Virtual Pride (GWR)

Ribbons of colour stream from every train and station

Forming solidified alliances, a sense of elation

Celebrating in style via GWR

While others walk, travel by bus or by car

 

Thundering footsteps marching through streets

Whilst crowds of spectators’ wave at their seats

Flags of many held proud in the air

A demonstration of support, a show of care

 

Prides of plenty, held in various forms

Justice prevailing through vigorous storms

A union of people in person or online

Where every individual is encouraged to shine

 

Our global need for kinship brings us together

Beauty in acceptance bound in tether

A right to exist and come as we are

Irrespective of our journey, irrespective of how far

 

Until rivers run rainbows and wash over sand

With affection overcoming the hate in the land

A time where love is love, and being you isn’t wrong

We’ll continue to celebrate, we’ll continue to march on

True

Persecution.

Shame.

Suppression.

Secrecy.

Death.

What does it take to change the norm?

An act of defiance, brave souls to the storm.

In cracks the whispers strengthen,

Hallowing to break free from oppression.

Withered souls that have been convinced otherwise,

Their true selves beaten into the background.

Inches apart but hidden from sight,

Only in shadows away from the light.

Doughty folk step forward for change,

And as time dwindles we’re not deemed so strange,

Laws and rights slowly come to pass,

Bringing a glimmer of hope for the future of love.

Pockets of flesh mock progress and continue to blacklist,

Solidifying the need for movements to exist.

Rejoice at every milestone, etch progress into stone,

By being true to your own self, both outside and at home.

 

 

Untitled

I suffer in solitude not knowing what to do next

Which path to choose

Words escape me and I find describing what’s in my heart impossible

Absence no longer makes the heart grow fonder it makes me indifferent

I coarse through each day trapped in circumstance

My heart has no purpose my feelings numb

Not one to put myself first always thinking of the needs of others

I long for being alone for being in company is lonely

My mind a mirage, my body motionless

Wanting to run to infinity

Longing for a meaningful embrace

A lasting connection

But thought is suicide and putting myself first means hurt for others

My values make honesty hard

But with courage will come happiness

As the tears fall

Take this as your sign

Take this as your sign...

You defy your unequalled beauty, shielded behind a cascade of doubt

Don't. You're transcendent in every way

The future can be daunting, casting mist to a clear pathway
Don't be afraid. You can be everything you want and in all that you are


Masked scars with hidden truths can question your existence
Don’t look back. Remember, accept it, move forward

Longing for fulfilment from the unknown
Don’t ponder in uncertainties. Reflect, build, dream, persevere

Remind yourself that in darkness there is light
I’ve never known the mesmerising sky to apologise

Whenever you feel perishable, a burdened shell of being
Call on me, find catharsis in my wake

You’re not alone, you matter, I care

One More Day

One More Day..

Lost in thought you wonder

And the sea of doubt casts through your unsuspecting façade

Silence erupts with an explosion knocking at your self-worth

Numb but full of adrenaline, staring at a blank canvas

Passion unforgiving, a snare to circumstance

Identity impalpable

Shielded restraint, a double-edged sword

Immobilised

Too loyal to follow through

Relief transcends as a way through the darkened shadows

And thought turns to Goodbyes

Forgive for all thoughtlessness, it’s not for lack of gratitude, or tries

The subtly of a chained soul willows with transparency

A gust clearing a wearied mind

Time transcends, sitting tight for the will of confidence

Stop.

An entity holding you back

Strength musters another day

Grandad Eulogy 25.08.16

Words don’t come close to conveying how we feel and there’s not enough paper in the world to  show appreciation for a man we all considered a father...

We thought of you with love today, but that is nothing new,

We thought about you yesterday and days before that too,

You battled hard for years, with tick box medical charts,

And although your pain has ended, it’s broke our weary hearts.

We remember back to bows and arrows and our toolboxes out back,

We recall your bird head moments and races in potato sacks,

We reminisce over target practice, where you battled with the squirrels,

We’d idolise you wearing your tam o’shanter and walking with your ferrels,

We’d wake in wait to ride our bikes and find Indians in the woods,

With never ending tea breaks and peaches and ice cream for puds’,
From John the gofer to tickles all night you attended to our every need,

Around the house like baloo the bear we'd always follow your lead,

Our cinema club trips and days at the garden will remain with us forever,

These memories that we hold dear will keep us close together,

You are our biggest inspiration, we thought the world of you,

And the values you instilled in us will walk with and guide us through,

We’ll always spend half, save half, it’s served us well to date,

Your wise words, pride and guidance, ‘being on time means you’re late’,

Our pen collection will run low, but our memories will remain,

We’ll think of you in silence but will often speak your name,

Our childhood days spent in Pontyclun we’ll always call our home,

And we’ll treasure our precious memories wherever we will roam.

My Finned Blue Mirror

My Finned Blue Mirror

My mirrored twin behind tainted glass, you swim effortlessly,

Facing the unknown the world at large, alike I find you and me,

The tranquility of silence, your beauty overlooked, seen as a ferocious beast,

With your sharp teeth, king of the ocean, searching for your next feast,

I live in the City but my heart’s undersea, among creatures of the deep,

Where life is found in every cwtch and where the living rarely sleep,

Whilst we glide through life at times alone, companionship is amiable,

Our need to wander without halt, proves travel to varied dwellings favourable,

The waves whisper flowing along our tough skin, where our battle scars are visible,

Although tainted woes with newly formed teeth, make the memories transitional,

Crescendo as your tail swishes against the current, fundamental challenges are set,

Approaching the day with a keen eye, an expedite without haste, faster than a jet,

Whether it’s batting seaweed or jumping to eat, athletic qualities we both possess,

Taking to circumstance we work and date, operating with finesse,

Thermoregulation in different forms, we adapt to circumstance well,

Attracted to contrasting sites and colours, both in fashion and in smell,

Both apex predators we rule our kingdoms, free to dream with choice,

But although poignant and loud our presence, we are quiet in voice,

As you can see in personality and in build, we are much like one another,

Sheer bliss it would be, with the depths to surround, to spend a night among my other.

Carys Rhiannon Thomas