The still waters in the smile behind the eyes run deep
As in ripples her story of life before death rises
And for a brief moment the fountain of youth flows over
And we see a picture of Africa
Not the negative portrait of dying
But an image of real hope rising
Standing alone his heart burns with fire and passion
In his fingers his families life-blood and health is held
Duty driven to share the knowledge that will feed others
And we see a picture of Africa
Not the negative stereotype starving
But an image of real hope rising
We painted a barren landscape
Masterpiece of our constant greed
Colonized and consumed
Framed in climate confusion
Debt-dependent and enslaved
Hung out to dry by unfair trade
He works the well drawing deep clean water with pride and joy
The well being a key to unlock his young life’s future
Any given time taken and enjoyed as fam’ly
And we see a picture of Africa
Not the negative snapshot of crying
But an image of real hope rising
© David Hardman 2008
Pretty as a poet's pen
Sunday, 30 August 2015
Friday, 3 July 2015
Rooted in this Land
Under the shadow of the olive tree
The old man lay dreaming
At least in his sleep he is free
To visit a place
That used to be
A land that was free
Under the guidance of his grandfather
The young boy stands learning
His trade - olive trees – a farmer
In years to come
He’d lose it all
Right behind the wall
His family, his friends, his life, his wealth
All rooted in this land
His story, his dreams, his hope, his health
All rooted in this land
Olive trees symbols of future and past
His people proof that hope - hope can last
All rooted in this land
In view and full sight of the settlement
The young trees are planted
Father and his son their statement -
‘Not profit but hope’
They farm their land
Peaceful make their stand
His family, his friends, his life, his wealth
All rooted in this land
His story, his dreams, his hope, his health
All rooted in this land
Olive trees symbols of future and past
His people proof that hope - hope can last
All rooted in this land
© David Hardman 2005
The old man lay dreaming
At least in his sleep he is free
To visit a place
That used to be
A land that was free
Under the guidance of his grandfather
The young boy stands learning
His trade - olive trees – a farmer
In years to come
He’d lose it all
Right behind the wall
His family, his friends, his life, his wealth
All rooted in this land
His story, his dreams, his hope, his health
All rooted in this land
Olive trees symbols of future and past
His people proof that hope - hope can last
All rooted in this land
In view and full sight of the settlement
The young trees are planted
Father and his son their statement -
‘Not profit but hope’
They farm their land
Peaceful make their stand
His family, his friends, his life, his wealth
All rooted in this land
His story, his dreams, his hope, his health
All rooted in this land
Olive trees symbols of future and past
His people proof that hope - hope can last
All rooted in this land
© David Hardman 2005
Tuesday, 23 June 2015
The Advertitudes
Blessed are
those with beautiful skin
for they will not grow old
for they will not grow old
Blessed are
those who drive sleek cars
for they will have sex
for they will have sex
Blessed are
those who fly abroad on holiday
for they shall find paradise
for they shall find paradise
Blessed are
those who buy now and pay later
for they shall have it all
for they shall have it all
Blessed are
those who drink the right beer
for they shall be men
for they shall be men
Blessed are
those who buy the latest CDs
for they shall be top dog
for they shall be top dog
Blessed are
those who buy in the sales
for they shall consume more
for they shall consume more
Blessed are
those who are famous
for the world will want to be them
for the world will want to be them
Blessed are
those who have powerful jobs
for they will rule the world
for they will rule the world
Blessed are
those who are members of a Gym
for they will think they are healthy
for they will think they are healthy
Blessed are
those who shop at Tesco's
for every little helps to make them massive profits
for every little helps to make them massive profits
Blessed are
those who look after number one
for they won't have a care in the world
for they won't have a care in the world
Blessed are
those who dress in the right label
'cause the world will know just how much you spend
'cause the world will know just how much you spend
Blessed are
those who show their power by might
for everyone left will like them
Blessed are those who buy self-help books
for everyone left will like them
Blessed are those who buy self-help books
for you will find happiness
(repeat after me: I will find happiness)
© David Hardman 2008
(repeat after me: I will find happiness)
© David Hardman 2008
Wednesday, 10 June 2015
It is Sweet and Right
Bent double and stiff necked on bikes we ride,
Locked knees, through quiet France, the engine roars
Shattering a peace that hides how you died
In battle to cross the Sambre-Oise canal at Ors.
Drafted when wars could be won or lost,
Lives exploded by bullet, shell and gas.
