Author: Winston

I am a married father of one. I enjoy drawing, reading, movies and spending time with family and friends. I love the outdoors and being in a natural environment. I am fascinated by the world in which we live and the people with whom we share it.

NaPoWriMo 2022 Day 4

On By WinstonIn Friendship, Love, Loving Life, my angel, my blessed life, NaPoWriMo, Personal, PoetryLeave a comment

I can’t write all these verses without including my wife Lynn. I wouldn’t be who I am and you definitely wouldn’t be reading these poems without her. She helps me be the best version of myself I can.

I Love You My Angel

There was a guy who wasn’t much,

Who never much would be.

He wasn’t quite invisible,

Just wasn’t much to see.

He’d lived so long alone that he,

Believed he would stay so.

When you can’t talk with anyone,

You’re hard to get to know.

But then one day, the strangest thing,

He met someone on line.

With little chance of meeting them,

He dared to try to shine.

The more they talked, the more he loved,

This Angel of the screen.

And though they talked for months and months,

They still remained unseen.

And as they talked, he realized,

To her he was someone.

No more some guy who wasn’t much,

That life for him was done.

A plan was made for them to meet,

In person, face to face.

To test the love they felt with a,

Non-digital embrace.

I was a guy who wasn’t much,

Gone twenty years or more.

Could not go back, would not go back,

To what I was before.

You saved me then, I thank you love,

My Angel all these years.

You lifted me, you raised me up,

You helped me face my fears.

So thank you love, my Angel sweet,

I’m someone thanks to you.

And every good thing in my life,

Is thanks to you it’s true.

Je t’aime mon ange. Plus que tu sais. Pour l’éternité, et plus encore! ❤

Winston

NaPoWriMo 2022 Day 3

On By WinstonIn family, Friendship, Love, Memories, Personal, ValuesLeave a comment

My friend Kim passed away after a brief, horrific fight with cancer. She was a truly beautiful soul who was a blessing to all around her. Her light in this world will be greatly missed.

In her memory, I ask that you spend time with a loved one, family member or friend. And take the time to help someone. Kim was one of the most caring and generous people I’ve known and there could be no finer tribute to her.

Take The Time While We Can

It breaks my heart to see how quick,

Someone can slip away.

I did not see, I could not know,

That my friend could not stay.

Now suddenly there is a hole,

Shaped like them in my heart.

Though I did not see them often,

Their light was still a part.

Yet now that light has vanished and,

The world’s a darker place.

I could not say just what I’d give,

To once more see their face.

Had I but guessed, or somehow known,

More time I would have found.

To spend with them and fill my soul,

While they were yet around.

So listen well and understand,

Our loved ones wear no clock.

So spend the time, be with them now,

Before that final walk.

Winston

NaPoWriMo 2022 Day 2

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, Loving Life, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Personal Responsibility, Poetry, Self Awareness2 Comments

I am no longer quite as young as I was previously. I’ve come to terms with this and tend to remind myself that getting older still beats the only proven alternative. Get old or die.

Years ago I worked for a wonderful woman named Heather who taught me one of the most important things I’ve ever learned. She told me “Good is the enemy of great.”. This means that as soon as we accept good we stop pushing for great. Now, whether it is in my poetry, my art, my work or whatever else I’m doing, I always try to push myself just that little bit further.

Good Isn’t Good Enough

Sometimes in life we don’t invest,

In everything we do.

Do just enough, that’s good enough,

And then it’s done, we’re through.

We’ve done the thing a million times,

It’s nothing but routine.

Sure we didn’t scrub the tub,

But wiped it down. It’s clean.

We see it doesn’t shine the same,

Way that it did before.

And in our hearts we know the truth,

We could have given more.

What we don’t see, not right away,

Our soul erodes a bit.

We are born great, each lesser choice,

Chips off a piece of it.

Then one day where once greatness was,

Just good enough is seen.

Surrounded by the rubble of,

How great we could have been.

So spend the time and effort to,

Change good to something great.

That extra that you give comes back,

To your soul soon or late.

Good is not really good enough,

When great is waiting there.

Just push and strive a little more,

See good cannot compare.

Then you will see within yourself,

A pride not there before.

