​Shine on bright star,
Shine on.
Rise up high
To the heavens of your calling.

Sparkle.
Take your glow
To pastures new.
To your second life, eternal.

Your work here is done
kind Sir.
Your gold dust has settled
In hearts and minds
Of many earthly beings.

It's time for you to beam
In your own realm
For yourself
With your own God.

Know that you have loved, well.
Know that you have been loved, deeply.
Know that your patience, kindness and service to others
Has landed
and spread wings 
where you have touched.

Oh darling bright star
Rest. Enjoy, up high.

I shall see you
Looking over me
As you always have.
And smile with endless love and tenderness
For you will never leave me.

Your bright star
With continue to glow
In my heart, my body, my life
and the lives of others.

You have shown me so much
Bright star
It is time for me to spread my wings
And let you go, 
And it's time for you to glow.

​Today
 
Today my world changed
A shackle came off my heart.
Despite not being directly affected
My being opened up …
To liberty.  To hope.  To humanity.
 
Today is momentous.
Today my heart is warm
Bubbling with excitement
Brimming with friendship
To all people, who should all be equal.
 
Today surely, the world will grow.
Edgily, imperfectly sometimes; but forward.
We breath a sigh of relief
We smile with twinkling eyes
We hug and see within people
 
Today.  People gay, straight, whatever, whoever
Come together
In a public and legal recognition
Of human rights.  Of liberty.
Of recognition of human connection.
 
Today will never be like yesterday
People of the same gender can EXPECT
To be treated as equal, instead of hope
You are equal.  We are equal. 
Today, I’m proud of the world I live in.
 
What a strong, positive statement when so much in our world is wrong.
Today, a wrong was put right.
Today.
What can be achieved tomorrow?

Robert
 
You bugger.
You cheeky spirit
Your quip, your lip
Drips like honey
And leaves its trail
A thick blanket of goo
Covering  your thorns
Protecting your impact.
You bugger.
 
Robert
 
You king.
You stubborn lion
You rock of Gibraltar
There.  Definite.  Big.  Grand.
Leaving your trail
 As you swish your four-wheeled tail
In your various chariots
Through the land.
You king.
 
Robert
 
You lover.
Of life, of love, of heart, of song
Of Janey.  Such deep love.
For your darling, your torch.
You’ve left your trail.
In your friends’ hearts
With deep grooves
Full of you, for ever.
You lover.
 
Robert
 
You gentle spirit
You breeze, you cloud
Floating through life
Touching gently down
Sugar dusting your trail
As you reinvent
And start again
A child in a toyshop.
You gentle spirit.
 
Robert
 
You bumble bee of life
For today, not tomorrow
Humming along, happy as can be
Picking up new pollens to try
Not aware of your trail
Such energy, directed forward
Never back
Singing your own song
You bumble bee of life.
 
Robert
 
You friend of such heart
Your truth shone through
Safe.  Real.  An open ear, a watchful eye.
Your gentle presence
Your trail of smiles
Your wine in hand
Your laugh singing out
You friend of such heart.
 
Robert
 
You rest, in peace
No more pain to fight
No more fear and regret to face
No more sadness at leaving
You’ve left your trail. With us.
You were alive, so alive
In every way, in every day
You always will be, in OUR lives
You rest.  In peace. 
 
Robert.
 
Thank you Robert.  For your life.  Your cheek.  Your love.  Your heart.  Your vibrance.  Your courage.  Your fight.  Your depth.  Your laugh.  Your fun.  Your welcoming.  Your strength.  Your truth.  
 
Thank you for sharing you and making such an impact.  In your life. ​

​Father Christmas is coming to stay
With Rudolph and his jingling sleigh
The reindeer can bed down in the hay
But where will Mr Christmas stay?

He can’t sleep on his bulging sack
With presents digging in to his poor old back
And up the chimney will bring a sneezing attack
We’d never hear the end of the flack.

I’ve heard that Mr Christmas likes a drop
And that it’s guaranteed to make him stop
And rest, around his worldly hop
Maybe being tipsy will help him flop.

Oh dear, this really is a tricky riddle
We’ll just have to pop quickly down to Lidyl
To lace Father C’s midnight nibble
And get him right royally tiddled.

When he’s suffering the effects of our ware
He won’t have a worry or a care
Where he lays his soft white hair
Or whose bed it is that he can share.

In fact, it’s when he’s wobbly and lolloping
And finished all his Christmas frolicking
That we can gently make sure he drops in
To his very own Christmas stocking.

Yes, it’s here that he can snore aloud
With his body cocooned and his head still proud
Dangling off the chimney round
And where on Boxing Day morn he can be found.

That’s where Mr Christmas can stay
And he will never ever get away
From his stocking cocoon.  By the way?
Did I tell you Father Christmas is coming, TO STAY!

Ah, Jess you’re the best
With your auburn hair with curls at the end
Your dazzling smile and shining braces correcting the bend
In your beautiful teeth – an aid you’ve been temporarily lent;
Your natural beauty was meant.
Ah, Jess you’re the best.

Ah, Jess you’re the best
Your brain is so active, it’s way ahead of me,
Your mum and dad and Tom can easily see
Where you’re heading.  A  life full of achievement
Your hungry mind was meant.
Ah, Jess you’re the best.

