poems on endings and lost loves

A First Collection Of Poems

By John Dyhouse

A FIRST COLLECTION OF POETRY

By John Dyhouse

This collection of verse represents a number of poems, which started life as song lyrics. I have edited and rewritten the lines and verses to pass as poetry.

I hope that you will enjoy reading the poems, as much as I have enjoyed singing and writing them.

This first collection of my poetry is dedicated to my wife and our two sons.

A FIRST COLLECTION OF POETRY

By John Dyhouse

Published 2014, in the USA

by CreateSpace, an Amazon company

All the poems in this volume are the sole copyright of the author, all rights reserved.

Except for short quotes, which must be fully attributed to the author, they may not be used in any manner whatsoever in any other publication, hard copy or on-line, without specific permission from the author or his appointed agent.

All images are either my own or are in the public domain, excepting one case where the source is cited on page 21, where the image appears.

Table of contents.

POEMS ON ENDINGS AND LOST LOVES.....7

SILENT LADY........................................................8SING ME A SIMPLE SONG..................................10REFLECTIONS FROM THE PAST..........................12YOU WERE HERE ONLY YESTERDAY................14MISTER WILLOW................................................16MEMORIES..........................................................18

POEMS ON ATTITUDES TO LIFE.................21

THE WICKED MAGICIAN....................................22PUT DOWN YOUR GUN......................................24IS THE DAY TOO LONG?....................................26THE WATERFALL................................................28PATTERNS ON MY MIND...................................30YOU'RE IN A RUT BOY......................................32

A POEM: THE WIND........................................34

POEMS FOR CHILDREN.................................37

IF ALL MY FRIENDS COULD TALK.....................38Your Furry Old Friends.....................................40

Poems On Endings And Lost Loves

These poems are concerned with endings, especially the endings of relationships. The poetry, much of it first appearing as song lyrics, was written mostly in my teens and early twenties. Very little of it has been published elsewhere, so it is a first for me to set this into print.

Many people, especially younger people, will go through a multitude of relationships and ending those relatiuonships is always difficult in one way or another. Here I examine some effects of ending relationships and the way that people cope or not as the case may be.

Silent Lady

A poem about ending an unsatisfactory relationship.

What do you do if you feel that you are in an unsatisfactory relationship? You really like the other person but you know it cannot and will not work to mutual advantage. Something about the relationship is just not working out.

The person relating this story is in such a situation. This poem tells his story, and tries to explain how he feels. He is obviously struck with the lady concerned but does not feel that she is completely straight with him. We do not know however, just what untruths may be hiding behind the lament.

Silent Lady

Silent Lady,the time has come to say goodbye.

How can I forget you,When I see you in my mind's eye.

Silent Lady, I've got to quit, call it a day.

I've got to fight you,You're Queen of Hell, too long you've had your day

Silent Lady, Don't you cry it will not pay.

Too late to change your ways.You'll will find a man to keep you; but me, I've had

my day.

Silent Lady,You can't get through without a lie.

I've lost my faith in you.And Before I lose my mind, I'll say goodbye

Sing Me A Simple Song

A poem in which a relationship is ending prematurely

The words are very simple and almost, almost, the sort of words that you can hear in everyday language. And the clichés are part of this tone. I used to speak like this and so did people I heard around me. I make no apologies for using

a number in this short poem. The thing that makes the verses rise above ordinary speech is the use of the metaphor, "singing a song" to represent the relationship implied, and now coming to an end.

Some of the clichés (and don't they date me?):-

Bring it on back to me: Well, you may not hear this nowadays but in the late sixties The Animals had a great rhythm and blues number at the top of many charts with this phrase very prominent. Make beautiful music: Another sixties cliché, flower power and all that.We can make it come what may: This doesn't need any explanation, a very common cliché in the sixties. I have used this metaphor before in similar circumstances, as of course have many other writers and singers.

Sing Me A Simple Song

Sing me a simple song,So I can sing along.

We can make beautiful music all night and day.Sing me a melody,

Let's sing in harmony.I know that we can make it come what may!

Songs that you sang for meBring me a memory,

Reminding me of times that we used to know. Memories Oh so sweet,

Bring them on back to me.Just one more time, before you finally go.

Sing me a simple song,I really think that you belong

Here, close to me, together we make a class act.Bring it on home to me,Stay, be a friend to me,

With so much between us, we could adapt.

Sing me a simple songI know I can sing along.Sing me a simple song.

Reflections From The Past

A poem about difficulties in ending a relationship.

