NaPoWriMo Day 8

For those of you who don’t know, the idea of the National Poetry Month Writing Challenge, is to write 30 poems in 30 days. That’s why all of these posts are headed with NaPoWriMo. Every time I do this, I hit days where I have absolutely no idea what to write. As you may have guessed, today is such a day. So here is today’s poem.

Le me know your thoughts.
BLANK PAGE, BLANK MIND

I sit and wonder what to write,

And think “Oh dearie me.”

Today is just the ninth and so,

Much more to do you see.

To want for inspiration now,

Is not a hopeful sign.

If I’m to have the slightest chance,

To hit this goal of mine.

Write thirty verse in thirty days,

That is no simple task.

But I will see it through somehow,

Some spark is all I ask.

In years before I’ve done this thing,

Spilt words upon the page.

Perhaps I’ve used up all my thoughts,

Perhaps it’s just my age.

But nothing comes now when I call,

There’s nothing in the well.

Creative block is less than fun,

It is a writer’s hell.

So bear with me, I’ll struggle on,

Spread words across the earth.

While clearly it’s not epic verse,

Enjoy. For what it’s worth.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 7

Accentuate the positive! It took me years to learn this seemingly simple lesson. Too often we focus on the negative. We remember the guy who cut us off in traffic but forget the person who slowed down to let us merge. So much of our happiness comes down to growing what we feed. Feed the negative in your life and that’s what will grow. Feed the positive and see what happens!

As always, I’d love to hear what you think.

 

How You Take It, Is What You Make It

The day is done, the sun goes down,

I look up at the night.

The stars and moon, their beauty share,

With gentle silver light.

 

As I think back upon my day,

It’s very clear to see.

That whether it was good or bad,

Is always up to me.

 

The good is where you look for it,

Sometimes it’s hard to find.

But like the bad, it’s always there,

It’s how you set your mind.

 

It’s true sometimes there’s nasty things,

No good in them I know.

But focus more on positives,

And let the hurtful go.

 

This is the only power we,

Can truly call our own.

We choose the things we keep inside,

It’s up to us alone.

 

Let darkness go and light abide,

Keep peace within your soul.

And every day just practice this,

With happiness your goal.

 

When day is done and sun has set,

You look up at the night.

Look back upon the day you had,

And focus on the light.

 

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 6

As so often happens, I started this with nothing more than the opening line. There was no sense of narrative or where it was going. I find that some of my best writing is done that way. Let me know what you think 🙂

 

DREAMING TOMORROW

 

Now go to sleep and dream sweet dreams,

Of how the world will be.

Dream how we’ll make it better than,

The one that we now see.

 

A world where each and every one,

Loves who and how they will,

And those who disagree accept,

Instead of hate or kill.

 

Dream of world where all have food,

And somewhere warm to sleep.

Where “Helping”, “Caring” aren’t just words,

But promises we keep.

 

Now sleep my child and dream a world,

Where Nature’s free to thrive.

And humans understand their place,

‘Midst all that is alive.

 

Dream all these dreams and more my love,

But learn from us this fact.

To dream is fine but things won’t change,

Unless we choose to act.

 

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 5

With all the division and bitterness in our society and in the news today, I felt the need to put something out there that’s a bit more positive. I hope you enjoy this take on our legacies. The ghosts we leave are people’s memories of us.

A QUICK GUIDE TO YOUR “AFTER” LIFE

A star I see from where I sit,

It shimmers in the night.

It’s travelled here so very far,

To shine on me tonight.

 

So sometime very long ago,

That light set out to me.

Not knowing if I would be here,

Now looking up to see.

 

A star I see from where I sit,

The memory of one.

It may have burned out long before,

Its epic journey’s done.

 

Yet I still see its light tonight,

So bright though oh so far.

And hope that when my time is done,

I’ll shine on like that star.

 

Each one we touch remembers us,

Some longer than the rest.

And those we treat with kindness they,

Remember us the best.

 

So think on this as you go forth,

Upon your busy day.

Let kindness be your legacy,

In loving mem’ries stay.

 

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 4

The great thing about National Poetry Month is it coincides with the start of Spring. Which guarantees at least one easy subject. When the wonder and beauty of this season stops inspiring me, I’ll hang up my keyboard.  In the meantime, there’s this…

 

A Song of Spring

The sweet touch of the Sun at dawn,

Oh how I miss it so.

All winter long the Sun is there,

Yet warmth we do not know.

 

Now Spring begins and so at last,

The cold will start to fade.

As nature wakes from her long sleep,

A joyous noise is made.

 

The birds return and leaves appear,

Soft grass grows green anew.

The nightly frost at last replaced,

With gentle morning dew.

