Tag: poetry

NaPoWriMo Day 7

On By WinstonIn Humor, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, UncategorizedLeave a comment

At this point, I’ve been awake since zero-dark-thirty on Monday. Based on my last post, that means that this one also technically counts as Day 6. Then again, maybe I’m just a little sleep deprived and punchy.  Either way…. here goes nuthin’.

On Insomnia

I wish that I could sleep each night,

Like normal people do.

It’s not that I’m not sleepy, no,

My brain would sleep it’s true.

 

But oftentimes when I lay down,

To sleep I am betrayed.

By aches and pains and bathroom trips,

Each petty thing displayed.

 

In just three hours, my back will say,

Of rest I’ve had enough.

And if I say, I would sleep more,

The back pain says, “That’s tough!”

 

That all assumes I get to bed,

And am not bathroom bound.

There’s nights when I so often run,

The bedroom’s never found.

 

Or then again I get to bed,

Sleep favours me once more.

Yet fate will not allow such peace,

My dog bangs at my door.

 

My restless legs, or restless wife,

Sometimes my restless brain.

Something is always waiting there,

To wake me up again.

 

So wish me luck, for now I’m off,

Once more to try to sleep.

Come Sandman now, grant rest to me,

That’s long and sweet and deep.

 

This is my prayer most often spoke,

Far more than all the rest.

Of all the things I seek in life,

A proper sleep is best.

 

Cheers, Winston

 

 

NaPoWriMo Day 6

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

I know it’s 03:30 on the 7th, but I haven’t been to bed yet so I’m going to count this one for the 6th.

 

On The High Price Of Doing Business

My wife beside me fast asleep,

And no one else at home.

Then who is walking in my hall,

So late at night to roam?

 

My dog perhaps. He sometimes likes,

To walk about at night.

But he’s not prone to wearing boots,

His tread is much more light.

 

I’m certain if I were to check,

Some simple thing I’d see.

Of course there’s no such thing as ghosts.

How foolish can I be?

 

Because it cannot be a ghost,

Why should I go and look?

What’s there to see? Some common thing!

Unless I’m much mistook.

 

The thumping stops, I start to doze,

It starts up once again.

The broken sleep and twanging nerves,

It’s really quite a pain.

 

I lift the sheet and slowly swing,

My feet down to the floor.

With sweat like ice upon my skin,

I stand before my door.

 

There’s nothing there! There’s nothing there!

I chant within my head.

But clammy hand and clammy brow,

Betray my real dread.

 

I shake my head and draw a breath,

And push my fear aside.

The knob I grasp and quickly turn,

The door I open wide.

 

******************************************

 

A dampened cloth upon my brow,

Wife’s hand upon my cheek.

I try to rise but cannot stand,

I’ve never felt so weak.

 

She found me there, upon the floor,

Limned in the hall’s dim light.

With every hair upon my head,

Now changed from brown to white.

 

I finally get back to my bed,

Must try to get some rest.

The Count will call again tonight,

I’ll need to look my best.

 

There’s deeds to sign, so much to do,

For him to settle here.

He’s charmed my wife, she’s said as much,

So pleased to have him near.

 

Cheers, Winston

 

 

 

 

 

 

NaPoWriMo Day 5

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, Loving Life, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Self Awareness, UncategorizedLeave a comment

For the record I do have heart disease, diabetes and a few other health issues. I’ve bought and paid cash money for every one. Winston made poor choices. Don’t be a Winston.

On Mortality.

A pain, such pain deep in my chest,

I wait for it to pass.

My every breath is careful now,

As though I’m made of glass.

 

It’s nothing new, I’ve lived through worse,

At times thought I might die.

The pain so bad that when it passed,

I’d just sit there and cry.

 

There’s some who’d curse and shake their fist,

Demand some reason why.

If I’d pretend I did not know,

Then that would be a lie.

 

I smoked for years, drank far too much,

And ate just what I’d please.

While other folks might run or bike,

I’d sit and take my ease.

 

I wish I had a time machine,

To slap that younger me.

To make some better choices then,

What changes might I see!

 

But I don’t have a time machine,

Can’t change what I have done.

Today the bill is coming due,

For all of my past fun.

 

Now listen close, before I go,

I’ll share advice for free.

For as you are, so once was I,

As I am you may be.

 

Start making changes now my friend,

Don’t wait to reach this state.

No time to build that time machine,

The hour grows too late.

