Autumnal leaves have fallen
The onset of winter declared
Seasons changing do not destroy but allow nature to rest.
Throughout the years
We see and feel the early morning dew on our bare  toes
The weak spring sun through the trees
Reminds us of Springs past
Memories of Easter time, lighter evenings and blossom as the trees awake after winter slumber.
Memories are precious
evoking feelings of places, incidents, loved ones.
Summer, a time of warm long days
Eating outside and holidays to special places.
Remembering the seasons has personal moments embedded in our psyche
People are often regarded as a special Summer soul, Happy to make others cheerful, relaxed and content.
It is of course terribly difficult to allow these special folk to move to the Summerlands. We know no reason why they might cross the border but respect the fact that the circle of the seasons applies to us too. Allowing future life to develop, grow and enjoy this beautiful planet we, like the plants have a 'season".
Give a thought for the sunshine that bathed them, the ice and snow that retained them and the hundreds of days in-between where they spread their love over us and we them.

Since we met in this life we’ve been so together
The trees and the sky will tell you, just ask them
Since, frankly and completely as one
Searching our souls, discovering each other and ourselves
Loving, living and learning with no effort at all
Moulding our life to divine goals, elements exploring
Each day we grow, smoothing our rituals and tasks
Simple, small, understated and beautiful
Yet enormous, devastating and wonderful
I’ve never been clearer in mind nor more ordered
Serious or intended, structured yet mesmerised and dreamy
Child-like pleasures our little hearts

Honestly, knowing you has given an exclusive season of patience
A crown of peace with measures of muted resonance
My emotion and behaviour  jangle with excitement
Gaining speed and velocity as our developing love fertilises everything we do
If any part of me was withheld or absent it was without cognisance or most importantly intent
I was always here totally,  loving you with an undivided heart
Building our future and having the truest most delightful life
Such destiny within two earthly beings, such kismet
But no..earth is not  from where we sprung
No logic or contract by human standards but from cosmos and celestial forces
Stardust, moonbeams, sunlight and energy

Our future is viridian, cobalt, alizarin, ultramarine, carmine...
Colours drawn from a bow of happiness with arrows of true love
Thudding into our hearts every single moment
Rainbows of kindly sparkly crystals reflecting each tiny emotion
Willow tree flexibility, cool streams of pure clear water whisper in our ears
Look to your soul and to the memories of our short time together
Begin to believe that life is so very good ,so treasured like us
Darling Jan my complete lover
The wife I’ve always had, true soul provider, custodian of my heart
Clearer in the transformation from Jan and Max to a ‘whole’ inseparable
By anyone or anything for all time and eternity..
Even better knowing that as always
Now even more.....I’m all yours

Capturing pure light
Holding my hands in coupling
Watching through my fingers
Grading my thoughts in a scale of values
From darks into the highlight
Make me aware of the plan
Tell me what you're doing
Feed me the vision and open up
Plan and concentrate
Relax your arms, your neck
Give your subject some credibility
Don't allow your self to be intimidated
Face the wall, take a break
Look again at your subject
Complete your scanning
Think nothing just look
Your first mark is important
Take your time
And draw.....

My long-term friend keeps faith
The binding elements rooted in school days
Mean our understanding goes deeply into the crust
Of this beautiful earth.
Distance is far but nearer am I to him
Than my neighbour who makes no time to chat
She creates bad feeling and thinks not of simple humanity
My friend has soul and we measure our feelings with
Similar units, ounces of this and feet of that
The memories of which link us to transitional events today
I can remember us as boys
Laughing as drains with no intention
To stop to listen to others.

Greatest moments contrived for us
Pleasure warranted but never wholly expected
In as much that time between makes us
Learn again about the people we are
Knowing our foibles and characterful
Voices, carving new ground even softer
Than ever before
If I could truly tell you the love in my heart
For you both it would take a small lifetime
Joyous flights of butterflies inhabit me
As we unravel the life before us
Stories of silliness or episodes of mundane deliverance
No matter what everything is a casket of treasure
Nothing is pedestrian or unnecessary
Imagining lives as our heads discover again
The minutiae of the days and nights
Thank you for making it special
For continuing to be the tiny girl I have loved
Since I held you in that little orange blanket.
Thank you for being the man that cares
The man that supports and loves the daughter
Who has given me so much.

Gentle love is a touch
An instant fix to a dull day
Please put just your finger on my hand
Merited I hope..

