Tag: NaPoWriMo

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 14

On By WinstonIn Dark / Gothic, Ghost Stories, Macabre, NaPoWriMo, UncategorizedLeave a comment

I love a good ghost story. This isn’t that, but it is today’s theme.

 

On The Ghost’s Lament

I walk about my home and watch,

the years roll slowly by.

I know there was a reason once,

Now can’t remember why.

 

The people come and then they go,

but I still linger here.

I know not if I stayed for joy,

or if I stayed from fear.

 

I only know I cannot leave,

Forever in this place.

While roaming through these rooms alone,

Eternity I face.

 

Though people come, they see me not.

They think I am not real.

A bump they hear, a whispered word,

a sudden chill they feel.

 

I try and try but cannot touch,

Can’t reach beyond the veil.

So I remain forever lost,

Against this fate I rail.

 

I will go on and on and on,

To nevermore be free.

Whatever brought me too this pass,

There is no peace for me.

 

So if by chance you should come here,

Know that I walk here still.

No matter what I try I fear,

Forever more I will.

 

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 13

On By WinstonIn Global Issues, Mars, NaPoWriMo, Science, Society, Technology, UncategorizedLeave a comment

I’m a huge fan of “Cosmos”, both the Nat Geo series with Neil Degrasse Tyson and the book by Carl Sagan. This poem is an ode to them and also to “The Mars Generation” and it’s founder Astronaut Abby.  Enjoy!

On Going to Mars

I walk across a dry, red plain,

Towards a distant hill.

My feet kick dust untrod ’til now,

Explorer’s greatest thrill.

 

The sun a dim and distant disc,

Seen through a reddish haze.

Upon this rock, so far from home,

Is where I’ll live my days.

 

They asked me why I’d want to go,

So far from all I know.

The answer is I’ve always known,

That I must someday go.

 

My soul was born to bear this dream,

To carry it afar.

I’ve carried it to Mars so far,

Some day, someone, some star.

 

You ask of us why would we go,

Truth is we cannot stay.

If we stay tied to just one place,

We’re bound to end one day.

 

But as we spread beyond the Earth,

Each falt’ring step we take,

Will buy our species one more chance,

A better world to make.

 

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 12

On By WinstonIn Loving Life, my blessed life, NaPoWriMo, Nature, Poetry, spring, UncategorizedLeave a comment

It was a beautiful day today and I spent some time in my backyard watching the birds and squirrels and listening to the geese calling in the distance. I love the spring!

On The Beauty of Spring

Once more the air is filled with chirps,

Not heard for far too long.

Our migrant birds back home at last,

To share with us their song.

 

The squirrels chatter happily,

While dashing high above.

Now spring is here and all around,

The world is filled with love.

 

The trumpeting of inbound geese,

A welcome, joyous sound.

They lift my spirit and my soul,

Bring happiness unbound.

 

Now everywhere you look is green,

New flowers peeping out.

A sense of hope, of better days,

The winter’s done no doubt.

 

So raise your head and see the truth,

Each day a brand new start.

Now let the beauty and the warmth,

Of Springtime fill your heart.

 

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

NaPoWriMo Day 10

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

As much as it makes my brain hurt sometimes and I really hate creative deadlines (I can’t function without them), I really love NaPoWriMo as it pushes me to flex my creative muscles. I also draw and paint and can’t think of anything more rewarding than when I get what’s in my head onto paper in a way that others can relate to.

 

On Creativity

Express yourself whatever way,

Write, paint, or talk or sing.

Or try a million diff’rent styles,

Find one that is your thing.

 

I choose to write this clumsy verse,

To say the things I wish.

Perhaps your art is to prepare,

Some super tasty dish.

 

Whatever lets somebody see,

The truth that is in you.

Whatever passion burns most bright,

To light the soul in you.

 

Too many live their whole life through,

Consumed by fear and doubt.

They never learn to see that spark,

One day it just goes out.

 

So write that song, or draw that cat,

Take pictures of the sky.

Embrace the voice inside of you,

Turn from your fear and try.

 

If someone is so unkind as,

To mock the thing you’ve done.

Please pity them, their spark has died,

To mock, their only fun.

 

Now put this down, pick up your brush,

Guitar, or mic or pen.

Whatever voice you use, your soul,

Will thank you in the end.

 

Cheers, Winston

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NaPoWriMo Day 9

On By WinstonIn Environment, Humor, my blessed life, NaPoWriMo, Poetry, spring, UncategorizedLeave a comment

The fabled “April Showers” are here. My job takes me outside frequently. They could have held off a couple of days.

On The Capriciousness of Spring

It’s April now, the rains come down,

To soak me to the bone.

The rains so constant, they could wear,

A hole into a stone.

 

The snows are done for now at least,

With rains to take their place.

The wind blows rain into my eyes,

Then whips it from my face.

 

It’s not so bad I tell myself,

And hunch before the blow.

I’m drenched and cold and miserable,

Cheer up, it could be snow.

 

The Sun will shine again I’m sure,

Just not quite certain when.

All I can do is drip and curse,

And slog on until then.

 

Cheers, Winston

 

p.s.

Look the rain has fin’lly stopped.

As the mercury has dropped.

Quickly my despair is growing.

As I write it’s started snowing.

W.