For turning good enough to great,

Giving a little more.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo 2022 Day 1

On By WinstonIn Bullying Yourself, Enlightenment, NaPoWriMo, Poetry, Self Awareness, The Power of WordsLeave a comment

It seems like it was only eleven short months ago that I wrapped up my last verse of the year. Now here we are again. Softly, gently, we find ourselves wrapped in the sweet warmth of the dream, knowing all the time… the nightmare of writer’s block lurks somewhere up ahead. But that is a problem for another day. Without further delay my season opener.

The Lies We Tell Ourselves

Continue reading “NaPoWriMo 2022 Day 1” →

NaPoWriMo 2021 Day 30!

On By WinstonIn Love, Loving Life, my angel, my blessed life, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, RelationshipsLeave a comment

Here we are at the end of the marathon for another year. Of course, that may be a bit premature. I haven’t written the poem to go under this header yet. I’m pretty confident that something will come to me… but then again, maybe not. I still have time to fail today. But I’ve also succeeded for the last twenty-nine days. So often in life we focus on the one sour note in a flawless symphony and call the whole thing a failure. So even if I don’t write that last poem, I’m going to look at the other twenty-nine and call this project a success. It’s all about perspective and the story we tell ourselves.

Until next year… Be Kind To Yourselves And To Each Other

The Muse of All Muses

The deed is done, these lines define,

Another year complete.

With thirty of these ditties writ,

A victory so sweet.

Calliope and Erato,

Polyhymnia too.

To all these muses owe some thanks,

But mostly Lynn to you.

You are the one who lifts me up,

Brings out the best of me.

You are aware of all my flaws,

But they’re not all you see.

When inspiration’s fled from me,

Restore it with a word.

Then listen to each verse like it’s,

The best you’ve ever heard.

You are the sweetest, kindest soul,

That I could hope to know.

I’m blessed to have you in my life,

As through the years we go.

Now as I close this month of verse,

I want to make it clear.

I could not write these rhymes of mine,

Without your love my dear.

So thank you Lynn for all you do,

The blessing that you are.

The rock on which I build my life,

My muse. My guiding star.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo 2021 Day 29…ish

On By WinstonIn Bullying Yourself, Enlightenment, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Personal Responsibility, Poetry, Self Awareness, The Power of Words, UncategorizedLeave a comment

So yesterday ended as a bit of a disaster. I got it sorted out in the end, but by then it was too late to write this because I had to work today. Long story short, here’s yesterday’s poem. It’s all about not being nastier to yourself than you are to others.

Be As Kind To You

Sometimes in life I make mistakes,

That anyone may make.

I drop something, forget something,

A plate or glass I break.

If someone else did just the same,

I’d understand, forgive.

But when it’s me, I start to rage,

Surprised I let me live.

I use such names, say hurtful things,

I’d never say to you.

I’ve done this for so many years,

Inside believe they’re true.

But here’s the thing, I know they’re not,

Yet in that angry heat.

I grab those nasty, jagged chains,

With them, my soul, I beat.

I know so many do the same,

It’s no more true I swear.

We all have chains to beat ourselves,

They’re always waiting there.

So here’s a tip, I try to live,

Though often yet I fail.

Don’t beat yourself, there’s others who,

Would gladly wield that flail.

We all are human and must learn,

To value who we are.

Accept our faults not pick at them,

Pick at them ’til they scar.

Now please be kinder to yourself,

Kind as you’d be to me.

Speak to yourself as to your love,

Try for yourself and see.

I’ve listened to the voices in,

My head and now I know.

I’d not speak thus to those I love.

Why do I hate me so?

Speak gentler words that build you up,

Alone within your mind.

Don’t punish but forgive yourself,

To your own self be kind.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo 2021 Day 28

On By WinstonIn Fantasy, Lovecraftian, Lovecraftian Poetry, NaPoWriMo, Old Gods and Magic Folk, Poetry, The Old WaysLeave a comment

Tonight’s poem is this year’s official entry where I speak to the poet in my head and say, “I’ve got nothin’. Go write it without me.” This is what happens when I let these things write themselves.

Poem Write Thyself

The elder Gods, the ancient ones,

The ones we would deny.

The elder Laws, the ancient ones,

The ones we would defy.

We who now walk where legends strode,

With our diminished stride.

Pretend we are the pinnacle,

Yet know the truth inside.

