Category: NaPoWriMo

NaPoWriMo Day: 19 Lucky In Love

On By WinstonIn Loving Life, NaPoWriMo, PersonalLeave a comment

Here we are at day nineteen of the NaPoWriMo challenge. Throughout this process as in everything, Lynn has been incredibly supportive of me. I realized that in amongst all the rest I had yet to write her a love poem. Today I would rectify that oversight.

Enjoy!

Lucky In Love

My love she is a wondrous girl
I’m lucky as can be.
She puts up with my whims and fits
And hasn’t murdered me.

I don’t know why she loves me so
But I’m one lucky guy.
My sweetheart is so good to me
Sometimes I almost cry.

When we’re in line while at the cash
She hugs me from behind.
I feel such love within that hug
It simply blows my mind.

She always finds the perfect gift
Wants nothing back it seems.
She shares her hopes and fears with me
As we build up our dreams.

A million times a million things
And millions more as well.
These are the reasons I am blessed
To in her sweet love dwell.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day: 18 A Night Terror

On By WinstonIn NaPoWriMo, Personal, UncategorizedLeave a comment

When I was a child, I suffered from extremely vivid nightmares. I would awake from them utterly convinced of their reality. A couple of cries in the night quickly established my father’s impatience with such behaviour.

The realization that my father wasn’t going to help me was, in its own way, more terrifying than the nightmares. That fear is the inspiration for day 18s NaPoWriMo entry.

Enjoy!

My Childhood Nights

There’s something lurking in the dark
Behind my closet door.
No way I’ll call out to my Dad
Made that mistake before.

I swear the door just moved a bit
The gap is bigger now.
I stare until I see a shape
There in the dark somehow.

I wish that I was brave enough
To go and close that door.
But no reward could make me put
My feet down on the floor.

I curl right down into a ball
Tuck my sheet in all ’round.
And when they wake me in the morn
That’s still how I’ll be found.

My father says “They are not real. ”
” Don’t fill your head with fluff.”
He’s grownup so he cannot see
Or recall well enough.

He has assured it is not real
But wise words cannot fix.
The terror I feel squirming here
For I am only six

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day: 17 BBC Nature

On By WinstonIn Media, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Pop Culture, UncategorizedLeave a comment

I’m a huge fan of nature documentaries. I have been since I was a kid. At this time, I’ve got to say nobody can hold a candle to the BBC.

I recently picked up BBC Africa. While watching the first episode, I was reminded again of just how much I love their work. My 17th NaPoWriMo piece is a tribute to the BBC and their incredible teams.

Enjoy!

BBC Nature

I’d like to thank the BBC
I am a nature nut.
They bring all life’s wonders to me
While I sit on my butt.

They show me things I’d never see
Places I’d never go.
I’ve learned some things while watching them
I’d otherwise not know.

I’ve seen a cave that’s full of bats
And monkeys in hotsprings.
There’s beetles, sharks, volcanoes, more
Ten thousand wondrous things.

Through them I’ve been to India
Seen ocean’s hidden sights.
Watched bower bird build up his nest
So many more delights.

So thank you to the BBC
And all your roving teams.
For showing me these visions that
I’d only seen in dreams

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day: 16 The Haunter

On By WinstonIn NaPoWriMo, Personal, UncategorizedLeave a comment

NaPoWriMo Day 16 and it’s time for a ghost poem. This one is for all the busy little “psychic investigators” out there on reality TV.

Put away your parabolic microphones and digital thermometers you ghost bothering busy – bodies. If they want your help, they’ll call your agent.

Enjoy!

The Haunter

It walks alone no matter who
Is there when it goes by.
For years or maybe centuries
Enough to make you cry.

No one can say why it’s still there
It’s story long forgot.
The only one who knows is it
And it is saying nought.

It walks about quite late at night
Goes thumping down the hall.
It will not stop and talk to you
No matter how you call.

You see it here you see it there
But never where you plan.
It shows up when it feels like
Maybe just when it can.

It wandered here before we came
Will wander when we’re gone.
Will wander here ’til it is time
At last, it to move on.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day: 15 Writer’s Block

On By WinstonIn Humor, NaPoWriMo, Personal, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Today marks the halfway point in the NaPoWriMo challenge. So naturally, I had absolutely no clue what to write. As I was stressing about it, I began devising rhymes about my problem. Here is the result.

Enjoy!

Writer’s Block

I sit here and I ponder what
To write I have no clue.
At fifteen yarns the wells gone dry
I’m not sure what I’ll do.

I know that I should write something
I really have to try.
Today would be the halfway point
To miss might make me cry.

Done the werewolf done the vampire
Done violent games as well.
Done the drones and done my dog
Done God, oh bloody hell.

I guess I must accept the truth
I’ve nothing left to write.
With nothing more to offer you.
I fade into the night.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day: 14 Common Ground

On By WinstonIn Discrimation, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Personal Responsibility, Society, Values1 Comment

As I sneak up on the midpoint of the NaPoWriMo challenge, I wanted to get a bit more personal again. I’ve been the person who assumed their view was the only one. Fortunately, I’m slowly growing out of it. This poem is about the need to make that change, both as individuals and a society.

Common Ground

When I was young I thought I knew
So much more than I did.
But that is often how it is
When you are just a kid.

As I’ve aged my views have changed
As every viewpoint should.
I’ve learned to see a wider world
I wish more people would.

There’d be less strife, less needless hurt
If we just tried to see.
That person there might have a point
The problem could be me.

