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Poetry Library Southbank Centre - The Poetry Library housing the Arts Council Collection at Southbank Centre

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Helena Hempstead

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Gentle Journey

So faintly, he said
"I'm so tired;
But too frightened
To go to sleep,
Too frightened of
Disturbing dreams."

So she told him to close his eyes;
"Imagine" she said
"That the pillow
Is the embrace
Of pure, white, angel wings."

She gently stroked his forehead;
"Imagine" she said
"The pastel colours
Of a beautiful bay
Of creamy sand
And sapphire and turquoise jewels
Where the land
Meets the sea of fragrant water
Scented with tingling mint.

"Imagine us both
Swimming in the water,
Free and reborn,
Soothingly warm,
All the past pain
Now totally gone;
Then, imagine
Running,
On the beach to dry,
As sunset turns the sand
Iridescent gold,
And the skies are a joyful saffron-yellow.
 
"Imagine meadows in your mind;
Of primrose, pink, and soothing bluebell flowers
To ease your weariness,
Let the verdant fields
Refresh your body,
Lift your tired soul.

"Always remember,
I will comfort you through
Sleep as deep as a cloud of white feathers,
Hear my thoughts of you,
Like the sea in a shell,
Hear me call you
Safely to shore."

In the cold, Winter morning,
His eyes seemed full of light,
He brushed the tousled hair from his forehead,
"I'd like to sit by the window" he said
"And look out at the garden."

There, the grass was a rich, rainfall-green,
And birds and squirrels fed
From the woven basket
On the apple tree.

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