Category: Poetry

NaPoWriMo Day 11

On By WinstonIn Extended Family,, family, Friendship, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, Reaping What We've Sown, Relationships, This crew of mine, Values, Work WifeLeave a comment

I’m the deputy supervisor of my team at work and I’ve been off for a while for health reasons. During that time, several of my staff have reached out to see when I’m going to be back, or if I need any help. One of them even offered to shovel my driveway during the winter. Lately, I’ve been missing my “other” family.

My Extended Family

I have another family,

That I spend time with too,

Sometimes they drive me to the brink,

I don’t know what to do.

They have their spats as fam’lies do,

Then all tell me their woes,

What’s every side to every beef?

I am the one who knows.

All of them know that they can come,

When something’s on their mind,

While maybe I can’t fix it all,

A friendly ear they’ll find.

And when the news is something good,

I’m there to celebrate,

I build them up and help them grow,

My goal to make them great.

There’s some who don’t appreciate,

The effort that I make,

They don’t believe I really care,

Say all they see is fake.

But that’s okay, that’s how it goes,

I still treat them the same,

For in the end, we’re all one team,

All playing the same game.

I am a supervisor see,

This family my staff,

Some days they make me tear my hair,

But still find time to laugh.

If for each other, we don’t care,

Then just who will I ask,

Such kindness looks like weakness so,

Let’s focus on the task.

A rising tide lifts every boat,

And happy staff do more,

Head office thinks that’s why I fight,

To help my people soar.

The truth is I was one of them,

Before I got this spot,

I understand and so would ease,

The burden of their lot.

They’re my extended family,

For better or for worse,

As my phone rings, I’m wondering,

A blessing or a curse.

Cheers,

NaPoWriMo Day 10

On By WinstonIn Creative Drive, Creativity, Digital Art, digital drawing, Drawing, My Art, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Personal Creativity Project,, Poetry, Putting yourself out thereLeave a comment

Between poetry and drawing I’ve been a bit of a creative roll lately. It got me thinking about why I do these things. I’m pretty sure that if you put me in a cave with the necessary tools and no contact with the outside world I’d still create. Nonetheless, I don’t live in a cave so I value the feedback I get on my art whatever form it takes. Today’s poem sums it up. Enjoy!

Creative Bits of Me

There’s joy I find when I create,

No matter what I do,

I write, I draw, or carve, or sculpt,

It all comes down to you.

If you engage with what I’ve made,

My effort’s not in vain,

But if you don’t, then back I go,

To try and try again.

For art without an audience,

Is Caesar without Rome,

It looks the same, but what’s the point,

A house, but not a home.

Sometimes with pencil, pen or paint,

My mind I’ll illustrate,

Yet other times with prose or verse,

My thoughts elucidate.

But none of this means anything,

Without your eyes and mind,

Only when you experience,

My art is it defined.

So take a look or read a verse,

There’s plenty more to see,

As I continue sharing these,

Creative bits of me.

Cheers,

NaPoWriMo Day 9

On By WinstonIn Bullying, Enlightenment, Global Issues, homelessness, Loving Life, my blessed life, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, Self Awareness, Society, ValuesLeave a comment

Again today, I allowed my mind to wander off and write this without too much direction from me.  Sometimes it surprises me with what it comes up with.  Enjoy!

Something To Think About

As I sit down to write this verse,

My mind goes wand`ring free,

Then it returns, comes back at last,

It seems to say to me…

Closely attend and listen well,

To wisdom I did glean,

For we are blessed more than we know,

You`ll see just what I mean.

You sit here and you write these lines,

No real cares it`s true,

You are well fed, and housed and clothed,

No one is threatening you.

Sure you`ve some problems, don`t we all,

But none existential,

You may not have all that you want,

But more than essential.

I don`t say this to put you down,

Or make you feel small,

I`d only hope you`d understand,

To some, you have it all.

A spouse, a kid, a house, a dog,

And so much more than that,

You`ve never faced a winter yet,

Without a decent hat.

You`ve always had enough to eat,

Though maybe not ideal,

I know except sometimes by choice,

You`ve never missed a meal.

Sure you`ve been bullied, beaten up,

Bad actors seen your share,

You`ve never held a friend who`s shot,

Begged God in des`prate prayer.

We live in an oasis here,

So sheltered we`ve gone blind,

To so much in the world around,

It overwhelms the mind.

As my mind talked, I promised I`d,

Take some time every day,

To focus on how blessed I am,

In every single way.

