Dreams linger softly,
Time slips through idle whispers,
Action quietly waits.

A fleeting moment spills,
Hesitation drapes its veil,
Will bloom or decay?

In the hush of pause,
Whispers kindle hidden hope,
New resolve takes flight.

Some days unfurl like languid summer clouds,
Drifting with a quiet grace overhead,
While I gently set aside the dreams
That shimmered and vanished like fleeting wisps.
Procrastination, my soft yet constant companion,
Whispered excuses amid murmuring currents of intention.

Now I pause, drawing in a slow, measured breath
In the quiet alchemy of deep thought,
Where the past twirls gracefully in the amber glow
Of a waiting, embracing present.
No frantic dash to seize the day,
Just a tender glance at chances once lost
Like fragile grains of sand slipping through careless fingers.

I recall those hours of scattered, aimless delay,
An idleness where time unravelled into oblivion.
But now each heartbeat is treasured in reflective stillness,
In the gentle embrace where purpose and patience converge.

That sanctuary of deferred dreams and vacant hours
Has transformed into a vibrant canvas of mindful verse.
I savour the art of quiet contemplation,
Where every thought resonates with newfound inspiration
And procrastination stands only as a faded memory,
A silent lesson carved gently in time.

In the pub, the lads let loose,
With **** this and ****** that, their verbal abuse.
I leaned in close, with a knowing grin,
"I know your favourite word," I said, "it's **** within."

Their jaws dropped, their eyes wide,
"Did you just say that?" they cried.
But I held my ground, calm and steady,
"My favourite word," I said, "is Jesus already."

For Jesus, to me, is more than a name,
A beacon of hope, a guiding flame.
In moments of doubt, in times of despair,
His love reminds me someone’s always there.

He’s the light in the dark, the calm in the storm,
A shelter, a refuge, a heart so warm.
So while you toss your words around,
I’ll hold onto mine, profound and sound.

I stand on mountains, tall and free,
Not just by strength, but what you see.
Your kindness lifts, your light inspires,
Filling my soul with boundless fires.

The valleys low once held my fears,
But now they shimmer, calm and clear.
For every step, for every climb,
Your voice resounds - “You are divine.”

So here I stand, with skies so wide,
Heart unfurled, filled with pride.
You lift me up, you help me soar,
Now grounded strong, yet wanting more.

A whole decade, look at you,
Bright as the morning, skies so blue.
Double digits, what a feat,
A heart so kind, a soul so sweet.

The world is yours, it’s big and wide,
With dreams to chase and stars to guide.
You’re ten today, so take a bow,
The world’s your stage—your time is now.

Laughter rings where you go,
A spark of joy, a gentle glow.
The years ahead are full of light,
With love around you, shining bright.

So, here’s to you, our shining star,
Loved for who you truly are.
Happy birthday, hooray, hooray!
The world’s a brighter place today.

I can feel you looking at me*  
Through the faded colours of time,  
A specter of my past self  
Captured in creases, suspended in grain.  

Sepia sighs curl at the edges,  
Laughter trapped in silvered ink,  
Eyes full of boundless longing,  
Unaware that years would shrink.  

I run my finger along the years,  
A fragile thread, a fleeting ghost,
Did I once dream beyond this frame,  
Or did the moment hold me most?  

Yet here we stand, reflections blurred,  
The self I was, the self I bear,  
A silent nod across the years,  
A whispered thought: *I’m still in there.

I am feeling fragile today,  
Approaching two years since my wife died.  
The air is heavy with memories,  
Soft echoes of laughter carried by the tide.  

Yet through the sorrow, through the ache,  
I lean into the Lord, my guide.  
He shelters me like a mighty fortress,  
His love a flame that never dies.  

When grief’s weight presses on my chest,  
And tears fall silent in the night,  
He whispers softly through the darkness,  
Turning shadows into light.  

I was broken, I was weary,  
Yet He held me, He restored me.  
With each step, though trembling, though torn,  
He walks beside me, strong and steady.  

His arms unseen, yet deeply felt,  
A refuge when my strength is small.  
In Him, my sorrow finds surrender,  
In Him, my heart stands tall.  

I move forward, though brittle, though worn,  
Yet never truly alone I roam.  
For in His grace, His boundless love,  
I find my strength - I find my home.