The Trapped Butterfly – Poem

18 June 2015 / Waves and Pebbles - random thoughts and writing on life, memories and creativity / Leave a comment

Copyright 2009 Donald Duss, Flickr, CC-BY, via Wylio

The following poem was written in 2010. A woman I had met in Brighton had talked about being a trapped butterfly and other things she spoke about encouraged me to get on and write my book. Yes, even back then I had the intention to write a book – maybe 2015 will be the year! I have recently made a start on two books – one is a fiction story based in Brighton which I started writing a couple of weeks ago. The second is a book on Memories and Creativity which I started writing today. I have made many ‘starts’ over the years – I just have to keep the momentum up and see it through … Anyway, here is my poem.

The Trapped Butterfly

Thoughts of freedom fill her mind

not knowing what to do

She cannot leave it all behind

to find that something new

Life has done it once again

entrapped her in its web

Amongst it all it is the men

that cause a constant ebb

The journey has been happy

it has not been all bad

Such gifts there’ve been for all to see

yet now she feels so sad

The spiders web surrounds her

it’s not a pretty sight

And nothing feels the way things were

so taking all the might

Yet through her fragile being

comes wonder and such light

That lifts and is so healing

she’s not giving up the fight

To break through all the limits

and fly to reach the sky

To take a look to where he sits

with not a tearful eye

So from this day now forward

she knows what she must do

To lift her high as like a bird

and give a happy coo

A butterfly is special

it flutters here and there

But her wish is now to settle

with one that wants to share

And the choices that she makes

are hers and hers alone

And it will be for all their sakes

though some of them may moan

Time is slipping through her wings

the moment is now here

To feel the joys of all life brings

there’s nothing now to fear

Tonight is the night all my dreams come true – Love Poem

18 June 2015 / Waves and Pebbles - random thoughts and writing on life, memories and creativity / Leave a comment

Copyright 2008 Sabrina Campagna, Flickr, CC-BY, via Wylio

Tonight is the night all my dreams come true

As you eagerly search for the four leafed clover
Amongst the softness of the lush emerald grass
The suns rays sprinkle the angels’ dust of love

When the magical starlight haze glimmers in the night sea sky
The warm bond of hugs nestles in the midnight breeze
And memories of a distant fountain spread everlasting joy

Special feelings are shared silently as the soft moon
Glows through the majestic bridge
And a time recalled when two languages declared their love

Standing forever caught in a tangled maze
Never reaching the point when two hearts join forever
Lost happiness as the twist of fate rips all hope aside

Yet tonight is an open book
The story unwritten
Our world is there to find

Perfection is an illusion
Yet the mystical journey to the dream can be shared
And all the special tender moments make all the days apart worthwhile

All there is to do is smile and believe it can be
Allow the chance to be free
To share a blessed and loving journey of life in its entirety

Tonight is the night all my dreams come true

Oblivion – poem

14 June 201514 June 2015 / Waves and Pebbles - random thoughts and writing on life, memories and creativity / Leave a comment

Copyright 2008 David Ohmer, Flickr, CC-BY, via Wylio

I wrote this poem when I was attending a creative writing course in 2013. It was at this time that I learnt about different types of poems and editing. It was my first (and only!) attempt at a Villanelle style of poem. Most of my poems have been written spontaneously and rarely edited. I’d love to know what you think.

OBLIVION

Across the trapway looming dwellings queue

I struggle with thoughts of others’ feeling

Shimmering isle inspired by blue depth hue

Eery emptiness fakes tempting trespass

I’m drawn to chance the shake of such stepping

Across the trapway looming dwellings queue

Furtive steps melt along the curving path

I feel the heat of the orange glowing

Shimmering isle inspired by blue depth hue

Hidden echoes of the privileged few

I hear aching voices softly calling

Across the tramway looming dwellings queue

Tippling boats and boys seared by rich sun rays

I bless them from the heart for such dreaming

Shimmering isle inspired by blue depth hue

Shedding golden light on secret ways

I feel lured in by those that went sailing

Across the tramway looming dwellings queue

Shimmering isle inspired by blue depth hue

River of Gold – poem on graduation

14 June 201514 June 2015 / Waves and Pebbles - random thoughts and writing on life, memories and creativity / Leave a comment

Copyright 2013 Kinshuk Kashyap, Flickr, CC-BY, via Wylio

I wrote this poem on the train en route to my son’s graduation back in 2011.

RIVER OF GOLD

A droplet in the ocean

no different than the rest

The world is filled with motion

yet there seems no special quest

There’s such a special journey

for one that is so small

A ripple, one of many

some are heading for a fall

Life gives them such a blessing

with gifts for all to seek

Within is where they’re hiding

and the secret is to peek

Search for true hidden talents

the playful ones count too

Don’t let them say it’s nonsense

deep inside you have the cue

To learn the many reasons

for this and that and how

Till knowledge is the river

leads to taking such a bow

The prize is yours forever

to take you far and wide

The river it is golden

rippling ever more with pride

Reflecting on a poem written when a special friend was fighting cancer … It now seems so relevant to me

3 June 20153 June 2015 / Waves and Pebbles - random thoughts and writing on life, memories and creativity / Leave a comment

As I continue to sift through my journals, I have discovered my initial writing of this poem a few years ago.

