under the dark moon I stand

embracing the darkness

calling on the queen of night

to give me strength and guide me

as from the deepest shadows of myself

in all its muddy glory

the parts of me i can not face

rise from the murky depths

lurching its way upwards.

she whispers to me.

on the wind.....to tell me

"warrior I am

from the battle I emerge triumphant" *

I feel her dance in the shadows

I breathe in the darkness

and her strength

warrior I will become

and I too will emerge triumphant

* Errol Weiner

Day 30

Beltane

As above 

so below

now its time 

For the crone to go

As within 

so without

See the maiden 

Dance about

As above 

so below

round the Beltane fire

we go

As without

So within

Let the summer dance

begin.

King of day

Queen of night

join this day

in union rite

As this poetry month comes to an end
I've been on a journey with a faithful friend
with pen in pocket and book in hand
I wanted you to understand.
These 30 days have given to me
the time to sit, to write, to be free
to wander up where clouds are high,
where eagles sore and dragons fly!
The words I write,
I write for me
but because of friends,
they've been set free

So If you pushed me to do this "chore"
I humbly thank you..and should say so more..

My class

Today my class when feeling bold
refused to do as they were told
They didn't want to learn today
They only wanted to chat and play.
It didn't matter what I said,
I might as well have banged my head,
against the board or on the wall,
they even talked in assembly hall!!
I saw my arse
I threw a strop
They carried on!
they wouldn't stop!!
In the end  I yelled "ENOUGH!
It's time with you I got all tough!
This constant chatting has to cease
its time you did your work in peace!
If you don't like my brand new rule,
Prehaps you need another school!"
They looked at me, and silence fell,
they'd heard my words, this I could tell.
I looked around from face to face,
did I see respect? nope not a trace..
Instead they grinned from ear to ear
with a smile that  says its that time of year!
The end of term is drawing near
reports are close too I fear!
Assessments too, targets to meet,
no time to play or sleep or eat.

So kids forgive your teachers if they are cross
they only want to please the boss
If the boss is happy, teacher will be too
and THAT can only be good for you!

Day 26 Full Moon

A hazy moon

fat and round,

shine your blessing 

to the ground

Keep us safe

throughout the night

until we wake

in dawns new light...

Mr Whalley.........

An Ode to Mr Whalley.....


This ode to Mr Whalley
is to say we do like you by golly,
incredibly handsome you're not
but you do give it all that you've got!
Your literacy lessons though clever
don't make you the wittiest fella.
At maths you are simply divine
allowing your cherubs to shine.
Oh Mr Whalley so smooth and not half dumb
We hope you enjoy your time with us in this insane asylum!

day 19.... final goodbye

this is a reworking of a  poem I wrote for my mum.  She was my best friend, my strongest allie and my biggest, but kindest critic. She passed over almost 5 years ago but her ashes were buried last December..which is when I wrote this.

Beltane Day 20

Away upon the hilltop
see the fires burn
the mist between this world and the next
lifts to give what the heart does yearn
Beltane fires with twigs of birch
burn throughout the night
faces of family long since past
become a welcome sight
couples dance hand in hand
with ribbons red and green
ribbons twist becoming one
uniting dreams unseen.

Day 18

Imbolc


Here I sit in the early spring sun
a time of beginnings has just begun
seasons change as the wheel now turns
I contemplate what my heart now yearns

a time to weed
a time to sow
a time to grieve
a time to let go

with the grace of the goddess and the love of my freinds
I take a step to my journeys end

The Raven

The Raven

The raven sits upon the wall

silken feathers, black as night

piercing eyes look into my soul

speaking truth in unseen light

I hear the lonely raven crow

speaking words,

lessons I need to know

Quietly he calls my name

his song carried on the wind

silence broken

message heard

Day 11

For this poem I had help....my class are following my progress and wanted to help. So this is very much a work in progress, more a mishmash of ideas at the moment, but i promised them I would post it....

Monday morning, school bell rings

rain pounding on the playground

children thinking

cogs turning

tapping nails

like the tick tock of the class clock

loud and annoying

Dinner ladies banging pans

chairs creaking

children swinging

26 elephants stomp down the

corridor

towards steaming bowls of 

cooks crumble and custard.

Titan's Child

My poem for day 10 ( I forgot to post it yesterday sorry)



Under dark of moon
In blackest night
On ravens wing
the Titan's child takes flight.
Across the earth
with hounds behind
she moves with quiet stealth.
Upon the porch
at crossroads bare
we leave our offering there.
At crossroads meet in love and trust
all fear is left behind
in silence stand between two worlds,
to face the wisest crone.
From her we come,
to her we go
when our day is done.
with justice swift
and power strong
she is the three in one.
Her torches bright
will lead the way
for those who wish to learn.
But .....warning given to those who mock,
her loving flame will burn.

Mutley

Sleepy mountain walks

big brown eyed sausage

stealing mut.

Tail wagging eyes shine.

Day 8....Miranda's Song....

Words aimed with deadly precsion,
a stare that does the same
bitterness, jealously, envy?
why does she play this spiteful game?
Each morning as I rise
to face her bullies song,
I ask myself the question
Why me....what did I do wrong?

My eyes are red from crying,
tears only I can see
My stomach sick from churning
from what she does to me
It doesn't seem to matter,
however hard I try.
My best simply isn't good enough
but she will not tell me why.

