9th May 2024 • The HERALD • Page 77 v THE NEXT HERALD IS OUT ON 30TH MAY v HERALD RECRUITMENT Poets Corner The New Forest by Jennifer Jones© A special place, a sacred space, To contemplate and escape. A sanctuary to set you free! IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE by Jim Dolbear© Sixty years man and boy, Now too old to employ. On the slag heap of life, Le alone with his strife. Widow Nell sedated sleeps, e twilight world now creeps. Where no one seems to care, About her sitting there. Pride dignity now gone, eir happy life once upon. It will come to us all, Waiting for the nal call. Time! by Dorothy Lockyer© You have never seen me, but know I’m there Once depicted sat in an old armchair! I don’t have a name, but known as “The Man” Though many purport, I’m a complete sham! From my planet I watch Earthlings perform They are ruled by time from dusk to dawn Time could be a friend but mainly a foe. But my planet follows its orbital flow. Obsessed with time; tick tock, tick tock, then chime! Earth on its axis controlled by time Earthlings, unlike me, no time just to gaze No time to contemplate and be amazed. You see my planet as I wax and wane Indeed, invaded me for shameless gain. Bringing time to this timeless orb in space Changing forever this tranquil place. Do not constrict or bring doom and gloom This is my plea, I’m “The Man in the Moon”! The River Test by Phil Santus© e river runs from the chalk stream at Ashe to the tidal reaches at Southampton, li ing my spirits with fond memories of sunshine upon its liquid surface and re ections of summer trees. I have walked its banks and I have felt the river’s presence, sensing its heritage from ancient times down to these modern days, knowing its span is far greater than mine, stretching to distant tomorrows. e monks at Mottisfont valued the land and river, for the produce that they gave. When they observed the world and its wonders, they thought existence was miraculous and was created by design. Rich pilgrims would stay here for refreshment, thoughts xed on far-o Canterbury. It was the plague that stopped their visits. Life changed but the river kept owing, certain of its ancient statement. Gentle Giants by David K Wilson© Muscles tensed and straining hard Heads held high in disregard Two big hearts pumping rapidly As muscled legs pull ploughshares free Perfect rows of upturned land Seagulls foraging for spoils to hand Clydesdales gentle giants all Farmer’s friends as seasons fall Two giant horses broad and strong Eager as the day is long Dobbin Dolly side by side Ploughed fields taken in their stride Row on row of unturned land Heavy clay or loamy sand Eight big hooves tread the day away Pounding hearts give their all each day Sadly now those days have passed Destined never more to last Too slow the horse of yesterday Mechanisation paves the way Gone the friendship man and beast Today the farmer’s friend deceased Gone now man and beasts on land The tractor today at mans command Muscles once tensed and straining hard Heads held high in disregard Dobbin Dolly side by side Ploughed fields taken in their stride A ring of stones stood waiting, inviting me to walk Where ancient people settled on those blustery hills of chalk In the centre was the mother stone, recumbent though she lay Still her energies are powerful, for I felt them on that day e ring of stones still upright, keep their vigil, linked and strong And a spiritual contentment was enclosed within this throng No one knows how ancient people would this special ground select Or how the unseen energies would their worshippers protect a ring of stones where tranquil space embraces ancient rites And mother nature, willingly, preserves such sacred sites. A STONE CIRCLE by Isobel Smith All That Glitters by David K Wilson© A shadow slips across the sky The prince of darkness passing by He manifests in evil ways Misguided souls will make his day He adores the darkness hates the light Is banished until dead of night Beware the hand you long to hold All that glitters is not gold! Beware the crossroad up ahead Temptation on the path you tread Choose the water not the wine Intoxication tilts the sign Shallow people shallow ways Evil grinning through the haze Be strong be silent seek the light The evil one walks in the night Beware the hand you long to hold All that glitters is not gold! The copyright of all poems that are published in The Herald belong to the author and must NOT be reproduced without their permission
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