A sample of my creative writing, which was printed inside the Christmas cards for Independent Insurance Consultants in December, 2016.

1. The Heart’s Home
Embers dwindle in the chill grate,
Amber leaves drift past the grey window pane,
Hoarsely scraping, as the hour grows late,
And the cold day succumbs to night’s embrace again.
~
My feathers are fading, and brittle, they rustle,
Eyes feeble and dimming, bruised soul laid bare,
Life’s a series of hustle and bustles,
And sometimes it feels like in two, I shall tear.
~
Cruelty and inertia tightly grasp the world,
The winter wind reminds me of my trials from time past,
I try to recall when wings weren’t clipped, unfurled,
Beloved things gone, too good to last.
~
The fetid smoke swirls, something still glimmers,
Hope that goodness, renewal, will be eventually be found,
Unyielding, stubborn, it never gets dimmer,
I thaw as it spreads through me, into the snowy ground.
~
My plumage gleams as the dust slides away,
With the burden of worries, and all my dismay,
They can’t always define what I do, what I say,
The blaze roars harder, in unison the fiery tongues sway,
Anticipating a tomorrow, beginning today.
~
The flames flicker higher as the new flowers bloom,
Around this place, colour is infused, festooned,
Company arrives - all lively and merry,
And absent friends, I’ll carry your memory.
The heart is where hope makes its nest, its home,
And on this Earth, are we ever truly alone?
~
The fire crackles merrily in its place,
Birdsong and blossom tempt us beyond the clear pane,
Live, cherish, remember, make it right, all with grace,
And someday, we’ll soar in the sunlight, again.
In Memory of Barbara Robinson.
Max Farrow 18/10/2016