Walter W Hoelbling 22h
out there
once you let your poems
fly freely
out into the world
anything can happen to them

and it does
poems free world

Where did you come from
No one knows
Arrived in October
Before any snow
Deep brown eyes
A splash of dark hair
Rosy and chubby
We all looked and stared.

Mummy took you home
Wrapped in a shawl,
Tucked you in bed
With the rest of them all.
Now there are nine
To wash and dress
The oldest can do it
That's for the best.

Under the Liliacs your were born
A flower fairy if ever there was
Mum named you Bluebell
To match the rest
Of the flowery names
She loves the best.


Love Grandma xxxxx

I leave you this as one of the most beautiful pieces of poetry ever written. So moving and yet full of metaphor and tenderness in the words .
Love Mary xxxx



“Snow was general all over Ireland…” The last paragraph of Joyce’s The Dead

Yes, the newspapers were right: snow was general all over Ireland. It was falling softly upon the Bog of Allen and, further westwards, softly falling into the dark mutinous Shannon waves. It was falling too upon every part of the lonely churchyard where Michael Furey lay buried. It lay thickly drifted on the crooked crosses and headstones, on the spears of the little gate, on the barren thorns. His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead.
The Dead
James Joyce

I have pictures on my walls
Pretty pictures one and all
Painted by friends I know
People who love and grow.

Everyday I look at them
Treasure the heart within
Gives me a life to breathe
Pretty pictures for to see.

Love Mary x

Mother put your sandals on and we shall walk a mile
Up the road and down again with you by my side
My feet will never falter, nor will my love ever fade
For what you have given me can never be replaced.



Love Mary to her Mother

Lilies
Will you wait by the lilies side
In your flowery shirt
Wait for me by the church
In the country road, casually,
And carry me home at last
Never, longer to be alone.

Love Mary xxxx

Sixty-six years living in a country I respected
Never regretted it, admired, honoured.
Finished!
The treatment of the underprivileged
Is unstainable
The law allows ******
Of the innocent,
Cruelty to the old,
England has failure
Running through
The arterial map
Corruption explodes
Its ***** fingers
In the corners
Where they should
Show love.

Mary x

He bent now low on folded flanks
With ***** and rake at near side hand
The wrench from earth he pulled as man
Of last years shooting stem to bin.

Love Mary x

The Place Of The Solitaires.

Let the place of the solitaires
Be a place of perpetual undulation.

Whether it be in mid-sea
On the dark, green water-wheel,
Or on the beaches,
There must be no cessation
Of motion, or of the noise of motion,
The renewal of noise
And manifold continuation;

And, most, of the motion of thought
And its restless iteration,

In the place of the solitaires,
Which is to be a place of perpetual undulation.

The crooked heart sprouted a bark
So tough and so hard it had no leaf
The country folk took chisels sharp
And plunged them in quick and fast
To alleviate the damage carried out
By the evil of the crooked heart.

Love Mary x

We are limits lost and found
Created and removed
A moment of magnificient
Beauty on the go.

Love Mary ***

Your sound

Listen each morning,
To the creaking of the bed,
A body turning in its waking;
Cars clip on as the street lights,
Glow colder into day;
I hear the door handle turn,
Feet pad down the stairs,
To the coffee jar and toasted bread;
The aroma drifts upwards,
Stiring my senses.
This familiarity is you,
The person I trust.

For Rog love Mary **

I don’t  know why I left my coat behind
So though the day be dull and deeply wet
And silver tears caressed the evening song.

Love Mary

Bleached heat, the sun hot
Tarmacadam melted up
The playground equipment
Too warm for little bottoms


Children climbed the wood
Inside were imaginary cats
Daddy stayed outside watching
The crisp grass blew in the wind.


Love Mary
For Evelyn ,Alex and Florence **

You can say much by saying very little
You can say everything by saying nought.

