Category: poetry

Was that me?

Chris Hall60 Comments

Was that me in a different life? Is it possible to be reborn again without knowing?
Something drastic happened. Everything disappeared completely.
Not just dark. Just nothing. Nothing at all.
Gone.

And yet…
Something rebooted, eventually.
Eyes opened. But looking upside down, and back to front. Just like a brand new baby.
And then it all came back again. So, I’m thinking that’s what happened.

a new chance
many lovely days
lucky me!

~~~~~

Image credit:  Mohsen Karimi @Unsplash

The image shows a blurred girl/woman through a rain-streaked window. The background is not clearly seen.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #316 photo prompt.

What do you see # 316- 24 November, 2025

Coffee, please!

Chris Hall51 Comments

The first cup of the day,
delightful,
warming and waking her up.
What will she do today?

Such a beautiful morning,
fresh, gorgeous,
as she opens her laptop.
It has to be a poem!

What will she think about,
she’s musing,
as she continues to drink.
Perhaps another coffee?

Aha, that’s it!
This is my poem
about coffee.
(more please)

~~~~~

Image credit: Jon Tyson @Unsplash

The image shows a cup sitting on a wooden table. On the cup you can read the inscription – “ My cup runneth over”.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #315 photo prompt.

What do you see # 315- 17 November 2025

Who is she?

Chris Hall53 Comments

She’s a busy lady!
She’s beautiful,
She’s clever,
She’s making a nest.

She weaves, and weaves,
Delicate but strong,
She continues to weave,
Until she’s happy.

She’ll finds some food,
More than she needs,
But she’ll keep it for later,
Now she’ll doze for a while.

A few days later,
She’s even busier,
She’s making more silk,
It will be her nursery.

Do you know her?
I’m sure you’ve guessed…
She’s more than just a spider,
She’s a lucky lady!

~~~~~

Image credit: Doncoombez @Unsplash

In this image we can see branches of a pine tree. There is an intricate spider web woven between two of the branches. The background is blurry, but the golden light suggests a forest or garden setting.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #314 photo prompt.

What do you see # 314- 10 November 2025

A Veil

Chris Hall38 Comments

canva.com

tanka Puente

a veil of mystery
whatever can be revealed
something hides its face
the waves draw back and forward
a pinnacle will fly out

“Mysteries are feminine; they like to veil themselves but still want to be seen and divined.”
Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel

my moon is displayed
so bright – full of energy
yet the veil pulls down
such a strange conundrum
dear moon, come back again… please

~~~~~

Written in response to this week’s Tanka Challenge hosted by Yvette M. Calleiro
Yvette has chosen the word veil. There are several definitions for veil. Choose whichever version of the word that speaks to you, and write a syllabic poem of your choosing.

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 37, The Veil, 11/04/25

Just a cat…

Chris Hall50 Comments

that is no such thing
as ‘just’ a cat – ‘just’ a cat?
definitely not.

she’s always regal,
pretty, beautiful – of course,
and she’ll stare, and stare.

what is she thinking?
we will never really know,
she’s just amazing!

could we pry?
nope, definitely not.

~~~~~~

Image credit: Haoli Chen @Unsplash

A white and fawn cat is hiding behind a partially open curtain hanging on a window. Through the window we can see green trees. The cat is also watching the trees.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #313 photo prompt.

What do you see # 313- 3rd November’ 25

Just a bit mad…

Chris Hall35 Comments

a random photo

I’d been hanging on the ceiling
Not an easy task
Then I’d dropped down
And set to work.

I’d drawn a picture
Then I began to write
My handwriting was very squiggly
And I even wrote in the margin.

Culture? What’s culture?
Well, there’s pressure in my head
But that’s not a problem
You see, I’m actually an influencer.

~~~~~~

Val‘s Scavenger Hunt – 13th prompt
Write a free verse poem that incorporates the words: culture, ceiling, margin, pressure, influence.

Looking to Slide into Seasonal Change

What fun!

Chris Hall55 Comments

Just a mushroom?
No, it’s definitely more than that.

It’s beautiful.
It’s crimson, golden, even russet.
Come on, let’s get closer.

They knelt down carefully.
We shouldn’t disturb it.
Well, not just yet.

It’s a beauty.
It certainly is.
Okay, let’s pick it.
Now!

~~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Benjamin Lehman @Unsplash

This image shows a golden cap mushroom growing in a forest floor.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #312 photo prompt.
Plus, hooray! Congratulations, it’s four years for WDYS. Well done, dear Sadje!

What do you see # 312- October 27, 2025

Springtime

Chris Hall40 Comments

my little friend

Dawn is up, and already little creatures are on the move
Geckos and lizards are warming up, and skittering near to the rim
Young squirrels hurry down the huge palm tree and up again

The sky is tinged with pink and turquoise, doves are courting merrily
Male weaver birds are busy making many nests, looking hopeful
Dawn is up, and already little creatures are on the move

Pond skaters glide across the water, striding with purpose
A dragonfly flies fast, then hovers, seeking for a mate
Geckos and lizards are warming up, and skittering near to the rim

Bright butterflies with glorious rainbow colours dance with glee
And pretty flowers wave to the bees asking them to pollinate them
Young squirrels hurry down the huge palm tree and up again

~~~~~

Val‘s Scavenger Hunt – 5th prompt
Write a Cascade poem using a season of your choice.

Looking to Slide into Seasonal Change

All White

Chris Hall41 Comments

a
hostage?
no, don’t be silly!
this is a stage (almost)
she was wearing her glad rags
as she skipped the light fandango

it
was only
a very tiny flat
not a hotel, nor a hostel
it was all her own… just for the summer
and she’ll bathe before running across the Rialto Bridge

~~~

Image credit: Karsten Winegeart @Unsplash

This image shows a Summer morning, at Rialto Bridge, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy. We can see a young lady/ woman standing on the pier, looking back.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #311 photo prompt.

Plus, Di of Pensitivity 101 – Monday’s Three Things Challenge: HOTEL, HOSTEL, HOSTAGE

What do you see # 311- October 20, 2025

Dear Santa

Chris Hall51 Comments

photo credit: Liverpool Echo

Dear Santa,
How are you?
Hope you are doing well
I bet you have already done most of your work
for this year
although there are many problems
around the world.
By the way, how is Mrs. Christmas?
She’s such a wonderful woman!
Oh, the reindeers and all those helpers,
also well – all good?

But now I have a little problem
and a little plea…
You see, the naughty spam
has been such a pain lately.
It’s all very well to just pop a ‘like’
but I really like to have a little conversation.
I very much like to post back
from anyone around the world
especially on WordPress.

So, Dear Santa
sorry about making a bit of a rant
but I’m sure you will be able to help.
You can have a little look to see what the problem is
and after that we will all talk again
and, of course, we will be ready to write
our poems for Santa’s post!

~~~~~

Val‘s Scavenger Hunt – 7th prompt
Write an Epistle Poem to Santa. The Epistle Poem is written as a letter. It can be a direct address, intimate or formal. The form is flexible – from free verse to rhyming couplets to a sonnet. The audience can be internal or external. The Epistle Poem is often used for moral, political or religious discourse.

P.S. This is all true, and if you haven’t seen me saying something on your post, that has been the problem on spam, I believe.

Looking to Slide into Seasonal Change