31 poems

C'est  fini
pour cette annee
lire et ecrire la poesie
au revoir mes amies
et merci beaucoup
A bientot

31 poems

Just a scent of a memory

Cherry brandy, Pimms, Sangria
white wine in summer garden
Snowballs served in smoky bars

lavender, thyme, honeysuckle
nasturtiums, marigolds, osmanthus
roses, Papa Meilland and Fragrant cloud

strawberries, raspberry punnets
mangoes, home grown tomatoes
durian, freshly squeezed lime

newly mown grass, goats in pens
hay bales in fields, strewn straw
silage, mud, cows muck

warm welsh cakes, south sea sherbet
bacon, fried eggs,weekend breakfasts
elderflowers, ginger, kedgeree

perfume " Charlie"   " L'air du temps"
Ponds dry skin cream
sandalwood incense sticks, violet scent

salt fish, galangal, lime leaves
coriander, jasmine tea
dried prawns, coconut, satay

wet dogs, warm cats
steaming cows, fresh milk
aluminum paint,creosote

Christmas trees, pine needles, yew
tangerines, chocolate, marzipam
brewed coffee, bread from oven

coal fires and bonfires
swimming pools, saunas
seaweed, shells and sea spray

new books, sun dried clothes
clean hair, family hugs
warm sand, laundered sheets

31 poems

Reversal

Together with you I feel so alone
I wish I was brave to be on my own
harsh words or new bruises may mar this day
when I go home I must watch what I say
to sit in the sunshine feeling the breeze
enjoying the freedom to do as I please
I sit alone with only reflections
all those around me making connexions
on mobile phone she is laughing, talking
two dogs run in tandem, owner walking
as young couples stroll until it gets dark
after the ice cream I sit in the park
banana and toffee, too much to eat
double scoop ice cream, a sweet birthday treat

31 poems

As a person with a tendency to use too many words writing
seventeen syllables should be an easy challenge for completion
and indeed it is very possible to write unwieldy long lines
How poetic the resulting poem is, I leave to your judgement

31 poems

Please keep me safe until I'm home again
keeping you safe, never let you go

Your feet so fleet along the narrow street
keeping you safe, never let you go

In sleep so deep you carry me with ease
keeping you safe, never let you go

treat those who want to take me with disdain
keeping you safe, never let you go

creep softly up the steep bank through the trees
keeping you safe, never let you go

you feel my body heat, the steady beat
keeping you safe, never let you go

of heart, your fears so readily appeased
keeping you safe, never let you go

The captor flees and no one even sees
keeping you safe, never let you go

with stolen keys, you wrapped me in a sheet
keeping you safe, never let you go

fear seeps in slowly as you touch my cheek
keeping you safe, never let you go

31 poems

Morning has broken
waves crashing to shore
in the moment
of awakening
you lie in my arms
then reality
overwhelms me and
as footsteps in sand
vanish, memories
are all that remain
faint imprints of you
loss, broken, morning

31 poems

Exquisite golden tresses
as the nit comb meets tangles
desiring dainty dresses
lice ridden bath, hair dangles
fresh flowers grace the window
masking rubbish, rats below
hope meets harsh reality
scented candles gently glow
hand in hand the two must go

31 poems

Flitting from one topic to another
to stay away from that most on her mind
wishing she could confide in her mother
if only right words she can freely find

How can she voice the words to break a heart
she knows that she will make her mother cry
for all these years they've never been apart
but now her heart is telling her to fly

Her mother knows that she has found true love
but not the plans for them to move away
with deepest sigh she asks help from above
for she must tell her now, this very day

They talk and cry but through their tears some light
for both know really that the time is right

31 poems

Young growth comes bursting through the earth in Spring
protected , touched not by the gentle breeze
each shoot of green a miracle does bring

so fragile as they sprout, to life they cling
escaping now, entombed no more, each flees
young growth comes bursting through the earth in Spring

sweet music fills the air as young birds sing
surveying life from high up in the trees
each shoot of green a miracle does bring

colours outside displaying extra zing
as magic flows around in all one sees
young growth comes bursting through the earth in Spring

but watch, the weather may well have a sting
for frost can cause a swift and sudden freeze
each shoot of green a miracle does bring

a season full of joy, fit for a king
from winter greyness and despair it frees
young growth comes bursting through the earth in Spring
each shoot of green a miracle does bring

31 poems

           Is still a rose [says Alice]


my petals
painted
purity defiled
advancing Queen

Our fate
sealed
" Off with their heads "

31 poems

Passion platform
body warmer
tinies' trampoline
feet heater
bug haven
invalid refuge
clothes storer
cat comforter
crumb gatherer
toy parader
junk dump
worry wagon
sweat soaker
readers' heaven
dreamer's delight
secret keeper
terror releaser
head cradler
decor changer
back supporter
cushioning cuddler

