Full Moon Rising

Full Moon Rising
Silent Cove. Chance Harbour NB - My back yard.

Saturday, December 15, 2012

AND A CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM



And A Child Shall Lead Them


The softness of a baby’s cheek,
the sweetness of its breath,
are memories that we hold dear
and press upon our breast.

The children - let them cry no more,
but lead them to that open door -
that love shines through in wait for them
as angels they’ll forever spend.

Their purpose there will fill our souls
with love so pure that’s yet untold.
To turn and look upon love’s face,
to touch the world with amazing grace.


They’ll ask  forgiveness for the world,
for  humanity’s hearts to become unfurled ,
from hate, greed and pain -  replaced
with love … and not in vain.

The softness of a baby’s cheek,
the sweetness of its breath,
are memories that we hold dear
and press upon our breast.

“And a child shall lead them.”

God bless the children.

Written by:
Natalie Tapley, December 15th, 2012.


In Memory Of  The Children of Newtown Connecticut U.S.A.
December 14th, 2012 

Upon hearing the news of 27 souls being massacred at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut U.S.A., my first reaction was one of numbness. It took a good hour before the reality hit me and the numbness slowly slipped away and was replaced with an awakening of dread. Dread ...  the darkness of it. The weight of it. It seems to reach inside you and goes straight for the heart. One can physically feel it's grip grow tighter.  The pressure builds until it begins to leak into the stomach and slowly sinks and settles itself there.  For me I am still in that place.  Though now I feel dread's best friend, Pain.

I am a Mother.  I gave birth to, and raised three sons. All three births as unique as the people that they are.  I remember everything about each birth and from the first moment I met them. I remember the softness of their baby pink skin. The warmth of their little bodies against mine.  I remember how vulnerable they looked and felt the passion of protection come over me like a resolve I'd never felt before. Yes, without question I would give my life to protect theirs. Without question ... I would die for them. 

I know that I am not alone and other Mothers and Fathers feel the same.  So how do they live with the reality that their child is gone and there was nothing they could do to change that. They were never coming back, and never is a long time.  The worst realization of living with the fact that you didn't save them.  How will they go on without their babies. To say that my heart aches for these parents and their families is an understatement.  We can only hope and pray that they will somehow find the strength to carry on. I look at my own children - I raised them under the Golden Rule, treat others as you wish to be treated, it's the most important quality to have and will protect and carry you far in life. Without sounding arrogant I do believe that I raised 3 very caring individuals. 

With the Christmas Season now well upon us and celebrations growing near I hope that all will remember these families in their thoughts and prayers. For them Christmas will never be the same, nor ours.  These happenings affect us all whether we want them to or not.  This kind of shock and pain travels far and wide, around the world and touches all who are aware.
I'm thinking that Love can do the same, travel around the world, and touch others along the way ... Love begets love.


To you, dear reader, may the love and joy of the season be with you. Hold your loved ones close, hold them tight.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

Until the next high tide ...

Natalie ...........................

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

FIRST GLANCE




On this day, January 03, 1998.  One of the most important people in my life died in a tragic accident. During a moment of levity, this person fell over 200 meters from a bridge to his death. He was 48 years old. 

We met in July 1983.  Neither of us knew it at the time what a profound affect we were to have in each other's lives - that in itself is another story for another time.  

Have you ever seen paintings that were inspired by someone the artist knew?  Usually in abstract form.  The inspiration comes out in a way that only the artist himself can really understand it. Yet somehow, even though the rest of us don't understand it we still seem to see the beauty that was intended.  It's how the following poem was formed.  He inspired me to write it...one year before he died. 

I'd like to add that 3 hours after his death we were hit with the great ice storm of 1998 .  It had shut down the whole east coast of Canada.  The storm had covered everything in it's path under a layer of thick heavy ice.  It was as though time had stopped - as if life had stopped and Mother Nature herself had fallen into mourning.  Either sides of all the highways are lined with hundreds of miles of forrest and as far as the eye could see the top of every single tree and every single branch stood bent over, their tops touching the gound, as though they were bowing, weighed down under the weight of the ice.  Nature literally frozen in time.   It all seemed strangely fitting somehow.

One thing it didn't stop was his funeral, nor the 1000+ people that showed up to say good-bye.  Some as far away as the other side of the country.  They risked their lives travelling over icy road conditions and downed power lines and trees.  At the church there was standing room only and the hall was full as well.  They even piped the sound of the service outside the building so the people that couldn't be fit inside could stand outside and hear it.  The crowd of over another 100+ people of all ages stood out in the cold, surrounded by a world of ice, to spend one last moment with this man they all loved.

I was asked to sing at his service.  I did as it was the last earthly thing that I could do for him.  It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do in my life.  

He was an exceptional human being - and I don't say that lightly.  Anyone lucky enough to have known him was blessed.  Somehow we all knew that.   Our lives have never been the same since - and never will be. 

For you Tiny - Forever Loved,  Forever Missed.


FIRST GLANCE


Your eyes met mine at first we met
Your hand upon my back.
 


Your skin had roughened to the sun
its kiss upon your breath.


The sea had spun its way with you
the waves ride in your eyes.


The blue fills up the swell of you
a friend along your side.

The shock that's graced upon your head
your strength it anchors naught.


For men who've stood before ye
no greater battle fought.


Your speak dives deep to part the sea
No haven on the brine.

Lo stand do I and breathe before ye
At first your eyes met mine.
 



Until the next high tide............

Natalie