery"  I find these comments hard to deal with because they do not easily allow me to say "actually I'm struggling"  My brain is far from recovered, the intense "tangibility" of my brain is uncomfortable and frightening, the "hot brain" feeling I get is horrible.  The brain fog is annoying.  I cannot study like I used to, I cannot think in depth without encountering these feelings......I have not made a total recovery.....yet.


Here I write a poem to my brain, telling it that I know it is struggling, I know it is injured and I will be patient...........

Dear Brain, I've heard your desperate plea,

the frustration you have shown

Impassioned cries you've made to me

Your voice unrecognised, unknown

It took some time to realise

That it was you I heard

The thought that my own brain could speak

to me, was once absurd

You fought for my attention

But I looked the other way

I turned life's music louder

To drown out what you'd say

I've been scared by your new presence

For you tangibly exist

And I do not like the feeling

One tiny little bit.

Now you get so hot and bothered

And through treacle I must wade

Things are not quite like they used to be

And sometimes I'm afraid.

So I'm listening when you tell me

That I must stop and rest

Though I'm oft inclined to argue

I'll accept your way is best.

For I'd like you to recover

though I don't know when you will

for I cannot see your injury

But I know that you've been ill

And they've shown me all the pictures

of the damage so I know

I must be patient with you

When you appear slow

Dear Brain, I feel your struggle

But together we'll win through

Just keep on getting better

and I'll go easier on you.

Karen Holmes

March 18^th 2011

Pole Dancing

I went to see the doctor

As my shoulder's causing pain

And I thought he might know just the thing

To put it right again.

Well he moved my shoulder up and down

In front and then behind

He said that I could punch him if he hurt me

Aww – how kind!

We spoke about injections

and then manipulation

I didn't fancy either

so explained my situation.

“Ah yes, I understand”, said he

“I have one more idea”

A Pole Dancing type exercise

might help you, though I fear

it may not make a difference

but perhaps it's worth a try,

and take encouragement from this

you certainly won't die!”

So as I left the surgery

I pondered every word

At first I thought “It's silly,

ridiculous, absurd!”

But then I got to thinking

Perhaps I'd have a go

Pole dancing isn't really “me”

But hey, you never know!

I searched upon the internet

To find out how to dress

I like to do things properly

My aim was to impress!

A red and sequined number

Might turn a head or two

My outfit now selected

There was just one thing to do.

A pole to practice I would need

But where could one be found

I searched online without success

In deep concern I frowned

Then suddenly it dawned on me

A venue came to mind

Within the fire station

The perfect thing I'd find!

I could swing around with real style

And climb to dizzy heights

My painful shoulder I'd forget

The future now looked bright.

So once my costume has arrived

You won't see me for dust

I'm off to exercise my arm

For practice is a must

You never know what life will bring

I'm planning something grand

My exploits as a pole dancer

Will spread throughout the land.

My name will soon be written

In lights for all to see

For thanks to the good doctor

A brand new career awaits me!

Karen Holmes

March 8^th 2011

All to Jesus I surrender

Lord, my all is on Thine altar

I yield my life to Thee

In full and glad surrender

Take all there is of me.

Oft in penitence I've prayed, Lord

Let my life be consecrated

My declaration of intent

Has frequently been stated.

When I'm serving You, I'm free God

and my sacrifice yields praise

Yes I meant each word I pledged to You

In my younger, carefree days.

It's occurred to me just recently

that my knowledge then was small

Though I thought I'd got things all mapped out

I had no idea at all

No comprehension of the pain

No grasp of what might be

No shred of understanding

Of what life would ask of me.

My Christian life was settled,

My faith was well defined

I wouldn't have expected doubts

to ever cross my mind.

Yet without those doubts, those questions

My faith would not have grown

I've had to re-evaluate

so my walk with God I own

I stand on my convictions

Though some may disagree

Surrender must be total

“Dear God, take all of me.

My “yes” is all You ask for

And that I gladly give

My all is on Thine altar,

For You alone I live.”

Karen Holmes

March 7^th 2011

My New Hobby

This poem was born when I posted a question on a forum about treatment for my painful, stiff shoulder.  One helpful person explained that an exercise could help "Bend forward, as if looking down a manhole and let the arm hang down, rotate several times in each direction"  I spoke with the person concerned and said I hadn't realised he had such an interest in manhole covers....his reply...."Everybody's gotta have a hobby"


Call me strange but this inspired a new poem.....

My new hobby!

I've discovered a brand new interest

Quite unusual as hobbies go

I remove manhole covers and put them aside

Then stare down at the depths far below.

Then I let my left arm dangle downwards

And clockwise I gently rotate

Just four or five times is sufficient

To attain a relaxed, pleasant state.

Then I pause for a moment, reflecting

On the darkness and calm neath my gaze

And I let my arm swing anti-clockwise

Bringing balance to unsettled days.

As I slowly stand up, I smile kindly

At the crowd which has gathered to see

Quite what has grabbed my rapt attention

And so held and entertained me.

And I pick up the cover, replace it

And bid my observers farewell

And try not to grimace too obviously

At my shoulder that's hurting like hell.

Then I go on my way hunting manholes

For the healing I seek lies within

And I think of the forum, and Robster

For my hobby was lauded by him.

Such amazing advice can be found here

And if this can ease some of my pain

I'll never walk on past a manhole

In a nonchalant manner again!

