Kate McClelland

Tuesday, 24 May 2016

Ashes

He threw the ashes into the ocean

Misjudging the wind and the squall.

The ocean threw the ashes back – wet.

On to his white shirt and beige slacks

Now running with grey lines of sea water

Mixed with his dead father’s ashes

He looked like a dirty window.

‘You Bastard’ he said out loud

Staring out toward the horizon

And grimacing at the thought

Of being covered in his father’s detritus

‘You had to have the last laugh, didn’t you Dad?’

Picture by Pixabay

Emotional Tidal Wave

Sometimes my feelings overwhelm me

And occasionally spill out of my mouth

I try to claw them back into my skull, ribcage and guts

Before any permanent damage is done

I fear that they may eventually burst forth

Like an emotional tidal wave

Gushing out everything and anything I feel

Without the ‘benefit’ of my usual over-thinking or

Cancelling, abridging, expurgating

Rewriting self-critical, malice aforethought

And it will engulf you -

This tempest of feelings

And I will find myself shouting

Until I am totally drained and spent –

I love you.

Picture by Pixabay

Friday, 15 April 2016

A Shoulder to Lean On

A Shoulder to Lean on

I can fight my way through any hard time

Any storm, even a tornado

Because I have a practical mind

And that helps me focus

But sometimes

Despite my ability,

Strength and fortitude

Just sometimes…

I would like to be the one saved

Have a shoulder to lean on

Know that someone has my back

Why can’t it be you?

Why isn’t it ever you?

Why?

Bitterness

Bitterness

Bitterness, envy and hatred
Those three evil bedfellows
Can make even the most beautiful of face -
Ugly

Sunday, 3 April 2016

Scented Wax Candle

Scented Wax Candle

The clicking sound of the scented wax candle

The crackling logs on the blazing fire

And the gentle tinkling of the crystal chimes

Moved by the warm circulating air of the room

The sounds caress my ears like a lullaby

I lie here, comfortable and cosy

Propped up on a soft plump cushion

Throw rug over my legs, tucking my toes in

A warm glow surrounds me

A calmness permeates through the atmosphere

Soothing the knots from my shoulder

The aches from my legs – the weight from my mind

I lounge like a contented cat in the stillness

A pot of Earl Grey percolating on the table

A book in my hand - the quiet washes over me

A deep sigh of contentment

A quick smile flits over my face

Peace – perfect peace

Photo by Pixabay

Saturday, 27 February 2016

A Pair of Angel Hands

As a child, hiding from suffocating strife
She would imagine a pair of angel hands
Cupped around her face
Warm and gentle
Like a summer breeze
There, there, they would whisper
Softly drying her tears.
Ethereal, but tangible.

She could feel arms cocooning her
From the storm raging outside the cupboard door.
Settling the fear, sadness and frustration
In her tiny soul.
Quelling the vengeful spirit
Broiling her insides
As it waited for an opportunity
To tear its way out and wreak havoc

In the embrace of those ghostly arms
Peace and comfort would engulf her
A sense that all would eventually be well
An inner calmness
Would seep into her every atom
Her sob-wrung weary chest would ease
And she could finally lay down to rest
And sleep the sleep of the innocent.

© Kate McClelland 2016

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Photo Pixabay

Sunday, 14 February 2016

We danced around each other

I am heartbroken

But I have no right to be

As you are not mine

We danced around each other

For so long

We danced off in opposite directions

Now the music has paused

And I find that

You are with a different partner

And are dancing away from me for good

I always thought

We would eventually end up together

So that when the dancing stopped

We would be face to face

Together for the final waltz

But I somehow missed a step

Lost my cue

And you did not wait for me

To catch up

So I am now a wall flower

Destined to end the dance alone

Knowing the tune and the steps

But standing like a spare part

A well-dressed mannequin

Unloved, invisible, bereft

As the music plays on