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Paintings

Hidden Treasure

I will give you the treasure of darkness, riches stored in secret places Isaiah 45:3

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Paintings

River of Life

Categories
Paintings

Healing Streams

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Paintings

Bradford City of Culture 2025

Each of the twelve designs reflect colours in the flags of different ethnic groups in Bradford.

Categories
Poems

The Secret

My life truly is a miracle. I had a major operation fixing congenital defects to my stomach and oesophagus at the age of 2 then at the age of 53 they diagnosed I had been living my whole life with my colon in my left lung space, a hidden secret my body held. My next poem is about that time in my life 

My body held a secret, hidden locked away
Refusing to come out into the light of day
It shocked me when it surfaced and shocked the surgeon too, 
The most eminent physician amazed through and through

I’ve heard the word epiphany and wondered what it meant
A moment of revelation, something heaven sent
In that instant I viewed my life in a completely different way
3 was 4 and 5 was 6 there’s nothing else to say
It all made sense, a light switched on
The truth was out, the mystery gone
The hidden struggles, I understand
Dangers traversed Gods guiding hand
The relief was massive, colour exploded
The whole of me fully downloaded

I knew for sure it’s time to leave
The old behind but give space to grieve
I’d lived with the secret for so long
Needed time to sing a different song
Years progressed I embraced the new
The change in me was right on cue 
I don’t understand the process, why I felt so free
The missing piece, how it had burdened me
I only know that the secret is out
I’m free to run and jump and shout

I’m free to live again

John Lowton

October '22'
Categories
Poems

Roller coaster

My behaviour started at the age of 10
All week planning, culminating when
The turnstile clicked and I entered the ground
Sweaty odours as I looked around 
Heartbeat racing; I took my place
The chase, the buzz an emotional race
Extremes of tension, highs and lows
The final whistle exhaustion shows
Drained of energy I went on my way
To return again another day

In my 20’s I went to church
From meeting to meeting I did lurch
The emotional energy just as strong
The chase, the buzz, just as wrong
The addictive charisma, the joy and fun
I couldn’t exist I had to run
With childhood traumas I had no hope
The highs and lows I couldn’t cope
The dangers were there for this broken child
For comfort and solace I went wild
Hidden behaviours my dark friend
The traumatic pain had no end
At an early age I learned to block 
Extremes of emotion ran a mock 

Now I prefer a steady ride
From emotional extremes I tend to hide
Steady away I prefer to go
I want to let the others know
To cope with extremes is a lesson to learn
The highs and lows I no longer yearn
Over time a new path is carved out
Steady away I’m reluctant to shout
I don’t seek attention, I don’t seek fame
You don’t even have to know my name
Gradually and slowly I will rise
And when I do it will surprise
For I’ve been hidden for to long
I’ve begun to sing a different song

It’s time to live again

John Lowton

October '22'
Categories
Paintings

Arctic rhythm’s

Categories
Paintings

Open Heaven

Categories
Paintings

To Boldly Go

Based on a dream I had in May 2022

The dream 

In the dream I was waiting to wade across a river with a group of people, other travellers. In the distance across the river we could see the building on the other side of the crossing point. We could make out a red light on the building stopping us crossing, as we waited for the light to turn green the river flowed deeper and deeper and got wider and wider. We could see thick snow on the tops of the trees on the other side, I knew it was this snow that was causing the river to flow deeper and deeper. We waited and waited, such along time before being allowed to cross, a boat/barge passed by.  Eventually in the distance we could just make out the green light to indicate it’s time to start crossing, I was first in so fast ahead of the others but very quickly was out of my depth, the water was flowing quickly because of the melting snow,. I was worried that I needed to swim to get to the other side and concerned for the people behind me. 

Categories
Poems

Survivor

Apparently I’m a survivor, this is what they say
Bouncing back from life’s extremes to live another day
I see it in my family, the survival trait is strong
World War 1 and World War 2, a very familiar song
I’ve heard it said a thousand times by well-intentioned friends
The survivor word deep entrenched and the message that it sends
I could be content with survival, at the age of 61
But the reality of life is its only just begun
I’m not content with survival, there is more to life than that
To dress in clothes extravagantly and wear a different hat
My horizon is expanding, colours new in view
Now is the time for living, now I must be true
To give and create expressions full of morning hope
The message in my heart I no longer must elope
When I limit myself away behind the survivor tag
It’s time to rise and run under a different flag

It’s time to live again

John Lowton

October ’22’