It was him

April 4, 2026 Chris Hall42 Comments

It was him!

It was a sea mine
To keep our coasts safe.
World War Two was dreadful
As many lives were lost.
So victory was needed.
He was in the right place and the right time.
It was Winston Churchill,
Man, War Correspondent and Prime Minister.

~~~~

Acrostic – This form requires that the first letter of each line forms a message. It was used for messages in code between lovers, spies, and mischief-makers. Write a message to other poets.
Or possibly a writer, an artist and more much.
Thanks, Val

~~~

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #080

Looking to Scavenge the Month

A Scurry of Squirrels

April 25, 2025 Chris Hall44 Comments

Squirrels, an Acrostic Nonet Poem

Squirrel, are you in that drey over there?
Quite a place I imagine, is that right
Under and hiding in that palm tree
I definitely think I can see you
Room for many of them
Run out now, go on
Every one join in
Link up together
Scurrying

Written in response to this week’s Tanka Challenge hosted by Willow. She has asked us to think about what is happening underground. Seeds and bulbs are waking up, while roots are looking for nourishment and reaching out looking for communication and news. Little creatures and insects are all on the move.

PS – I hope I’ve got away with this. These squirrels are not quite underground, although they are under and hiding in our palm tree.

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 9 Acrostic Poem, 4/22/2025

Reaching for a rainbow

May 17, 2021 Chris Hall73 Comments

Varicoloured, head spinning, ebb and flow below
Easy now, no need to go
Reflect on your decision. No!
Taking my leave now
I’m stepping out
Gasping, grasping
Oblivion.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #82 photo prompt.

Image credit: Sean Robertson @ Unsplash
The image shows a view of a busy street from the top of a tall building. Down below you can see traffic and pedestrians.

Dinner for Two

April 19, 2021 Chris Hall58 Comments

Dusk melts seductively
Into soft velvet
Night
Now darkness descends
Expectation
Revives

Forever, I’ll long to hold you again
On this date when I
Remember

This is our special night
When I set the table, anticipating, longing for you
Oh, I will always be longing for you.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #78 photo prompt.

Image credit: Gabriella Clare Marino@ Unsplash
The image shows a table set for two people. The location seems to be outdoors, in an alley.

Ode to Selene

March 29, 2021 Chris Hall59 Comments

Starlight pricks heaven’s violet mantle

Evening shades fade to velvet umber

Luminous in languorous liquid light

Eternal sentinel of mortal slumber

Never failing, forever wax and waning

Enduring, eternal moon.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #75 photo prompt.

Image credit: Jasmin Chew@ Unsplash
The image shows a young woman looking up at the sky where a new moon is visible. Her stance is meditative.

Selene is the Greek goddess of the moon. Her Roman equivalent is Luna.

Be Tranquil

February 8, 2021February 8, 2021 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.

Purple Prose

January 18, 2021 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.

Let me out!

December 21, 2020 Chris Hall55 Comments

The image shows wall art. A woman is dressed in 1950’s style. A speech bubble next to her says, ” Listen to your inner child” There are cartoons and graffiti on the wall too

My inner child cowers, confined by conformity
Yearning to be let out, unshackled and free!

Iridescent, uninhibited
Not contained and
Not restrained, she’d
Engineer enjoyment, frivolity and fun.
Raging and rebellious

Chortling and
Howling, craving
Instant satisfaction, but no! Quietly she
Lurks beneath the veil of decorum
Dwelling in the darkness, sadly unfulfilled.

Written in response to Sadje’s What Do You See #61 photo prompt.

Image credit: Tim Hüfner @ Unsplash
The image shows wall art. A woman is dressed in 1950’s style. A speech bubble next to her says, ‘Listen to your inner child’. There are cartoons and graffiti on the wall too.

Uncertainty

November 9, 2020 Chris Hall47 Comments

Unknown waters lie ahead, our future is opaque, obscure, still uncharted

No more mapped out milestones, no glittering goals to accomplish

Certainty has ceased, while we clutch at withered straws

Ever searching for proper patterns to pursue, the

Return to routine, to the mindful mundane

That frees us, and comforts us

And will sustain our souls

If only in illusion.

No chance of

That hope

Yet

Written in response to Sadje’s What Do You See #54 photo prompt.
Image credit: Evan Clark, Unsplash
(The image shows a person precariously balanced, standing on a fallen tree trunk hanging over a body of water).

Forest enchantment

June 15, 2020 Chris Hall53 Comments

For visually challenged reader, the image shows a woodland scene, where blue butterflies are sitting on the forest floor among tiny mushrooms. Tall trees are visible in the background.