I ... entered the poem of life, whose purpose is ... simply to witness the beauties of the world,
to discover the many forms that love can take. (Barabara Blackman in 'Glass After Glass')

This blog is not, 'Here are my very best poems'. It's for work in progress, subject to revision.
Posts may be updated without notice at any time. Completed work appears in my books.

Announcement (19 May 2013)

I won’t be writing so many new poems for a while — though there will be some. I want to spend more time on revision, and more time working on memoir (in prose!). I'll continue to participate in my online poetic communities, sharing poems already written.

31 May 2011

Music falls: Tanka for May 2011

music falls
into the emptiness
the silence
my wind chimes moving
softly in the almost still

4/5/11


feel like death
not dying, sneezing
(waving
not drowning)
and you in hospital

10/5/11


Homecoming

the bed is full
he breathes beside me
I feel balanced
the weight of him there
restored, secures me

17/5/11


the one bloom
on my autumn rose
droops
heavy with fullness
petals beginning to curl

sunshine
and tiny white clouds
a sky
deceptively light
ahead of the rain

these mirrors
tell me I’m growing old
and still
happiness fills me
with dancing light

24/5/11


only two red leaves
among thick dark green
on the poinsettia
but I thought it was dead
at the end of summer

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

our green autumn
was good for the plants
now winter
beginning tomorrow
comes in with flowers

31/5/11

11 May 2011

Written in Irritation

He left the group
he said
to deepen his study,
to understand
‘a poet’s mindset’.

We poets
just go on writing,
our unset minds
flowing
all over the place.

2 May 2011

My Judge

I wish I could tell you everything
about that past you seek to understand,
that childhood which you keep on questioning.

You say you seek resolution at last
of your mysterious, difficult past.

My recollection’s less obscure or dire.
When I say that, you yell at me: ‘Liar!’

I can only tell you what I recall.
When you insist I’m being underhand,
I wonder — why bother asking at all?



Day 29 - The person that you want tell everything to, but too afraid to

The Psychic

Many have changed my life.
You are the latest.
Messenger of the Universe,
with simple words
you reconnected me to my Spirit.
I knew at once you spoke truth.

With a hug that touched my heart,
and with your smile,
you blessed me.
I saw a sweet reflection in your eyes,
and I was thankful.
Thank you.


Day 28 - Someone that changed your life

1 May 2011

At Samhain

(Admonition to myself)

As the veil thins
between the worlds
notice you’ve spent the month
honouring the dead,
recent or old.

Take a moment now to reflect
on what was said today
by a healer: Spirit
isn’t finished with you yet
on this plane.

You’ve been wanting
to take things more quietly,
you’ve been feeling
tired and old. But it’s only
those 2012 changes coming.

Instead of this draining,
summon
that zingy young you
that you’ve been and are.
You’ve got more to teach.

And as the veil thins,
say hail and farewell
to your dear dead, then
with your hands on your heart
regenerate.



Day 30 - Your reflection in the mirror
Days 28 and 29 still to be caught up with)