Poems by Laura Sanders

They sacrificed their lives, entered the gates of hell,
Onward they stumbled, while all around them fell,
War weary, ragged, faces dirt encrusted, black.
Impatient for the whistle, ready for attack.

In their hearts burned everlasting hope,
Carrying love letters and handwritten notes,
Tiny mementos and gifts tucked into pockets,
As shells blasted like exploding rockets!

They died as all good soldiers die,
Hoping for a better world for you and I,
Wanting to set the world free,
But many would shudder if they could see

The selfish world we live in today.
Would they be pleased with its uncaring ways?
Because "for our today, they gave their tomorrow,"
So let us be grateful, not wallow in sorrow.

Let us make their sacrifice worthwhile,
And help each other with willingness and a smile,
For at our darkest hour, our country they did save,
With their lives, which they so bravely gave....

Big, pink fluffy hearts could not convey
what you mean to me this Valentine's Day.
A card with fancy words saying, "I love you so,"
could not capture my thoughts, but I think you know
today just how much you mean to me,
without balloons, fluffy teddies, sentimentality,
or a fancy meal cooked with sparkling wine,
to say that you are "really mine!"

Instead, I'll gently kiss your lips,
hold your face, caress your fingertips.
Then you will know how much I really care,
that my life with you, I gladly share.
The joys, hopes, dreams will fade away,
but we'll be together, as we make our way
down through life's pathways, hand in hand,
with our precious love that is truly grand.

I gaze at you with welling tears.
We have been husband and wife for over fifty years!

I would be enthralled at the stories the ocean could tell,
about explorers and adventurers that traversed its swell,
of the lives lost in shipwrecks and of pirate tales of old,
and legends passed down through generations, told.

The ocean is mysterious, enchanting us all,
and contains many strange creatures both large and small,
a vast body of water, we challenge with our might,
sail our boats across, battle it by day and by night.

It changes character, furious brooding one minute,
next it is calm and serene, then we can overcome and win it!
But when I see its rolling, crashing waves,
I am glad I am on terra firma, as it's stability I crave!

The end of the world has come,
it is hopeless to hold just a gun!
Do not want your sadness and pity,
when the Russians shell our lovely city!
Just make a no fly-zone,
"Seal the skies", give us airplanes and drones,
Tanks and missiles, here are the norm,
Putin will pay for this storm!

I watched  as our cities crumbled,
saw the menacing tanks, as they rumbled.
Oh Lord, I can't see how we can win now,
with our few weapons, anyhow?
How can we get out of this mess?
Each man is being put to the test....
We are outnumbered, ten to one,
The end of the world has begun....
So I stand here alone quietly pray,
praying for help to come  our way.

My son will be fatherless , I feel bad,
He will grow up and feel terribly sad.
He will always remember this hideous  attack,
how Russia turned on us,  how we tried to fight back.
Dad was a hero , in the Ukraine-Russia war,
but a tear will come, when he thinks what was it for?
It is a David and Goliath affair, make no bones.
Will we win though, with just a few stones...?

Bright, yellow gold, spangles the green.
Brazen and beautiful , they are so clearly seen.
Obtrusive and yet they are a welcoming sight.
Denoting early Summers arrival, of warmth and light.

Yet their boldness, does not  last,
as into wind-blown parachutes, they change fast.
Blown by lips, and through landscape sun-kissed,
the delicate fairies dance , and on breezes drift.

Attaching to everything lying around.
Self-seeding, survival, for next year bound.
The gardeners "poison", seen as a ruinous blight.
Leaves to the rabbit, are a juicy delight.

To bees and butterflies, they're a nectar feast.
Dandelions, golden suns, will to me,  always please.

I like to feel warm and cosy, tucked safely indoors,
there's a roaring orange fire crackling, Dad's filled up the wood store,
Peace and quiet reigns, there is  no noise around,
Only  the far distant ones outside, a crows cawing sound.

Golden trees are  now unclothed, falling leaves no longer thrill,
The cloak of winter creeps across, the charcoal grey hills,
But the sky reflects my soul, it's grey tinged with blueish bits,
as Winter stalks the landscape, and mist blankets it.

Then we chatter indoors, and talk of better days to come,
For the time when Spring is here and Winters work is done.
We like to reflect, nestled on a warm, snug settee,
Stretched out safely clutching a china cup of tea.

Talking about those we hold both close and dear,
Relieved we had reached the end of a terrible 2020 year!

January , she comes sneaking into my tired life,
exhaling her sharp, crisp breath of white,
like a frigid, uncaring, unloving wife,
she too, can bite like a scorpion's bite.

Can affect you with her frost, freeze flesh, make all ill,
can transform from mild air to a bitter cold,
she weaves and dances  in and out, her wintry quick- step chill,
She is one who never grows tired or old.

January the icy lover, with her sober blast,
- pull your cloak of death away from my door!
How I long for her  to quickly glide past,
and for sister February to come knocking once more.

And January takes  leave of her tight gripped hold,
as February melts her down with disdain,
No longer is she strong, domineering, bold,
February is here to stay with her warm sun and falling rain.....

Life is a rollercoaster, it has it's ups and downs,
Some days will make you smile, others will make you frown.
Some days are smooth, others just aren't nice,
Things can go really wrong, even if you are wise!

But other people can make your day,
your wishes can come true,
It will stop you getting really depressed,
and feeling sad and blue.

Other times you'll feel forgotten,
feel you are in a mess,
but just go to the friends you know ,
or to the places you like the best.

Or stop and think of people who are less well off,
haven't got a home or have the corona cough.
For those who are less fortunate , we need always to pray.
But pray for yourself especially at the closing  of the day......