Shine On: Visions of Life. Betty Shine

things, on close encounter.

       And an arch of yellow, blue and green touches the spot

       where all the rainbows end.

       11 Romantic Interludes

      Love affairs are powerful and addictive. They entail attachment, intrigue, involvement, and spasmodic relationships. With a love affair you seem to be sitting on a knife’s edge, waiting for the next time when you will see your lover. We cannot always be virtuous – clearly there are times when we feel trapped in a situation and all we want to do is escape. When having an affair we plan secret meetings and cover our tracks, creating excitement and anticipation, until one day we no longer have to hide, we are free, and the romantic interludes continue in the union of two people.

       Out of sight, out of mind,

       That’s how it used to be,

       But meeting you,

       I’m addicted

       To romantic interludes.

       Chances are,

       We may never have met,

       That would have been bizarre,

       Because our fate was set

       In a myriad of stars.

       Even the planets agree,

       It was all meant to be,

       They were in line from the start,

       And on a dark night I can see

       Where we are.

       Out of sight, out of mind,

       That’s how it used to be,

       But meeting you,

       I’m addicted

       To romantic interludes.

       I have never mixed music and moonlight,

       Scared of what it might do.

       But now I’m with you,

       I’m addicted

       To romantic interludes.

       12 That’s OK

      The origin of ‘OK’ is American, ‘O’ being ‘all’ and ‘K’ being ‘correct’. All Correct. In today’s scientific society it is rarely accepted that it is OK not to have all the answers to life’s mysteries. We would all like to tap into a reservoir of knowledge and understanding, but very often the answers are not there. I believe that we can try too hard to justify life’s experiences instead of observing and remembering them and using them in a positive way some time later. So it’s OK not to have the answers or the understanding – we learn as we live our life through.

       There are many things we don’t understand,

       And that’s OK.

       If we knew everything from the time we were born

       How boring our lives would be.

       So we all learn as we go along,

       And find the strength along the way

       From the lessons that we learn,

       And that’s OK.

       So many times I have not understood

       Why it has to be this way,

       But it’s always been the same,

       And it will never change.

       We all learn as we go along,

       And find the strength along the way

       From the lessons that we learn,

       And that’s OK.

       13 The Shadow and Piano

      This poem was written for Russ Conway. Betty never met Russ but when she heard of his passing into spirit she was devastated. His music always touched her heart, and she always said that Russ was part of his piano and the piano was part of him. When he played, his hands would glide across the keys as though they were silk, and the music would sing its own song. What a talent! He brought happiness to millions of listeners and was able to capture the magic of the moment. I am sure Betty has him still playing those ivory keys in the world beyond!

       There’s a shadow on the ivory keys,

       And a whisper of a tune

       Ripples through the room like a silent breeze.

       The shadow and piano fuse together,

       As though the shadow cannot part

       With that priceless piece of art.

       Whispers of that tune are an echo

       Of the days when the shadow and piano played

       And leave everyone in awe

       As they sing a song of ecstasy,

       Then sadness of a time

       When they will never play again.

       There’s a mist within the room

       Formed like a cloak around them both

       All at once protecting and concealing

       The magic of the moment

       When the shadow plays the ivory keys.

       The mist is now a silvery light

       And guides the shadow from the room

       As it looks back at its friend.

       But the piano doesn’t stay behind.

       For over time it has been given life

       And has decided that the time was right

       For them to stay as one.

       Now the piano has a lifeless ring

       And will never play again,

       But the tunes can still be heard

       If you sit as quiet as a mouse

       On the outside of the house.

       14 Common Sense

      ‘Just use your common sense.’ We have all said it – and had it said to us! No matter how clever you may think you are, your actions will automatically be dictated by common sense. Common sense buys us time, stops us acting upon a whim, and makes us think a little before jumping headlong into something that may be not quite right for us. It gives us peace of mind because we know we have given our action some forethought. Common sense is wisdom.

      At the top of the page upon which Betty wrote this poem was a comment to a friend of hers. It said, ‘Dear Les, I thought this would interest you. I actually thought about this poem while I was writing it!!!! There’s hope for me yet!’

       It’s easy to be wise after the event,

       So the wisdom you brought

       Was heaven sent.

       You taught me many things,

       But the greatest gift of all

       Was common sense.