verse – Simon's still stanza

Not Just Some Other

Not Just Some Other

I am black

I am white

In restful dark

And shining light.

I am yellow

I am red

I am hard at work

And resting in bed.

I am albino

I am brown

I am in grief

I am a clown.

I am in tropic

Or on the tundra

Even in the Land Down Under.

I am in lush forest

And on arid land

I have an open

And a closed hand.

I am a child

I am old

Sometimes I tell stories

Other times I am told.

I am you

And you are me

Together we can all be free.

You are my sister and my brother

Together we are persons

Not just some “Other”.

Simon C.J. Falk 29 November 2020

Reading Poetry online with #Spillwords

I have posted material from Spillwords before. Spillwords is an online place for short prose, poetry and micropoetry.

The post here is a poem called Looking for Love, courtesy of Spillwords. The author writes not only of love, but of being misunderstood.

Here is another that was on the feed today What is Inspiration?

Do you have some favourite sites you cruise into for an idle 10 minutes of good reading?

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Want to spread more cheer with other great writers.

Join our We Are The World Blogfest and visit its Facebook Page

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For Those Who Could Not Be Here Now – #WATWB

For Those Who Could Not Be Here Now

When Belinda and Damyanti were calling us all together for this ongoing blogfest, there was quite the group. For various reasons along the way, some have not been able to continue as part of the active group. But, they have supported us in vision and we carry their presence with us. They know who they are.

So… this post is a thank you to those who have been on the way with us, and, who are taking a break from active involvement. Thanks not only to the ever valiant Belinda and Damyanti, but, on this occasion to Michelle, those post, F is for Fragmented , jolted me out of my procrastination towards this note of thanks.

For Those Who Could Not Be Here Now

You were there in the inviting,

When the summons came our way,

To gather in our writing,

And pledge to make the day

better for others reading,

So with us still you stay.

Your titles might not sit upon

a linky-list adorning screens,

Although your names from rolls are gone,

We know you share our dreams.

Certain you will rejoin us,

As our blogs towards goodness tend,

Your absence causes little fuss,

As you’ll be with us by the end.

So we keep on collecting stories,

From the fragments of many lives,

Of the greater and lesser glories,

Of famous or less known strives.

Newsfeeds we’ll light with gladness,

Away from trifles we’ll steer,

We’ll tell of peace and of compassion,

And imbue it all with cheer.

Do not feel at all remiss,

Towards our life, blogging friend,

For we carry your presence with us,

From now until the end.

Simon C.J Falk 8 April 2017

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Guest Post – John Lithgow’s book ‘The Poet’s Corner’

Image: Wikimedia commons.

Actor, John Lithgow, shares his longstanding love of poetry in the book ‘The Poet’s Corner‘. I was listening to it again on recent road trips. He and other guest readers recite some brilliant poems. From as old as Geoffrey Chaucer to more recent times, from ladies to men, the humourous to the sombre, they are there. I also found a YouTube clip of it as well. Hope you enjoy some of these readings as much as I did.

Down Days of Darkness

Down Days of Darkness

It is more fun to write of cheerful or fanciful things. However, on reading a very good post on depression from Inside the Life of Moi yesterday, I was drawn to write a poem by way of backing up what Amanda had shared. You may also like to see The Rage Rages On.

Down Days of Darkness

For those who’ve walked the streets,

Down the days of darkness,

Know the shuffling of the feet,

And the foreboding tristesse.

In those dim, drizzly days,

Where all is hard to see,

Even the tears struggle to flow,

In the depression melee.

I scrawl as one who’s been there,

And for those who are there now,

To remind them another avenue waits,

And they will reach it somehow.

The cloud will lift, and the rain will dry,

Another avenue will come into view,

And the sun will beam down from the sky,

To warm the way for you.

Simon C.J Falk 13 July 2016

Turkish Delight

Turkish Delight

Along with ‘In Instanbul‘ this poem celebrates memories of happy days spent in Turkey earlier this year. The poem bounces off the sensual pleasures of Turkish Delight.

Turkish Delight

Soft and juicy,

Jelly so nice,

Encrusted in nuts,

Flavoured with spice.

Rosewater and nectars,

For colour and taste,

The flavours and memories,

I will not waste.

It’s part of the nourishment

The country gave to me,

The warm and the friendly,

The people of Turkey.

Simon C.J. Falk 1 July 2016

I Saw a Grey Nomad

I Saw a Grey Nomad

This cheeky little piece plays with the notion of ‘grey nomads’ and the irony of finding one who is brown! It plays with our quest to keep on looking younger than we are and of not taking our appearance too seriously.

I Saw a Grey Nomad

I saw a grey nomad in a brown rinse

Not many sleeps had passed

Since she had been seated

Not in the campervan

But in a hairdresser’s chair

With colourful conversation

And now

With colourful hair!

Hair with constructed youthfulness

Telling a different tale

To the face there beneath it

Shaded somewhat more pale.

May their adventures on the highway

Be colourful too.

Simon C.J. Falk 20 June 2016

#

Just a playful, petite poem. By the way, for those who like short poems and micro poems, check out anthonymize.

Get on to google

and

lists pages

and pages of results.

But

put #

with a word

and a whole

new vista

of possibilities

enters a network

on screen

and between

our many screens.

Simon C.J.Falk 11 June 2016

Random Voicemail-Answering Machine Messages

Random Voicemail-Answering Machine Messages

This one is from the archives. Just when you are sick of hearing dumb messages when no one is home this one is there.

I’m here, when I am here

and not, when I am not.

So try when I am here

and not,

when I am not.

Simon C.J. Falk April 1996

Still Responding to ‘Still Alice’ and Others We Know

Still Responding to ‘Still Alice’ and Others We Know

Some time ago I read ‘Still Alice’ and was struck by the plight of the story. I also know a number of families who have, or are, journeying with a loved one who has a dementia-related condition. This is partly a response to all of this, and also, to a fabulous post ‘Still Emily’ from the Bookshelf of Emily J.

Still Responding to ‘Still Alice’ and Others We Know

Still

Spinning the cycling conversation,

We were last here

Around five minutes ago.

Still

Asking the same questions

And heading down the same trajectory,

As the narrative arcs out

And returns

Like a jet

Waiting for ground clearance