Love Mary xxxx

The Millitary road was long and narrow
Hugging the contours of the cliff face
As braiding on a dress,
He teased me
Dancing the children in a line
Along the slim path
Edging  the fallen away grassland.
Dotted every hundred yards or so
Wire cages
Announced memorial sites
For the fallen.
The waves echoed a deathly hush
Crushing against broken boulders
A hundred yards below;
Eventually the path terminated
Running into turf,
The children took up my hands
Again
And the day proceeded as normal.

Love Mary

For all those who like danger.

Everyday you took the seeds
Down our garden to feed the birds
Waiting in clusters in the trees
for the beginning of their need
The doves and the pigeons
Sparrows and magpies
Waiting for you the walk
Down our garden side.

To my Roger love his Mary **

Together the time lifts and separates
Those for whom there is no shadow
Slowly undoing the winching gears
Watching the guide rope flop water.

And if you hear my song of depart
Do not cry for today is your happy
Birthday hours and it must celebrate
All the days that belonged to ourself.

Love Mary ***

The child asked the rainbow man
If he ever cried and why
Lifting a big drop of rain
He let it splash at her feet
And now she knew why
The rainbow man cried.

LoveMary ***

The tears of the world are a constant quality .Samual Beckett.
Talking of his mother he said.I am what her savâge loving has made me.


Love Mary

When you are old
You live on your own
Nobody cares
Just swears.

Ones clothes are untidy
Shoe soles flat
And all of the mirrors
Show a poisoned apple.

Love Grandma Mary xxxx

I've been watching the hollyhocks for years
The tall stemmed, open petalled, plants
Colourful Mid-Summer blooms
Collected the seedheads
For others to spread
Across county and country;
Biennials so will take two years to perfect
By then my Autumn will be long gone
Leaving the bees to carry my scent
And the flowers to speak
Of a life well spent.


Love Mary

A line that announces the heart
And stays embedded in lovers
Pale yellow dressed girl breathes
Leaning across blue hyacinths
And wildness tornados the night
As silkily she touches the moon.

Love Mary x

Very naturally one believes that it is reason
Not emotion that rules the world.
But the truth is it is emotion
That spins ones days
Catapults one out of complacency
To produce and act in
Extraordinary ways.

Love Mary **

Along the fence, in a line my pots do stand.
And a row of dried Hollyhock stem heads
This is my life along the fence on a warm day.

Love Mary xxxx

Brightest of the Spring blossoms
That in front of my window fill
These days with cascades of rosettes
On leaves like satin silk
And if I had within my strength
I would polish each and every one
So a mirror might be cast
Reflecting the noon day sun.
My Rose Red and Snow White
Bear out friendship's time
Sharing together what weather's blow
From raindrops to icey winds
And as April does appear
You once more turn to green
I look forward to the new shoots
Awaiting to be seen.


Love Mary x

Hand in back of my dress
We wandered over the forest
The grass dried and sandy
The evening slowly
Terminating the sun
A yellow globe above the flats.
I thought of home alone
No telephone
And Ovaltine mixed with your love
Your smell of tobacco and *****
And oh those first *******
Taking me out of myself
With desire.


Love Mary **

Running fingers through nutmeg hair
You claimed the silky tree bark
Black ribbons in a sea of leaves
And a brown checked school dress.

Love Mummy x

Lady do you still sit in that leather chair
Where dreams are held
On paper screens
Did you know how often
Conversation turned
To that necklace
Below your face
And the downey baby
Called Grace.
On rainy days
Taken from a drawer
We saw a glimpse of
The yesterday
We never had.

Love Mary

about

Running between downpours
Mackintosh over head and back
Clutched tightly the front
To stop the drips on our chests
Run now, go.
And we left the shelter of a shop doorway
Feeling the rain hit our shoes
Soaked socks
Eyebrows drizzle
We keep going in the storm
Reaching a dry spot under
The leaves of a Sycamore tree
Rest, relax
Sharing chewy nuts.
The road is awash
Dribbling streams criss cross
Meeting in drains
And steam rises from tarmac
Misting the air
Then out comes the sun
The blue sweeps in
Blowing away grey clouds
And we continue our journey
Splashing  
In the now still puddles.



