Spotlightonjosielawson

Spotlight On

Josie Lawson

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Introduction by the author

I entertained becoming a Shorelink Community Writer when bumping into Ashley whom I'd met before. At the time, shorelink was new and held in the Hastings Trust; I was already dealing with Ebb & Flow Community Mag (Patron: Lord Brett Reginald McLean) which to my audacity secured me a freelance community column with 'The Argus' newspaper between 1999 - Dec 2003 when they ceased the section.

My profile consists of being published in an internet mag; on a fun page on the website of a Chicago business site - a psalm poem that circulates the world and periodicals in West Sussex; several radio (hospital and public radio shows) and many letters in various newspapers. At one point; back in '93/or '94 I appeared on Meridian news as a poet friend of a sheep. I have been a published poet for many years (as previous names also) and occasionally under pennames). . Shorelink have done a great deal to help my confidences and helped uplift me on occasion. Sometimes I drift my own way though as I have other commitments.

Due to the dec'd 'Lord Tivers' the pink gentleman who owned most of the old town of Hastings - and his introduction and advice I took up open mic performance readings of my poetry. Due to my shyness I was encouraged alot by Justin Rhyme - of the now 'Don't Feed The Poets - with 'Other Words'. I felt quite at home in those days.

Since then, I have continued with different groups including Shorelink.

I have taken a back seat here though at present, as I am dealing with hearing probs and sound levels. Whether I shall return, only the future will tell.

In the meantime; my poetry/writing/journalism can become prolific. Sometimes to the point of waking me from sleep.

I have just included some childhood memories into an anthology compiled by the Hastings Writers Group entitled 'Diamonds'.

I will always be greatful to my tutors of adult education which began in 1979 - It was at this course I was asked what I wanted to do - 'a writer' I said - one tutor said - 'Do you write?' I of course, replied - 'I can't stop' - his answer whether published or not, you are a writer' - thanks goes to him - and tutors along the way - Some mentioned - Ursula - Juliet McCaffery (present - Preston Park Councillor, Brighton) and Robin Mellor - a great thanks from the tutorial I received at Hastings Library in conjunction with the creative centre at Sussex University, Brighton. My poem was chosen for the Hastings area of Pandora Books.

Not only Shorelink; many people have been my stepping stones in life - have encouraged and not passed judgement - I will be forever grateful.

I hope many more would be writers will attempt becoming part of Shorelink.

.............some of my work and a past profile can be found at - http://www.firstbiz.com/index-po.htm (Just for fun)

to go direct - http://www.firstbiz.com/po-mjw.htm

Peace/War

Peace begins with not a thought,

War begins when thoughts occur

Peace are times alone at night

War are times when bombs alight the sky at night.

Peace is peace, when peace occurs,

and thoughts become no more.

First published with Poetry Now www.forwardpress.co.uk

scheduled publication 20.9.2004 Anthology book - The Nature of Emotion

ISBN (softback) 1844608360

Time

The formation of truth evolves

As the music of life portrays its soul

The heart it cries through pain and hurt

And yet, the star of life blossoms and shines.

You smile - when you come to realize

Life is about letting go

You move away into reality

You hear song within your heart

You sense the warmth,

before the hurt can grind

and stop the formation

of truth evolving...

and you smile, and walk that extra mile.

In summer - your heart finds ways

You walk and exercise and sense

the growing passion of life

As the sea flows in its dance.

You can sit in a peaceful cocoon

and hand in hand

Know your heart is true.

You can find, your soul.

Sky Picture

An exciting journey was about to begin

The mountain in the distant sky

Surrounded by a large billowing cloud

White as snow - seemed to call me.

As if by magic, I was drifting through

the sky upon it -

I was heading towards Venezuela in

South America, north of Brazil.

I wondered if I was within a dream,

When out of the blue, a 'turpial' flew by,

Bright, beautiful, yellow, white

and black, a traditional bird of Venezuela.

Whilst it found its way to land beside me

My senses woke, the journey was becoming

extremely exciting.

I loved floating through the sky

I was imagining nothing, just the space of time

Everything, was just a dream.

Leader of the Gang

Birth is a journey into an unknown world

Oblivious to the human, small as a pea in a pod

Emotions with strange gurgly noises

Chapters of life begin. The road of right and wrong -

with an almighty 'Gong'

Birth has begun.

Triumph upon the mighty road - the

disabled journey, detached from mother

and womb

Eyes of sight, not known - hearing sensory

Birth unknown - Speak the child as the journey

finds its way.

Society makes the route - insensible and sullied

And then, the glory of beauty emerges

The child cries deep - and finds a beautiful sleep -

the calm world of Jesus weeps - until she seeks -

By this time, language has emerged

Reading ability taught - individuality

A character built through a man-made world

Takes a great chance - from the introverted swirl.

The journey of chapters find such beauty

Friendships begin - controversy - sometimes with sin

But some, they come forth as magnets -

soul reversing - and then kin.

