By Scott Bailey © 2016
Tiny, warm, fragile
Fingers tightly holding mine
Treasured memories
Holding Hands
Family
Intentions
By Scott Bailey © 2015
“It was just a bit of fun”
To the broken hearts and home
“I meant no offence”
To the victims of riot and guns
“I was just following my dreams”
To the crushing weight of debt
“I will never do it again”
To the frightened wife and child
“I was trying to save some cash”
To the shattered future lost
“I thought I knew best”
To the chances that are gone
“My intentions were good”
To the consequences of action
Gone
By Scott Bailey © 2017
Gone
The blue eyes sparked with new
Gone to shadows
Gone
The play, the cowboys and indians
Gone to payments and tax
Gone
The times to stop and breathe
Gone to endless turmoil
Gone, gone gone
A little magic
A little luck
Is needed
Autism a Colourful Spectrum
A reminder – for me – and anyone who needs it.
Amongst all the dreary advice and articles I have read I came across this comic. Which I think is just brilliant
The original article is here.
Crossing Out
By Scott Bailey © 2017
Crossing out
Deleting
Inserting
Adding on
Dropping
Expanding
Changing
Evolving
Inserting
Crossing out
Life
And death
Rescue
By Scott Bailey © 2015
From butterflies in spiders webs
To wandering dogs down country roads
These are just some of the deeds
Of rescue
She has done
And of course
She rescued my heart
From certain single life
And ensconced it in
A loving family home
Boisterous
Boisterous
By Scott Bailey © 2018
Our boy is a bundle
Of boisterous fun
But he doesn’t know
When to stop the fun
And hurts someone
(Rarely himself)
Because of his mental health.
What to do?
What to do?
I am no expert
And no expert
Seem to know
What to do.
Move him on
Move him on
Is all we get
But we will not give up
Like them
His challenges will be his victory
In response to #JusJoJan, JusJoJan.
A Nature Weekend and Bird Watching Challenges
This weekend we decided to relax a bit and get out and about in the country. This was partly down to my musings about bird watching. My wife wanted to do some walking, as did I, rather than cycling this time around. The two things – bird watching and walking – immediately made me think of the marshes near us. Haven’t been there for years and what a surprise! It’s always been a lovely place to walk, now it has been taken over by a wildlife trust and they have made some great improvements – including installing some bird watchers hides.
After that, we went to a local woodland park that used to be a gunpowder mill. I have never been there – tough Rachel and the kids have. Again I was pleasantly surprised.
Anyway here are a few pictures of the day – and I am hoping there some ornithologists or keen birders out there who might help identify some of these.
Alexander’s Half Term Adventures
This one spookily fits today’s Daily Prompt. #DailyPrompt
A bit of guest post here – from Bailey junior – courtesy of homework duty.
Alexander’s Half Term Adventures
By Alexander Bailey
My family and I went for an adventure in the park.
First, we went over the bridge to play pooh sticks.
Also, we went on a nature walk and rare yellow 7 spotted ladybird.
Next, we climbed a really big hill that had a windy path that led to a secret hideout. Also, the path was very steep.
We also saw more hideouts.
After that, we rolled down a grassy, muddy hill.
Then we went bird watching and saw some ducks and a dove. After that, we played pooh sticks again.
On last Thursday I went scootering with my grandad and cousin.
We also made a den at home.
The End
Alexander’s Half Term Adventures
A bit of guest post here – from Bailey junior – courtesy of homework duty.
Alexander’s Half Term Adventures
By Alexander Bailey
My family and I went for an adventure in the park.
First, we went over the bridge to play pooh sticks.
Also, we went on a nature walk and rare yellow 7 spotted ladybird.
Next, we climbed a really big hill that had a windy path that led to a secret hideout. Also, the path was very steep.
We also saw more hideouts.
After that, we rolled down a grassy, muddy hill.
Then we went bird watching and saw some ducks and a dove. After that, we played pooh sticks again.
On last Thursday I went scootering with my grandad and cousin.
We also made a den at home.
The End
Interior
By Scott Bailey © 2017
What’s inside
Distorts and shapes
The exterior
All those dreams and hopes
Hates and fears
That make up the interior
The moiling
Boiling
Packed and stacked
Stretched and tense
Earnest pretense
That inside us all
Makes us all
What we are
Rather than what
We wish
In response to the daily prompt Interior
#DailyPrompt
New Year
It was rough last year. I am not just talking about celebrity deaths.
