The weekend saw NaPoWriMo challenge us to write a ‘serene and observational’ poem inspired by a walk, with the following day (day 14) prompting with a ‘persona poem’, perhaps in the voice of a hero or a villain…
A walk observed
Soft silence
ebbs and flows on a tide of bubbling birdsong
shrills and trills and twitterings – those invisible voices which linger by the sea.
A shot of bob-tailed white
flushed from fresh grazing into cover of brush with newly nestled buds
brimming with spring-filled hope.
Crunching cobbles mesh with minutia of sand
pressed clean by an ocean now dutifully lapping the shore
An illusion of innocence kissed by morning sun.
The tang of salty, slippery seaweed
greedy gulls squabbling, dancing in the gentle gusts
of cool
refreshing
life.
‘Me’
In morning hours I rise and wake
and hope and pray,
for everyone’s sake
My dress is smart – overtly so
it’s just to let the people know
That I have stature, well, some at least
it helps to make them think I feast
For I am respectable – I toe the line
I always turn up – and I’m always on time
They see me once, they see me twice
the lucky ones, they see me thrice
As day to day I work about
the city streets and help them out
(All quite discreetly by the way
and at night as well, not just by day)
Oh, they all seek me – the rich and poor
the mademoiselle and of course, the monsieur
But I am elusive when I take to task
I am one often seen, but my face wears a mask
Say it loud, say it clear – let them all know I’m here
I will take back the streets and return what is dear
Oh yes, I’ll ring their bell and I’ll give them all hell,
For I am the great Scarlet Pimpernel!
Poetry is my continuing theme this week for, along with my daily NaPoWriMo updates, I will be heading to the City of Culture (L’Derry) on Thursday to enjoy a talk and reading from poet and playwright, Mr Lemn Sissay…
Meanwhile, Tuesday evening will be given over to my poetry class with El Gruer, whilst the weekend brings with it a masterclass with children’s author Lynne Reid Banks, also at the VAC, which I will be going along to with a similarly minded writer friend. (ok, not poetry but still, very exciting!)
[flower pic by: Jean-Jacques Milan]