Copyright 2011 Alice Popcorn, Flickr, CC-BY, via Wylio

Sometimes when we least expect

life brings us such a clout

It takes away the certainness

and leaves such rays of doubt

Why is all there is to say

then numbness takes its toll

Leaving not a thread of power

or strength to set a goal

We may not know the reason

we may not have a clue

Yet here it is before us now

we are one of the few

Chosen is not how we feel

and not a choice did make

And there’s a hint of loneliness

like lost within a lake

Then when it all seems hopeless

and dreams will slip away

Our precious jewels come to light

and rise above the hay

People that we love so much

those that really care

Treasured memories, special thoughts

arise as much they dare

Our life is such a journey

the ups, the twists, the downs

And we can choose to dance along

and sometimes be like clowns

The happiness, the sadness

our feelings are the best

And it’s OK to laugh and cry

to worry and to jest

Life is a timeless moment

that mindfulness can bring

Don’t worry what the future holds

for now is here to sing

Yet let your dreams stream onwards

with hope for what’s to come

Such wonder in creative play

and life is like the gum

There’s strength for when you need it

and friends will stick around

The treasure map will come to life

and joy will then be found

You have the tools to make it

you have the heart and soul

The special person that you are

will find and seek your goal

Enjoy the days that follow

take from them what you will

Let angels guide you on your path

to bring you up this hill

Let love and laughter join you

amidst some sadness too

Till once again the sun shines bright

upon your life so true

Journal find Summer 2014 – poetic lines written following spiritual experience by the sea

3 June 20153 June 2015 / Waves and Pebbles - random thoughts and writing on life, memories and creativity / 2 Comments

Copyright 2013 Matthew Hartley, Flickr, CC-BY, via Wylio

Just found these words scribbled on their own following journal entries on a very special visit to Tenby in Wales, a lovely place.

Happiness draws me through the tunnel of light

the whispers so precious have given me fight

Where will it take me? Oh I know not for sure

but now it’s life’s journey, so precious, so pure

Poem on a much delayed train journey to Brighton – untitled

31 May 2015 / Waves and Pebbles - random thoughts and writing on life, memories and creativity / Leave a comment

Copyright 2011 Alexander, Flickr, CC-BY-SA, via Wylio

Just found this poem. I was on my way to Brighton to visit a school friend I had not seen for very many years. It turned out to be a very special day. This was written spontaneously on the very long (much delayed) train journey there after gazing out the window at the surrounding countryside.

I am life.

I am a leaf

growing out a place.

I live here,

here on the bank.

The trains pass me by,

no-one sees

‘cept those frustrated

with their time-thieved lives

and they are too blinkered to see.

I am a leaf of life.

Words – what would we do without them? Random poetic writing

30 May 201530 May 2015 / Waves and Pebbles - random thoughts and writing on life, memories and creativity / 2 Comments

Copyright 2012 Denise Krebs, Flickr, CC-BY, via Wylio

I have just stumbled across these verses written early one morning in the summer of 2010 sitting by the river whilst holidaying at Statford upon Avon. The desire to write and getting stuck seems to have remained with me!

Aren’t words the wonder of all

they bring such treasures our way

Without them we’d fall with nothing to call

and life would be dull day on day.

We’d sing, no lyrics would come

we would hum, laa laa, dee dee

What would be the point, well ok for some

but for most so lost would be.

So writers what would they write

no way to convey their thoughts

However they tried, as hard as they might

they would drift and be out of sorts.

How would we share all our joys

that come bursting through our voice

Whatever we feel, whatever the noise

the message is not our choice.

With no words no wonder is

unless an artist could be

With colour and light, some pencil and vizz

would say all there is to see.

Words are the key to my life

without them what would I do

Be lost for a while, my thoughts would be rife

till vision could see them too.

A lesson it is for me

to be the best that I can

A story will write, for all it will be

for children, for women, for man.

A puzzle this has become

it didn’t set out to be

I will paint and draw, I will sing and hum

till the words they come to me.

Memory triggers – Clouds (and Blogging)

19 April 201519 April 2015 / Waves and Pebbles - random thoughts and writing on life, memories and creativity / 2 Comments

Copyright 2014 Patrick Emerson, CC-BY-ND, via Wylio

I am playing around with a blog I wrote a short while back. No-one appears to have seen it so I am changing the title and photo and see if this makes a difference. The text and poem remains unchanged. It would be good to get some feedback and to hear from others their own experiences of what draws people to read their blog.

Prompted by a friend to write a poem on clouds, I reflected on what they mean to me. It’s fascinating how thinking about something like this can evoke memories from the past.

I recall when I was at school we had acres of lush green grass, tiered with slopes that we could roly poly down. The clouds made me think of when I would lay flat on my back on the grass gazing up at the blue sky and fluffy white clouds on a beautiful summer’s day.

I also remember how I enjoyed flying above the clouds for the first time when I was a teenager, looking down on them and seeing fairytale mountains.

The following are the words that have spontaneously come to me.

Clouds

Stretched out on the emerald pillow

The light sapphire canvas blotched with stately mounds

Wishing I was up amongst the clouds

Gliding serenely o’er the world

Zooming beyond the realms of living land

The magical marshmallow mountains

Bestow a safe haven in my mind

Clouds are forever there, bumbling along

Swept by the whipping winds of fury

Today their blackened stains threaten

As the wands of wetness streak down

A passing theme in our lives

A cloudless sky perfection seems

Yet without clouds, life would pass us by

Thank you for reading. I welcome any comments you may have.

The Orange Globe – Poem

7 April 20157 April 2015 / Waves and Pebbles - random thoughts and writing on life, memories and creativity / 4 Comments

I wrote the following poem when I was attending a creative writing course and tasked with eating an orange and then writing about it. I chose to approach the exercise mindfully, which meant that I fully focused on every move. I had ensured that I had peace and would not be disturbed. I feel that mindfulness resulted in far more descriptive vocabulary than I would otherwise have used.

I previously shared this poem on my poetry page unillustrated. Following my post on the use of images in blogs, thanks to another blogger I have now been introduced to Wylio and found the chosen photo which I felt was perfect.