Personal Creativity Project

On By WinstonIn Fairy Poem, Fantasy, Personal Creativity Project,, Poetry, Uncategorized3 Comments

Well….. I’ve made it through NaPoWriMo with at least a few brain cells intact. Now that I’ve had a week to recharge the batteries, I’ve decided it’s time to remedy that. I’m going to seque into a new format. Instead of writing a poem every single day, I’m going to try and put up something creative two or three times a week. It may be a poem, or a drawing; a bit of short fiction or an essay on something of interest to me. Whatever it may be, the page will continue…

 

THE OLD WAYS

I take a little bread and milk,

And put it in a bowl.

I leave it for the little folk,

Who live beneath the knoll.

 

It’s best to always care for them,

For then they’ll care for you.

But if you don’t, you cannot guess,

Just what it is they’ll do.

 

If you should be out on the green,

And hear a piping song.

Or someone fiddling merrily,

You must not tarry long.

 

The little folk all love to dance,

They’re merry ’tis no lie.

If they ensnare you with their tunes,

You’ll dance until you die.

 

There is a hole a hidden way,

Which leads beneath the sod.

Where dwell the folk of legend still,

Safe from invading God.

 

I know you’ve heard of treasure there,

Such riches so they say.

But do not try to find that hoard,

I beg you stay away.

 

For all you’ll find is fairy dust,

Which gets into your mind.

‘Til you forget the real world.

Drift off leave all behind.

 

Now in the morning mist I see,

The long grass start to sway.

I know the ancient folk are out,

To start upon their day.

 

So honour them, these folk of yore,

Your offerings prepare.

For though you may not see or hear,

I swear they still are there.

 

The folk of legend, little folk,

Dwell still beneath the hill.

And dance and laugh and sing each night,

I pray they always will.

 

Cheers, Winston

 

 

NaPoWriMo Day 30

On By WinstonIn Loving Life, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry2 Comments

Today is the last of April and so the last day of NaPoWriMo. It’s true, I haven’t made any effort to follow the writing prompts, but I have written 30 poems this month. In that spirit, I feel entitled to a little celebration. To everyone who made it this far, Congratulations! To everyone who participated, Thank you so much for sharing your words with the rest of us!

THE FINAL VERSE…….?

Oh day of days, this final day,

Relief through me does flow.

Though I rejoice to see it done,

I’ll miss it now I know.

I’ve sweated and I’ve cursed it and,

I’ve dreaded each new day.

Dreaded knowing sometime I must,

Run out of things to say.

But here I am and finally,

My tortured brain may rest.

Though I’ve not writ some epic ode,

I’ve done my very best.

Now every time I try to speak,

I spout some silly rhyme.

If I can’t break this habit I,

May lose my mind in time.

So pop the cork and fill the glass,

We’ve made it one more year.

To everyone who shared their voice,

Who overcame their fear.

I thank you for the words you’ve shared,

For every line you’ve penned.

I wonder if like me you both,

Dread and applaud the end.

But stick around, don’t go just yet,

There’s more to come you see.

There’s writing and there’s artworks and,

More little bits of me.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 29

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

Any time I’m at a loss for inspiration, I can always rely on my muse. My angel Lynn… I love you!

A BLESSING ON YOU ALL

I look up at the night and see,

The stars twink’ling above.

I look beside, and there she is,

The woman that I love.

Which is the greater wonder is,

Quite difficult to say.

Except that love is just as plain,

Here in the light of day.

The splendour of the stars is great,

But it is all for naught.

Without someone to share it with,

The joy is soon forgot.

I point out constellations to,

The wonder next to me.

With her fresh eyes, it seems like them,

For my first time I see.

In the garden, she shows to me,

A bloom I’ve never known.

The magic of it’s scent tells us,

It bloomed for us alone.

I wish that everyone who reads,

These words may someday know.

A love like this, a blessing which,

Each day will live and grow.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 28

On By WinstonIn Dark / Gothic, Discrimation, Macabre, NaPoWriMo, Poetry, Uncategorized, Values1 Comment

Because of the last two night shifts and having to work tomorrow at 0600, I haven’t slept since about 1430 yesterday. This has some strange effects upon my little brain. For starters, I had absolutely no idea what to write about today, only the determination to not miss a post this close to the end of the month. So I just started putting words on the page and trusted it to write itself. Enjoy!

