Always the Answer

Inspired by a comment on facebook.  Having listened to the  song by Robin Mark "I will walk" which includes the lyrics "And I will walk with You and I will find a way to show your Word is truth"  I wondered aloud how I could do that - the reply - "Love is always the answer"  Thank you Debs.x

I only have love to offer
That’s all that I can give
I don’t have wealth or riches
A fancy life to live
I’ve the usual qualifications
And a couple more beside
But I don’t claim that I know much
I’m no scholar, though I’ve tried
I don’t have vast experience
I haven’t travelled far
I’ve not won any medals
Just a long ago gold star!
I don’t have all the answers
Sometimes words fail me as well
But I’m good at holding someone’s hand
Or lifting one who fell
I’m good at letting people cry
I’m good at joining in!
I’m good at walking side by side
Wherever you have been.
That’s all I have to offer
It’s not a lot, I know
But love’s always the answer
When there’s no place else to go.

Karen Holmes
April 24th 2012

Ducks

Yes this is true - it happened to me today, much to the amusement of a cyclist also on the tow path!

I was walking along the canalside
Being followed by a duck
I’d reached in my pocket for something
And that was all it took
It looked at me and quacked and so
I quacked back in reply
It then set off in hot pursuit
And others heard it’s cry
And looked up from their slumbers
And climbed onto the side
Their quacking rose in volume
Like a uncontrolled vast tide
They made me feel guilty
For I hadn’t any bread
I thought I should go buy some
The poor things must be fed
But in the end I didn’t
I forgot whilst in the Range
But when I walked back home
They still remembered me, how strange!
This time I did not talk to them
Or even meet their eye
Till I was safely past them
Then I bid them all goodbye!


Karen Holmes
12 April 2010

Good Intentions

Disclaimer - the person mentioned in this verse is entirely fictional and any resemblence to persons living or dead (of chocolate poisoning) is completely co-incidental!

As a healthy, good alternative I’ll have a boiled egg
I’ll cook it so it’s runny and toast a bit of bread
Some healthy olive spread and then some Bovril on it too
I think that this will be quite nice, and then a grape or two
Or maybe a banana or an apple crisp and fresh
I have no time for junk food, biscuits, cakes and all the rest
A cup of tea with  just skimmed milk, no sugar will I add
There’s no need for indulgences they only make you bad.

But then I think, a little treat would surely go down well
I bought myself an Easter egg, the smallest that they sell.
I thought I’d have a bit to taste then give the rest away
Just one small piece, after my lunch, to mark this Easter Day
I looked upon the pretty box and opened with great care
It wouldn’t do to mess it up, as this was meant to share
The foil looked so pretty, machine wrapped I suppose
And as I moved it to one side, the aroma hit my nose!

Ooh lovely, creamy chocolate, just waiting there for me
I tried to break it gently but there was no way I could see
So I hit it with my fist and grabbed the biggest piece I saw
And soon I’d eaten half of it - and then I’d scoffed it all!
Oh heck - that wasn’t what I planned
My healthy bubble burst
Although at least self righteously
I’d had some fresh fruit first!!

Karen Holmes
April 6th 2012

The old, old story.

Whilst trying to come up with a new Easter poem this year I found I simply couldn't.  What more could be added?  And so I wrote this

I cannot come up with a new line of thought
On Easter, when God each human soul sought
with a passion so deep, that He turned His face
from his son, an act of selfless grace.
His zeal for us, His aching desire
To do whatever was required
To pave the way for our return
How can mankind such great love spurn?

I cannot think how great the cost
To reclaim one who wandered lost
And aimlessly through life’s vast maze.
How can we not bow down in praise?
How can we still ignore His cry
When we know He sent His son to die?
Why would we turn and walk away
From the truth of the risen Christ today?

I have no words to offer here
To bring a new message, for if it’s not clear
from all we’ve heard and all we know
there’s no fresh news I can bestow.
For it is finished, done, complete
No other love can yet compete
with this amazing love divine
I rest my case in these few lines.

A verse from my Sunday school days
“The old, old story it is ever new
The old, old story praise the Lord tis true
That Jesus died for me as well as you
I love the old, old story”

Karen Holmes
April 5 2012