Sometimes the end of a relationship is a very sad thing for one of the parties involved. In this poem, the storyteller is constantly reminded of his lost love by the fact of seeing (imagining?) her face reflected in the windows he passes as he walks through his home city. This constant reminder can only make the parting and the separation very difficult.

We know that in fact the reflections can only be imagined, but the memories are quite real and hurtful.

Reflections From The Past

Reflections remind me,Remind me of a love we knew;And sometimes I can see youIn reflections from the past.

Reflections in my minds eyeAre so real I can see you;

And sometimes I can feel youIn reflections from the past.

Reflections, in each window.In each pane I see your face.Every pane of every window,Every time and every place.

Every time I stop and linger,Every prayer I know I say,

Every thought of you grows stronger,Every hour of every day.

Reflections, I rememberPromises which once meant so much;And sometimes I just want to touch

Those reflections from the past.

You Were Here Only Yesterday

A poem looking back in time

In this poem, again the theme is about a lost love. The storyteller is looking back to a happier time, although his feelings are tinged by his thoughts that all was not well in the relationship.

Was his lover always telling the truth, maybe making fun of him and even worse. Many of us may recognise this sort of dichotomy in a relationship, which seemed fine at the time.

When the relationship breaks down slowly, how do you decide at what point it is irretrievable, it can be a difficult decision.

You Were Here Only Yesterday

You were here only yesterday,And I listened to all you'd say.

You took me in with all your lies,Make believe alibis.

You were here only yesterday,Acted out your part in a play.

How you must have laughed inside,Laughed at me a comedy.

Funny but for who;Not for me of that I'm sure.

Funny it may be, but my heart achesSo seriously.

You were here only yesterday,Funny how love drifts away.

It's hard to recognise when it's gone,Until you're left the only one.You were here only yesterday.Acted out your part in a play.

How you must have laughed inside,Laughed at me a comedy.

Mister Willow

A poem based upon a simple metaphor

This poem is another example of a poem, which started out as a song lyric, I always felt the lyric was good enough to stand on its own. I still sing it but do consider it a poem. Is this

cheating? I don't think so. I write the words and sometimes they are meant to be a poem, sometimes they are meant to be a song. It sometimes happens, as here, that I treat the words as a poem or song interchangeably.

How can you tell the difference? Well the biggest give-away is that a song may treat a syllable as more than one sound, i.e. more than one note may be used for that syllable. This however is not a very good way of making a distinction and a good singer and a good dramatic reader will take the same words and make them sound just fine. So we are back where we started.

I treat poems as lyrics and vice versa, and feel that I am free to do so. I hope that you can agree with this stance.

Mr Willow

Mr Willow weep for meWon't you shed a tear.

Help me keep my own eyes dryBut it's too late I fear.

Mr Sun please leave the sky now,Please allow the rain

To wash my face and hide awayAll these tears of pain

Mistress Wind come dry my faceBrush away the pain,

Clean and fresh I'll face the worldHere I go again.

Mr Sun please leave the sky now,Please allow the rain

To wash my face and hide awayAll these tears of pain

Memories

A poem about reminiscing.

Perhaps one of the worst features of any break-up, is the memories which you are left with after the event. Some may be good and a few may be bad.

Perhaps you will be destined to go over the good memories time and time again. How difficult it can be to erase these memories.

Memories

I sing my song in remembranceOf times so long since passed by.Now all the sounds of repentanceCombine into one mournful sigh.

Things that have passed aren't forgotten,I relive my life endlessly.

The whole world appears to be rottenNow there's nothing left here for me

I'll reminisce in the gloriesAnd keep my eyes searching within;I won't fool myself with the stories

Of emergent hopes once again.

Poems On Attitudes To Life

Attitudes to life are often expressed in poetry. My early poems were often about life and attitudes to life of disturbed people. I have chosen this theme to showcase the second part of this collection of my poetry.

Prior to this project, my poems were written purely for my own

benefit and have never been published. I did in fact write many of them as lyrics and some of them have seen the light of day; but this is the first time that I have taken steps to make the bulk of them available to interested readers.

Despite the poems here having a common theme, they are about an eclectic collection of people and their attitudes to life. I hope that you enjoy reading them.

Image source: http://www.kinouya.com/intro.htm

The Wicked Magician

A Poem About Good And Evil

A poem written many years ago when my boys were small. They were talking in the back of the car returning home from a treat, and kept mentioning "the wicked magician".

I still don't know what or who he was, but when I sat down that evening to write I kept seeing the picture of this character in my mind. I eventually gave in and wrote this poem, not at all like anything that I have written before or since.

The Wicked Magician

The wicked Magician,He cries in the night.

