Personal Poetry Challenge Day Thirty-Eight

On By WinstonIn Environment, Personal Poetry Writing Challenge, PoetryLeave a comment

The whale which washed up on Canada’s east coast is on it’s way to the Royal Ontario Museum.  Hopefully it’s body will advance our knowledge of them magnificent creatures.  May it’s bones be an inspiration to all who see them.

The Whale & The Future

A whale died upon the coast,
It’s death was not in vain.
It’s being moved far from the sea,
The shore it shall not stain.

A far museum has laid claim,
Tis there it’s bones shall rest.
When tens of thousands pass in awe,
None fail to be impressed.

To stand before this titans bones,
To marvel at their girth.
I hope will help us understand,
Our place upon this Earth.

If we’re the cause of it’s passing,
We need to stop and think,
Of all the other’s still out there,
We’ve pushed right to the brink.

So if it’s bones can help us see,
At last to understand.
Then maybe it was meant to be,
It’s fate to come to land.

Someone who looks upon it’s bones,
May then take up the fight.
To end the hunt and save the whales,
Do what they know is right.

So grieve for it if grieve you must,
But celebrate its gift.
It came to us from out the sea,
Our spirits to uplift.

Cheers, Winston

Personal Poetry Challenge Day Thirty-Seven

On By WinstonIn Personal Poetry Writing Challenge, Poetry, Society, Technology, ValuesLeave a comment

I work in a cell phone store so I often hear about new tech is destroying people’s ability to communicate.  This always makes me a little crazy. You see I grew up without even a phone.  Trust me, I know a thing or two about living in a simpler time. 

It’s Fear The Future

A lot of ink gets spilled these days,
‘Bout our pervasive tech.
Midst all the furor where’s the voice,
Just says, “Meh, what the heck.”

It’s not the end, it’s just begun,
Like every time before.
And as things change they stay the same,
And then they change some more.

Yet every time things change it seems,
Some lose themselves to fear.
No matter what the benefits,
Some just refuse to hear.

They close their ears and close their minds,
They just refuse to think.
Then when the world has passed them by,
They want to cause a stink.

But good old days were not that good,
Let’s not do that again.
I lived like that when I was young
Like now much more than then.

So just remember technophobes,
The tech is not to blame.
It’s what you do when you get it,
That messes up the game.

So when your teen insists on texts,
No matter how you hate.
Don’t think that this must mean the end,
Text back communicate.

Cheers, Winston

Personal Poetry Challenge Day Thirty-Six

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, Personal, Personal Poetry Writing Challenge, Poetry, Self AwarenessLeave a comment

Still on the personal side.  I’ll change the tone soon.  Well as soon as the voices in my head move on.

Learning To Be….

I tell a joke I get a laugh,
I tell another joke.
I tell a joke I get a punch,
No more fun do I poke.

I try to learn from my mistakes,
Sometimes I don’t succeed,
If still I keep on trying then,
That’s some progress indeed.

I try to live a life of peace,
Hurt none who’ve hurt me not.
And as for hurts that I’ve received,
Forgave if not forgot.

Sometimes I’ve helped a stranger out,
‘Cause it was right to do.
But I’ve not helped out everyone,
There’s more that I could do.

So I’m a work that’s under way,
Will be until I die.
There is no way that I can fail,
Ask only that I try.

Cheers, Winston

Personal Poetry Challenge Day Thirty-Five

On By WinstonIn Bullying, Enlightenment, Personal, Poetry, Self AwarenessLeave a comment

A little bit of introspection led to today’s tale of woe and self-redemption. It’s all about self acceptance and understanding your own worth. Figure out for yourself who you are instead of just accepting what people tell you. It’s the greatest gift you can give yourself and the sooner you do, we the better your life will be.

I Win

Back when I was a little boy,
I often felt quite bad.
I didn’t try I had no friends,
I often felt quite sad.

I wasn’t fast I wasn’t strong,
I didn’t get along.
And when I tried hard to fit in,
I’d always get it wrong.

I used to think that it was me,
Something inside was broke.
I thought that I would always be,
The butt of someone’s joke.

For many years I felt this way,
My worth was less than dirt.
I built my walls kept people out,
Saved me from further hurt.

It worked so well for oh so long,
Then cracks appeared at last.
I made some friends but trusted not,
Too wary from my past.

But still I learned that I was not,
Just what the world had seen.
There’s so much more but buried deep,
Where it had always been.

There’ve been some people in my life,
Who helped me understand.
That I am worthy I am liked,
Self loathing must be banned.

I have a wife who understands,
How deeply I am flawed.
And yet her love is so complete,
Self doubt should be outlawed.

