Curiosity

November 2, 2020 Chris Hall42 Comments

– steady now

but there’s so much to explore!

– take your time

                        but everything’s a toy, a joy!
                        so many things to see and smell
                        and feel and taste… oh, eew!!

– yes, but…

look at me!
oopsie!

– be careful, or you’ll fall

the world’s so big

– and you’re so small

but now’s my time, I want it all!

– one day, little one, when you’re grown.

Everything comes to she who waits.
Hold on! Shine bright!
Never lose that spark, that drive
the curiosity of a child.

Written in response to Sadje’s What Do You See #54 photo prompt.
Image credit: Billow 926 – Unsplash
(The image shows a baby panda standing in a Moses basket. Next to it us a wicker basket, which it is leaning in to)

The Good Fight

October 26, 2020 Chris Hall53 Comments

The image shows back of a man who is standing in a dark medieval entrance holding a flaming torch in his hand

Be brave, good knight,
and raise aloft your light
to shine on every corner of
this godforsaken kingdom.

Where people cower
beneath the all-powerful might
that dictates who should receive
the lion’s share of wealth.

Afraid, good knight,
that those in power
will snatch away your sword?

Yet you are on the side of right
your fight is just and true.

Fear not, good knight,
and lift your standard high!
Behold, we raise our heads above the parapet
throwing down the challenge of our begging bowls.

Together we will fight for what is right
for the future good of all.

Written in response to Sadje’s What Do You See #53 photo prompt.
Image credit: Linus Sandvide – Unsplash

On a life well lived

October 19, 2020 Chris Hall48 Comments

For the visually challenged reader, the image shows an old woman whose face is deeply lined. There is a faint smile on her face.

Mirth plays around your mouth miming multi-coloured mischief of an occasionally ill-judged youth. Fun feathers your forehead framing joyous recollections of halcyon days soaked in summer sunshine.

Written in response to Sadje’s What Do You See #5 2 photo prompt.
Image credit: Pisauikan – Pixabay

It is time

October 12, 2020October 12, 2020 Chris Hall38 Comments

The image shows an hour glass sitting on a small table. The sand has run through the glass. Two hand are reaching for it from opposite ends.

Leave it now, my love

I’ve had my three score years and ten

Soul mates, we’ll meet again

in time.

Don’t reach out, my love

Leave me be, let me go ahead

I’ll see you there, you know

the place.

Let me rest, my love

My heart may still, but not my soul.

You and I will be one

again.

Written in response to Sadje’s What Do You See #5 1 photo prompt.
Image credit: Adrien King – Unsplash

On Life’s Threshold

October 5, 2020 Chris Hall38 Comments

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a young man lounging against a door jamb with a hat held against his chest. The young man is quite a looker!

Standing on the threshold, your future unmapped
who knows what adventures lie ahead?
which paths will you take?
which avenues will you dawdle down?
what rewards will you seek?

Everything lies before you
the big world beckons.
Choose wisely, my son
but not too wisely.
Life’s not a dress rehearsal.

Written in response to Sadje’s What Do You See #50 photo prompt.
Image credit: Sean Lee – Unsplash

Trust Me

September 28, 2020September 28, 2020 Chris Hall53 Comments

The image shows a hand extended out with a little bird sitting on it. In the background one can see a lake and its shore in distance.

Little heart fluttering
in the palm of my hand
what delight to share a moment
with such a pretty little creature!
Won’t you stay awhile?

Scooped from the rail
my tiny bones quake
and now, eyes squeezed shut
I wait for the giant to crush me
in its big, clumsy fist.

Be calm, little bird
do not fear me
allow me to look more closely
admire the beauty
of your bright plumage.

The hand seems gentle
but I shan’t be taken in.
I open a wary eye
prepare for flight
I’m gone!

Farewell, little bird
I’ll listen for your song
here by the lake
me, in gentle harmony
with nature.

Written in response to Sadje’s What Do You See #49 photo prompt.
Image credit: Evan Clark – Unsplash

Hidden Meaning

September 21, 2020September 21, 2020 Chris Hall51 Comments

The image shows a covered paved street. One person is sitting in a chair in the middle of the street talking to another sitting at the side walk. There is a truck parked in the street behind them. The street is lighted up well with lights hanging from the ceiling.

The light of experience illuminates

the wealth of knowledge expounds

but the real truth lies

behind the words

in the depths of the speaker’s soul.

Written in response to Sadje’s What Do You See #48 photo prompt.
Image credit: Mohammad Hoseini Rad – Unsplash

Flying off the Canvas

September 14, 2020 Chris Hall45 Comments

The image shows an incomplete watercolor on open pages of a notebook. There are tubes of colors next to it and some painting paraphernalia.

Purple robes from the snot of snails, rays from the tails of mango-fed cows.
Colour-wash fades, dribbles down the page,
Feeble brush strokes
weep over wet
paper.

In a misery of contempt she kicks the traces of her fractious art.
Screw it up and start again!

Ground from stones, hewn from rocks
poisonous pigments from the artist’s jewel box
cobalt and lead, one blue, one red
the venomous tools of her craft.

Carving curves with furious angst
passions explode and erode
while careless cadmium spatterings
join dread smears on the studio floor.

Scissoring through shards of purple-pink silk
the blood on the carpet of despair
raising her brush she rages on
rending the canvas in two.

Written in response to Sadje’s What Do You See #47 photo prompt.
Image credit: Elena Mozhvilo – Unsplash