A recording of the whole segment with Brian Matthews and host Jan Potter and poetry read in the session below and in an attached pdf
On Your Birthday
On your birthday I’d like to say
How much I love you
Your importance in my life
Your sharing, caring nature
A clarity of thought so rare.
In your presence I feel
Your authentic, boundless concern,
Helping ground me,
Mapping directions ahead
Soothing my dilapidated emotions.
Hard on yourself too often
Always there for those you love
Or, indeed, have befriended,
The thoughtful gestures and acts
Litter the ground around you.
Worthy of a lovely day
Laughter and memories shared
And made in the telling
All of life a story
With you my love and heroine
28/10/21
Remembrance Day
On this day I do remember
The millions of soldiers
And many millions more
Innocent children, women and men
Sacrificed on altars of greed and corruption.
While the fat cats recline
On their padded chairs,
Living in sumptuous surrounds
Feasting on the work of others
Supported by nationalistic fervour.
Brian Matthews, 11/11/21
The Barista
The young man stands
On his feet all day
Smiling at customers
Leaping into the fray.
What’ll it be sir/m’am?
The drink of your choice
Flat white, long black,
Or maybe a latte?
While he dreams
Of adventures he may have
Roaming the country
Building a business home grown.
Meeting a partner
To whom he can be true
Raising a family of his own
A house painted blue.
Times may change
But all will aspire
To build something of their own
A thing that lights their fire.
What will never change
Is that deep human spirit
The need that most have
To say ‘I can do it’.
Brian Matthews, 12/11/21
Sharing Words
The words we share
Everyday descriptions of life,
What’s happening around us.
Or revealing of emotions
The ways we feel,
Unburdening our minds.
So often these are lost
Ephemeral mites floating,
Drifting away on the breeze.
But then one appears
And nets these offerings
Recording that which’s said.
And others then read
Playing with them
Exploring their own minds.
And we all grow
As nuances are teased,
Different for each.
And revelations come
As connections are made
Feelings resonating endlessly.
Brian Matthews, 22/11/21
On the water
On the water again,
The gap so long
Revelling in wind in the face
Water splashing all around.
First came the rigging,
So rusty and slow,
The sailor out of practice,
Overcoming memory lapses.
Then a clumsy launch,
Grappling with ropes and tackle,
Hands slipping and unsure,
But soon the rhythm settles.
A race then starts,
Boats leaping forward
Rushing for the start line,
Heading for the first buoy.
Each jockeying for position
Gaps opening for some,
Others cursing a stray gust,
Or welcoming a surge forward.
Despairing when a mark missed,
Tacking desperately to recover,
A boat suddenly overturning,
The energy builds.
How invigorating this can be
Until time to head to shore,
Muscles so wearied
The soul renewed again.
Derigging a cheerful task,
Followed by loading boats
All helping each other with a laugh
A beverage and snack to seal the deal.
Brian Matthews, 22/1/21
Birthdays Continue
Each birthday is its own
At some surrounded by joy
At others less so.
Cycles around the sun
Cannot be slowed or stopped,
Come they always will.
Times to reflect and rejoice
To review and plan
Contemplate what’s ahead.
Sometimes with anticipation
At others with trepidation
Never sure of what will be.
Of one thing we can be sure
They will happen whatever
We will reap that we sow.
And benefits will come unbidden
Not without a cost, of course,
Consequences always flow.
Brian Matthews, 22/11/21
Brian’s Reflections 