At times it still will creep back in,
No matter my success.
That nagging voice from childhood,
Still cries out in distress.

But if I let it run my life,
I let the bullies win.
But that can’t be if I just know,
I like myself. I Win.

Cheers, Winston

Personal Poetry Challenge Day Thirty-Four

On By WinstonIn Loving Life, Personal Poetry Writing Challenge, PoetryLeave a comment

I’m sitting here watching the steady rain outside my window.  Everyone I see says things like… “I wish this rain would stop.”, or “Days like this are so depressing.”  I got thinking about it and wrote this in response.

Enjoy!

Comes The Queen of Summer

I woke up to the rain again,
Some days I miss the sun.
But this is spring and all this rain,
Means that the winter’s done.

The birds are back their happy songs,
Fill up the sodden air.
And as they flit between the drops,
Songs say they just don’t care.

Soon leaves appear and flowers bloom,
Each day grows warmer still.
Right now it’s raining but I don’t
Believe it always will.

So as you look out at the rain,
Try not to be depressed.
For rain now means the Summer Queen,
Will look her very best.

Cheers, Winston

Personal Poetry Challenge Day Thirty-three

On By WinstonIn Personal, PoetryLeave a comment

Sometimes all we need is to believe. It doesn’t matter what we believe or even if it’s true. Just believing is enough to get us through.

The Cat In The Box

Quite long ago quite far away,
Deep in the dark of night.
A little boy sits quaking there,
Quite paralyzed with fright.

He knows that he has heard a sound,
That’s how he chanced to wake.
He strains so hard to hear again,
No breath he dares to take.

He lies like this ’til sleep at last,
Lays claim to him once more.
But even then this sleep is not,
So restful as before.

His older brother looks at him,
In mornings pale light.
And asks if he has slept at all,
He looks an awful sight.

The boy decides to ask his help,
And tells him of the noise.
The older brother says perhaps,
The cat disturbed his toys.

The younger one considers this,
He’s not convinced it’s true.
So his brother makes them a plan,
Decides what they should do.

His brother will stay in his room,
To see what he can hear.
To see if they can figure out,
The true source of his fear.

So though the night the brother sits,
Though he is tired too.
And as the younger sleeps the night,
He wonders what to do.

He tells his brother he will stay,
But only one more night.
He’s confident he’ll find the cause,
Of his young brothers fright.

That night there is an awful crash,
The young boy starts awake.
He looks and sees his brother sits,
Upon a wooden crate.

He set a trap and caught the cat,
About his nightly rounds.
It’s clear this fuzzy thing’s the source,
Of all the mystery sounds.

And later on he gives the cat,
Some cream in his small bowl.
He pets him then and thanks him for,
How well he played his role.

“I do not know what sounds he heard,
But this I guarantee.
No matter what he hears I bet,
He thinks it’s you. You see?”

And sure enough from that night on,
He slept quite undeterred.
For in his dreams that clumsy cat,
Was all he ever heard.

Cheers, Winston

Personal Poetry Challenge Day Thirty-Two

On By WinstonIn PoetryLeave a comment

Something a little different and a little darker.  Don’t judge me….

The Sacrifice

The torchlight flickers on the walls,
And casts a fitful light.
The revellers all cloaked in black,
Present a fearsome sight.

Wait where am I how’d I get here?
My memory’s a blur.
There were some drinks there was this girl,
Of that much I am sure,

The group is swaying faster now,
I try to look around.
Although I try, I cannot move,
Unto this stone I’m bound.

I’m yelling now and cursing them,
Demanding to know why.
I know them all though not their names,
Start now to beg and cry.

They are a cult I wrote about,
I wrote they seem benign.
And now I know no one will come,
That read those words of mine.

They aren’t so bad just don’t believe
The same things that we do.
Perhaps I should have listened more,
Those who swore they knew.

The chanting swaying cultists reach,
A truly frenzied state.
See silver flash within their hands,
I’ve not now long to wait.

The leader draws quite close to me,
I know this is the end.
Now as he pushes back his hood,
I see it’s my best friend.

And now he laughs unties my ropes,
Let’s me in on the joke.
They met while I researched my bit,
About this gag they spoke.

They thought it funny to pretend,
I was a sacrifice.
More so because I had just said,
They all seemed pretty nice.

He turns away to thank our host,
The leader of our band.
He doesn’t see the blade that comes,
So easy to my hand.

The deed is done now all rejoice,
And each gives me their name.
My life begins with my new friends,
I’ll never be the same.

