Seeking Self

By Barbara Gurney

Amid the reflective nature of many poems in Seeking Self, there is an expectant joy and delight of an ordinary day. In Barbara Gurney's third poetry collection, the search for oneself is dominant: seeking memories in 'When Leaves Fall', hope in 'And the Pipers Played...' and the strength within ourselves in 'Declaration of Soul'.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Debbie Lee
• Release date: Dec 3, 2020
• ISBN: 9781761090301

Barbara Gurney

Barbara Gurney writes across several genres including short fiction for adults and children and free verse poetry. After over fifteen years of writing and editing a newsletter for a community-based organisation, she joined the Gosnells Writer's Circle in 2008 & Writefree Women’s Writing Group at KSP Writers Centre in 2009. Both groups continue to inspire Barbara to regularly produce poetry and short stories while their encouragement pokes at her ambition to publish a novel. Many of her pieces have been accepted for the groups’ annual anthologies. *Fairies of the Milky Way was accepted in 2009 by Stories for Children Magazine, an American online publisher. *Living Histories, a Western Australia State Government initiative, accepted Barbara’s submissions for both the 2008 & 2009 publications. *Competition success came in October 2009 when Counting of the Stones was awarded a ‘Commendation’. *A short story for children Jake’s New Friend was shortlisted in the Charlotte Duncan Award 2010. *2011 – Shadows of Remembered Dancing, a 267 word story was awarded Highly Recommended in Scribblegum’s Gum Leaves Competition. *2012 - Honourable Mention for 'Honest People' Golden Wattle Writing Competition. *2012 - First Prize for "Purple". Yarram Community Learning Centre Annual Literary Competition. *2012 - First Prize for "Wide Brown Land". Minlaton Show Literary Award. *Barbara's book of poetry ‘Footprints of a Stranger’ is now available from Ginninderra Press ISBN 978 1 74027 767 9. www.ginninderrapress.com.au In her non-writing life Barbara has been a drummer, bagpiper, swimmer, debt collector and a secretary - amongst other collective nouns. She has two adult children. Her son lives in Prague with his wife and two children, thus giving Barbara a glorious holiday destination with free accommodation. A locally based daughter and son-in-law makes sure she has people to spoil without an airfare being necessary. She is the current Secretary of the Gosnells Writers Circle and a sub-editor of their magazine Showcase, which has been published three times a year since October 2010. Barbara communicates with the overseas contributors and approaches local businesses for paid advertising support. Barbara likes nothing better than to tap away on the computer, creating characters worth remembering and hiding her life experiences in the pages. She finds satisfaction in writing stories for others to enjoy. Based in a southern suburb of Perth, she is supported by her husband Graeme, who has the honour of being the first to hear the latest edition of Barbara’s writing.

Book preview

Seeking Self

Seeking Self

Barbara Gurney

Ginninderra Press

Seeking Self

ISBN 978 1 76109 029 5

Copyright © text Barbara Gurney 2020

Cover: Lorri Lennox

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All rights reserved. No part of this ebook may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the copyright holder. Requests for permission should be sent to the publisher at the address below.

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First published 2020 by

Ginninderra Press

PO Box 3461 Port Adelaide 5015

www.ginninderrapress.com.au

Contents

Seeking Self

Also by Barbara Gurney and published by Ginninderra Press

Seeking Self

Declaration of Soul

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In the centre of where I truly am

I soar above clouds with egotistical applause

Yet sink like a stone on water of rejection

Contented days

Poignant days

With truth

And lies

Revealing nothing

Knowledge of self

Exposed to only me

Shrink Not

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In a slip of time

In a speck of a moment

Life can change

Life will change

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Looking back and valuing those moments

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Or maybe…

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Did the future suffer from

an inopportune raised eyebrow

a shrug of impatience

an unanswered phone call

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Could the future have been altered

with a softer word

a gentle hand on a shoulder

an encouraging smile

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However

regret conquers

brings passion to its knees

brings hope, dreams, desires undone

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Therefore

shrink not from your past decisions

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Instead

change the future

Forest

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