The town that is no more …..

The town that is no more …..

There once stood sanctuaries 

Now reduced to rubble 

What once was a bustling town 

Now merely bricks, blocks and mortar

Nowhere safe to live or work

A community’s history flatten to the ground

All in the name of war

A war raging on day by day 

Children can no longer play in the street 

No dogs playing freely in what was green space 

A town a shadow of what it once was

All signs of life gone without trace 

People living in fear 

Displaced from their homes

Not knowing what their future may hold

So much loss and so much destruction 

A war that still rages on …….

The messenger from heaven

The messenger from heaven 

I sit and stare intently 

At the garden in full bloom

It’s a place of pure beauty 

It’s where you come to roam

The serenity which surrounds me

Is pure and so divine

It washes and envelops me

It’s like there is no time 

There you sit and look at me

Your head tipped to one side

You hop, jump and walk about

Sometimes it’s like you glide

You often stop in just one place

And I look into your eyes

I wonder if you are a gift from heaven 

My mouth turns to a smile

You seem to sit for such a time 

Just still and majestic 

You live a very simple life

Where mine is very hectic 

I reflect upon the paths we tread

And can see they are so different 

Yours is all about surviving 

Mind feels quite materialistic 

I sense you are a messenger 

From someone no longer here

I wish you could just hop up

And whisper in my ear 

Something startles you 

And you fly away

Mr Blackbird I do so hope

You will be back one day 

J C Hicks copyright ©️ 20/5/23

A hole in your soul

 I saw a little piece of you fall away last night.

A tiny hole bored into your soul.

You weren’t aware of this tiny crack opening up.

But I saw pain washing over you like a wave.

Life is closing in around you, creeping up silently.

Every day somehow feeling like it’s a chore.

Every day another layer of sadness washing in.

Suffocating you and I see you fading away.

No light or happiness filtering in 

Days feel like darkness and nights never ending.

I saw a little piece of you fall away last night

Let me help heal your soul and get you through this plight. 

J C Hicks  ©️ 18/5/23

Letters to Heaven

Letters to Heaven 

If heaven could receive letters what would you say 

So much to say since the day you slipped away 

I’d tell you that I’m doing fine and loving my life

It’s not all been perfect - I’ve had my share of strife.

I feel like you’ve been watching me from afar

I’d often stand, look up and imagine you’re a star

Our world stopped spinning on the day that you left. 

At times my heart hurt so much I felt utterly bereft 

But losing you made me a stronger day by day

I was angry and full of pain that you couldn’t stay 

But time has past and now I see that no-one lives forever 

Our time was precious and I have memories to treasure. 

I hope you are looking down and are proud of who I am

I will live a simple life and strive to be the best person I can 

I will tell my grandchildren what a great person you were

You will live on in my heart and I feel you’re always near. 

J C Hicks  ©️ 19/5/23 

Majestic Trees Standing Tall

Majestic Trees Standing Tall 

You stand majestically surveying your land

Alongside a river which around you it wends

You sit small and lost in the foothills of mountains 

Dwarfed by their greatness but you still stand divine 

Your long reaching branches provide shelter to many 

At the top sits a dark raven and to him it’s his castle 

Your branches provide the vital cover he needs

Camouflage comes from your fresh green leaves

Branches like blankets wrap and hide all life underneath

A sanctuary and home which creatures can live beneath 

So much you see standing tall on the landscape 

How many times have you’ve been an escape

Secrets whispered underneath your strong trunk

Secrets which you and your branches will keep

Standing like a tower for year after year 

My, if only we knew all that you've heard 

J C Hicks copyright 18/5/23 

I hope there is a heaven…

I hope there is a heaven… 

I hope there is a heaven,

above us in all its glory.

Somewhere that I can tell 

my great life story.

A story of much joy

and happiness on the way. 

Will the journey to heaven 

Be a glorious, liberating day?

High above the deep blue sky 

Beyond the stars and moon.

Lies a world wrapped in faith

Where some go way too soon. 

I hope there is a heaven

There for you and me. 

J C Hicks Copyright 18-5-23