For the wrongs he has doneAnd the wrongs he can't right.

The wicked MagicianKnows his way was wrongBut for power and wealth,He was just swept along.

The wicked Magician,He cries in his sleep

For the lies he has toldAnd the vows he can't keep.

For we all have to payFor the black and the white.

The good and the badThat we do in our life.

And so to us allDoes come a judgement.

If you should believeIn life after our death.

And so to us allThere comes a choosing,

When at last we meetWith the Lord God of wrath.

Put Down Your Gun

A poem about choice

Far too many people in our society today are far too quick to take a violent way out of situations. This poem (or lyric as it was set to music soon after writing) was written in 1977 but has never been published or even seen the light of day. I almost feel upset about having written it. I have never been in this sort of situation and hope never to be so, but I do find the piece disturbing

The text calls for another way of proceeding without the use of weapons, and a much calmer approach to issues.

Put Down Your Gun

Put Down your gun, you'd better run,You can't have it all your own way.

You never know when you might need a friendSo, put down your gun today.

Banish all thoughts of vengeance."Live and let live", don't they say.

You can't come up number one, every time.So put down your gun today.

Put Down your gun, you'd better run,And give yourself time to unwind.

You never know what you're liable to do,Take the time to make up your mind.

Banish all thoughts of vengeance."Live and let live", don't they say.

You have to expect to be put down, sometime.So put down your gun today.

Put Down your gun, you'd better run,Someday, you might need a friend.

Give me some time, let me change your mind,Don't bring my poor life to an end.Banish all thoughts of vengeance."Live and let live", don't they say.

You can't come up number one, every time.So put down your gun today.

Is The Day Too Long?

A poem about how your outlook can affect your life

Change your attitudes and the way that you look at life to be more positive and this could change your life for the better. Or at the very least provide a more positive outlook on life.

This is the message contained within these few stanzas.

Is The Day Too Long?

Is the day too long,To hold to what you're crying for?

Is the day too bright,To see just what you want?

Is the time too fast,To make your mind up anyway?

Is life just a dream,You cannot hold?

Have you seen the sun,When up above's a clear blue sky?

Have you felt the rain,When the sun is beating down?

Can you reach the sky,"Oh no", this time I hear you say.

Can you really sayYou've ever lived?

You've never seen the sun,The clouds of doubt obscure your mind.

You've never felt the rainYou're too insensitive for that.You've never touched the sky,

Your crookedness is stopping you.Oh no, you cannot say,

You've ever lived.

The Waterfall

A poem about interconnections in life

"No man is an island", words often heard but do we take the meaning on board in our life. I unapologetically incorporated these words into this poem, and used the idea of melting snow on far mountain peaks, feeding a river which in turn creates a waterfall. The spray from the waterfall is felt by this observer.

We should realise that all life is inevitably connected in some way on this small planet of ours.

The Waterfall

By the banks of a waterfall, I hear the roar.Rushing water fills a pool on the floor

Of the valley, where the trees are so greenAnd I sit, let the waterfall carry me away.

Mountain peaks, as the sun rises I see its face.Snowy peaks, far away but disturbing my peace.

Melting snow, fills the streams with its blood.The streams fill the river, which flows past my feet.

No man is an island unto himselfBut he's a part of the world all around him.

You don't need to look very farTo understand and believe, what I am saying.

By the banks of a waterfall, I feel the spray.Rushing water, fills a pool that's so cold for today.

Melted snow, from those mountains afar,I sit and I think, let the waterfall carry me away.

Patterns On My Mind

A poem about ageing and growing old

Like so many of my poems, this was originally set to music but never previously published in any form. In setting these poems to music I usually alter one of the verses to construct a contrasting metre/structure to create a middle eight or chorus for the song.

I am unsure what inspired it, I think the words simply appeared as I was writing in my notebook one day. I worked on the first few words and voila! There it was. It came to life of it's own accord and I was grateful enough to write it down and call it my own.

Patterns On My Mind

Patterns on my mind,Though my eyes seem blind.

I cannot see the worldThrough tears of Pain.

Red and blue and gold,It seem's I'm getting old,

The world is fadingFaster everyday.

I see Tomorrow,It's here before today.

I see tomorrow,and I see yesterday.

Red and blue and green,I feel that I could scream.

I can't take no more,I feel I'll lose my mind.

You're In A Rut Boy

A Poem About Procrastination

Sometimes I can identify with the main persona in this poem. I drifted into a job in my early twenties and stayed there, content to meander along until I retired. I did take many jobs with the same firm but they never really satisfied me, I should have had a job with a more creative role. Perhaps I am passing this warning on.

