Everyday Poetry

Twilight The second exercise in the August Writing Magazine was to write a twenty line free verse poem on the theme of twilight.  I started off capturing the physical qualities of that time of day, and how it would affect someone sitting looking out of a window at the dimming light.  It then struck me that it could be likened to the twilight of a life, starting out bright and busy and fading to a dimmer,  more peaceful existence.   not a new idea,  but hopefully not too much of a cliché.  The subject of the poem became an old lady - not me yet!  Free verse has no rhyme or metre,  but my poem fell into five verses., the first four quite hypnotic, the last fracturing the mood and returning to the present. Twilight Sitting by the window, early evening, She knits for her grandson, Looking past the view Remembering her life. Smiling at the fierce frenzy of motherhood The anxious intensity of each moment, Long past,  devolved to others With more energy than herself. Sighing

Parenting One of the exercises in my writing magazine this month is to write a short poem on the theme of birdsong,  using any rhyme scheme. I took my notebook outside for inspiration,  and the dominant bird noise I could hear was the shriek of a juvenile buzzard.  I've ended up with the rhyme scheme of a a b b a which is commonly associated with the limerick (!) and a rather satisfying slant rhyme to bring it to an end. Parenting Overhead a lone buzzard flies In circles, away from dependent cries, The morning's thick and sluggish heat Pierced by the juvenile's insistent shriek. It searches for prey,  to stop the noise. © Copyright 2018. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

Mirror cinquain I find this an easier format as there is more space to express an idea in ten lines than five! The format is 2,4,6,8,2,2,8,6,4,2 syllables to each successive line. This poem was inspired by the sight of drizzle collecting on a cobweb hanging in an open window, and gently shaking as I used my exercise bike.  Fine rain Shivers softly On the broken cobweb Like pearls on an antique necklace Admired, Borrowed, Worn like a magic talisman To her first autumn ball By a nervous Young girl. © Copyright 2018. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

Balloon Funny what you see out the corner of your eye as you're driving past! A soggy helium balloon Hangs limply in the phone box Keeping its story close Waiting for freedom. Was it the totem of a sweet sixteen, Surprised by a declaration of love Swept away in a moment of passion Left behind with her childhood? Was it the toy of a chastised child, Shut inside by a parent At the end of their tether "If you do that one more time".... Was it found by the roadside By a tidy pedestrian, Placed somewhere safe While they fetched a litter bag? The balloon hangs limply, Biding its time Until someone comes to call And opens the door. © Copyright 2018. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

Music can reach hidden emotions This morning I was singing along to a song I know well when all of a sudden my voice wavered and my throat closed up in and I almost sobbed out loud! Ever happened to you? If it has, you'll recognise the emotion which takes you by surprise. Singing along To a favourite song You've followed its rhymes So many times Know the lyrics so well But you can never tell When they'll clutch at your heart Tear you apart Bring a lump in your throat Bring you up short And you just can't carry on Singing that song Until you've taken a breath Sorted out your head Acknowledged the ache That you never can shake Buried so deep it was hidden Access forbidden Until the word or the chord Left you totally floored. Then you move on Singing that song. © Copyright 2018. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

Cinquain The writing magazine I subscribe to has competitions each month.  This month's asks for poems in cinquain form,  any theme.  So, what is a cinquain? A poetry form invented by  Adelaide Crapsey, it is a deceptively simple 5 line stanza which does not rhyme (so far, so good), with each line having a set number of syllables: 2, 4, 6, 8, 2 ( I knew it sounded too easy!) I was pondering this structure as I peeled potatoes for dinner,  and came up with this.  Not quite competition standard,  but a bit of fun. New potatoes Fridge chilled Blunt knife scrapes clean Simmers to tenderness In salted, boiling water. Drain, Eat cold. © Copyright 2018. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved