Phoenix

Who am I asking at the top of the tree
Self-affirmation does nothing for me
I can’t trust my instincts, they’re hay-wired and shot
The message is scrambled, my brain’s lost the plot

I’m down on the floor, scraping in dirt
A nod of acceptance won’t really hurt
You in your turret, with glories to share
Tell me, a poor wretch, that you do really care

For it is cold down below in the shade of your heart
I live for attention, I am broken apart
When you look to the beauty of others in sight
Ignoring my mewling, I cower with fright

That I have lost you forever, I am lost in the dark
The future is bleak, empty and stark
I must go on without you, craft self-belief
Strength, hope and glory must rise from this grief.

******

This is me, putting myself in the shoes of one of the people in my work in progress novel, in the form of a poem. So don’t worry, I am not broken-hearted so soon into the New Year! Of course, there are elements of my personal history woven throughout, but this is essentially a piece of fiction. The main female character has lost her brother, has been left responsible for the safety of her little sister and the love of her life has taken a path she can no longer follow. Personal stories don’t change much in quasi-apocalyptic worlds, it’s the catalysts that are different….

Hurrah for the return of Open Link Night on dVerse. I will be linking up later on. Come one, come all and join in!

This is the End – dVerse Open Link Week 126

Here’s my latest entry into the dVerse Open Link – why not take a look at all of the other wonderful poems for the last time in 2013?

Here’s my perspective on the end of the year… run for your lives – or not!

*****

– This is the End –

Find the time and squeeze it in

Just one more thing before you go

‘Would you mind?’ and

‘Could you look into this?’

Yes, it’s the end of year rush

to get everything done.

Because the world will end

if the tiniest task is left unfinished

Hell will freeze over, all clocks will cease

If we’re not chained to our desks

Until the very bitter end or

until public transport is on its last legs.

Here’s the thing – it’s all a con

dictated by the start of a brand new year

(You do know that

not everywhere uses the

Gregorian calendar, don’t you?)

If you leave just a few jobs until 2014 –

the ones which aren’t urgent

in your own, sensible estimation –

All will be well.

I guarantee it.

Blistered – dVerse Open Link Week 125

Here’s my latest entry into the dVerse Open Link – why not take a look at all of the other wonderful responses?

Here’s another trip inside my dark future imaginings – all fiction, no semi-factual miseries are on display tonight!

*****

– Blistered –

The firmament is empty, lost

Beseech the heavens however we may

Silence is our answer now

His throne is vacant, cobweb-strewn.

 

Spiders dance in macabre delight

Morals swept under carpets thick

With justification of mealy mouths

Speaking half-truths, lies, all lies.

 

We broke the world with ingrained hate

For ourselves and Nature’s joys

Greed and power have skewed our sight

We are profoundly broken.

 

The firmament is empty, lost

The abandoned house above, forlorn

Our spirits are directionless

Our hearts are vacant, shattered.