Reach for the Stars

By Robert Stevens

Everyone has a story. Every person experiences the ups and downs, the happiness and the heartbreak that weave together to make up life. However, so many interesting tales go untold. Within these pages you’ll find tales from all walks of life from across the emotional spectrum, all told through verse. This poet has taken the opportunity to

• Language: English
• Publisher: Book Printing UK
• Release date: Jan 5, 2018
• ISBN: 9781911596462

Book preview

STAIRWAY TO THE STARS

There is a stairway to the stars

which only lovers tread

each step so wonderful to feel

delight each height ahead

And all who tread this stairway

are sure to find happiness

as hand in hand they find their way

it begins with togetherness

So all you need is someone

who knows the way to the stars

who touches your heart, this is the start

of the stairway to the stars

SOFTLY

Softly, softly speak to me

hold my hand so tenderly

tell my heart what it must do

to fall in love with you

Whisper, whisper in my ear

tell me just how much you care

and would the love and joy be true

to fall in love with you

Through the years I know we’ll be

always together indefinitely

fate joined us together it is true

to fall in love with you

OUTSIDE

I often envy luckier folk

who drink together, enjoy a joke

such friendship can be hard to get

when a night is cold dark and wet

on the outside looking in

I visit dancehalls bright and gay

where many pass the time of day

yet in all this bustling throng

I am alone, join in no song

on the outside looking in

There seems a veil around my heart

which will not give me any part

of other people’s happiness

its vigil keeps lest I forget

I’m outside looking in

MY DAD

My dad was a soldier in the trenches

of WW1, I was there with him when

the whistle blew

and he went over

the top

no time to think

of why

you know it’s bloody

do or die

bullets and shells

everywhere

the firing was heavy

as we struggled through

the mud

the bullets don’t hit you

and you know they should

are we winning

just don’t know

machine gun fire

again builds up

and takes a heavy toll

the morning mist is gone

then silence comes across

the front

we haven’t broke through again

we slide back past

those who fell in that muddy field

and the many wounded taken

down into the trench again

for a fag and a cup of tea

home

ALONE

I’ve wandered far and searched alone

looking for a place called home

in many lands and many places

the scenes the same with coloured faces

even in a crowded street

never a friendly face I meet

I wonder if eternity

will be the same for such as me

THE STORY AND THE SONG

There is a story and song

which seem to follow me

the story is of loneliness

the song of misery

And no matter how I try

to conquer all my fears

I’ve taught myself inside to cry

I cannot stem the tears

At the end of my story

the ending of my song

is good advice to all in love

pick well but don’t pick wrong

IT

Not always easy

to know what to write

it must be good

it must be right

and let your reader

tag behind

he may be

the nosy kind

and want to know

just what you do

to get your verses

two by two

thinking hard might

pull you through

but then the story

should be true

then take a

look around

and my reader

can’t be found

got the lines

and verses right

then my reader

comes in sight

says more verses

a nice surprise

and added

then it could

be wise

to keep

the day job

A STORY

You can put your

thoughts together

make them shout out loud

it gets your reader reading

and then you can be proud

you are the story teller

so your story must be true

grip and hold your reader

as line by line is read

remember that it must be true

then you’ll have no fear

it could not be otherwise

for you yourself where there

happy endings we all like

are very, very rare

tell him how it ended

the good, the bad, the fear

I think your reader liked it

as he almost shed a tear

MADONNA

She stands in all her glory

with countenance divine

hers the Christmas story

Madonna of the shrine

She knows all our sorrows

our inmost secret thoughts

have faith and your tomorrows

will bring the joy you’ve sought

On her face unhidden

such happiness sublime

all who ask forgiven

Madonna of the shrine

DELUGE

All was quiet and all was still

the sky above now overcast

then thunder roared and lightning flashed

the stygian dark abysmal

Inside the Ark the chosen few

began to praise their God on high

their faith was staunch, their hearts were true

deliverance they knew was nigh

For forty days and forty nights

the storm lashed earth spun into space

as mountain tops sank out of sight

God then forgave the human race

He made the waters cease to flow

he caused the land to reappear

bade Noah and his brethren go

and of me always walk in fear

UNEMPLOYED

On a cold wet winter’s night

in a northern town

I walked in yellow gaslight

four-faced lamps cast down

A picture of dejection

I know not where to turn

for many times rejection

would not permit me earn

Each day the queue grew longer

thousands down at heel

desperate with hunger