Cheers, Winston

Personal Poetry Writing Challenge Day Thirty-one

On By WinstonIn Fantasy, PoetryLeave a comment

So the poetic adventure continues. With no idea what to write, this extra thirty-one poem idea seemed a bit like hubris. Then once I started writing….. it just wouldn’t stop. I hope you enjoy this little….

Trip To Fairyland

I dreamed I lay upon a beach,
‘Neath sun I’d never seen.
Where all my life a yellow ball,
Now stood a disc of green.

No dolphins frolicked in the waves,
But still something moved there.
‘Twas half a woman half a fish,
With long ringletted hair.

And then a man who’s half a horse,
Came charging ‘long the shore.
He fired arrows’ til she fled,
Cared not how much I swore.

He said it was for my own good,
She’d set a trap for me.
So if I’d not be drowned or et,
It’s best if I should flee.

He nocked an arrow to his bow,
And aimed it at my head.
Said had I not the wits to flee,
‘Twas better were I dead.

I felt he might be slightly mad,
So turned and ran away.
I heard him shouting as I ran,
No clue what he would say.

So on I ran beyond the dunes,
And stopped dead in a daze.
A field of every brilliant bloom,
Spread out before my gaze.

A tiny sprite her wings a blur,
Hangs there before my face.
Go back she says you must go back,
You can’t be in this place.

The beauty here will poison you,
More deadly than you think.
Remember this that as you go,
You must not eat or drink.

Go seek the maiden of the sea,
Beg her to guide you home.
To help you cross the sea of dreams,
Or here forever roam.

On saying this she sped away,
And vanished from my view.
I turned away to seek the sea,
My feet now wet with dew.

A forest stands before me now,
Sweet fruit on every bough.
Forbidden fruit the sweeter still,
I must resist somehow.

The thirst now gnaws it drains my will,
I hear a stream nearby.
Above the gurgle of the rill,
I here a seagull cry.

If I can hold out to the beach,
My home I’ll once more see.
But thirst and hunger haunt my thoughts,
More than my family.

I know that if I eat or drink,
I’m here forever more.
But even if I make it back,
What do I have in store?

A job I hate a life alone,
The same things every day.
The truth is I could love this place,
That’s what the voices say.

And suddenly the spells they weave,
Fall then to dust and fade.
I let the fruit fall from my hand,
So near my mind betrayed.

I stumble on and there is  sand,
At last beneath my feet.
And then I start to understand,
This place can not be beat.

I spy the maid close by the shore,
Her fish tail waves to me.
Her sunlit hair of gold so bright,
That I can barely see.

I beg her then to guide me back,
Her laugh is genuine.
A hundred years have passed since I,
First tasted fairy wine.

She still recalls when first I came,
Across the sea of dreams.
Ignored her warning drank the wine,
More potent than it seems.

She offers me a goblet then,
Bids me drink and forget.
Give it another hundred years,
You cannot leave here yet.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day Thirty

On By WinstonIn NaPoWriMo, Personal, PoetryLeave a comment

So, today is officially the last day of National Poetry Writing Month.  This poem means I’ve done it again.  I’m busy congratulating myself. I mean really…. thirty poems in thirty days, that’s an achievement to be proud of.  Which was fine until I mentioned to Lynn that I was finished writing a poem every day.

So now I’ve decided to try pushing it for a second month. The new goal sixty-one poems in sixty-one days.  The good news…. I’m nearly halfway there.

The Adventure Continues

This poem meant to be the last
Apparently is not.
My muse has said they’re not enough,
She’s sure more words I’ve got,

I’ve written poems every day,
Tomorrow write again.
I’m never sure what will come next,
When I pick up my pen.

So watch this space for more to come,
Another month perchance?
I’ll wrack my brain and push myself,
To carry on this dance.

I’ll find the words and find the themes,
To make this plan a fact.
To give my muse the rhymes she craves,
Let nothing me distract.

So if you like this verse of mine,
There’s more where these came from.
So thank my muse and grab a seat,
My best in yet to come.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day Twenty-Nine

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, Loving Life, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Personal Responsibility, Poetry, Society, ValuesLeave a comment

I asked my muse what to write about today, and she suggested the idea of….

Paying It Forward

An act of kindness once it’s done,
Can echo far and wide.
But that is not it’s true reward,
For that is felt inside.

Some do some grand, impressive act,
In hope of gaining fame.
But in the end it’s just an act,
Their kindness is a game.

They think to score some points somehow,
They just don’t understand.
When kindness is it’s own reward,
No benefit is planned.

Some cannot see and will not hear,
The truth within their hearts.
The greater good is greater still,
When honest giving starts.

So lend a hand or give some time,
To help someone today.
And when they ask you who you are,
“Just pass it on.” you say.

Cheers, Winston