Happiness after a lifetime of sadness -

from womb to sin - from sin to reality

A moment - when the child can fly like an angel in the sky

To become what she needs to be - an adult - herself to be

A new door opens occasionally

and love is bound in society

A smile - on the kiss of earth

A new sudden birth -

A bond - with grace

A joining of hands together

Life is a journey

It has its ups and its downs

But life is the creativity - where

Souls can reign together

In peace and harmony

For all eternity and Infinity

Life is the journey

The path of right and wrong

where we all learn to become one with another.

and safe....forever.

Prosody, Future History, Poet Maker

Working life of a poet

Is the music of their heart

The story and the smile

That travels history of time.

A solitary moonlit night

Words that climb

No heart-ache

Except reality, that sees

The stars of all time

Sublime to the truth

Working life of a poet

Goes 'boom'

when words appear

So hidden - but emerge

The music of their heart;

That starts - a musical theme

To travel a time-line

Into the library of words unseen

Until they are gone

Where they derive from

But the words are there

Visible -

a poet is only a person born

In reality....

Full Stop

If you think a good thought

Instead of an unhappy thought

If you think a positive thought

Instead of a negative thought

You will help your mind to cope with life

No matter what the circumstances

That beset you.

If you take a full stop

Put it in your mind,

Put it in front of the negatives of your life

Then say , "today will be a happy day."

You will help your mind to cope with life

No matter what the circumstances

That beset you.

You may be wondering why these words are written

They are written for you and me

Take a second, a minute an hour

These are the moments of time that advance

no matter the circumstances.

So as I listen to this myself, I write it for you also

In case you need to think the same.

Life is worth living no matter what

Remember that!

When a Colour is not a Colour

Black is not a colour and yet it

strikes so intelligently with others

It is used in many different forms

Sometimes in the midnight sky.

Black can be the void of a blind persons world

A frightener; and yet an indication

For when sight returns...

Only the blind person knows the difference

and knows the warning has been told.

Black is the beauty of a silhouette

An artist painting set against the colour of the world

Black is the void of a depressive state

but if you strike an imaginery brick

Light appears and happiness returns

Black is not a colour

But strikes beauty when enhanced

against emotion -

against colour

against the light

against the joy in the world

Black is black - it brings back memories

But look forward - for then

It becomes Black Beauty.

I Had a Dream

Many years ago - I found the heart I grew

It was inside my soul, not inside my shoe

I found a warmth, no one could see

Except me; the heart that I knew

- it was not blue

- it was new

It was the heart that I knew

Many years ago - when I found the heart that I grew

Inside a dream that I knew.

I wanted a horse, a beautiful horse

I wanted, to ride, into the sunset, I was a child then

Who'd believe me now? But you know, I found that dream

I was led around a garden, on a horse, by a friend

A friend that knew, I had a dream

She fulfilled that dream, filled the dream,

for me.

I had a dream, that was a dream

and that is why, I told you, I had a dream.

Confidence, Strength and Ability

There's three sensations called confidence, strength and ability

You don't find them until you need them

If you have fear in your mind and debilitate

You will find them, in time, and use them -

if you want too...

Its surprising how stronger you will get

Even if weak in your physical make up

Turn to yourself, and use them

For being oneself, in the world we live in

will enhance, your self-esteem alot

Confidence is the step forward that hides your fear

The fear that shouldn't be there in the first place

Maybe its circumstances, or just shyness

Whatever, use that confidence

and find out, who you are

Strength is the ability to move forward

Self assertiveness of who you should be

Don't let others debilitate you

If they do, then find your confidence, strength and ability

and shrug off the negatives that surround you

Life is about being who you are

Taking the education so wisely intended

To help you move forward with great achievement

You will find out one day; if you really work hard at it

You will be happy, you see, if you take it.

So, what are the sensations that we talk of here

Words to build you into a stronger character

A person hopefully who will be calm

A peaceful person within your self

but able to stand up and be counted.

Yes, the person you were born to be

On this planet we call earth

But always remember one thing

Retaliation is wrong, but an explanation could be right

and I, well, I'm only a person who experienced.

I wrote this three years ago

I reiterate the same today three years later

Many people liked this at a personal development course and had a copy

A Martian

Once upon a time there was

A Martian named Michael Valentine Smith;

He appeared upon my thoughts one day,

and yet seemed only to say,

I am but only a figment of your imagination;

Stirred through a workshop Shorelink Community Writers by the sea.

I sometimes play within the mind,

of Poets by the sea -

I am trying to write a poem similar,

To the 19th century poet/writer Edgar Allan Poe -

But I don't think it is working; what do you say?

I have decided even if not these words have been a limbering up,

Even if they are none the like of The Lake that is a fine works of Edgars,

They must say something, for they are really words, don't you think?

I, Michael Valentine Smith am writing these words, not in the 19th Century, but the 21st Century -

I am writing them through a poet called Josie Lawson of Hastings by the Sea...

Sometimes known as a Shorelink Community Writer, a poet, and even a possible ancester of Charles Dickens...did Edgar know him?

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