You fought your way to freedom,
However it be conceived

You gave your life to your country,
When it was in dire need

Now those you've left behind you,
Will wear you in their hearts

We're thankful and we're grateful;
Because of you we have a chance


© Karen L Hamilton, 2012

I hit rock bottom and I
Didn't know where to start
To mend these feelings of
My achy breaky heart,
Life took a turn for worse
And all that I could see
Was pain and misery in
An empty shell of me

My outer shell had cracked
And out had seeped my yolk,
I was causing such a mess
I'd never felt as broke...
Then from out my scrambled mess
Popped a friend for me to see,
You came, scooped me up and
Pieced me back so carefully

You tried your very best 
Not to lose much of my yolk,
Said my shell had cracked
But I wasn't fully broke;
See, what I came to realise
It's ok to need a cup,
To rest your little egg in
When you fear it's boiled too much.

© Karen L Hamilton, 2012

Yesterday I went out walking;
I went out walking in the rain,
Apologised to my brolly
"I won't be needing you today"

I felt each and every rain drop
Fall, slowly trickling down my face
And it seemed each drop that landed
Was there to wash away my pain.

The hair on my head was curling
And all my clothes were wet right through
But my legs just kept on walking
Until my mind felt fresh and new...

I know the rain hasn't changed things,
That my life is still much the same
But my worries had a cleansing;
The purest smile broke through that day

I was reminded that life is
Full of beauty with skies so blue,
And although at times we're tested
Life's packed full of good things too!




© Karen L Hamilton, 2015

Is this what you want?
Me to crumble, fall
Shatter before you
Lose feet in the squall

If that's what you want
Come closer, sit down
Bring out the popcorn
Your personal clown

You've got what you want
You win my heart aches
Heavy inside me
No hiding it's weight

It's swollen and sore
Hurts deep in my chest
Can't take anymore
I've given my best

I try to stay strong
I'm failing inside
There's no where to run
I've no where to hide

Today my heart breaks
All over again
No more I can take
Can't handle the pain


© Karen L Hamilton, 2015

Tick-tock, tickity-tock
...The sounds of my memory box
Tick-tock, tickity-tock
This insomnia's got to stop!

Around and round and up and down
My deepest thoughts do fly,
Around and round and inside out,
I think I've lost my mind

They pull me in and spit me out
Whilst running round inside,
They pull me in and SHOUT SHOUT SHOUT
I've nowhere else to hide

I cast a plan, a plan is mine
I have to fool my mind,
To get to sleep I need to trick
My mind, let's start with 'eyes'!

...My eyes are shut - its not enough
"I'M CURSED, I'M DOOMED" I cry
My dearest thoughts now that's enough!
It's time to say 'goodnight'

Now one by one, come on - do come,
Now's not the time to shy,
You've kept me up for long enough
Now let me put this right

You see, my little darling thoughts
Don't fear, its not goodbye...
....I'll reassess your case of course....
Tomorrow, when its light!!


© Karen L Hamilton, 2013

Smoke clad skies
Begin to eerily darken
As I walk down the hill
That's seemingly never ending.

Travelling decades
In seconds as
I admire beautifully
Crafted houses.

Appreciating brickwork
Uniquely telling of times
In which period they joined
The awe inspiring collection.

I catch myself off guard
As I breathe in the
Bonfire fumigated air
And smile.

Fireworks being released
In the far off distance
Begin ricocheting
Throughout my body

Shooting ear to ear,
Head to toe
Screaming, exploding,
Then imploding in my mind

Painting stories way up high
As if they're being told
Soley for me,
My own private show...

The bright colours
Steal my breath away.
I find myself fighting off
The demons of my past as

Suddenly innocent
Childrens excited
Little voices begin
To catch my attention,

Dressed as ghosts and ghouls
Of long gone centuries
Setting off to collect their
All hallows eve treats.

No tricks are needed.
For the first time
in what seems like a lifetime,
I feel alive.


© Karen L Hamilton, 2015