Warning Unheeded – dVerse Poetics

I’m getting into this dVerse thing, big time! Thank you to everyone there for the warm welcome 🙂

So, here’s my submission to the dVerse Poetics prompt – this week, we are asked to write something inspired by a time-worn phrase or saying, whether it is something from the TV, the radio, a song, an old catchphrase that we or friends, family or colleagues use – inspiration can be found anywhere.

This week, the phrase ‘be careful what you wish for’ has been floating around in my head. I could probably explain why, but perhaps that’s not relevant.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy my piece below – please do visit the linky link thing to read many more!

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– Warning Unheeded –

‘Be careful, be careful’

the old woman said,

my youth it knew better

and I shook my head.

 

‘You’re old and you’re feeble’

I stated with scorn,

and tossed barbed-wire glances –

her face fell, forlorn.

 

I wanted the top job,

accolades in all spheres,

‘All hail the big chief’

to ring in my ears.

 

I did achieve fame,

yes, fortune was mine,

but something was missing

no love to entwine

 

in the twists and the turns

of my life, well-endowed

no face to light up

for my own, in a crowd.

 

Be careful, be careful

I’m an old woman now,

in my youth I was wrong –

it’s too late for me now.

 

Jazz Man & Views – dVerse Jazz Poetry

– Jazz Man and Views –

brother believe in your silver-spangled skill-set
stand on the shore, survey the scene
let your guitar sing, reverberate those rhythms
play it again boy, play it with ease

brother believe in your power and your glory
step all aboard, anchors set free
dive into those oceans, manipulate that music
play it all night boy, play with the breeze

brother believe, bring back your tall tales
return to the harbour, head held high
hold fast to the memories, they’ll last you a lifetime
play with your youth boy, play and believe.

*****

This is in honour of my young brother Doug, who sets off today for Barcelona and beyond, playing his guitar and delighting cruise passengers aplenty.  He’s a jazz muso, so this fits perfectly. Dead proud of you little bro, dead proud.

Thank you, dVerse for the timely inspiration. Enjoy many, many more jazz-inspired poems here.

 

The Old Life – dVerse Open Link Week 113

Because I need to write these days in the same way that I need to breathe, because today has been different and because I like rules, but not too many, here’s my first (and not my last) entry into the dVerse Open Link. In honour of everyone who has lived a life.

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The Old Life

Today, we reminisced about old times:
Remember when
and
I’d forgotten how
and
Can you really believe?

Today, we laughed about how they
looked down on us
and
sneered at our clothes
and
told us to behave.

And yet as we shared our memories
of a hotel with ideas above its station,
I held a picture in my mind’s eye 
of a carefree girl with curly brown hair.
Giggling, wearing a shapeless shirt
and those jeans with the broken zip.

And I wonder where she went.
And I wonder.
And I wonder.