Welcome to my latest blog post and thank you for taking the time to read. It's been quite some time since I last posted anything here.
To ensure the creative fires have continued burning, over the last few months I have taken part in various daily poetry challenges on X (Twitter). One which has well and truly captured my imagination is the daily #vss365 challenge.
Different poets take turns to host. They select a prompt word every day for others to write poetry around, then imaginations run free! Some of the poetry I've posted on X has had to be shortened to meet with the character limit. Here is a selection of the full versions of some of my #vss365 poetry, several of which are based around the content of my novel. I hope you will enjoy.
I felt the presence
Of divine breath
As I sat by the waterfall
Dewdrops glistened
On mossy rocks
How I wish I could
Hold you once more
Morning breeze
A distant voice
Whispered aloha
In my ear
Those who give
Without needing to take
Are the ones
Who always stay near.
Raindrops trickled
Down a frosted window pane
Merging into neon lights
Of the night
Soft and reassuring
Silently mirroring
The colours of
Her fractured heart
She traced them as
They gently rolled
Leaving smears
With her forefinger
Indelible stains
In the chasms
Of her mind
Unspoken words
Tears that lingered.
Grandma gave me
A silver purse
Full of old pennies
I used to empty them
On a table top
Study each one
Individually
I wondered how many
Before me
Had held them
In their palms
What clothes they wore
What goods they bought
I wished I could see life
Through their eyes.
There was one coin
In particular
Which fascinated me
The head of a young
Queen Victoria
Was faded
But could still be seen
I used to sniff
The worn metal
Try to smell my way
Back in time
The date was
Only visible
When held up
To the light.
My imagination
Turned fiery red
Fingers rubbed at numbers
1861
I wished the coin
Would become
Aladdin’s lamp
So I could step on
A magic carpet
And fly right back
Through lightning skies
One century
Before I was born.
It was soon to be
Her retirement party
After 30 years
Wearing a grey uniform
The logo on her jackets
Had changed over the years
But the lacklustre colour
Had not.
In Estelle’s boutique
She saw a dress
In a marvellous shade
Of Coral Bells pink
Staring into the mirror
She held in her stomach
Imagined bold jewellery
And matching lipstick.
Perhaps she should change
Her hair colour
Listen to her heart
And the voice within
Age was nothing more
Than a number
Let this new phase
Of her life begin!
She looked at him
With puppy dog eyes
Said she had
Nowhere else to go
It would only be
For a night or two
A month later
She had moved in.
He showered her
With roses every day
Warmed to all
Her dizzy ways
Until a husband
He did not know existed
Appeared on the doorstep
With a suitcase of excuses
Said if there was such a thing
As a tax on the heart
Then he had
Overpaid.
She sat quietly
By his bedside
Wiping strands
Of hair from
His small
Clammy face
Her long dress
Rippled lemon
Mirroring waves
Of foaming distress
Watching him slip
Into delirium
Erratic heartbeats
Fingers entwined
With visions of
Angels in his head
He slowly closed
His eyes.
Clouds…
Tangible
Yet intangible
My fascination
For you
Is endless
But please
Tell me
How can it be
You float
So gently
Into my life
You fill
My heart
With joy
And hope
You show me
Colours
Of a different life
You take me
To the cusp
Of ecstasy
Then without
Explanation
You vanish
Evaporate
Disappear.
I cannot bequeath you
Property or gifts
Nobody in my world
Even knows you exist
They did not see
The letters I wrote
All the tears I cried for you
They did not ride
Lashing waves of pain
On a sea of misty blue
Their world did not move
In slow motion
Behind steamy
Panes of glass
They did not hear you
Calling my name
When twilight skies
Faded charcoal black
You will remain a secret
I take with me to my grave
But as I close my eyes
For the final time
I vow we will meet again.
A bright pink petunia
Looked down bashfully
Seemingly hiding
Her pretty face
Like she hoped
No one would see
Gingerly I moved closer
Told her to hold
Her head up high
Never be ashamed
Of who you are
Let your beauty
Shine from the inside
She did not
Acknowledge me
But I swore
I heard her say
I am not an introvert
I just don’t like the rain.
Enlivening the gathering
With a dress and personality
The colour of poppy red
She appeared to be
The same age as me
But nobody knew her name
She swooped and swirled
Ran long fingers through curls
Fluttered eyelashes
At all the men
Then grandpa appeared
With a grin on his face
She took his arm
Turned to father and said
I am soon to be
Your mother-in-law
I hope we can be friends.
Sleepy riverbank
Not another soul in view
Silent distant waves
Roll into hazy blue
Inhaling
Exhaling
Warmth on my face
Recalling the days
When I rushed
From place to place
Never stopping
For a moment
To reflect
Or contemplate
Mind spinning
Endless whirlwind
Of imploding thoughts
Searching for answers
In the face of
A brick wall
A single raindrop lands
Creates a whirlpool
On the beach
Ripples of solitude
Disperse into clarity.
© Jill Webb July 2024
