Archive for the ‘Perspectives’ Category
Priceless
My walk today was priceless, my senses fed in full
Blue sky, dusted in white clouds, the sea a clear green hue
I strolled on grass green carpets that led to rocky shore
Saw colours in the landscape that eluded me before
The blossom smelled so sweetly when caught by gentle breeze
It scattered like confetti on the path and round the trees
Prickly yellow gorse was in full bloom on craggy hills
And peaking from behind a rock were golden daffodils
The cackled cry of gulls ahead of me on cliff and wing
And on the beach a colony of seals began to sing
In grunts and barks and snorts, they called and shouted, squealed and wailed
While lounging in clear water and basking on warm shale
A grey head broke the surface and bobbed above the waves
It dived and glided into surf towards the cliffs’ dark caves
I sat alone upon the hill and out to sea I gazed
In awe of my surroundings captivated and amazed
My heart was filled with gratitude I’d found a treasure trove
Of nature’s true magnificence along that rocky cove
© Jacky Leonard 2020
Author’s notes
I’m lucky to have access to stunning scenery and beautiful walks. This is about one such place and was penned following a walk on the Little Orme with my dog Tess.
Don’t
Don’t throw my past at me; it hurts
Not because I’ve done anything particularly bad
But because you and I have something different
I hope I’ve learned by my mistakes and become
A better person because of the few people
Who were very close to me one time
Don’t compare me with people from your past; it’s wrong
I can’t say I won’t do similar things
But please give me the benefit of the doubt
Don’t play games with my feelings; I care
Let’s just take this relationship and make it work
Through communication, honesty, trust and love
© Jacky Leonard
Author’s notes
Relationships can be tricky. Sometimes, it’s difficult to leave your baggage behind and move on. These are my thoughts on the subject.
The world’s a stage
Many come to the theatre
To observe the parts being played
Some leave unaffected by the performance
Others stay to share the experience
Very few will be allowed backstage
When the curtain falls
To see the real person behind the masks
Jacky Leonard © 1982
Author’s notes
This was written as a brief commentary on the personas we present to different people at various times in our lives. How we generally only allow a chosen few people to get close enough to really get to know every facet of us.
The decision
The way out seems so easy when you hurt too much to live
And you think how short a time it takes to die
No more misery or pain, nought to take and nought to give
No decisions to be made no need to lie
You cannot find a single soul to help or understand
Life’s doors are locked and you have lost the key
And so the balance of your life lies there in your own hand
And you hope this day will be the last you see
But please before you take that first step leading to your last
Let me put one question to your aching mind
If this were next year and you could look back upon your past
Would happiness still seem so hard to find
We do not know what lies in store and this can cause us dread
But joy like sorrow comes in many ways
And time will find an answer to the problems in your head
Go forward now and live out all your days
Jacky Leonard and Evie Thomas © 1980
Authors Notes
Written with my cousin Evie, in one of our more serious moments.
Whatever that means
How do you define it, in feelings, thoughts or deeds?
Will you recognise it when the early seeds
Are planted, and your world begins to change
This powerful disorder that can leave you feeling strange
Incongruent emotions, your mind a tangled mess
And patterns of behaviour range from reserved to excess
A rush of pure adrenaline, a stab of searing pain
It will take you to the heavens, crash you back to earth again
And yet you seem conditioned to seek the force unseen
To hear the words “I love you,” whatever it is that means.
© Jacky Leonard
Author’s notes
Love – unfathomable, indefinable, incongruent?
This poem is a tongue in cheek commentary about love, after hearing the words “I love you…whatever that means.”
The Coach’s Challenge
Can I give advice? Can I tell them now?
Some clients seem so clueless about the what and how.
I know just how to help them, there’s things I can suggest
To get them closer to their goals and be their very best.
The problem is I’ve been told that coaching’s non-directive,
I’m supposed to ask them questions, be attentive and objective.
But surely that can’t be right, when I have so much to give;
I could tell them what to do and think and how they ought to live.
So explain to me just one more time why coaches don’t advise?
Particularly as we’re clearly, so brilliant and wise!
Jacky Leonard – © April 2013
Author’s notes
This one was written during a recent Coaching Certificate event in London with The Coaching Academy. Invariably the most asked question from novice or prospective coaches is centred around giving advice. Although it may be framed in various different ways, such as” Can I give advice?” “Would it be OK to suggest options?” “What if I have a really good suggestion?”…etc…you get the idea…it seems to present one of the biggest challenges!