Distant Horizons

Strolling on our favourite walk

My friends and I love to talk.

Green cliffs, sands of gold

It is a sight to behold.

On the coastal path so high,

We gaze at the sea touching the sky.

The distant cliffs seem so low

It is a place we should go.

Some of the group don't want to look,

Think of Nelson, Drake, Captain Cook.

They, like us, admired the view,

Each desired to find something new.

Along life's path we converse,

Then one day we will disperse.

Green cliffs, sands of gold,

What new sights will we behold?

Thomas Conlon, Kirk Merrington, Spennymoor.

Anorexia

I still see her face, 'tis stark in my head,

It makes me angry 'cos she could soon be dead.

'Tis the work of the enemy who wants to mar and destroy,

For he's the father of lies, a cheat, a killjoy.

It should have been such a pretty young face,

So I commit her to God and His marvellous grace.

A lovely young lady so gaunt and so lean,

Gripped by anorexia, an illness so mean.

Yet the battle is fierce 'twixt body and mind,

'Tis very strong, very real and very unkind.

You want to live yet you can't, to survive and not die,

Yet your mind cries out 'No', telling your body a lie.

And the body cries out for fuel to keep going,

And your logical mind this truth is knowing.

But the battle still rages so fierce and so strong,

And for peace from the conflict you really long.

You think quite illogically that you are fat,

That even one biscuit can make you like that.

I used to believe that as well,

'Til I met Jesus and He saved me from hell.

For this illness is fatal if not brought under control,

And can destroy a young life both body and soul.

So since the day I found Jesus He's kept me each day,

And tho' it's a struggle, I want to follow His way.

I need to really believe deep in my heart,

That I am special and must do my part,

For God has a purpose, a future for everyone,

To prosper and bless through Jesus His Son.

So I get so angry at what anorexia can do,

And know only Jesus can bring us right through.

Elizabeth Tomlinson, Richmond.

Dream Visits

Soft is the moonlight when I dream

Of places where I've never been.

Golden beaches drenched with sun,

Tropical islands full of fun.

Deserts hot where life is sparse.

Rain forests thick and very dark.

Wild animals I would like to see,

Where they were born roaming free.

Castle, temples, monasteries built by

Templars, monks and kings.

Books I've read and pictures seen,

Moving pictures on the screen.

In moonlight dreams these things I see,

Places where I've never been.

TM Keegan, Ripon.

The First Voyager's Final View

A euphoria of discovery

Is flickering away,

Fulfilling glimmers of fond farewell

Worth all the price of mortal pay,

As in the clustered crinkle

This place called home is seen,

Smudgeoned in gorgeous effulgence,

Magical, stupendous, serene,

An inspiring, wonderful image sent

By Nasa's wondrous machine

As its odyssey moves out and on

Where none before have ever been.

David Coates, Shildon.

Goodnight

I used to be frightened of the dark in the night,

I'd call out for my mum to turn on the light,

I'd tell her I was lonely when no one was there,

And how I was frightened and how I was scared.

But mum told a story and these words she said,

Upon one night, all tucked up in bed,

She called out for her mum, it was dark in her room,

She was scared of the dark, of the night, of the gloom.

But mum's mum was once frightened of the dark in the night

And called out for her mum to turn on the light,

But her mum just smiled and this is what she said:

"Dark is just night, for the night is just the dark before the day turns to light."

So my mum, her mum and her mum's mum knew,

That there was nothing in the dark that the light can't see through.

All was the same, as in day and in night,

So goodnight dear mother, now turn out the light.

Goodnight.

Jim Nunn, Carrville.

Spring - A Time for Renewal

Snowdrops appear on the ground

Poking their little heads up.

Rabbits start thinking about burrows and babies

In order to increase their families.

Not much snow and ice left now.

Gone, to be replaced by sunshine.

Alleluia for springtime.

The tulips and daffodils and

Irises make a colourful display.

Mother's Day; a time to appreciate

Everything she does for us.

Fresh leaves appearing

On plant and bushes and trees.

Roses starting to bud.

Ready to burst into flower.

Easter will be here soon.

Now the days get longer,

Evenings get lighter.

We like to feed the lambs.

All the birds are building their nests,

Looking forward to the long days of summer.

Timothy Jasper, aged eight, Sedgefield.

One Life Span

A babe was born, so innocent and pink

Born into love; to learn and to think.

At school he was brilliant, until he found drugs,

Turned his back on his parents; thought his friends were all mugs.

His journey was dire, and pain was rife,

Alone in that darkness; no point to his life.

His guardian angel came to his aid

All so unreal, but doggedness paid.

He found a friend who stayed by his side,

To share in his pain and not be denied.

Together they stumbled forth into light,

And prayed for the strength to make things go right.

Now this man is reborn with a purpose in life,

Eager to love and take care of his wife.

Maybe some day they'll be blessed with a son,

All innocent and pink; a new life begun.

C Culley, Darlington.

UK Today

Industrial actions

Dissatisfied factions

Are they workers

Or just plain shirkers?

Trains don't run

Post don't come

Take it as read

Just phone instead.

Roads a mess

Couldn't care less

How to go

I don't know!

Need a hip

I'll give you a tip

If you go Dutch

Don't cost as much.

Thought I'd mention

That your pension

Is smaller than

An Italian man!

GPO and NHS

Union bosses, what a mess

Asylum seekers to UK

Take 'em all boy, that's okay!

Politicians' vanity

Has cost our sanity

What to do?

It's up to you!

FC Greaves, formerly of Thornaby.