I know it may sound silly,
for such a tiny thing.
She makes me want to run and hide
when once I used to sing
I do not sleep..I can not eat
I cry each night alone
I can not face what morning brings....
Are you proud of what you've done?

My strength is gone.
Darkness closes in.
Tired...I cannot fight. But
in my heart I know I cant can't let her win
So....
I stand alone with painted smile
I hide my pain so well
no one notices, no one cares
this is my personal hell

Sunrise............day 7

Sunrise

Yesterday may have been black

but mother nature has a way

of saying "never give up .don't look back"

With the start of each new day,

with each new glorious dawn

the past is done

no need to mourn,

but be forever hopeful.

The Robin

The Robin

The robin with his waistcoat coat red

comes calling every morning

sitting on my garden fence

camouflaged by leafless tree

he sits and sings for me.

Day 5.........Witch alone

My poem for day 5........

Here I stand
a witch alone
I honour the mother,
the maiden and crone.
Underneath the full moon's light,
I seek your guidence and strength tonight.
I am a witch who stands in light
of cauldron dark and raven flight
My father is the sun, my mother the moon
with goddess ancient I stand in tune
Honoured mother, maiden, crone,
the path I walk I walk alone.
I'm not afraid
as I walk this path
though those around may point and laugh.
You are beside me, and in my heart
You keep me safe through light and dark.
As above, so below,
seasons come and seasons go,
Honoured mother, maiden, crone
here I stand a witch alone.

Ostara (not finished)

Winter has been hard this year
It never seems to end
but the as the wheel begins to turn
Spring returns my friend.

In this time and in this place
we meet to greet the spring
gentle whispered promises
the Goddess now she brings

The sleeping earth now starts to stir
from winters icy rest
buds awaken, leaves uncurl
birds return to nest

The maiden now makes her return
the time of the crone is passed
honour the mother, the light, the sun
As spring returns at last

Day 3..........

Black veil covers her light,
I call
but no answer comes
But in my heart
I trust someday I will be alright
         someday.......
                         but not today

Today is dark and a cold wind blows
bare hands like winter branches
reach upwards
grasping at thin air
waiting for spring to return.

Ever hopeful
they too trust
that someday
things will be alright again
that balance will return
             someday..............
                          but not today

Sam

Sam

You may not be the perfect child,

and on occasion a little wild.

Your socks are never a matching pair

dont get me started on your hair!

Your hand is like a spiders scrawl,

sometimes you drive me up the wall.

Your room it is a constant mess..

it causes me such endless stress.

But after all is said and done,

you are my one and only son

And as you lie in bed at night

I know that I've done something right.

You really are my pride and joy,

You'll always be my baby boy.

And as you grow into a man

remember this...........

                                          I love you sam

Poem number 1

It's just gone midnight so technically this is now the 1st April, the big day is here.....
I know I should be in bed and fast asleep by now like any normal person, but normal is something Im not!!
For the past 13 years I have lived with narcolepsy, a condition which affects my sleep /wake pattern so I am quite often awake at stupid times ( like now). It is during these times that I  often find myself jotting down ideas or writing poems....

And that brings me to this. My first offering.

I don't know why I do these things,
I must be off my head!
I sit here writing poems,
When I should be off to bed.

30 poems in 30 days,
A challenge yes I know.
Tomorrow morn is April first,
The start.....so here I go.

I present to you my first,
A poem of simple rhyme.
Please bear with my as I write
They will improve with time.

I hope you like my ditty
There's many more to write.
But now I'll end with this last verse
And bid you all good night.

So there it is. The first of my 30 poems. Only 29 more to go!!  Its very rough and it's very late as I write it so please forgive me if it seems overly simple....

It's nearly here..........

Well here it is the last day before the 30 poems in 30 days challenge begins....Now I am starting to feel really nervous.

So many of my friends have encouraged me to do this and I hope I do not let them down.

I have my little book with me almost constantly now jotting down ideas for poems as I get them. They may be long..they may be short..they may be posted on here IF I  think they are good enough ( and if they are finished of course) I will aim to at least start a new one every day but I have no idea if I will finish them....

Good luck to everyone else who is taking part and if you want to check out who else has joined, or if you would like to have a go yourself this is where you need to look:-
http://www.napowrimo.net/

mum....

I found one of the first poems I wrote today

. I was looking for some household documents and came across it in the old family bible i have. It was written when I was in my first year of secondary school I think..it was my mothers day poem to my mum. 
Reading it back made me cry. 


My mum passed away 5 years ago this summer and reading it,I remember how much I miss her. I guess Im sad too because she will never know how proud I was to call her mum and how she became and still is my inspiration for many of my newer poems..

So thanks mum.... xx

Newbie..

Ok, this is my first attempt at writing a blog so please forgive me if the first few attempts make no sense.The main reason I've set this up is because I've been inspired to try and write 30 poems in 30 days,,,1 for every day of April.

April is national poetry writers month,  anyone can have a go, if they are mad enough!!!

I've never done anything like this and very few people have seen the stuff I have already written so this is a big step for me. Apart from the enormity of the task,,,30 poems in 30 days..its the actual putting my poems online so ANYONE  can read them is a huge step for me

I will post my poems throughout April, so you can keep up with my quest. Not promising I will complete the 30 poems but I will give it my best shot. 
http://www.napowrimo.net/