nature

Advent Calendar Poem #1: Firebird II

Bare branches lay still 
frozen in the murk of the mist
a gloom of grey blankets the world
that even the luminescence of street lamps 
offer only obscurity 
and it seems that the day is destined 
to be lived in a monochromatic mire
        - until - 
a flicker on the horizon
soft-focused flame of white
fluttering on a breeze of its own making
white warms to the copper 
copper burns to crimson
the firebird has returned 
melting wintry melancholy
with its presence.

Welcome to day 1 of my Advent Calendar of poetry for 2022. I hope you enjoy the poems I’ll be sharing over the next 24 days.

Please let me know any thoughts or comments you may have below…

I hope you have a wonderful December.

Thanks for reading,

Paul

Natural Causes

From my window,
I can see a sycamore is dying, 
limp branches bereft of leaf and bud,
can’t hide the pallor of the trunk - 
                    a doomed fading grey, 
with sickly green blotches, 
as the lichen’s fate intertwines
with the withering tree.
Soon, wailing saws will end the pain, 
settling buried roots - 
	           to their final sleep.

Thanks for reading Natural Causes. Did the words resonate with you?

I have a few poems lined up to be released over the next few weeks, so keep your eyes peeled for those.

Take it Easy

Paul

Treasure

The strawberry patch
  in full         bloom 
scarlet gems
ripe with summer’s flavour
under the dewy     heat 
of the sun
they are   temptation
a picture of beauty 
yet hide an    ugly truth
for the red jewels 
have hidden         chips and cracks
botched heists 
by starlings, swifts and finches
my treasure    lost 
for another 
         year.

Thanks for taking the time to read Treasure; I appreciate it. If you want to read more of my work, have a little wander around my site. Whatever you do, have a great day.

Take It Easy

Paul

Secret Admirers

There’s a touch of romance 
in the garden 
the fence posts led 		 by coy breezes 
in a gentle dance 		
between 			         secret admirers
until the mood turns 
and the wind becomes 	 belligerent 
destroying something	         beautiful 
simply because 
                                 - it can.

******************

Thanks for taking the time to read my poem today, I hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to check out my other pieces across the website. Any comments or critiques you have, I welcome.

Take it easy,

Paul

Calm

I welcome the storm 
         she’s                an old            friend
kissing 	     fire                      into my lungs 
until  I'm   breathless 
they          blame her                     for destruction 
but I simply offer thanks
for 	breaking 			down 			the clutter
                 in my mind
	giving me 
                          focus.

Thanks for taking the time to read my poem. It has been a while since I’ve posted however I’m squirrelling away working on a couple of projects.

Let me know what you think in the comments.

Take it easy,

Paul

Daybreaking

A gang of indigo clouds  
        are swaggering
	       across the flamingo-pink skies this morning
distracting everyone’s gaze 
        it takes a while for the greyness of conformity to rush in 
	      and chase the hope of daybreak away
in the mire, we stand 
        sinking in acceptance of the now
	       wishing, we were those indigo clouds
moving on from normality.

Thanks for taking the time to read my poem.
As always, I welcome any feedback and comments that you may have.

Take It Easy

Paul

Morbid Voyeur

The sneering wind 
flays the sycamore tree of limp,	 weak-willed branches
and their 	lichen tapestries  -		pearl and straw-yellow
while I stand		 watching,
a voyeur 			of death and violence
the wind doesn't want me to watch
howls at 	me 	to 	turn away
                        howls of 	shame
                        howls of 			embarrassment 
                        howls of 						       guilt
It ramps things up 
tearing down 		an elderly fence
that's been 	grey 	and withered 		for a while
Shock tactics.
But it doesn't shock me.
                         I’m still standing. Still watching.

Thanks for taking the time to read my poem. Did you like it? Feel free to leave a comment below or any constructive criticism.

Take It Easy

Paul.