We as a family have had it rough. We have had family members in and out of hospital, having to deal with a diagnosis of Autism for our youngest and his so far very rocky transition into school. I have had work stress and uncertainty. We have seen our social lives and our house being slowly taken apart. I have seen my writing dreams slip away.
Midlife crisis? Maybe.
I have to cling to hope. It is the only thing left.
So not really new years resolutions as such but goals I am aiming for this year.
To find a new job. But not just another role. I need to get back to enjoying work again. That has been totally destroyed of late – I had thought beyond hope – but if I give up hope then all is lost. I have been thinking about a total career change and that’s the way I will try to go.
To improve our daily lives by trying new techniques for dealing with Autistic behaviours.
To reinvigorate my writing dreams. To help with this I will attempt to complete the daily prompt as well as Ronovan’s Weekly Haiku Challenge. This is purely to get my juices flowing. Behind the scenes, I will try to put together two more poetry collections for publishing as well as another short story collection and a new novel. Ambitious but I must attempt it.
I wish everyone a happy new year and hope you all attain your own dreams and goals.
In response to the daily prompt Year
#DailyPrompt
The Lies We Tell Boys
The media lies. We all know that. Sometimes, though, it is very subtle.
Like what it tells us about being a man.
Everything we see gives us the same message. The brash businessman dispensing his wisdom, the cocky chancer charming the ladies, the whisky guzzling spy or DCI. Even the greedy bankers and the corrupt politicians – who we all condemn but are still reaping their rewards.
They all tell us the same thing – to be a man and be a success – be strong, take what you want! No one will give it to you so grab it with both hands.
Far more subtly than that but that’s the message.
I have come to a different conclusion lately. To be a man, properly (and I don’t claim to be this by ay means) you have to learn to give. To give of your strength – and to keep giving when your strength has run out. Give your strength to those you care about.
When you’re in love
Nothing matters
Yes, there are annoyances
Sacrifices
Anger
Even tears
Nothing matters
Savour the moments
Bask in the sunlight of her smile
Be warmed by her touch
And keep on giving
Your strength
By Scott Bailey © 2016
Poem a day challenge #305 (A New Path)
A New Path
By Scott Bailey © 2014
Dawn will bring
New joy for some
Sadness for other
A new road for little feet
Get the previous ones here
http://wp.me/P3kG6h-bb and get my début novel Mankind Limited
Poem a day challenge #303 (Dadda)
Dadda
By Scott Bailey © 2014
I think I have broken my toe
But I am just too tired to know
Stubbed it on a childproof gate
Too tired to see it until too late
But the pain and the weariness melt away
Into warmth when you hear them say
Dadda and they give you a smile
That gives you the strength for the next mile
Get the previous ones here
http://wp.me/P3kG6h-bb and get my début novel Mankind Limited
Poem a day challenge #299 (Twilight)
Twilight
By Scott Bailey © 2014
In an old tractor tyre
A circle of friends
Dwarfed and reverent
In that magic time
Between day and night
The twilight
With new-born stars twinkling
And potential enchantment
Humming in the deep blue sky
Disappointed by the call
To bedtime
Get the previous ones here
http://wp.me/P3kG6h-bb and get my début novel Mankind Limited
Poem a day challenge #298 (Happy Family)
Happy Family
By Scott Bailey © 2014
And then
After an hours silence
He warms our heart
With a carefully crafted picture
Mummy in a tutu
Daddy very tall
Then himself dancing
And his new baby brother – coming soon
And Lucas up in the sky
Looking down from heaven
Not your average family
But happy
Get the previous ones here
http://wp.me/P3kG6h-bb and get my début novel Mankind Limited
Poem a day challenge #157 (Fireworks) (Triolet)
(Fireworks) (Triolet)
By Scott Bailey © 2013
Hand in hand we all walk tonight
Mother, Father and loving son
Watching darkness bursting with light
Hand in hand we all walk tonight
Sky flowers blooming burn our sight
This time of year is always fun
Hand in hand we all walk tonight
Mother, Father and loving son
Get the previous ones here
http://wp.me/P3kG6h-bb and get my début novel Mankind Limited
Scott Andrew Bailey - Author 