NaPoWriMo 2020, Day, Hard and getting harder all the time

Hard and getting harder all the time

Victor approves of

being my muse.  In these hard

times he's going to 

start charging, he reminds me

Nuggets, hay don't grow on trees.

NaPoWriMo 2020, Day 28, Not Circling Back

Photo by Laura Hood

Not circling back

Not

an ancient

mystical arrangement, just

stones

leftover from

the coastal defences.

We

always said

spaces become sacred

when

used for

a sacred purpose.

Gathered

Saturday closest

to the sabbat

Six

Seasonal turnings

of the wheel.

Goddess

teaches us

everything is transitional.

Throwing

Rob’s ashes

wind lashing, hurling

them

back in

our faces, up

our

sleeves.  Knowing

that this cycle,

terminated

here, surrendering

to that peace.

NaPoWriMo 2020, Day 28, Highly protective plastic banana guard.

Highly protective plastic banana guard.

Pro - Protects bananas.

Con - ONLY bananas shaped exactly like the banana guard.

Con - Leads to very embarrassing conversation with your son's science teachers when you discover it was confiscated because she thought he'd brought in a sex toy.

Con - Mortification puts boy off bananas for life.

NaPoWriMo 2020, Day 26, Weather Comes Third

Of course the weather is glorious while we self isolate. Those of us blessed with gardens are hardening off the seeds we started indoors with new appreciation for how we need direct sunlight to stop getting leggy.

I give thanks to the builders.  The lantern roof, created more safe pace to shield. The house's siren call  returned them all to its sheltered harbour.

This year we've missed chips on the sea wall on the April bank holiday, but that's lockdown.  A pandemic is no respecter of custom.

The gardeners talk about how the seagulls are eating up the seedlings, like a salad buffet now there's no easy pickings from discarded take out or opportunistic panini thefts.

I dreamt of being an actress, dancer, singer and all seems to be panning out in unexpected ways as now at forty something.  I'm doing turns, interpretative dance and improv on Zoom.  Better late then never.

Thursday's we can be found on the street, clapping, banging pots and pans and seeing neighbours we never knew we had.  

I hope after all this is over we keep exporting diamonds in the clay.  Keep all these best parts of this experience; looking out for each other, learning new things, using tech to to include those socially excluded.

Rainbows and bears in windows, chalked messages, gentlest graffiti, thanking key workers, who went from unskilled to essential over night.

My lovely Lud, who hopefully asks at every Sabbat is this the one with all the sex will be pleasantly surprised to learn, yes YES Beltane draws near my lover. The later, by necessity whispered huskily in a West Country accent.

Of course conspiracy theories abound in these uncertain times and part of me wishes that it was some secret shadowy cabal, a villian that we could defeat but seriously I think we're the bad guys  Our crass over consumption, maybe it is Gaia showing us that when our life is imminently on the line, then, then we will ground planes.

Isolation games include dressing the rainbow and posting selfies on Facebook and I know it's Sunday as I have to put on a red dress.  There will be a roast dinner later and I swear these things are the only anchor I have to the passage of time 

I remember the beach the stone circle, the little painted houses, the strange art installations, the pebbles I helped collect, painted, were arranged into poppies, then eventually thrown back into the sea.  The outcry when they were, by people clearly not involved and did not understand that transience was built into the design.  The red eco paint that stubbornly refused to fade, clearly did not get the memo either.

William Harvey notable physician and

Folkestonian who discovered the blood circulation system.  Always made me wonder what we did to pump blood around the body before his scientific discovery.  Straws and gravity?

Outside my window there seems to be more birds.  I don't think there are but slowing down and less distractions. I think we're just more aware and the grass needs cutting but I lent out the mower and picking it up certainly isn't a necessity.

Today's headline will be Corona related.  It may well pass me by.  I nibble a little the government briefing but I'm trying to be kind to my mind and consume less news. 

I can't remember the last handwritten letter I received but this morning's group chat records the visitation from Chucky's mum and how it was nice of her to pop by (shame about the scalping).

I seldom green screen my Zoom meetings. The world and his wife can see the herds of magnificent unicorns that bunker down with me in the little bedroom come office come mystical menagerie.

Peaking from the book case, "Carrot Tops and Cotton Tails", "Gruffalo" all the Harry Potter's.  They were saved during the cull when we sorted out those we were willing to release back into the wild.  We left certain tomes as a crumb trail for grand babies (that I am, so, so ready to receive).

There's a back alley between us and the rec and I spy nettles, brambles, holly and a massive thistle, all prickly to deter people pilfering from the garages and I thought about foraging the nettles but worry about dog taking potty breaks.

At the border stands my lover.  Rummaging lorries and asking the drivers to step down from the cab.  Hoping for contraband rather than human cargo.

We've different fears right now.  People standing too close. Faling ill and dying alone.  Keyworkers at risk without PPE.  Losing loved one.  Panic buying and scarcity.  I worry about how easy it will be to get back to normal and do we want to return to normal?  Commutes and busyness.

