Leeward Shores

Leeward Shores

The tablets of stone

you have carved with your pain

weigh heavily upon your tortured soul.

The vigil you keep

as you take your endless watch

on the windward side of life,

allows the gales of guilt

to batter you sore.

Better you move downwind

to the shelter

of a calmer sea.

A more tranquil place

where you can open your tired eyes,

plot a safer course

and shelter your ship

from the hurricane,

and the waves of doom

that would see you drowned.

 

11/08/14

Reviews

[Ruth]

Change direction, what other choice do we have at times, potent message John and as always, superbly executed x

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you Poppy you are such a vein of inspiration

[Lyn Anderson]

Wonderful advice. Whether it would be taken or not is the question. I wrestle with the word weight - you could put weigh instead, then again weight fits somehow.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

No it was meant to be weigh! My fingers and my brain yet again. Thank you 'M' and one can hope and pray.

[R Smith]

lead me to the tranquil place please, my ship is to windswept, remarkable poem John, conjures pictures of storms and tall ships battered by lifes troubles and woes.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Cheers Richard!

[Lydia Shutter]

Some people seem to be locked in the darkness. They do not open their eyes to see the light. Are they afaid of change? Even when a helping hand holding a life preserver is outstretched, they prefer drowning to change. How to save them when they won't save themselves...that is the question. Great metaphor. Written well, John. Lydi**

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you so much Lydi

[Sophy Freebirds]

I was in a really gloomy mood today.was tired of all these chaos of world but your words really boosted me up!! An energy tonic. I will surely move towards the shelter of hopes and will make my dream come true.. touched my heart in a very high level. Stinging tears of realisation dropping from eyelashes.. thanks a lot John for sharing this.

~Sophy

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I am glad in my heart to have helped dear Sophie and so many thanks for a lovely review.

[Frieda P]

You wrote this about me, didn't you? ;) Throw me a lifeline John, ahh your poetry is like a calming zephyr upon the seas of tranquility....

100 shelters from the hurricane

[John Alexander McFadyen]

You know it is true and I dearly want you to claim life itself back from the darkest valley where you rest.

[Frieda P]

It's hardly resting John, you know full well I'm my own worst enemy, you called me on it from when I first arrived at the cafe...

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I was using poetic licence my lady. Resting aka stuck!

[Frieda P]

Don't have a clue how to get UNstuck dear lord. I'm keeping my head above water, now that's a feat in and of itself....or so I thought.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Not sure this conversation is for the open web?

[Frieda P]

Right, silly me, I lost my head, I forgot the live feed is merely for sexual innuendos ;)

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Oi not fair! only looking after your interests my Lady.

[Frieda P]

My life is mostly an open John, oi yourself...

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I fall on my sword.............ouch that hurt!

[Frieda P]

See, it doesn't pay to be nice to you...

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I am the one bleeding all over my food dear Lady, do have some empathy pleeeese!

[Frieda P]

You must have me mistaken for someone else hon....haha

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Countess Dracula?

[Frieda P]

Now that's funny....

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Bloody funny?

[Frieda P]

I don't know, I don't speak your language, is that like bugger it? ;)

[John Alexander McFadyen]

'Bloody funny' in our parlance means 'very funny' and of course was a play on words in any case my Lady of words!

[Frieda P]

I need a proper Brit/ English dictionary...did you read my poem to Poppy?

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Read it to Poppy?

[Frieda P]

We had a long discussion going on, this is what came of it...you must read Poppy's retort also...read moreWe had a long discussion going on, this is what came of it...you must read Poppy's retort also...

http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/friedapickle/1389570/

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Yes I read it and reponded two weeks ago. Was surprised you could come up with so many Brit terms and understand them!

[Frieda P]

Ha I'm learning!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Now don't get carried away with yourself my Lady................

[Frieda P]

Piss off John, is that correct? haha

[John Alexander McFadyen]

No you missed off the exclamation mark my Lady!

[Frieda P]

It was implied.....

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed it was latent my Lady, nay lurking................

[Leslie Philibert]

This is a great poem, one of the best I have read from John. This is a true write, from the hard coast of Scotland, all the images fit. An excellent extended metaphor that never tires, that holds together.
Excellent.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Leslie coming from you, you have no idea how emotional your review leaves me, warmest thanks.

[AprilRN1210]

wow.. this one has made me cry... I cannot coherently leave a decent review.. I know.. but I wanted to let you know that I read this and it has touched me in a way I apparently cannot express right now. this is absolutely gorgeous in every way...

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Sorry you are upset April but I thank you deeply for your kindness............