I loved these moments .
Mary ***

Like an upside down monkey
Climbing his frame
Hands attached
To a sleeve as velcro.

What is it that you
Are saying
Is it that baby sister
On the floor playing?

Love, that confused
Emotion breaking
Rules of behaviour
As we try.

Love Mary x

Now that mother was gone
The house seemed empty of
All those buzzings and calls
I sank down the stairs looking.

Dinner a small affair of greens
Given by a friendly neighbour
And fish from the local mongers
But there was only one placing.

Love Mary **

The trees are blowing houses
In the damp air
I fight for breath but no one comes
My love is getting fish and chips
And the jacket potato will be baked
I have spoken and been silent but
The tree still breaks and what is learnt?
Sorry to those who could not listen
The houses will be re - filled with
Someone.
Love Mary ***


Love Mary

Open university  'Civilisations' poster is free on
0300 303 5303

Love Mary x

Read a passage by Herman Hesse
Who wrote about trees and what they meant to he.
Got me thinking about our Park
And the two trees that were never apart,
One was tall the other smaller and rounder,
They lived together in a binary state.

The Summers came and went until in Winter
One looked bent,
Slowly after melting snow the leaves began
Not to show,
The smaller tree, for it was a she,
Got cut down leaving only he.

Now in the park and proud
The tall tree has his hour
Although a singular frame
The patch of earth still remains
On which he cherished his love
The best companion he ever had.

At twilight when the light is low
He hears the rustling of her leaves
And sways a little to and fro
Just to let her know.


For my dear Roger , love Mary xxxx

I caught you round the waist
The buckle of your coat in my hand
Blonde curls tasting of the wind
And a love so deep within.

Love Mum ***

On the platform as the sun rises
Bald heads crowd into carriages
Girls with glasses and painted lids
Hold onto iPads and ear phone hoods
A half awake baby feeds at the breast
Of a working mother hurriedly dressed
And scratch chews biscuits on the floor.
Meanwhile in the corridor of time
Millie lifts up her jumper
To show Tim her chickenspot spots
Now crusted over with calamine
No longer contagious.
Before entering Euston
The train waits ten minutes
At a red light.
And for the rest of the day
Nothing goes right.

Love Mary x

Let's write a story
Where shall we start
Who will be the characters
What will be their parts?
I like fairies, you like cars
Dragons are plentiful
In these parts.
Get me Galadriel
The beautiful queen
And Aragon so handsome
Maidens just swoon
A couple of hobbits
To sing a merry song
And we'll find an adventure
To go travelling on.

Love Mary ***

No longer frilly
Abandoned buttons and bows
Took to wearing breeches
And baseball shoes.

Now she’s having a baby
What will that do
Change our young Lily
Into two.

Love Grandma ***

I loved it when you read to me
Sitting together on the orange settee
Babies  fed and in their beds
Your words in my head
Images fill my mind
Travellers on a roof top climb
Comrades gathered around
Against evil to find
Gandalf was my superhero
Reminded me of you.
Now nearly seventy-two
It really has come true.



Love Mary **

The Lord of the Rings by Tolkein

My favourite book
Read to me at 16 , And again and again by my dear Roger

I remember standing in the hall
Feeling wet stuff
In my smalls
Did not know what it was
Told my mother
She did rub.
Years and years
Of washing knicks
Then my daughter's
Joined in quix.
Now I'm old and grey
This problems gone away.

Love Mary ***

Goodness is given in many ways
It could be a bunch of flowers
Or a telephone call.
Sometimes a text,
A trip down the shops
Remembering to remember
Something you once forgot.

