Category: Personal

NaPoWriMo Day 28

On By WinstonIn NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, Self Awareness, Uncategorized, writer`s blockLeave a comment

Clearly, I didn’t make my goal of 30 poems in 30 days. Life happens. I still intend to deliver the last three as my writer’s block permits. Persuant to which…

On Not Finishing NaPoWriMo

The words all bleed and blend and blur,

Like sidewalk chalk in rain.

I shriek and moan inside my head,

Gone half-mad with the strain.

 

I try to force, somehow coerce,

Bend language to my will.

Although it’s worked so many times,

It seems I’ve lost that skill.

 

But wait! What’s this? A line or two,

And now a couple more.

Don’t dare to hope, just let them be,

Perhaps they’ll flow once more.

 

But now again I feel them slip,

In muddy, flailing haste.

I try to grasp and desperate cling,

To these poor words I’ve chased.

 

My voice fades out to nothingness,

And with it all I’ve made.

The ragged, tattered pages shred,

And now like them I fade.

 

Please bear with me, I’ll be right back,

My tortured brain must rest.

T’was hubris drove me here for I’m,

Not equal to this test.

 

Cheers, Winston

 

 

NaPoWriMo Day 25

On By WinstonIn Loving Life, NaPoWriMo, Nature, Personal, Poetry, UncategorizedLeave a comment

So the second poem yesterday didn’t happen. But here is another one. Been dreaming about oceanfront homes lately. This verse is inspired by those dreams.

On The Call of the Oceanfront

The crashing waves, and rustling trees,

All sing me to my rest.

While insects drone and bullfrogs croak,

This lullaby’s the best.

 

Sing now to me my island home,

Though I’m so far away.

And guided by your song I swear,

I’ll get there one fine day.

 

But now there’s work and life to live,

So much that must be done.

‘Ere I can sit upon your beach,

Beneath the morning sun.

 

I feel the spray upon my skin,

From waves upon your shore.

For in my heart I’m always there,

In dreams forever more.

 

But now there’s work and life to live,

Before I’m there again.

And once I’m there, my dream fulfilled,

Forever I’ll remain.

 

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 23

On By WinstonIn Loving Life, music, my blessed life, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, UncategorizedLeave a comment

In my last poem, I mentioned the soundtrack of my life. Here is a little more on that idea.

On The Music Of Life

My keyboard and a cup of tea,

Some tunes to sooth my mind.

And as the music washes through,

My inner voice I find.

 

Now as the notes are flowing through,

All else begins to flee,

This is the power music holds,

It strips me down to me.

 

It matters not, what song it is,

It changes every day.

But in the silence of the sound,

I find the words to say.

 

Yes, music is my fav’rite drug,

It lets my soul take flight.

It frees me from life’s petty cares,

It’s what makes life all right.

 

When I am sad it lifts me up,

I’m lost it brings me home.

I’m happy then it laughs with me,

Travels with me as I roam.

 

My music is my place of peace,

Far from the world I know.

When everything is just too much,

Into the sound I go.

 

So thank you all to those who make,

All these songs that I hear.

You’ll never know how much I love,

This music I hold dear.

 

And now I lay me down to sleep,

Music plays all night long.

I drift away to peaceful rest,

Borne there on wings of song.

 

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 21

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

I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night so figuring out today’s poem took a little more brain than usual. Turns out, lack of sleep can be its own reward… or at least its own inspiration… I think reward may be a little strong. Enjoy!

On Lack of Sleep

Come sleep, long sleep, deep sleep, blessed.

Please sleep, more sleep, must sleep, rest.

 

No more restless longing nights.

Filled with tossing, turning fights.

 

Long sleep, deep sleep, sleep at last.

I pray sleepless nights are past.

 

Staring at my ceiling still.

Cannot sleep and doubt I will.

 

Dawn gleams on my window pane.

Time to rise and shine again.

 

No sleep, don’t sleep, can’t sleep now.

Stay awake and work somehow.

 

Home and pray for sleep once more.

Sandman visit at my door.

 

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 19

On By WinstonIn Education, Global Issues, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, Society, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Once again, I am writing a day behind. It seems to be my new standard, but at least it’s done. Only eleven more to go.  Today’s offering is about believing in your dreams regardless of what “everybody knows”.

On What Is Impossible

It’s true that wonders never cease,

More happen every day.

Impossible is just a word,

Those with no vision say.

 

Next month SpaceX will launch a ship,

With astronauts to space.

Impossible so many said,

No way they’ll win that race.

 

In Mexico a neighbourhood,

Of 3D printed dreams.

Impossible or so they thought,

Quite possible it seems.

 

A place where are all are free to live,

And be just who they are.

Impossible? I pray it’s not,

Still sometimes seems so far.

 

Eight billion mouths and more to feed,

Then better crops design.

“Impossible! I’ll never eat,

those GMOs malign!”

 

For every wonderous thing we do,

There’s shouting from the wings.