Postcard perfect, the mermaid still sits upon her rock. Silent sentinel waiting until this too passes.  Acknowledging the lighthouse dictate that weather comes third to place and time.

NaPoWriMo 2020, Day 25, Lori's Lockdown Festival

Little boxes

Some galleried

Some speaker view

"Siri Play That Funky Music"

...

"White Boooooyyyy" I interject.

Other Jenny

From the block

Rocking pink nylon wig

Sam's blue sequinned bum

Lori's ginger tom steals the show

Rae and Mr Rae drop tunes.

When the lights dip low

candles are lit

Fairy lights imbue the night

With twinkles and ambiance

Laughter echoes

Lori's lockdown festival

Is it Glasto?

Not quite but close

You don't even have to leave

Your own home.

NaPoWriMo 2020, Day 24, Gobbling Fruit.

Illustration by Arthur Rackham

Gobbling Fruit

Unsubtle

overtly erotic

symbolising sexual temptation

Woman

falls to

wiley goblin seduction

Violence

and jostling

torn gown, stockings

Enough

to remind

any young woman

Oranges,

are not 

the only fruit

NaPoWriMo 2020, Day 23, POET

Image via Pixabay

P is top heavy, it’s weighty brain pregnant with possibilities.

O rounded like the ooh of that a eureka image.

E a broken rake trailing through forms to express.

T slouching across the table scribbling verse.

The poet plunders each and every letter they are able.

Regurgitating them endlessly for NaPoWriMo every April.

NaPoWriMo 2020, Day 22, Three Dutch Idioms Walk Into a Poem

Image via pixabay

Three Dutch idioms walk into a poem.

Met de deur in huis vallen

As if an angel 

was peeing into her mouth.

Enjoying her drink.

Alsof er een engeltje over je tong piest

To fall with your nose

in butter, you were at the

right time and right place.

Met zijn neus in de boter vallen

To fall with the door

Into the house.   He got straight

to the point alright

NaPoWriMo 2020, Day 21 Stocial Majesty.

Image via Pixabay

Stocial Majesty

Her stocial Majesty overtook her that night.

Hoarder mind zealot lovingly germinated.

The day vandal vandalised my hope then looked blithely up.

Behold her still, daringly, all heart blood voracious.

War each night cannot be brokered, a spears hit.

Night games vacancy even gracious maraschino veracity, zero hear.

Today's prompt was to write a poem based on the sounds in a foreign language poem.  

The poet I was inspired by was Gerda Blees and her poem Stoerste Meisje. Which you can find here.  I've only done the first verse but recommend the poem it was a good read,

I love how Stoerste Meisje translates as strongest girl and Stocial Majesty still conjures quiet strength.

NaPoWriMo 2020, Day 20, Mix Tape

 Image via Pixabay 

Every time I opened my work locker

I hoped I wouldn't find one.

Apprehensively I would turn the key

On top of my neatly folded uniform

I would find another one.

The ultimate "school boy" complement.

I hoped I wouldn't find one.

It's just you see he was two decades older

I didn't know interpret, heart sinking

I would find another one.

Tried reaching out to a manager

I hoped I'd find a sympathetic one

Advised I should be flattered

don't make a fuss or lead him on

excuses for male entitlement.

I would always find another one.

Well that went to a dark and twisty place. Today's prompt asks us to write a poem about a handmade or homemade gift.  one of the suggestions was a mix-tape from an old partner and it reminded me of a discussion I had with a friend recently about being socialised into accepting shitty behaviours from men.

NaPoWriMo 2020, Day 19, Round and Round the Garden.

                 Image via Pixabay

Round and round the garden

like a Jenny bear. Shielding 

mum, forgoing the walk.

Blessed with a garden, blossom

falls like snow, promise of pears.

Pear symbolises 

hope and friendship, we need both.

Bow and leave a stone.

Seeking permission, taking

a sprig.  Prompt to text a friend.

Today's prompt was to create a poem based on a walking archive, more information here.

NaPoWriMo 2020, Day 18, The Stackhouse Filibuster

"Let me tell you something, don't ever ever underestimate the will of a grandfather. We're madmen, we don't give a damn, we got here before you and they'll be here after. We'll make enemies, we'll break laws, we'll break bones, but you will not mess with the grandchildren."

President Bartlett: The West Wing 

The Stackhouse Filibuster.

 

Resolute, reading 

card rules, recipes

filibustering.

He could not hang his bauble.

Stands underestimated. 

Today's prompt was small pleasures and I took inspiration from the pleasure of re-watching a favourite episode of a series you love.

NaPoWriMo 2020, Day 17, Try telling the young people today.

It's

not quite

drinking a cup 

of 

sulphuric acid.

