No one said it would be easy

No one said it would be easy

No one said it would be easy when the doctor slapped your ass and sent you on your way.
No one said it would be easy when the preacher filled your mind with terror as he spoke of judgement day.
No one said it would be easy as you struggled with the bullying and jeering every day you went to school.
No one said it would be easy when your teachers called you ‘idiot!’ or ‘fool!’

No one said it would be easy when you took a job and earned your first weeks’ pay.
No one said it would be easy when you left the life you knew behind to live in your own way.
No one said it would be easy when the bills poured in and work left little time to rest or laugh and play.
No one said it would be easy, but you knew you’d somehow, someday, find a better way.

No one said it would be easy when you raised a family and first discovered sleepless nights.
No one said it would be easy when the love you knew became an endless line of silences and fights.
No one said it would be easy when your vigour and your strength began to wane.
No one said it would be easy when your body turned into a wrinkled shell beset by aches and pains.

No one said it would be easy, but you lived your life with courage and with pride.
No one said it would be easy, but you always did your best to show your better side.
No one said it would be easy, but each moment of compassion was a burning beacon which you left upon the way.
No one said it would be easy, but you’ve earned your rest and you are free to go or free to stay.

Stay a while, now that you’re free to sit and watch the morning sun arise while others drag themselves into the day with sleepy eyes.
Stay a while to tell your tales and see the look of wonder in the little children’s eyes.
Stay a while, - The world you left behind is yours alone to cherish and to savour every happy memory.
Stay a while,
and share your wisdom,
with a world that’s yet to be…

Patrick W Kavanagh
05/05/2018
Art by Bill Oliver
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My Spirit Sings: Image by Tina KavanaghThe King of the Faeries....

My Spirit Sings: Image by Tina Kavanagh The King of the Faeries. ...: Image by Tina Kavanagh The King of the Faeries. It was actually through my partner, Tina, that I became reacquainted with the Faeri...

The King of the Faeries.

It was actually through my partner, Tina, that I became reacquainted with the Faeries after years of knuckling down to raise a family. I was in a very bad place after the passing of my late wife and did not even want to rise above my depression. Tina dragged me to Cabourne Parva, which is a farm in the Lincolnshire Wolds where they invest in new methods of organic farming and cater for festivals, weddings and various Mind, body and spirit events.

It was a drumming workshop by a local druid, and I was extremely sceptical. The druid, whom I will call Kevin, led us out onto a labyrinth which had been laid out with chalk and white stone on a grassy area. This labyrinth was basically a spiral path which led to the centre and then returned to the outside of the circle.
We took turns to walk the maze while the others drummed in a circle around it. My turn came and I was feeling silly and self-conscious as I drummed my way into the labyrinth.

About one-third of the way in I heard a voice beside my ear. It said one word, - "Laughter!". It was a real voice and outside my head. I was shocked, but just carried on and said nothing to anybody about it. The rest of the day was strange too, but that is another story.

The next day I accidentally smashed a very old piece of china which my late wife had treasured. Instead of my normal angry reaction, I burst into laughter. For several months afterwards everything bad which happened to me provoked laughter instead of anger and it slowly lifted my depression. During this time, I was inspired to write poems and stories about the faeries and I felt them around me.
They helped me on many occasions. Once when the clutch on my van went and I was about to lose my agency job because a replacement clutch was not available for two weeks and I had no way to get to work, which was 50 miles away. I tried all day to borrow a vehicle but none were to be had. I asked the faeries for their help and then dozed off on the sofa. I woke up as the phone rang. the garage had found a clutch and the van was ready to collect. it was £250.00 instead of the £1000.00 originally quoted. just then, Tina's mum knocked on the door with a gift from a friend for us. It was a picture similar to the Cottingly faeries photograph!

The stories which they gave me were mostly in rhyme and they varied greatly in content from humour to wisdom. Through their teachings and help, I began to put my life back together.
I had been neglecting them recently because I was so engrossed in publishing a photo-journal for two friends. Everything went wrong. Files would mysteriously shrink and the project became a nightmare. Then The idea popped into my head that I should collate and publish a Faery book first to appease them. And yes, The other book suddenly ran smoothly through the publishing process. For those who are interested in 'The King of the Faeries', I will post a link to the book below. But I just wanted to share my story to let people know that the little people are still very much around us and are happy to help us! All we have to do is say hello and develop a relationship with them. Brightest Blessings!
Patrick W Kavanagh
01/05/2018

Link to book on Amazon...   THE KING OF THE FAERIES

Image by Tina Kavanagh