Christmas comes but once a year
A time to value those held dear
A time to remember those who’ve passed
A time for each other when time moves fast.

Life can be hectic, in our own we can get consumed
Even the greatest sceptic, at this time should find room
Room for each other, if only for one day
For life can be a cover, hide what matters as it slips away.

So at Christmas time we try put all in perspective
Switch our minds to those we may have neglected
Try and switch our focus, to those we really love
Those that we hold closest, maybe don’t tell as much as we should.

It’s not about presents, buying unsparing
It’s about presence, unifying and sharing
Sharing time we have, piecing together missing parts
If this year was bad, let this Christmas strengthen hearts.

May the love you’ve given others, return and give you more
If loved ones past not be visible, may you feel them in your core
May you feel the love of others, at this unifying festive time
And let them know, even when distant, they are never far from mind.

© Daniel Breslin

I got high today
Smoked my day away
Sun starts shining in the month of may
Don’t care what parents say
No worries, no voices
Telling me about my choices
While I remain voiceless
Because my views are pointless
Cause they don’t want to listen
To what is for I’m wishing
Cause parents no best
But today no stress
No more your life’s a mess
Just peace and rest
Chilling on the beach
Heaven seems within my reach
No longer have to seek
Another drag before I speak
‘Lads I could get use to this every week’
Jump to my feet
Run to the sea
By the time I get there
My clothes are history
Apart from my boxers
‘I’ll take them off if you show me your knockers’
My arms turn to block hers
As she goes off her rockers
She’s kind of touchy
About the nudity
This relationship is new to me
‘You’re so bleeding rude to me’
But she knows I’m only messing
She’s just looking for affection
So I come over all smooth
Apologise for being rude
Always make you stew
For a minute or two
Then they are all over you
It’s their way it’s what they do
I kind of like it
She gets me excited
On the beach waves are crashing
Run up to the boys they start laughing
Cause they know I only got out cause they’re spliff passing
And in a minute I’ll be harassing
For a blow off the joint
That’s why we are here
That’s the point
Few cans, few spliffs
No quarrels, no tiffs
We live for days like this.

My girl laying next to me
Cause she bring out the best in me
No need for that ecstasy
She the only thing injecting me
With a high
Look up clear blue sky
Few seagulls float by
Wish that I could fly
Grow wings and soar
Glide by the shore
No worries any more
Just peace in my core
Fitzer opens a can
Puts it in my hand
Lads playing football in the sand
While the birds are getting tanned
I wish moments like this could last forever
All of us together
Thin Lizzy sounding in the back
The Frames and Damien Dempsey also on the rack
As well as Orbital and Tupac
Switch to my favourite track
Halcyon on and on
I could play it all day long
Peace and tranquility
Amongst the humidity
Body at ease
Cooled by the breeze
I feel free
By the sea
This is the way I always want it to be
Treasure this moment in my memory
Escaping all pretences
Opening all gates and fences
Awakening all the senses
So perfect could of dreamt this
All sitting, joking, laughing
In the sunshine, smoking, basking
I cherish these moments with a passion
Feel so free I’m almost gasping
For air
No worries, no care
No hurry let nature repair
As we bask in the sea air.

Must be dreaming I feel so free
Feel my life’s found meaning by the sea
My friends around me
Never cease to astound me
When I get too cocky they ground me
When my world gets rocky they surround me
And steady the ship
These friends life’s graced me with
Are a gift
Savour the thought as I let my mind drift
Over the ocean
Its gentle waves act as a potion
Taking me away from the cities commotion
City life can be exhausting
And days like this don’t come often
So we make the most
Of our sunlit break by the coast
Raise our cans offer a toast
As we let our bodies roast
Under the sun, red heads burn quickly
Ibar, splashing on factor fifty
My girl acting a little shifty
Leans over just to kiss me
Just chilling out
Think I figured out
What life is all about
As her lips recede from my mouth
Was I ever really in any doubt
No pressures piling
We’re all just smiling
The sand glistening
Bodies sizzling
Sea breeze whistling
As the day is fizzling
Out
The city lights are crying out
Their yellow tone
Beckons us home
It passes twighlight
This day could be the highlight
Of our summer
Mind transfixed
On our day of bliss
Cause we live for days like this.

