‘Edenbray in Exile’

A Retrospective Anthology of 50 Poems, Articles and Essays

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My Four Children

unfinished Opus

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I wrote a play once for my 4 children

I gave them special names

to match their characters

Sarallius, Debradella,

Warrickolius, and Michelangelo

They were to be as Norsk Gods

but more than Mythical Beings

Like Shakespearian characters

in our true tale of life

Before many had even heard of Thor,

son of Odin

Larger than life,

My dear wife bore them to us both

and I loved them with the purest father’s heart

Did not possess or control them,

even when my soul it ached

I tried to give them freedom,

which is the foundation of all joy

Did not burden them

with the sins of our fathers

Although I would have fought

to the death against any

Who would disrespect or threaten them,

diminish them in any way

You keep this hidden:

the teeth of the protector,

the wolf-parent

Like an Arkhala, Bagheera or a Baloo –

You want only the best for them 

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I never finished that tale and soon

they began to write their own

and before too long from the nest they all had flown

It always happens quicker than you want,

your greatest, nagging fear 

I tried so valiantly, gallantly to say

the things that they should hear

But somehow you never do it all, 

believing there will be time a’plenty

To say it later when that perfect moment

comes, that never does

And you’re always a little sad as you wrestle

with what’s good and bad

I long for my children to be what I’m not,

to have what I didn’t

And to be happy with nowt’,

wrapped in that purest consolation ~

Nothing can take away the prayers

a loving mother or a father prays

Those things, those matters,

those tortured cries and tears stay on 

Written in the stone, carved in heavens clouds

where they belong

And angels bear them to their maker

and sing their own special song

It is a unique joy to know you have birthed

children to this world

And for each the Loving Father has a unique ensign,

bright, bold and unfurled

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writtenbyedenbray10.04.2018

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#Authors Note ~ Write about what you know, they say. Its a proven key to successful writing, they say, This piece is pretty self explanatory. I wrestled with the idea of whether I should include it in my 2nd Retrospective Anthology as it is a bit raw, kind of unpolished – to my mind anyway, but the last six submissions in my ’50’ – might well include some shocks and hopefully a few pleasant surprises – There is no point in being coy as a writer – Sometimes you have to dig deep and bear your soul. As the Copystat Manager in the 24-Hour Copyshop says to Jerry Maguire, who is printing his self-revealing Memo to the Company, in the film of the same name – ‘Sometimes you have to hang your balls out there man’.

The idea is – sometimes we don’t finish things we meant to do, sentences we meant to say. This then is my Unfinished Opus in its basest human shape. This is for my kids … Sarah, Deborah, Warwick and Michael – Love you –  DaD                                         ~ edenbraytoday