Another A215 poetry assessment haiku

I wrote this haiku thinking about 'male grooming' - notably my husband's hair. It was one of my course poems that I submitted for an earlier assessment. I think it went down well; so I thought I'd add it on here.

Still waiting for my final course mark...

***

A spiky hedgehog

Fudge gel smoothie on his hair;

Soft vanilla ice.

Nature haiku

I wrote this haiku whilst waiting for a hospital appointment the other day. After four drafts and a final edit tonight I have come up with this...


Sharp like a bee sting
Bramble: thorns prick my finger
As bee draws nectar.

Lavender blue and bramble too

I have been looking through my diary; as usual June and July are busy at school and birthdays next month. My diary is a gardening diary by 'Carousel Calendars'. I try and get one each year as I love the illustrations by Judith Glover and the quotes on each month. You can see more items as well as the diary here at Judith Glover's website. I think you will agree; beautifully drawn and great as a present for any gardener or flower lover. I think the website is lovely; lots of pretty items there and an interesting story about Judith.

For June there is a lovely quote in graphics of the rainbow (I have tried to copy this in a similar manner ;- )
It says;

'EARTH LAUGHS IN FLOWERS'
Ralph Waldo Emerson.

This year it is surely having the giggles. Had to share.

Here are some more of today's garden as it is evolving into full summer.

Hello Bumble

References:

Emerson, R. W. ( in Glover, J. (2014),' June', 2014 Diary 'Garden Days , Exeter, Carousel Calendars.

Website at www.judithglover.com

June means gardening

I have taken a break from gardening after something I have touched has aggravated my hands - I know I should have worn my gloves - naughty!

I took these photos before the storms over the weekend but they still look just as good today. I think the plants are becoming "super hardy" to all the inclement weather they get hit with. Typically British in a good way.

First bloom after three years

These are orange when in bud, then go a lovely peachy colour
- very delicately scented a little like a tea rose shrub.Third year in flower now.

The wild side - there are even some old strawberry plants in there somewhere - for the birds (obviously!)

My daughter's strawberries... grown by...you guessed it. 

Supporting local charities

Like many of us nowadays - things are a struggle. I have shopped at charity shops for years and have worked in one for a couple of years also. I have written about it in a short fiction story and used ideas for poetry too. Best of all is the fact that I find something I actually like. In general; when shopping with my daughter I get it wrong ... as all Mum's (I hope) do with a fourteen year old! I can never find anything I like in the shops but always find something great in charity shops.

Today I bought a baking book on cupcakes - the first in the Primrose Baking series and a DVD from yesteryear for my daughter - I believe we never grow too old for such things ( I will not publish the series but it involves ponies and being six) - I know I need to let her go and grow up but I am lucky and she still has that child in her (bit like her Mum). I also bought a white linen top, which I think will make me look very arty or is it thespian I am not sure... It is for the garden when too hot to sit in the sun - as it is getting to be here this week. It is good for us fairer skins to cover up - but I get so hot! Need to dig out the floppy hat next.

Anyhow getting back to why I'm posting. I went and bought the items and on the price label there was a beautiful wording; which I felt I should share here. The cause is 'Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice' and you can see more of their work at  http://www.pth.org.uk/.

It is local and supported with very generous donations and they now have a furniture shop too I believe, in the locality. The motto they use on their tag; which describes their work for our local sufferers of long standing and non-curable diseases says -

'... because every day is precious.'

Beautiful.

Freewrite (spellos allowed) - Blue

I have been sitting in the garden this morning. With a cup of coffee - instant barista style in my mug. The mug is blue with little stars. There are no stars out now just blue skies with fluffy white candyfloss clouds like grannies white hair.
I can smell fresh air blown in from the storm yesterday. Wet grass under my feet fresh linen. The sun-cream I have applied to my face and arms - even at early sun  I will burn - never brown. It smells of the seaside and tickles like hives. I want to wash it off...
I close my eyes. Sounds of the bumble fill my head. Two flit over the flowering shrub behind me. I open my eyes and they fall to the ground fighting for the nectar from the same flower head. I tell them to leave it alone. One flies off. Looking at grass the clover is visited. Another bumble hovers sucking in what it needs. So many bees. An ant tickles my foot. I brush it away. Don't like ants...
I get up and move my chair. My daughter's chair - I don't like mine... It is army camo colours in green - very camoflagued here behind the rose tree and bushes where I can see my whole garden. The wind is stronger today and the oak trees behind me are swaying rustling their leaves sounding like waves at the beach. My eyes are closed to chill and mind picks up each sound. The big dog barks. The birds - swifts shriek and the crow caws grumpily. The sparrow of which are plentiful pick at the fence and tweet in the tree and confer hedge. I imagine their heads turning left and right - surveying. The sparrow hawk has left. They are safe for now. Someone is using a chainsaw. Breaks up the silence. I open my eyes an all I see; is blue.