© Daniel Breslin

Chasing respect
That you expected but didn’t get
Is a futile quest
For in the end you’ll get even less.

If it wasn’t given at the start
Given as you gave
Don’t play the victims part
For someone else’s image to save.

Stop taking steps back
For that person is not you
The more you ask the more you lack
And you might just lose respect for two.

© Daniel Breslin

Man, I love my family
More than my words can describe
In my darkest moments
Extended family braced my side.

I was going through hardships
I’ll not bore you with the deets
But at times I needed comfort
Those family were my peeps.

I only briefly had a father
So many have such a lot less
If you got Uncles and Aunties
I hope you know you’re blessed.

I could lean on mine for comfort
I hope that’s something you have
For at times my mind was in such discomfort
Without them I might of gone mad.

Now your family might be your friends
If you got trust that’s as good I guess
For if your family don’t offer trust
You’ve been blessed that little less.

You go out and build your own
I got friends I trust and are family too
One day find a partner build a home
Try give that family what wasn’t given you.

Now we can go out and curse the world
For all we have lost or haven’t got
But that’s never been my style
And I hope it’s always not.

There are builders and destroyers
Ask yourself which one are you
And when your building’s been destroyed
You destroy another or build one new?

Now me I’ve always been a builder
Building is what I do
And normally if you’re willing
You’ll find a million willing builders too.

What I build keeps getting bigger
My family getting bigger too
Though I’ve had to rid the odd figure
As I figure, what’s next in prints of blue.

© Daniel Breslin

There is only one thing I want to ask
Before away from me you peel
When everything else is past
I just want to know it was real.

Life can be a blast
But you can be betrayed by things you feel
As you search for things to grasp
At the breaking of a deal.

So whisper to me gently
In our final face to face
Maybe it was not meant to be
But tell me we had our place.

As you walk from me I slowly empty
As I feel you leave with all your grace
And I feel darkness tempt me
Into its cold and lonely space.

© Daniel Breslin

You got a woman in your heart
Boy, I pity you
Got a woman in my heart
Beats it black and blue
More often than not
I’ve to thank her for it too
And I can’t find a reason
Why I feel the way I do.

Got a woman in my heart
Makes me look and feel a fool
Head running circles
Till it don’t know who is who
Look for someone to blame
You end up looking at you
Got a a woman in my heart
Boy, you sure you want this too?

You get a woman in your heart
Boy, sure hope it better choose
Got a woman in my heart
Has me constantly confused.
Tried dating other women
She out there dating too
Thought it might be working
She popped back into view.

Got a woman in my heart boy
Been a nightmare through and through
Soon as I shake this woman out though
Swear, should be feeling brand new
I just have to grin and bear it
Till these feelings run themselves through
You got a woman in your heart?
Oooooooh Boy, I pity you.

© Daniel Breslin

Be proud of who you are
No matter where you are from
If you come out of hardship
You come out smiling like the Sun.

Be proud of who you are
To hell what people say
Be proud of who you are
In every single way.

You are the stuff of magic
Always remember that
Even when the skies
May seem that little black.

Be proud of who you are
For we all face so much
We are the stuff of stars
So we should shine as such.

Don’t you ever cower
Don’t be forced to hide
Stand tall like a tower
Find power in your pride.

When you take a step
Take it feeling good
If others disrespect
Respect yourself with love.

Be proud of who you are
Set examples if you can
And remember you are a star
Be you woman, child, or man.

Take pride in yourself
Encourage others to do the same
Help starts with self
And pride is for everyone to claim.

Don’t let others snatch it from you
For some are bound to try
For some hate to see another
Walking, smiling with head high.

We are the stuff of magic
There is magic in everyone
So when you walking out
You walk out smiling like the Sun.

© Daniel Breslin