Month: January 2020

  • Poem: From Wept Parchment to Wonder – 19/01/20

    Poem: From Wept Parchment to Wonder – 19/01/20

    I am exhausted. Tired of the crowd’s prying eyes when all
    I’m doing is wallowing and huddling.
    I want nothing more than 
    this sharp oversensitiveness of my skin
    to stop this crawling feeling,
    because I can feel the touches,
    the curious fingertips dragging,
    on the skin of a woman made of parchment
    who bears her interior just enough,
    just enough to cause criticism.
     
    Though, that wasn’t her,
    sorry,
    my intention,
    and I watch my parchment weep from my arms,
    my forehead,
    my torso,
    catching the sheets, I frantically scrawl and scrawl
    before I forget the present thought processes,
    I wish to save them all.
     
    They are precious to me,
    if inapplicable to others,
    I am still allowed to self-indulge.  
     
    Written words can silence me with their beautiful calligraphy
    and I learn from sources beyond the nearby gumtree or nearest paperbacks,
    I seek to learn from the greatest, who titillate my senses,
    now raised goosebumps upon my sensitive paper-thin skin,
    it no longer crawls with distastefulness but instead
    it is inspired.
     
    I read and read,
    absorbing skillful words, and wanting nothing more than appreciation and
    education from those far finer in skill than I,
    poised with vocabularies resplendent and fuller than a flushed Renaissance bosom,
    I shudder with appreciation
    I love this feeling
    it is one of great calling.
     
    And inspired once more,
    my exhaustion all but forgotten,
    I bind myself with tight parchment bandages
    and set my pen into sight.
    I am ready,
    I will recommence my style,
    flowered by the blossoming of others' inspiration,
    all it takes it that certain escape,
    a wondrous trip out into the open.
     
    © 2020 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.
    All images signed “LMH”
    are copyrighted 2019-2020 by Lauren M. Hancock
    and all rights reserved.
    
    Image by Mystic Art Design from Pixabay

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  • Poem: A Loyal Sun, a Faithful Man – 19/01/20

    Poem: A Loyal Sun, a Faithful Man – 19/01/20

    Hey, let us not be so hasty,
    let us not be so rash.
    Instead, let us flow with the sun and the wind 
    entwined as one,
    woven with thrice strands,
    a plaiting of joyous warmth, breeze, and cheer 
    neatly entangled by a pair of deft, invisible hands.    
     
    I admire the sun for the effort she makes each day,
    no matter how low or despondent she may feel,
    she always rises for us,
    no matter anything, she won’t allow the world to weigh her down.
     
    Nothing troublesome seems to cross her path,
    or get in her way,
    she is never dismayed, at least not visibly
    but into confused darkness we may be thrust 
    when considering what lies in the heart of another
    when we don't know precisely what causes their pain, joy, ecstasy, or sorrow.
     
    The sun always brings a burning intensity,
    if we were to bring ourselves 
    close enough to the fair maiden,
    we too could experience her true potential of expression
    though, she insists on brightening the way for her king,
    she selects the path of righteousness; she promotes his healthy well-being.
     
    Sun shines her cordiality onto the path which is set
    for a man of great mystery, 
    perhaps of deep melancholy
    but someone definitely dusted with
    the makings of luminescent mastery,
    make way now, it is evening, it's time to introduce 
    the Man of the Moon.
     
    She and he share the same skies during the light of day, but at night,
    his lost lover is nowhere to be seen, she has upped and away.
    His misery at being permitted nary a moment with her,
    only observing Sun during the clouded skies from afar,
    a teasing of his heart which 
    miserably plucks at guitar strings,
    breaking the strums into dismayed delayed arpeggios 
    rather than solid ringing chords.
     
    Heartbroken, the Man of the Moon waits for her all night,
    glowing hopefully, yearning, silently begging
    for her to rise and turn her wondrous face his way,
    but then the night winds to an end,
    erasing any fervent hope, now an empty lull in his heart,
    he will reposition himself where he now belongs,
    and soon, Sun returns to the blue skies,
    just out of reach from her admiring love.
     