Karen Holmes

18 February 2011

Forces of Nature

Upturned wheely bins lie stranded

rubbish scattered far and near

broken branches, fences leaning

What's been going on round here?

Empty coke cans, broken bottles

pizza boxes strewn around

Plants snapped off with pure abandon

Roof tiles broken on the ground

Has there been a gang of vandals

Or a party that went wrong

No it's just a force of nature

Mighty wind that blows so strong

Something's made the wind so angry

Full of ire he vents his rage

Through the streets amongst the gardens

Devastation at each stage

Hear him curse, displaying his fury

Woe betide those in his path

Seeking entrance at each keyhole

Hear his violence, feel his wrath

Trees are bent beneath his wildness

Windows rattle in their frames

Still he seeks his retribution

For unmentioned, unknown crimes.

Don't incur the wrath of nature

Don't underestimate it's force

Take heed of the flattened landscape

Once the wind has run it's course.

Karen Holmes

February 5^th 2011

Memories

What do I remember when past moments I recall

What treasures have I stored away in memory's dusty hall

Who features most (and who's forgotten) and why should this be so?

Which names are written in my heart from those I used to know?

For many folk have crossed my path, and some have stayed a while

A few have made me angry, whilst many made me smile

And some have left their mark in ways that I can not explain

A few I knew just briefly and never met again

But several have walked with me through days both good and bad

And laughed with me until we cried, and wept with me when sad.

So the things that I remember are an odd assorted mix

of memories and stories and silly childhood tricks

Of sneezing powder put in desks, and shared, forbidden sweets

of paper dolls and arctic roll and Grandma's house and treats

Of coleslaw frozen by mistake and strawberries by design

Of warnings from the parents, though we lived and felt just fine!

Of splinters from the garden fence and caterpillar pets

And Grandad's barley sugars, and little fishing nets

Holidays in Weston, “the cave” and Anchor Head

And peeping through the window when we should have been in bed

The chips, the scarey Ghost Train, and early evening walks

with Grandad, whilst the grown ups stayed at home and sat and talked

The sudden sharp sting of a wasp and Kirst's loud shouts and cries

On a hot beach in the summer it came as a surprise

And bright pink candyfloss blown into my hair

All sticky and messy, yet I didn't care.

Then later come the memories when I was scared and ill

Such long days spent in hospital, my mind recalls them still

Some lovely kids, some tricks, some games

An endless procession of learning new names

Some nurses so kind and others so foul

Procedures and blood tests to make me howl

And doctors – like god's! Though we didn't agree

They didn't get too many smiles from me!

And yet, from those times there are memories bright

And times of great tenderness through long dark nights

Of reading to children who needed to hear

That someone was with them, that someone was near

And friendships I made which mattered so much

Though sadly these days we're no longer in touch

And just one young doctor who somehow impressed

For he turned and said “sorry” when I was distressed.

The early romances, the boy down the street

The giggling, sly glances when we happened to meet

The Sunday school outings, and club Wednesday nights

The arguments, fallings out, childhood fights.

Then high school and homework till sometimes quite late

Exams which had everyone in such a state

And lunchtimes spent talking, and cherished walks home

A most special friendship, no longer alone.

Then job hunting, interviews, how time goes by

I got married, moved house in the blink of an eye

Through illness and struggles, through laughter and fun

Somehow years have passed and time has moved on

Yet sometimes I ponder on memories treasured

And wonder just how a good life can be measured

In the balance of life there is good and there's bad

But I mainly remember the good times I've had

And I think that is just how it should be for all

That the best and the finest of life should be stored

So that we can retrieve precious memories at will

Relive them as if we we are living them still

Recapture our younger selves, reclaim our dreams

We're still the same people as daft as it seems

Take hold with enthusiasm each day anew

And make some new memories with all that we do.

Karen Holmes

January 17 2011

Did You Know?

Did you know you made a difference when you posted me that card

for little things mean such a lot when life is proving hard.

Did you realise whilst sealing it how glad I'd be to know

That you had made the time to write, to lift me when I'm low?

Did you guess your words would make me smile and brighten up my day

Or suppose you'd be the answer to the many prayers I pray?

I've a feeling you had no idea just what your words might do

And that is why I write this verse expressing thanks to you.

Perhaps you read my status on my facebook page today

And you took the time to comment, find something fun to say

But you wouldn't know I'd read it in a moment of despair

And find something to smile at in what you'd written there

Or maybe on the forum, you read the thread I'd started

And understood that sometimes I'm sad and broken hearted

So you sent your love, or supplied a link, or said “I understand”

Did you know you'd make me feel that you'd reached out and held my hand?

You might have picked the phone up and rang me for a chat

Or listened to my worries in a cafe where we sat.

You may have made an effort to meet me in the town

To help me get out of the house and stop me feeling down

Or was it you who visited when really you were busy

I was very glad to see you when I felt so ill and dizzy.

Perhaps you sent a text message when I was feeling scared

It helped me through the trauma for which I was unprepared.

It could be you who reads my poems and takes the time to say

they've blessed you or you “like” them that really makes my day

For though I'm doing very well there still are times of fear

And times when I can't find my way – the pathway seems unclear

And moments of forgetfulness, when words seem lost for ever

I forgot where my own parents live – that isn't very clever!

But in my struggles, you have been a huge support you see

For every little tiny thing, means such a lot to me.

Thank you.

Karen Holmes

12 January 2011