WELCOME TO YOUNGWICH PLOT

“You are a witch and so must burn!”

The magistrate declared.

So terrified, the young girl sobbed,

And in her heart despaired.

“All these good folk have seen you dance,

With devils in the night.”

“And when you spoke to Widow Blythe,

She fell down dead of fright.”

“You’ve cursed a babe and blighted crops,

Done Satan’s own dark deeds.”

“You’ve done all this and so much more,

To suit your evil needs.”

“When you have died, your grave shall be,

Unhallowed, unmarked plot.”

“With iron chains and salted earth,

To bind you to the spot!”

“Now speak the truth, or not at all,

Repent now, do not lie!”

“Confess to us your evil ways,

Confess before you die!”

Her fate confirmed, she stands up straight,

“The truth is what you seek?”

“Then harken to my words and learn,

About your future bleak.”

“The spells I weave, no devils need,

All nature is my loom.”

“It’s true that with some herbs I mix,

I fly upon a broom.”

“I’ve done my best to help this town,

Through famine, drought and plague.”

“And many a good Christian has,
Sought my help with the ague.”

“But then one day an old man tried,

To have his way with me.”

“So I did as my Mother taught,

Displaced him with my knee.”

“Then Sunday next, that man stood up,

And lied of me to you.”

“He is a man and I am not,

So his words must be true.”

“He swore he’d seen me dancing with,

Three devils in the night.”

“But did not say why he was there,

So late to see that sight.”

“What was it that he hoped to see,

When peeping in that pane?”

“Was he possessed of some dark urge,

From which he’d not refrain?”

“But you don’t want to hear this truth,

I see this plain as day.”

“There’s just one thing before I stop,

It’s this that I will say.”

“By powers of the earth and air,

And of the waters deep.”

“From now until your lives are spent,

You’ll know no restful sleep.”

“Each time you close your eyes to rest,

Wherever, you may be.”

“My tortured face all wreathed in flame,

Is all that you shall see.”

“Your stock shall flee across the land,

To seek their wild way.”

“Your lands shall bear no crops for you,

“Now heed these words I say.”

“Now none of this must needs to pass,

Surcease my freedom buys.”

“But if I burn, this curse shall last,

‘Til each one present dies!”

They burned the witch so legend says,

Her every word came true.

Those who slew her soon rued the day,

Too late there’s naught to do.

So now you know the reason for,

The name our town has got.

I welcome one and welcome all,

Welcome to Youngwich Plot.

Cheers Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 27

On By WinstonIn NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, writer`s block2 Comments

So… here I am almost at the end of the month and I get tagged to work a couple of overnight shifts. I’m normally a Monday to Friday 0600-1400 worker, so the change is wreaking havoc with my brain. This of course made it problematic to focus on writing. Naturally, that problem became the focus of tonight’s poem. Enjoy!

NOTHING DEEP IN HERE

Come words, come rhymes, I summon verse,

I wish it worked that way.

Then I would not stare blankly at,

This page and sigh each day.

The juices of creation flow,

At some lost muse’s whim.

The odds of pulling off this feat,

Are looking mighty slim.

But I keep typing, keep the hope,

That I may yet prevail.

Though truthfully I more suspect.

Spectacularly fail.

Now rhyme by rhyme and word by word,

I slowly closer creep.

To finishing this verse I write,

To once more joyous leap.

As I tie off this poem now,

With just three left to go.

At tunnel’s end there is a light,

Please God just let words flow.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 26

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, Global Issues, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, Politics, Society, Values, Warfare1 Comment

I know that the sentiments in today’s poem probably won’t be popular with some people. That’s okay. I’m kinda used to people disagreeing with me. They have that right. Just don’t think that outrage is going to change the truth of my words here.

I would also like to point out that this is nothing to do with the fine people who wear the uniform in harms way. This is about the ones who send them out to bleed, break and die for no reason.

OUR ENDLESS WAR

Now sound the trumpet, beat the drum,

Cry war throughout the land.

The time has come to teach our foes,

The end is close at hand.

They do not think or act like us,

Barbarians or worse.

If they will not be more like us,

Their name shall be a curse.

If they would try, then they could be,

Just like us here at home.

But they refuse the gifts we bring,

So our troops we let roam.

To do with bullets and with bombs,

What words and cash can’t do.

Those who cling to their culture now,

Defiance they shall rue.