Cheers,

NaPoWriMo Day 8

On By WinstonIn A Blessing, family, Friendship, homesickness, Love, Loving Life, Memories, my blessed life, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, Relationships, The Choices We Make, ValuesLeave a comment

I moved away from my hometown 25 years ago. I left behind my family and almost everyone I knew. I made a new start and haven’t regretted that decision for a minute. But that doesn’t mean I don’t miss them. This weekend, my brother and his wife were in the area visiting her family so we had the chance to get together. It was like we’ve never been apart. That is a gift and a blessing. Happy Easter to those who celebrate it. Enjoy!

My Family Blessing

I have been blessed throughout my life,
With family I have found,
Both that which I was born into,
And those life brought around.

They’ve brought me through my darkest times,
Been there to celebrate,
They praise me when I’m doing well,
Coach when I’m not so great.

But mostly they are always there,
Though they aren’t seen for years,
For when we talk, we still will share,
Our laughter and our tears.

Sometimes we argue, disagree,
As people sometimes do,
Sometimes our tongues get sharper than,
They should, I know it’s true.

But then we talk and work it out,
Remember who we are,
Remember that without them all,
We’d not have come so far.

Though we may not forget some slight,
Forgiveness is our way,
Remember there’s more good than bad,
Whatever pride may say.

For that’s what family means to us,
And always will to me,
Forever one, forever loved,
And ever more will be.

Cheers,

NaPoWriMo Day 7

On By WinstonIn Courage, Patience and Hope, Enlightenment, My Art, NaPoWriMo, Perseverence, Personal, Poetry, Self Awareness, The Choices We MakeLeave a comment

As an artist and generally creative person, I’m constantly trying to learn new techniques or otherwise improve my skills. This can be a lot of work. It can be immensely frustrating too. I can’t tell you how many partially completed drawings, paintings etc I have walked away from. But then I start trying to figure out what went wrong so I can find a new way to fail next time. As the saying goes, we learn more from failure than success. By that metric, I should be truly gifted by now. That is the theme for today’s poem. Enjoy!

Perseverence

Sometimes we try to do a thing,

We’ve never done before,

And though we try our best to learn,

There’s always something more.

We try and try and try and fail,

Think this will never be,

So many times, we just give up,

Our dreams we never see.

But there’s no law says we must quit,

Because the road is long,

For if there were, no one would paint,

You’d have no favourite song.

For everyone who’s tried to go,

Somewhere they have no map,

Has found themselves in that same place,

Has stepped in that same trap.

It’s up to us what we will do,

Give up or carry on,

The only time we truly lose,

Is when our fight is gone.

And so rise up and persevere,

I’m sure that you’ll succeed,

For courage, patience and some hope,

Are all the things you need.

Cheers,

NaPoWriMo Day 6

On By WinstonIn Embrace the Wild, Enlightenment, Fantasy, Loving Life, music, my blessed life, NaPoWriMo, Nature, Poetry, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Now for something completely different. Well at least different from the tone so far this month. Today’s offering is a little more in tune with what I’ve written in years past. As I used to do, I just started writing and let the energy of the words decide the rest. Enjoy!

Natural Healing For A Weary Soul

I looked out of my window and,

Saw sitting in the tree,

A little songbird singing there,

And looking back at me.

It sang the sweetest song I’ve heard,

Each note so clear and pure,

So unprepared to hear such truth,

How could my heart endure?

Yet still it sang and spellbound I,

Sat rapt within that song,

And though I sat my soul swept forth,

And gaily danced along.

How long it sang I could not say,

Then I awoke renewed,

My every fibre filled with love,

Soft light in all I viewed.

I do not claim to understand,

That songbird’s magic gift,

When problems come I hear that tune,

And feel my soul lift.

A blessing on that little bird,

Who blessed my weary heart,

And showed me there is always hope,

Each day a brand new start.

Cheers,

NaPoWriMo Day 5

On By WinstonIn Embrace the Wild, Environment, Global Issues, Green Energy, NaPoWriMo, Nature, Personal Responsibility, Poetry, Reaping What We've Sown, Science, Society, spring, The Bill Always Comes Due, The Choices We Make, ValuesLeave a comment

So, the area I live in is currently in the grip of a massive, late season ice storm. Today’s poem is in recognition of this and looks at the dangers of climate change and our role in it. Enjoy!

Anthropocene

Ice yet lies thick upon the ground,

Though winter’s in the past,

Now any day the spring will come,

This mis’ry cannot last.

Yet ice still clings to every branch,

And turns the roads to glass,

But soon enough this all will melt,

Replaced by sweet, green grass.

And still the ice yet thicker grows,

What if this is the year?

The winter holds on just too long,

What will we eat my dear?

Ice covered fields, as yet unthawed,

Too late to plant a crop,

You think this just a farmer thing,

Wait ‘til you try to shop!

The ice is just our weather here,

Elsewhere it’s floods and drought,

With wildfires burning free,

Can be but little doubt.

This ice you see is just one face,

Of what our choices bought,

Now look in terror ‘round the globe,

What our own hands have wrought.

