Views in verse on providence

Views in Verse on providence

The Light

Beauty so surrounds us

Are our eyes too dumb to clearly see?

What is this makes such dazzling light 

Lo, turn to dark on me?

Even when the sky’s on fire 

After a warm baked summer’s day

How cannot the entendant joy 

Well keep the doubt at bay?

When there’s life in every pore…

So rich in loves galore…

Gentle breeze and deep blue seas do woo

Look away, see a sure-path, well-lit for you!

From my desktop Grahame j Flynn Views in Verse

Hiatus - Views in Verse on change

Change is sometimes nice, sometimes optional, sometimes necessary. The latter is often hard and can be met with fear, denial and procrastination...

Hiatus

Many a slip 
twixt cup and lip
Many ways,
To rise and fall.
Yet, it seems
I've surrendered to a lock-step
A promise of tomorrow,
Simply decided, not to call

What is it...
that shapes our intention?
A hitch-hikers guide...
Designed to amplify?
When all that's left
Unanswered
Of today's tough questions
Is a need for us to clarify...

How to evaluate a failing road...?
Does the chicken
Always make it
To the other side?
Is it ok...
When ugly's smugly smiling?
To simply shrug, shut down
And stay inside?

Next steps can be hard
Given the road you've taken
Got you safe
To where you are today.
While the wondrous maze
We wake up to each morn'
Can leave some: bereft, unmoved, perplexed
With stubborn feet of clay.

The philosophers, lots of them,
Might have some answers
If only we, the will,
Their message to translate.
Suggesting a new perspective
May be all that is needed
To see beyond the troll,
Imagined, standing by the gate.

Some people swear
by their own religion
To advance clear thinking
It can without doubt be said;
While a soldier might, simply, resolutely
Whisper in the ear:
"Get up early, face the day,
...and make the bed."

From my desktop Grahame J Flynn Views in Verse

Views in Verse on youth mental health

Get Behind Youth Mental Health 

The North Ryde Fun Run is on Sunday 19 October 2014 from 9am to 2pm at the Macquarie University Sport Fields, corner of Culloden and Talavera Roads, Macquarie Park. 

It is a community event organised by the Rotary Club of North Ryde, with venue partner Macquarie University. It is for fun walkers and runners, not for professionals.

The proceeds go to Australian Rotary Health to fund research into youth mental health and treatment programs. Why not join in the fun to raise awareness and some money.

It is important to care for the mental health of our young people. Between 2-5% of young people will suffer from anxiety. Young children with anxiety are 3-5 times more likely to develop teenage depression.Only $10 to enter see our entry form here!

Dark Reptiles

Dawn breaks bitter light

Stirring stone refuge once more

intruding again on broken sleep

Red eyes stare down the door

Movement doesn't come easy

Reticent to leave the source

Where can one go to find refuge?

Fate steer me that safer course 

Inviting faces challenge the mask

The now freeing frame distracts

As routine brings timely release

In hiding the guarded facts

How can I improve  my position here?

Can warmth not ease the doubt?

As the stalking dog ...he pads nearby

He's always, always, about.

Over the shoulder a shadow looms

night can't be far away...

Bent in regression a constant curse; 

Call dark to shroud the day!

So bring me sleep to salve my life

In an all too brief reprieve

The gloom closes in yet sleep does not come

the subconscious defying the need

Where do you go; where do you go?

To escape this moribund place

Waiting for heat 

from much needed sun 

with a gripped gnarling face

   

epilogue:

    The ones that I love

    They take good care

    They know the struggle in me

    The ones that I love

    They know me well but

    Their love can't set me free

Forwarded from my I pad - Grahame J Flynn

Views in verse - Batyr a new voice for depression in young people

A new place to go for young people 

facing depression - www.batyr.com.au




I was delighted to incidentally take part in a presentation by the CEO of Batyr last week as part of an industry function I was attending. The segment recognised the volunteer work done by many people who had built a new empowering webpage for this splendid innovation for Australian youth:


BATYR AIMS TO ENGAGE, EDUCATE AND EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES BY FOSTERING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE  TALKING ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND SEEKING HELP IS NOT ONLY ACCEPTED, BUT IS ENCOURAGED AND SUPPORTED.

