Poetry and Photos by Jill Webb

Friday, 3 February 2023

Friendship

This post is a celebration of the friendship I have developed with gifted poet Joe Praks. Joe’s eye for detail has been such an inspiration to me. It’s a pleasure and an honour to join forces with him. I hope you will enjoy reading our poetry.

The first five poems are Joe’s creations. The remainder are my own.

So glad it's here

Here it came, another new morning

Sleepy like a new born baby

Angels are reigning the skies

It's safe to wake up

It's safe to listen to the wind

It's safe to start anew

It's safe to to feel a wee bit insecure

It's safe to leave my comfort zone

It's safe to dream.

Beautiful snowdrops growing

They're trying to call in

The spring Sun

Courageous little beauties

I wonder what they do now

As it was freezing in the night

And the snow appeared again

Did they just fall asleep, awaiting

Their big day

Or are they just dying dreaming

I'd like to know.

I see you within my heart

I see you in the shimmering light

I feel you as the night is getting

Near me now

Ready to go by

I see you always as if the first time

I feel it as if it's been the last ever

Thing on my mind

I see you in colours as I travel

Into a dream and out of my time.

I had a dream of tulips blooming

The clouds were weeping

I'm not to see your smile ever again

They didn't know it they were wrong

They lied all the same

Sometimes the most silent thought

Roars like thunder

You with your smiling eyes

You destroying me with your smile

Like no other.

The Sun is about to set

I remain silent

But I'm still the same

All my thoughts belong to you

All the words we shared

I cherish them in my heart

Memorising them when

I'm alone and

Much darker reigns the night

I remain silent

As all might have been

Said and done

But you

You are the one.

If you would like to read more of Joe’s work he can be found on Twitter and Instagram.

Whilst lost in a moment

Of serenity

I found a piece of myself.

I wonder what stories

You could tell

In tones of

Blue and pink

I wonder what dramas

You’ve seen unfold

Words recited

Without a script

Every wooden

Laughter line

Hides a thousand

Lonely tears

When I touch your

Sand encrusted bark

I see memories

Of falling leaves.

Come and sit with me

For a while

We don’t need

To say a word

Surrender to

The here and now

Senses caressed

By the gentle sound

Of waves washing over

Pebbles and rocks

Worries dissolving

In ripples of gold

Rainbow clouds,

A pastel backdrop

As we watch

The sun go down.

When you see

Rays of hazy sun

Emerge from

Behind dark clouds

When you feel

The onshore breeze

Gently smooth

Your furrowed brow

When you hear

A voice in your dreams

Don’t ignore it

For one minute

When the rain

Merges with your tears

Know that I

Am with you in spirit.

Remnants of summer

Smile and tumble over rocks

Defying winter.

Weave me an intricate story

In threads of silver silk

Set against a colourful

Kaleidoscope of dreams

Ignite my imagination

From the beginning to the end

A world of flight and fantasy

Caught in a spider’s web.

Inhaling deeply

Fresh sea breeze

Waves crash

On to what remains

Of wartime bunkers

Ghosts from the past

Voices echo through

Sun and rain.

Chasing shadows

Across the beach.

Lonely figures

Materialise

Facing the sea

Embracing the wind

To dry the tears

In their eyes.

You hovered timidly

On the periphery

Of an unknown world.

All consuming

Crashing waves

Please tell me

How can it be

You dominate

My thoughts

My world

To the exclusion

Of everything else

You excite

Mesmerise

Immobilise

Yet in a split second

A crash of thunder

A fountain

Of sea spray

You disappear

You leave

Without a trace.

Sunday, 5 June 2022

Haiku Clouds

Here is my latest collection of haiku along with the photos that inspired the words. I hope you will enjoy.

After the fire
Shades of contemplative blue
Are all that remain.

I climbed over rocks
Lost in distant worlds of thought
Where the river bends.

Clouds and memories
Reflections in pale water
A moment captured.

Nestled in the bay
Waiting for the tide to turn
Sleepy twilight boats.

Whenever I see
Sunbeams dancing towards me
I know you are near.

I will always wait
For as long as it takes to
Watch the setting sun.

Tell me your story
When the sun sets on the beach
And I will listen.

Waiting on the beach
For the next thundering wave
To crash in my head.

Nestled in the grass
A web of tiny mirrors
Remnants of the downpour.

Ethereal clouds
Float into my subconscious
Pure cotton-soft dreams.

Searching for solace
And lasting silver moments
Down by the river.

From the riverbank
The sound of distant birdsong
Echoes in the breeze.

Whispers in the breeze
As the daylight slowly fades
Into soft blue mist.

Slumbering marshland
You look even more peaceful
When the sun goes down.

Wednesday, 23 February 2022

Music and Verse

Several months ago one of my Twitter followers started sharing a selection of songs in response to certain poems I had posted. Some of the songs he suggested I had never heard before, some I was more familiar with.

I felt incredibly flattered that someone had taken the time to do this. It added a whole new dimension for me to listen to the music and see how somebody else had interpreted my words.

About a month ago it became clear that between us we had gathered together enough material for me to put together a dedicated blog post. I hope you too will enjoy the music, poetry and accompanying images.