Poems by John Peter Read

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.

Spring,summer,winter and fall,
the seasons of change
greet one and all.

For as in life,
they'll be many a storm.
Life's seasons change
the moment we're born.

Clouds will appear
every once in awhile.
From a cold winter chill
to a warm summer smile.

In our lives like the seasons
they'll be many a fall.
We have to prepare
to answer the call.

But in the end
our troubles will wain.
When the sun bows its head
and shines once again.

Those Christmases of old
were much better by far.
We never had much money,
but we always got by.

No expensive gifts
just little things.
A Christmas stocking
a drum made of tin.

A jigsaw puzzle
my mum helped me complete,
A plastic gun,
golden coins that were sweets.

A few new pennies,
a coloring book
That my Nan filled in,
so I never got a look.

Now sadly today
the mystery has gone.
Christmas starts in August
and goes on and on.

Gone is the magic,
the expectation the surprise.
Christmas is big business,
it's become too commercialized.

As life unravels,be brave and bold,
Never criticise,neither grudges hold.
Live in harmony,with your fellow man,
Following nature,as our lord planned.

Always listen,far more than you speak,
Avoid all rumours,for it's truth that you seek.
When others criticise,and do you wrong,
It's forgiveness itself,that makes you strong.

Possessions are worthless,it's your inner self,
Family and loved ones,are your true wealth.
Let go of the past,and what else is to come,
Live for the moment,before it has gone.

As we journey,along life's twisting road,
They'll be many things,we cannot control.
Stick to your path,do not go astray,
Every obstacle you encounter,becomes the way.

Positive thinking,no negative thoughts,
The more you listen,the more your taught.
A Stoic person,is one  of a kind,
Gentle at heart,yet strong in mind.

God I love you with all my heart
your in everything I see.
Your the stars that shine
the sun the moon
the oceans and the seas.

Your the rain the snow
your the wind that blows
your the cloud that passes by.
Your the thunderstorm
a cool breeze when it's warm
your that rainbow in the sky.

Every flower that blooms
every living thing
all creatures great and small.
Your my one true friend
my life my spirit
your the love inside my soul.

I've washed my hands of religion
rather than let it brainwash me.
I'm no longer a prisoner being held captive
by those bars of lies and deceit.

Religions build walls to divide us
holding God hostage is their way
Preaching the only way to heaven
is too believe in everything they say.

But I'm no longer a prisoner of religion
my mind has been set free.
I believe in goodness and spiritual love
and that God resides in me.

In the silence of twilight
When ghostly whispers unfold.
Thoughts fill my head
From days of long ago.

Dreams I once used to cherish
Fell like petals at dawn.
The present has lost all meaning
Leaving me feeling lost and forlorn.

Familiar echoes of laughter
Once filled the cool night air.
Now there's just an empty silence
How I wish you were still here.

Awareness is wisdom
were truth wears a crown.
Where freedom is born
and lies make no sound.

Where whispers of deceit
vanish into the night.
Where fairness and justice
truly see the light.

The man in the Moon
looks down at the earth
and bows his head in shame.

Witnessing earths destruction
by human hands
a world led by the insane.

He knows it won't be long
before our earth has gone
then who are we to blame.

When the man in the moon
looks down for the last time
at a world that died in shame.

Through life we walk a tightrope
between the present and the past.
Our lives hang in the balance
and there is no going back.

Every journey we make is uncertain
we may fall and hit the ground.
No one knows their fate or fortune
our destiny is in our lord's hands.

Our past cannot be edited
forgotten erased or changed.
It can only be accepted
for we cannot go back again.

We must leave the past behind us
let nothing weigh you down.
Treating everyday as a gift
for the moment is all we have.