We preach of freedom only if,

They become just like me.

But if they won’t, then rubble mounds,

Will their whole nation be.

So woe betide the people who,

Their lives choose to defend.

We’ll murder, bomb and burn their lands,

In wars that never end.

Our cause is just, this is a fact,

Because we have said so.

But when the slaughter finally ends,

Was it? We’ll never know.

The ones we kill are gone it’s true,

But those we leave behind.

No counselling or help they get,

For broken, tortured mind.

They’ll wallow in the blood we’ve spilt,

From cradle to the grave.

When all you’ve known is blood and death,

To strike back is not brave.

The only lesson we have taught,

With all that we have done.

If you don’t like how someone lives,

Life’s cheap. Kill everyone.

We’ve proven that, you can’t force change,

There must be something more.

A way of peace and of respect,

Not endless, bloody war.

Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 25

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, Self Awareness, Uncategorized2 Comments

I’m posting this a little later in the day than usual. I spent my morning at the Heart Institute getting some tests done. Many of the other people there are in far worse shape than be so it served as a “Memento Mori”. It started me thinking about my eventual end, and this is what came out of it. Enjoy!

A SPARK TO MARK MY PLACE

Sometimes when I’m reminded of,

My own mortality.

I realize I’ll one day face,

The utter end of me.

I wonder where the time has gone,

Just where the years all went.

I’ve lived my life like anyone,

But was my time well spent?

Should I regret the things undone,

The chances that I’ve missed,

Or bow my head and thank the fates,

For each time I’ve been kissed?

And of the lives that I have touched,

Which ones will shed a tear?

And which will share a laugh about,

Some mem’ry they hold dear?

Why do I ask? It matters not.

When I no longer live.

As I wink out, will I believe,

I gave all I could give?

There’s more that I could do not doubt,

Before I leave this place.

Not something grand, some little thing,

To ripple through my race.

Perhaps this verse could be that thing,

That in a thousand years,

Someone may find and read these words,

Find themselves moved to tears.

But maybe not, I cannot know,

Just hope to leave a mark.

And pray some tiny spark remains,

When my own light goes dark.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 24

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, Self Awareness2 Comments

In my experience, each of us carries things with us that we keep locked away from those around us. If we are truly blessed, we will find someone with whom we can share almost anything…. but there’s still that one secret corner that even we don’t want to look into. Today’s poem is about that corner. Enjoy.

HIDE NO MORE

To speak the truth that’s in my heart,

To this I do aspire.

That what I write should burn without,

Reflect my inner fire.

That those who read should somehow glimpse,

The real me inside.

That words could peel off the mask,

Myself no longer hide.

For everyone of us is masked,

Lest those who judge us say.

“Behold the freak, the misfit there!”

From us then turn away.

Yes deep inside our secret hearts,

Each has some secret thing.

And each of us is sure that it,

An end to us would bring.

And so we lock that thing away,

We pray no one will ask.

And day by day that fear becomes,

Our old familiar mask.

But we cannot of these things speak,

No more could I mine write.

But when alone might whisper soft,

Deep in the darkest night.

Admit to you if no one else,

That thing within your heart.

That simple act, that honesty,

At least it is a start.

I do not care just what it is,

Behind the mask you wear.

If you accept and own your truth,

A lighter load you’ll bear.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 23

On By WinstonIn Uncategorized2 Comments

As they used to say on Monty Python’s Flying Circus…. “and now for something completely different.” I love ghost stories. I always have, and so they serve as another recurring theme in my poetry. Enjoy!

MY OBSESSION

I do not sleep at all these days,

I have not for some time.

I wish just to complete my verse,

I seek that final rhyme.

So many words within my head,

A rude, unruly mass.

I snatch, and grab and try to catch,

The right one as they pass.

But every time I think that I,

Have finally got the one.

The clever line I thought I had,

Forgot and so undone.

But I go on, I know it’s there,

Deep down within my mind.

If I keep on, I know that I,

One day the words will find.

I pace about all day and night,

My thoughts through chaos dance.

And seek to find one perfect word,

If not by skill, by chance.

I’ve laboured at this verse so long,

That nothing else remains.

Not love nor life nor anything,

Nobody now complains.

So if you hear some phantom steps,

Do not alarm your host.

Those faintly whispered words you hear,

Are just this poet’s ghost.

Cheers, Winston