On Days Like This

On days like this when I have tried
so very hard, not moaned or cried
and not allowed my trials to touch
another life - well not too much
made light of vigilance required
and walked away to rest when tired
in order that my struggle should
be mine alone for other's good.

On days like this when I've survived
risen above all that's contrived
to knock me, leave me less than whole
and still achieved a little goal
and managed still to care about
another's need, a silent shout
and made it home, pleased to surmount
struggles too numerous to count.

On days like this, on days like this
Oh world be kind and please regard
the choices I've been forced to make
have oft times been extremely hard
and may not be my first or best
most aimed for plan, most dreamt of scheme
For life throws challenges our way
Not everything is as it seems.

Karen Holmes
October 23rd 2014

His Beloved

Oh my God you have declared that I am dearly loved and precious
And you search for me when I would tend to stray
You leave the door unbolted for you long for my return
And you never, ever turn your child away

For they're beloved

Lord your heart is ever loving and your mercy knows no end
You're forgiving and you're tender, you're my Saviour and my friend
You're arms are always open and a welcome will await
Each child who chooses to return, you receive and reinstate -

As your beloved.

Not a servant's poor position for the one who ventures home
Not a lecture or a list of rules to learn
But a party and rejoicing with the finest food and drink
A celebration for the one who has returned -

You're dear beloved.

You reclothe us in fine garments, you reclaim us as your own
For we're all completely equal in your sight
And we breathe a sigh of calmness for we're safely home once more
when you clasp us in your arms and hold us tight - 

We're your beloved.

Karen Holmes
16th October 2014

Go Purple

Are we really so different?  I cannot see why
For surely we're born and then live till we die
We learn and we grow and we struggle through school
We try to be likeable, try to be "cool"
We all have our secrets, we all tell some lies
We have our ambitions, our plans to be wise
To change our environment, impact this place
To find one to love and to get our own place
We struggle financially, we scrimp and we save
hoping for easier, pleasanter days
We all pay our bills and moan about tax
We long for our holidays, time to relax
We all have to deal with sadness and grief
We go to the pub for some well earned relief

We laugh and we cry, mourn those that we lose
we wait by the telephone anxious for news
We celebrate joyfully, dance till we're tired
Find a new interest and get all inspired
We scream when in pain and we weep when we're sad
We talk of the past and the fun that we had 
We spend time with family, like it or not!
We shiver in winter and moan when it's hot
We fall on the ice and risk broken limbs
We're all just the same in a million things

So why, tell me this do we make a big fuss
about sexuality, what's wrong with us?
It's really quite simple, the truth very plain
At the end of the day - we're all just the same.

Karen Holmes
October 2010

Face to Face

Face to face, no false pretense
No "holy" words, no special sense
of needing somehow to rephrase
my ordinary heart felt ways
of talking
of praying

You are here, oh so near
Knowing the truth of what you hear
seeing through any religious words
Oh how foolish, how absurd
to think that I must somehow change
my language when I pray

And now I know, as tears flow
God's heart is stirred, my prayers are heard
as speaking now with honesty
those cries long hidden deep in me,
my anguished, heartfelt, soul's petition
To my God who surely listens.

I'm sure as sure as sure can be
that God was listening to me.

Karen Holmes
11.3.2007

Such Closeness

Oh how You held me, just in that moment
Your presence so tangible, specially for me
So kindly dispensing with all of my fears
As a father might hold a small child on his knee

Never before had I known such a closeness
Never before was your presence so real
Never had an ordinary place been so holy
As that night when your people had asked you to heal.

It took every ounce of my courage to risk it
My instincts were simply to run and to hide
The memories hurt and still tore me to pieces
And deep down the child within me still cried


Lord I can't find the words to explain how you touched me
How utterly, totally safe I became
How lost in your love and secure in your presence
So confident now that you know me by name.

Karen Holmes
Date unknown - probably the early 1990's.