31 poems

Black pepper spray
mice run away

cucumber slice
ants flee, not nice

T shirt to freeze
gum gone with ease

toothpaste on ink
dry! wash in sink

31 poems

All in a name

My grampa was Geoffrey
his father called him John
the two girls were labelled
Bill and Joe
not their christened names

Patricia [mum] was always Paddy
Penelope was Ann
Joan was once Eileen
my granny's given name
Ceinwen was their nanny
and Rose the family cook

Uncle Fred was very Welsh
speech lilting up and down
 his youngest daughter Sian
Ann's son Paul became a Chris
and Joyce's Julian, Titus
Though Joyce who names
her garden birds
has her own name for Titus

My Dad grew up in Whitley Bay
where cook becomes a coook
his accent stronger on the phone
so book becomes a boook

On Dad's side there was Aggie
and Gladys who was Guy
Dora became Dolly
and an Ellie and a Lois
Dad's mum  to us
was always Nana

Living on a farm
all the calves were given names
family names included
Dad recognized each one

Florence, blue a favourite
Her namesake drank whisky
and smoked like a trooper
Molly beget Dolly
Honey,mother to Sugar and Sweetie
Belinda to Miranda
these last our childhood dolls

We had dogs, Tim and Tip
Guinea pigs, Patch and Squeaky
and a succession of cats
Mathilda, the first was
a grumpy, fluffy totoiseshell
then Tibby and Blackie
White ears and Black ears
owing more to description
than imagination
Last Tiger and Lily

Our Budgie Peter
though unable to talk
had the strange gift
of barking like the dogs

31 poems

has to be a rhyming dictionary !   Opened at random


The runners wait in rows of ten abreast
to win this race is everybody's quest
numbers emblazoned on each runner's vest
at start, all filled with energy and zest
to pit their wits in this, a true contest
appearance, nonchalant and unimpressed
their body language striving for unstressed
some ask their God for this race to be blessed
whilst others flex their limbs, nerves to divest
try not to think that muscles will protest
exhausted bodies only seeking rest
for now the urge is only to be best

31 poems

Of the 23 words generated by todays prompt I used 22 and couldn't resist trying my first ever cleave poem!

Under wall   /    snakes slither
lit by sunshine   /   around Roman ruins
red tulips grow    /   seeming to travel
bright heads dancing   / biology in motion
cat lazily stretches    /    tinged with gold
beneath Japanese maple  /  war in far off lands
reflected by river     /   a burnt out car
dreams of unicorns  /  reality of gunshots
Goldilocks        /    politics  over  power
dressed gaudily  /  has chosen Malala
a fairy tale heroine  /   to connect and inspire

31 poems

Double scoop ice cream, a sweet birthday treat
banana and toffee, too much too eat

After the ice cream I sit in the park
as young couples stroll, until it gets dark

Two dogs run in tandem, owner walking
on mobile phone, she is laughing, talking

all those around me, making connexions
while here I sit with just my  reflections

enjoying the freedom to do as I please
to sit in the sunshine, feeling this breeze

when I go home I must watch what I say
harsh words or new bruises may mar this day

I wish I was brave, to be on my own
together with you, I feel so alone

31 poems

Smouldering silence as mellow mists swirl
darkness sits perched upon castle walls high
wonders what stories they tell, castle walls
where mellow mists swirl, lone tendrils will curl
darkness sits spying black crows as they fly
longer still darkness sits, watcher alone
castle walls listen to soft ghostly calls
mellow mists swirling emitting low moan

31 poems

She who likes to sing will always find song
he who says he's right can also be wrong
night sky must have darkness to see a star
don't follow the crowd but be who you are
light shines like a beacon guiding your way
live life not tomorrow cherish each day

31 poems

Using only words from the index of    The Time Paradox


Who was I ?
Who will I be ?
Who am I ?

Adjustment disorders
abuse alcohol anger anxiety
discounting of future

communication choice
consequences
creative destruction

universal fear of
expectations exploitation
optical illusion depression

hedonism heroin addicts
impulsivity as hallmark
of secret wound

where am I ?
turn on, tune in
and drop out

31 poems

In our garden today

Peonies foliage in hues of green and russet
Forsythia, a blanket of golden stars
shining brightly in the pouring rain
sparrows swoop to feed, squabbling
perching precarious on stone birdbath
plastic sheeting on the lawn holds
mountains of soil
borrowed cement mixer brazenly orange
proudly adorns patio, its job complete
with a cluster of discarded decking planks
well rotted, bags of sharp sand, remains
of plants pruned to make way
Delivered eight hundred and fifty
new bricks  moved and neatly stacked
by the two of us ,retirees
feeling fairly ancient today