The programs connect secondary and tertiary students with young speakers who have successfully managed a social or mental health experience. We educate students about the support networks and systems available to them and empower students to reach out for help when they need it.

Despite 1 in 4 young people suffering a mental health issue by the end of adolescence, mental health issues are not openly discussed and remain the ’elephant in the room’.  Mental ill health holds a stigma that prevents open and frank exchanges and ultimately is a barrier to young people getting the help they need. Batyr speakers share their life experiences of issues such as depression, suicide, anxiety, stress, sexual assault, eating disorders, bullying and personal health.  They discuss the first hand benefits of reaching out, what avenues of support helped them and show students they are not alone and help is always available.

We use the four steps Look, Listen, Talk and Seek Help -as a simple way of educating students on what they can do for themselves or a friend they are worried about.  It’s about looking for changes in behaviour, the importance of listening to the person dealing with an issue, how to talk with them and where they can seek help when they need it.

Comment:

Where the Beyond Blue has great awareness with the adult population these wonderful folk have seen the screaming need for a service targetted at young people so that they not only know where to go ...but that they will be encouraged to go there!

Congratulations to all those who helped and to the founders of Batyr for persevering in a realm that receives precious little recognition - let alone support.

Dark Reptiles

Dawn breaks bitter light

Stirring stone refuge once more

intruding again on broken sleep

Red eyes stare down the door

Movement doesn't come easy

Reticent to leave the source

Where can one go to find refuge?

Fate steer me that safer course 

Inviting faces challenge the mask

The now freeing frame distracts

As routine brings timely release

In hiding the guarded facts

How can I improve  my position here?

Can warmth not ease the doubt?

As the stalking dog ...he pads nearby

He's always, always, about.

Over the shoulder a shadow looms

night can't be far away...

Bent in regression a constant curse; 

Call dark to shroud the day!

So bring me sleep to salve my life

In an all too brief reprieve

The gloom closes in yet sleep does not come

the subconscious defying the need

Where do you go; where do you go?

To escape this moribund place
Waiting for heat 
from much needed sun 
with a gripped gnarling face

   
epilogue:

    The ones that I love

    They take good care

    They know the struggle in me

    The ones that I love

    They know me well but

    Their love can't set me free


Forwarded from my I pad - Grahame J Flynn

Views in verse on 'reawakening'

I caught up with a documentary on Michael Hutchence recently. A sad refrain indeed.

Such a tragedy to see people who have enough financially in life to do with whatever they want, instead surrender who they are (and all they hold dear) to 'a lifestyle'. Flashy, indulgent and ...deadly.

Where does one go after playing to stadium crowds? Normalisation? Appreciation?

On a much smaller scale however we can all of course face similar challenges in our lives. Is there a way back?

Well there is ...but one has to first want to find the path. And go it alone...

VENICE

She came to Venice ancient city

Seeking shelter from her seas

Throwing wide her troubled life

To new discovery

Questions of the past

To find some answers for today

Seeking reawakening...

And staving off decay

Stepping into St Marc's Square

The rain came belting down

She was wetted fully through 

once she'd made her way cross town

A fresh baptism was to be

The ideal starting place

For this private quest

This pilgrimage...

