Just Listen

We are encouraged to talk about mental health and I agree that it is good to talk but remember;

If you decide to talk, choose a listener you trust and try to tell them what you want out of your talk.

If someone opens up to you just listen and be there, don't try to fix things.

I wrote this after I was too honest answering a question and the person I spoke to was too intent on fixing things and refused to back off when I asked them to.  The resultant harassment was very painful and a month on I am still hurting.

Just Listen

Between two streams

overlooking the sea

surrounded by pips and chirps

as birds chitter chatter.

It's good to talk. 

A chill breeze cuts deep.

Sharp trills;

- it's good to talk,

yet sharing gives rise

to caring and sharing

and chitter chatter.

Sharp breeze cuts through

tries to take control,

to help me.

In my head

two streams guide me

to the depths ahead

they mock me.

Shh, be still, calm,

Help me,

just... listen

to the chitter chatter

until the cold breeze passes 

 John Carré Buchanan 

 29 November 2020

Forget The Small Change

 

Forget the Small Change 

What will it take for mankind to change? 

To stop the destruction, pollution and rage, 

to see the potential of sharing resource, 

to savor prompt action not lengthy discourse. 

What would it take to quell mankind's greed? 

to drop the ‘want’ and focus on ‘need’, 

to relish in beauty and strive to protect, 

not keep on consuming 'til everything’s wrecked. 

Is it to late to save mankind? 

Is our destiny already defined? 

We're in the midst of an extinction event, 

yet we charge forward with relentless intent. 

Perhaps we need to show more respect, 

focus on what humanity forgets. 

In a world without nature, we cannot thrive.

We must change focus if mankind’s to survive. 

John Carré Buchanan 

25 September 2020

Cataract Removal

As The Covid-19 lockdown continues in Guernsey I find myself writing again. I can’t help but notice how intrusive nature is now the man-made hubbub has been removed.

This poem reflects on a more positive aspect of the lockdown. I hope you are able to discover your own version of nature’s beauty as we all try to stay safe.

Cataract Removal

The sky is clear today.
The sky is crystal clear.
Just blue,
light at the horizon,
deeper as eyes lift heavenward,
the lattice of contrails gone.

The bird song is loud today.
Tiny voices sound so clear.
Just birdsong,
shrill trills carried on a breeze,
sweet arias lifted heavenward,
the incessant roar of traffic gone.

Years seem stripped away.
A memory of times gone by.
Bright sun in clear sky,
the birds sing, bees buzz,
nature's beauty revealed,
the cataract of progress gone.

John Carré Buchanan
5th April 2020

Flattening The Curve

I’ve written a few poems likening mankind to a virus destroying the planet.
As I work from home and follow the guidance on Social Distancing I hear reports of less silt in rivers, less traffic on roads and less aircraft in the sky. Dependant on which study you believe, it takes between 21 and 66 days to change a habit, perhaps once things start to settle down we will remember some of our new habits and the world will be just that little bit better.

Flattening The Curve

So the virus has a virus,
Mankind is not the boss.
The body we inhabit
is striking back at us.
Oh we’ll overcome it
but it'll never be the same,
a bit of social distance
may really change the game.
Perhaps we'll change behaviours
and flatten our own curve,
to help reduce the damage
we do to planet Earth.

John Carré Buchanan
29 March 2020

Graduation

I thought I’d write a follow-up to my poem 'The Wheelchair'. This follows a jog I took a couple of weeks ago on the beautiful cliff paths near my home.

Graduation

I'm often called 'the wheelchair?
"Mind the wheelchair', not 'the man'!
Yet coming down the steps,
confronted by a string of hikers,
all I heard were calls of 'runner'.
I've graduated!
No longer 'the wheelchair,'
I'm 'the runner'.
Right now my leg screams
my wheelchair beckons
and in my head, I'm a runner.

John Carré Buchanan
09 October 2019

You can read my poem ‘The Wheelchair’ here;

Stark

Whilst out for a walk this afternoon I stopped to admire the stark beauty of a harvested field and this poem jumped into my mind, I hope you like it.

Stark

They harvested the maze
a week or so ago.
Now the field lies barren,
dried stalks flattened low

Amidst the mud and stubble
a pigeon lies in death,
its grey feathers ruffled
by the cruel wind's breath.

Atop a naked hedgerow
Corvids bicker and caw;
chill autumnal beauty
ahead of winter's maw.

John Carré Buchanan
05 October 2019

Dorothy’s Bench II

This afternoon I went to sit on Dorothy’s Bench to play a few mind games. The scene was pure beauty but my mind was dark. This poem sums it up.

Dorothy’s Bench II

It's noisy here today.
The streams, while recharged
are almost unheard.
Amidst the leaves birds vie for attention
like hawkers in a busy bazaar.
Gulls scream above the hubbub.
The roar of the waves is drowned out.
Eyes closed, cool breeze on my face
I focus on the beauty
and seek to escape
but the voices scream
and the waves overwhelm.

John Carré Buchanan
18 April 2019

Keywords

Our next open mic has the subject "Question Mark" this is my effort.

Keywords

He sat behind the table
looking at the mirror,
knowing in his heart of hearts
that there had been an error.

Behind the glass they looked on
and watched him getting nervous,
they bore the marks
of Her Majesty's Secret Service.

For he had typed a keyword
whilst planning to invest
And he had been identified
as a person of interest.

Sweat beaded on his forehead
as they kept him in the dark.
They nodded at each other,
it was time to question Mark.

John Carré Buchanan
11 October 2018

A Call From Guernsey Airport

This happened when I traveled from Guernsey to Newcastle last month. Unfortunately the lady concerned and I shared 2 flights and she was just as vocal on-board.

A Call From Guernsey Airport

Suddenly a voice started speaking;
"Hi, It's Janet, I'm going to be late."
it wasn't muted, It wasn't muted at all,
it was one of those full blast old people calls.
A voice born in the days of operators
every monotonous word at full blast
as if the smart phone and not the speaker was deaf.
Expressions on faces 20 meters away
ranged from irritation to simple smiles
as the woman with the latest smart phone
cut across the hubbub of the busy terminal
by shouting at her friend in Newcastle.

John Carré Buchanan
24 August 2018

Doggone

Something a little bit different.

Scenario: I'm sitting on the loo when the dog decides to burst in and sit between my feet!

Doggone

I'm sitting on the Loo,
having a poo.
I don't need you
admiring the view.

John Carré Buchanan
25 July 2018