18. Gail Varley
Adventures in Art, Photography and Rhyme
Gail is a spontaneous writer, who uses poetry as cathartic therapy to keep balance in her life, like a mars bar, a balance of work, rest and play. She aims to capture her adventures in art, photography and rhyme before her memories fade.
Her art records the up and downs of her turbulent life and occasionally serve to vent her anger at injustice.
She has provided illustrations for a number of books along with various special editions of sixty Odd Poets
She is an Essex girl who pleases her simple mind with simple pleasures.
All illustrations on this page are Gails
Poems
New Beginnings Wait For me Mum Mexborough Now and Then A Bridge too Far Forever Young Happy Mother's Day
New Beginnings
We started as students back then no bursaries, no nothing just a single stripe on our hats but we felt proud being part of something big that really mattered. The National Health Service. Times were hard living in bedsits, sharing our food. But that made us closer, more appreciative of humanity. And those black cloaks well, they kept us warm at night. There were no first names then it was Mr this, Mrs that, Sir the other. Everyday we had to report to tutors and the ward sister for duty. But we were happy and I remember the happy times. Weddings, birthdays, celebrations and sad memories too. We were strong as a team watching out for each other. We were one big happy family a nurtured nest of nightingales cold hands and warm hearts. We were fighters too surviving ward closures as politics bled into our workplace and values and priorities changed. It’s a different world now - less time caring, more time writing becoming computer experts overnight. Felling a few forests in the process as we drowned in paperwork and reports. We lived life at the sharp end keeping our patients alive and well. We laughed, we cried, oh yes we cried. We gave our best and the rest. No gold watch can ever compensate - for a life dedicated to others. I’m moving on now From keeping hearts beating to arts of a different kind. Making jewellery, creating pictures making beautiful things for beautiful people. <<<
Wait for Me Mum
Wait for me mum I cannot fly I flap my wings to touch the sky. But no matter how Much I try I crash and burn And try not to cry. You are my light My helping hand You make me happy Life is grand. I look for you as hours go by. Paddling and diving birds asking why ? My feathers are broken Why can't I fly. But no matter , I'll manage And reach for the sky . <<<
Mexborough Now and Then
Mexborough A place I like to be. Not big or too small. With cinemas , bingo and dancing halls all gone, just like our Lavender Lee. Our industries gone and buried but hope and community our gain. As people rally together to help social groups and food banks remain. Pubs and restaurants thriving charity shops, hairdressers run amok. New houses being built as our young are taking stock. Travelling on the train Mexborough station comes into view. Memories of coast and country green meadows and skies of blue . <<<
A Bridge Too Far
Pay a penny to the ferryman as the bridge is far too far. A life of swings and suspension as the troll tries to nick your car. Stairs of steps and going forth steep ramps, padlocks, pooh sticks. Over lakes and streams, the birds above cry out, protecting their chicks. Southport, Lakeside and Monet's all bridges worth a visit. Walk a while, with someone dear and simply watch and sit. <<<
Forever Young
Forever young? My heart skips a beat, but my joints beg to differ. Together forever? travelling places making memories, As my mind starts to forget. Growing old gracefully Or wild like the animals I love to sketch. Staying alive This is me in 2024 Living as a 59er as 60 knocks on my door. <<<
Happy Mother’s Day
I miss you dearly although it's eased over the years. Twenty years ago. Seems only yesterday that we would laugh and cry together. Your memories fading from the present but not the past. I found a photo of you On the beach. So relaxed, so happy. Dance with your heavenly family your two sisters, Muriel and Valerie. Bought you a posy a rose to a lovely rose. You would be so proud of us all A carer to the end. My wonderful mum, Vera A cockney from the East End. <<<
I read a few of Gail’s poems in a hard copy , print edition. I like poems to create images in my mind so I was surprised to find that online the poems were accompanied by illustrations which are works of art in their own right. Working backwards from the words I tried to see connections and assume that the use of the lovely frog hinted at a sense of metamorphosis which came across in New Beginnings.
The waddling duck brought Wait For Me Mum to life , whilst the recognisable impression of Mexborough railway station perfectly complemented Mexborough Now and Then.
It was the exquisite image accompanying A Bridge Too Far which made me reread the poem to see that I had misinterpreted it. I thought it referred to the long lost Mexborough Ferry. The ethereal picture of the bearded man on the bridge set me thinking about all sorts of crossings and seems to imply we should stop and ponder the nature of our journey from one side to the other and the nature of the flowing stream below us.
What lovely poems especially the Mothers day one
Your paintings are beautiful too. I want to adopt the duck
Also would love to pop in and visit Monsieur Claude
and stand on the bridge with him
and admire their gorgeous waterlilies, Utter heaven.
Thank you so much for sharing