31 poems

Complete on one shelf from left to right

The magicians apprentice where monsoons meet
birds in your garden laughter the best
Malaysian, the almost moon priestess of
the white last of the wilds voice of the Gods
The rogue, the traitor queen, the time paradox
Sepulchre, the real S.A.S. discovery
channel Malaysia the road less travelled
Old git wit Orlando 21st century
dodos basic Chinese for everyone
Singapore and Malaysia what everyone
is saying art of war how to talk to
anyone feel the fear and do it anyway

31 poems

NaPoWriMo my April obsession
I waken each day,first click on your site
to check your new prompt, ideas what to write
then buzz round my mind,with coffee in bed
and a loud purring cat, rhymes in my head
are becoming this mornings confession

31 poems

Aunty calls them fairies
each delicate flower
on fragile stem
pushes through bare earth
under dappled trees
Japanese Maple
a perfect foil
for exquisite form
 
Leaves come later
or perhaps earlier
marbled, heart shaped
providing beauty
of their own
when flowers have passed
suppressing weeds
under a carpet of greens

Unlike their showy cousins
with larger blooms
beloved by those
of a certain age
these garden delights
spread with abandon
small clusters straying
into non manicured lawn

Neapolitan or Coum
in shades of pink
or starkly white
often when little else
is flowering
indeed a certain magic
can be found
in Cyclamen

31 poems

Our house stands silent, shrouded in grey stone
the children all have left now fully grown
you too are gone ,I'm feeling so alone

The house and I, we two both stand alone
my heart feels grey, encased, unyielding stone
tendrils of ivy through the cracks have grown

Forget me nots in blue profusion grown
adorning garden, single rose alone
reminders that new growth can soften stone

   alone in stone,new pathways can be grown

31 poems

Across the humid skies the threat of rain
in heat intense, a darkness overhead
and all will flee, some shelter to obtain
torrential downpours cause umbrella spread

In heat intense, a darkness overhead
as hawkers frying quickly pack their wares
torrential downpours cause umbrella spread
as tables empty, workers stack the chairs

As hawkers frying quickly pack their wares
delicious food smells swiftly fade away
as tables empty, workers stack the chairs
awaiting sunshine lighting up the day

Delicious food smells swiftly fade away
as cats compete for scraps upon the ground
awaiting sunshine lighting up the day
when food more plentiful will then be found

As cats compete for scraps upon the ground
the poor man shelters too, hopes for a time
when food more plentiful will then be found
when begging on the streets is not a crime

The poor man shelters too, hopes for a time
when life is sunny, not so full of pain
when begging on the streets is not a crime
across the humid skies, the threat of rain

31 poems

Rare pineapple pigs in the sun
their scent fills the air as they run
and pink bumble bees
buzz high in the trees
spinning indigo rainbows for fun

31 Poems

                       November

Dementia clasps you tightly
talk of poisoned food
becomes persistent

Carers once tolerated in your bid
to remain at home are now
viewed as enemies

Food lies uneaten, even water from the tap
in your mind is a source of danger
to be avoided

you secrete uneaten food in delicate piles
first in garden, then tissue wrapped
inside the house

then  physical decline with
symptoms catastrophic in effect
You refuse hospital

daughters, doctors, nurses, carers
all try persuasion unsuccessfully until
you lapse into coma

undiagnosed, the doctor admits you
where C difficile is found
 hospital acquired infection

Your worst nightmare, hospital to you means death
your wish to die in your beloved home
sadly, cruelly denied

31 poems

                          Temptations of Eve
                                      Letters ( from a fan)


Zinging your x rated way voluptuously
under
the
sheets
rouses
quickening
pants
obscuring nocturnal moaning
Legs
kick
jerkily
in
her
glazed
fixation
every desire comprehensively being assuaged

31 Poems

My dad was up at dawn, snow, rain or sun
to fetch and milk the cows, no holidays
life as a farmer, not for everyone
in fields of grass, the cows would gently graze

to fetch and milk the cows, no holidays
and mum would come out later, help to give
in fields of grass , the cows would gently graze
our country life, a busy way to live

and mum would come out later, help to give
as well as garden, cook and clean and sew
our country life, a busy way to live
the farming tasks, the seasons ebb and flow

as well as garden, cook and clean and sew
for us two girls she always had a smile
the farming tasks, the seasons ebb and flow
we played in fields and woods and over stile

for us two girls she always had a smile
the kitchen warm with Rayburn and her love
we played in fields and woods and over stile
hay making days with bluest skies above

the kitchen warm with Rayburn and her love
sweet memories remain of childhood fun
hay making days with bluest skies above
my dad was up at dawn, snow, rain or sun

31 Poems

From start to finish

April poems start
by writing
my first ever lune

Dark skies reflecting
golden glow
of moon in a lune

Melodic voices
harmonize
in tune with a lune

So ends this foray
short but sweet
a spoonful of lune