Poems By Mary

Our yesterdays of wishes written with care 

Christmas Eve with anticipation, children of the World writing their letter , with joy in our hearts 

The ritual of leaving a saucer of milk and a carrot for Rudolph 

Off to bed once the stage was set , 

Excitement not marred with fears of yesterdays tomorrows 

the night sky with twinkling of stars , to light the way for Rudolph 

The imagery in yesterday’s child was filled with a Milky Way , the Pole Star , a guiding light 

Pointing the way to where we lay 

Sleep filled with dreams of our desired wish for the choice made , written on our letter to Santa 

Thrown into the flames red and yellow with tips of white , 

The coals hot , a backdrop to the theatrical dance 

The letter with the scrawl of the childish hand 

dancing to and fro ‘ 

All was well as yesterdays child happily went of

to sleep 

the child of our tomorrows with sharp minds honed by the smell of fear within their hearts 

this is not the world of yesterdays child 

it is a world far removed 

innocence of the young , belonging to the past 

is a luxury robbed of tomorrows child 

the media , i phones, filled with imagery the yesterdays child had little knowledge 

yet parents the World over , will fashion out of the spoils of war , a wish within the heart of tomorrows child ,  a doll , a mechanical toy ,

a car with wheels fashioned out of the rubble 

that was their home

yesterdays child , with joy in their hearts 

tucked up in a bed , 

the warmth of blankets smelling sweet 

tomorrows child , with fear of the unknown 

not wrapped in blankets smelling sweet 

yet within their hearts of hoping 

as Dawn breaks , the air will be stilled 

shells and mortar not raining down 

The World of their yesterdays , taking a pew 

with prayers answered 

let this be the Christmas , that will be visited 

with hope in their hearts 

The coming of their tomorrows , will have skies of blue 

A sun on rising sending rays of warmth 

birds singing , 

Miracles do happen, let this be the Christmas coming 

The dawning of Peace 

Arms of war laid to rest , 

The arms of tomorrows child hugging each other 

The war is over , peace will reign 

Mary G Douglas 

Time is not on our side , what is time? as l sit here past midnight 

The child within me , has not disappeared? 

Sitting yesterday , in the company of my sisters 

The years rolled back as l sat there thinking of the days of all the yesterdays , now distance memories 

Each sitting thinking , with different approaches to when all three of us were together ,  yet separated by time ?

Age related at different stages , we arrived on this planet 

Yet sitting together , a time of reunion? 

As we reminisced on how many years had gone by 

When together , our thoughts linked in unison. 

with time on our side , as having the time to share 

Neither of us , caught up in the daily rush of the day outside 

Yet our memories of our yesterdays , linked together 

A specific ? all three of us , when were we last together?

A wedding ? A link that all three could relate back to , a rush of years rolling back to a memorable day 

Yet a journey within, yet separated by our relating to where each were ? on that memorable day of a cousin’s Wedding Day ?

The cousin in question ? her thoughts at that moment in time, likely sitting with her family having afternoon cup of tea? or standing in a shop doorway ‘ looking upwards to the sky 

thinking of the change in the weather , wish had brought an umbrella

unknown to her , three minds linked together on her memorable Wedding Day 

Billions living on Planet Earth ? all linked together during this moment in time 

all with their respective thoughts on What?

Those sleeping , those dreaming , those wading through water? those with their nose in a book ? others making dinner? or wishing their day fishing not in vane ? the mother with a squalling child? wishing for respite to enable her to sleep as exhausted , the night yet not nearing dawn , the middle of the night ?

A myriad of thoughts reverberating through the billions of heads , linked within that moment in time ? 

As said , Time is a special moment in time , for thoughts on that moment specific ? for our respective thoughts ? resting on the past , present or on the future ?  other dreamily thinking ? of a holiday yet to begin , or wishing had chosen another date , as rain creating misery , the heavens opening up . 

Meanwhile Time marches on regardless as known to all mankind 

Time waits for no one , for me and you and the billions sharing the planet , at this moment in Time.

As we three sisters sit together , linking a moment in time when we were all together?

A sharing of thoughts on our yesterdays? for a moment in Time shared by all three of us . 

Now time for sleep as now middle of the night .

Mary G Douglas. 