Proud am I to have your love
So grateful for small elements
In the worlds bother
You can cure me

Fix my frayed soul
And smooth out my trepidations
Heal my split day
Melt my heart

Take the small breeze
That wraps around me
The breeze of your love
Cooling and calming

In my youth I knew you
I knew you would come for me
I waited and waited whilst you trod softly
Your fairy steps on the grass

May you be fulfilled
As the bee in the flower
The fresh wave that consumes the sand
Like s tranquil stroke of love

I' didn't always have your heart
But since we've been one
The setting sun no longer
Rests ******* the horizon of hope

Break through the nights peace
With simple birdsong
The melody of togetherness
Makes waking an adventure of magnificence

Smile as we sit looking away
Fading edges blur our dancing hearts
The mellowness of summer
Overrides the harshness of winter

Our spring and newly borne spirit
Is gathering energy and love
Wrapped in natural measures
To enjoy as we might

For my Jan
I love you as always ***

Art or at least my art is cerebral and visionary
I never wanted it to be a quick fix
Timely and considered but flowing and free
Carefully looking, seeing, recording
Not in a photographic way
But my interpreted placement of shapes and brush
Engrossed in a silent world of gathering
Taking the subject feed and channelling it
Through my eyes and round my joyful heart
Stroking my soul and stimulating my whole body
Finally the exit of passion and feelings as placement
Of pigment onto canvas, carefully yet with a flourish
All that time within me
A collection of emotions, moods and cells,
Racing them down through the handle, ferrule and bristles
Then I pour myself out as a painting
Every one a self portrait

How fitting the autumn leaves fall now
As we sit contemplating the seasons of our lives
Whete even the most confident, ebullient and robust of people
Would consider their mortality
At this juncture in a troubled world

It takes a moment or two, when someone close to us
Puts on their coat and hat, waves good bye
And slips silently from our lives to realise that
The circle of life, of birth and death is a blessing
That we must accept as nature's way.
Hard though it might seem

So should we not be sad now?
Should we not be regretful, tearful nor feel despair
That our loved one has left us for the Summerlands?
Of course we should, it is natural for us
When we love someone we want them near us forever
Regardless of everything.

So as the blanket of leaves surrounds us
Like the trees now, we may feel empty and bare, exposed to
Everyday incidents, bereft and lost in our sadness.
But we need not be.
The ensuing winter is joyously filled with warmth
It is filled with the energy, the good cheer and memories
Of the spring and the summertime of our dear loved one Les
We remember the fun, the laughter the joy he brought to us all
The silly sayings, the actions and the way he did certain things
Any failings he had are not even anything to consider today

His obvious love for all of us will continue, as ours for him
It will live within us because he planted it there
He tended and watered it in the Spring and Summer
So that we can reap the benefit in the harvest
Continue to enjoy his love, his care and his presence
Even now as he returns to stardust from whence we were born

Dad will never leave us. I can feel his spark within me now
He is here in my heart and within yours too.
Take his energy, his joi to vivre
And let his spirit lift you and continue in your life
Then you will not feel so sad nor will you feel cheated
But thankful  you were part of his life
And he was part of yours
He was a special man, we must celebrate his life
As I know he would celebrate with his heart and soul
Through every season and every year to come.

Couples holding hands and talking
New love so divine
Looking into each other’s eyes, laughing
Feeling stupid excited, yes in love
My darling and my precious
Can’t restrain this passion for you
The closer I am the better
Keeping you in my heart is simple….
I don’t have to, you are my heart
Soul and everything I am

Suddenly I’m awakened by your fresh perfume
Grazes my nostrils and my pulse races
I hold you in my vision as I pace the floor
I need to have my arms around you
It’s impossible not to touch you
My only salvation is skin on skin
Electric and dreamy taking me high
First time I did it I died
Died to have you near me for ever

Clearly my being is affected constantly
I’ve lost control but I keep calm
Looking into the sun my squinting eyes will never
See anything as bright and beautiful
Images of you perform dances in front of my mind
The streaming sound of your voice
Caresses me and keeps my body enwrapped
No more feelings of despair
Only deep satisfaction and contentment

Failing light is no barrier to your bright eyes
Then, moonlight fingers over the wall
You hold my hand and gently keep me near
The warmth of you stirs me tenderly
Your eyelashes flicker as you look toward me
As a smile moves across your lips, I melt.
Stretching, I keep my left hand on your shoulder
The smoothness of your body excites me
My eyes catch yours as we hold so tightly

Mondays and every day is amazing
Just as I am in you, you are in me
Dewy eyes send tears to meet our upturned lips
Keeping our love within us safe and sound.

Feeling for someone is a burden
A burden that becomes you
It delivers a soulful journey whilst
Both are having connected visions

My desired heart has been fulfilled
No longer is it left along with the washing
It accompanies me as does my love, with
The certainty of tomorrow

Claiming my happiness seems unnecessary
like the sunrise it lives inside us
It becomes our energy
Our natural 'go to' emotion

The journey is green and gold
With silver amulets and chains of memories
slung around our shoulders
Like badges of office

The time of year has connotations
with the longevity of our love
Memories of breathing out visual steam
Or camping in the cool morning air

The emotion is as strong
It lives as we do with tempered faith
Deeper knowledge
And faith in ourselves to keep it right

