En.Citatepedia^®.ro

Two Strangers

In 1958, I last saw someone
whom would disappear from my life
until December 2006.
Our meeting was not face to face,
but across the internet.
Three cheers for technology.
She recognised me from an old school photo
it was not until I saw the class photo
after she pointed out herself
that I did recognise who she was.
For countless years you see,
I thought of her under a different name
which why I did not recognise her straight away.
The New Year came and we talked
about how our lives in the intervening years.
She introduced me to a friend
whom did the same thing as me - write.
At first, I was confused
and within our correspondence,
my confusion did show.
I gave out so many mixed signals
that I shudder to think at what she thought.
Slowly as time passed,
I grew more admiration for these two strangers
who suddenly entered into my life
and they became firm friends.
Years before I had given up on writing,
the one thing that I did best.
Like two earth angels,
they lifted me and carried me though
to a new chapter in my life.
The names of these two angels
are Suzanne Gaddess and Melvina Germain.
Between them both,
they gave me friendship
and much, much more.
They dragged me from the pit of despair
and showed me the right road to take.
I have never looked back since,
well only occasionally
to make sure my two loving friends are still there.
In 2009, I plan to meet them
and give each some great big hugs
to these two wonderful strangers
I met across the internet.
14 November 2008

poem by David Harris
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For Suzy With Love

For Suzanne

This is a true account of what happen to me in 2006 and 2007.

In 1958, there was a girl in my class at school.
Who would many; many years later turn my life around.
We didn’t talk much socially at school;
in fact, we were virtually strangers.
Yet here we are living thousands of miles away
from each other now and we are very good friends.
She found me adrift on the internet one day in December 2006.
At first, I didn’t recognise her name,
but when I saw an old school photograph,
I recognised her straight away.
Many happy memories were soon to fill my head.
We got talking through emails
telling how much each of our lives had changed.
It was through these exchanges
she would turn my life around.
She introduced me to a friend of hers in a roundabout way.
That introduction changed my life forever
in ways I could only dream.
Her friend wrote poetry
and I went along to read them on an internet site,
but had to join to comment.
Since then that friend of hers
has become a very good friend of mine to,
so much so I adopted her as my sister.
After joining the poetry site I put up some old poems of mine,
just to show the world how bad I was.
The joke was on me
because they said I was better than I thought.
One thing led to another and more friends I did gain.
However, Suzy still remains someone special to me.
At school, we might have been strangers,
but we are strangers no more.
In fact, now she feels more like part of my family.
Suzy with her friend gave me my life back in many ways.
Sometimes I think back of those dark days
before she caught me adrift on the internet.
This story isn’t over yet, it still has a long way to run.
Next year I plan to meet Suzy and her friend,
and you can bet your bottom dollar
there will be tears hugs and kisses all around.
For those who don’t know whom Suzy’s friend might be,
her name is Melvina Germain
who also means the world to me.
However, Suzy this poem comes from me to you will love.
Thank you my long lost classmate
for all that you have done.

23 October 2008

poem by David Harris
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Written Somewhere (Mini Biography)

My friends are strangers
My family is the world
At one time, I sought fame
Everyone to know my name
Praise for what I did
But as the years came around
No fame there was to be found
So I turned my back on it all
Feeling crushed and insignificantly small

Years folded into one another
And soon became a score
Still I had no wish to return
To find the fame that I so yearned
But fate had a hand for me to play
It said you still had something more to say
An old school friend from a different time
Was sent one day when I was down
To reconnect and turn my life around

At first it did not dawn on me
That our meeting was meant to be
And my life was to change so dramatically
We talked through emails
About the lives, we had both lead
Suzanne said she had a friend and told me her name
That I should read her poems online
That friend, Melvina Germain, would also become a friend of mine
And set me on a return road of an earlier time

I joined the site where her poems were
And in a few short months, I was overwhelmed
I had something I had always dreamed for
I had a family of the world
The fame I so dearly sought to find
Where friends came along and read the work of mine
It made my heart pump faster and put zest into my life again
I would never want for anything
I had all the friends and fame
I ever wanted and more

16 April 2007

poem by David Harris
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Friends With Unseen Faces

'This is dedicated to Suzanne, Melvina, Alison and Francesca. My friends with unseen faces.'

