A Haiku For Now...

Lost bee scours garden

Skims by pollen spent flowers

Lost in poetry.

Poetry Shared

This will be my last post. I promised a last poem. I wrote 'Vase' as part of my OU A215 course poetry, with the theme of life. It is my best to date and my favourite...

Vase

Lilies dropping pollen;
Like blood stains
On white sheets.

Gerberas wilting faces
Shrivelling up
Like dead leaves.

Dehydrated they drink
The vase of tap water
Like a drip.

To any reading my blog - I thank you...

With very best wishes,

Ali

SAD

I have decided I may wish to take a break from writing. A break from blogging...

I threw a stone in the sea. It said "I wish I had never..........". But writing is my outlet. It helps me and now there is nothing left. I know many writers experience this. I have poems rejected, stories and magazine submissions collected in the 'no folder'. I have tried... I have succeeded but in the wrong publishing avenue (that's one to forget).

I will share one last poem later. There are more, but I think I will save them just for now. A lot of my work was helped along by the wonderful Open University course I took in Creative Writing. A love of haiku is something I will take from that - something new that I had never tried. I still love reading poetry. Once a poet - always...

On the theme of SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder of which I am a sufferer...SAD Symptom Information. I have a Lumie alarm clock which has a light that wakes me, Boots even stock them now, here is their Lumie Website. I can highly recommend it, especially when the clocks change. These darker days of impending Autumn are drawing in. I shall bake, I shall tidy the garden, I shall walk through rustling leaves and I shall still dream.

I wanted to share a blog that I have followed for a while. It can be sad, it can be uplifting but Ella is a genius in cooking all things. I read yesterday that sadness has hit and her dear partner is suffering a rare form of cancer. This lymphoma is rare. As I have lost a family member to the disease and know others that have been touched by it, I can say please follow their story. Ella is a writer - a cookery writer. She is witty and warms up Winter days even if you have these sort of days in the Summer.

Her latest post on Eating With My Fingers is so sad - but also very inspiring and hopeful. I wish her all the luck and her wonderful man a full recovery.

Life can be cruel. We can deal with it.

Lost in Summer

I haven't been able to write much of late. I am still waiting for the right words.
Instead I thought I'd share a few photos on here...

Nothing beats the view on walking alone

Amazing sky at Newlands Corner

Visiting my very favourite place - the beach. Been here a lot lately for the sea air. This picture captured many years ago - remains the best.

Same beach different shot - taken this year.

Some beautiful roses I bought myself when feeling sad. I always do this. These were unusual - coloured like rhubarb and custard - the photo doesn't do them justice.

***

Spotted at a theme park, in one of their garden areas whilst waiting at a ride.

Just so Beautiful

Blossoming Beauty

Blossoming beauty
surrounds, senses spring to life.
The church bell calls time.

Poem for January

Spirit

I am not here

I am dead:

In mind

Not in body,

No head space

Taken too much 

By others cares,

Not intended; ended. 

My intention was

Not this way.

Looking For The Good

After a few weeks of colds (the never ending sniffles), rain, wind and general grey days, it's no wonder the normal January blues are at an all time high. The other day, I decided to look for the good.

*

After heavy rain, came blue sky. Birds seemed to fly more gracefully, darting from tree to tree in the garden. My usual walk to the shops was highlighted by a pink flowering shrub (a camellia, I believe) which I vowed to capture on my phone on the way home, hoping for better light. I found warmth in the coffee shop and the local charity shop. Not just the heating, but kind people who smiled, rather than look the other way. Everyone seemed more chatty about the changeable weather in a heart-warming way. I didn't mind getting wet - my hood sufficed the forgotten brolly (why does it always rain when you have no umbrella ;D and never when you are prepared?!). The dark clouds cleared. The shrub - in the church graveyard was captured (felt a little strange doing this but had to be done... albeit it came out blurred). I apologise for trespassing - as one does!

Beauty lives in nature

I look up to blue skies on my return journey. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day...

Looking For The Good

January
is such a down
turned month to me.

I look around
to find the good -
this is what I see.

Writers and Artists Unite

Respect and peace #JeSuisCharlie. 

I felt compelled to write something. So sad. We stand tall.

~

Writers and Artists Unite

Freedom of voice
Freedom of expression
Freedom of choice
No fight.

Words and pictures
Unite,
Writers and Artists
Unite.