Asking you to be with me forever was no decision
I wanted to say the words for ages
The more I knew you, the more I wanted you
Giving you a ring was a statement of love
Nothing more than my love wrapped around your finger
Wrapped around your heart the other end was on mine.
A circle of never ending love continuous and everlasting
Love you, love you, love you was my way of saying
‘Be mine forever as I will be yours’
A year on how much that means
Feelings so very deep and yet so tender
I will remember forever your eyes and your face
The day you said ‘yes’

Wood smoke carries on the air
The time driven memory
Of ****** basics and soulful
Earthy humankind
Surrounding each personal cell and
Lifting the arm-stretching power
Of fire and the need to feel warmth
The technology of modern man
Is dashed on the rocks of time
As we drift with the stench of our youth
The well worn shoe and the eiderdown
The hot water bottle and the candle
Flickering and holding us with
A knowledge of comforts
And our understanding
We live within this world and feel
The circle of life that smells of
Log fires in the autumn and the sooty
Blackbird song of impending winter
The warble and the peaceful heart of
Everything we love as seasonal
Mists and dancing flames keep us
Wrapped in our primeval lives
Will autumn bring a kind or hard winter
No matter, we have coped with them all

By Max Hale

Collected thoughts from previous years inside my head, no words to say
Ever to be so loved and thoughtful things given with care
Warmth and humbleness show through my actions of response
How can this 19th May be so very different from others?

Channelled emotion comes close to the surface as my eyes well with tears
It’s a boyhood wonder appearing - as if I was that special?
Slowly I remove the perfect wrapping and gaze with wide eyes
Equally I am unable to speak

As the card says, ‘always your Jan’ it means just that
Many times my heart has wished for this
At last the dream is reality and not just for now but  forever
Too much for one day

Each little present a token of love wrapped in a heartfelt manner
Birthdays are special but no-one is this lucky are they?
As the paper lets go of its secret, we kiss
Just thank you but not just thank you, love you and fabulous!!

My heart is as big as my body as it struggles to stay inside my skin
That lump in the throat won’t go away and the eye thing still threatens
Deep breaths as I give up my thanks to the cosmos for my wonderful Jan
She knows me so well, we love so much.

The camp fire burned brightly in the cool air
Flames leaping to touch the sky
Our eyes transfixed as we sit entwined
Watching the little sprites dancing around

The yellow glow of phosphorescence
Bathes our faces and gives a strange
But healthy brightness, eyes sparkling
Lips drawn back in a grin, watching

Many times the central flames danced in unison
Then on their own, looking to be the best
The tallest, the most active, the restful
Flicker in the night then streak  upwards

Competing with the stars yet such a new light
An old light, primeval and reliably warm
Protective, dissuasive to wildlife, they too
Enthralled by the crackle of the hot licking flames

Three feet away our toes curl, enjoying the heat
The comfort of the enveloping energy
Every element a paradox of danger  versus cosiness
Gripping our fingers, soaking up the radiated waves

Hands stretched out at arms length, spread fingers
Rubbing together and pushing back the hair in our faces
Cheeks rosy, clothes giving that just ironed smell
Evocative and basic, life-giving and wondrous

Camping out is an experience everyone should have
The cool grass in the morning and the birdsong
Timeless air keeps you alive, energises the soul.
Freezing feet and nose is inevitable as blanket or sleeping bag
Don't quite make the grade
The hard ground or undersheet has a smell that remains
In your nose and in your memory
Bringing the place back to you in your latter years.
Once breakfast is cooking everything seems OK
The worst part is the transition of night into day
Then day into night,
It's easy, stay up and just look upwards
No light pollution, no clouds, no sound
Drink in the inky blackness as Orion's three winking lights
Demonstrate how wonderful life is
But more importantly how small we are
Tiny dim orange lights glow in the tents and vans
Muffled noises diminish as the occupants climb
Into their cosy beds and roll themselves up
To keep out the cold, the inevitable insects
One by one the darkness becomes complete
Until no more music can be heard or
Voices, rustling sounds or whimpering children
Wanting their teddy bear or comfort blanket
Mummies and Daddies soothing
The silence is deafening save a cool breeze
Just flapping the tent canvas, small cracking
Sounds as it rolls and then straightens.
Rolls then straightens gently, gently, gently
The guy ropes straining a little then relaxing
Another night comes to the campsite
Enveloped in darkness all are safe and inside
Their little tent or van
Goodnight campers, sleep tight.

