A POEM BY STEPHANIE BINDEMAN

Moments of tranquility

I catch a snippet of that very precious sound

A child at play,

Nearly out of sight, Downstream a little way.

Giggles as toe touches water-cold!

Adventure beckons, makes them bold.

Steadied by a parents loving hand

Feet planted firmly, now they stand.

Through cupped chubby fingers water slips away

So then they splash,

Excitement building to a heartfelt laugh.

Quietness … just sounds of running water now

Trickling past rocks, through shade of arching bow,

Sheep bleat and bird in song

Replace your childhood laughter … you’ve moved on.

My mind meanders down a longer stream

Passed times of note,

Stopping on route through Scotland, somewhere remote.

Backdrops of mountains, warm breeze surrounding me

Where I stand, trousers rolled up to the knee.

Steppy-stones and boulders to be crossed,

Feet slipping and sometimes footings lost.

In such a tranquil spot I am content

To sit and think

Of what time has snatched away, within a blink.

The days of rushing to and fro have gone

Yet in this tranquil moment I am strong.

Nothing can invade such privacy

The warm breeze, which you bring, will stay with me.

Undisturbed

66x55cm | Oil on canvas

Yorkshire

The artist

About Stephanie Bindeman

I started my career with a BA (hons) in Art and Design at Manchester, specialising in Textiles. After initially doing freelance work, I moved to Leicester to do a PGCE and then obtained a teaching post in Suffolk. I later took up the position of Head of Art in a large Secondary School, a position I held for many years. Although I still do a little teaching, I am now retired and have the time to pursue my own work. I paint for pleasure, sometimes to commission and have recently started exhibiting in both Suffolk and London.