Forest of Fear

Tags

courage, dream, dreams, fear, fun, humour, poem, poetry, rhyme

There’s a forest of fear

Where magic feels near

But not all of its white

And eyes give me a fright

As they look at me deeply

To greet me, or eat me!

I don’t really care

Just don’t wanna be there

So I run but the trees say

‘No! That’s the wrong way!

Your dreams are still waiting

Deep on the inside

For years now already

They’ve endlessly cried

‘’Don’t leave us we need you

And love needs you too!

We cannot be shared

Until you bring us through!’’’

***

So I stopped and I breathed

Though my back was still turned

The trees held their breath

Oh how my heart yearned

To turn, run straight back

to hug those wise trees

go into that forest

and set my dreams free

But I took a step forward

A small step away

Then felt my whole body

Go weak; tremble, sway

***

The time was now, I turned around

Is it just me, or can trees look proud

And as I approached that forest of fear

Quietly at first, I began to hear

My dreams at its centre, egging me on

‘Have faith, we’ll protect you

We need you! Come on!’

***

Once over the threshold, I hugged the lead tree

Then onward, eyes closed (it was too dark to see)

I used other senses to follow that path

Walking and stumbling right into the dark

The noise from my dreams getting louder now

They’d started to sing! (don’t ask me how!)

That melody lit up the path to the core

And I ran, ‘cos I just couldn’t wait anymore

The deeper I went, the more light I saw

Until, at the centre, I stood in awe

Surrounded by dreams that I’d hatched through the years

But that hadn’t yet grown, because of my fears

I cradled them gently as tears slowly fell

Showering dreams that began to swell

Follow me friends, it’s high time to leave!

And back through that forest we ran and we weaved

My dreams ran ahead and behind and beside

My heart felt miles high, miles deep and miles wide

Until I could see – there’s no forest at all!

Or at least it became infinitesimally small

As me and my dreams fly high up above

Smiling and singing on thermals of love

 

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Mist, sacred, fire

Tags

challenge, creativity, fun, poem, poetry, poetry to order, prompt, writing

 

image credit:http://www.scenesofmilford.com/walnut-beach/

Below is a poem I wrote in three minutes (I haven’t edited!) in response to the three word prompt in the title of this post. I’ve written five three minute poems to warm up for a more public offering this Saturday, but I’d love more practice! If you’d like me to write you one, want to read the others, or just for more background to this challenge, please check out my previous post.

https://wordsthatserve.wordpress.com/2016/11/27/poetic-practice/

The fire in the belly
of mother earth
rises water ways into
a mist that fills the air
and cloaks the dawn
to meet the sacred sunrise
for each day birthed
anew is welcomed
with equal beauty, splendor
the moon bows out
to the sun
the birds sing
the new day in
and old and new
rise again refreshed
by the turn, turn, turn
that keeps life moving
always moving
and the elements
rising, falling, rising, falling
as one who remembers
walks on the beach
away from walls and noise
and feels for herself
the sacred start
of a new day

Poetic Practice

Tags

christmas, craft, fun, poem, poetry, writing

This coming Saturday (3rd Dec), I’m doing something I’ve NEVER done before (have you done one of those recently? Scary, isn’t it!) and my pen needs practise!

A friend and I have a table at a Christmas Craft Fair, and I will be offering Poetry to Order – written, there and then, to a theme (or three…) of the customer’s choice! This is a warm up, so I’m offering a poem for a pound, written in three minutes (See that sand timer? Do you know how fast three minutes is?!)

Well actually, 3 mins is enough to re-write the first verse of a Christmas Carol while singing it in the shower quietly so as not to wake your housemate, as I did this morning before writing this post (ok, so I guess I’m already warming up…)

O Come all ye Fearful

Light the fire of courage

Warm ye, and watch your hope 

Shine bright through the night

Dawn is descending

Darkness’ rule is ending

O come have hope be joyful

O come have hope be joyful

O come have hope be joyful

And sing ‘love is here!’

But I’d like some real practise! So, just write a comment below over the next five days, describing in up to three words/short phrases the theme you’d like me to write a poem on, and I’ll write it, in three minutes flat (not including the writing out in neat, or typing in this case!) and post it as a reply comment.