The past lies in a shallow grave , over decades 

bubbling to the surface 

gathering momentum as it surfaces 

It’s core not visible to the naked eye as it turns and twists 

tiny dust particles unassuming? 

over the years , sediments settling undisturbed 

an empty house lying  dormant , layers of coated surfaces , awaiting the finger of curiosity 

thoughts , ideas , the lines in the sands of time 

tracing the historical particles of memorable incidents 

the good , the puzzling , over the years unravelling

without explanation , with a beginning and an ending 

the years roll by , ten years of life’s experiences 

moulding the mind , the child of five , 

nature and nurture ? 

what takes precedence over the years 

the adult moulded over a decade and more 

the building blocks cemented , within 

respective or irrespective of how our journey begins and ends 

the elderly , from all walks of life 

if venture’s further than the four walls and garden of our upbringing 

unknowingly with each day , as with a page of a book , building a depth of memories , each page added , chapter and verse 

A novel idea , binding together the flood of memories 

Years roll by , memorised , opportunities missed 

pointless to turn a regret into an obsession 

moving on , onwards and upwards , the rich tapestry of one’s life experiences 

the positives outweighing the negatives ?

a healthier option 

the negatives outweighing the positives 

when reaching our three score years and ten 

the building blocks of memorable events 

Sweet and sour , on a bed of rice ? A soup with a mix , when a wooden spoon dipped in and stirred 

woe is me , woe is you , woe a malady can become an obsession 

In all walks of life , there are many , who habitually carry a wooden spoon , giving consternation 

with a majority whose cup is flowing with kindness 

forgiveness is the road of intelligent thought ?

giving peace and contentment 

to forget is the road of stupidity, the odd dip that can act as a tripwire 

Loose talk , lack of thought , bubbling to the surface 

pain of thoughtlessness can leave a scar unhealed

the soothing oils over troubling waters 

is the difference between 

Peace reigns with a tranquility, if so desired 

those who have gone through life carrying 

In one hand a wooden spoon , 

troubled particles of mischief , inflected 

those who reflect on past dips , when travelling through life 

the stirring of a wooden spoon ,  the unleashing of memories , decades gone  

if left tethered to the past , 

our respective lifelong learning of understanding , enabling forgiveness 

the light that beams , from the folds of the cloak of darkness 

to forget is not the path to enlightenment 

of the soul within 

to reflect , when the need has surfaced ,

the road trodden , don’t look back with thoughts foreboding 

as it affects the road ahead , 

declutterred with the intelligence to forgive 

a road as such ‘ is balm to the soul 

Mary G Douglas 

Don’t confuse being confused with confusion 
When faced with a dilemma of being misunderstood 

Failing to appreciate another’s explanation of events unfolding within their own domain 

Does not present the opposing view with the admission of being confused .

I am confused can create a disarray within another ? 

If misunderstanding the train of thought of another ? 

Failure to listen with intent on what is being said by another 

Does not give one artistic licence to confess to being confused

One confusion to many , can confuse or lead to irritation 

The fleeting thought of the other , on the receiving end of another’s habitual state of confusion 

Are you actually listening? 

Differences of the viewpoint of the other ? ending up lost in transition? 

Too many confused state of confusion can lead to confusion by the other ‘ of what is not understood?

Frustration of an awareness ?  when one confuses another  regularly ?

yet not a habit formed with others ? 

Patience is a virtue , one that can wear thin ?

If regularly confusing another ? yet not others?

Is there a game being played ? Not necessarily 

A lack of interest? Hard of hearing if quietly spoken with ? 

I am confused ? Lacks diplomacy ‘ sorry did not catch that ?  softening the interaction 

If given the right of passage , on rewriting the Dictionary 

There are words , phrases , would love to ban 

One in particular is as follows “ l am confused “

said once too often 

There is nothing more confusing than having to repeat over and over ‘ the honesty of one’s decisions past and for future ‘ to be challenged once too often 

Sorry l am confused ? thought you said ? 

Confusion can be the precursor of Global Warfare ? 

To the minutia of a casual referral on a mundane matter ?

Creating a need for explanation of another ‘s decision making ? 

We all have the right to change direction ? without a voice futuristically piping up ? 

I thought you said ? 

Mentally driving down the desire to state the obvious 

one has the right to change direction without

paging the Oracle 

Love is unconditional, patience is rewarding ?

If one stifles the desire to vent one’s ire or another ? 

whose memory has failed to consider on how often they articulate the following statement 

I am confused ? 

Mary G Douglas 

Once upon a time , you were a patient patient 
Forward planning ? when did this occur? 

Private patient when attending General Practice 

Gone are the days , the expectation of a face to face consultation?

Progress or regress, this begs the question ?

A frantic phone call, l need an appointment 

Frontline staff at desk , the bridge to cross if given permission 

Can l help you? said the Frontline staff member 

What are your symptoms ? I have had a fall and think my leg is broken ! 