    Let us not be so hasty, I repeat in a whisper,
    let us explore the beauty of this day and morning, 
    again with wild abandon,
    because while time now seems so slow
    it is succinct in its fleeting moments and is amazingly precious,
    don’t allow these days to pass us by,
    I want to remember our times 
    when our hearts were as broad
    as Sun's grinning orange-quartered mouth,
    filled with the tartness of freshly squeezed juice 
    and the vitality of our youth.
    
    The sun smiles down upon us and gives me 
    a mischievous wink as though she wholeheartedly agrees.    
     
    © 2020 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.
    
    Image by Tarishart from Pixabay

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  • Poem: The Heavy Bass – 18/01/20

    Poem: The Heavy Bass – 18/01/20

    I feel the beat within my veins,
    Vibrations, thrown off syncopation,
    They pull me from edge to edge,
    Paper thin and treacherous they betray the solid beats,
    An insistence of one-two-three-four,
    Heavy pounding, bass throbbing.
     
    Then, the lyrics,
    Divine,
    Singing of being unbreakable,
    Is that what we are?
    Are we made of such strength that 
    none can step forth and shatter us  
    into insignificant pieces?
    Of course, that’s how some of us are,
    Of course: that’s how we are wired.
     
    I admire the dance I envision in my mind's eye,
    The mass of revellers lost in moments of trance,
    Smiles wide, grins spread, arms up to the flashing show of lights,
    Taking in the stream of pure bliss and excitability,
    Just a spin around and around and around
    Ecstatic at living and breathing life as they dream freely.  
     
    © 2020 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.
    
    Image by 453169 from Pixabay

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  • Poem: A Morning Song – 18/01/20

    Poem: A Morning Song – 18/01/20

    I am inspired by experience, 
    because that’s the richness that I have,
    using my moments as potent fuel,
    a propellant, on the fire of dry bracken and chopped wood.
    Steady cracking ensues,
    and I can feel the force of heat throwing me back.
     
    Sometimes, some may feel burned
    by the stinging insults aimed toward another,
    or my apparent self-indulgence or lack of personal insight
    that is fanning the growing fire.  
     
    I understand that sometimes my words may also 
    feel like a vice,
    squashing you, contorting you into 
    tinier and smaller pieces,
    such discomfort to glean from assessing certain wordings,
    you may wish to readily escape.
     
    But I am enriched by the fire within my soul,
    and though I rarely detail positive moments,
    I can assure you I am a happy, bright bubbly girl,
    just a poet who has leanings toward 
    darker and distressing tones and subjects,
    I bear viewable insults and assessments 
    with acceptance and mild relevance.
    
    For none can take me down  
    if I care little for cruel or harsh critique,
    I will sing my songs,
    no matter their potency,
    my hand will not waver,
    and my voice, it will carry on,
    I’ll continue to speak.
     
    © 2020 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.
    
    Image by Dikky Oesin from Pixabay

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  • Poem: Underneath the Bridge – 17/01/20

    Poem: Underneath the Bridge – 17/01/20

    Underneath a bridge is where we huddle
    during fine misted mornings that swell
    with particles of fresh oxygen and unlisted chemicals,
    the conglomerate joins in a state of irony,
    of helpful and harmful.
     
    They are united as one with drawbacks and expulsions,
    in and out,
    the clouded fog permeates and breathes,
    enveloping our heads in a manner so delightful we cannot help but grin.
     
    The scent of grape and a slight hint of cherry 
    cheerily singes the nostrils,
    the plume of unknown contents really poisons, it does.
    But we will be safe from the atrocities,
    it is healthier, you see,
    as we puff, puff, puff, underneath the bridge 
    in our workplace yard.
     
    They may not be able to see us,
    but the dragon plumes are enough of a firm indicator.
     
    And then, sudden deaths came,
    detailed in the news and in the paper.
    The trend to use these devices claimed an epidemic,
    all because we wanted a safer and more fashionable 
    cloud of flavoured poison.
    
    If only we knew, the damage to many could have been avoided,
    mutterings and wailing of "I didn't know", 
    as devices are flung aside or onto the pavement. 
    Our haze evaporates into the air,
    it’s time to get back to work.    
     