This ice will melt, do not despair,

The end is not yet writ,

We yet may change our future path,

If we but find the wit.

Yet even though the ice will melt,

Don’t think that all is well,

If we refuse to change our ways,

That tale’s too sad to tell.

Cheers,

NaPoWriMo Day 4

On By WinstonIn Bullying, Discrimation, Enlightenment, Friendship, LGBTQ+, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, Proud Ally, Society, ValuesLeave a comment

I am not gay or transgender, but I have very dear friends in both of those communities. When I see them being dismissed, or outright attacked, it makes me very cross. So yeah… I guess I’m “Woke”. Enjoy!

Woke

I’m told I am a “woke half-wit”,

For showing some respect,

And kindness where it’s needed most,

No more than I’d expect.

Now “woke” is yelled by some who feel,

Their freedom under threat,

The freedom to bully and mock,

Is such a loss I bet.

I have some friends are transgender,

And some friends who are gay,

I have to say, none have tried to,

Change me in any way.

The “gay agenda” is a myth,

As most sane people know,

But some don’t understand just fear,

Down rabbit holes they go.

They find someone who shares their fear,

Hang on their every word,

The echo chamber grows so loud,

No other voice is heard.

So am I woke? I guess I am,

And that’s okay with me,

If that means to see who you are,

And then just let you be.

Unless you choose from ignorance,

To strike some thoughtless blow,

Dismiss, diminish who they are,

Then guess where you can go.

Cheers,

NaPoWriMo Day 3

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, Reaping What We've Sown, Self Awareness, The Bill Always Comes Due, The Choices We MakeLeave a comment

Recently, I have been experiencing some health challenges which have had a major impact on my life. So, the best way to process it seemed to write it out. Tomorrow, I should be back to my more usual fare. In the meantime…  Enjoy.

I Am The Author Of My Fate

We all make plans from where we are,

To where we want to be.

But life it seems has it’s own schemes,

That we but seldom see.

For years I lived just as I pleased,

Immortal in my youth,

I smoked and drank and ate my fill,

Ignored my health in truth.

Then after twenty years or more,

There was some troubling stuff,

My breath was short, stairs more a chore,

I said that was enough.

I haven’t smoked in many years,

Nor drunk in quite a while.

I’m eating less, more exercise,

You’d think it cause to smile.

Yet still despite these changes I,

Had tightness in my chest,

Which soon enough became such pain,

I knew this was no jest.

I did the work and took the tests,

Confirmed is heart disease.

The doctor said I am quite young,

I said just fix it please.

The stents went in, the pain was gone,

My life was once more mine.

But then the strangest feeling came,

No longer was I fine.

Not pain but pressure in my chest,

No energy at all,

A racing heart for hours then,

Was like I’d hit a wall.

And then more tests to understand,

My new situation,

My heart’s defective wiring caused,

Atrial fibrillation.

So back into the shop I go,

To get the wiring fixed,

And from the start they are up front,

Long term results are mixed.

For three years all was good as gold,

My heart worked like it should,

But now it has come back again,

As they had warned it could.

Twice I have gone to get it shocked,

Restore a normal pace,

My doctor said that is not good,

These pills should slow that race.

And so they do most of the time,

Still some blips here and there,

But they will keep the worst in check,

‘Til they once more repair.

The issue is the side effects,

Of this new med I take,

For tremors, nausea, vomiting,

Are things this drug can make.

For two months now, I haven’t worked,

Just once have left my home,

I hate to throw up publicly,

Which limits where I roam.

Soon now I’ll see the doctor who,

Will sort this out again,

And finally leave these drugs behind,

I’ll get my life back then.

Cheers,

NaPoWriMo 2023 Day 2

On By WinstonIn My Art, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, Self AwarenessLeave a comment

People often ask me why I put so much effort into this challenge each year. It is as simple and as complex as this. I want to create something which may outlast my time in this world. None of these are great and immortal verse, yet if there is something in one of them which is recalled after the initial reading, or a drawing which crosses the viewer’s mind down the road, then I have taken a step on the road to a more lasting legacy. Today’s poem speaks to that quest for immortality through one’s body of work. Enjoy!

Why Do I Try?

I am an artist this I know,

With scars upon my soul.

Of every work that I create,

For each must take it’s toll.

Whether fine verse, image or prose,

I seek with every page,

A record of some part of me,

To last beyond my age.

I highly doubt that I shall find,

Posterity I’d claim,

For though some few enjoy my craft,

I’m far from any fame.

I can’t resist the visions, they,

Come crashing through my mind,

So once more I set pen to page,

Perhaps this time to find.

Some secret I have missed ‘til now,

With which to make my mark,

Lest I remain forever lost,

In long forgotten dark.

Cheers,