For years my work lay hidden.
Gathering dust on my shelf.
Then came a chance encounter.
From a past half forgotten.
A voice across the internet.
A conversation was taken.
An introduction was made.
A new voice who sounded my praise.
Soon there was another and another.
From different parts of the world.
Four ladies who have helped me.
To find myself again.
They are strangers, but friends.
Kindred souls whom I’d never recognise.
If I passed them on the street.
Their words kind and supportive.
Have helped me to my feet.
After a drought of words.
They have rekindled an old flame.
Made me see again.
That my words can bring joy.
Again and again and again.
So to my friends with unseen faces.
A little gift from afar.
Hope you enjoy my praises.
As much as I enjoy yours..
We may never meet face to face.
Unless fate decrees it so.
But just remember wherever you wander.
You have a friend out there.
Who’s face you do not know.

poem by David Harris
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It Happens All The Time

It is strange how sometimes
we can recognise someone instantly
after a distance of years,
yet others we do not recognise at all.
This has happened a number of times to me.
The one I thought I would recognise
I could easily passed them on the street,
yet the ones who are strangers
I recognise instantly.
There is no logic in this,
but it happens all the time.

31 October 2009

poem by David Harris
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For A Very Special Lady Called Melvina

As we travel along our many different roads,
we meet people, sometimes face to face and sometimes not.
They influence us through their words,
and change us in someway.
This poem is written for one such person,
a very special person whose name
is none other than PH’s Melvina Germain.
I’ve often stated that it was through her poetry
that brought me here to PH.
On my arrival, I was very confused,
even poor Mel couldn't read
the mixed signals that I was giving.
However, as the weeks turned into months
her inspiration brought me to my senses,
and after a long absence, I began to write again,
stronger and wiser than before.
However that wasn’t the only thing she gave to me,
though I don’t think she ever realised.
She gave me a greater gift,
which was my faith in God back.
I had lost and was wandering
like a lost and vacant soul.
With the guidance through her writing,
I was soon put back on track, and derailed no more.
She was to give me one more gift,
which I adore her for.
The greatest gift one person can give another,
the gift of friendship.
There is more I would to tell you about her,
but then, this poetic tribute would end up
as a poem without end.
So I am going to end by saying,
Melvina, there are a lot of things
I would never have without you.
You picked me up when I needed it the most.
For that, I will always be in your debt.
Although this poem is not
all that good as it should be.
Please take it anyway
for all the esteem I hold for thee.
God bless you Mel.

(For Melvina Germain/18 August 2007)

poem by David Harris
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Second Chance

Sometimes you never get a second chance
at anything you do.
If one day you do, embrace it
and never let it slip through your fingers
or it will never come to you again.
Now this is my story of the two second chances that I got
and how I embraced them without regret.
The story begins half a century ago when I was a teenager.
I was a very shy boy
and my friends were very few,
especially where the girls were concerned.
No friendships grew there
and all too soon they were gone
without me ever saying a word to them
as I left and set sail for a far distant shore.
Their faces remained with me
through the years in photographs.
The years slipped by so quickly
from teenager to adult hood,
but still those photographs
kept the past alive to me.
Always hoping one day,
I would be able to see them over again.
More years slipped by
and the chances of that happening
became just as remote as could be,
or so I thought.
Then on the 15 December 2006,
I had an internal message on classmates.com
and that is where the first of my two second chances began.
The second came shortly afterwards
when this classmate introduced me to her friend,
whose encouraging words made me take
the second of my second chances
and on the 19th January 2007 I lifted my pen to paper
after six or seven years
and never looked back since then.
Since that date, I have written
one thousand four hundred and twenty eight poems,
a novel and published my first book.
All because of the second chances, I got.
If you are given a second chance
at anything at all,
grasp them with all your might,
never letting them go
because you will probably never get them again.

22-23 November 2008

poem by David Harris
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Eve

Detdicated to Eve Croft
May she Rest In Peace

It was over forty years ago
when I first met her.
I had barely left my teens.
She was older than me;
in fact, she was a friend’s mother.
Divorce had left her lonely
with three sons to bring up.
Life was not easy,
not much time to herself.
Slowly after meeting her,
a friendship between us grew.

To make her life sustainable
I took her out
from time to time.
We held hands at the pictures
and when we went anywhere.
She often worried
what people would think of me.
I didn’t really care what people thought.
Eve was a friend
and there was nothing more to be said.

