Tag: NaPoWriMo

NaPoWriMo Day 17

On By WinstonIn NaPoWriMo, Personal, Personal Responsibility, Poetry, Self Awareness, UncategorizedLeave a comment

I lost my temper this morning. It was over something stupid. It didn’t need to happen. I don’t lose it often, but even once in a while is too often. Some days…. I really don’t like myself very much.

 

MY PERSONAL DEMON

There is a rage inside of me,

Each day I watch it grow,

No matter what or how I try,

I cannot make it go.

 

I try so hard to keep it in,

To spare those close to me.

The harder I try to suppress,

The worse when it breaks free.

 

I snarl and shout and sound just like,

I have gone quite insane.

But I’ve no easy reason there,

No illness of the brain.

 

The guilt may damp the flames of rage,

But I know not for long.

And soon enough I’ll loose my grip,

When something small goes wrong.

 

I’ll lose control, the rage will win,

Misplaced as it may be.

Another moment I’ve destroyed,

Ashamed that I am me.

 

I vow that I’ll do better now,

No matter what it takes.

But it always ends up the same,

Can’t learn from my mistakes.

 

There is a beast inside of  me,

It rages on and on.

It does not rest, it will not stop,

‘Til I at last am gone.

 

Cheers, Winston

 

NaPoWriMo Day 16

On By WinstonIn NaPoWriMo, Personal, Personal Responsibility, Society, Uncategorized, ValuesLeave a comment

So I’ve got a funeral to attend today. I don’t like large groups of relative strangers, or stranger relatives for that matter. I especially don’t like funerals. But I’m going anyway because it’s what we do. This poem is about that sense of obligation.

OUR SOCIAL CONTRACT

There’s things in life we can’t avoid,

There’s things we have to do.

Those things we hate, and would avoid,

But no where to run to.

A social obligation is,

A dreadful weight to bear.

We must fulfil it all the same,

To show how much we care.

We are all social creatures and,

On each other rely.

But there are times, we’d rather be,

Alone to sit and cry.

Instead we wear our public face,

The one we wear for show.

We put away the truth of us,

That no one else should know.

We go and do expected things,

Because that’s who we are.

When we’d far rather go and spend,

That same time in a bar.

But we know others count on us,

We’ll count on them one day.

So brave face on and out the door,

The platitudes to say.

Now do the things I can’t avoid,

The things I have to do.

The things I hate, and would avoid,

All right, I will, for you.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 15

On By WinstonIn Environment, Global Issues, NaPoWriMo, Nature, Poetry, Science, Society, Uncategorized, Values2 Comments

I know not everyone believes in the reality of climate change. I’ve read a lot on both sides of the question and to me it’s obvious that we’re having a huge impact on the planet. Wherever you sit on this debate, I hope you enjoy today’s poem.

OUR CHANGING WORLD

The climate’s changing very fast,

More than we thought it could.

The future’s looking different than,

Most of us thought it would.

 

I know there’s those who claim that all,

The climate data’s fake.

And nothing that is done by us,

Could any difference make.

 

But I have looked at this a lot,

And I just can’t agree.

The climate’s changing and the cause,

Comes down to you and me.

 

We love our cars, we love our trucks,

We love our SUVs,

We love to drive so who cares if,

They cut down all the trees.

 

We love our cities sprawling ‘burbs,

We’ll pave all of the farms.

And as we stand in flooded streets,

Claim we don’t cause these harms.

 

We’ve engineered some crops that can,

Both heat and drought resist.

But GMOs are “evil” so,

That research gets dismissed.

 

As millions starve because their land,

Can them no longer feed.

We let our surplus food just rot,

So much more than we need.

 

As deserts grow and forests shrink,

We multiply so fast.

‘Til all that’s left to eat is us.

Then see how long we last.

 

But disregard this poem ’cause,

It’s not what you would hear,

I’m just another scaremonger,

Who’s spreading pointless fear.

 

When the last lonely tree has died,

On dead and barren Earth.

Look then and see what we’ve done to,

The planet of our birth.

 

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 14

On By WinstonIn Loving Life, my blessed life, my Dog, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, UncategorizedLeave a comment

I have a wonderful dog named Ducky. He is my buddy and I wouldn’t change him for the world. He is sleeping beside me on the couch and his snoring gave me the opening line for this verse. Who he is gave me the rest.

Enjoy!

I’m A Lucky, Ducky Dad

There is a puppy sleeping here,

He snores beside me now.

And as he sleeps I wonder that,

I am so blessed somehow.

He is an awesome friend to me,

This puppy dog of mine.

When I’m upset he always checks,

To make sure I am fine.

When I am cross or speak to harsh,

He never judges me.

He looks so sad it melts my heart,

I cannot angry be.

With his soft head upon my foot,

He sleeps now on the floor.

When he hears someone on the walk,

He rushes to the door.

He jumps around and runs about,

Like he’s gone quite insane.

He’s just so happy to see them,

I once again explain.

If you should come to visit me,

You’d better sit down quick.

So he can jump up next to you,

And give your ear a lick.

So thanks my boy for all your love,

How’d I get so lucky?

