A Pocketful of Clouds

One day, in the summer of 2023, I downloaded a few pages of my thoughts and musings that I had captured on my phone. Over the course of the day they formed into short verses. Other ideas, old and new, got woven in. By mid afternoon I stopped, looked at the 40 or so short pieces and thought, ‘Goodness, it’s a book.’ I left it overnight. More ideas flowed and previous jotting joined. Some things went in. Some came out. I shared it with a few people close in. Then a few more. Then a few more. The feedback was extraordinary:

“…beautiful wisdom distilled”

“What a read! This really captures an incredible ability to identify, understand and empathise with the human condition…It helps people to find what they know somewhere deep inside but have been unable to articulate.”

“I have read and re read …It reminds me of songs – written as a poems – that I read as a child in Uganda – and heard people sing – in the vernacular – stories of their lives and stories of discovery – stories that choose to be told and find their own story teller to assign the word, voice and tone to…deep and significant truths wrapped up in simple lines.”

So here it is. Free to you.

Feel free to dip in. Just click or tap on any of the numbers below…

All the pieces are short – less than 1 minute each to read, sometimes seconds. Just dive in somewhere. I’m not going to describe them – as I’ve come to realise, it’s the poem that speaks to the reader, not the poet. Make up your own mind how each one speaks to you.

These poems are here to be used and useful. Feel free to share links with friends, colleagues, clients and your community. If you wish to publish or reproduce (electronic, hardcopy or otherwise) poems and/or other original work from this site please read the Fair Use Policy.

Fair Use Policy

The poems, stories and other original works on this site are the copyright of Neil Scotton. They are here to be used and useful. Please feel free to use and share them – there is just one note, one limitation and one suggestion:

The note: When sharing, publishing or reproducing (electronic, hardcopy or otherwise) please always name Neil Scotton as the author. Please quote neilscotton.com as the source. If sharing electronically, a link back to this website is always appreciated.

The limitation: Please don’t publish or reproduce (electronic, hardcopy or otherwise) more than three stories or poems or other original works in any commercial work of your own without getting written permission from Neil Scotton.

The suggestion – Paying it forward: Poems, stories and other original works are offered freely here to ensure access for all. If you feel that you have benefitted and you’d like to give back in some way, then maybe consider a simple act of generosity or kindness to someone or somewhere that your heart is drawn to.

Finally, it’s always enriching to hear how the poems, stories and other original works have been used and received in the world – please feel free to share your stories.

A Pocketful of Clouds-poetry book by Neil Scotton hardcover mockup

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2 Q There’s change when people are told what to do And change when people choose what to do Telling imposes control Asking releases ownership Changing awareness changes everything Awareness comes from connecting Inviting connection, the change arises within And so it begins.
© Neil Scotton 2023
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3 Q You can argue with my theory You can question my story My truth is my truth, and it’s real for me Fully real, in this moment I can argue with your theory I can question your story Your truth is your truth, and it’s real for you Fully real, in this moment One person’s truth can never capture all of The Truth But that doesn’t make it false The full truth cannot be written At times it can be experienced The mountain looks different to every pair of eyes Feels different to climb Different days, different seasons, different paths, different people One mountain A million perspectives A billion experiences All different
© Neil Scotton 2023
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4 Q Hold the right space Ask the right questions Listen with care Watch for the signs of the world saying something Don’t try to change Welcome the change What change is wanting to be known to you? How do you help yourself to notice it? Is it invited in?
© Neil Scotton 2023
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6 Q All that is needed is already within We can put the pieces together in many ways We can always change how we put the pieces together
© Neil Scotton 2023
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9 Q Aware Still but moving Carried by time At the pace of time itself In the flow Not seeking, wanting, pushing Listening, not trying to listen Noticing, not trying to notice Not doing anything, yet getting things done
© Neil Scotton 2023
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A Pocketful of Clouds

So here it is. Free to you.

Fair Use Policy

More words from readers:

Neil Scotton

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10 Q For what matters No words can capture Words are as leaves from the greater tree An image of the tree within them They are of the tree They are not the tree The tree cannot be given Too much for mind, for heart Be alongside Be with Be within Be carried Be caring No desire to describe. Analyse. Explain. In the quiet… Catch a glance Share a smile Or a tear Hold a hand Delicate as a leaf Enough for now
© Neil Scotton 2023
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11 Q If you want more violence in the world, be violent. If you want more peace in the world, be peaceful. If you want more shouting in the world, shout. If you want more listening in the world, listen. If you want to be told what to do, tell others what to do. If you want to be involved in finding solutions, involve others in finding solutions. It seems simple. Easy. Simple and Easy Often said together But attaining Simple is not easy And Easy can miss much of the story It’s easy to get angry It’s easier to destroy than to build It’s not simple to put things together again But, if you want…
© Neil Scotton 2023
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12 Q Most people who want change Want to change others There can be another way Let people change themselves Don’t lead them down a path Invite them into the landscape and let them choose their own paths Don’t say ‘You must see it as I see it’ Invite them to see for themselves. If invited, share what you see So that they may, if they wish, see differently And decide for themselves If invited, share what you’ve discovered. Not to impress But, if they wish, to open mind, eyes and imagination And maybe they discover a message for themselves A knot cannot be removed from a taught rope. Allow a rope to be free so that knots can be gently removed, and that it may spin to untangle itself Energy is a better indicator than ideas in anticipating how things will turn out
© Neil Scotton 2023
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14 Q What leads to conflict? Seeing people, places, things as other Putting different things together, giving them a label, and saying they are the same Right/Wrong The idea of one right answer That my answer is your answer That my map is the map Believing that a map is the landscape Theories (maps in disguise)
© Neil Scotton 2023
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