COLIN IAN JEFFERY - POEMS

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Colin Ian Jeffery is an established English poet and novelist with a world-wide reputation. His books can be purchased from all good bookshops and Amazon. He is the younger of two sons, Anton his brother, two years older, father and mother, Frank and Betty Jeffery. When Colin was seven, a choirboy, he became entranced by poetry after hearing the twenty-third psalm read in church. The beauty of the words struck his soul like lightning and his Muse began to sing. He found poetry read on the BBC radio Home Service and listened in awe and delight to such poets as Dylan Thomas, John Betjeman, and Ted Hughes.
   

 Song my mother sang


​                         When babe in arms
                           My mother sang to me
                           Soft and lilting
                           Voice precious to my heart.
 
                           Long since gone
                           Beyond sight and touch
                           Grave deep, never woken by tears.
                           With wind’s whispering tones
                           Again I hear her song
                           Touching my soul with a mother’s love.

      Billy

​                            Never speaks
                             Trapped within damaged brain
                              Body twisted, limbs trembling
                              Sitting in hospital yard
                              Humming tunes without melody.
                              Bright soul standing tall
                              Articulate mind intact
                              Singing melodious songs of love
                              Only God and he can hear.

     Young boy at prayer

​      He kneels weeping beside his bed, grieving
      Whispering prayers to God, seeking peace of mind
      Healing for the sadness overwhelming
      Loss that seems too much for the heart to bear.
      Tells of his grandmother, darling Nana
      Dying in a hospice, body ravaged by cancer
      Asks for Divine intervention for her to be received
      Into Heaven, greeted by angels, no longer in pain.  
      Knows he will never forget Nana and her boundless love
      How happy she made him with treats, cuddles and kisses.
      Ends the prayer thanking God for hearing him
      And for him having such loving parents
      Teachers and classmates, and his best friend
      Henry the pug dog, with delightful wagging tail.
 

 Homeless ​

​                      Sheltering against freezing cold
                       Huddled under cardboard in shop doorway
                       Teeth chattering, praying for coming dawn.
                       Penniless and homeless, hungry and thirsty
                       Wondering when he will eat again
                       Hear kind words, given money for food.
 
                       Left home when life became too much
                       With pressures he could not overcome
                       Now pride prevents returning home.
                       Rain falls and midnight hour chimes
                       And thinking of friends and family
                       He weeps for those he left behind.