Everyday Poetry

Putting out the bins At last it's the 1st of the month and I can start my time shifted NaPoWriMo challenge: chose an unusual action as a metaphor for your life. Such profundity has proven a bit hard, and I've dodged the bit about it being a metaphor for life,  but here's where the prompt took me this morning as I sat,  awake earlier than usual,  listening to the bin lorry outside. Every other Thursday Our pavement fills with bins and boxes, Piles of unwanted cardboard - Recycling day. We've sorted out our waste The packaging once vital, no longer needed: Cardboard that protected, Paper that informed, Plastic that held liquids, Aluminium cans that once held food, The bins too large for what we've gathered. Each week's collection,  this unseen service, Taken for granted, expected, unacknowledged. This week the bin is a conduit, Recognition of the risks the bin men take Each time they lift our waste Not knowing who has placed what inside. Th...

Sandwich The May edition of Writing Magazine suggests writing about a sandwich - after the last poem this seems rather trivial,  but perhaps that's just what we need.  I had fun with it anyway. Sandwiched between seedy wholemeal bread Mashed ripe banana, and peanut spread. The soft springy cushion conceals the inside The moist, nutty space where the fillings hide. So easy to make,  so cheap and so quick, If no-one is looking the spoon gets a lick. A snack or a meal,  toasted or 'raw' A feast conjured up from when I was poor. Tastes come and go,  simple and clever, But banana and peanut will suit me forever. © Copyright 2020. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

Coronavirus As the days have gone on in lockdown, the need to get out and back to the real world is growing.  I've chosen the shape on the page of the words increasing and decreasing size to show how the desire for freedom is constricted tightly back down by the situation. I want to Go Out, Away, Leave, Escape, Release, Liberate, Breakout, Discharge Myself from this Nightmarish Constriction, Lockdown Isolation, Limiting Capture, Chained Inside This Cage I am In. © Copyright 2020. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

Favourite bird I'm trying my best to delay starting the NaPoWriMo challenge until the 1st of May,  so I can compose a poem a day for a month,  but I had a sneaky peak this morning.  I reckon it's not cheating if I do the warm up challenge! Write a poem about your favourite bird. I thought I loved the peregrine The beauty of its form The adrenaline shock of its stoop Its home of craggy rock. But all the while the buzzard With its workaday looks Broad shouldered,  wide winged, Feathered tips outstretched to grasp the air On its solid soar on a leisurely path Had won my heart. I watch the buzzards climb High in our wooded valley, And know this is home. © Copyright 2020. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

Neighbours One of the positive things to come or of the coronavirus lockdown is how most people are helping each other get by in these difficult circumstances. But there are exceptions. We call over hedges, Out of windows, from doorsteps, Keeping ourselves safe, at a distance, "You ok?", "Need anything?", "Can I help?" Checking in, looking out for each other, Forging a community against these dark times. But 'them at the end' stick fast to their choice Barring entry to delivery vans needing to turn, Preferring to keep their driveway untouched, No help to those living down the single track lane. © Copyright 2020. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

Sonnet While I was away I joined a creative writing class, which gave some structure, and calm to the day.  One of the challenges was to write a poem in sonnet form,  and since they are usually (but not always) about love I came up with this one,  dedicated to my husband,  Phil. When first I saw you on the course that year I did not see beyond the outer shell Grey hair, moustache, your words at best unclear Your place in my future I could not tell. And yet with time you worked upon my heart As your friendship, spirit, valour, unfurled, And bit by bit I  felt strong feelings start Then turn to love,  and you became my world. Now life without you by my side seems strange My life before we met a distant blur I never dreamt things could so wildly change But there is no doubt which life I prefer. That summer school, far from home, in an unknown town You righted my world by turning it upside down. © Copyright 2020. Chris Auger. All Rights Res...

Malta I wrote this haiku to capture the oddity of sitting offshore Malta while we refuelled and disposed of our rubbish onto a ship bearing 4 skips. There were other ships anchored all around - tankers,  cargo ships and others. Thirty ships anchored A giant ship parking lot Offshore Valletta. © Copyright 2020. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

Mindful meditation One of the good things about changing ships to be repatriated from Thailand,  was the existence of a meditation and yoga class on board.  It proved a calming influence in a situation where anxiety was always close by. I am drawn To this circle of calm. Sitting up straight Eyes closed, silent, waiting, Clearing our minds of unwanted thoughts Noting them arising Acknowledging,  labelling, Chasing them away, Each of us finding oùr own way back Returning to the breath Grounding ourselves In the here,  in the now, Without judgement, In acceptance of our monkey minds, Hoping for peace, For revelations. © Copyright 2020. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

Bird While I was sunbathing one afternoon we spotted a little bird hiding in a bush at the back of the ship. It was really pretty with a rose throat and a white stripe along its beak - possibly a sub-alpine warbler. A small unnoticed bird dips its head, its tail Darts its head nervously from side to side Looking out from its new home A plastic bush in a plastic pot. Astroturf its only grass Its food the crumbs from afternoon tea And insects, also come on-board Hitching a ride to distant continents. © Copyright 2020. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

Gibraltar I've never been to Gibraltar and had been looking forward to being able to explore it on this cruise.  Now that we couldn't stop at any ports it was a nice surprise to hear that we would be stopping of there to drop off someone who knew the governor and had pulled strings. Gibraltar, An unexpected stop On a long journey home. A man of influence is leaving us Dropped off on the way Like it's a bus stop, and he alone Is not going to the terminus. But we count ourselves lucky: It's our chance to see the place We wanted to visit Before the virus spread Before all ports were closed And we sailed on,  past them all. Tonight,  we cancelled dinner To stand at the ship's rail,  excited, Squinting through the mist In the un-used-to cold Clutching our fleeces tight. Will we get close enough To spot the rock,  to see the port? Or will this be yet another disappointing encounter A non event on the open sea? © Copyright 2020. Chris Auger....