For the next couple of years
our friendship never wavered.
We would hug and smile
whenever we did meet.
There was never any romance involved,
we were just very good friends.

I never forget when she had an offer
to move in with someone.
She was so worried
that I would think badly of her.
She was almost in tears
when she told me his proposition.
I put my arm around her shoulder
and reassured her it was all right.
That our friendship would never diminish
regardless what she did.

Sadly, her going away
was never meant to be.
She fell ill with cancer
and went to live with her sister
who would care for her.
It was the last time
I was ever to see her.

It was a few years later
I bumped into her eldest son.
When I asked him about his mum
he looked at me strangely
with tears holding back I his eyes.
She died I thought you knew.
I said that I didn’t.

He said he couldn’t stop
as he had a bus to catch,
and then he was gone.
With head bowed, I turned away
and started walking home.
Tears leaked from my eyes
making small lines across my cheeks.
My regret then and will always be
that I never had a chance
to say a proper goodbye.

1 January 2008

poem by David Harris
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New Friends

Everyone I meet as I walk through life,
I take to my heart as a friend.
I try not to make enemies
out of anyone I meet.
Friendship means a lot to me.
Some people say I walk with angels.
I am not so sure about that.
What I am sure of
is that I walk with friends
wherever I may go.
My arms are always open
to help and greet any stranger
that I may meet.
The world to me is filled with strangers
I have yet to know.
Strangers who will become,
another new friend
when we chance to meet.

poem by David Harris
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A Discarded Dream

A life in writing is all I wanted
I watched other friends reach
pinnacles I could only dream about.
Their writing shone
like bright stars
as mine just gathered dust.
Rejected time and time again
The more I wrote
The more the rejections grew,
until in the end I looked at what I had
and the years I for-fitted
searching, scrambling for a dream

Every glimmer of hope,
and there were plenty
seemed to crumble
and like sand slip through my fingers.
In the end after my mentor and friend died.
The only person to encourage me
when I was filled with despair
something within in me died as well.

I looked back at what I called
all those wasted years.
I then gave up the one thing
that gave my life some meaning.
Discarded it as a child would a broken toy.
The dream I had was broken,
un-repairable so I thought.
I declined to be a nobody
without any future promised land.
Giving up without even taking a stand.

The years tumbled by
and I found much to my surprise
there was no longing left within my eyes.
The faith I had in myself
also died a lonely death.
The love for what I wanted to do
withered without repair.
I put my pen down
I swore for the last time.
No more would I pursue the dream
that had consumed me

Therefore, down the road
I went swearing never to return.
For years that promise I kept.
The fire flickered and dimmed,
but somehow never died
for deep within the embers
a small flame still flickered alive.
A chance encounter,
a request to read someone else’s work
and comment of two was enough.

To ignite the flame
to burn brighter than before.
Awakening a dormant dream
that had been cast aside.
The dream then flourished
with no ending in sight.
Everyday it awakens more.
Therefore, for those who read
what happen to me
don’t discard your hopes and dreams,
for one day you’ll turn a corner
and those dreams will come true.

9 January 2008

poem by David Harris
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My Canadian Chronicles 002

It was instant recognition
We just looked at one another
and instantly the years melted away.
With open arms, we hugged
neither wanting to let go.
A wonderful sensation
and then the talking began.

7 June 2009

Author’s Note: This depicted the first meeting at the airport of a classmate Suzanne Gaddess after 51 years.

poem by David Harris
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When The Running Stops

When the Running Stops

In the enclose, outside the slaughterhouse, sheep were running in rings,
first to the left, and then to the right; in the end there was only one left
and it was too tired to run. I have lost two more friends, feel as I’m
the only sheep left in the enclosure and too tired to run. Heartache and
fun, we had it all in our adolescence. Then our way parted, but you never
forget a childhood friend.
Two years ago I was going to see them, a reunion of school friends going
back fifty years. In the end I didn’t go, knew we would talk a lot first then
fall silent. What we remembered was our friendship then and the past is
another country, as the poet says.
I knew the chasm of years could not be bridged, over meal and too much
wine. One of my friends sent me a photo of the party, a group of old men
I would have walked past in the street and not recognized any of them.
I put the photo up on the wall in my office, but soon took it down again.
Time is a cruel enemy I cry for them and me.

poem by Oskar Hansen
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Happy Friendship-Day,2009

Let friends in life be few but firm;
Let all those few be thick and great;
Let friendship good last for life-time,
And be a satisfying one!

