I have enjoyed writing since I was in primary school. I first took a particular interest in poetry, penning rhyme and freeform verse as well as journalling in my teens and twenties. I enjoy being out in nature, singing, cooking and gardening, playing piano and small craft projects. In this season where I have a small child, there isn’t a whole lot of time for writing, but I am working towards a published work one day.
I wrote this poem more than a decade ago but it still resonates. I am still blessed to have people around me, spurring me on and enriching my life in such a way that I could never have experienced if I was capable to do life on my own.
Broken, Washed up, dried up, You feel that your best years are behind you Paralysed; Scared to move or even speak – You don’t want to fall again… The lies have overtaken you – Bound you like a spider Suffocating its prey as it crushes it in thread Every new dream, every new spark Chopped […]
Ruins
I stand in the shade,
Gazing at the grassy hill
that Papa made-
Years of memories
Laid to rest today.
The sun is glorious;
I am glad to have one last stroll-
I can still hear children shrieking with joy
As they roll
down Papa’s hill.
Beyond,
Now overgrown with trees,
Is the place where
The two-storey tree house stood
till it rotted, not before
Many hours of carefree play-
The old picnic table,
Embraced by Wattle,
Blue Jacaranda and Tea Trees;
Outdoor Christmases years ago;
Remembered with ease.
Nana knew her plants by name-
Carefully planted one by one;
A testament to her loving hands
As she toiled in the sun.
A little blue clam shell; toddler pool-
Still in line with kitchen window-
The Frisian cows in yonder pasture
Would often come and go.
Laden fruit trees-
Now turned spindly;
Sweet daphne flowers on-
Waving to me on gentle breezes
The warmth of Nana’s smile happened upon.
We walk away, tears still brimming;
Kids have missed out on this space-
We bid farewell to Papa’s Hill
And all we loved about this place.
©️ M.Patterson 5.8.26
I have been doing a lot of thinking the last day or so, after learning that a close relative on my mother’s side had passed away. It came as a complete shock, and our family had been looking forward to seeing her towards the end of the month, but it wasn’t to be.
This dear soul has been through so many health issues over the years, defying the odds and keeping a positive, gentle attitude. She quietly influenced her children, never looking for fanfare. I never once heard her raise her voice, even when in disagreement, she kept calm. She possessed a wealth of knowledge but she saw it as her duty to equip people rather than control their ultimate decision making.
For much of my life I have wanted to leave a giant-sized legacy that the world would recognise. I didn’t see any point in anything less. It was a rather arrogant viewpoint- the notion that worldly recognition would secure my sense of self. It led to a constant feeling of inferiority. It even infected my parenting; I was never good enough unless my ability measured up to certain people I admired.
Losing my in-laws – quiet, unassuming people, who didn’t want public praise, yet managed to raise several kind-hearted children who knew how to band together in crisis and grow in wisdom, made me start to see things differently. Their lives left little signposts to follow- clear, well-lit places where myself and others could receive clear guidance for life. It was the same with Mum’s relative who died this week. She spent her life equipping and serving others, and in so doing, she left the world a better place and left a very big gaping hole which enables me to feel the loss of her ever more acutely than if she had been famous.
I’m sure I will write on this topic again, as I find new-found freedom in being one of the quiet ones to pass through this journey of life, but for now, may I encourage you to value the little things you do to make the lives of others shine brighter. There is only one sun, and the rest of us are like the other little stars in the galaxy. Only a few of us will ever stand out- the rest of us help to light the night sky together, each with an important role. Keep leaving those little sign-posts for others, knowing that you have and you are making an incredible difference.
©️ M.Patterson 10.7.26
Little boy ran free in the mud-
A grin spread across his face-
Could life have gotten better than this?
Sadness had no place.
80s Rock playing in the white van
Body boarding in the sun-
Memorable holidays and special times;
Life was so much fun.
Decades later, a week of heartache,
Thrust into the public eye;
This quiet close-knit family
Watched healthy parents die.
All those gentle memories scarred;
Media hungry for more-
Now that little boy is like
A man returned from war.
And I can see that little boy
Just longs for Mum and Dad-
Never will justice ever repay
The times they could have had.
©️ M.Patterson 25.6.26
Have you ever tried to have boundaries but certain people in your life ignore them? You feel like you can’t go on another minute like you have been, severely depleted physically or emotionally because you have said “yes” to all the demands around you? What if you changed things in a gradual, more permanent way? What if you said, ” Enough! I will not be taken for granted!”.
The last few years have placed such high demands on me that there were times I felt like I couldn’t find a way to make things better. No guarantee of time out for myself, hardly any time for the most basic of hobbies or even a reasonable amount of sleep. One crisis in hand while another ten came to take its place.
Enter, self compassion. With the help of practical suggestions from my psychologist, I have made some positive gains lately. When the words were too much to handle, I have given myself permission to walk away. When the to-do list was a mile long but I didn’t have enough energy or motivation, I took a little rest first. I picked up the hand weights and did my strength routine given by the physio, even if I didn’t make it to bed when I thought I should have been there- I didn’t want to skip exercises that would help me long-term. If I couldn’t get all the phonecalls done and paperwork filled out, I decided to stop when I had to get another important thing done. On and on I went until I began to see what a lack of boundaries had done to my life and what small changes could do to help me reclaim it.
©️ M. Patterson 20.6.26
My little one asks questions
Beyond the scope he should go;
What happened to Nana?
Why can’t I know?
We tell him little snippets
Then say ” When you’re older” then…
Am I older? he earnestly asks
Not yet- we’ll tell you when…
Another “curly” dodged,
But another day will come,
When the youngest of all the grandkids
Wants to ask about Daddy’s mum.
My heart breaks for what he’s missing
He’ll never know that joy-
With his cheeky curious nature,
He would have been “Nana’s boy”.
I wish I could shield him from it-
The evils we shouldn’t have faced
But all I can do is share the hope
On which our faith is based;
There will be a day
When we’ll all see Nana again-
No harm to befall her;
No need for this bleeding pen;
So many years taken away-
Yet death won’t keep its sting;
And we can have that hug from Nana
When we meet our Lord and King.
©️ M.Patterson 7.6.26
Always my constant;
Championing my cause-
Hard-working mama,
Never seeking applause.
Honoured to serve and
To be there always;
An anchor, a beacon-
On the darkest of days.
It’s hard knowing several
Years away,
My dear mother
May not remember today.
Her body will fail
And her mind fade some more;
My mind cannot rest-
My heart is sore.
I know my love for her
Will remain;
I’ll walk with her
No matter the strain.
Speaking up when she
Can no longer
My heart is breaking
Yet love is stronger.
©️ M.Patterson 3.6.2026
We bonded over children and gentleness-
I poked out of my shell;
Caring enough that we could be sisters-
Always a yarn to tell.
Messages when we couldn’t speak-
Support without applause;
Steadying truth-telling words of wisdom-
Willing to admit flaws.
Not too many have helped me rise
Without breaking me first;
Sometimes you show such unfathomable kindness-
My heart could surely burst.
Kindred spirit, you came into my life
At just the perfect time;
I’m grateful for your belief in me
And the mountains you help me climb.
©️ M.R.Patterson 24.4.26
She hath wings 
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