Welcome to my first poetry collection of 2025. I hope you will enjoy reading.
Ripples in the sand
Like fickle resolutions
Roll into the sea.
A fresh approach is needed
As I walk across the sand
The biting wind scorching
My eyes and cheeks
Is a sculptor reshaping
Quivering mounds
And the concrete block
I stumble upon
Is not a crude remnant
Of erosion storms
It is the creator of shadows
Window to the stars.
It seemed like only yesterday
That every unoccupied moment
Was filled with thoughts of her
So far apart yet some days
He swore he could feel
Her breath on his face
Now shades of acceptance
Hung heavy in the air
Ethereal creatures
With hearts on fire
Turning to stone.
Web of quivering wishes
Suspended delight.
At the start of every line
Drawn in transient sand
Is an unanswered question.
Majestic winter sun
You descend slowly in a pale blue sky
Leave hints of snow in your wake
Transform barren landscapes
Roll out a golden path
To a rippled place of hope
Observe silently from above
Measure levels of happiness
Uplift with your Midas touch.
Scraped back hair
Grey eyes closed
Head bowed in prayer
She sat alone
In the same creaking
Wooden pew
At the church on the hill.
A weary tear
Rolled down her face
No amount of money
In the collection plate
Or vespers in
The evening rain
Could bring him
Back to her.
For so long
He had watched her
Hoping one day
She would look his way
Her delicate smile
No longer reached her eyes
A fading pink sky
Drowning in tireless waves
But he was becoming weary
Of trying to second guess
Why she stayed true
To someone
Who treated her that way.
Hiding behind
Pretty curled leaves
Your bashful smile
Magnetises me
I want to hold you
Caress your skin
But I don’t want to
Damage your fragility
Why is it that fruit
Just out of reach
Always seems
The sweetest?
Before the remnants
Of what they once had
Were washed away
Into undercurrents
Of night
She caught her breath
Slowly turned away
Eyes glistening
Like shards
Of broken glass
The silence
Was deafening
But further words
Unnecessary
And superfluous
To requirements
It was time to quit
Whilst they were ahead.
Raindrops cling to glass
As unrequited lovers
Hold on to the past.
Release worries
Watch them disappear
Sunset ripples.
I never felt
I could look closely
At you before
Although I know
You have always
Been there
Perhaps I took you
For granted
But today
I am viewing you
In a different way
The sparkling ice
Has softened
Your spiky exterior
You seem more
Approachable
Can we start again?
That delicious moment
Of anticipation
Exhilaration
Evaporating silence
Before waves unfurl
Explode and excite
Then crash
Upon the rocks.
A solitary figure
Walked across
An empty beach
Stopped for a moment
Beside a shallow pool
Looked down
At his reflection
Caught between
Submerged pebbles
Distorted features
Mask slipping
Revealing truths
Locked deep within
The way he covered
Unhappiness
Was to crack jokes
And play the fool.
Cloaked in soft grey mist
Sky and sea fuse into one
Atmospheric beach.
Pure satin snowdrop
You emerge so gracefully
From winter bracken.
He watched her in the half light
Sat on the edge of the bed
As she did every night
Before getting under the covers
To join him
Carefully she smoothed lotion
From a tube filled with false promises
Hoping it would remove
Lines and puckering from
Her ageing skin
Normally he watched
Without saying a word
But something in
Her expression tonight
Said when a smile cracks
Despair begins
He pulled her hands
Away from her face
Turned her around
So she was facing him
Looking into her eyes
He started to speak
In velvet tones of sincerity
He said “You don’t need
To keep on
Being sold a dream
No cream in the world
Could make you look
Any more beautiful to me.”
Restorative sun
Softening jagged edges
Of the raging storm.
Through misty eyes
I stare lovingly
For the first time
At her tiny face
Basking in tender
Newborn bliss
Echoes of distant
Lullabies play
A flush of pink
On silky cheeks
I can feel love
Seep into my heart
There could be
No greater gift
Than my first grandchild
Sweet January flower.
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Thank you for reading. You can find me on both X and Instagram under @jillwebbwords. Links are provided below.
