The forest

Rays of sunlight lazily fell
Brushing gold the ageing leaves
Passing a mother bird and lived-in bark
Tumbling to the distant base of the trees
Where the less known path led on
To any amiable to its cause
Through the weary home it gave
To those with tired eyes and toughened paws

The listener

I've talked the talk of a listener
I've told that tale a thousand times
I know I'm known as one who likes to listen
I've written as such in many lines

But if I'm given cause to recollect and
I pause long enough for reflection and
I make myself be overly honest then
Maybe I don't always really listen

I don't think it's that I seek constant validation
I don't think I've been cursed to have no hesitation
But the meaning of this insight is the underlying reason doesn't matter
Just that I will never gain from others if I never cease my chatter

So to let my inner listener live up to what I say
It's time to talk the talk and lock my lips away...


I actually wrote two poems on this theme. I wrote the one below first, but I think I improved on it with the one above, as it made the focus more on changing the internal rather than blaming the external, and also has some more humorous tones. Still, I'm keeping the first here as a bonus.


I want to help you speak
To say what you need to say
I know I talk too much
So I want to listen today

I know you've learnt many things
You've lived through many tales
I have had my time to sing
Do not be afraid to fail

We will talk together, if needed
I will not let you fall
But you must lead the way
You must learn to stand tall

If you want to talk let me help you in your mission
And, in exchange, could you help me learn to listen?

The child

His hands were so large
Her head was so small
He'd crushed things this size with no problem at all

He breathed loudly
And unsteadily
His arms had been trained, but they didn't feel ready

Her face was red
His was too
Flushed with feeling, with this life anew

He didn't want to let go
But one day, he must
He knew this to be true, and nearly sealed his cuss

She was beautiful
Right there and then
There was him and her, no if and no when

Just a perfect moment
She'd never recall
That he'd share forever with this being so small




Motivation music: https://aetheraudio.bandcamp.com/album/songs-for-her

Faith

Dear Fellow Struggler in Faith,

I pray you accept this advice with my invitation
You see, important matters have been brought to my attention
That some thoughts on faith are subject to indoctrination
Please find my thoughts enclosed for your consideration

First then, when you think of faith, what is your definition?
Personally I think first we need to define it by omission
Those things which do not affect your faith if they happen to waver
I wonder if these definitions will find your favour...

Let's us start with topics on which it is easy to agree
Your faith is not your profession, your status, or your degree
Nor by any other method by which you pay your debts
Your faith is far more than these earthly effects

Your faith is also more than your mortal coil
That body of yours which weakens with age and toil
It could be injured and broken and bruised and blue
These thing may hurt, but your faith will remain just as true

Dear reader, even if times are hard your faith is not your depression
Mental health struggles do not mean you are punished, or your faith has lessened
It's true that God may be harder to see in these days
But though He's hard to see He has not gone away

Your faith is not attending church seven times a week
Your faith is not how loudly you pray for the weak
It's not how many verses you've got at beck and call
Your faith is not defined by how many times you fall

Your faith is not the anger that a doorbell wont ring
Nor is it your sadness at global suffering
Your faith is not defined by trauma or defined by feinds
Maybe it's time to corner what faith actually means

For me, faith is trust, a relationship you treasure
And like any relationship, there's challenges to weather
Faith is not certainty, faith can have doubts
But then faith can act as though there's nothing to worry about

Faith is difficult, but worth it I swear
Dear reader of mine, if you are still there
These are my thoughts, which I believe to be true
But you must make sure the person that defines your faith, is you

Good Luck,
Signed, a fellow struggler