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These poems are the fruit of almost 30 years of occasional writing. They were written as private reflections, or for friends and family. I hadn't intended them for public consumption, but people have told me now and then that they thought I should share them, so I have. I shall add new poems if and when I write them, though a lot of my words tend to go into sermons these days!
If you find something you like and find helpful, you are welcome to use it and share it, but please make sure my name stays attached to it.
The poems are posted in no particular order, but the labels - click on links below - should help you find poems on various themes.
There are also separate pages on this blog containing links to music composed by my husband, Philip, and to Christmas stories which I have told here at Seal in place of sermons on Christmas Day.

Monday, 6 June 2016

Sentinel

My soul waits for the Lord, more than the watchman waits for the morning” Ps 130:6 .



I've often said to new recruits,
(stamping their frozen feet along the ramparts
on their first night watch)
"It's wrong to think that night is only darkness.'

"See ! A thousand stars,
like tiny pinpricks in the velvet of the sky,
and the moon's cold glow,
texture the land with shadow
You can see more than you think!
Night vision is the skill
of telling apart a million shades of grey.”

"The task’s important,”
I remind them,
“One of you at least, must spot
the unexpected enemy or welcome guest
- the bane or blessing -
and, with clarion call,
draw sleepers from their beds and chase away their dreams.
This is a job for heroes!”

I have tried to sound convincing.
The night watch need a platitude or two
to prop their eyelids open.
But, if truth be known,
the sight I've longed for most in these cold hours
appears, not on the road, but in the sky,
as sunrise inches colour through the grey
and melts the icy stars
and drowns the moon in light.


Anne Le Bas. 23rd Dec 96


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