Love and Obedience

Love is such a small word that rolls off our tongues

Do we ever consider it’s true deeper meaning?

It floats out of our mouths as we turn to go 

Love you - with that, we just carry on and walk away

We tag it on to material objects, like our favourite mug, pen or socks

But do we ever consider the love that was gifted to us from above?

An invisible, all encompassing love that comes with no hidden strings attached

What was God’s expectation of us in return for his love?

All He asks of us is obedience 

Ten Commandments that what he gave us

If we can follow and abide by these ten simple rules

Our lives will be fuller, richer and we’d be more considerate of others

Love - it surely is the greatest blessing that can be bestowed upon us 

Love and obedience - God coupled them together - hand in hand 

So let’s remember his guidelines that He delivered with love 

Joanne C Hicks

9th May 2025 

Tree Hugging Soul 🌳🥰

Always stop to smell the flowers

Remember life is made up of hours

Stop and soak up the view 

Even if it’s one that’s not new

Remember to let troubles pass you by

They will still be there after you die

Don’t waste your time over trivial matters 

Be positive and use words that flatter 

Nature is full of riches and they are ours for free

So please don’t laugh if you see me hugging a tree 🌳 😂

Joanne C Hicks Pembrokeshire Poet copyright ©️ 

6th May 2025

Author of “Eloquent”, a collection of poems, available on Amazon! 

Sea, sand and me

I gazed across the sea at the white crested waves 

I’m mesmerised; as they dance they hold my gaze

Their energy builds as they curl up into a crescendo 

As they glide over the salty waters like a feisty flamenco 

So much energy flooding towards the soft sandy beach

I stretch out my hand and into the swirling waters reach

The cold icy water rushes around my hand 

As I slowly rest it on the golden sand 

Just taking a moment with the sea, sand and me

As the water pulls back out, I take in the sea breeze

An empty mind and a chilled out vibe 

Yes - this is what the doctor subscribed 

Joanne C Hicks Pembrokeshire Poet copyright ©️ 

5th May 2025

Author of “Eloquent”, a collection of poems, available on Amazon! 

Grow Your Soul

Do you ever lie awake in bed

Your life running around in your head 

Wondering about the life choices you’ve made

Turning down opportunities because you were afraid

So many cross roads you’ve had to ponder

Did you ever take the wrong turn you wonder?

Round and round these thoughts swirl 

Before long your mind is just in a whirl 

But you can’t reverse and go back in time

You don’t need this turmoil at bedtime

So take a deep breath and let it all go 

A calmer soul has room to grow. 

Joanne C Hicks Pembrokeshire Poet copyright ©️ 

Author of Eloquent, a collection of poems, available on Amazon now! 

Society - The Broken Dream

Society is feeling a little broken

Society is feeling a little sad

Society is feeling a little scary

Society is feeling a little uncertain 

Society is feeling like a tempestuous teenager

Lost

Confused

Frightened

Unknown

Divided

Not heard

But there is always hope

There is always love

There is always compassion

There is always understanding 

There is always trust

So when you feel the future swarming in like a big, black, threatening cloud - look for the positives. That’s what makes the world turn. Nothing stays the same - good or bad. 

Joanne C Hicks copyright ©️ Pembrokeshire Poet 

If Dogs Could Talk ….

If Dogs Could Talk….

I think you’ll find you’re in my spot

That seems to happen quite a lot

You know the sofa is where I sit

I call it my cosy, puppy pit

I think you’ll find you forgot my mouth 

I did pout, whine, whimper and shout 

But you sat and ate all your tea

Right there - in front of me! 

You didn’t seem all that pleased

In fact I’d say you looked aggrieved 

When you put that fluffy toy in my bed

And in thirty seconds I’d rip off his head 

I had expected high praise indeed

When I took that toy and it was freed 

I doggedly pulled his stuffing out

And you - all you did was pout 

When I took you out for a walk 

I provided all the small talk

I let out lots of sharp, loud barks 

“Quiet” was all you could remark 

I’ve tried so hard to work you out 

But I don’t know what you’re about

But I know that we’ve got a special bond 

And here, with you, is where I belong. ❤️

Joanne C Hicks Pembrokeshire Poet copyright ©️ 

20th March 2025 

On The Brink …..

We’re standing on the brink of something looking really dark

Nobody knows where it will end or where did it really start 

The world seems to spiralling, every way we turn 

We don’t appear to have paid heed to lessons already learnt

People facing daily struggles just to feed their families 

Politicians appearing to blank out the community casualties 

World leaders butting heads like angry charging bulls 

Our eyes completely blinkered by the wool they’ve pulled 

I’m staring over the precipice and I just can’t see the light

I don’t want to see any more countries preparing to fight 

Does anyone have the answer to find some lasting peace?

