Winds of Change

By Patrick W Kavanagh

'Winds of Change' is a poet's view of the fringes of society. Tramps and beggars vie with the privileged and powerful to entice us into sharing their experiences. In stories spanning the past, present, and future, almost mythical characters leap from the pages to remind us of those brief moments when the world seemed to have more purpose and possibilities than we normally imagine. 148 pages

• Language: English
• Publisher: Patrick Kavanagh
• Release date: Oct 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215909348

Patrick W Kavanagh

Patrick W Kavanagh began writing after a series of strange experiences which totally changed his perception of the world around him. He began writing inspirational poetry and posting it freely on the internet. Patrick believes that much of what he writes is given to him by various spiritual entities, including the faeries. Both he and his wife Tina travel around Lincolnshire, England, giving demonstrations of shamanic healing and healing with drums. Patrick has been a Tarot reader for over forty years and Tina is an established spiritual medium.

Book preview

Contents

Introduction.               

Winds of Change.            

Why Socialism Does Not Work.            

Westminster Bridge.           

Praying in the Rain.              

Dublin.           

Manchester 2018 ... A true story.         

The Penniless Poet.           

Sentience.           

And so, it Comes Again.          

The Patriot.       

Let them Eat Cake!      

THE BROKEN DRUM.   

A Slaughter of Ravens.      

No One Said It Would Be Easy.     

My Brother.      

Beyond the Ragged Fields.     

Fallen Heroes.     

When Queen Victoria Smiles.         

The Life of Bridget Lewis.          

Who Wounded You?      

Gallows Laughter.      

THE BEGGAR.      

She Believed.      

A Rest from the Road.      

We Will Rise.      

The Busker       

There Are Only People Here.     

Dreamers.    

I Am Ready for The Road.   

Frozen Hearts.     

Why Did You Leave Me?   

A Night by the Telly.   

A POLITE REQUEST TO Parliament.   

Sitting on a Bridge.   

Hey There! I love you!     

Strong and Stable.   

Punch and Judy.     

When We are Old and Wise.

The Transmogrification of Michael Mary Murphy. 

Death of a Capitalist.       

Almost Home.       

The King of the Beggars.     

Just Another Tramp.       

When Revolution Ends.       

ETERNAL LIGHT     

Our Father in the Heavens.     

The Ancient King.       

A.D. 2014.     

The Cost of Freedom.     

The Little Match Girl Revisited.      

Running Away.      

10,000 Homeless Clocks.      

Crags.       

The Final Dusk.       

THE OUTCAST.     

When We Are Gone.       

Be Gentle.       

The Eagle Cries.         

There Is a War.       

Tomorrow.      

Perhaps, I Should Speak No More.       

About the Author.       

Other works by the author.       

Dedication

To Tina Kavanagh

For bringing life, love and wisdom to my weary soul.

Introduction

Just as in ‘real life’ – this book is a mixture of facts, storytelling, reminiscences of our past - and my fears and hopes for our future. Looking at the world around me, it seemed to me that the greatest achievements of the 21st century have also become the greatest challenge to our ability to live peaceful and contented lives. I believe that it is only by every person making individual choices based on empathy and reflection that we will steer our society towards a better future for our children and grandchildren.

Although several of these poems were written when particularly angry at certain short-sighted social policies, I have tried to focus on people and not politics. I listened to many hours of lectures by both left-wing, centralists and right-wing ideologists before editing and assembling these works in order to strip myself of as many assumptions as possible. It is my hope that these stories will both entertain you and challenge any assumptions that you may have about the world which we share.

Patrick W Kavanagh

31/12/2019

Winds of Change.

It seemed as if the world was living on the streets.

Shuttered windows on the empty buildings rattled to the sound of marching feet.

In every doorway filled with sleeping bags and children crying with the cold.

The recently evicted huddled to protect the weakest and the old.

THEY SHUDDERED AS THE screaming rang out from the empty store.

Batons were the punishment for squatters as they dragged them from the broken door.

In these Apocalyptic times, a broken limb could lead to death.

And crying out for mercy was a useless waste of breath.

HOSPITALS WERE FOR the rich and those who cleared the rabble from their path.

Simply being in the way was cause enough to suffer from their homicidal wrath.

Desperate to keep their quarters and their meagre rations for the day.

These evil men would kill and maim without regret to earn their paltry pay.

I WAS ONCE A POET, but I choked one day on my own lies.

I thought the beauty of my words might soften hearts and lead to kinder skies.

But kicked and broken past repair, they threw my battered body here,

And left me bloodied on the street to die in poverty and dark despair.

BLINDED BY THEIR STUDDED boots I thought that I would die.

But gentle hands and gentle voices gave me shelter from the thundering skies.

The sewers were no longer safe, - but soon the rains would end.

And there were always rats enough to stay alive and shelter underground.

THE SEWERS ARE MY KINGDOM now, I navigate by memory and touch.

They see me as a prophet, - these kind beggars who I’ve come to love so much.

They gather weapons every day from careless troops who dare to stray.

We plan, - and steal whatever food we can until the winds of change can blow our way.

Why Socialism Does Not Work.

I DO NOT HAVE A ‘TELLY’. I never watch the news.

I sat with You Tube all last night, to hear some Tory views.

The lectures which I listened to were always going to hurt.

The title of the lectures was, Why Socialism does not work.

JEREMY WAS SITTING there and looking kind of glum.

He never said a single word – I wondered why he’d come.

Socialism is a traffic light to block where we are going!

Social freedom is the way to keep our country growing!

I LISTENED TO THE AWFUL things these people had to say.

I felt my socialist beliefs being slowly stripped away.

They pointed out that London shops were filled with goodies, while in Moscow there were none,

And then insisted this is why their war against the Communists was won.

THE FREEDOM WHICH THEY spoke about seemed such a wondrous thing.

Capital had brought us everything we have from steam to string.

"If he had the money, - the poorest man might live just like a king.