For my daughter ,Elizabeth
It is a photo everyday
Of Bluebell her baby
In pretty display
She knows I love babies
Have since a child
This is her love
Given with a smile

Katie makes me dinner
Of rice and veg
Cooked on a Friday
In a big stainless dish
I keep it in the fridge
To eat day by day
Lovely daughter
Bless you always.

Alex and Victoria
Both have their plans
To get me Spring bulbs
And little animals grand
To decorate a garden
Designed by their mum
As for Rog a card will do
And the fact that he is here
Loving me still.


Love Mary
27/02/2018

The lantern tree at ballyroberts
Held out branches of pink gems.


Love Mary **

The light is slowly dipping
Moving from bright to dull
We trip along the road
Mum ,dad, my brother and I
Reaching Freshwater Bay
As the windows of the pub
Turn on.

The pebbles drag themselves
Back and forth on the beach
Boats, far out in the Solent,
Hooting  and shimmering
As the red sunset fills the sky,
We huddle together hurrying
Before night fall completes.


A quick dash for home
Moving fast along the country lanes
Under the harvest moon
The warmth of the day lingers
And birds put their songs to sleep
At last the line of Chalets' appear
Tucked away amongst trees.

Unlocking the door
The smell of wooden floors
Hot tea, sandwiches
A biscuit or two.
Then to the comfort
Of soft sheets.

Love to my Mother,  Father and brother, Richard,
For all those lovely holiday spent together .
Love Mary ***

Silver she was that tiny star
Far up in the heavens
Silver tips upon her shoes
And brighter by far
Through all the hours
A night-light in the blue.

Love Mary ***

We all have to climb the stairs sometime,
To wave goodbye to friends,
To kiss the roses one last time,
And understand we can't mend.

Though tears may fill our hearts,
Many have journeyed before,
Laid down their possessions,
Quietly closed  the door.

I leave behind my treasures,
The things that made me, me,
The people that I loved,
And those that loved me.

Be thy still of heart,
Knowing you did your best,
Filled my life with gladness,
Right from the very start.

Find in the petals,
The perfume in the air,
Traces of a wonder,
I always shared.

Love Mary ***

It be happenchance that two personalities find
In one another an asymmetrical mirrored mind
Brought together in space and time, bending
Reality so far that the book of knowledges closes.


No prediction could have guessed such a loving
Couplet, nor devoured a nectar so cunningly sweet.
For at its core, unobtainable without the other, lies
A tale of unimaginable cradling where terror abides.

Love Mary  x

Connie was born a lady
She knew what to wear
Opened up her wardrobe
Stood and quietly stared
Loved the frilly dresses
And the ones with butterflies
What she put on
Was always a surprise
In her silver slippers
And slides in her hair
Connie was ready
To go anywhere.

Thought it might be nice
To go out twice
As the day was sunny
She'd go with her Mummy
Up to the shops
To buy some new socks
White fluffy ones
with ducks at the top
Then a pair of shoes
Pink ones will do
Go with her smock
With the lollipop.

Connie was a lady
She played ladies' games
Never catch Connie
Out in the rain
Liked to dress her dollies
In ribbons and lace
Hand knitted dresses
Slipped over the face
Had a row of shoes
So dolly could choose
Turquoise boots
with high heels too.

How I love dear Connie
We have lots to do
Playing with our dollies
And taking them
To the zoo.

Love to Connie from Grandma xxxxx

Everything just becomes things
Things to put on the shelf
Things to put in the shed
Things to take to bed
Pictures on your wall
Mats on the floor
Clothes in the cupboard
Jewellery boxes to store
When what we need is
None of these
But to be loved
And adored.
That’s all
But costs more
Than Everything.

Love Mary **

I pick my friends because they don't need me
For like the flower and bee
It is a passing arrangement .
Not tainted by a smothering gasp
If unavailable.
Never wanted to be hugged
Other than by words
Beautifully written in letters
I am a contradiction.
Gregariously plain.