Actually, I have kind of done this kind of thing before, just not in this very public context, or at this speed! For more background on this, check out these old posts:

https://wordsthatserve.wordpress.com/2012/10/07/poetry-to-order-whatll-it-be/

https://wordsthatserve.wordpress.com/2012/10/18/poetry-to-order-part-two/

And/or this link:

http://wefund.com/project/the-poetry-takeaway/p1130/

 

So, Dear Friends

Pray, what’ll it be?

Give me your order

In 1, 2 or 3.

And in 1, 2 or 3

Your order comes back

In words I hope serve.

Well – how about that!

 

The comments section is waiting…:-)

 

A new diet…

Tags

diet, food, fun, humour, joy, kindness, poem, poetry, smile

image credit: http://babybudgeting.co.uk/

I went to a brand new cafe

that didn’t serve food at all

but strangely enough

once they’d served me the stuff

I was totally, utterly full

***

The starter that day was a smile

that sparkled right into my eyes

for my main, some kind words

sweetly sung by a bird

and dessert was a warm hug goodbye

***

I think I might like this new diet

I’d probably lose some weight too (!)

and best thing you see

is that all of it’s free –

I think you should try it, don’t you? 🙂

 

 

I don’t usually post twice a day, but couldn’t resist turning a fun exchange in the comments on my earlier post into this poem 🙂 Thanks https://writingtofreedom.com/ You’re awesome!

 

 

My Day in a poetic 5,4,3,2,1

Tags

acrostic, couplet, fun, haiku, joy, nourishment, poem, poetry, quatrain, spirit, wisdom, writing

Just because it’s fun 🙂

 

5 – A Limerick

There was a barista named ‘Ru’

Who found herself tired and blue

She lay her head down

To dream off her frown

And woke up all brand spanking new

 

4 – A Quatrain

 

Time to slow down

you’re racing again

you don’t need permission

plump that cushion – zen!

 

3 – A Haikrostic 🙂

 

Just listen will you

Open your soul ears, now shhh

You’re doing just fine

 

2 – A Rhyming Couplet

 

The sun, the river, blue sky calls

How blessed to have a day all yours

 

1 – A six word story

 

Cooked soup; body sated, soul soothed

 

 

So how was your day my friends?

Valour

Tags

acrostic, courage, fun, peace, poem, poetry

Verily I bid you friends, be bold

And face this world with courage in your hearts

Love conquers all, or so we have been told

Oh let no time be wasted, we must start

Unanimous in dreams of reigning peace

Relinquish fear and let the violence cease

Reverence

Tags

acrostic, fun, haiku, life, love, nature, poem, poetry, reverence, source

Reaching out to touch the perfect blossom

Engaging playful wonder, ‘How could you become fruit?’

Vying against my modern mind made cynical for the right to

Envelop myself whole in the sacred beauty that surrounds

Reminding me we’ve all come from the same place, for

Everything shines with source if I make attendance openly

No need for formalities that seek to separate the sacred from the

Commonality of an everyday field of worship as I

Entreat the curious lamb to dare step closer that I might know softness

 

 

And another animal Haikrostic for you:

Rat

Rodent most reviled

Attracted by mess and smells

Travels the sewers

 

Quiet

Tags

acrostic, fun, poem, poetry, quiet, silence

Quick, turn it off!

Unplug everything humming with electricity

It takes a moment for the mind to catch up

Exhale, and really hear the breath leave you

Take a mini holiday from noise

Learning

Tags

acrostic, creativity, education, fun, haiku, learning, life, poem, poetry

Led by curiosity, forget about

Ever arriving at any final destination

And just follow what draws your interest

Right now, for wisdom lies

Not in accumulating proof of knowledge

In order to feed the illusion of control, but rather in

Never holding too tight to being right

Generously playing warm host to every question

 

And today’s haikrostic:

Leo

Luxurious mane

Extols your majesty, King

Of beasts…don’t eat me!

Kindness

Tags

acrostic, community, fun, humanity, kindness, love, poem, poetry

Keep your heart and eyes open

Invite opportunities to share the best of you

Now, with a smile, an offering

Doesn’t need to be big, just real

Nothing fancy, just genuine warmth

Ensuring the other feels valued, recognised,

Seen as a fellow human being, a

Sister or brother to enjoy life alongside