Ah Jess you’re the best
Your sailing is legendary
In our family.
Continuing the tradition of Mum and Dad’s bent;
Your passion was meant.
Ah, Jess you’re the best.

Jess you’re the best
Your fashion is young
Feminine, fresh and fun
Your petite and fit frame is cool – and elegant.
Your style was meant,
Ah, Jess you’re the best.

Yes Jess you’re the best
With your frown, and fury at times.
I can only find
A surpassed giggle and pride at your womanly vent,
Your strength was meant.
Ah, Jess you’re the best.

But do you know the best of you Jess?
What is really the best?
It’s your softness, your compassion, your thought and your care
Because it’s that that is not meant
But it’s the way you have lent
With free choice.  It’s from you.
You have chosen your truth
Of how you are, with friends, at school and at home.

If your aunt can be so bold
And if you don’t mind being told
You will never ever lose your beauty, mind, passion, your style and your strength
If you continue to be kind and care, and to respect the gifts you’ve been sent.
Ah Jess, you’re the best.

You be true to you; always.  Always speak your mind
Be strong.  Be yourself, and you will find
That you will be OK, you will be safe and be loved
Because it’s all of the above

That makes you, Jess,
The best. ​

​You’ve escaped the lions clutches
Claws tearing, teeth snatching, ripping you apart.
You’ve made the break, you’ve broken free
How do you stay away from the jungle’s heart?
 
Fear descends, panic, pain, tension
At the thought of returning to the lion’s den.
Eyes wide open, pre-empting the attack
You don’t want to go back to that space again.
 
Tears cascade down your face
Tension jumps in to your bones.
Please learn the skills of how
To stay in your new-found safe internal home.
 
Your friends all know the real you,
They were shocked to see you dissolve.
They know you as strong, proud and fun
They don’t understand what evolved.
 
Please let them never be in that space
Where they’re told they’re loved but are wrong.
Where they’re bullied, then loved, then slammed down, then held
Where they’re actually not respected all along.
 
Where their life doesn’t exist
And their thoughts are muddled
Where their needs are on hold, where they cannot express
Because their focus is always on ‘the other’.
 
Don’t let the hammer slam on your head
And crumble your stable ground.
How can you open up the tangled fronds?
And retain the peace you’ve found
 
How can you do this when you return?
To the life you’ve been in, so jagged and dense.
You’re fearful of what is around you there
Dense foliage, oppressive, dark, silent, tense.
 
How do you stay free and calm?
How do you stay with who you are?
How do you remain happy and light?
How do you mend your scars?
 
..................................................................
 
You don’t go back. Ever.
You stay in the new place you’ve found.
Even though the geography and landmarks might be the same
The people around you are different and sound.
 
You don’t stay with people that damage
You think of yourself, not them
The one act of leaving is hard, I know
But with time, you will rise and be strong again.
 
There will be times where you feel the tension crash in.
Recognise the damage that’s been done.
Look at what’s happening, give yourself a hug
With work, what’s been done to you can be undone.
 
Learn new skills of how to think about yourself
Take time, be patient; the best learning is slow.
Be kind to yourself, don’t worry about mistakes
Just stay on that road, and grow.
 
If you slip, don’t feel inadequate or hopeless
Don’t let your confidence wane
All learning involves mistakes
But, always, get up and continue, again.
 
So what is this language and country that’s foreign
What are the skills you will learn?
They involve self-love, boundaries, assertiveness, respect
All qualities you will learn to discern. 
 
When you next feel threatened, look from inside.
Remain strong and pure.
Face it full on with integral strength
If you stand still, and peaceful, you’ll avoid the lure.
 
It cannot reach you if you remain true to yourself.
It will slip off and not stick.
No matter what anyone says or does
Your mind will give it the flick.
 
If anyone attacks you, breathe slowly and deep
Stay calm, strong and true.
Smile and hold onto yourself
Be you.
 
Keep your mind strong, peaceful and free
Your soul open and huge.
Don’t let it be shrivelled, constricted and small
This is something you will lose.
 
Have no fear of criticism, attack and disapproval
Deflect it like water bouncing off stone.
Respect yourself first, hold on to yourself
Because your soul will have opened, it will have grown.
 
Be you, because it is who you are
Say what you think and feel without being hurt.
Have confidence in your thoughts,
Without being on edge, frightened, alert.
 
Look to your dear friends
They know the real you.
They love you for who you are
Share their respect; for it’s true.
 
Be free, to be the person that shines
Be brave and put your face to the sun.
Show your immense love and strength
Integrity, honour – and fun.
 
You are fine as you are, you are good, you are OK
You don’t have to justify any more.
You can smile, you can give, you can be open and true
You have your feet firmly planted on the floor.
 
Life is so precious, time is so short
Be what is naturally you.
You’ve been given a gift; your life to share
With someone that respects you through and through.
 
Stand up for what you believe in
State your needs with pride.
Look after yourself, first,
And strengthen what’s inside. 
 
Have courage.  Have faith.
Stand strong and tall.
Be who you are with clarity.
And you won’t fall.