Poems by John Peter Read

I often lie awake at night
While the world is fast asleep
And take a stroll down memory lane
Where ghosts and shadows meet.

I see you in the distance,
I hear you call my name.
And for one moment time stands still
As I hold you once again.

A poem's but a whisper
That lingers on the breeze.
A few unspoken words
Appear like falling leaves.

A tapestry of memories
Dreams that haunt the mind
Jumbled words, scrambled thoughts
Borrowed from the passing of time.

The days fade and die.
The years have flown by.
Loved ones have passed;
Now only memories remain.

Those dreams you once shared,
They still linger there.
Believing in Heaven
You'll meet once again.

My head is full of words
all jumbled up inside.
But when I start to write,
those words don't seem to rhyme.

Yes, it's so annoying
when I'm halfway through a verse.
My mind goes completely blank;
nothing could be worse.

I blame it on my age.
My memory's not the same,
so I'll have to end it here
just in case it goes again.

Take me back to far off lands
where streams and rivers flow.
I want to leave this cold grey town.
It's no longer the one I know.

I've now become a stranger
in this place I once called home.
The friends I loved and grew up with,
some have left while others have passed on.

My life has now taken a detour
from the path I once was on.
It seems I blinked my eyes
and suddenly everything had gone.

So now I'm on my own
and often find myself breaking down
on the highway to nowhere,
endlessly going around and around.

I've never wished for fortunes,
I've always prayed for better things.
I'm happy and contented,
Never wanting to live like a king.

I've never craved for riches.
Why should I waste my time?
Possessions are only borrowed.
All I want is peace of mind.

Money can't buy you happiness
Or make your dreams unfold.
Your loved ones are your wealth,
Not pockets filled with gold.

As long as there's food on the table,
A roof above my head,
I will say thank you, Lord,
My life has truly been blessed.

C- Christmas Day, the church bells ring
H- Holy night, the angels sing
R- Rejoice and praise
I- In Christ our King
S- Sacrificed for all our sins
T- Through faith and love we worship Him.
​M- Merry Christmas, everyone
A- Amen, God bless
S- Share your love, have fun.

God is my Saviour
God is my friend.
God lights my way
Whenever darkness descends.

God is my spirit
God is my soul.
God is love.
God makes my life whole.

​It's such a warming feeling
Being surrounded by Christmas
Expectation fills the air.
The sparkle, the glitter
Presents under the gree
With loved ones our dreams we share.

The sound of Christmas carols
Choirs singing Silent Night.
A time to reflect
And thank God above
As we herald the most holy night.

A time to remember loved ones
Who we have lost along the way.
Grief is a heavy burden
Much more poignant
Come Christmas Day.

As a child I believed in Santa
And that there was a God above.
And as a kid
They never once let me down
Ahh! 
If only they could bring back the ones I love.

All those Christmases spent together
Now a family torn apart.
A home now bathed in silence
With only memories to warm the heart.