Woman's Face : Wooden sculpture at Vannes

Interesting woman's face carved in wood, decorating a building at
Vannes in France.

This Burdened Heart: Poem

This Burdened Heart

This burdened heart speaks low but clear
That today destiny’s lanes are not very clear;
That pain, like rain, can mist up the eyes
That clouds, like pain can block out the skies

That somewhere else my heart wants to go
There are dreams and all I had to forego
Burdening my heart: where lies happiness
If my mind lies elsewhere, oscillating and vacillating:
Restrained and constrained, layers within layers
Life is but a stage and we, the players
But also when total liberty beckons, perplexed
My soul is vanquished, there are no walls to demolish
No mountains to climb, no one to care;
Nobody to say, nobody at all
“Not now, not like this, not this time”
That somewhere in this century we are alone, bewildered,
Abandoned, that we are
Parts of burdened hearts, that lie lost, thrown aside
Neglected, dejected, rejected
That there are no signposts on the crumbling way.

This burdened heart stops and starts
Carries on, bump-a-lump; will not give up
Life is but a brimming cup.

Copyright: Rani Turton

Grief: Poem

GRIEF Grief, don't stand near my bed tonight I've had enough and more than I can bear Last night was the worst: I could feel you Watching me whilst silently standing there. Now tell me, grief, are you friend or foe? What is it about me that attracts you so? Is it for my beauty, my wit or my fragility That you stand there clothed in such simplicity? You knew that yesterday was a hard day. I had a certain difficult role to play; Grief, as I suddenly felt you in my room Ah! I actually felt the weight of your gloom. Now I know that you are more than a presence; I even think you sense my absence; I almost think I'll wait for you tonight: Grief, please do step into sight. Copyright: Rani Turton