Lauren M. Hancock Poetry and Prose

Month: July 2021

  • Poem: Seasonal Affective – 17/07/21

    Poem: Seasonal Affective – 17/07/21

    Today’s been a struggle
    I must openly admit,
    not feeling seasonal affective,
    but rather seasonally dejected,
    my mind, it swims with sadness,
    amiss is my prowess, my brightness gone,
    my ability to deal with
    rejection or silence
    when reaching forth to others
    with smiles or hopeful song.

    I know the root cause,
    the depletion of my nightly dose,
    and also the lacking of ample sleep
    which my body and mind are
    craving the most,
    my ability to combat little things,
    my lacking in ability to cope,
    why can’t I be like others,
    or simply possess the usual
    resilience of myself?

    I know I must sleep,
    I know I must practice self-care,
    but how can I lay my head
    down to rest
    when I am unable to
    stop my mind ticking,
    from working in a manner where
    every ounce of energy is sapped?

    My energy stores refuse to replenish themselves,
    I should knock myself on the head,
    and tell myself
    enough is enough,
    you need the former amount,
    don’t be stubborn,
    reinstate your medication dose!

    © 2021 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.
    Photo by Pixabay on Pexels

    Previous Post: Sunshine Blogger Award! – 16/07/21

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  • Sunshine Blogger Award! – 16/07/21

    Sunshine Blogger Award! – 16/07/21

    Lovely Grace of Grace of the Sun recently nominated me for the Sunshine Blogger Award, and I thank her kindly for her wonderful nomination. This is the second blogger award she’s put me forth for, and I am so grateful for this. The Sunshine Blogger Award is an award shared by bloggers to other bloggers who help spread creativity and positivity! Grace’s work covers many topics and has many bright, positive and thoughtful facets to the content she shares with us all daily. On her blog, she shares her point of view, and what brings her joy. Please check out her page Grace of the Sun to experience her positivity, joy and sparkle today.

    Rules:

    • Thank the blogger who nominated you and link back to their blog.
    • Answer the 11 questions sent by the person who nominated you.
    • Nominate 11 new bloggers to receive the award and write them 11 new questions.
    • List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post and/or your blog.

    Grace’s Questions

    1. What is your proudest accomplishment?
      Self-publishing my first book. One of my childhood dreams was to be a children’s book author.  
    2. What makes you laugh the most?
      Speaking with and joking around with friends makes me laugh; making witty remarks with them also.
    3. If you met you, would you want to be your friend and why?
      I would want to be my friend because I am open and welcoming, and I feel I have a brightness about my personality.
    4. What do you like most about yourself?
      I like that I am creative, and thoughtful and caring, especially toward the people close to me.
    5. If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
      Pancit, a Filipino rice noodle dish! It is absolutely delicious, and my auntie makes it wonderfully.
    6. If you can be anyone else in the world, who would you be or would you be yourself?
      Even though we can admire another’s life from afar, we do not know the inner workings of their world and mind. Thus, it is difficult to answer if I would like to be someone else. I only inherently know about my life, so I would remain as I am and be myself.
    7. Who is your hero?
      A hero of mine would be my mother. She has been through a lot, especially health-wise as of late, and she always has a positive attitude and resilience about her.
    8. What motivates you most?
      The idea of being heard and understood.
    9. What did you want to be when you were small?
      A children’s book author and in an orchestra.
    10. If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be?
      Drink coffee and lounge all day at a dog café that has friendly pooches who will want pats and want to play!
    11. Would you say you are resentful or can you let go of things easily?
      Depending on the circumstance, I can be resentful, but I am learning to be more forgiving and let go of things. Learning to do this does take time.

      These are the questions for my nominees:
    1. How do you deal with regretful situations?
    2. What is a joyous moment for you?
    3. When you’re inspired to write, is it in a frenzy or a controlled manner, how do the words flow onto the page?
    4. What is the most important object in your life, and what significance does it hold for you?
    5. Are you a coffee or a tea person?
    6. What would be your ideal way to enjoy a Sunday?
    7. Name one hobby that you enjoy and why.
    8. Share a treasured memory of yours?
    9. Name a favourite song of yours from a musical.
    10. Would you consider yourself an extrovert or introvert?
    11. And does this affect the way you write for your blog?