Let friends be precious and worthwhile;
Let friendship grow and stay ev’r-green;
Let friends become true role-models,
And guide our life on earth nobly!

Let friends hold us spell-bound in life;
Let friends share joys and grief as well;
Let friendship’s sway make us better,
And give us moments to be proud!

Let friends be part of earthly lives;
Let friendship stay a boon, not bane;
Let friends be inseparable,
And be like angel guardians dear!

Let friendship fill the world with love,
And dispel gloom and solitude;
Let friends be more than siblings born,
And make our life on earth fruitful!

Let friendship glue a hearty bond;
Let friends bring godliness in life;
Let friendliness perfume the world,
And make our earthly lives worthwhile!

Let love turn foes to be like friends;
Let friends make earth a paradise;
Let friendliness rule hearts and minds,
And fix our gaze to God above!

Copyright by Dr John Celes 8-1-2009

poem by John Celes
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In Loving Memory

A long time ago,1976 to be exact
a friend said I should go along
to a writing class he had joined.
Therefore, I did and met someone,
who was to change my life.
However, I did not know it at the time.
For the first couple of years he was simply my tutor.

However, as the years rolled on,
he became my mentor,
and most of all my friend.
For every year, we knew one another
the friendship grew stronger than before.
Before I met Maurice,
he had published four novels
and I have every one.

He started with A City Called Holy,
next came The Splendour and the Havoc,
and then The World and the Flesh,
and finally Across the Frontier.
He also wrote plays,
produced, directed and acted
in them with his wife Peggy.
When I met him his books
were out of print,
but through the years,
I found them one by one.

After a friendship that lasted
over seventeen years Maurice died.
However just before he passed away,
he told me how his local library
had approached him, wanting to know
if he had any copies of his books,
as they only had one left.
He did not and felt sadly about that.
As he told me, I made a promise to myself.

Not matter how long it took,
or how much it would cost,
his local library would have,
those books of his they did not have.
More than ten years passed from the time of his death,
until I was finally able to fulfil my promise.
I collected through the years
the books the library was missing.
In January 2006, I presented them to his local library.

It was a way of saluting a special friend,
helping keep his name alive.
I did it because of the special gifts,
through the years he gave me.
His friendship, his knowledge and help
with my writing no one had ever given before.
Therefore, any success
that I may ever achieve
can be contributed to him.
A gentleman of words,
my tutor, my mentor,
and lastly a very kind and special friend.

(For the late Maurice Callard)

poem by David Harris
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The Legacy Of Love

Before the day my parents met
And love was found within
And their romance was firmly set
So they would not give in,
The Lord knew I was soon to be,
His heritage of love,
The firstborn of the ones born free,
Each granted grace enough...

Before the day I went to school,
Eleven years to learn,
I knew that life was kind and cruel,
Their lessons to discern...
I faced exams like others did,
With mixed results I passed...
So what? For I was just a kid,
Till I left school at last...

Before the day I went to work,
To earn a daily crust,
Here was the chance I could not shirk,
The chance to prove their trust...
So years passed by, with small reward,
A pittance, nothing more,
Until the day I found the Lord
Who showed what life was for...

Before my life had run its course,
I preached the Word for years,
About God's Prophets and God's Laws
To open hearts and ears...
But nothing moves me quite as much
As this one certainty,
God grants to me His loving touch
When people pray for me...

Before I leave this world behind,
Its destiny to face,
I thank those people who were kind
My problems to embrace...
They gave me strength to help me cope,
They prayed by day and night...
To these I leave the words of hope
I write and write and write...

poem by Denis Martindale
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A Reflection Of A Life

Many years ago,
I was trying to pull my life together,
trying to figure out who I really was.
I had left what few friends I had,
moved across to a land of strangers
which was to become my home.
My insecurities robbed me
of all the best chances
that ever came my way,
leaving me adrift with all my inner fears.
Even as I grew older those fears were always present
and never released their grip on me.
I escaped from one bad domain to another,
the second wanted to stifle
every once of creativity.
Every road I took met a dead end,
friends became less and less
until there were none I could ever count upon.
Now I feel lonely within everything I do.
I guess that is the way that I will feel
until my life is through.

