Reflecting a world of beauty, the lake is a mirror,

And in its glistening surface I see

The meaning of a life: fruitful and free.

 

The crystal water, clarity of mind and soul,

Ripples as a row boat glides through.

Soon settling again to natural order

Where change is positive. Restorative.

 

The landscape’s mirror image,

Implanted brightly as the sun bursts forth,

Brings perfection in reflection. Balanced;

Free from distortion. Tranquillity.

 

Beneath the surface, the living world blossoms.

Interconnected, it thrives with darkness and light;

A place for everything; justified juxtaposition

Emitting calmness from chaos. Peace.

 

Around the lake, people and businesses hum

Their reassured rhythm of everyday life, as

Maximising value of simple things

They weave webs, roots, connections. Stability.

 

Reflecting a world of beauty, the lake is a mirror,

And in its glistening surface I see

The meaning of a life: fruitful and free.

Thank You

 

How do you thank someone for giving you twenty-five years of extra life

Yes twenty-five years extra, Of being a Mother, Nanny and Wife.

How do you thank someone for being there for you

When you were so ill, you didn’t know what to do.

You thank them by, now being the person you want to be

And showing the world on live TV.

You thank them by doing all the things you never got the chance to do before.

When you couldn’t even venture out the door.

You thank them by living your life in the fast lane again

Now you are free of the nightmare, free of the pain.

You thank them by shopping at a packed Sheffield Meadow hall

A couple of weeks before Christmas, you are having a ball

You thank them by going to see your favourite singer Cliff

You sit there with 12,000 people just to do this.

You thank them by running a helpline for others

Meeting fantastic people along the way

You thank them by living your life day by day

You thank them by just being you,

You thank them in everything that you do.

No more grey mornings even when its winter and the sky is dull,

I can see the colours of the trees, I can now admire the beauty of the leaves,

people smile and say good morning , I can smile and greet them back,

NO more dread ,no more darkness , no amount of money can buy me this feeling

the simple things ,a cup of coffee ,a walk with my dog and laughter with old friends,

the things I had feared I have lost had never gone away, just hidden.

But best of all once again

I can feel the sun . 

 

 

Elizabeth collects a handmade hardback book

She will be presented with this at the House of Lords on the 1st May 2013

 

Congratulations from all of us at !!

 

Her work will feature in The Yellow Book going nationwide

 

Elizabeth’s photograph was also selected to appear in The Yellow Book by the art assessors

Please click the image below:

 

 

Selected Poetry Entries for The Yellow Book please click the titles to view:

 

 

1. I Feel Life – Ella Zellaby – Rochester Kent
2. This World – Stephanie Rose – Bo’ness Scotland
3. Lift Your Voice – David Holloway – Bedford
4. Mirror – Saiqa Parveen – Halifax
5. With Good Mental Health – Anne Broadbent – West Yorkshire
6. Meadering – Peter McGrath – Essex
7. Senses – Jade Tullet – Berkshire
8. The Wren – Ian Curtress – Cheltenham
9. Recovery – Lesley Burt – Dorset
10. A Home in my Head – Karen Mason – Surrey
11. Freedom is Ours – Gemma Rose – East Sussex
12. Beauty – Debee Ebeneezer – Nottingham
13. It is Ok – Suzanne Bate – Liverpool
14. Happiness is Gratitude – Lisa Barry – Rhondda Cynon Taft
15. I’ve Changed – Louise Gillett – Christchurch Dorset
16. Sunny Side Up – Karim Harvey – London
17. Proud to be me – Denise Claxton – Essex
18. Daylight after Rain – John Campbell – London
19. I Can See The Colour and I Can Feel The Sun – Elizabeth Aldous – Luton
20. Free To Be Me – Diana Hayes – Abergavenny
21. Bus Journey – Safoora Masood – Halifax
22. There Once Was a Young Girl From Wales – Katy Young – Flintshire
23. See the Flowers Beneath Your Feet – Anonymous
24. I Know – Kauser Parveen – Halifax

 

Congratulations from all of us at !!

