Childhood

I had a childhood strong and fair
Not a care,
Golden hair.
Summers were long and warm
With laughter and adventure,
You were there.

Then came independence
And with it, choice
A loud voice
Silent yearnings strangled by curious cravings
Precious flowers picked and discarded
Unpardonable sins
Left un-reprimanded.

Subtly suffering asserted itself
Days turned on their head
Self image dead
No rest in bed

I had a childhood strong and fair
Not a care
Golden hair,
I turn now to look
But you're not there.

Joe Morriss
2005

I Remember - A rural rant!

I remember when all this was fields,
You could see for miles
With not a soul in sight
The lane ended in a welcome meadow
With a pond that held all kinds of delight.

The cows roamed and chewed the cud
And the trusting Lark made her nest on the ground
And all around
Not a sound.

Save that of the distant bleating
Of sheep and quiet birds nesting
And chirping in the hedgerow.

For far, far away then was the road
The highway of man
And his planners, plotters and schemers all
First bikes then cars
Then screaming jets and choppers

Far from the quiet countryside
But ever nearer it came
With its huge crawling machines
Spitting out soil and root and turf
The men of spoil
Tearing and churning up the earth.

You didn't see the carefully hidden vole
Or delicate anemone
To the fox and the badger
No friend but and enemy.

So you built your road
And then tore along it
Caring not about the carnage to the wildlife
Your great highway to the high life
Pound signs before your eyes
Blotting out all signs of life

I remember when all this was fields
You could see from one hilltop to the next
No motorway or dual carriageway
Or hideous factory units
Waiting to be let

Now there's your road
Your stinking dusty road
Belching out fumes
And filth and tar
Dirtying hedgerows
With your brand-new cars

Gone, its all gone
The picture book walk by the brook
With blackberry, rose and birdsong
And the smell of fresh mown hay.

All we have left is houses
Ribbon development
Finger development
A finger in every damn pie
And every stinking lie
Has just led to rot and decay

I remember when all this was fields...

Joe Morriss

Harpole 24th January 2011

Then your love broke through

The wind gusted strong and blew the clouds away
The sun broke through and embraced the day

I met a brother on the road today
The clouds of my soul were heavy and grey

We embraced and laughed
Then his love broke through
Tears of joy filled my eyes
Like the morning dew

The wind of your spirit blew the clouds away
Your son broke through and embraced the day.

Joe Morriss

2008

(Was having a melancholy walk and met my friend Nathan White enjoying a birthday walk up the same lane)

The Lone Gull's Cry

The thundering sea

Cold cascading foam in tormented torrents

Runs in rivulets across jagged stone features

Grey granite edge

Dark dripping and forbidding

The cliff's jaw juts out in protest

Defiant and unforgiving

native birds around it cry

Wheeling and calling plaintively

To the barren sky

And in return from the rocks below

...No reply.

Timeless, the chafing tides

have coursed against this stubborn earth

Surging waves come relentlessly pounding in

Engulfing gullies with their crashing surf.

The sucking swell explores every rent and chasm

And retreats only to return in force

The sea pours in, satisfied that nothing is left unknown

Of this forsaken rocky facade

"Why me god?"

Why the jagged edge, the icy spray?

Why this remote and empty

Wind scoured bay?

The only answer to my cry for reprieve

Comes from a watery sky above the heath

....The lone Gull's cry.

Forlorn of flower or friendly face

"Why have you brought me to such a desolate place?"

The edge of the world

This shattered crust

Like the soul of a man

From whom love is thrust

Hard, unyielding, edged by stone

It stands against the ocean,

Vast, bleak and alone.

Joe Morriss

December 2008

Chasing Shadows

You are helpless in your struggles

And your anger rises fast

Each day the sickness grows within

As you hold onto the past

You fought hard to build my kingdom

And you say that it's not fair

That others who just sat and watched

Are just as welcome there.

But I can soothe your bitter thoughts

And calm your angry fears

If you'll look up from your bloody mess

And cry those gentle tears.

So tell me all about it

Before you turn and walk away

Before all that's left

Is your broken heart

As night turns into day.

The sun will rise to greet you

If you'll only turn and see

Then you won't be chasing shadows,

You'll be following where I lead.

Joe Morriss

February 2013

Reflection on helplessness and failure after trying to "do more" to please God in the face of apparent defeat.