Bunkering,  Colombo After setting off from Phuket  we crossed the Indian ocean,  with no land or other boats in sight.  We weren't allowed to leave the ship when we docked  to refuel at Colombo,  Sri Lanka, but spent the day watching the activity all around us. Nothing but a flat calm sea An overarching sky Eyes seek out something, Anything other than blue on blue. First the insects, Then swallows,  swooping,  diving, Signs of land, at last. A pilot boast guides us in: A modern skyline Old colonial buildings squatting Surrounded by skyscrapers Docks, streets, boats, motorbikes, cars Three grey,  six brown uniformed guards, One gun,  to guard the landing stage. Trees, crows, ravens, gulls, Pelicans chasing a ball of fish in the harbour A man changing his luck with a line, People going about their lives. All new for us to feast upon Starved of the world. © Copyright 2020. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

 Capture the breeze Whilst at Phuket the heat was unbearable, in the mid 30s. Once we got on our way a wonderful breeze accompanied us to Sri Lanka. I try to capture the breeze The way it plays across the skin Lifting my hair,  rippling my clothes. I try to capture the breeze Turning the corner into the shade Like diving into a cool blue pool. I try to capture the breeze A soft caress, a gentle kiss Banishing the scorching heat. I try to capture the breeze To hold it in my hand,  to release When my need is great. © Copyright 2020. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

Still Sitting here stuck outside Phuket Patiently waiting for day after day Hoping at last to be on our way We transferred ship, but have not left yet. We long to be moving over the sea Away from this land, our temporary home, To sail through the waves, creating a foam, To push through the air,  creating a breeze. © Copyright 2020. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

Breeze Waiting at Phuket we became a tourist attraction for speed boats, and they  likewise became something for us to watch. On deck, humid torpor Greets white-topped breakers with relief - Harbingers of a breeze. At sea, speed boats bounce, Fly briefly airborne, Then crash into a drenching spray. © Copyright 2020. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

Skin I was set the task of writing a triolet, a poem of 8 lines,  where lines repeat in a set pattern.  Line 1 is repeated at lines 4 and 7, line 2 is repeated at line 8. Lines 3 and 5 have to rhyme with line 1, line 6 rhymes with line 2. It sounds more complicated than it is! Each afternoon I sit by the pool Turning my skin from white to brown. Some might think me an utter fool Each afternoon, as I sit by the pool. Risking cancer exposes me to ridicule, But it makes me smile instead of frown Each afternoon I sit by the pool, Turning my skin from white to brown. © Copyright 2020. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

Swimming Swimming in a pool On the top deck of this ship Crossing the wide Indian ocean Hundreds of miles from the nearest coast Giving myself up to the lap of the waves Thinking of being a dot within a dot Floating in a panoptic sea, Content, simply being me, On top of the world. © Copyright 2020. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

Fifteen months of excited planning Of anticipation, deferred gratification, Months of preparation for a seven week cruise Choosing our excursions in each port of call. Places we'd dreamed of, never thought we'd see Ancient sites: Petra, Karnak, Athens, Rome, Temples, palaces, forts, landscapes, wildlife;  So lucky to have them at last within grasp. In the final few weeks, a new anxiety rising A virus appearing in a remote Chinese province,  Spreading to Singapore, our first destination, Jumping to Italy, and even our home. Not bad enough to cancel our plans (Without losing our money), we told ourselves We'd maybe miss one or two ports of call, It'd be very unlucky if it spoilt all our fun. But it grew, spreading from person to person From place to place, like a modern plague. Countries in lockdown, refusing all entry, Two quarantined cruise liners the new objects of fear. Refused entry to Penang, we consoled ourselves With the promise of an ext...

We were stuck outside Phuket, unable to go ashore because a passenger had developed bronchopneumonia symptoms and was taken ashore for corona virus testing.  Results took 48 hours, so we were left offshore for 3 days before being allowed to sail on. We never got to visit Phuket, and began to wonder if we'd ever make landfall.   Our ship was unwelcome. Turned away from Malaysia, We sailed on to Thailand, and Sighted Phuket's islands In the haze of early morning. Excited, we waited for explorations At last to begin, Unaware of the passenger On his way to hospital Who would keep us all marooned, Waiting for test results To free us, or keep us captive. Nothing to do but wait, And wonder if we'd ever see Places we'd dreamed of for so long. © Copyright 2020. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

We visited Singapore in March  2020, during the corona virus outbreak, and it was empty! They've totally banned travel from China so tourism is down around 90%. This made it great for us - no crowds,  no queues,  but it's a disaster for their economy.  Nevertheless we enjoyed our stay and made the most of our 3 days by cramming a lot in.  I was struck by their love of pattern, and this has influenced the format I've chosen to use.    So beautiful, so varied,  So clean, neat and tidy So hot and humid, So friendly, so empty, So Singapore.  Towers of sharp-edged glass and steel The business district with its sleek, slick feel. Hawker centre food from stove, fire or wok Westminster chimes on the central clock. On the harbourfront pier, phones click away While the Merlion fountain spouts into the bay. Triple towers topped by a platform so wide We stand suspended, thirty six stories high. Chinatown shop houses form a l...