Max Hale

Capture your dreams and keep them safe
Nothing is between them and you
Tell the world your heart’s desires
It’s a wonderful place  to be
Let no-one say that there is no magic
In every day or every night
You can prove the most special things
If you capture your dream
Hold them close and make them real
Imagine you are there
Close your eyes and count to three
Spin around and round
Look up to the sky above
The clouds move by and clean the blue
Azure and brightly lit
Mornings come but dreams live on
I am sure of it
Love is but a state of mind
Just a dream for you?
Then someone comes and  holds you close
And makes that dream come true

Finally you came to me
Ever thought of you
Coming and rescuing this soul
Shame that it took so long

Seemingly forever you were not close by
I yearned for your touch
Deigned to be an empty first half
Of my life

Carefully I will take you
Hold your soul near and keep it
Face the future and smile
I will not lose you now

Many reasons why
Most times to think
To cleanse my soul of guilt
Empty my barren status of senseless killing
The morning light creeps into your eyes
To believe you're right
Deciding how to feel
About the noon of your changing spirit
Take the whole of the body
And mash into ******* gulps of fresh air
No I do not and nor will I
I want say these words
My faceless behaviour is ****** and meaningless
It shows no spine where desire is the lead
Fair enough to live in your world
But don't suggest a change
Unless it goes through
Contempt for empty promises
So stay silent or describe nothing
Make your move or keep quiet
Position yourself to reflect beliefs
Soaking up the message is poor
Make no mistake it's seen to be useless
Helps no one and certainly not you
So much to gain from that step forward
Respect and relief, sleeping nights
Daytime journeys have the right to make
Your heart feel light
It's changing times, changing times.

Greek and Latin how wonderful!
The classic life through words
People enigmatic in their historical significance
Power and glory, death and slavery
Great thinkers, philosophers and generals
Whims of the upper classes pressing down
Garish but no colour as special souls only
Were allowed to wear such privileges
Don't be fooled by literature
It was a dreadful time for most
Whilst we learn the classics
Lets rejoice in the knowledge that they gave much
To our society but then..
When Greek and Latin where spoken
In such everyday situations
They were unaware of their contribution

Come Glastonbury, demand your suitors
Eliminate the negatives of their days
Show the signs of cheer and promise
Crystal clear and sun bright
The walkways between the tiny shops
Where escaping through to back doors and out
Inside spirits claim your soul
Wrestle your pathetic reliance on consumerism
Your slavish concern for fashion
And your unhelpful TV dinners
There in Glastonbury only truth is spoken
Revealing the weaknesses of our human frame
Our minds that suffer from prejudices and bigotry
Cleanse your soul, become yourself
Give up the senseless living that has dominated
And driven our daily chores and lifestyle
Discard them all and believe that man
Is just a tiny part of this cosmos
A spirit and energy of the completeness
Not the embodiment
Not the utmost but a small part
Perhaps a much lesser being than any other...
Despite everything we are special
You are special in your individual capabilities
Each soul a grain of stardust
Waiting to be reunited in the cosmos
With the rest of the wonderful plethora
Be calm in the knowledge that you
Your heart and soul
Are one and only
Unique
Even today in Glastonbury

Complete idiosyncrasies that have prevented our living
Possible enjoyments have been suspended
Pending, invisible and perceived
Barriers of every day
Give up the waste of time
Stand back from the grind
Give in to your heart and let's run.
Make the most of our togetherness
Enjoy the freedom and stop living a lie
Harness our powerful energy
Hold it within and channel the force
Make it soon not sometime
Step on that magic carpet and let us fly.
We must have our dream
Turned into reality.
You did that for me...
Turned my reality into a dream
My inspiration my love, my life
Let our dream be what we live
.........not someone else's.

Max Hale

Cornwall, Cornwall every day
Bright sun and fresh feelings
Simple pleasures by just being here
Forward thinking into old age dotage
All our lives waiting, hoping, wishing

Never believing it could be
Out of mind with secret longing
Filling up with atmospheric  air
Sensing that emotional rush
Deep breaths swallowing cliffs and sea

Wild flowers and cows here
Hedgerows and windblown trees
Lopsided branches pointing inland
As cool salt air combs their twigs
The winding tracks disappear

Love is here all around, so strong
Heart wrenching and stomach churning
Soul and body filling up with Cornish…
Cornish, as long as it’s Cornish
It’s good!

Give us a chance to stay
Give us the chance to live
Ever on the hard granite pathways
Sounds of mewing gulls and thunder of surf
Beating on the windswept rocks and beaches

Cornish light familiar and so bright
Invading our eyes and warming our hearts
Gently massaging our faces with soothing fingers
Lifting our spirits as breaking through the clouds
It charges us with love

Fulfilled and whole
Our lives and minds gratefully feasting
The armfuls of wonder as we carry our hearts
Together,  through eternity, watching
As the sun sets in a blaze of Cornish light

Good, we've seen a view that excites us
But is that all you can say?
Where is the heartfelt imagery of your soul?
The faint hearted expression of love or dislike, mistrust or disbelief?
Too much is given over to vision
Although our eyes give birth to many items of beauty
The soulful messages dragged from our hearts
Give a clearer and deeper impression.
Take my painting here of her
Is that not her character, her look or demeanour
But the slant that I made with each tiny line

Take your inspiration and drive it
In every direction
Don't leave your image to anyone else
Do not be frightened to pour out your heart
Or making mistakes right from the start.
Gather your drawings, your sketches your musings
Develop a painting that truly is yours
Envelop yourself in a creative intention
Art is just that an intended finality
Be strong and try painting for all you are worth
Sink yourself inwards whilst looking outwards
Try not to give into quick fixes or such
Be forceful in mind but let your heart always guide you
You'll become a master with each little touch.