17 November 2008

poem by David Harris
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We Knew But Didn’t Know

Occasionally people come into our lives,
people we knew but didn’t know.
We knew them from our early years
before life sent us in different directions.
Years would pass before we met again
with this person we knew but didn’t know.
The passing years had changed us both,
wiser but strangers no less.
In the exchanges that follows a friendship grows.
A friendship that was never there before
with this person we knew but didn’t know.
Everything happens for a reason
and the reason is not for us to know.
In meeting it changes us, ignites a flame within,
a flame of caring given a chance should have been.
Now in maturity we get to know that person
we knew but didn’t know.
What the future holds is as uncertain as tomorrow,
but we walk towards it with this friend,
a person we knew but didn’t know.

27 March 2009

poem by David Harris
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A Personal Journey

If someone had told me years ago,
poetry would make my name.
I would have politely smiled
and nodded yes,
and not believed a word of it.
I remember once
attending a poetry reading
and calmly getting up
and declaring I was not a poet,
and then wondered why everyone laughed.
They must have realised something
I did not know
that in fact, I was a poet,
of course, that was a long time ago,
and much waters
have crossed under the bridge of my life.
The doodles I once called poems
were in fact poems after all.
Some were much better
than I could ever dream of.
It took me a long time
and the internet to realise that fact.
Now I have started a new dawn
within my writing career,
taken steps down roads
I never thought I would go.
The journey has not been unmarked,
as I have gained so much more
than just becoming recognised as a writer.
I have gained so many friends across the world.
Something I could have only dreamed about
in my younger years.

17 April 2008

poem by David Harris
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On Seeing A Photograph

A photo of an ageing face stirs an old memory
He is plainly not a shadow of the man he used to be
His balding head is hoary gray his hair it was dark brown
When we played football as teenagers in the park in our Hometown.

He was a sprightly youth back then two years younger than I
On looking back the decades the years just seemed to fly
He played football worked in the fields and walked miles every day
But like me he seems the worst for wear the years have left us gray.

Perhaps we would be strangers now if by chance we did meet
We might not recognize each other in passing on the street
We age a little every day time of us all takes care
And leaves us looking in the end the very worst for wear.

A photograph of one I knew from many years ago
And he has aged as I have aged time on us all does show
We played football together when we were near to our life's prime
But in the end we all lose out to ageless father time.

poem by Francis Duggan
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Just Another Moment

There he is, crossing the road,
very slowly, walking away from me.

I recognise his back, the way he walks,
his smart clothes, his elegant stride.

Once we were face to face,
united together in an embrace,
which was so powerful, filled with such desire.

Now we are no longer face to face.
All that remains is a back view,
a totally blank view.

Memories come flooding back,
I feel a pain so intense, causing an emptiness within me,
that will never go away.

And as I look towards him,
he is suddenly engulfed by a crowd of shoppers.

A faceless body, disappearing in among other faceless bodies,
and I can see him no more.

Thus, this moment becomes 'just another moment', woven into my heart,
and, into the 'photo album' of my life.

poem by Ernestine Northover
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Strangers Eyes

All alone, a rainy night
No one around but I fell someone watching me
I look around, the street is bare nobody there
I wonder what it could be
As I turned to walk away
Suddenly I saw his face
Never minding that we were alone
Didnt care about the time, at the moment I was felling fine
I was looking into strangers eyes
(he caught me by surprise)
They looked right through me
(he looking into my eyes)
Never knew
Never, ever thought that love could be
(thats when he came)
He came and captured me
Like a scene out of a dream, I cant believe it
Kind of strange and familiar
But in his eyes I get a sign, I get a feeling
I get the feeling he knows me
Maybe I could stay a while, maybe I could make you smile
I dont have much to do
Maybe we could walk awhile
Maybe, maybe we could talk awhile
Cant help looking into strangers eyes
I was looking into strangers eyes
(he caught me by surprise)
They looked right through me
(he looked into my eyes)
Never knew
Never, ever thought that love could be
(thats when he came)
He came and captured me
How was I to know this would happen
Thought I didnt know I would meet this stranger
Its the kind of thing that dreams are made of
And I keep thinking about strangers eyes
I was looking into strangers eyes
(he caught me by surprise)
They looked right through me
(he looked into my eyes)
Never knew
Never, ever thought that love could be
(thats when he came to me)
He came and captured me

song performed by by Vanessa Williams
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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