“Impossible! Impossible!

You cannot do these things!”

 

The solvers and the dreamers know,

This secret sweet and true.

Impossible is just a word,

Let none take that from you.

 

Cheers, Winston

 

 

NaPoWriMo Day 18

On By WinstonIn Global Issues, Media, NaPoWriMo, Pandemic, Personal, Poetry, SocietyLeave a comment

With all the world facing the pandemic, I have been debating whether or not to write about it. This is my take on it.

On COVID 19

When things look bleak and we’re in fear,

Just know we will get through.

No matter how the deck looks stacked,

Believe we will get through.

Disease and death the headlines scream,

All wearing on your mind.

The news is all about this plague.

Keeps tearing at your mind.

Now it’s not safe to hug your friends,

Must stay two meters back.

When we most need that human touch,

Just stay two meters back.

When talking heads cannot agree,

On caution’s side should err.

And disregard the idiots,

Who without caution err.

So stay at home if possible,

The least that you can do.

And if you must go out stay safe,

The best that you can do.

But if you are essential then,

My thanks for all you do.

I pray you come through safe and sound,

Be blessed for all you do.

Now hold to this one truth I tell,

Just know we will get through.

When overwhelmed in heart and mind,

Believe we will get through.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 17

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

Once again, life has conspired to delay a post. I’m still in the fight, but some days it’s lions 47, gladiators 0. Yesterday was one of those days.

On Being a Night-Owl

Bright and blessed the day may be,

But sacred is the night.

Life’s labours done beneath the sun,

But sacred is the night.

When work is done and darkness falls,

‘Tis then we truly pray.

At end of day, in darkness wrapped,

‘Tis then we truly pray.

We run all day, our brains a-whirl,

Our refuge is the night.

All rush, all work, no time to pause,

Our refuge is the night.

Our minds and bodies seek the sun,

But souls embrace the dark.

We rush through days of light and sound,

But souls embrace the dark.

We live our lives beneath the sun,

But sacred is the night.

We sing the praises of the day,

But sacred is the night.

So still your mind and still your voice,

Embrace night’s velvet peace.

Now rest your soul in dark stillness,

Embrace night’s velvet peace.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 16

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, Technology, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Originally I had written a totally different poem tonight. Then a system crash wiped it out completely. But there’s a lesson in everything we experience. That was today’s lesson.

On Perseverence

A terrifying thing to see.

A screen so blank and white.

As I sit here staring blankly,

My thoughts flit round in fright.

I finally begin to write,

My fingers fly along.

The verse I write about the joy,

I find in each bird’s song.

I write so fast, I write so true,

I finish in a flash.

But wait what’s this it cannot be,

Oh no! A system crash.

My verse is gone and so I stare,

Once more at blank white screen.

I know it would have been a hit,

If anyone had seen.

So now I write this doggerel,

My hope of greatness crushed.

The time grows late the deadline looms,

That’s why this new one’s rushed.

So now I bid a fond goodnight,

To all whom my words reach.

For on my phone I’ve set this verse,

That is what I would teach.

When everything you’ve made is lost,

And hope’s in short supply.

Just don’t give up, there’s work-arounds,

You’ll find them if you try.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 15

On By WinstonIn Environment, Loving Life, NaPoWriMo, Nature, Personal, Poetry, spring, UncategorizedLeave a comment

I was supposed to post this yesterday, but sometimes life happens. Another one will magically appear in due course. Hopefully before the end of the day 🙂

On Missing Nature

A long and winding country road,

A field of high, sweet hay.

Ten billion stars above my head,

To gaze at where I lay.

 

A lazy stream meanders through,

A wild wood nearby.

It flows down from the ancient hills,

Bare shouldered ‘gainst the sky.

 

I wander through the woods and hills,

Sip from a hidden spring.

With every step, much closer now,

To nature do I seem.

 

I pause to rest and start to doze,

Beneath a willow tree.

With gods of hills and woods and streams,

All watching over me.

 

This is a dream I often dream,

While urban life I live.

To capture just a part of this,

Who knows what I would give.

 

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 11

On By WinstonIn Humor, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, Uncategorized, writer`s blockLeave a comment

At least once each year, I hit a point where I can’t think of a single thing to write about. This invariably leads to something like the following.

On Writer’s Block

Another day has come and gone,

And here I sit once more.

With keyboard and an empty head,

I’ve been through this before.

 

There is no verse inside my head,

No trick to make this right.

I greatly fear the truth is there,

Shall be no post tonight.

 

I could resort to tricks of old,

Write that I cannot rhyme.

That would be cheating I suppose,

But still there is the time.

 

In thirty minutes give or take,

Tomorrow will begin.

And then with two to write, my God,

The mess I will be in.

 

So for tonight, this boilerplate,

Of simple thoughtless rhymes.

And then to sleep and hope the dawn,

Brings more productive times.

 

Cheers, Winston