Tag: free verse

Exercise in mindfulness

Chris Hall71 Comments
The image shows the word ‘Exhale’ illuminated as a sign, embedded in a carved structure.

breathe in (count to three)
breathe out (count to five)
close your eyes
repeat

imagine yourself
on an empty beach
tide coming in
tide going out

breathe in (count to three)
breathe out (count to five)

take yourself
to that place far away
empty your cares
on the sand

watch as the tide
washes over the beach
breathe in, and again
now exhale

~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Matt Barringer @ Unsplash
The image shows the word ‘Exhale’ illuminated as a sign, embedded in a carved structure.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #130 photo prompt

Escape

Chris Hall78 Comments
The image shows a girl carrying an oversized geometry set in her arms, looking directly at the camera.

snatching up the tools of her trade
gathering together
her books, her notes
small remnants of her life

eyes wide with fear
her flatmate clutches
their little dog
to her chest

travelling by train, on foot
they finally reach the border
her skills, at least
are portable

~~~~~~~~

inspired by an article from yesterday’s SA Sunday Times in which three SA final year students escaped from Ukraine to Slovakia (their little dog, Mowgli, made it out too)

Image credit: Houcine Ncib @ Unsplash
The image shows a girl carrying an oversized geometry set in her arms, looking directly at the camera.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #124 photo prompt

Flatline

Chris Hall110 Comments
The image shows two skeleton’s hands reaching towards a digital device enveloped in purple-pink haze.

fingers slipping
joints clicking
every moment counts
digits creaking
thoughts fading
time is running out
no more posting
no more scrolling
you can’t WhatsApp me now
battery’s dying
signal’s failing
.
.
.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Image credit: 8machine@ Unsplash
The image shows two skeleton’s hands reaching towards a digital device enveloped in purple-pink haze.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #122 photo prompt

A picture of a tin of spam

A Cry for Help!

Yep, my little spam problem is back *sigh*
If you see I’ve just popped a like in your post, please check your spam. Very likely you’ll find me there fuming. Please fish me out🎣

Reflecting at dusk

Chris Hall56 Comments

At day’s end when golden rays slide silently into shadow
running through the shorter colours of the rainbow
while sun’s bright disk is swallowed by dark waves
I wonder, what did I achieve today?

Unlike dawn with her sacred dazzling promise
of a brand new day and a fresh clean start
another tiny chapter of life has closed
one more page has turned, waves
washing over sand, erasing.

I sit on the sun-worn steps
gazing out at the ocean
her timeless waves
her heart beating
and wonder
what might
tomorrow
bring?

Image credit: Kenrick Mills @Unsplash

Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #99 photo prompt.

The image shows a view of the setting sun over a body of water. In the foreground, you can see wooden steps leading into the water. Grey clouds are drifting in the sky.

Love Story

Chris Hall87 Comments

It was love
at first sight
blood rushed
to my head
I sidled up
she looked away
modest, not brazen
I ’specially
liked that
about her.

I teased her
just a little
strutting
so street-wise
then cooing
sweet nothings
offering
tiny titbits
’til one day
she accepted.

Now and
forever
she is
the love
of my life.*

Image credit: Jonah Pettrich @Unsplash

Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #98 photo prompt.

The image shows a pair of lovebirds sitting together and cuddling with each other.

*Love Birds are native to Africa and they do mate for life!

On a Roll of the Dice

Chris Hall55 Comments

The wheel spins
which one will win?
how much has each invested?
This week’s wage
a watch, a car?
Too much, for sure
don’t doubt it.
The stakes are high
their dreams are huge
the risk of loss is greater.
Don’t bet your life
on the draw of a card
for only the house
always wins.

Image credit: B P Miller @Unsplash

Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #97 photo prompt.

The image shows three men, one covering his eyes, the other covering his ears and the last one covering his mouth with their hands.

Last Gasp

Chris Hall61 Comments

Insides flaming
throat burning
lungs pounding
clinging on.

Guts heaving
mouth screaming
chest thumping
hanging on.

Dawn’s breaking
heads shaking
surprised she survived
the endless night.

Fingers clawing
rasping, gasping
body stiffens…

her dragon roars
no more.

Image credit: Sean Thomas @ Unsplash

Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #94 photo prompt.

The image shows shows a huge stone dragon on top of a building.

Our verdant bower

Chris Hall64 Comments

Come, join hands
let’s walk together
our hushed feet will fall softly
on verdant ground
pause by the sapphire stream
listen to lush sounds
murmuring water
rustling leaves
bird song, insects whirring
breathe in, breathe deeply
scents of the earth
fragrance of flowers
close your eyes
breathe in, breathe out
taste the emerald air
feel the dappled golden sun
warming your face
here, safe, embraced
enfolded by nature
let us share our stories
in our woodland bower.

Image credit: Shane Rounce @ Unsplash

Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #93 photo prompt.

The image shows shows a tree trunk. We can see hands placed next to each other along the length of the tree trunk. The hands belong to people of different race, age, and gender.

Dripping Poison

Chris Hall75 Comments

Dark times
was it planned?

Malice aforethought
not sleight of hand.

People gather on the streets
a bottle’s thrown
petrol flares…


Shelves are cleared
bags are stuffed
snatch a shopping cart
fill it to the brim
seize a hi-fi
grapple with a fridge
snatch another shopping cart
come back for more!

Grab your phone
tell your friends
the shelves aren’t empty yet
and not a cop in sight…


We might pick up the pieces
we might mend fences
but it’s going to be
a long
road
back.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #91 photo prompt.

The image shows a bust of a man. A dark thick liquid is being poured on it.


Important note: this poem was written from the photo prompt. The fact that it shows a dark liquid being poured on a white figure should not be taken as a representation of the violence that has occurred here in South Africa. The victims of the violence are primarily Black African-owned small businesses whose shops have been destroyed in shopping centres and malls, and the staff who work in the big retail outlets there.

kaleidoscope girl

Chris Hall69 Comments

brazen beauty strutting on the stage
taunting, teasing, technicolour dreams
reaching for the bright lights
looking for the wrong types
see me, touch me, feel me
take me, make me yours

drenched in glitz and glamour
splayed legs go on forever
shiny skin, huge black eyes
lips that shine and pout
beat thumping, heart racing
she can never give enough

falling, sprawling
every night another bed
white lines, liquid gold
rolling in the sultry dark
waking, shaking
dress torn and lipstick smeared

it happened once too often

star winked out

peel her from your wall
fold her up
and put her
in your pocket.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #90 photo prompt.

Image credit: Sean Robertson @Unsplash
The image shows a painting of a woman on a wall. There are words scribbled on the sides of the wall art and people have drawn on the face too.