Every day, every day, every day
Every night and always
Your love surrounds and embraces me
Far from here my last life weeps
Knowing it failed me

Days were long
Dreary and upsetting
Dull, pointless and without
direction
Days, days, days

Falling into you
Making you my solace
Has saved me from sadness
Saved me from oblivion
Rescued my body and my soul

Making it easy to laugh
Fulfilling our desires
Emptying our minds of pain
Focusing our thoughts
Lifting our hearts

Four years it has become
Who knew we would be here?
That time has flown, yet,
wasn’t it only yesterday
I met that girl and fell in love?

Days now are crammed with emotion
The desire to make each other strong
Giving back the light, opening
The door to freedom and
the confidence to believe in, days

Dragon fire come burn me,
Turn my thoughts into carbon.
My purest intentions will extinguish your flame,
Your mythology grants me the wish
To climb the mountains of despair,
To conquer the hills and make love
To the people with my thoughts
Gaining supremacy is not my aim,
Nor is victory by default.
My measure is  to teach,
To hold the universe in my grasp
And shake the evil and the egotistic
Taste the goodness of universal love
Quell the fiery breath of the dragon
To a whisper of man's destructive force
The green scales of his skin slowly falling
Realising his strength is waning.
The knight of the natural world
Has shown how giants and dragons
Can be brought to book
By common sense and love.

By Max Hale

Creative actions are more than enough
To convince me that I am working hard
Blooming flowers prove the point
That nature has a method of showing the world
How amazing we all are.
Dedication from each of us can portray
The effort of clarification from results
Mornings of sunshine days are also great ways
To feel we are on the firmest of footings and cups
Of our enthusiasm drench us as our excitement bubbles
Flesh is weak they say but not so
Eliminate our thought process
Just leave the muscle and the bones of the plan
By any respect the job will be done
Sometimes dwelling on an evaluation is fruitless
Gain some notes in your tune
Misalign your face and just work at it.
Develop your space and live
Don't think too much
Enjoy the life with which we are blessed

People can let you know
The moment they feel unwell or sick
The main event is sat before table
never always as clear with those that cannot speak to us to ask for help.
The event may be passed over like a paper towel
The upright life has another facet, gesture and whisper, but not recognised at once
The care of our beloved pets exceeds logic but revolves around the silence, How can we know when its time, time to react to our thoughts and make action
If only we might communicate, through precious literature, knowledge or hunch. Our pets serve us with their love, without demand. At no time are they lookinģ for us to suit their lives, yet we do it anyway. We know, or believe we know their inner- most desires.
The sad events of any loving entity make leaving the earth a soulful, heart-breaking time.
Our love reciprocal gives us a reason to worry beyond reason almost before a predicted outcome
Then closing their eyes for the last time need not be as sad but merely a transition or gateway to the Summerlands. Loving us as they do it is never final, but significant only in a physical state
Their love and spirit for us lives forever. Returning to the stars in the sky, Lily shines on her way to eternity knowing her life was precious and fulfilling in leaving pawprints in our hearts and to stardust fom whence she came.

Almost ending the day winds down
All reflecting on their simple pleasures
Soulful singing sits within the heart
Making faces at the final hurdle.

Whatever went before is passed
Strictly turning away I disregard its hurt
Never before as now have I experienced
A comfort zone of love

Falling down was easy before
But I had no blanket, taut and safe
No hand to hold when times were tough
No shoulder on which to cry

Now and onwards all is well
Complete and carefree, away from the pain
Not lost as I was in a deep crevasse just trying to look up
Sinking in despair

I have you my love
All is transformed into calmness and serenity
No concerns of tripping up or falling
Because you are there to hold and care

My sanctimonious smile can be written as that
Casting adrift the boat that was hopelessness
For today I am free to live and love
You have given me so much

What gentle images in the fading frescos of ancient Italy
Sylph-like figures gliding
Along emerald green and viridian pathways
Showing delicate movements of sophisticated people
Brought down to earth by strong fighting men.
Disciplined soldiers with life long missions
Finding resolve in their heritage and republican history
Gaining new ground and no prisoners taken
Their senators and loved ones walk the streets and market places
Regardless of sweat and toil of their constant striving
The upper classes remain in peace with their souls.
Vellum, wax or stone, the messages remain
Suspended within their time
Yet the beauty of their images
Depicting a tranquil and calm epoch
We can never know the daily lives for sure
But beauty remains and we will accept this simple declaration

