Posted in Poetry, Writing, tagged age, dog, friend, love, Poetry, Summer, Writing on February 25, 2014| 4 Comments »
Just a glance, a smile,
stirs his tail to thump.
My old grey muzzled friend
heaves himself up, steadies himself,
plods across the flagstone floor
rests his heavy head on my lap.
We sit in the twilight.
He warms me.
What days they were, when we flew
laughing – leaping the long
sun tumbled bands of hay
Joy snapping at our heels
I smile again, we sit and stay,
While I fondle his deaf ear.
Posted in Autobiography, Poetry, tagged daughter, Death, dream, elderly, Family, Grief, housework, love, mother, old, Poetry, villanelle, Writing on January 5, 2013| 4 Comments »
I was delighted and amazed that this poem was highly commended in the ‘Fire River Poets’ poetry competition. I’ve been invited to read it, plus some others, at a ‘Winners Evening’ in May. It’s very exciting but also quite daunting.
Here’s the poem…(it’s a villanelle by the way)
Wordless Dream
I dreamt that you were with us all today,
so vivid and so real you seemed to be,
you smiled, you never spoke, just turned away.
You buttered toast, and laid the breakfast tray.
You boiled the old range kettle, made the tea.
I dreamt that you were with us all today.
You never stopped, nor saw the children play.
Instead you polished all the cutlery.
You smiled, I never spoke. I turned away.
Your face was drawn, your features gaunt and grey,
but still you cleaned and worked on endlessly.
I dreamt that you were with us all today.
I begged you please to stop, to rest, to stay.
You placed your age-worn hand upon my knee,
We smiled, we never spoke, we turned away.
A tear slid down your face, I saw you sway.
I wanted you to stop. Stay here with me.
I dreamt that you were with us all today,
you smiled, you never spoke and turned away.
Posted in Autobiography, Poetry, Writing, tagged baby, bond, child, daughter, Family, kill, love, newborn, Personal, safe, son on August 19, 2012| 4 Comments »
My heart shifted
It made a room for you,
never to be empty.
I held you- soft and warm,
a tiny bundle,
bald and bawling.
How in a moment
did this bond bubble up
between us?
So strong –
I would kill
to keep you
safe.
Posted in Poetry, Writing, tagged beauty, fabric, Family, flowers, gown, love, Personal, Poetry, wedding on June 8, 2012| 4 Comments »
A sonnet for my niece Chloe; written after shopping for her wedding dress.
Chloe’s Wedding Gown
A cascade fall of satin fairy-tales,
still drape from golden rails. A silken stream
of ivory, of pearl. Lace flower trails
between soft organza and love’s young dream.
The robe, a puff of candy floss delight,
adorned with sequins, pearly beads and bows.
The veil, a froth of voile, bejewelled and white.
The sparkling shoes revealing painted toes.
But this is not for you. You will decide –
no glitz, no glam. On fancy frills, you’d frown.
Just fresh wild roses, flowers, for this bride
to hold before a simple long white gown.
For that’s all sugar spun, a pretty trim.
Your beauty Chloe, comes from deep within.
