Beyond the Falling

By Giles Dawnay

My third book of poetry exploring what it is to be human. 'Beyond the Falling' refers to own journey as human beings and the place we find ourselves in once we realise that we are as fragile, vulnerable and needing love as all those around us.

Far from being a moment of only great loss, it is actually a profoundly liberating one as we can begin to see beyond the illusions of our own form and identity and begin to connect with something far greater than ourselves.

Each poem has been matched with a photo that I felt was meaningful to the message or central idea of what is written. These have been taken from some of the countries and people I have been fortunate to meet and learn from over the last few years. These poems and photos are an attempt to explore and understand what lies beyond who we think we are, and the enormous freedom that may open up to us should we dare move into that space.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Dec 1, 2015
• ISBN: 9781326494070

Book preview

Beyond the Falling

Beyond the Falling

Ideas, thoughts and poems

‘Drops of rain

make a hole in the stone,

not by violence

but by oft falling’

Lucretius

Text ©Giles Dawnay

Images ©Giles Dawnay

Cover Pic Waterfall Rainbow, Savusavu, Fiji 2007

4. Stage Fright

6. Beyond the Falling

8. Lucifer (aka bringer of light)

10. my

12. Oh Happy Day

14. The Clown’s Greeting

16. Ever Turning

18. Downing Tools

20. Screened Out

22. Inner Mischief

24. The Hurricane within

26. Hidden Depths

28. The Inferno

30. Sublimation

32. Just out of Reach

34. Clarity

36. Give and Take

38. Silent Beginnings

40. Who’s Watching?

42. Blurred Edges

44. Eye to I

46. Present Uncertainty

48. Spring Clean

50. The Storm’s Appeal

52. The Returning

54. Sandcastles

56. Mirror, mirror

58. Outside the Horizon

60. Journey’s End

62. Integrity’s Rags

64. Hunger Pains

66. Meteorology

68. Night Vision

70. Looking too hard

72. Last Lift

74. Daily Prayer

76. Your Move

78. Burning Churches

80. The Storm

82. my Story

84. Healthy Eating

86. When the ticking fades

88. Last Dance

90. Breath

92. Seasoned Love

94. The Knock

96. The Calling

98. (     )

Stage Fright

Name in lights

yet sleepless nights,

forever fighting

to remain in the glare.

As precious warmth

of a harsh spotlight,

holds us close

yet perpetually dazzled,

to a shadowy audience

whose forever faces

remain unknown.

Our enlightened stage,

a jailhouse becomes,

a moat of darkness

bubbling on all sides.

Its players burning slowly

under a relentless beam,

extinguished on a whim

should this merry show

tragically cease

to keep the watching silhouettes

suitably entertained.

C:\Users\Giles\Desktop\Circus pics\Name in lights.JPG

Kathakali performance, Cochin, India 2014

Beyond the Falling

Pity me not,