Carefully each day
Fostering each other's hearts
As we commence routines and tasks
Familiar situations are nothing
Except feelings of assurance through cognisant repetition
Taking a coffee to the table, eating a cake or sandwich
But the simplest things lift us
Your mouth makes signs to me
Beckoning me to touch you
In a moment it's changed and we laugh
Your eyes sparkle and smiling I sigh
Raising me to the highest once more
Even a moving finger or the tilt of your head
Keeps it soulful  and interesting
Distractions are few
As soon we sit as one
Joined at the hip exchanging body heat
Looking forward, feeding our souls
Crazy in love and so simply OK!
Not mundane to enjoy the nice little things
Gaining insight as our life entwines
Morphing into each other as we sleep
Do we care for others, yes
Our Pagan hearts are true and full
Revelling in each minute together
As humans should when love takes first place

Come and keep by me
Give me the your hand of love and heart
Filled with emotion
Keep me from the days that spoil
Our marriage of minds
Here is the first of our great loves
The one and only togetherness of spirit
Clear and true and fresh like new
Make me lie down and rest
Send me the thoughts of your still mind
The casualness of your demeanour
And the demonstrations of hands
Over daily patterns showing
Push away those fears and trim your dread
Back to the endless visions and the horizons
Of a new born child
Unfettered and peaceful in the ignorance of
Daily disappointments and upheavals
Open your clear eyes and see the face of the future
Staring at you with its mask of confusion
Tear away that façade and feast your vision
On making wonderful and great strides
Ahead of our single footsteps where
Imprints in the sand calculate our pathway
We have come far in our quest as two
Into one and have become strong and justly so
Keep your face forward and don’t bend or turn
Step forward and feel the coolness of my touch
On your warm arm guiding you into
Even more love and caring
The whole world is ours and true love
Is the strength that holds us gently in its arms
Breathe deeply for the world is ours

How many of us realise
How many of us see
The freedom we are allowed
To live and to enjoy the best things
How many of us take for granted
Each sunrise, each tree, each flower
Often spoken about in essence
In reality, I wonder?

Coming to one morning
My dreamy eyes espied
The moon reflected in a spoon
The tea had sunshine in the cup
The plate of toast was sea
The fire of love was in my heart
And lived along with me
My daily chore was simple
To make the seasons bright
To come and face the morning
After uncertainty of night.
Keep smiling through the daytime
Make contact with your self
Avoid the downsides in the way
Especially your wealth
Life has many promises
Most may not agree
That always there is cheerfulness
Along the road you see.
Make every day your challenge
And smile if you are sad
It's rarely quite as nasty
Or anything like as bad.

Spiralling expectations are often dashed
Nothing is usually clear at the start
An opportunity is flagged but often
It's not really the case
Use our Company and make your name
Use our gallery, service, mailer, contacts
It's great
Oh but just one thing we're new to this
Yet our hopes are high and someone has promised
To put you on their list...we'll only charge you
If we sell something, OK?

Life is a blessing from the Cosmos  
We are made from stardust…
Some stars burn brightly for millennia
Others maybe not so long but are just as beautiful.
As we live on earth in our time
Lots of stars are coming to the end of their
Shining and twinkling period
They have given us light and brought
Us out of the earthly darkness
Keeping us safe and lighting our way
The universe is a volatile place
A truly living, breathing space
Full of planets, red dwarfs
Black holes, meteors and galaxies
As in our life on earth, stars must fade
To give birth and make room
For the wondrous cycle that has taken place
Since time began
The disappearance of a star is not the end
It’s just the start…………. of a new life
A new star that will bear different characteristics
It won’t ever replace the old one
But some of that faded star will live on
A new born vibrant and beautiful star.
Your loved one is there
Just transformed to give a different light
New hope and new love
As we come from the stars so we will return
To the Cosmos shining and bright for all time.

Max Hale

Fraying portraits of empty souls
Give menacing insight through cold staring eyes
Smoothing skin tones are left
When painters discover
The life in you
Compare the fraught days of flightless birds
making their paradise equal
With men who stalk their ways
In earnest and determined manner
Silently they ensure the vision portrayed
Has no more mileage. But fresh eyes
Must be used to stop contamination
From one to another
Paint and ignore why plenty seem stiff
Even parched from lack of considered input
Each brushstroke emptying their blood
Of many elements, even quelling their breaths
Simply see and lay on..
Don't make it up or smooth that cheek
Give colour and step
The right to be there and develop it
Under the warmth of your love
For this creature
Demonstrate how features can be strong but hold
The famous creations that grab the essence of joy
The grains of lust and manic musings
Lament those days of bored faces
Rejoice as carnage can be raised from modern living
The edges and the softness of found and lost
Will always win through when artist is determined
To give life in paint.

Fraught yet tender the day begins
Unexpected effort is surprising
Time is the ruler
As simple goals are thwarted
In the end winning through
And seems a greater achievement
Muzzy head makes the effort
More difficult, strenuous lethargy
A careful check of the time indicates
Not everyone made the mark
Not everyone gave the same
Or achieved what this poor soul
Was even too weak to decree
Continue is a trait
'Keep going' a phrase that
Could be emblazoned on the carved
Headstone of my tomb
But going where at that point?
No medal required, no shout
Of appreciation
Just an understanding that when
All is lost or seems just too hard
My natural instinct is to continue
No deviation or side swipes
Solid unity of mind and body
Not even clever but just how it is

Strength to our ancestors
In every way may seem unreasonable
The withering of latter day warriors
Complete in the window of activity
Which makes our understanding easier
Elements of era change our perception
Of great people as each may tune into
Different concepts
Similar doorways have lessened
The framing of powerful men,
In essence great lives are never discovered
Until latter days
When similar notions are reflected
In what we remember.
Never will we truly understand
But can only imagine how these souls
Suffered and lived within their time
Joyous and stressful, delirious or tortured
Great lives will have travelled them all.