    © 2020 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.
    

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  • Poem: Passing Judgements – 17/01/20

    Poem: Passing Judgements – 17/01/20

    It is easy enough to pass judgement over something 
    as nonspecific as a cloud,
    Oh, there, can you see it? I hear you squeal so loud.
    It’s like a clock without a face, without an actual dial!
    You peal into giggles at the notion,
    delighted you are, so well.
    
    You smile widely to yourself, 
    without knowing you’ve passed judgement
    on something as important as 
    a passing puff of Heaven’s breathiness
    as she opens her heart and soul to something that is detailed in curves,
    not words,
    you are amazed by the configuration that wells and swells.
     
    Sweetheart, will you take a look at this?
    I present you with a picture book,
    it’s your favourite, remember, 
    the one Auntie sent from New Orleans?
    With the mouse that can’t be squashed by 
    the left hand of a violin’s caressed neck,
    he must remain living, 
    and explore all his adventures with 
    a great and fervent need while dodging Death.
     
    Why is he so smelly? you ask, holding your nostrils, 
    as though there is a great pong.
    Sweetheart! I exclaim, aghast. 
    Why would you think like that, to do so is very wrong!
    There are no signs within this picture book that show his scent is untoward, and I request your explanation: 
    why is it that you assumed his scent was?
     
    It is because he is brown 
    and his fur looks very dirty, you explain, 
    tenuto on the d, like deh… deh… deh…
    smelly, dirty little mouse, pong!
    You start laughing as you say these words freely.
    
    And now I see how easy it is for you to make an assumption,
    based on a simple interpretation 
    that opens up doors of certain inappropriateness,
    but for you, sweetheart, you are not wrong in the slightest,
    for you have expressed your thoughts and yourself in a manner that suits you the finest.  
     
    © 2020 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.
    
    Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

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  • Poem: Languidness – 16/01/20

    Poem: Languidness – 16/01/20

     Languid, my arm flops and hangs from the mattress,
     I am but a mere weakened being 
     suffering my body’s wretched heat.
      
     My toes wriggle, it’s the most exercise 
     I’m able to perform,
     I am exhausted, and I’ve barely woken up.
      
     What is this ill health surrounding my body?
     a yellowing at the edges of an ancient book,
     curling me into an apostrophe, 
     into bedlam my innards are rearranging,
     my health it needs cleansing.
      
     I sleep for hours at a time,
     on and off, 
     the clock ticks with a decisive inertia 
     I cough and cough,
     but my lungs are still bloated and unclean.
      
     The pages turn into smithereens
     which I am made to breathe,
     the tainted yet immediately literary air 
     is now within my airways
     and is exploring my bloodstream.
      
     I smile to myself,
     languid though I am, 
     I reach for pen and paper
     scrawl for hours – 
     the ink is dragged along the modern parchment
     by my excitable left hand. 
    
    © 2020 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.
     All images signed “LMH” 
     are copyrighted 2019-2020 by Lauren M. Hancock 
     and all rights reserved.
    
     Photo by twinsfisch on Unsplash   

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  • Poem: The Silent Sea – 16/01/20

    Poem: The Silent Sea – 16/01/20

    Sometimes my mind is like a silent sea
    and I’m carefully wading, 
    trespassing on little homes and crevasses,
    minute creatures existing, fearful that 
    my bumbling toes may enter their havens 
    and crush them unwittingly.
     
    I am not a murderer,
    I take heed of all that is around me,
    even the swimming thoughts 
    that cloud this shallow pool of my mind,
    I bathe in them;
    I allow them to soak in.
     
    Suddenly my puckered twinkling toes are 
    as creased as the digits of the venerable,
    and smiling, I play with the ridges,
    wondering at how I became so bloated on the silent thoughts
    that while mute, still speak to me.
     
    Because, I know, 
    I understand that within my silent seascape,
    there is a path, though hidden,
    which leads me back to the dunes.
     
    I can wade as long as I like, peeking into the water,
    splashing like teardrops my sparkling eyes
    as I take in the shimmering surface of the sea.
     
