YOUR OWN JOURNEY

YOUR OWN JOURNEY

They say life is a journey

One we all must make ~

It’s not the destination

Bur the steps that we take.

We travel the road of life

In the company of those we love.

We are never truly alone

We are guided from above.

For some the road is rough and steep

With many a thorny briar.

For some it is never easy

And the path causes us to tire.

You have a special path to take

One that you alone must walk

All we can do is comfort you ~

Listen and be ready to talk.

There is pain and sickness

And your dignity is somehow lost.

We stand on the shore and watch

As your little boat is tossed.

We watch as you make your journey

Through days that are dark and drear,

We are here and we are waiting

To take away your fear.

We are ready to talk with you

And to somehow ease your pain,

It is difficult to watch you

And our tears fall like rain.

So as you travel forward

On days that must seem long.

We watch and we admire you

And we know we must be strong.

We must help you through this journey

And meet you at the end,

For somehow the sun is shining

Just around the bend.

There are things that you should know

About our care and love

And how we wish for Angels

To watch you from above.

Take your journey and try to be strong

Have courage in all that you do

You are loved and very special

And we travel this journey with you.

©  Linda J. Vaughan

December 10^th. 2004

Written with love for a cherished friend taking the journey with breast cancer.

MONDAY, MONDAY

MONDAY 

So here we are – it’s Monday

Another week is dawning,

I wonder what the news will hold,

What joy or what dread warning?

I wonder what this week will hold

For those I love and me.

But I know there will be comfort

Under friendship’s sheltering tree.

I guess there will be laughter,

Tears and memories in this week

And I know that I shall also find

The courage that I seek.

There will be friends and company,

Food and shelter and some rest.

Work to do and challenges to be met

And things to put me to the test.

When this week is over

And its lessons have been learned

I hope that I have found the peace

For which I’ve often yearned.

Soon it will be Monday

And another week will start

Another week of memories

Stored within my heart.

©  Linda J. Vaughan

REMEMBERING YOUR MOTHER

Remembering your Mother

The years have gone

And yet it seems like yesterday

Since your heart was broken

And she went away.

She was a lady who cared

And loved you very much ~

I know you miss her presence

And her tender gentle touch.

There are so many things to remember

Of family times together

Christmas and Easter – sunshine and rain ~

So many storms to weather.

She was strong and determined

And this she passed to you.

You will never forget her

In all you say and do.

It somehow gets a little easier

To cope with the empty space,

But your heart knows very well

That none could take her place.

She was your cherished Mother

It was she who gave you birth,

Nourished you and nurtured you

And helped you know your worth.

So although you miss her very much

Especially on Mother’s Day

And on the anniversary

Of the day she went away.

Her physical presence is no more

But she has left her part

She never will be gone from you

She lives within your heart.

She lives within the memories

Of the times you spent together

And with her strength beside you

Any storm you’ll weather.

Think of her with tenderness

With love you cannot hide,

And know that she would always

Think of you with pride.

© Linda J. Vaughan

THE FATHER OF MY CHILDREN

THE FATHER OF MY CHILDREN

On Father’s Day I think of you

And the children that we share,

You have been a great Father,

And always showed your care.

The children of our hearts ~

Now quite fully grown,

You can reap the benefits

Of the seeds that you have sown.

They love you with a passion,

Laugh and share your days,

You have always been there,

In oh so many ways.

You walked the floor with them

And wiped away their tears

You carried them in your arms

And gently calmed their fears,

You have driven them to University,

To music and their sport,

The time has flown so quickly ~

Much faster than we thought.

You discuss politics with them

And the latest garden news,

Always you have listened

And respected their differing views.

They are who they are

Because they come from you,

I just want to tell you

That I share their pride too.

A special man – a man of few words,

And I know that they are glad,

That you are their special friend

And they can call you “Dad.”

 © Linda J. Vaughan

DIAMONDS ON THE ROSE

DIAMONDS ON THE ROSE

A summer storm at evening

A steady soaking rain,

The first blossom on a rose

That comes forth out of pain 

A garden newly restored 

A newly planted bush

A blossom touched with diamonds

In the evening's quiet hush

Not only is there a new blossom

But buds surround her crown

The raindrops on her petals

Shine as nighttime settles down.

Abundance and fullness

Health and life in full measure

Such are the blossoms on the rose

Making memories to treasure.

The hands that tended this rose

Have been still and inactive

But a very special gift

Means that this man will live.