Are you the type of person
Preferring to be under a roof
Or wandering in the garden
Or galloping out on the hoof

Are you desperate to escape
To the sunshine
The beach or leafy glade
Or sitting on the sofa
Drinking whisky and lemonade

Do you love to look out the window
But pleased to be warm inside
When others are walking in wellies
And you are safe in the dry

Is your dream to have a posh bedroom
A shower and toilet ensuite
Or prefer to be on a mountain
With long grass round your feet

Is your pleasure the feel of the spray
When waves break on the rocks
Or the smell of bread in the oven
As you stand in your joggers and socks

Do you like to get up in the morning
And put on your running kit
Escape to the footpaths or roadways
Or sit on the sofa and knit

I expect the thought of a bike ride
Would not be everyone's thing
When theres chance to go to the bathroom
To stand in the shower and sing

The difference from indoor to outdoor
Shows each of us as unique
In the kitchen or in the garden
In the chair or up the creek

Some of us like to be walking
Or leaping over a gate
The wind and the rain don't deter us
Arriving home quite late

While some prefer the safety
Of the rooms within the house
Things in the warmth of the homestead
Hiding away like a mouse.

In truth the split isn't easy
From indoor to outdoor you see
The weather decides for it mostly
Unless you are a ***** like me!

Giving up on desire
Doesn't mean anything negative
But the fact that this has moved
From there to excitement
To fanatical activity
Return to the basic elements
From working out my approach
My message, my feelings, my love
It's hugely powerful
This emotive movement within
This cry for fulfilment
For manic soothing, showing
Just doing it and not wasting this impetus
To create and make marks
The result is immaterial
The process all.

Quaint I strain at completing
My latest work of art
Resolute my ears hear the sounds
Lost in the time of our lives
Make this our freedom dash
Our statement of intent
Care not for rules of others
Our song can be heard by many
They will listen and weep as we live

Some time ago
In lands of mists and cloud
Our eyes claimed a space
Above the deepest gorge
Overseeing the depths of our hearts
The span of time since then
Has melted into brilliant sunshine
Completely we have come through
Eons of revalationary idylls
Backwards and forward we rock
Whilst we gather our thoughts
The fleeting time holds us
Moving our visions from whence we came
To our place now
Swirling, dream-like

Facing you I catch the light
In your eyes and focus
But dazzling me with your mind
You lay back on the cool grass
Arms outstretched
Stooping I collect your hands
And bring them close to my face
Softly kissing your fingers
The scent of your skin
Excites me as the warm sunlight
Suddenly bursts through the cloud
Strokes my back and lifts my spirits

As I stoop further
And gently take you in my arms
Lifting you, as light as a dry feather
Swinging you round
Making your hair stream outwards
Curtain-like
You laugh and I laugh
Hysterically we collapse
And lay holding hands staring at the sky
Bodies heaving as the laughter subsides
Electric passing through us
The spark of life invigorating

I long for your lips to touch mine
A tender feeling as we breathe each others breath
The closeness is intoxicating
I miss this most when we are apart
Along with your arms
Holding me and clutching me to your body
I am afraid that this is just too special
I want your body near me always
the smell of your hair and the touch of your skin
Takes me to places I never knew existed
Love can bring us together but never
As close as physical touch
As I wait for you to come home
and envelop me as always
I can feel my heartbeat quicken and thud in my ears
Your smile breaks the moment
We face each other
Just a kiss, a kiss, a ki...., a k...., a......, X

Just the two of us
Is enough
Just the two of us
For now and always
Just the two of us
But especially you
And especially me
Just the two of us
Is all we need
To keep our love fresh
Bright and warm
Wrapped up close
Your arms and mine
Just the two of us
Today, tomorrow
Until the end of time...
Just the two of us

To bring us to the end of our year
The Time of rest is here at least for a while
Thoughtful journeys of discovery
Has us enjoying new places
In each stop we gave a heartfelt thanks
For helping us travel to this place of joy
October winds scud across caravan grey skies
Leaving a montage of images flooding our heads
Dangerous narrow lanes formulate hand held maps
Dancing on the edge of troupes of clowns or farmers
Giving the land its final tidy before winter slips its icy fingers
Around nature's final gasp of warmth

Your stone like toes in steel toe capped boots
Are no protection from the freezing rime.
Suddenly the sun breaks through the tiniest
Break in the battleship grey overcast
All too soon it is gone as the cloud heals
To keep the weak orange light from destroying the
Blanket of darkness on the cosmic washing line

