Sleeplessness

It’s the middle of the night

I just want to go to sleep

But I have a friend with me

His name is sleeplessness

I'm not sure if he is a friend

As he is keeping me from sleep

And friends wouldn't do that

Since they are meant to care

I close my eyes but nothing

Sleep will just not come

I wish sleep was my friend

Because I am so tired

I just want to go to sleep

To enter into dream world

And awake the next day

Feeling refreshed and anew

Jo Anne Kennedy

February 2015

Please we want Peace (Revised)

In my writing group I read out the following poem and some changes were made, so here is the revised version:

Please we want peace

Thirty years of pain

Hatred running through the veins

Of those who kill

Bombs go off, people are murdered

Family members grieve

Yet the guilty go free

Then a peace agreement is signed

The two sides come together

And everything feels all-right

But hatred continues to thrive

People are still being killed

And families weep the night away

What do we have to do

To live in peace and harmony?

Please let us know

We can’t stick it any longer

Please, no more fighting.

Just give up your guns

We are down on our knees

Begging you please

Let us live without fear

If one side can lay down their arms

Then why can’t all

Just give up this war.

Lay down your guns

Let everyone know

That religious hatred is no more

Jo Anne Kennedy

September 2005 © 

Revised February 2015

Love, Hope and Pray

You said you loved me

But I think you lied

Cos now you've gone

A part of me has died

You said you’d never leave

But now you have gone

And all you left behind

Was the letter Dear John

What am I to do now?

Without you, how will I cope?

My life has been torn in two

Yet I still live in hope

That one day you will return

And come back to stay

All I can do til then

Is love, hope and pray

Jo Anne Kennedy

February 2015

An Ode to Multiple Sclerosis

Many symptoms and

Underlying problems

Lesions aplenty with

Trying times ahead

Injections or tablets and

Plenty of rest

Learning to live when

Energy levels are low

Searing pain in the body

Coping mechanisms to be

Learned and adopted

Every day is different

Routines are out the window

Only able to do a day at a time

Sometimes only even hour by hour

It’s a daily struggle

Surely it will end!

Jo Anne Kennedy

February 2015

Roam Free

I don’t need you

I'm letting you go

Cutting the string

And setting you free

Go fly like a bird

Flee to the other side

Go play with the flowers

And roam free in the meadow

I still love you

You’ll always be in my heart

But the time has come

For us to be apart

It’s been a wild ride

And one I’ll never forget

I’ll always hold you close

Forever in my heart

Jo Anne Kennedy

February 2015

Places Visited

So many places visited

Over the years by you

And each of these places

Stays within you

A little bit of your heart

Has been captured

By the people, the culture

And all things around

When you close your eyes

All you see is the smile

Smiles of the people

Who have taken your heart

The memories will never fade

Connections made will not break

Forever and always

Those places will be with you

Jo Anne Kennedy

February 2015

Your Heart

Your heart is fragile

A very precious piece

Something to be protected

And treated with care

Your heart is fragile

Don’t give it away to freely

Keep it guarded

And treat it with care

Your heart is fragile

You can give it away

But only to the one you love

Who will treat it with care

Your heart is fragile

Try and keep it whole

Don’t let it break to pieces

Please treat it with care

Your heart is fragile

It’s a very vital organ

It keeps you alive

And needs to be treated with care

Jo Anne Kennedy

February 2015

True

Is it too much to ask

For you to just listen to me

I tell you I love you

You say yes I believe

But then in your thoughts you doubt

You doubt those words to be true

But they are true to me

And they should be true to you

Cast out the doubts

Let the truth shine in

Cos the three words are true

I do love you

It’s only me that matters

Don’t look to anyone else

My love surrounds all of you

And in my arms you are held

So reach out and believe

Truly give yourself to me

Because those doubts hurt me

And I really do love you

Jo Anne Kennedy

February 2015

Midnight Lives

In the dark of the night time

Who knows what could happen

In the dark with no inhibitions

The shadows encasing you

No one knows your name

You are alone in the blackness

Walking slowly with a purpose

To get to a point of return

It’s in those midnight lives

That things become clear

There is no light to distract

Just the clearness of the night

The stars twinkle as reassurance

That you are not alone

There are people behind you

Ready to catch you when you fall

Jo Anne Kennedy

February 2015

Sparks of Desire

You walked into the room

My heart skipped a beat

And my stomach tumbled

You looked directly at me

Our eyes connected as one

And there was sparks of desire

In that moment I knew

I knew I needed you

I knew you were the one for me

14 February 2015

Written on Valentine's Day, as well it had to be done, to put some romance into my life!!

Quiet of my Heart

It's been a rough ride

The sea has been stormy

The clouds very dark

And my heart all in turmoil

I rushed around all over

Always needing to be busy

Always wanting people around me

To lift my spirits up

All I wanted was peace

To calm the brewing storm

And not let the thunder roll

I wanted my heart at peace

Then the earthquake blew

The lava spilling over

Hearts breaking in the heat

And minds all at sea

But all was not lost

It gave me a wakeup call

And a desire to be more me

And find the quiet of my heart

Jo Anne Kennedy

February 2015

A Devastating Impact

Night after night

Day after day
The bullets fly

The gunshots scream

We run for cover

Trying to shield ourselves

From the bombs

And the falling shrapnel

Everyone is petrified

Living through terror

Trying to escape death

And for why?

All this hate, what is it for?

Do they even know?

Can't  they see, the devastating impact?

It is having on the land and the people?

Jo Anne Kennedy

February 2014 

A Tightening Knot

Every time I walk into the room

Anxiety rushes over me

Sweaty palms, negative thoughts

And a tightening knot in the stomach

I feel everyone is staring at me

And waiting for me to fall

But are they really?

Or is it just in my head?

Why would they look?

I am nothing special anyway

I’m just a normal person like them

Trying to understand life

Jo Anne Kennedy

February 2014  

Night Murmurs

In the darkness

I sit and wait

Wait for you to come

And tell me why

I just sit and stare

Looking at the stars

See them twinkling brightly

Smiling down on me

I am glad that I’m here

Waiting for your presence

But the darkness is cold

And the night murmurs are loud

But I will sit and wait

I will reach out my hand

I will open up my heart

And will await the peace

Jo Anne Kennedy

February 2015

Echoes in the Dark

Lying on the floor

Staring at the ceiling

Wandering what to do

Trying to hear your voice

I strain my ears to hear

But all I hear is silence

I shout loudly to nothing

And it echoes in the dark

Please let me hear you

I really need a sign

That you are up there

Watching over me

Its not like I don’t believe

Because I do, I believe in you

But I am struggling here

Looking into the darkness of the future

Jo Anne Kennedy

February 2015