He cherishes the garden 

And tends it with very great care

The new life will bring pleasure

To all who visit there.

There is as special meaning

In the planting of this rose

And fragrant will be the garden

For in his heart he knows.

The work was done with loving hands

To honour other special men

Whose gift of life has meaning

And we can live again.

Roses planted near the ocean

Blossoming and thriving with care

Celebrating special lives 

Allowing us to dare.

To dare to live in possibility

To turn our faces to the sun

The celebrate the gift of life

To see the battle won.

No diamonds in the whole wide world

Could hold more worth than these ~

The raindrop diamonds glistening

Across the wide wide seas.

No plants could be more beautiful

Or more significant be

Than those which grow and blossom

In a garden near the sea.

The gift of life was given 

And we will forever thankful be

For the kindness and compassion

And the skills that let this be.

I bless the velvet petals 

And the diamonds glistening there

They serve as a reminder 

Of a special gardener's care.

© Linda J. Vaughan

June 2nd. 2012.

ANGEL OF AVALON

ANGEL OF AVALON

Angels are friends who care for us

And help us on our way,

They bring a smile and wipe a tear

As they pass along our way.

A cheery smile, a comforting word,

A hug and a ternder touch.

These things bring to us such joy

And help us so very much.

Angels will listen to a story they know

Which they may have heard before,

If you have a need then I am sure

An Angel will knock at your door.

They will light your way

And bring to you much gladness,

They will in kindness wait

To chase away your sadness.

They will be there for you

And promises will keep,

Watching through the dark night

While you peacefully sleep.

Angels will watch our babies

Waking us when they cry,

Guard our teenagers while they drive

Never faster than Angels can fly.

I believe in Angels

And the touch of healing wings

I believe in friendship

And the pleasure that it brings.

I believe in Angels – I call them friends.

© Linda J. Vaughan

May 4^th. 2006

THE CARER

THE CARER

“Who cares for the Carer?”

There are thousands of them out there

Who put their lives on hold,

Who take the time to care for

Those who are sick, troubled or old.

They do it continuously and willingly

And rarely do they complain.

But in their heart of hearts

I know they feel some pain.

They are on duty 24 hours

And answer in a patient way

The very same question

That has been asked fifty times that day.

They lock the doors and windows

And put the knives away

From those who have forgotten,

And oft are in harms way.

They administer medication

And appointments keep on time.

They bring them home from busy roads

And sometimes a railway line.

Sometimes the days are better

Than others have been before,

Then it settles into a routine

And days go on once more.

The agony of caring for a child

As if it were your own,

Whose body is adult in many ways

But whose mind has never grown.

The child you bore and hoped to raise

To be an adult too

Still lingers in the childhood mist

And still depends on you.

A loving tender husband

Who now no longer knows

How to tie his shoelaces

And often takes off his clothes.

A wife of many years

Now childlike in her ways

He has promised to be there

To care for her always.

The agony of friendship lost

In that still and vacant gaze

An awareness of a black space

That fills so many days.

The carers need s some care too

Some tenderness and praise.

A hug, a smile a special touch

As they bravely live their days.

They need some respite from their load

So that they can bravely still care.

They need to feel supported ~

They need to know we are there.

If you have ever walked this road

Then you will understand ~

This is not the way you wanted things

But the way that it was planned.

© Linda J. Vaughan

19th. September 2003

THE CARE OF FRIENDSHIP - written this morning

THE CARE OF FRIENDSHIP

Oh the ache inside of me

When I hear you call,

Oh the pain I feel for you

When your back's against the wall.

I want to stand close beside you

And tell you to stand tall,

That I will be here to help you

And hold you lest you fall.

Feel free to talk at length with me

As I try to ease your pain,

I'll  hold you close and whisper

That the sun will shine again.

The winter days will soon pass

And gone will be days of rain.

The seasons will roll on 

Your moon will wax and wane.

I cannot take your pain away

Nor really dispel your fear

But I can be of comfort to you

By staying very near.

I can often sit beside you

And wipe away your tear

I can walk beside you 

Until your path comes clear.

Take comfort in your sadness

Knowing I am here for you,

That together we shall walk

Until the sky is blue.

We shall laugh and cry together

As good friends often do,

And we can share together

The joys of a friendship true.

© Linda J. Vaughan

26th. June 2011

CHERISH THE DAYS

CHERISH THE DAYS

Cherish the days when love is yours

And for you the skies are blue

Hear the winds of kindness blow

Be sure to say I Love you.

