Yet Still I Fall

Although I’m wide awake, yet still I fall 

as if in some dark dream I am confined 

I find myself oblivious to it all

I’m often trapped inside the lines that gall 

or words that hold my conscience in a bind 

Although I’m wide awake, yet still I fall

When all about me plaintive seabirds call 

and billows roll above the ocean brine 

I find myself oblivious to it all

I face the rain, my back against the wall 

and march my feet toward the battle line 

Although I’m wide awake, yet still I fall

Through deserts of the heart I slowly crawl 

to reach the cool oasis of the vine 

I find myself oblivious to it all

I sadly took my eye from off the ball 

and failed to see the final warning sign 

I find myself oblivious to it all 

Although I’m wide awake, yet still I fall

Steve Wheeler © 29 March, 2022

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War Child

It has been quite a while since I last posted anything on this blog. I guess it's the same for many folk right now, what with all that's been going on in the world. It's probable that many have written much less because of lockdowns, wars and rumours of wars. But for me, it has been the opposite. I have been writing. I just haven't been writing academic material. My attention has turned to poetry, and as the most recent previous posts on this blog indicate, I'm deeply involved in reading, editing, publishing and performing poetry in numerous contexts. 

My most recent publication reflects the situation right now in Ukraine. A few weeks ago I was contacted by Save The Children - a global charity that supports children in crisis. Currently they are struggling to help all of the refugee children that are coming out of Ukraine, and they need as much help as they can get. So I took a few dozen of my older poems and a few new ones that focused on the theme of war, and put them together. The result is the book you see here - it's called War Child and it's just been published. All profits from the sales of the book (which is in both Kindle and paperback formats) will go to support Save The Children's efforts in Poland, Romania, Hungary, Moldova and other areas where Ukrainian refugee children are being cared for. Please, if you can, support this effort by purchasing a copy! 

You can buy through Amazon at various sites across the globe, including....

Amazon UK, Amazon USA, Amazon Australia, Amazon Canada, Amazon Germany, Amazon France, Amazon Spain, Amazon Italy, Amazon Netherlands, Amazon Turkey, Amazon Japan, Amazon Brazil, Amazon Mexico