Each of us must find his own place in the world where we can be true to ourselves.

You're In A Rut Boy

You're in a rut boyGet up and go

Show them what you can do.Stuck in a rut,

It's no way to beFor somebody like you.

You're in a rut boyWalking a line

That's without any curves.Got to stand up andShout for yourself,

To get what you deserve.

You're in a rut but,You've got what it takes

Show them they can't get you down.Show them you've still got

Enough fight inside,To go a few more rounds.

Don't be afraid,You'll be amazed

At the things you can do.Get off your butt, there's

Always a placeFor somebody like you.

A Poem: The Wind

This was a poem, which I wrote relatively recently. It was at the time, one of a very few which was not set to music, but this one happened pretty well on its own accord. I originally wrote it to be a (folk) song but the tune just did not seem right.

It was just after the New Orleans tragedy bought on by Hurricane Katrina. A major disaster, which appeared in headlines around the world. I didn't have to think about it very much it just seemed to write itself.

I hope that you like it.

The Wind

The Wind sighed,And the world turned.

The Wind whispered, "Why?"But no one heard.

The Wind wondered, "When?"But no answer came.

The Wind cried, "Cease!"But few took heed.

The Wind shrieked, "Stop!"But the suffering had started.

The Wind warned us all,But who had noticed.And the world turned.

The Wind howled, "How?"But was it now too late?

The Wind became man's enemy,And they asked, each one,"Why didn't we listen?""Why didn't we care?"

"Why didn't we do enough?""We could have helped"And the world turned.

The Wind tore throughThe remaining years.

"why didn't we listen?"And the world turned,

In upon itself.

Poems For ChildrenFor my kids, when they were very young.

I never missed the opportunity to read to my children at bedtime. I enjoyed reading and especially enjoyed their eager anticipation and the joy with which they

greeted this ritual. We always made sure that plenty of books were around. I remember that there were special favourites, Dr Seuss, The Mister Men and Thomas The Tank Engine being just a few.

I would add to the effect by reading in what I hoped was a very dramatic way, changing my voice to reflect the characters and their behaviour. The youngest particularly enjoyed my nightly performance. However, I had to take the opportunity to bring into the circle his soft toys. He had so many different animals, which would always be on his bed whilst he slept.

I wrote some poems, which "starred" these toys and the two, which are included here, were typical.

If All my Friends Could Talk

This particular poem was written because sometimes I was just not allowed to finish. I was begged to read just one more page / story / poem depending upon how lucky they felt.

So I told my son to pretend that his furry animal toys would carry on without me until the morning when they would wake him. Nobody else would hear them and it could be his very own secret.

If All my Friends Could Talk

I wish my owl could talk,He'd tell me when it's morning;

He'd wake me up from deepest sleepAnd tell me day is dawning.

I wish that Ted could talk,I know just what he'd say.

He'd wake me up and say to me,"It's such a lovely day."

I wish my mouse could talk,I know that he can squeak.

Oh, what a lot of things he'd say,If he could only speak.

If all my friends could talk,It would be so much fun

To have a conversation with themEach and everyone.

Your Furry Old Friends

This poem was written because there was at least one time when Turning off the light raised a cry of, "Daddy I'm frightened". Don't know why, could have been another ploy to keep me reading. But I wrote this to suggest that all the animals would look after my son during the night. It seemed to work.

Your Furry Old Friends

Paddington Bear stands over your headKeeping a watch while you are in bed,

Keeping a watch through the nightMaking quite sure that your are alright.

A black and white panda sits by your feetA comforting weight that pulls on your sheet.

You'll never be on your ownThere is no reason to cry and to moan.

You know all of your furry old friendsStay close to keep you company.

All of your furry old friends,Are here to keep you safe for me.

A friendly old tortoise poking his noseFrom under a pile of your daytime clothes,

Keeping a watch all night long.Making quite sure that nothing is wrong.

Paddington, Panda, Tortoise and Ellie,Sooty and Jasmine, Emu and Teddy.

All of your furry old friends,All of your furry old friends.

The Good News:

Volume 2 is imminent.

I hope you may have enjoyed reading these poems and maybe even liked some of them. These poems were almost exclusively written in my youth, having mostly been written in the sixties and seventies.

Look out for a further collection of poems, written since the summer of 2012, which I hope to be publishing in 2014.

For your convenience, you will find me on the internet at …

Web site URL

Twitter https://twitter.com/artyfaxFacebook https://www.facebook.com/john.dyhouseMy Blog http://poemsbyartyfax.blogspot.co.uk/

poems on endings and lost loves

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