See the devotion in those eyes

And the tenderness it brings

Feel the flutter of your heart

As it soars on eagle wings.

Relish the joy and fascination

As you walk the path together

Hold fast to the hand that reaches out

And know that the storms you will weather.

Feel the passion and romance

the magic and pure delight

As you love and care and tenderly spend

Another love filled night.

Let the story be told of tenderness

And the days when love is bold

May the memorey of these special times

Warm your days when you are old.

© Linda J. Vaughan

2008 February 

THE LAST ROSE OF SUMMER

THE LAST ROSE OF SUMMER

A long hot summer now is fading

And chill is in the air 

I walked today in my garden

And saw changes everywhere.

A sweet and fragrant rose

Dropped its petals as I passed

The beauty now has faded

Of course it could not last.

I touched the velvet petals

And somehow thought of you

I sensed your time of struggle

The effort to get through.

Keep your eyes upon the hedgerow

And not the thorns below

And you will see the rose

You will watch it grow.

You will smell the sweet perfume

It's petals you will touch

Just know that friends are out here

And that they care so much.

© Linda J. Vaughan

May 2007

ONLY THE BODY AGES

ONLY THE BODY AGES

Looking back in memory

I see the changing years,

I look into your eyes

And I can sense your fears.

I see you as a young girl,

With diamonds in your eyes,

The path which lay before you

Holding open, clear blue skies.

I see you as a bride

With roses in your cheeks.

Happy hours with love for you,

Drifting into weeks.

Weeks turning into years,

With children at your knee.

Raising happy children ~

You were as happy as could be.

I hear your rippling laughter

And see the tears you shed,

You were only happy when

They were tucked into their bed.

Soon you stopped and looked

And saw the years had flown,

They were now returning

With children of their own.

You tire more easily its true

And seem to need more rest

I see how you feel the silence

Of your empty nest.

You were left to walk alone

Yet love still shone from you.

You encouraged us all

To do things we needed to.

Your body now is aging,

But not your heart and mind

Always you have been a Mother

Gentle, sweet and kind.

I see you now your eyes still bright

Your heart still full of love,

For all you are and gave to me

I thank the Heavens above.

Only the body withers

Not the heart or care.

You had so much to give

And always you would share.

I see you as a Mother

With dignity and grace,

With love’s pure light shining

From your lovely face.

© Linda J. Vaughan

amended 2011

COMFORT

COMFORT

Nothing soothes a troubled soul
Like a friend who has known trouble,

Who has also seen their life shattered

And stood among the rubble.

Nothing warms a troubled heart

Like a friend who has also cried,

Who has also seen the walls tumble down

No matter how hard she tried.

Nothing calms a troubled mind

Like a friend who has walked the walk,

Travelled long distances with you

And also talked the talk.

Nothing restores a damaged heart

Like a friend whose dragons are slain,

Who will help you slay your own

And lift you to your feet again.

Nothing brings joy to a loving heart

Than a heart prepared to share,

To feel your pain and walk with you

And willingly show their care.

It is true I’ve found

In this world of froth and bubble ~

Nothing soothes a troubled soul

Like a friend who has known trouble.

© Linda J. Vaughan

2011

SUNSET LOVE

SUNSET LOVE

I sat in my car at the parking lot

At the start of a busy day.

I looked up and saw a couple

Slowly walking my way.

They crossed the road together,

He gently took her arm ~

Easy to see she was special to him

That he would keep her from harm.

She was going shopping ~

This is where they were to part.

They smiled at each other

I could almost feel her fluttery heart.

She quietly turned and faced him

He gently tilted her chin,

They hugged each other closely

Not wanting to let the world in.

He stroked her silver hair

And steadied her on her feet.

He handed her the walking stick

Before he crossed the street.

He kissed her and she blushed,

He squeezed her hand and left her there

With the memory of his tender kiss

And his loving care.

It touched my romantic heart

And somehow made me ponder,

Just how long these two 

Have shared love’s special wonder.

In his eyes were diamonds

And he kissed her where the world could see,

He stood and watched her walk away

And he gently smiled at me.

I smiled and sensed the wonder

Of a love which has lasted the years

It was such a special morning

And my eyes were wet with tears.

©  Linda J. Vaughan

May 10th. 2011

I completed this today after is was unfinished for a few years - I saw this today at the Parking lot.