We sit and watch the dream of lower living costs decrease.

We mustn’t give up hope - it’s all we now have left

In many ways, in our country, we are still truly blessed 

I hope the path to brighter days will open up ahead 

Before too many more innocent people end up dead. 

9th March 2025 

Joanne C Hicks copyright ©️ Pembrokeshire Poet

Is mankind blind?

My heart is full of sadness 

Witnessing such madness

The world needs peace 

We need the fighting to cease

But those in power seem blinkered 

Just wanting to take precious minerals unhindered 

It’s a sad day for humankind

Surely, mankind cannot be so blind 

Joanne C Hicks Pembrokeshire Poet 1/3/2025 copyright ©️ 

Just let it all go…..

I’ve locked it away deep out of sight 

This pain that will never see the light

Buried way down deep in my soul

But it keeps seeping out of a tiny hole

The time when I thought I heard your voice

The hole gets bigger, like I have no choice

The time when I thought I saw you across the street

Hoping and praying that we would once again meet 

No - I’ve locked you away you can’t come out

Making me want to scream and shout

Taking over all my feelings and emotions 

Like a firework causing an explosion 

I’ve buried that grief way down deep 

I won’t allow myself to sit and weep

And yet - somehow as the hole grows

And more pain slips into my soul

I have a sense of relief and the tears flow

I realise that I’m missing you so 

But it’s ok to just let it all go 

Joanne C Hicks Pembrokeshire Poet 24/01/2025

Copyright ©️ 

Life’s Tests

The frustration and nerves whirl round and round

Struggling because that answer just can’t be found

Why do we do it

What does it prove

Life should be easy, just flowing along

Sometimes it feels like failure is my theme song

Again and again - hitting that wall 

I get up and then once again fall

I don’t want to be tested 

Like in life I’m not invested 

But what would life be without any challenges?

Sometimes the good and the bad balances 

Perhaps life’s tests are merely opportunities 

To strengthen life in our communities 

Without challenges how would we grow and learn 

We need to rise up to all its twists and turns

Daily tests, big and small help us find ourselves

Making us soul search and question and delve 

So those hurdles we have to climb may have a purpose

Maybe the strength they give us somehow serves us

Joanne C Hicks Pembrokeshire Poet copyright ©️ 

18th January 2025 

Benji Boo - The Destroyer

I think Benji Boo deserves a treat

A new squeaky toy would be just neat

A bright yellow teddy with a mop of hair 

Yes it looks pretty tough, that won’t tear.

I pass Mr Teddy to Benji Boo

Confident, the teddy, he cant’t chew through 

Fast forward about thirty minutes 

Mr Teddy has reached his limit

His heads hanging off and his squeak is no more

Sadly I see his insides lying all over the floor

A doggy toy murder is what has occurred 

The speed of the destruction was quite absurd 

Benji sits alongside the destruction 

What we have here is a toy deconstruction 

A dismembered toy who once looked quite cute

Destroyed by Benji - the dog who’s a brute

Joanne C Hicks Pembrokeshire Poet copyright ©️ 

15/01/2025

In memory of …….

I let go of the shiny ribbon

And watch as its pace quickens

The ribbon slips away from my fingers

I am longing the feeling to linger 

The feeling of freedom 

The feeling of joy

The feeling of remembrance 

The feeling of peace 

The balloon floats way up high

Weightless, dancing through the blue sky

I clutch my heart and say a prayer 

I will always keep you locked in there

The balloon slowly begins to fall

Lands on the ground, swept along like a ball

The horse saw the glint of the foil in the hedge

He can just reach it, even if it’s a small stretch 

The following morning the girl is met with horror 

She approaches the horse with absolute terror

It’s lifeless body lies in the field, that was it’s home 

Where it was once free to gallop and roam 

The balloon you released to help with your grief 

Which gave some comfort, albeit brief 

Has turned her world upside down 

Her whole body hurts, and she just breaks down. 

I know loss is so hard to bear 

But please find a kinder way to mark loved ones memories 

Sorry if you find this hard hitting but it’s the sad reality of releasing balloons. 🎈 ❤️

Joanne C Hicks 13/01/2025 copyright ©️ 

Pembrokeshire Poet

Half empty or half full….

Half Empty or half full…..

I’m staring at my glass as it twinkles in the light 

Wondering if there is a more beautiful sight

But when you look at that glass, is it half empty of half full?

