Category: poetry

Stalker

Chris Hall66 Comments

I know you’re there
watching, silently
out there, always out there
monitoring my movements

the click of a camera
the slam of a car door
behind me
a flash of movement
reflected in a window
will I ever be rid of you?

monitoring my movements
out there, always out there
watching, silently
I know you’re there.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #73 photo prompt.

Image credit: Sonny Mauricio @ Unsplash
The image shows a bald eagle sitting in the bare branches of a tree. It is looking down at the camera.

Reflection

Chris Hall42 Comments

Rewinding past skirmishes
Regret like a tidal wave
Rocks on resentful oceans
Roils in seas of broken dreams
Restitution overlooked
Renders her bereft of hope
Redemption lost forever.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #72 photo prompt.

Image credit: Jayson Hinrichsen @ Unsplash
The image shows a young woman in a pensive mood standing outside a storefront. The glass behind her is reflecting a neon sign.

How she shines!

Chris Hall57 Comments

golden sun’s fluid glow flows
over your curves, filling your crannies
opulence wrapped in creamy pearlescence
your soft skin shines in the pale pink dawn

now dazzling white in high noon light
towers thrust skywards to pierce
softly yielding cornflower skies
your marble-clad radiance blisters bright

now descending, the great bronze orb
drapes his saffron cloak over your opal shoulders
while beneath the aquamarine firmament
your gleaming countenance smoulders

silver stars prick the velvet twilight
sapphire serenity pervades
everlasting yet ever changing
your beauty pleads devotion

Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #71 photo prompt.

Image credit; Sanin Sn @ Unsplash
The image shows a front view of Taj Mahal, Agra. The sun is either rising or setting in the background.

Topsy Turvy World

Chris Hall46 Comments

humankind turned upside-down
keeping safe’s what matters
all around the world
economies in tatters
scientists in overdrive
to keep one step ahead
corruption, disruption
stop now, keep your head
mixed message, fake news
sops to the masses
governments in disarray
staying put’s what matters

Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #70 photo prompt.

Image credit; Lance Anderson @ Unsplash
The image shows tall skyscrapers lit in the evening light. In the front there is a small pale-coloured house resting at an angle on the ground, one side of it raised from the ground.

We’ll Always Have Paris

Chris Hall68 Comments

In the new bloom of passion
and the early flush of spring
we first walked the boulevards
of the city of lovers
entwining ourselves
in darkening alleyways
indulging in delights
behind closed doors.

In long, lazy, late summer’s days
we roamed gardens and parks
and wandered through galleries
spent evenings in Montmartre
listening to a solitary pianist
playing our tune.

In the midst of winter now
we travel no more
but like Bergman and Bogart
we’ll always have Paris.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #69 photo prompt.

Image credit: Lucas Albuquerque
The title image shows a view of the Eiffel Tower at night when it is illuminated in golden light. In the foreground you can see the Seine river reflecting the lights.

Be Tranquil

Chris Hall62 Comments

Beauty transcends reason
Eloquence reaps her just reward.

Take a moment to tiptoe past your worries
Recall tributes, triumphs and tenderness
Augment your vessel of contentment
Negate all negative thoughts
Quelling the armies of anxiety
Under a big bright blanket of hope
Infuse yourself with inner strength
Life’s about the journey; go now, walk in peace today.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #68 photo prompt.

Richard Kesperowski @ Unsplash
The image shows a couple of water lilies growing in a pond of water.

Marking Time

Chris Hall59 Comments

Days which merge
one into another
marking time
tied down
by new normal’s rope.

tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock…

A ray of light
spills through the bars
a gap for hope
to squeeze through.

tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock…

How long before
with the tiny prick
of a needle
we widen the chink
in covid’s armour
and creep through
to emerge, blinking
in the light?

tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock…

Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #67 photo prompt.

Tim Hüfner @ Unsplash
The photo shows a partially open gate, which is thrown in relief by a light filtering from a doorway.

Better on the inside

Chris Hall52 Comments

~You’ll never be beautiful
(my mother said to me)

~Don’t take it to heart
(I said to myself)

mantra

choose your viewpoint shrewdly
it’s what’s inside that counts
discriminate accordingly
a kind heart trumps a pretty face

it’s what’s inside that counts
true beauty’s from within
a kind heart trumps a pretty face
seek out a splendid soul

true beauty’s from within
look for what’s beneath the skin
seek out a splendid soul
marvel at a brilliant mind

look for what’s beneath the skin
discriminate accordingly
marvel at a brilliant mind
choose your viewpoint shrewdly

Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #66 photo prompt.

Teslariu Mehai @ Unsplash
The image shows a person wearing a paper bag over their head. The words  “Photo shop” are written by hand on the bag.

Purple Prose

Chris Hall49 Comments

Like luminous petals falling
Over lush green lawns your
Violet verses float down in
Eloquent abundance.

Love-filled lyrics pervade the ether
Elegant stanzas resonate with rhyme
Tantalising texts torment my senses
Tempting cantos seep into my soul
Eternal love spills from your pen while
Rhythms of ecstasy permeate my heart.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #65 photo prompt.

Image credit: Simona Sergi @ Unsplash
The image shows an envelope hanging by a white thread. In the background there is a house entrance.

Stepping Out

Chris Hall41 Comments

Vermillion streaks of swirling silk
illuminate the slate-grey dawn
while fervent feet, with careful steps
traverse the open gates of morn’

Viridian hues tint distant trees
beckoning the breaking day
while eager feet, with girlish grace
greet the golden sun’s first ray

Violet veils shroud verdant hills
soft’ning lofty umber peaks
while dancing feet, with tender tread
roam the purple path she seeks.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #64 photo prompt.

Image credit: Timur Kozmenko
The image is of a girl dressed in a red swirling frock walking towards open gates. The gates appear to be of oriental origin and are very tall. From the open gate you can see mountains visible through a cloudy sky.