Clever minds that stretch
The many elements which live as our backdrop
Too often everyday is spoiled
By unnecessary people, gathering ammunition
For climbing invisible platforms of command
These are cast aside by simple smiles and welcomes
And it was.
Even if the task was invisible to me at first
My soul felt at home amongst these new work mates
My responsible position was underwritten
Given gravitas and a freedom to which I wasn't quite used

The time was charged with familiar but different
It was fraught but strangely healthier in paradox
The honest fight was taken with gestures of family proportion
Success had waned but the unity of 'knowing' was the strength
That continued to support that Company
In spite of the turmoil my personal facets were given air
To run and to adjust, to temper and to manage
Poor communication was completely disastrous
The confusion of three currencies
And the balance of understanding left us guessing
Never mind agreement or translation

Through all this, looking back my heart is lifted
Not by the freedom or the ability to achieve ...mostly,
It is the strength from our leader,
That calm, silver haired man
When many were distraught you kept us going
And fed us with hope and built our confidence,
Not always with the obvious
But gave us the ability to win through by believing ,
Believing in us and building back our motivation and teasing out
The raw infrastructure of our true capabilities
Never before has anyone, apart from my Mother
Believed in me as you did. To tackle the toughest of tasks
Anything that the industry, the public or our customers
Could throw at us, we dealt with it.
Sadly you could do nothing at the final demise but take the role
Of a father giving news of an aged relative sadly moved by
A force greater than yourself
I know had you the influence, the power and the funding............

You were always more than a boss Chris
Your transparent enthusiasm raised our spirits
And in times of worry I hope we lifted yours too.
I think of you often, thank you for being a friend
After we were no longer professionally connected.
I see your generous smile and your warm handshake
I can hear your laugh now
It's always a treat to catch up over a beer.
I now find you in my phone, in my photographs
But mostly in my heart for being a great bloke
You taught me so much.

Speak soon, with love, Max

Greater than ever
Deeper than most
Feather like feelings
Hold onto my heart
Pleading but softness
Maybe a weakness
Yet not ever changing
Can never be wrong

Eye flitting joy
Depends on our welcome
Silently, silently
Make me your own
Feed me your goodness
Kindle my fire
Its been too long
I've been away
Like a song

Take me within you
Keep me from falling
Away from the warmth
As your love comes forth
Gone are the feelings
Like arms hanging limply
Greater my love
As always for you

Leftover emotion
Footsteps are hollow
Stepping on pavements
Where I want to be
Looking around me
The nearest and dearest
My future is here
Under this tender roof

Spoiling my soul
With an ounce of emotion
Keep loving me endless
Your smiles are the best
Gather our goodness
Fulfil our forevers
Stand by each other
Cast our eyes to the sun.

Max Hale

First impressions dug deep into hearts of confusion
Messages of love so warm and vibrant
Perhaps we were fertile for such seeds of emotion?
Planted so accurately in our souls, cautious and yet receptive
As time proceeded the kernels of realisation developed roots, deep and stable
Reassuring our minds and relaxing our subliminal tension
Smoothing our lives as wonderful memories are built, daily
Simple hand touching and brushing of lips, sensitive and meaningful
Walking, talking and learning
A new experience that has become ‘us’, Jan and Max
No longer just two people but a synergy in living and loving
We get to know contentment and embrace it as a tender thing
Every day a careful brick of love is put in the wall of our future
Built on foundations of beautiful harmony and understanding
A creation of happiness and determination worn with confidence
Since no such feeling has ever before been available to us
Fortune and luck is one thing but such poignancy and roundness
Is seldom delivered in such an elegant packaging as our love
Each day is a treasure whatever we do
Feeling you close, hearing your voice, seeing your face.
Why is it so wonderful, was it the wait?
The lack of a belief then destroyed by the reality in fact?
Desperation of having no future, no plans and no-one to hold?
If so all of these are yet diminished by perfection
How close we are, how much we know of each other
Not just now but of the past and of the future we will share
Such true souls never to be parted, ever
These things are not accidental but designed with cosmic influence
Darling Jan since we met our growth has been amazing
Within ourselves and for each other, personally and as a couple
Stronger and stronger from one to a million and on
In this world and all to come
My whole being is completed, enhanced and fulfilled by you
Every day wonderful and a joyful symphony of love
My soul  and yours are united forever and my heart...?
I gave you my heart so long ago.... on the day we met.

Such delight as a txt arrives
Tinkling phne and bzzing
Unable 2 wait 2 press the buttons
Simply lovely 2 hear from u

Miss u whilst u are @ wrk
……Hoping 4 a txt soon :-)
No 1 knows how much it means
Tht lttle mssge of love

A link 2 r hearts
Nice 2 knw ur thinking of me
As we go thru the day
Thse few words, so spcial & tndr
Thank u babe, love u 2, 4 ever :-)