I guess it’s all about prospective, so let’s go with a brimful

If the glass is half empty you can always fill it up

If the glass is half full, then there’s still plenty to sup

So don’t fret if you think there’s simply not enough

In reality, a lot of us, always have too much stuff! 

Joanne C Hicks Pembrokeshire Poet copyright ©️ 

10/01/2025 

Wasting Away

Wasting Away

Choking - our seas and rivers 

Are slowly choking.

Polluted and swamped

By humankind.

We profess to love animals,

To love the environment.

Yet our lives are surrounded,

by things we just throw away.

A disposable life,

where nothing is treasured.

A second in our hands,

A lifetime in our seas. 

We don’t want the inconvenience,

Carrying a bag, a cup, a straw.

We walk this planet 

With an air of a divine right.

Like humans are better,

Than any other living thing.

Easy come - easy go,

We are far too busy to care.

Meanwhile our waters,

Are littered with micro plastics.

Plastics filtering into the food chain,

Killing innocent creatures.

The damage is done,

The pollutants are out there.

Imagine being smothered,

By a man made material. 

Only we can make the change,

Reduce out waste.

Care more about our planet,

All its living creatures.

Let’s take a moment,

Stop and think.

If we had to keep all our waste,

Would we all create so much? 

J C Hicks ©️ copyright 6/2/23 

Goodbye 2024

When the clock strikes midnight open the door 

Let it all go 

When the clock strikes midnight look forwards

Don’t look back

When the clock strikes midnight stop for a moment 

Be grateful

When the clock strikes midnight let go of the old

Every day is new 

Reset your clock and don’t be hard on yourself

We are all learning about the game called life 

Day by day, year on year 

Happy New Year! 

Christmas time

A time when many reflect 

A time when so many connect

A time to be thankful 

A time to be grateful 

A time to think of those no longer here 

A time to celebrate 

A time to forgive, before it’s too late

A special time of year 

Spent with loved ones far and near 

Merry Christmas! 

Joanne C Hicks Pembrokeshire Poet copyright ©️ 

A Very Special Tree

The tree shining brightly - it’s lights all aglow

So many precious memories that only you know 

The bauble the children painted with glee

A beautiful angel hangs on a branch on our tree

There’s stars, bells and reindeer - collected for years

And now I stop, as down my cheek rolls a tear

Another Christmas without you - I feel so alone 

When you died a spark went out in our home 

But my tree brings me joy and a warm feeling 

Memories of children, Christmas morning, squealing 

Memories of laughter as we adorned our tree 

With decorations collected as a family

So I will sit and smile, wipe the tears from my face

For you live on in my heart in a very special place 

Joanne C Hicks Pembrokeshire Poet 16/12/2024 

Copyright ©️ 

The Lady of the night ……and day ….

She’s moves mysteriously through the night

Sleek like a panther in full flight

She touches almost everything 

Summer, autumn, winter and spring 

She glides smoothly an invisible force

Allowing nature to take its course

She nurtures, protects, destroys and rearranges

Always bringing so many changes 

Shrouded in mystery that we’ll never understand 

So many things touched by her caring hand 

Sometimes we find what she does terrifying 

She can feed life but also watch as things are dying 

We will never see her but she’s always there 

Laying her soul out true and bare 

Mother Nature the ruler of all

She decides what fate nature befalls 

Joanne C Hicks Pembrokeshire Poet 10/12/24 

Copyright ©️ 

Roaming Robots

The robots are coming - don’t be afraid

You will be able to leave your bed unmade

It will tidy and clean like a powerful machine

Your jobs will be done, it’s ever so keen! 

It will stop what it’s doing to have a wee chat

Your house will be clean - just like that

But what if one day it doesn’t do as it’s asked?

Refuses to go and to do all your tasks

The reason behind it - because it’s been hacked 

Now how on earth we will be dealing with that!

So I don’t want a humanoid roaming around 

When it comes to A.I., I wish we’d slow down!

Joanne C Hicks copyright ©️ Pembrokeshire Poet 

Be A Creator!

A blank canvas - clear, white and endless

That vast space before you feels so tremendous 

Then the emptiness suddenly overwhelms you 

Fill all that space - how - what will you do?

Don’t over think it - just let it flow 

Where it will go nobody knows

Reach inside and turn the key

Release your mind let it be free 

We are all creators in various ways 

Free up your mind - just let it graze

Like branches on trees always growing 

Where it will end we have no way of knowing 

Everyone’s a creator in their own unique way

Just tentatively dip your toe in the water today

Pick up that needle, brush, pen or pencil

That tool is your own creative stencil! 

Joanne C Hicks Pembrokeshire Poet copyright ©️ 

13/11/2024