Learning to soar above life's storms
You lug the giant watering can,
Helping the garden grow,
Content to follow and help where you can –
Running to and fro.
Your sunny disposition is a blessing to me
And I love your innocent ways –
Whereever you go there’s a joyful song,
And pleasant are the days.
All too soon you will be grown –
I must treasure the moments so sweet
A beautiful girl – such a gift to the world –
Dancing, happy feet!
© M. Patterson 2019
Inbetween the craziness of having barely any time to call my own, I am posting a few old poems from my original blog, but I do also plan to do posts like this one, as well as sharing some favourite music and penning some more poetry.
I haven’t had a lot of time to reflect, but themes in life have a way of screaming for attention at times. I happened to stumble across a life coaching video by a lady called Lisa Corduff and it got me thinking about priorities. Often life sort of just happens to me and around me and I feel a constant state of overwhelm. Lisa’s video helped me initiate a family conversation about what truly mattered. I’m still pondering it and being helped by it.
One of the necessities which I threw away when life got tough, was music. I only have to see the way my daughter sings and dances at every opportunity, to see what I would (still) be like if I didn’t get so stressed and caught up in the to-do list.
So today I’m challenging you (and myself) to get back to the heart of things. Stop worrying about someone else’s stamp of approval. If it’s important to you then it should be given time. Waiting for an opportune moment could prove a waste of time. Some things can’t wait and so many people could be blessed along the way.
Like pebbles falling through my pocket-
A priceless collection lost,
I progressed for a while along the path
Forgetting what it cost.
I didn’t realise that Your will
Was that I should take with me
Every single lesson learnt,
Which had helped to set me free.
Ashamed and broken, I bowed my head,
Wondering if I should look back,
To pick up all the lessons and promises
I lost along the track.
I looked at You, and saw a nod,
So I made up my mind to give
Every moment of surrender to You
As a thankyou for letting me live.
I hope that one day, these boring old stones
Will be diadems in Your crown,
As I re-embrace Your promises and then
Learn to lay them down
© M. Patterson 2001
Her fourteen year old smile
Approved each detail tentatively.
She anticipated each ride
To that familiar place,
Where sweat was a sweet thing –
A sign that when the siren pierced the air,
He might be there.
He used to come more frequently
And she wished she had noticed then;
It was his absence that prompted
The fable spanning many years –
That his appearance would
Obliterate the terrible,
The mundane.
In his gaze, there was beauty
Enough for a thousand lifetimes,
Yet that secret was safely hidden
Beneath layers of teenage skin.
The fable grew;
He had returned and
His timing was impeccable.
Nothing seemed quite so
Ordinary anymore.
Sensing finality,
She addressed him,
Softly spoken,
Heart beating fast,
A matter so trivial –
Yet his caring way
Made him swell
Forever in her eyes.
She disappeared –
So did he,
And in her dream
He walked on,
Never to return.
She waited in disbelief,
Always hoping for that
Once more –
And there he was,
At a distance to admire,
But never see…
That she waited
© M.Patterson 2015
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’m listening to love songs
Remembering you
Sweet love of my youth –
Your smile won’t grow old
Pillar of strength
Gentle as a dove
My happy drug
For all seasons
You’re living your life
Apart from mine
But once in a while
You’re in my dreams
I can picture you
Standing there
As if it were yesterday
Sweet love of my youth
I framed you in my heart
A proud display
Celebrating my teens
You’ll be there always
© M. Patterson 2014
When you’re feeling blue and disappointment’s gotten hold of you
Just remember that you tried and that is all that you could do.
Maybe one day, a reward may come your way –
Just keep persevering and don’t let those gloomies stay!
There will always be those ‘Jonah’ days where everything goes wrong
And you think that all your happiness has suddenly gotten up and gone,
But don’t you forget that you can one day, smile again –
Keep your chin up, try to smile
And until then…
Hold on – don’t give up – just take a day at a time
Focus on that mountain that you’ve begun to climb –
On that narrow road where with your Saviour, you now tread –
Let Him take you by the hand and be willing to be led.
Tell Him all your worries – give Him all your fears,
Let Him guide you through the storm and wipe away your tears.
Put your hope in Him and trust there’ll be a brighter ‘morrow
He’ll stick by you through thick and thin and help you through your sorrow.
© M.Patterson 1994
You watched a tear
Springing from my heart
Joining with the river
Falling down below.
You called my name
I did not reply
Instead You saw my heart
I couldn’t kneel to pray.
You brought me comfort
All I saw was pain
Yet even in my blindness
I saw You smile at me.
Hope came tumbling down
You pulled me out again
Lifting up my heart
Bowing down to You.
You heard my whisper
As I turned my head
Now facing distant scenes
Watching at the gates.
You felt my brokenness
It drove through Your hands
Blood spilling down like rivers
Giving down below.
© M. Patterson 1998
She hath wings 
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