The elder Gods, the ancient ones,

Forgotten not unmade.

Technology and med’cine now,

The ones we call for aid.

The elder laws, the ancient ones,

We flaunt and wonder why.

We have no blessings, find no peace,

And bitter tears we cry.

The rules were so clear back then,

Those were much simpler days.

The elder laws, the elder Gods,

All understood their ways.

We tell ourselves that times have changed,

That’s our excuse for all.

But when our need is at it’s worst,

It’s them we seek to call.

We call them by a different name,

Than what they used to know.

But they still recognize the tone,

Though we have wronged them so.

So now and then, our broken prayers,

An ancient God will find.

And they may grant our desperate wish,

But not ’cause they are kind.

There is a price that we must pay,

If their aid we would seek.

The ancient laws are very clear,

Their terms often quite bleak,

The elder Gods obey the laws,

Which most men have forgot.

Their aid is earned or bargained for,

But never can be bought.

So when our science and our skill,

Fall short of greatest need.

We may invoke the elder Gods,

The law says if we bleed.

For it is long since sacrifice,

Was offered for their fame.

And blood will buy forgiveness for,

Forgetting any name.

If you would seek the aid of them,

Beware the price you pay.

For elder Gods and elder laws,

Take blood the elder way.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo 2021 Day 27

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Personal Responsibility, Poetry, Self Awareness, UncategorizedLeave a comment

I struggle a lot with getting overwhelmed by the things I have to do. Then I don’t do them. Then I get more overwhelmed. Then I don’t do them… I think you see how that works. Well, I’ve been working at changing that. This poem kind of articulates that struggle for me.

The Way Forward

Sometimes the things we plan to do,

Do not go as we’d hope.

And then we stress and blame ourselves,

Step on that slippery slope.

Now from that stress, depression comes,

To sap our will to try.

It just gets worse the longer we,

Allow time to slip by.

Before you know it’s spiraled down,

So overwhelmed we feel.

And though we tell ourselves it’s not,

Our black despair is real.

But here’s a thing I’ve had to learn,

That’s not a healthy place.

If you give in, if you get stuck,

Believe you’re a disgrace.

You can get stuck, see no way out,

But that’s not true I swear.

You can get free, can break those chains,

Find your way back from there.

Like any trip, it’s that first step,

The bravest thing you do.

Once that thing’s done, take the next step,

And then another too.

There will be times it will be hard,

You take no step that day.

And maybe two or three go by,

You think you’ve lost your way.

But you aren’t beat so don’t despair,

Can’t lose until you quit.

So give yourself permission to,

Fail. Make your peace with it.

But from that setback rise back up,

Push on despite the pain.

For even just the smallest step,

Is still some kind of gain.

So understand you will despair,

But you don’t have to dwell.

For each step’s one step closer to,

Escaping from your hell.

Cheers, Winston

Sir Winston Churchill, for whom I was named, once famously said, “When you’re going through Hell, keep going.” It seems to apply here.

NaPoWriMo 2021 Day 26

On By WinstonIn Dark / Gothic, NaPoWriMo, Old Gods and Magic Folk, Personal, Poetry, The Old WaysLeave a comment

For some time now, I have been having a hard time sleeping through the night. I fall asleep quickly enough, but often wake up a few hours later then struggle to get back to sleep. Last night’s three and a half hour nap provided the fodder for today’s offering.

Ode to Pasithea

Oh elusive fleeting vision,

Which vanished in the night.

Would that you tarried here with me,

Until the morning light.

Far, far too soon you did depart,

While I bereft remain.

Of your sweet solace now deprived,

To face my day again.

Return to me I do implore,

Please bless me with your grace.

Remove the cares which freight my soul,

And with your peace replace.

Return, return I beg of you,

With me in darkness stay.

Then at the dawning take your leave,

Do what you will all day.

Oh Pasithea if you hear,

Your husband’s favour bring.

If Hypnos grant this boon to me,

Your praises I will sing.

Again in darkness I awake,

To find sleep fled once more.

It seems that Hypnos though a God,

Cannot abide my snore.

Cheers, Winston

Note: Hypnos was the Greek God of Sleep. Pasithea, his wife, is believed to have been the Goddess of Rest and Relaxation.