Everyday Poetry

Rope! The challenge today is to write a poem about rope!  I was stumped until I remembered an incident that happened a few years ago. Unthinking, My husband left it loosely coiled Innocently waiting On the floor of the workshop Ready for when we might next need it. Unsuspecting, unaware, I went breezing in, heading for my art bench, Caught sight of it out the corner of my eye - Froze! Heart clattering Sweat prickling Throat clenching - Snake! Only a second later, reality restored, I breathed again. Even managed to force a laugh. How fortunate to have this phobia In a country where snakes Are rarely more than imaginary. © Copyright 2020. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

Early morning rain After three days of baking hot sun,  this morning's rain is a gift. Rain rustles past our open window Like paper removed from a present Leaving the gift of a cool breeze, A garden fresh wiped of sun dust, And birds resuming their song. © Copyright 2020. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

Ageing boots In search of inspiration this morning I picked a word at random from a book - mountains.  I've had an on-off relationship with mountains - for years I slogged up and down them convinced I should be finding them easier.  I've made my peace with them now. I've always loved walking To school, to the park on the other side of town, Home from the pub, bus fare spent, Charity walks where I said goodbye to toenails Too stubborn, or too stupid, to give up. Inspired by a lecture by Chris Bonnington I followed my boyfriend into the hiking club, University Sundays spent high in the Lake District The long hard slog rewarded by brief summit elation, The masochistic taunt of landscapes still to explore. I still love the pace of the landscape passing me by The strength in my legs easing my journey, The bouncy spring of boots on grass, The challenge of stepping from rock to rock, The tap-tapping of feet on pavements. As I've aged I've come to pre...

Journey I decided to try writing an acrostic - where the first letter of each line spells out a word relevant to the subject matter. Jumping up with sudden determination Opening the door wide, accepting its invitation (Unlike me to eschew prevarication!) Relishing the freedom and glorious fresh air Now I am moving, not stuck in my chair Every step takes me nearer towards a huge smile You should embrace spontaneity every once in a while.  © Copyright 2020. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

Table companions Last night a storm came to dinner Its heavy presence cast a gloom over the table Like a bad dinner guest, rumbling on for hours, Interrupting our anxious silences With sudden crashes, Sending us flinching from bright flashes, As if emphasising a point Forks were flung across the sky outside. The relief of the first fat drops of rain As its temper broke, was palpable. When it tired of our company and moved on We could at last relax and enjoy our evening. This morning we woke to the softness of sunshine The storm's sweet sister had brought us a gift - A bright new day - an apology for our forbearance. We smile over sunshine bowls of breakfast Breathing in the sharp dust scent of last night's rain. © Copyright 2020. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

Tree Our village show has a prize for poetry this year, and asks for a limerick starting with the line "if everyone planted a tree".  I've had some fun playing around with some ideas this afternoon. If everyone planted a tree And kept our oceans all plastic free The earth we would nourish And nature would flourish That sounds pretty worthwhile to me. If everyone planted a tree Lived our lives more sustainably If we kept cars off the road We would lessen the load And reduce climate change, don't you see? If everyone planted a tree There'd be forests as far as you'd see To get lost in that wood Would bring nothing but good As long as wolves keep away from me! © Copyright 2020. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

Thinking outside the tap Wouldn't you know, just when i was planning a period of rest and review, life threw me a curved ball and I just had to capture it on paper! Our water supply failed last night Suddenly,  with no warning. One minute I was rinsing a bowl of strawberries (So trivial an act, such a profligate waste) The next the stream had slowed to a trickle, A gurgle,  a drop,  a drip, The pipework growling like a disturbed dog. We checked with the neighbours - All in the same beached boat Some resigned, some humorous, None were panicking like me. We checked with the water company - A standard message: due to unprecedented demand In an exceptionally dry period, (blah, blah, blah) They value our custom and are working tirelessly (etc, etc, etc). We checked on the local Facebook group - It rumoured all would be fixed by 2am. We joked our teeth would have to wait until the morning; This morning nothing had changed. I thought I understood the imp...