Here are two poems written by Nicola Boxer of St John’s Egham to help you reflect on some current and seasonal themes:
THE TREE
It’s only a piece of wood
It once was a tree growing from a seed
A Sapling
Its branches stretching out to the sky
Blue grey dark light
The Sun warming it
The leaves sprouting, unfurling every year
To herald a new season of life
It’s only a cross.........of wood
Stark against the sky
A symbol we say of hope now
Yet then so different.
I carry the weight alone
The curse of the world as heavy
Unbearable but duty-bound
Willing to share its torment
Upraised
The nails of every tragedy tear into my flesh
I hang there begging for release
To a Father I trusted with my LIFE
Not this
My destiny known then but so far off
Now it is upon me as the thorns crowning my head
The blood warm
almost comforting in this cold alien world I know
It seems forever before the release
Was it worth it?
Did I fulfil the best I could?
Did I forgive enough, heal enough, teach enough
To last to the end of your time
I pray I did
That the Sun will shine again and enlighten your dark world
Shine on the tiny seed in the soil
To grow another tree to reach heavenwards
A reminder……
A NEW DAWN
As I stand before the new Dawn
A door …..With a rosy hue before me
I enter, strangely calm and comforted.
My former world behind me has threads
Frayed, worn
I put them in my pocket. ..For later maybe.
Will there be a lifting of the subterranean darkness?
Will there ever be diamond moments ahead?
Glittering on a fine blade of grass or velvet petal?
I cannot close the door behind me
For even in the dark it had special times
Etched into my soul
The kindness of friends, the belonging.
I have to leave the dark painful ones
I have to hope that somewhere, somehow
There will be- Is- A shining warmth
A touch
A comfortable feeling
Not comfort as such
For that implies a pain to be healed
The unendurable from before
Gentle memories floats amongst the new,
Feather light, a slight smile,
A blessing carried into the renewal
The brave new world
H ealing. O ur . P eople. E verywhere.