Day 19- Living Water

19th Oct 2019 



Happy Saturday everyone.
I have dragged myself to Day 19 of OctPoWriMo 2019. I have amazed myself. But, I musn't get complacent.

Not going with the prompt today

Instead, I will share a poem I wrote yesterday to take to Poetry Tea Time at my daughter's.
 I said the name should be changed to Poetry Lunch Time as that's when they normally have this special happening.

On Thursday I was playing with words with the children, who range in age from 2 - 15. We were making up stories together and a little bit of poetry.
I'd left them with a prompt to work on - Water - saying that I'd be looking forward to their creations.
Then yesterday my daughter asked if we'd ( my husband and I) would like to join them for Poetry Tea Time.
We usually read other people's poems, you, know famous people.
 I said it would be lovely to hear the children's efforts with the prompt I'd given them as well.
Then, of course, I couldn't opt out. I had to have my own Water poem to read. So I sat and wrote this just before we went.

Living Water

It was about midday

dusty, hot,

 earth scorched underfoot.

I came to the well. 

The other women, I avoid them, 

had long gone.

He was there, sitting beside it.

He asked me for a drink.

What was this?

Me, a Samaritan woman,

Him, a Jew.

I looked up, warily, 

His eyes searched mine,

I felt His gaze reach

way down inside me.

He talked about giving me,

Living water

How, I thought

Where is your bucket?

But He went on, He said

with the water He gave

I would never thirst again.

What did He mean? 

I wanted that water.

His voice, spoke softly about,

A spring of living water

Welling up to 

Eternal Life.

Who was this man?

He knew all about me, for sure,

My whole life, everything.

I went to tell the whole village

That I'd found 

The Messiah

Blue Irises

9th June 2018

May and June 

I really cannot believe that we're nearly in the middle of June. I had so many plans to enjoy the last weeks of May and the month of June - my favourite. Not that I'm not enjoying them , no, but I had intended to make the most of the longer days by getting more walks by the sea and spending more time out of doors. Playing tennis with the grandchildren etc etc...
It's still my plan, but now I have less time and I feel as if we only have a few weeks ( which we do) before the days start to draw themselves together, giving us less daylight hours. I mean,  in seven or eight weeks time it will be dark by eight or nine.
I'm not a sun worshiper or anything but, I do like the months of May and June - just saying y'all..

I am looking out at the pond from the, now "shared",  studio and I see tall Irises, their blue flowers with no effort at all reaching heavenward. Radiant and glorious they fulfill their purpose.

I Set Out To Meet You 
I set out to meet you
not sure I'm going
I put my trust in the instructions
A light bag slung over my shoulder
containing a bottle of water,
and small cheese sandwich,
and sandals on my feet
for the day is mild.
I pass the factory on the left,
stop, listen,
machines break into the birdsong
quench it -  momentarily.
And rats scuttle in front of me.
I move on ,
 second road on the left
a residential road with its avenue of trees
and anonymous inhabitants
behind net curtains.
Hidden eyes follow
to the end , when I  turn
and walk down a country lane
until I reach the pond
where I wait .
It's where you told me to be.
Clouds gather and I notice
I'm getting wet.
I stand under a tree
but the clouds move swiftly,
turn black.
The rain comes down.
But then I see you.
I slosh through mud , quicken my pace
clothes dripping and heavy
Now you see me and rush to meet me
And together we walk on

Nature's Calling

22nd October 2016

Nearly caught up now - Day 21 in the challenge.  Another acrostic:

Nature's Calling


Now is the time to think of the planet
Alter the way we use the goods of the earth
Take more care of the little things
Using up the leftovers, not throwing it away
Really making sure not to but too much
Even being a little frugal for the sake of the planet
Saving some money into the bargain for use on
Caring for people. There are
All sorts of ways that could make a difference
Leaving the car at home for instance and using those
Legs will make us all healthier and save on fuel
It's a small but effective change to make and say
Nature's calling us to help take more care- change toxic chemicals for eco friendly
Get more attentive - turn of the lights and use less water.

Write on the Beach

14th July 2016

Write On The Beach

A fabulous two hours this morning at

Write On The Beach workshop,

Sitting on fold up chairs, cushions

Or, for one, an arm chair

Borrowed from a salubrious living room,

Sun warming our faces

Wind cooling our backs

Nine gathered in front of 

Beach Hut 136

A blue beacon of creativity

Nestled quietly among more 

Ordinary neighbours.

With waves rhythmically keeping time 

Mysterious - moon drift

We read poems of the beach,

Write from prompts,

Share our hastily penned words.

Pebbles, warm underfoot, listen,

Listen, to our scratchy scrawlings,

Our spoken efforts

Sometimes stolen by brazon breeze.

In just a breath, juices flowing now

Time is up.

But inspiration as plentiful as

The waters before us

Is ours to take away

Reluctantly we go our separate ways

Fresh material within us .

And some words that i played with at the workshop:

Dip Your Toe In

Dip your toe in,

Yes, that's right, it's cold, it's icy,

But, you can stand it.

Go on now, Go a bit further, try

Your foot maybe? 

Colder still? Uncomfortable - for sure,

But you'll see 

Persevere, stay with it, what do you find?

Ahh, gone numb eh? 

No feeling?

Might as well take the plunge,

Jump right in .

You know you'll be ok.

And now you scream out.

It's too much pain,

It's taking too long,

But you, you carry on,

You stay with it.

You , finally , get your reward

You, you are swimming 

Totally immersed , one with the water.

It was worth it - suffering forgotten,

Waves wash away it's echo

The sun shining on you 

The warmth of this moment precious.

The prompt for the next one is the quote: " Water: no matter how much, there is still not enough". 

At each new dawn Nadia walks with her mother,

Before the sun has time to scorch their bones

Through narrow rugged paths,

Pebbles piercing sores into dusty feet,

They carry pitchers on their heads

On their way to get water for the day ahead.

They don't speak

The task is important , urgent.

Sometimes , if they finish early enough

And the day is cool

They will go out again

Take a different road and

End up by the sea.

This time the pebbles are welcoming

They creep across them to 

Sooth their sores in the cool water.

This time the water is more than enough to

Bring a smile to their brown burnt faces.

Nadia splashes her mother and 

For a few moments they

Forget that , no matter how much there is,

There is still never enough. 

Their skin glistens a fresh beginning,

And tomorrow they will go again 

To the still, small, stream,

And the day after that 

And the day after that

But , just once in a while 

They get to smile.