Category: poetry

That old door

Chris Hall36 Comments


That Old Door

It’s an interesting door, you said?
I did.
But what do you think about it?
Well, it’s old, obviously.
Yes, go on.
It’s a bit creaky too.
Indeed.

It looks a bit like, hmm…
What?
A Christmas tree, don’t you think?
I see what you’re saying.
And yes, it’s funny.
Definitely!

Will we be able to go in?
Let’s find out.

So they waited and waited for ages.
But sadly no-one was in.
Oh, such a shame, don’t you think?
Still, we’ll try again sometime.
Ah yes, we will!

So off they go, and smiling happily…

~~~

Image credit: Istiaque Hossain @ Pexels

It is a monochrome photo of an old door. There is a simple pattern of wooden planks on the door- creating triangles! The wall on which it’s fixed isn’t in good repair. There are signs of fungus around the lower part of the wall.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #353 photo prompt.

What do you see # 353- 10 August, 2026

Burning books?

Chris Hall49 Comments

Burning books?
Surely not?
Well, why not?

No, you’re crazy… really crazy,
and heaven forbid.
Just don’t do it.

But, again, why not?
There’s no value in these,
so what’s the point?

But, but…
But what can I say?
It’s, well, just wrong.
In fact, I’m thinking you’re deranged.

I know what you’re saying,
but at least we can use those books
to make part of our fire.

Now what are you thinking?
I’m thinking you might be… well, right!

~~~

Image credit: Ebahir @ Unsplash

This image shows a table top with a glass of a drink, probably juice or cold coffee, and a few open books, one of which is either in Persian or Arabic.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #352 photo prompt.

What do you see # 352- 3 August, 2026

Trees are poems

Chris Hall60 Comments


I do like this park,
it’s peaceful and gladdening.
I often sit here
and look up at those great trees,
where birds are all around there.

“Trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky.”

Shall I write today?
I have my notebook and pen,
but it seems too hard;
so I’ll just look up again
and enjoy the lovely day.

— Khalil Gibran


Image credit: Shan Ali @ Pexels

In this image, we can see a park with wooden benches installed at regular intervals. There are tall green leafy trees all around, and the ground is covered with grass. A walking track is passing in front of the benches.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #351 photo prompt.

What do you see # 351- 27 July, 2026

We are koi

Chris Hall52 Comments


we are koi
and we are happy
and lively

our colours
are more than gorgeous
– lucky us

so more food
as we open our
big mouths

chomp, chomp, chomp
so swallow quickly
then eat more

we’re fun guys
as everyone knows
– see you soon

~~~

Image credit:  Andre Filipe @Unsplash

This image shows a pond teeming with koi fish. They are of all colours and sizes. The pond water is greenish colour.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #350 photo prompt.

What do you see # 350- 20 July, 2026

Let’s paddle!

Chris Hall54 Comments

Let’s paddle by the river,
not too far though;
it’s rather wide and deep,
also a bit chilly,
at least I think so.

Fun, I’d say,
such a lovely day,
just me,
and my dog.

And a few hours later,
we’ll go home,
smiling.

~~~

Image credit: Rafael Peier @Unsplash

This image shows a house on the bank of a river. There is a pier leading to the river from the house. There are tall trees surrounding the house.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #349 photo prompt.

What do you see # 349- 13 July, 2026

Holiday!

Chris Hall55 Comments

It was very quiet, she thought, there was hardly anyone around, and it was almost lunch-time. Most odd, she felt. She had been pottering around as usual, in the tiny town. She loved this place, and she had been there several times, since she saved up her money for two whole weeks, and now she was on holiday.

She took her small sketch book with some pencils. That’s what she does for pleasure. Noticing a nice café, she sat down.

But where is everyone?

The waiter appeared and grinned. “You don’t know what happened a couple of hours ago?”

so she shook her head
football? she looked all around
that lot England won!

~~~

Image credit: Waldemar Brandt @ Unsplash

This is a scene from Kokkari, Samos, Greece. In the morning hours, you can walk alone through the empty streets. Kokkari is a small and nice village without big hotel resorts. This image shows an empty street, lined with small shops and a cafe/ restaurant.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #348 photo prompt.

What do you see # 348- 6 July, 2026

Time!

Chris Hall39 Comments

“Stop all the clocks…”
Ah yes, that’s right,
I seem to remember that poem.
But who wrote that?

“Stop all the clocks…”
Such a good and pleasing poem,
I do remember reading it out loud.
And now it’s on the tip of my tongue.

“Stop all the clocks…”
Aha, I’ve got it, although it’s often sad,
it’s also known as ‘Funeral Blues’
and it’s by W.H. Auden.

~~~

Image credit: Doruq Pasha @ Pexels

This image shows a wall clock hanging on a wall. There is a ray of light/ sunlight illuminating the clock partially. The clock hands are pointing at 8:16!

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #347 photo prompt.

What do you see # 347- 29 June, 2026

Lucky man!

Chris Hall51 Comments

What a life he has,
no worries, no consequences.
He lives in an apartment,
not large, but large enough,
and right by the canal.

It seems idyllic,
and kind of it is.
However, he’s a poet,
and today, he can’t find
anything to say!

~~~

Image credit: Llia Bronskiy @Unsplash

This image shows a man lying beside a canal in Zurich, Switzerland. His head is cushioned by his bag/ backpack and his arm is covering his eyes. Behind him, a boat can be seen traveling in the canal.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #346 photo prompt.

What do you see # 346- 22 June, 2026

Just a tiny bird…

Chris Hall58 Comments

just a tiny bird
but so beautiful, so cute
bright yellow feathers
are more than brilliant, just fab
and she knows that doesn’t she.

“A bird does not sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.”

hey there little one
what can you see right up there?
maybe there’s a mate
is it? really? that is great
but you’re off, ah well, see you!

— Maya Angelou

~~~

Image credit: Mark Olsen @Unsplash

This image shows a Yellow Warbler singing from a sunlit branch during spring migration at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area on the southern shore of Lake Erie, Ohio.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #345 photo prompt.

What do you see # 345- 15, June- 2026

Snow in June?

Chris Hall65 Comments

Snow in June? Surely not, as she peered from her window. No, it can’t be snow, it doesn’t look right. As she moved closer, almost sticking her nose on the windowpane.

Clouds on the ground? Most odd, since the sky all around is bright blue. She would even call that sky cerulean, such a pretty name. So those clouds can’t be clouds, but what in the world are they?

So she opened her door. Bizarrely the ground was made of candy and bubble-gum. And she was now holding some flowers.

She must be dreaming… surely.
Ah well, back to bed!

~~~

Image credit: Mehrab Sium  @Unsplash

This image shows an open door from which a hand extends holding a bouquet of pinkish white flowers. This image is superimposed on an image of a cloudy sky, giving the impression that the wall with the door is resting on the clouds.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #344 photo prompt.

What do you see # 344- 8 June, 2026