    Did I mention my sea is calm?
    There are no crashing waves,
    only thoughts, thoughts, mulling,
    contemplative, arresting, heart-wrenching,
    thoughts, thoughts, all the same.
     
    I suddenly realise I don’t wish to escape,
    to my pilgrim land of the dunes which will only
    forsake me in the end, 
    drying me out as though parchment in the rich summer’s heat,
    the humidity stifling,
    I’d rather remain with my feet twiddling in the sea.
     
    Perhaps I can remain here forever,
    I could live on, hoping for the shallow 
    to become awash as the deep,
    I could happily reside here,
    as long as She doesn’t continue to bloat 
    the tips of my extremities.  
     
    © 2020 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.
    All images signed “LMH”
    are copyrighted 2019-2020 by Lauren M. Hancock
    and all rights reserved.
    
    Image by brisch27 from Pixabay

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  • Poem: Outrageous, Woman – 15/01/20

    Poem: Outrageous, Woman – 15/01/20

    I am outrageously emotional,
    perhaps it is the time of your menses, you suggest.
    Insensitive little man,
    you will not remain long with that attitude of rude assumption.
     
    You pride yourself on tinkering with words which speak dully,
    with a hollowness that persists,
    your xylophone of musicality is anything but lyrical or sweet.
     
    Instead the notes slot themselves into an irregular line,
    jutting out here and there,
    no adherence as to how I’d like to be spoken to,
    your line of cacophony has no subtly or care.
     
    And as I wonder how it is you’ve survived life for so long,
    with an attitude of ignorant bliss,
    I come to the conclusion that
    it does not really matter,
    the fact is:
    you exist.
    
    And there are others like you,
    insensitive, brutish cads
    who’ve not learned to treat a leading lady with due respect,
    for every woman is of this role,
    and once their women are gone,
    they’ll realise what they’ve lost,
    how amazing the women were that they had,
    clearly they never deserved them at all.
      
    © 2020 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.
    All images signed “LMH”
    are copyrighted 2019-2020 by Lauren M. Hancock
    and all rights reserved.
    
    Image by Vitabello from Pixabay

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  • Poem: A Beautiful Scene – 15/01/20

    Poem: A Beautiful Scene – 15/01/20

    I force myself through the grandly carved, imposing doors,
    permitting myself internally, proudly, I am inside.
    Had I been willingly welcomed in, I'd have not
    insisted on this erroneous entrance.
    
    In awe, I look around and above,
    the high ceilings are dotted with colourful scene upon scene
    of love, adoration, and protective eyes,
    creating a sense of warm welcome and
    bright enumerated pride.
      
    Faces belonging to chubby infants and an elegant, finely boned woman feature,
    her knowing expressions painted, captured for all of time.
    With posh, high cheekbones and cheerfully blushed cherubim
    who she’ll sing to, dote on, and playfully pinch,
    they observe me as I explore your inner chasm,
    your being,
    your eyes, they barely blink.
     
    It is amazing, this open space surrounding me, 
    within you, there is no clutter like within myself,
    no gathered items taken and stored
    from an age prior that their usefulness is now deemed defunct.
     
    There are no earthly possessions to release,
    all that speaks is masterful artwork depicting
    how you protected me from afar,
    with your blessings and a heart filled with prayer,
    gratefully I thank you, kissing my fingers,
    and press them against the wall.
     
    There is no pigment here, only earth, barren to view,
    but it is cold and it is calming,
    I am hushed, lulled into silence by
    the complexity and simplicity of you.
     
    With grace and devotion, I begin to quietly retreat
    from my initial impudent entry into your world,
    into the messiness of my interior,
    I glance around, and wistfully exhale,
    this, I do not wish to forget.
     
    And with a final gaze above,
    I beg myself to retain the images,
    with a sense of pious godliness, I cower respectfully,
    say a few quiet words,
    and leave.   
     
    © 2020 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.
    All images signed “LMH”
    are copyrighted 2019-2020 by Lauren M. Hancock
    and all rights reserved.

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