Tag: wdys

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.

Recharge

Chris Hall66 Comments

far from the cares
of everyday life
away from the sorrows
away from the strife
sitting together
on a distant shore
watching the tide
washing in
washing out
as the sun descends
and the stars appear
breathing in
breathing out
being mindful
just being

Image credit: Yulia Matvienko

A quadrille, written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #92 photo prompt.

The image shows two lego mini-figures sitting on pavement. Batman has an ice cone and Superman has an ice lolly!

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.

Lost with out you

Chris Hall62 Comments

White-out world
cold and stark
bleak as the day
you went away
alone in the dark
heart beating
soul freezing
night closes in
no-one to love
no-one to hold
without you
everything
comes to a halt
please will you
throw me
a rope.

A quadrille, written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #89 photo prompt.

Image credit: Oziel Goméz
The image shows an old car parked in snow. The luggage rack on the top of the car has a rubber raft on it.

I Can Fly!

Chris Hall84 Comments

Staring up, beyond the confines of my yard
Up into the sky, so wide and blue
Paws poised
Ears and eyes alert
Ready to run, jump, fly!
Don’t try to stop me, no…
On I go,
Go, Superdog, Go!

(At least, that’s what I think he’s thinking)

Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #88 photo prompt.

Image credit: Elias Castillo @ Unsplash
The image shows a dog wearing a shirt with “Superman” logo on it. There is a cape flowing from the back of the T- shirt.

To my daughter

Chris Hall79 Comments

Reach out! Reach up!
Climb the highest height
Follow your dreams
Let hope give you wings
Be brave, be bold, be strong!

Look to a new day
A bright not a blue day
Stand straight, walk tall, be you
For you are unique, you burn so bright
You, the wonderful you!

Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #87 photo prompt.

Image credit: Dakota Corbin @ Unsplash
The image shows a wall decorated by splashes of colour. There are outlined sketches of two hands on the wall. Above the decorations, the words “The best gift is you” are written. A woman can be seen walking a baby in a stroller in the front.

Smitten

Chris Hall73 Comments

Behind those sapphire eyes
a trusting soul peers out

your little heart beats apace
tiny mouth mews silently

oh, little kitten
I am smitten

beholding a world
of wonder
anew.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #85 photo prompt.

Image credit: Iqbal Nuril @ Pixabay
The image shows a small kitten looking inquisitively, from under a table.

Winter’s song

Chris Hall68 Comments

Slender notes as crisp as frost
cast silver beads across the grass
colour-drained trees old and bare
echo tunes on winter air

Melodies fill the sunless day
where morning shadows long to to play
perched upon a lonely pew
fragile memories form anew

Snippets snatched from days long past
pervade an emptiness that’s vast
remembrances both sweet and dear
proffer us a tender tear.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #84 photo prompt.

Image credit: Clay Banks @ Unsplash
The image shows an older man sitting on a bench by a park. There is a trolley bag behind him. He is playing a stringed instrument and has a collection bag by his feet.

Thanks to Cassa of Flicker of Thoughts and Spira of inSPIRAation I have learned what the instrument in the photo is. Called a Erhu, it makes a most beautiful sound:

Rain in Jiang Nan_Erhu Cover

Dispel the darkness

Chris Hall72 Comments

Darkness comes early on these winter days
colour drains from bleached frigid skies
cobalt tints bleed to shades of stone
dripping into gun-metal water
remorseless, brutal
devoid of hope.

Darkness crowds in on these winter days
warmth leaches from dwindling vistas
landscapes recede, horizons narrow
care-free life flutters out of reach
fading to remembrance
of times past.

A glimmer remains on these winter days
a single shaft of sunlight reaches out
to dispel today’s sombre skies
one ray of honeyed promise
for a golden new
tomorrow.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #83 photo prompt.

Image credit: Sadje
The image shows a wooden pier extending into a lake. The sky overhead is partly cloudy with sun trying to peep.