Poem - 'Blue'

I wrote this poem last year and sent it for a submission theme that centred around mental health issues. It was for mslexia magazine which I can recommend to any women writers . I have sent work and competition entries to them this year and am hopeful my poetry I submitted maybe to their liking. Very excited as Wendy Cope is the judge this year. I am just happy to have the privilege of; perhaps her reading it - never mind if it is published or I win anything. That's the beauty of these things.

Anyhow here's my poem entitled 'Blue'. It is very personal to me but I believe I must put it on my blog right now.

Blue

Eyes sparkle

Azure like diamonds

Blue sapphire

Bright topaz skies

Like my eyes.

Sadness sighs

Stolen sparkle

Stolen heart

My heart is blue.

Rose Sorbet

When I was a little girl I loved orange sorbet. It would be scooped out of plastic tubs from the ice cream cabinet in the local sweet shop. 'Lemonade Sparkles' and 'Orange Maid' lollies - those were the days.

The roses I saw yesterday match this memory of bright sorbet colours. Mango, peach, raspberry all mingled in one delicious image in the Nymans Rose Garden.

Enjoy...

This one would have to be strawberries and cream  ice-cream.

Books, sunshine and flowers...Summer.

Today we have been to Nymans and what a beautiful morning. Looking up ...

The sky was so blue you could be mistaken we were in England. Take a look at this tree below. It is called a Trachycarpus Fortunei and looks like one of those palm tree umbrellas I imagine on the beaches of the Caribbean. The trunk was almost furry but I expect if it was touched it would be spiky. A very unusual sight and one we had not noticed before. That's the beauty of these gardens here; they evolve.

The rock garden area has come on well since our visit earlier in the spring but the show-stopper as ever had to be the rose garden. In full bloom and inviting; I could sit there for hours in my imagination. So many species it is somewhat intoxicating. 

Another bonus today - two bookshops. The Potting Shed had been set aside today for donations for their bargain books, whilst the other little bookshop sells with a more eclectic collection of second hand books . We found a great little local history book and I got a great novel for a pound. There are even collectable editions there now. Take a look at their website page at http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/nymans/eating-and-shopping/. 

The gift shop has some lovely ideas - I got a few bits including two stones; one for me, one for my daughter. I chose 'Hope' and she chose 'Happy'. The stone attracted me by it's coolness and calming aura on such a hot day. I love it and it was a bargain for only two pounds. It's amazing what you can find at these places. Whatever you do if you visit - you must eat cake! I can highly recommend their scones, lemon drizzle and carrot cupcakes. 

I will post some more rose pictures later once I have decided which ones - so many to choose from. Sending more sunny days...

Haiku sending hope

White feathers like snow

A sign of peace from above

Scatter growing bulbs.

Midsummer? Flaming June?!

I wrote a poem yesterday. The sun was out; another warm day. I thought - hooray June is here - that pensive month before many birthdays...

On Sunday, sitting in my parents garden I did lots of observation. It was the most beautiful day we have had so far this year. I am hoping there will be many more of the same but judging today's wet and dreary appearance I may be mistaken.

Anyway here's my poem for today. A fellow OU A215er that I follow at yappinandyarnin has inspired me to post a poem today; although I'm not sure I can keep up with one a day. 

'Garden'

Azaleas and conifers

In my father's garden.

Bird table stands and fat balls swing

In my father's garden.

Where robins flock and pigeons rock

In my father's garden.

The birds fly free - food to be had

In my father's garden.

Admired by all, the birds are watched

In my father's garden.

Birds catered for by Mum not Dad

In my father's garden.