Not working twenty-nine 

hours

a day

down mine, paying

mill 

owner for

permission to come

to 

work. BUT,

trying to explain

the 

bloody agony

of waiting for

t'internet

to connect.

The taunting little 

tune 

it trilled.

Being booted off 

because 

mam wanted

to phone Aunt 

Jeanie. 

Torture sheer 

torture. But you

 

try 

and tell

the young people 

today 

that...they 

won't believe ya. 

Today's prompt was to write a poem about obsolete technology.  Obviously paying homage to

Monty Python's The 4 Yorkshire Men.

NaPoWriMo 2020, Day 16, I Just Called To Say I Glub You.

I just called to say I glub you.

I'm really sorry

that I can't wax lyrical, on

your innumerable

charms, but it's the first day back

I'm drowning in emails. Glub.

NaPoWriMo 2020, Day 14, Under the influence.

Under the influence

Blake

Anger with

friends and foes

Plath

Lady Lazarus

rising from ashes

Cope

Hating you

all the while

Today’s optional prompt asks to think about your own inspirations and forebears (whether literary or otherwise). Specifically we're challenged today to write a poem that deals with the poems, poets, and other people who inspired you to write poems. These could be poems/poets/poeple that you strive to be like, or even poems, poets, and people that you strive not to be like. There are as many ways to go with this prompt as there are ways to be inspired.

The first three poets that popped into my mind were William Blake, Sylvia Plath and Wendy Cope.

NaPoWriMo 2020 Day 12: Gratitude Grounds Us

Gratitude Grounds Us

Gratitude grounds us in times like these.

It's true I've much to be thankful for.

We isolate to protect from this disease.

Gratitude grounds us in times like these.

I garden, see more butterflies and bees.

Others take an hours walk outdoors.

Gratitude grounds us in times like these.

It's true I've much to be thankful for.

Today's prompt was to write a triolet an eight line poem, but with five original lines, and some repeated lines, giving the triolet a rhyming scheme ABaAabAB, where capital letters indicate repeated lines.

NaPoWriMo 2020, Day 11: Garland Speech

       John Everett Millais: Ophelia

Garland Speech

"There's rosemary, that's for remembrance, pray you, love, remember."

When

your love

bid you follow.

I 

grew rosemary

by my backdoor.

Prayed

hard an

fervently "remember me".

"What 

will I

do with my

mornings?

Mournings? "Grown

for two ends".

Herrick 

sagely advised

bridall or burriall.

Hope

is perennial.

It pays dividends.

Today's prompt was to create a poem in which one or more flowers take on specific meanings. 

I've always found Ophelia's garland speech particularly poignant and doing a little research around the symbolic meaning of Rosemary discovered that Herrick had a poem that reflects rosemary's use in both bridal bouquets and burial wreaths.

NaPoWriMo 2020, Day 10: Mindfulvie By The Sea

Mindfulvie by the sea inspired me.

Holistics

huddle on

Zoom. New connections.

Mindfulvie

our inspiration

shares her acrostic.

Exhilarated

Grab my

pen, get creative.

Moment.

Live in

it. Each second.

Inspiration.

Seek out

people and words.

Nature.

Get outside.

Ground and breathe.

Dream.

Visualise everyday

Unfolding in beauty.

Faith.

Universe it

has your back.

Understand.

Everyone is

doing their best.

Love.

Yourself exactly

as you are.

Nurture.

Undertake daily

self care practice.

Enjoy.

Movement, pleasure

bodies, not punish.

Scribe.

Journaling, gratitudes,

write forgiveness letters.

Surrender.

Concede what

you can't control.

So today's prompt was to create a hay(na)ku, a variant on the haiku. A hay(na)ku consists of a three-line stanza, where the first line has one word, the second line has two words, and the third line has three words. You can write just one, or chain several together into a longer poem. 

Today's image was the acrostic writing that I had created after attending an online Zoom meeting run by Sue Perrett called the "Holistic Huddle".  Today's guest speaker was Vicky Eldridge who had shared her own acrostic mindfulness writing.

I wrote my mindfulness acrostic writing before reading today's NaPoWriMo prompt but found that what I had written would really translate well into the hay (na) ku.

NaPoWriMo 2020, Day 8: I am not ready for anything to happen

I am not ready

for anything to happen.

Uncertain times have robbed

us of routine; hours, days and weeks.

Merge like a child's paint pallette.

Muddled and muddied,

all definition is lost.

Technology tries

to connect, but we still we

hunger from touch starvation.

Today's prompt was to use a poetry bot to generate our first line.  Of course I chose Sylvia Plath Bot.

NaPoWriMo 2020, Day 7, Muddying The Waters

Cocaine Hippos

Drug lords legacy, 

breeding exponentially.

Invasive species,

for pollution were blamed, now

eco-engineers proclaimed.

Prompt: Write a poem on an odd news story.

It's a tiny Tanka as I've had a bit of a headache.  

Read more about Cocaine Hippos here