Are you in pain ? Are you sure it’s broken ? 

I am not a Specialist , however the angle of my left foot , suggests it is. The pain is intense ,

confirming my observation 

It appears best, you contact direct the NHS

Gone are the days of the bedside manner?

Now by remote , leaving one sensing a whiff of change 

This is not normal , it is now the new normal ?

The voice on the other end of the line ,

Phone direct for an ambulance, should not be long in arriving 

Front door locked , l live alone?

How old are you ? says the remote reply 

Eighty four , my birthday was yesterday 

Have you a community alarm , hanging round your neck ?

Prior to falling and breaking my leg , independent 

Voice remote , might be something to think about 

After all, you are a senior citizen , a pensioner 

Through gritted teeth , controlling manner 

May l have your name please ? I wish to make a formal complaint

I am not obliged to provide this information 

Suggest you phone the police , they can gain entry to your home 

Sorry l cannot be more helpful , have a queue awaiting my attention 

Police contacted, arriving promptly

Key in the door ? Lock cannot be picked ?

Battering ram at the ready 

Quick assessment ? Ambulance required 

Reassurances won’t be long , however cannot promise 

Dry of mouth , unable to comply ,  nil by mouth essential 

Wet cloth applied to my lips , brow wiped , made comfortable with pillow under head , blanket for warmth 

Cheery manner , to ease stress of waiting for the emergency of the situation, may take an hour ? 

Within fifteen minutes, siren heard 

Cannot be faulted , soon ensconced within 

ambulance 

House door barricaded , mental note , how much will cost to repair ? 

Fast forward , after excellent care , 

Now home , with a community alarm round my neck 

Care package fixed to meet needs until able to hobble independently with crutches 

Cousin once removed, now in residence 

Privacy of one’s life , now dependent on others 

Irony bites in ? to the conundrum of life 

Private General Practice’ now to the fore as NHS no longer an option , until required for removal of plaster cast 

Visit made by taxi , hospital bound , plaster removed 

Independence restored , back to the new normal 

General Practice ? A Private Enterprise 

NHS now off the radar ‘ once independent 

The cycle of life’s health needs met 

A phone call to General Practice if required 

Remote consultation , frontline staff assessment , advising Doctor will contact by phone to assess ? 

No wonder General Practice Waiting Rooms now lie empty 

No wonder Accident & Emergency Waiting Rooms jam packed with those of the population , surviving on coffee ‘ with frequent visits to the loo 

sitting  it out , a patient, with patience awaiting there turn to be patiently attended by staff 

who now appear to be the first port of call?

Progress or regress ? This begs the question? 

Mary G Douglas 

We all come into this world
Not swathed in a shawl
Making known our entrance
A squeak to a squall
The cord is cut linking mother to child
The first step towards independence
Yet interdependent
Survival is dependent on nurturing
From its mother
A bonding that is a legacy for Life
A road travelled together
Give me the child , dependency transient
I will show you the adult
Freedom to travel the road mapped out
A road that has many twists and turns
A bridge crossed?  A bridge too far
Toil of ploughing one’s own furrow
Planting seeds
The seasons four pass by
Decades come and decades go
The harvesting of the seeds planted
Years of nurturing? reaping rewards
Toil of ploughing one’s own furrow
Growth is a mental and physical challenge
Parental influencers
The day arrives when reflecting
The child of yesterday has reached a point of no return
An awakening of a tomorrow that is the beginning
Freedom to travel the road yet not mapped out
The foundations solid
The walls to house one’s future yet to build
The structure to protect one from the elements
The winds of change , can blow one of track
Cementing well
The building bricks of learning
Childhood an apprenticeship for Adulthood
Ploughing one’s own furrow
seeds of learning planted
The seasons come: the seasons go
The winds of change
Climbing a mountain unseen
The nuclear family ties ?
The day arrives when the pinnacle is reached
The yearning within
To search for another path to explore
Leading to horizons new
Climbing a mountain unseen
The day arrives when the pinnacle reached
The explorer is never at rest
Looking for another mountain unseen
The nuclear ties now divided
The bond unbroken unseen
The desire for climbing another mountain
The pinnacle not yet reached
The desire to plough one ‘s own furrow
Planting seeds
Let not this ever be a chore not wished
From somewhere nowhere of everywhere
Is now a journey travelling
words are the building blocks that house
the thoughts put down on paper
Somewhere nowhere of everywhere
Mary G Douglas