 

 

by Ella Zellaby

 

I feel life

Firing up my senses,

Scintillating my skin,

Tickling my toes,

Tingling my tongue,

Tantalisingly close.

                                                                                               

Falling stars are caught and suns are born;

Suns that rise, and set, then rise again.

Gravity pulls the tides and waves crash down on the shore.

The moon spins on her axis knowingly;

All is well.

Everything is exactly as it should be.

Life takes place all by itself

And I am

Both spectator and actor

Creating the circumstances I need to achieve and thrive;

I am truly alive.

 

Clean air blasting through my lungs,

Blood pulsing through my veins,

A clear head and crystal vista,

Creativity oozing through my skin,

Serene acceptance within.

Epithanic excitement, exhilaration, expectation,

Faith, prosperity, a future

Filled with wonderment and friendships

To last a lifetime.

 

I see visions,

Horizons expanding far beyond tomorrow;

A glorious hope calls out my name.

Reveries exponentially unravelling,

Ambitions unfurling at my feet,

Possibilities I can reach out and clasp,

Ideas I can run with and take off.

 

Earth, now solid, beneath my feet,

Starting tasks I know I can complete

Life’s long journey

Step by step.

Calmness, contentment,

Tiredness, that fulfilment and fresh air brings.

 

A warm home to return to,

Love to swaddle me in,

Arms to coddle me tight,

Someone fabulous to kiss me goodnight,

Dreams coloured in delight.

 

Mindfully I embrace myself,

Aware that everything is as it should be,

For with good mental health

Life is very beautiful

Now I am free.

 

 

Ella collects an iPad and a handmade hardback book

She will be presented with these at the House of Lords on the 1st May 2013

 

Congratulations from all of us at !!

 

Her work will feature in the book going nationwide

Her poem will be developed in to the lyrics for the Rubie Colt single release

 

 

We would like to say a huge thank you to Carers’ Action for generously donating the iPad prize 

 

 

 

Selected Poetry Entries for The Yellow Book please click the titles to view:

 

 

1. I Feel Life – Ella Zellaby – Rochester Kent
2. This World – Stephanie Rose – Bo’ness Scotland
3. Lift Your Voice – David Holloway – Bedford
4. Mirror – Saiqa Parveen – Halifax
5. With Good Mental Health – Anne Broadbent – West Yorkshire
6. Meadering – Peter McGrath – Essex
7. Senses – Jade Tullet – Berkshire
8. The Wren – Ian Curtress – Cheltenham
9. Recovery – Lesley Burt – Dorset
10. A Home in my Head – Karen Mason – Surrey
11. Freedom is Ours – Gemma Rose – East Sussex
12. Beauty – Debee Ebeneezer – Nottingham
13. It is Ok – Suzanne Bate – Liverpool
14. Happiness is Gratitude – Lisa Barry – Rhondda Cynon Taft
15. I’ve Changed – Louise Gillett – Christchurch Dorset
16. Sunny Side Up – Karim Harvey – London
17. Proud to be me – Denise Claxton – Essex
18. Daylight after Rain – John Campbell – London
19. I Can See The Colour and I Can Feel The Sun – Elizabeth Aldous – Luton
20. Free To Be Me – Diana Hayes – Abergavenny
21. Bus Journey – Safoora Masood – Halifax
22. There Once Was a Young Girl From Wales – Katy Young – Flintshire
23. See the Flowers Beneath Your Feet – Anonymous
24. I Know – Kauser Parveen – Halifax

 

Congratulations from all of us at !!

Negativity around me eats at my brain

People complaining about money, war, politics even the rain.

If they could just open their eyes and see what I see

The world around as glorious as can be.

Reflect for a moment to sit and take in

How everything surrounds us has beauty within.

There’s only one way to beat the blues

Is to look out for positivity in all of it’s hues and not to get stressed after reading the news!

 

 

With good mental health i have heart

that when i see red

all hope has not fled

when the path is rocky

and the positives hard to see

there is another train of thought

like strong foundations it will support

through times of struggle and difficulty

it gives me strength and a chance to see

a fresh perspective, a different way

to find special moments in any day.

With good mental health

new world opens up to me

and I am content.