It would be good if we put our words on the forum where we can talk about it. I find its the most relaxing thing for me (Follicular lymphoma ('FL') stage 3) I write songs more that poems as I’m a musician (I’m also dyslexic so If I’ve put this in the wrong place forgive me please) I’m not used to forums etc.
1 Like
Coastal Man by Richard Batten© 2026
Verse 1
Seventy years to a wind-swept shore,
Where the sea will call my name.
My guitar is like a lifeline now,
I sing through the times that remain.
My songs are there before me,
My books beside my seat
I’m a Welshman with a restless mind,
And a voice that’s been so far.
Chorus
I’m a coastal man, still standing,
Just where the sea run high.
With a tired soul from a restless G**,
I raise my voice on high.
For every song I’m singing
Makes me stronger as I go.
I’m coastal man with a song to sing,
And a fire that won’t burn low.
Verse 2
But I’m walking with a shadow,
It’s close behind my back.
But I’ll face it with another song,
And we’ll see which of us will crack.
My mother walked the same road then,
And I carry her in my sound—
I make every note a monument
With the strength that she passed down.
Chorus
Verse 3
Some nights my blood feels heavy,
When I’m standing by the sea
But I work and play - and carry on,
And thats how it should be
And the tide keeps turning endlessly,
Like it did before I came
And when I’m gone you call out to me,
As the sea will know my name.
Chorus I’m still working on this. I’ll improve it over the next few weeks.
2 Likes
Morning @Greycat
Don’t worry at all where you put your post @Ceri_BloodCancerUK will be able to help help categorise your post so no need to apologise.
Really lovely to read this, by the way. Writing (songs in your case!) is such a great outlet, isn’t it, especially with everything that comes with Follicular lymphoma ('FL'). I know exactly what you mean — I wrote a book when I was first poorly ( I was only talking about this with Ceri yesterday) and I’ve ended up writing two more since. It really does help.
Have a look at our monthly film section when you get a chance, and given you’re a musician, our Friday Jukebox thread would be right up your street too — some good chat in there about music.
3 Likes
Thank you. what are your books about? Can we read them? I’ll definatly look into the film section. I’m not used to forums of any sort, being quite a quiet sort of person when not playing etc. I’m trying to change that, going out for walks when I can. I hope more people put some poems and or songs they’ve written up here - what’s the point of the forum if you can’t make people feel better!
2 Likes
Hi @Greycat
We have a number of folks here on the forum who share poems including @Willow
@Spangleystar and @Duncan have also shared some poems recently.
Love what you’re doing with music too.
Definitely uplifting.
Take care
1 Like