Life's Shadows

By Barbara Gurney

Life's Shadows continues the melancholy journey begun in Footprints of a Stranger. Barbara Gurney's poetry expresses others' hurt with a caring voice and a message of hope. Grieve with 'The Ticket Home', overcome fear with 'Conquering' and finally, 'Sing Loudly'.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Debbie Lee
• Release date: Jun 20, 2015
• ISBN: 9781740279840

Barbara Gurney

Barbara Gurney writes across several genres including short fiction for adults and children and free verse poetry. After over fifteen years of writing and editing a newsletter for a community-based organisation, she joined the Gosnells Writer's Circle in 2008 & Writefree Women's Writing Group at KSP Writers Centre in 2009. Both groups continue to inspire Barbara to regularly produce poetry and short stories while their encouragement pokes at her ambition to publish a novel. Many of her pieces have been accepted for the groups' annual anthologies. *Fairies of the Milky Way was accepted in 2009 by Stories for Children Magazine, an American online publisher. *Living Histories, a Western Australia State Government initiative, accepted Barbara's submissions for both the 2008 & 2009 publications. *Competition success came in October 2009 when Counting of the Stones was awarded a 'Commendation'. *A short story for children Jake's New Friend was shortlisted in the Charlotte Duncan Award 2010. *2011 – Shadows of Remembered Dancing, a 267 word story was awarded Highly Recommended in Scribblegum's Gum Leaves Competition. *2012 - Honourable Mention for 'Honest People' Golden Wattle Writing Competition. *2012 - First Prize for "Purple". Yarram Community Learning Centre Annual Literary Competition. *2012 - First Prize for "Wide Brown Land". Minlaton Show Literary Award. *Barbara's book of poetry 'Footprints of a Stranger' is now available from Ginninderra Press ISBN 978 1 74027 767 9. www.ginninderrapress.com.au In her non-writing life Barbara has been a drummer, bagpiper, swimmer, debt collector and a secretary - amongst other collective nouns. She has two adult children. Her son lives in Prague with his wife and two children, thus giving Barbara a glorious holiday destination with free accommodation. A locally based daughter and son-in-law makes sure she has people to spoil without an airfare being necessary. She is the current Secretary of the Gosnells Writers Circle and a sub-editor of their magazine Showcase, which has been published three times a year since October 2010. Barbara communicates with the overseas contributors and approaches local businesses for paid advertising support. Barbara likes nothing better than to tap away on the computer, creating characters worth remembering and hiding her life experiences in the pages. She finds satisfaction in writing s...

Book preview

Life’s Shadows

Sing Loudly

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Life is to grow

Not to dally amid grumblers

Or listen to rumour

For days are better spent

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Dishes neatly stacked

Floor duly swept

Give less pleasure than walking a dog

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To sip from the cup served by a friend

Describes caring without any words

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Paddle in cool water

When stress overtakes your calm

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Dance with a lover

Skip with a child

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Wander through bush heralding new growth

Pass by the lizard enjoying the sun

Inhale soft-scented air

Whistle with birds

Lest you forget they are there

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Open your heart

Sing loudly

Waiting

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Autumn leaves disintegrate on the damp ground of winter

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Long shadows of sorrow fall across my shoulders

Loneliness stifles like a heavy coat on a day full of sunshine

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Maybe a summer smile will appear on your face and speak to my cold heart

Do you see me?

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Do you see me

With sightless vision

Beyond the statute of identity

To the pulse of truth

Where I feel

Where I