 

Seems I’ll go on, it’s passing now,

Yes now the worst is past.

It’s not the first, it’s not the worst,

I doubt it is the last.

 

Make better choices than I’ve made,

To give yourself a chance.

In moderation eat and drink,

And don’t forget to dance.

 

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 3

On By WinstonIn Dark / Gothic, Lovecraftian, Lovecraftian Poetry, Macabre, NaPoWriMo, UncategorizedLeave a comment

It’s a little rambling and definitely a little dark, but I chalk it all up to being exposed to Lovecraft, Howard, Derleth and their ilk at an impressionable age.  Whatever may be the explanation…. Enjoy!

 

On Hubris

I’d not believe had I not seen,

The thing with my own eyes.

Collapsed, my knees gone weak with fear,

Un-manned by it’s sheer size.

 

In truth no living thing should stand,

Titanic as this stood.

I rose and fled much deeper still,

Into that cursed wood.

 

As I ran on, I oft’ looked back,

At what bestrode the land.

That nightmare beast set free at last,

Released by my own hand.

 

I had been warned, would not believe,

Trust just what I could see.

The ritual, I did perform,

To call this God to me.

 

Oh now I see, now I believe,

Too late! Too late by far!

The God has come by my command,

From some dark, distant star.

 

It’s found me now, it lifts me up,

And so much higher still.

It’s inside now, inside my head,

Laughs at my my feeble will.

 

I beg for death. I pray for death,

But God has plans for me.

It grants me now my secret wish,

Grants immortality.

 

That was the thing, the prize I sought,

The prize for which I’d kill.

Yet now it’s mine, this nightmare prize,

It’s my blood I would spill.

 

The laughter of my hungry God,

Grinds at my very soul.

To know the evil that you’ve done,

Exacts a dreadful toll.

 

A billion screams, two billion more,

Damnation’s choral sound.

And through the flame, and smoke and death,

See corpses all around.

 

Now this is what, what I have wrought,

Wrought with my mortal greed.

I sought to make a God a slave,

Must pay now for my deed.

 

My lot to witness for my God,

Through all eternity.

Denied the balm, the gift of death,

Condemned, condemned to see.

 

I cast these words out to the stars,

Know not whose eye they’ll find.

Believe, believe, I beg believe!

Don’t let pride make you blind!

 

Cheers, Winston

 

 

NaPoWriMo Day 2

On By WinstonIn Humor, Loving Life, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, Self Awareness, UncategorizedLeave a comment

I’d just like to say Happy Birthday to my friend Jen. Oh, and thank you for providing today’s idea 🙂

On Aging

Your age is just a number folks,

Or so they like to say.

But now and then there is a sign,

Those years are here to stay.

 

They say we shrink as we get old,

To me that would be sweet.

‘Cause every time I put on socks,

It’s farther to my feet.

 

It’s glasses now and far less hair,

At least upon my head.

And all the different sounds I make,

To get up off the bed.

 

Can’t walk as fast, can’t walk as far,

Won’t even try to run.

My skin so thin and worn out,

I must avoid the sun.

 

The list goes on and on and on,

But now I need a rest.

Of all the things, time’s brought to me,

I love my naps the best.

 

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo 2020

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, family, Loving Life, my angel, my blessed life, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, Self Awareness, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Ahhhh…. Spring is in the air! That means two things. It’s time to pick up the dog poop in the back yard, and it’s time to bruise my brain creating 30 days worth of something that I persist in calling poetry. I’ll let you know at the end of the month which one was more enjoyable.

Without further ado….

ON PARADISE

Sometimes I wish that I could slip,

The shackles holding me.

And drift beyond the mortal veil,

What wonders there to see.

 

But are they there, these wonders which,

I would so boldly seek?

Or just a dark and formless void,

Eternal, empty, bleak.

 

Religions tell us there is more,

For those who earn their place.

But I can’t see my ending there,

Those judges rigged that race.

 

Perhaps I’d go around again,

As some would say we do.

I’d come back as some tiny thing,

A common garden shrew.

 

Then round and round and round I’d go,

‘Til once more here I sit.

No wiser now than when I left,

Enough to make you spit.

 

But then I look at where I am,

Look clearly at my life.

Then truly see my paradise,

My family, friends and wife.

 

No greater prize could there await,

No greater joy abound.

These blessings that have filled my life,

This love that I have found.

 

Cheers, Winston

 

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