Tough Talk

Creating a drama where once there was none,
making things worse, draining all fun
from life which, let’s face it, is challenging enough.
Is the crisis not sufficient? Is the world not quite tough
enough for your needs? It needs to be worse
to make you feel noticed, have all attention turn
to how events affect you, even if there’s no link
you want eyes, ears and hearts, people to think
that you are the heroine of the world’s darkest hour.
For you it’s more serious, the monsters all tower,
glowering above you, and nobody else,
because darling, love, sweetie you think just of yourself.
I’ve got some news for you, please listen if you can
I know you’re distracted, have no attention span,
but it won’t take too long, my time’s precious too –
This world is for all of us – Not Just For You.

 

Tough Talk

*****

Hurrah! Under the new, host-friendly schedule for dVerse, today sees the inaugural last-Saturday-of-the-month dVerse Open Link Night. OLN is when us poets get to link up with our work, no matter what, shape, size, form or subject matter. As long as it’s poetry, the world is our oyster. The poets’ pub opens at 3pm EST (7PM here in the UK) – make mine a large one!

My offering today was triggered by a number of things I overheard and witnessed earlier today, out and about on a busy Saturday. I hope you enjoy the read – and please do go and take a look at all the great poems on dVerse. There are some brilliant talents out there!

Shredded – Friday Fictioneers

Here is another late entry into the weekly challenge brought to us by the lovely Rochelle Wisoff-Fields.

Here are the rules: Use the photo as inspiration, write a hundred(ish) words – and share! Here goes my offering for this week – and I welcome your comments again!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Copyright – John Nixon

– Shredded –

The mountains of paperwork had reached mammoth proportions.

Deluged by policies, amendments, white papers and term sheets, her desk had disappeared long ago.

There was a knock at her office door.

“Oh come in, do. Please tell me you’re my new assistant…”

The air hung heavy with expectation, desperation even.

The timid girl entered, hovering near the door.

“S-sorry,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. She darted forward, placed a Perspex sign on top of one of the paper towers and left – quickly.

Clare picked up the sign and rolled her eyes.

“‘Head of Environmental Policy’ indeed,” she muttered.

Oh, the irony.

 

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Click on the blue froggy below to read others’ offerings!

Chain Gang

‘It wasn’t meant to be like this’ she thought
Raging at the injustice sent her way
‘I worked hard, worked long, worked all the damned hours
These office workers have no clue, walk past,
I deserve all I get, that’s what they think’

It only takes a moment to connect
Minuscule moments, a sliver of time
To open your heart, reach souls of others
Be the human in humanity, now
Don’t waste the opportunity – give joy.

 

Chain Gang

———–

This week on dVerse Meeting the Bar, our bar-keep Tony is taking us back to basics, with blank verse. Don’t worry about rhyming, don’t worry about anything except going with the flow! 

Today’s offering from me is based on the lady that sells the Big Issue on my way to work – she always has a ready smile, a cheery face and never looks miserable. She’s studying at college, trying to make her way in life – but I wonder if she sometimes wishes she could change places with the people who stride past her, most of whom probably don’t even notice her, or look down on her. I admire her commitment.

I hope you enjoy my offering – and do take the time to read the other blank verses on dVerse.