    My NOMINEES :

    Previous Post: ‘Be Prepared, Be Prepared’ – 16/07/21
    Previous Post: ‘Adorn’ – 14/07/21
    Previous Post: ‘The Flea Market Contraption’ – 15/07/21

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  • Prose: Be Prepared, Be Prepared – 16/05/21

    Prose: Be Prepared, Be Prepared – 16/05/21


    I am here, present in this second, this moment, my attitude is hell-bent on being successful, not necessarily as others deem or know it. My cause lies in the unknown, in the process of my soul becoming freer, more known, the enlightening of processing my intention – allow us some cloudy ascension. Spiritual connections; my repeating voice drones.

    I am available for unlimited knowledge to permeate through my being, much like a sizzling wavelength enveloping me. I know, oh, how I know, that while my heart, long before, has been ravaged, and bittersweet were those partings, with each return I felt anew, but why is it something which needs to be revisited? In lieu of my life manager, I feel a part of, knowing what’s available, I can come here and load thoughts and dreams into an embryo, in the ‘warehouse’, yes, the future of tomorrow.

    And here the little being will grow and flourish and shine, blossom into a wild, untamed belly-bound youth with flowing girlish hair, similar to mine. We know not of her sex, of his intellect, or their preference, but certainly the moment we lay eyes on our precious creation, we will know, we will know, time spent admiring is ultimately well spent.

    Do not cancel out the possibility that the child may secretly morph into a book, words to be enjoyed, permitting a second look, or rather could their eyes be the depths of the world, a place to find the perfect alibi, covering answers all around? Perhaps she’ll just be herself, or he will play at the creek, with sticks and palettes of makeup, or in the mud, to one side lies our careful yet admiring eyes, stare, blink, repeat.

    And I now shake myself from your mind, stare into your amazing being, it’s the tremendous one-year anniversary, what more celebration could you provide, more than always being there for all of us, for Father, the boys, and I? Our wondrous life, blessed indeed. Together, we shall fly.

    © 2021 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.
    Artwork by myself.

    Previous Post: ‘The Flea Market Contraption’ – 15/07/21

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  • Poem: The Flea Market Contraption – 15/07/21

    Poem: The Flea Market Contraption – 15/07/21

    The flea market presents –
    options – one-of-a-kinds,
    and rip-off pieces,
    poor imitations,
    badly woven threads,
    lurid patterns,
    blatant patent breaches seen,
    and the imaginary,
    the ingenuity,
    and the copies of a land
    in between.

    I peruse the stalls,
    pace back and forth,
    my timid tippy-toes,
    they don’t guide me,
    they don’t lead me,
    I’m unsure of what to
    sample in this flea market
    land I’m in.

    Some ideas are magical,
    well-presented products,
    smartly dressed merchants
    in hide-away stalls,
    others are horrid,
    they hurt my eyes,
    these products, rubbish,
    unworthy of meeting
    hands or eyes.

    Amongst the trash and beauty,
    objects I see,
    I spot a contraption that
    might be for me.
    It is the making of
    cloudy billowy dreams,
    sanctified, certified?
    No, but perfect for I.

    It promises to churn through
    all my ideas,
    promises to rid me of
    encumbering fears
    and will lay away
    any confronting questions
    thrown my way,
    it will replenish my mind
    for many days.

    A mind-clearer,
    a dream-recycler,
    a precious gatherer
    of many mental pictures,
    the imagery within,
    perhaps barely initially seen,
    unclouded, decoded,
    all work done,
    prepared for me!

    But then I wonder
    is this not like a disease?
    Something which eats away,
    erodes at my dreams?
    Erasing me in ways
    I dare not speak,
    by bluntly, superficially
    simplifying me?