©Ali Newman 2015

Floating Flowers

I used to float candles. Now I flower... A rose from the tree in the garden scents the bowl with geranium. Delicate fallen orchid flowers; stay strong in water bowl. The frayed rose and gerbera that are no longer for the vase; float afresh.

Simplistic beauty.

New Year - Old Poem

I started Wishes and Writing (my blog) as a new year resolution for 2014. And I have kept to it!

So, to toast 2014 goodbye - here is an old poem written at the beginning of my writing path, many years ago.

***

Eternity 

Love burns

Like a candle

Never to be

Blown

Out.

December Haiku

White feathers like snow

A sign of peace from above

Scatter growing bulbs.

Pink Lily

I bought some oriental lilies the other day. They have just started opening; spraying their noxious perfume and dropping pollen. I like to cut out the stamen as it opens to reveal the opening flower's detail.

I have just popped one in my bowl (see my floating flowers post here). Lilies don't work... too big - they fill like a rowing boat taking up water.

***

Lily Pollen Stains

Pink lily floating in the bowl

Sinks deeper meaning in my soul.

I don't like lilies any-more

They make me cry dry tears; that pour.

I don't like lilies any more.

Today my diary says: "UN International Day of Peace"

Yesterday, I had in my head this title 'Turn' ; a song by Travis. If you listen to the lyrics it makes a lot of sense.

A special photo that was taken by my daughter. Sending hope to all on International Day of Peace.

Fall

October gusts by

Dropping acorns like bullets

Oak tree sheds new life.

Lake view

Yesterday...
I walked back in time to a lake I used to feed the ducks with my daughter - then a toddler. The ducks are still there. A crane perches, head held high; he owns the lake. The swans glide and flow under the bridge and through to a stream; duck follows suit. A roundabout like the ones in the playground we used to spin. Waterfowl play.

A Favourite Poem for Today and All Days

When I am doubting myself I turn to poetry. This poem by Sophie Hannah is my mantra. It is hard to keep to but whenever I need to ,I turn to it and know; the most important thing is to be myself. In a competitive world it is hard to be individual. We only have one chance at life so go be yourself <3.

If People Disapprove of You; by Sophie Hannah; courtesy of Poetry Channel accessed 6 Aug 2014.

You can view more about Sophie Hannah here on her website.

Going for a walk - the 'Down's Link' way

Yesterday I had to get out for my 'oh no; impending school holiday'/ "get me out of here" walk! I always have done so - for years. I highly recommend it. I only manage a couple of miles but I am not a competitive soul.

We are very lucky to live right on the 'Down's Link' see here and also a more tourist guide here.

Here are a few photos I took on my phone in transit...

Lots of lovely wild flower that is so tall up the banks. Beautiful buddleia - a fond memory of my childhood; catching butterflies with a net and storing in an ice-cream tub : D ( with holes punched in the top of course) but always letting them go. Wonderful.

This area is under development I believe; "fields of gold" in more ways than one...

Looking back...

My favourite bench stop: for resting or a turning point; depending on how I feel. It looks out to a field and a house which keeps horses.Lovely.

Hope

I am so sad after reading today's news. So, so sad. I know I have had people from both Russia and the Ukraine read my blog posts. I feel for both sides but will not post politics here.

I am sending a rose to you and my thoughts and love. Where to now?

My daughter has just been studying the '9/11' story in class. We were only just discussing it last night after tea. What do we tell our children but the truth as they grow to make up their own minds. She was two when '9/11' happened. The fear and terror continues. All we can do is hope and take care of ourselves and our humanity. This is not nature.

All my love to those left behind. So sad.

White Roses

White roses signify peace and harmony. I had a hand-tie on my wedding day. We leave a white rose to those that are no longer here; at the graveside. White - a sign of peace, purity, beauty, life.

White rose in my garden

First Ever Haiku (sentimental moment) - Birdsong

Today I went for my first run (jog really) for a year, following an Achilles strain and knee injury last year. I have my special insoles now and the trainers seemed to be OK. I will see how the legs feel tomorrow... I can now only run on grass to protect my joints but running around a field in the park is good enough for me.

On returning I felt refreshed albeit very warm. It is so muggy today. I have just been browsing through a very ancient journal of mine which contains drafts of my first writing started in 2004. Ten years ago seems like forever but when I look through at the roughs, I can see a pattern that I prefer short stories and I have some material there that I am currently working through. At the back of the notebook I had written my very first haiku (2005). I thought it deserved putting on here...

Beautiful chatter

echoing in stereo;

deafening at dawn.