Human being an affordable cost
As seventeen million fell en masse
A time when a battlefield was just that -
Now the subway, plane, mall, or twin tower,
As civilians and history, laid flat,
Are collateral damage of power.
Killed in the great war to end all wars
It didn’t work - when do wars ever do?
Devastating young lives of army corps
Khaki and grey stained by blood’s crimson hue.
You gave not just your life but also truth -
The Send Off of those who die as cattle,
Exposing the Anthem for Doomed Youth -
What it means to die and live in battle.
There’s no signpost to your weathered grave
Strangely among the more recent natural dead.
Secret rest, like wrongs hushed up, for the brave.
Simple fading inscription to be read.
Aware at your grave, bathed in sunlight,
How brave you were to expose, last century,
The old lie: It is sweet and right
to die for your country.
© David Hardman 2015
Saturday, 23 May 2015
Touch of Eternity
Time suspends
Her walk of life
As I step into your eyes
Sinking without a trace
In the ocean of your love
A stolen second of your time
Is a touch of eternity
Life betrays
Her hold on truth
As I melt into your arms
Refined and purified
In the furnace of your love
To catch a breath of your life
Is a touch of eternity
Truth releases
Herself in time
As I lie under your kiss
Speaking without a sound
In the volume of your love
The honest hold of your truth
Is a touch of eternity
© David Hardman 2005
Her walk of life
As I step into your eyes
Sinking without a trace
In the ocean of your love
A stolen second of your time
Is a touch of eternity
Life betrays
Her hold on truth
As I melt into your arms
Refined and purified
In the furnace of your love
To catch a breath of your life
Is a touch of eternity
Truth releases
Herself in time
As I lie under your kiss
Speaking without a sound
In the volume of your love
The honest hold of your truth
Is a touch of eternity
© David Hardman 2005
Saturday, 16 May 2015
You are My Password
You are my password -
A secret that unlocked me,
Rebooted my rambling heart
Restarting my drive for life -
You are my password.
You are my password -
A reset for my emotions,
Defragmentation of my soul,
Installation of such joy -
You are my password.
You are my password -
I type anew everyday
Without anyone ever knowing -
Secret held secure in our lives.
You are my password.
You are my password -
All the long-hidden memories,
Such sensitive information,
Now updated in your love -
You are my password.
You are my password -
Erasing all those who have tried
To hack my vulnerable heart,
Helping me to crash and burn.
You are my password.
You are my password -
I will never forget, each digit
Indelibly written in love,
My memory full of you -
You are my password.
© David Hardman 2015
A secret that unlocked me,
Rebooted my rambling heart
Restarting my drive for life -
You are my password.
You are my password -
A reset for my emotions,
Defragmentation of my soul,
Installation of such joy -
You are my password.
You are my password -
I type anew everyday
Without anyone ever knowing -
Secret held secure in our lives.
You are my password.
You are my password -
All the long-hidden memories,
Such sensitive information,
Now updated in your love -
You are my password.
You are my password -
Erasing all those who have tried
To hack my vulnerable heart,
Helping me to crash and burn.
You are my password.
You are my password -
I will never forget, each digit
Indelibly written in love,
My memory full of you -
You are my password.
© David Hardman 2015
Monday, 4 May 2015
Consuming Love
I never could satisfy you
you wanted more than I could give
I gave you the whole of the earth
you laid me to waste just to live
You must remember the good times
First love in paradise garden
So engrossed with one another
We wandered too far from Eden
I still trusted in us as you
Grew fat off me in middle age
With carefree flights of fancy
And a mistress in each new age
Intent on destroying me
Constant demand for more and more
With your all-consuming love
That broke each one of nature’s laws
You think I’m not who I once was
Frail & weak I’m too old to fight
You say I blow hot then cold
Blind to your part in my plight
You ignored my constant warnings
With total denial and lies
Head buried in the sands of time
As every last part of me dies
© David Hardman 2009
you wanted more than I could give
I gave you the whole of the earth
you laid me to waste just to live
You must remember the good times
First love in paradise garden
So engrossed with one another
We wandered too far from Eden
I still trusted in us as you
Grew fat off me in middle age
With carefree flights of fancy
And a mistress in each new age
Intent on destroying me
Constant demand for more and more
With your all-consuming love
That broke each one of nature’s laws
You think I’m not who I once was
Frail & weak I’m too old to fight
You say I blow hot then cold
Blind to your part in my plight
You ignored my constant warnings
With total denial and lies
Head buried in the sands of time
As every last part of me dies
© David Hardman 2009
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