    And I cannot have this,
    I must remain complex,
    hard to delve into,
    thoughts difficult to be met,
    and so away with
    this idea,
    this contraption for me,

    I’d rather be convoluted,
    a puzzle unsolved,
    until I’m ready to make
    the pieces fly free.

    © 2021 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.
    Image by aytuguluturk from Pixabay

    Previous Post: ‘Adorn’ – 14/07/21

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  • Poem: Adorn – 14/07/21

    Poem: Adorn – 14/07/21

    Toss the book aside,
    the one with all the rules,
    adorn thyself with personal care,
    self-love,
    amalgamate the zones
    around the heart and mind,
    Complicated? Yes.
    Internal battle,
    discoveries,
    what a sheer delight.

    Perhaps I can learn
    how to rise,
    to gather wind,
    a magical,
    momentous Me,
     
    for,
    I now have direction,
    I have purpose,
    it’s taken some years,
    dragged ten behind, in fact,
    maturity intact
    yet preserved as immaturity,
    I now realise the purpose of
    the lock on my documents,
    the purposeful silence in keeping
    me from me.

    Until now.

    I sing into
    the skies,
    shriek with delight,
    stroke my tones,
    words real and imaginary,
    so right,
    I’ve been looked after by an Almighty,
    my future seems bright.

    Akimbo was I,
    but no longer unsteady,  
    evermore will I
    emit my triumphant confessions,
    my elegies
    and head on toward
    the horizon,
    I’m sure it’s amazing,
    what’s waiting for me.

    I will reach certain peaks
    with hard work,
    it’s all up to destiny?

    No, sweet darling,
    it’s all up to me.

    © 2021 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.
    Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

    Previous Post: ‘Precious Penny’ – 14/07/21

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  • Poem: Precious Penny – 14/07/21

    Poem: Precious Penny – 14/07/21

    And here we are,
    oysters, with caressing shells,
    guarding our precious cargo,
    treasures which bloomed,
    prized is our interior,
    luminescent, pearlescent factors,
    created by us,
    we are magicians,
    view our splendour,
    sorcery,
    shall we slay the mirror?

    For, creation,
    this semblance of wonder
    in our lives,
    the more I enter my
    inner being, the more
    I find my, our
    potential utterly amazing,
    to have created something
    from barely anything,
    such beauty,
    astounding.

    While pink is mine,
    yours is blue,
    together we ballooned
    with satisfaction and bliss,

    off the beaten track,
    lean in for a kiss,
    the farmer reaches in
    and wrenches Little She from me,

    and now, darling,
    bereft I am,
    so empty,
    they have taken away my precious penny,
    but it was meant to be this way.
    I create, they harvest,
    I am forlorn,
    used,
    but truly, before the thieving,
    I’m always treated like their princess.

    © 2021 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.
    Image by Schäferle from Pixabay

    Previous Post: ‘Especially Now’ – 13/07/21

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  • Poem: Especially Now – 13/07/21

    Poem: Especially Now – 13/07/21

    Bright pink like the heated
    breath of dawn,
    little extracted curled
    sleepy tongue.
    Interest’s sake,
    keep her warm,
    I want to breathe fire,
    what an urge,

    do not drag thy feet,
    this isn’t a dirge,
    but rather, a celebration,
    of family,
    love,
    good humour,
    ask about our existence
    and I’ll say:
    Preserve us with a picture!

    Lean forward with interest,
    extrovert takes over the show,
    but darling, it’s not about you,
    it’s about us five,
    and she, lovingly attended to.

    I’ll breathe in her scent,
    it is locked in her scarf and beanie,
    an olfactory reminder to be experienced,
    recalled soon,
    or retrieved hastily,
    should there be need,
    to be seen,
    comforting reminder,
    I think I may have need.

    For now, though,
    we are gathered here today,
    loosely, casually,
    then tightly reunited,
    accepting these precious moments,
    wouldn’t you know it –
    chicken soup is good
    for the family and soul,
    but the company,
    company means everything,
    especially now.