To have you come into my life,

My pup, you’re my Ducky.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 13

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, Society, Uncategorized, Values2 Comments

Over the yers, I’ve become a huge fan of situational ethics. Mostly, questions of “right” or “wrong” boil down to one answer. It depends. That extremely grey area is the subject of today’s poem. (Before anyone tells me, yes I know that there are certain things which almost everyone now agrees are beyond the pale. Don’t feel obligated to provide examples.)

MORAL RELATIVISM

I wish I was a wiser man,

Than what I seem to be.

Then knowing what is right would come,

More easily to me.

But wisdom’s not what I possess,

So I just try to guess.

And hope the choices that I make,

Might turn out for the best.

What I’ve learned is that right and wrong,

Are never what you think.

The more you know the more they change,

Before you’ve time to blink.

To kill is wrong, this we all know,

Except for when it’s not.

For they will order us to kill,

When battles must be fought.

To steal is wrong, so we all know,

Unless it’s by the state.

Like taking land from other folks,

To make our country great.

So many more could illustrate,

The point I seek to make.

That right and wrong depend upon,

The point of view we take.

So think on this before you rush,

To judge another’s act.

Without context we cannot see,

Their truth and that’s a fact.

To understand the other one,

Give empathy a try.

Then right and wrong will matter less,

On reason more rely.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 12

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, homelessness, Personal Responsibility, Society, Uncategorized, ValuesLeave a comment

I work in downtown Ottawa which is the capital of Canada. My office is a five minute walk from our Parliament building. Every morning in the summer there are homeless people sleeping in many of the doorways on my street. You see them year round with hats or cups in hand, sometimes with a sign. They don’t ask for money because the city has forbidden it.

No matter how far they have fallen, they are still worthy of our help and being treated with dignity and respect.

IT COULD’VE BEEN ME

Each day as I walk down the street,

I see them here and there.

Their dirty coats and ragged pants,

Are all they have to wear.

 

A hat held out, a hopeful smile,

They cannot speak their need.

For we don’t want to hear them ask,

Will we their hunger feed.

 

They seem like broken drifting wrecks,

Left on a hard life’s shore.

But they have stories just like us,

And hopes and dreams and more.

 

Most mornings in the summertime,

You see them quite a bit.

In doorways where they spent the night,

Though streets are brightly lit.

 

These people are no secret here,

Most just choose not to see.

And if they do their only thought,

It’s naught to do with me.

 

But it’s to do with all of us,

I’ll tell you something true.

If things had turned out differently,

That person could be you.

 

So share your change or share some food,

Or help them how you may.

And thank whomever you would like,

You’re not out there today.

 

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 11

On By WinstonIn family, Loving Life, NaPoWriMo, Personal, UncategorizedLeave a comment

My daughter will be moving out in a couple of months. It’s time, and I’m happy for her to be taking this step. But in my heart, she’s always going to be my little girl… and I’m going to miss her.

FOR MY DAUGHTER

I love my daughter very much,

Each day I tell her so.

I watched her learn and watched her change,

I watched and helped her grow.

 

I know that soon she’ll move away,

That’s how it’s meant to be.

I know that I am going to miss,

The time she spent with me.

 

I’m blessed to have her in my life,

I don’t regret a thing.

Except for moments I have missed,

That’s one bell I’d unring.

 

When she was young it seemed we’d have,

Forever and a day.

But now she’s close to leaving and,

The time just flies away.

 

I know that I will see her still,

When she has moved away.

But it’s the million little things,

That i will miss each day.

 

The smiles, pokes, demands for hugs,

And random, pointless talks.

The way she rolls her eyes and groans,

‘Bout picking up her socks.

 

I love my daughter very much,

Each day I tell her so.

I’m proud of who she has become,

Love/hate to see her go.

 

Cheers, Winston

 

NaPoWriMo Day 10

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, NaPoWriMo, Poetry, Science, UncategorizedLeave a comment

I’m a big science nerd, so sometimes it finds it’s way into my writing. Even now, when I stop and think about these things, I feel the same sense of wonder and amazement that I did as a kid.

Enjoy!

LOOK AT THE STARS

About six billion years ago,

To give or take a few.

A photon left a star out there,

To come and visit you.

 

It couldn’t stay for very long,

But it was here, I see.

‘Cause it and all it’s photon friends,

Shone down on you and me.

 

Now see the starlight on your skin,

And think of it this way.

Though oh so very far away,

A star kissed you today.

 

When sun is set and moon is dark,

And stars the only light.

Go somewhere dark and just look up,

And marvel at the sight.

 

To look in wonder and in awe,

To understand our place.

We are a speck, one tiny speck,

In vast, uncharted space.

 

Now as you look up at the sky,

Select one single star.

How many years did that light take,

To get just where you are?

 

And maybe ’round that star you picked,

A distant planet’s there.

With someone looking back, wond’ring,

If there’s someone, somewhere.

 

So keep on looking up my friends,

At those far, sparkling lights.

And maybe fall in love as I,

With clear and moonless nights.

 

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 8

On By WinstonIn Humor, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, Uncategorized, writer`s blockLeave a comment

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 5

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, Loving Life, NaPoWriMo, Poetry, Self Awareness, Uncategorized, ValuesLeave a comment

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