A Month In Verse - Inktober 2018 Day 31 part 2!

A Month in Verse 

A month of spinning words 

Had passed by in a blur.

Through stages and stories

And guests and gigs

And crushing rushes

And the unending crush of life

I struggle to know what I’ve learned. 

I think I’ve learned to write in strange places 

Cramped corners and car seats,

Cold fire escapes and snatched seconds from weeks of unending tricks and treats.

I’ve learned to write from strange places.

Corners of my mind that hide,

Words that wait and bide their time,

I’ve learned to pick them like bitter fruit from friends trees, 

Pluck them and them and simmer them to something sweet. 

I’ve learned that I love this

And discovered I hate it.

But I will keep it, and crush it,

And hold it and make it.

My pen will not rest,

But unless under duress, 

I may not write tomorrow, 

I may not write my best. 

The Answer - Inktober 2018 day 31 part 1

The Answer 

What’s that knocking on the door? 

Don’t answer dear,

Don’t answer. 

But what do they knock for?

Don’t answer dear,

Don’t answer.

What’s that tapping on the glass?

Don’t answer, dove.

Don’t answer.

But they’re tapping oh so fast.

Don’t answer, dove.

Don’t answer. 

Why do you beg to leave?

Don’t answer, sweet.

Don’t answer.

Do you fret on All Hallows’ Eve?

Don’t answer, sweet.

Don’t answer.

Who’s that creeping on the stair?

I can’t answer, heart.

I can’t answer.

Why did you tell me to beware?

I can’t answer, heart.

I can’t answer.

Why have you left me, so alone?

Because you answered, love.

You answered. 

Why does your tortured soul roam?

Because you answered, love. 

You answered. 

A Poet Passes With Gentle Hands - Inktober 2018 Day 30

A Poet Passes With Gentle Hands 

I closed my eyes as midnight struck, 

It’s almost morning now.

I’d hoped he’d be on time,

I’d hoped he’d come to take me,

I spent my whole life writing rhymes,

Now it’s done I’d hoped he’d come personally.

I had believed,

But my body is cold now.

I had believed,

But I’ve grown so old now,

I wasn’t sure he’d come.

Just as I lost all hope,

A booming voice spoke to me,

Then he gently took my hand

And said: “THIS WAY PLEASE.

SORRY I’M SO LATE,

MY HORSE, HE HAD TO EAT. 

BUT I HAVE ARRIVED AT LAST,

AND I’M AFRAID IT’S TIME TO LEAVE.”

He took me across the desert sand,

In a dark and starless night,

He took me home, the long way round,

Past mirrors, past my life.

He told me: “MANY PASS WITH FROWNS,

AND SOME FOLK PASS WITH GLEE,

BUT POETS PASS WITH GENTLE HANDS, 

THOUGH IT’S ALL THE SAME TO ME.”

I asked this death, this Reaper Man, 

What made this world suffice?

He left a gentle pause, then answered:

“CATS. CATS ARE NICE.”.

For Darker Times - Inktober 2018 day 29

For Darker Times 

We will hold your hand.

When it’s dark and you’re afraid,

When it seems your fate is made,

When it feels like no one else could understand,

We will hold your hand.

We’ll stand together.

When your president is vile,

When you’re scared, all the while,

When every forecast is dark and stormy weather,

We’ll stand together.

We’re by your side.

When you’re drowning in the hate,

When you’re reviled by the state,

When all you want to do is run and hide,

We’re by your side.

Know we love you.

When there’s bitter roads ahead,

When the twisted hate is fed,

When it feels some cursed sword hangs above you,

Please know we love you.

Sweet Doll Feelings - Inktober 2018 day 28

Sweet Doll Feelings 

So much organised periphery 

Planning ahead to pop to the pub,

To the loo,

For a pee,

Before we jump in the queue,

And we’ll shake,

And we’ll shiver,

And stutter,

While we wait for the doors,

And we wait to get started.

There’s all this rush,

And flutter and hurry, 

As we scurry to the front,

Get in our places,

Stake claim in this space. 

Then we finally breathe,

Make time to let anticipation set in,

And we’re finally waiting,

Breath quickening,

Staring at keyboard and drum kit,

And adrenaline sits in the pit of my stomach,

‘Til they’re there.

Right in front,

Living and breathing,

Hammering, screaming,

Loving and loving so alive, 

And I’m screaming their words right back,

In an infinite loop of regression,

And bleeding a possession of each other,

So deep and I’m reeling,

And the drum hits so quick 

And so hard that it’s shaking me,

Hitting my heart so hard,

Overtaking me,

Drowned in drumbeats,

And Dolls out of Dresden,

And drips and beer spray,

And I could do this all damned day.

Every single minute,

Soaked in the perfect fit,

Of a space where they love you,

And fit like a glove.

But we leave, at the end, 

Sticking to floors 

And picking through cups, 

To coat checks and chicken shops,

And “What the hell did I just watch?”.

And we found a quick home,

In the place where sounds of our youth

Ripped us to shreds with a sliver of truth,

And it’s fed us sweet feeling,

That leaves us reeling til bed,

With sweet dreaming of dolls in our head.

Singing Nights and Faery Rings - Inktober 2018 day 27

Singing Nights and Faery Rings

Come to a place where the night can sing

Where they dance 

And delight 

Come through the ring 

Through that place in the wood 

To the world where wings like glittered lampshades take flight

Bring your heart, 

Your love and life and lust, 

Give it to the fae you’d most like to trust 

Only start your journey,

Just come to the wood,

Through the trees in a ring

Where they always never stood. 

If you’re good, they will keep you, 

Hold you like treasure 

And gift you all pleasures, 

Cling to you tightly for ever and ever, 

They’ll spin you sweet dreams,

They’ll keep you from leaving.

They’ll hold your heart through all of the seasons.

If you’re not kept, they’ll eat you. 

Devour you slowly,

Leave you so lonely, 

Take you apart so calmly and coldly.

They’ll rip you a nightmare,

They’ll burn out your seasons

They’ll take you apart for their sinister reasons. 

So come to the place in the dark in the wood,

Come to the place where the ring never stood.

Come see the fae with their broken glass smiles,

Watch them glitter and gather a while, 

Bring them your heart and bring them your life,

Come to them on a singing night,

But watch for the smiles that cut like a knife. 

Tastes - Inktober 2018 day 26

Tastes

You were every flavour I had never tried 

Bitter marmalade

Clever caramels 

Until I could taste you 

Then you became vanilla 

I put you on a pedestal of tastes on my tongue 

Turned you into something marvellous 

Something clever

Some inconceivable gastronomic delight 

But you were so bland,

So poorly seasoned.

I imagined you as a feast 

Of mismatched salt and sweet

Something harsh and cracking 

But you were so lacking.

I am sorry to strip you of your flavour,

Now you’ve fallen out of favour.

But I pictured you so perfect,

‘Til you deserted,

Dissolved to nothing on my tongue,

And it is bittersweet 

To know this meal is done.