    © 2021 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.
    Image by S. Hermann & F. Richter from Pixabay

    Previous Post: ‘Falsetto’ – 12/07/21

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  • Poem: Falsetto – 12/07/21

    Poem: Falsetto – 12/07/21

    The journey to discover,
    it appears to have come to an end.
    Searched high, falsetto,
    didn’t want to rock, rock the boat
    of common decency,
    wanted to learn to be sweeter,
    to please,
    inner authenticity,
    smiling wordings,
    positive painted pictures,
    poetry which aimed to dance
    with ease.

    I spoke with my soul,
    brightness, affirmations,
    drowned out true grit and longing,
    why couldn’t I write ‘me’?
    Wasn’t that a valid, true calling?

    Yet I let the yowling lay aside,
    slide away,
    grinning genuineness;
    I thought I was making better of myself,
    instead my vibrant pieces went away to hide.

    But I know now
    I must be true,
    speak my mind,
    my snide and smiles,
    character-crushing will never do,

    I must honour all facets
    of my personality,
    wrangle goodness and wit and charm,
    sardonic fingers play with ease,

    I am, I am, positive thoughts,
    these I do praise and commend,
    but I have to do this my own way,
    lest my validity go astray
    and I’m left with endangered
    shards to mend each day.

    © 2021 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.
    Image by Aquamarine_song from Pixabay

    Previous Post: ‘Our Rainbow’ – 11/07/21

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  • Poem: Our Rainbow – 11/07/21

    Poem: Our Rainbow – 11/07/21

    I put on this ring of colours,
    gold and rainbow hues,
    it makes me brighter,
    mood lighter,
    fire –
    heart-starter,
    warmth within,
    such a factor.

    We bought this together,
    friendship-hearts,
    shared present,
    I appreciated your offer
    though perhaps I shouldn’t have taken it,
    and now, I wear it falsely right-handed,
    remembrance,
    rising mood with style,
    reminding me I’m that
    rainbow child.

    I don’t need pearls,
    diamonds,
    no other toys,
    no silly boys,
    just a best friend
    as close as can be,
    sometimes there’s
    misunderstanding
    but we extract,
    unwind, sometimes with difficulty,
    other times with ease.

    This rainbow child,
    rainbow sprite,
    how much I appreciate
    the company and smiles,
    listening ears, ever aware,
    perpetually there,
    breathing there,
    listening down the line,
    that phone connection is all,
    moments, hours spent,
    precious time, enthralled.

    And all the while
    my eyes dance
    as upon the colours
    I joyfully glance,
    they revive me,
    they remind me,
    that our friendship’s
    so precious to me,
    and I realise our connection
    has become like a second home to me.

    © 2021 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.
    Photo by Sharon McCutcheon from Pexels

    Previous Post: ‘Cruel Measures’ – 10/07/21

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  • Poem: Cruel Measures – Audio and Poem – 10/07/21

    Poem: Cruel Measures – Audio and Poem – 10/07/21

    the curse of mouthy warriors
    who live to breathe
    with complexities,
    disguised plainly behind
    facets of co-morbid disease,
    the sickening attempts to stab,
    spread open fresh lacerations,
    implant demonic seed,
    cruel intentions,
    untoward,
    they try to make
    that girl ashamed,
    and bleed, bleed, bleed,
    but she will not react,
    her face impassive,
    then kind,
    there is no soul behind their purpose,
    she’s permitted to unwind time.

    crucify her with
    phrases subtle yet
    laid bare,
    read over and over,
    crossword clues,
    take but one step
    in her shoes,
    dare ye know that all of us bruise?

    callous, unkind,
    who are they to
    have that say,
    spread-eagled,
    baring fresh life,
    angel wings soaring,
    demonic?

    Nay!

    Gentle breaths now,
    stay away if bearing cruel measures.
    Her new life is tender,
    with strokes as light as a feather.

    © 2021 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved. 
    Photo by Emma Henry from Pexels

    Previous Post: ‘Patience, They Implore’ – 09/07/21

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