 

Now raise your voice, the chorus join,

To praise returning Sun.

And look ahead to golden days,

Of summer filled with fun.

 

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 3

For the one true love of my life. Lynn: Every good thing that I am, I am because you have helped me become a better person. You make me want to be the best version of myself. Thank you for your patience, your kindness, your love… but most of all: Thank you for being you. I wish you every blessing and happiness. Know that I would not change you for the world. You are my perfect person, and I love you more than my poor words could ever say.

The One I Love

Now twenty years have come and gone,

A couple more as well.

I’m blessed to have you in my life,

This is the truth I tell.

There’s more than once I could have lost,

The greatest joy I’ve found.

But luck and love have seen us through,

Somehow we’ve held our ground.

I’m sorry love for every tear,

You’ve shed because of me.

But even at my very worst,

I’ve still held onto “We”.

With you I’m better than I was,

Before I won your heart

Now oftentimes, I think of you,

When arguments might start.

How would my Angel look at this?

Would these words make her proud?

And if the answer comes back no,

Don’t speak those words out loud.

And in the night when you reach out,

Just as you fall asleep.

You take my hand but touch my heart,

My soul is yours to keep.

So thank you love for every year,

Each minute of each day.

My angel you are why I sing,

Your love shows me the way.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 2

ON GREED

Oh once upon a time a King,

Sat on a Royal Throne.

While at his feet a Royal hound,

Gnawed on a Royal bone.

 

The bone belonged, or so it seemed,

To the late former King.

To normal folk, it’s murder clear,

To them a different thing.

 

Now heavy weighs the new King’s head,

Beneath it’s crown ill-got.

He looks out on his courtiers there,

Can almost hear them plot.

 

He knows for once he plotted there,

Before the late King’s throne.

Imagines he can see the stain,

Of blood upon the stone.

 

The new King knows he may not rest,

Must vigilant remain.

Lest Royal blood, his own this time,

Shall flow free once again.

 

So listen to this tale my friend,

And learn it’s lesson well.

The prize not always worth the price,

‘Til it’s too late to tell.

 

Please reach not for that thing you want,

If it’s not yours to take.

The very truth of who you are,

That is the wagered stake.

 

I thought I was a better man,

Than he who sat here then.

But I have killed to gain this crown,

To keep it killed again.

 

This is not who I meant to be,

Yet now I play this part.

While conscience shrieks and tears it’s hair,

Deep in my darkened heart.

 

This wisdom is the boon I grant,

From my high stolen seat.

While poisons drip and daggers glint,

‘Mongst those with words most sweet.

 

Now that is all I have to share,

My kingly wisdom spent.

Ignore desire and walk away,

Your evil ways repent.

 

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo 8

Be A Joyful Child

A long, long time ago there was,

A happy child at play.

The old face in the mirror asks,

Where is that child today?

Sometimes it seems like yesterday,

Sometimes an age or more.

Since I have seen that smiling face,

That long ago I wore.

I look for them sometimes it’s true,

That child I used to be.

And now and then, I catch a glimpse,

Of laughing, smiling me.

I think of how it was back then,

With future just a word.

And all the stress of adult life,

Not lived and seldom heard.

I couldn’t see the treasure of,

The life I lived back then.

Sometimes I wish I could go back,

And do it all again.

But that is not the way it works,

Each life goes just one way.

So find the child you used to be.

Let their joy fill your day.

NaPoWriMo 7

Own You

Why do we do the things we do?
What is it makes us go?
And when we do what we should not,
Pretend we didn’t know?
Some say this is the way we are,
Imperfect, full of sin.
Some say it’s what our parents did,
Still buried deep within.
I say it is each choice we make,
We make each one alone.
Not parents, God nor DNA,
It’s on our heads alone.
We choose to hold one person back,
Another person teach.
The hand that hurts, the hand that helps,
Just one mind guides them each.
We are just who we choose to be,
No truth could be so plain.
Some lash out from the smallest hurt,
Some rise above their pain.
You cannot choose all of the things,
That life will bring to you.
It’s up to you how you respond,
Think well before you do.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo 6

I Believe In Us

 

When all the news is doom and gloom,

And hope’s a fools game,

Remember we’ve been here before,

It’s just the tune that’s changed.

 

We only hear the worst of things,

Bad news sure travels fast.

But there is much that’s good as well,

Although we hear it last.

 

So many want to hear the worst,

To feel their lot is best.

It’s really hard to find the good,

When bad’s sought by the rest.

 

The worse the news, the more it plays,

It’s hard to get away.

Find better news more upbeat words,

Folks with good things to say.

 

So I’ll say this for those who seek,

For words some hope to bring.

I still believe in you and I,

And caring is the thing.

 

Cheers, Winston