So spare a moment and a thought
And take a look around.
For when you open up your mind
You’ll find more common ground.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day:13 The Dream

On By WinstonIn NaPoWriMo, PersonalLeave a comment

Today’s NaPoWriMo entry grew out of just the first two lines. They were all I had when I started it. There was no sense of narrative or where it might go. I just allowed it the freedom to write itself. Probably the closest thing in here to “stream of consciousness”. Let me know what you think.

Enjoy.!

The Dream

I dreamed I walked along the shore
Beside a raging sea.
Above the screaming gulls wheeled by
It seemed they called to me.

Out on the sea I watched a brig
Run full before the gale.
She flew along like she had wings
And dared her mast to fail.

I turned and saw upon a rise
A horse as grey as smoke.
There on it’s back a fair young child
And as I looked she spoke.

Her words were lost beneath the noise
Of thunderous waves behind.
She tried again then turned her steed
Rode off, left me behind.

I tried so hard to follow her
But she was out of sight.
And then the next thing that I knew
Twas cloudy, moonless night.

I staggered through the batt’ring wind
How long I do not know.
When ‘tween the madly swaying trees
I saw the faintest glow.

Still on I strove far up a hill
The rain was pouring down.
Then through the darkness and the rain
One light became a town.

I plunged ahead my only thought
To reach the shelter there.
I did not see the precipice
Stepped off into the air.

I twisted as I dropped and saw
The girl on her grey.
And finally heard her words so clear
“You fool, don’t go that way! ”

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day: 12 Take 2 Penguin Dreams

On By WinstonIn NaPoWriMo, Personal, Self Awareness, UncategorizedLeave a comment

My first poem of the day was a bit heavy and political. This one’s a little lighter and fluffier.

Elsewhere on this blog, I wrote about “The Penguin and the Snake: A Parable About Self – Acceptance”. This is sort of a prequel.

Enjoy!

Penguin Dreams

A penguin sat upon the ice
And stared up at the sky.
He thought how happy he would be
If only he could fly.

He’d never seen a whale up there
Nor hungry, hungry seal.
If he could fly he’d be so pleased
To not be someone’s meal.

Then as he sat and thought some more
A plan began to form.
He’d travel far, he’d travel wide
And maybe somewhere warm.

He’d find someone to teach him how
To fly instead of swim.
So thinking this he fell asleep
A flying dream found him.

He bid farewell to all he knew
Then set out one fine day.
But it would be a long, long time
Before he found his way.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day: 12 Two Sided Story

On By WinstonIn Global Issues, NaPoWriMo, Politics, Society, Uncategorized, WarfareLeave a comment

I’ve been reading a fair bit about the ongoing drone war controversy. I don’t agree with the idea of murdering people because they might be a threat to your “interests” somewhere down the road. Let’s not kid ourselves. If you kill someone without due process of law, that’s murder. Even more so when the dead are “collateral damage” in something as vague and useless as a “War on Terror”.

So NaPoWriMo Day 12 looks at it from two different perspectives. The receiver is in a normal font. The sender in italics.

Enjoy!

Two Sided Story

I was sitting in a cafe
Somewhere that has no name
Drinking coffee with a good friend
The day the drone strike came.

I was sitting in a soft chair
Away from those I killed
I’d received a big promotion
Because I am so skilled.

Others were there with us that day
A dozen maybe more
When it was done the final count
Survivors, we are four.

It’s not my fault don’t try to blame
Me for the things I hit
I’m not the one who makes those calls
Just try to do my bit.

The smell of blood and burning flesh
Strong as the day they died
It’s never gotten easier
For all the tears I’ve cried.

They say here is your target site
Inside a terrorist
I ask if there are others there
I ask but don’t insist.

There’s some who say I should strike back
A part of me agrees
Yet then I know they’ll have their turn
Then us, like some disease.

Sometimes when I close my eyes
The mangled strangers there
Will reach for me, scream “I accuse!”
Or sometimes they just stare.

I know that some will choose revenge
That is their path to seek.
I choose to walk a different path
Some say this makes me weak.

But still I go to work each day
This is my path in life.
This pain the price I must pay to
Prevent a wider strife.

But I endure still seeking peace
Despite the odds I face.
I still believe in truth and good
And in the human race.

I hope one day that I won’t need
To do these awful things.
I hope we all can be at peace
Enjoy all that it brings.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day: 11 The Gamer

On By WinstonIn Humor, NaPoWriMo, Pop Culture, Society, Uncategorized, Video GamesLeave a comment

As a gamer, it bugs the crap outta me when some people announce that violent games and movies are more to blame than “gun culture” for mass shootings. I live in Canada. That means I’m exposed to all the same violent games and media as my southern neigbours. On the other hand, we experience a tiny fraction of the gun violence. Are we just inherently nicer? I don’t think so. We’re just less inured to the idea that shooting someone is a valid form of conflict resolution.

Today’s NaPoWriMo entry covers my feelings on the subject succinctly… and with a pinch of humour.

Enjoy!

The Gamer

I’ve blown something up again
I’ve crashed another car.
I’ve pulled out both my forty – fives
Shot up a crowded bar.

So now you think I am quite bad
Just rotten to the core.
But wait a sec, don’t judge me yet
There’s more oh so much more.

I’ve stolen cars and driven drunk
Hit people in the street.
The guns and bombs are very fun
But knifing is a treat.

You’re edgy now you back away
But you don’t understand.
All that stuff and more lives in,
Imagination land.

There’s dragons here and UFOs
And Nazis by the score.
There’s gangsters, grifters, cowboys too
And skeletons and more.

I drive a car I’ll never own
And save a galaxy.
I’m someone else with firmer abs
Than mine will ever be.

So blame my games for all your crime
If that’s what helps you sleep.
Just bear in mind that you are wrong
You foolish, foolish sheep.

Cheers, Winston