This enchanted chase

Sad lady open up 

your stone shutters

Your face is

Beautiful to see

Mystical city

Flint hard through the years

Give up your mysteries to me

She searched all round for insight

Especially of the old

As she moved through the crowds

each passing day

A boatman gave her wonder

of a culture pure and true 

As they paddled off in song

Around the bay

But the town guides were more

in tune with their buildings

that stood so stoically in line

They spoke in detail 

of the history there to see 

the secret to

the passion there enshrined

Sad lady open up

your stone shutters

Your face is

Beautiful to see

Mystical city

Flint hard through the years

Give up your mysteries to me

The black gondola stealing 

through the walled canyons 

Drew images 

of deepest treachery

While the fog of narrow alleyways

Asked so many questions 

About how closed

you really want your life to be

But the stories that

she heard were mainly 

comfort to her cause

As she sought to draw the

secrets from within

And the kindly folk

she came to know from it all

stood tall amongst

their finery and sin

Sad lady open up 

your stone shutters

Your face is

Beautiful to see

Mystical city

Flint hard through the years

Give up your mysteries to me

She waved goodbye to Venezia

From beneath the sacred domes 

A morning mist 

Near lifted from the mire

The dull tones 

she had seen from the first

Gave way to dancing colours 

from a spire

At this moment she knew that 

the Lady had touched her

In wresting her pain

from deep within

The gift so gently offered 

was gratefully taken

As the rain again

played gently on her skin

Sad lady open up 

your stone shutters

Your face is

Beautiful to see

Mystical city

Flint hard through the years

Thank you for your 

Truth and dignity...

You have given back

the woman that is me

Forwarded from my I phone - Grahame J Flynn

Ian Thorpe - our great champion - faces new challenges in his life - let's give him every support

Views in verse on depression.  


Ian Thorpe's family and friends have today advised that he has been fighting a long battle with depression and related alcohol issues. It appears that he has been admitted to a specialist clinic for treatment. Well done to all involved for calling it out. 

One can only hope that this great Australian Olympic champion can attack this threat to his well-being with the same energy and zeal that has typified his life to-date as we know it.

Hang in there champ ...everyone is with you! Lift your head, just for a moment, to see.

Dark Reptiles

Dawn breaks bitter light

Stirring stone refuge once more

intruding again on broken sleep

Red eyes stare down the door

Movement doesn't come easy

Reticent to leave the source

Where can one go to find refuge?

Fate steer me that safer course 

Inviting faces challenge the mask

The now freeing frame distracts

As routine brings timely release

In hiding the guarded facts

How can I improve  my position here?

Can warmth not ease the doubt?

As the stalking dog ...he pads nearby

He's always, always, about.

Over the shoulder a shadow looms

night can't be far away...

Bent in regression a constant curse; 

Call dark to shroud the day!

So bring me sleep to salve my life

In an all too brief reprieve

The gloom closes in yet sleep does not come

the subconscious defying the need

Where do you go; where do you go?

To escape this moribund place
Waiting for heat 
from much needed sun 
with a gripped gnarling face

   
epilogue:

    The ones that I love

    They take good care

    They know the struggle in me

    The ones that I love

    They know me well but

    Their love can't set me free

Forwarded from my I pad - Grahame J Flynn

On caring for wayward ones...

Views in Verse - on depression. 


On caring for wayward ones...







We focus a lot of attention in fine tuning the behaviours of elite sportsman; people who should seriously know better. Drawn out stories about how difficult they are finding life in the spotlight.

Perhaps it's time we should start giving a thought to the thousands of much more deserving cases out there who simply cannot master living in peace with themselves let alone with all the rest of us.

Dark Reptiles

Dawn breaks bitter light

Stirring stone refuge once more

intruding again on broken sleep

Red eyes stare down the door

Movement doesn't come easy

Reticent to leave the source

Where can one go to find refuge?

Fate steer me that safer course 

Inviting faces challenge the mask

The now freeing frame distracts

As routine brings timely release

In hiding the guarded facts

How can I improve  my position here?

Can warmth not ease the doubt?

As the stalking dog ...he pads nearby

He's always, always, about...

Over the shoulder a shadow looms

night can't be far away...

Bent in regression a constant curse; 

Call dark to shroud the day!

So bring me sleep to salve my life

In an all too brief reprieve

The gloom closes in yet sleep does not come

the subconscious defying the need

Where do you go; where do you go?

To escape this moribund place
Waiting for heat 
from much needed sun 
with a gripped gnarling face
   epilogue:

    The ones that I love

    They take good care

    They know the struggle in me

    The ones that I love

    They know me well but

    Their love can't set me free

Forwarded from my I pad - Grahame J Flynn