Month: November 2021

  • Poem: a gentler star – 23/11/21

    Poem: a gentler star – 23/11/21

    admirable
    this deceptive intent
    I’ve known you from before and really, well,
    the efforts aren’t well spent
    for I can see through the cage-work
    the fingers prised through the wired gaps
    trying to get through
    through to my heart
    when I’ve made it whole from pieces –
    a work of fastidious art

    I am freer now
    this much I truly believe
    I can believe what’s become because I’ve been there
    staring down the barrel of that emotional gun
    set to decimate me again and again
    because I allowed it
    out of control
    and fiery priestess I was

    but now,
    I am far calmer
    I carry a gentler type of karma
    something which reaches within and sings through
    others’ heavy armour
    lightening their load on their chests
    their breastplates cast aside
    allowing access
    no more great pride
    arrogance
    and I don’t need to hide
    ashamed of who I am was were
    I’ve become as light as that travelling star
    that memory of her you once held dear in your heart.
    (22/11/21)
    Copyright © 2021 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.

    Photo by Alex Iby on Unsplash

    Previous Post: last night – 22/11/21

    Lauren M. Hancock Poetry and Prose

  • artwork: quiet chaos – 22/11/21

    artwork: quiet chaos – 22/11/21

    artwork copyright Lauren M. Hancock 22/11/21 All rights reserved.

    Sometimes I’m in a mood to fly colour all around on the page. No rhythm, no rhyme about it. Just the process I find relaxing and enriching. At the end it’s nice to see how the colours meld with each other, whether it’s subtle, fluid, or not at all. I find it a little like active meditation making this type of art.

  • Poem and Spoken Word: last night – 22/11/21

    Poem and Spoken Word: last night – 22/11/21

    I carried a hope for you and I to be whole
    to know it all together
    for positive growth
    there might not have been patience
    but there really was truth
    I could not ask for more but
    explanations that I could only view analyse and
    so I knew

    I prayed for you to love me
    to understand me further
    as I tried to understand you
    there’s no case in not wielding the ability
    for self-sacrifice, I know
    but if you won’t communicate how can I show
    patience knowledge true kindness
    but confusion anger upsets reigned
    because I didn’t realise what was
    going on in your life

    this life, our lives perhaps will align
    they may not please others but I have to watch out
    for those who control their understandings of myself
    and have known me over the years

    enough, enough,
    stop this nonsense, madness,
    I can’t promise a thing just like
    you cannot promise me the world
    because there’s only so much I feel
    that you can give
    but love me love me
    love the world as you love them and you love us
    (21/11/21)
    Copyright © 2021 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.

    Photo by tabitha turner on Unsplash

    Previous Post: fervid – 21/11/21

    Lauren M. Hancock Poetry and Prose

  • Poem: fervid – 21/11/21

    Poem: fervid – 21/11/21

    woke up late
    I didn’t know what I was all about
    looking around with delirium
    smiling to myself
    at the fever I knew would begin again
    the fervid burning of hope
    at knowing
    knowing
    knowing
    that what I pursue is worth the dreaming
    allowing for facts of independence and fine fine times
    achieved by chasing the high of gains
    and frames behind the mirror depict
    the moments which, are all the same,
    but varied alike in their ability to capture the light
    and tame my heart and soul and mind
    with the memories of brightness and soul.
    abundance fills my life in many ways
    more ways than I can aptly appreciate
    but I do,
    I do,
    I thank the lord for what’s being pursued
    because he gave me the heart
    the ability to strive forth with great intent
    dragged away, away from the discussion of late
    words spoken over and over
    complaints negativity
    didn’t warrant a picture
    a place on my shelf?
    No, keep away, keep away,
    pain and feverish complacency can remain
    where its now laid,
    it shall stay.
    (21/11/21)
    Copyright © 2021 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.

    Previous Post: Airless Dolls – 21/11/21

    Lauren M. Hancock Poetry and Prose

  • Poem: airless dolls – 21/11/21

    Poem: airless dolls – 21/11/21

    the righteous favour the brave
    but the brave favour themselves
    there’s little need to further delve
    it’s just the way they display themselves

    barbie girls upon on the shelf
    awaiting their knight
    to be rescued by the hero
    victorious from the fight

    they smile from cheek to cheek
    pearly whites framed by pillows of
    pale high society pink
    waists as small as inched parading
    eyes brighter than the cunning hunters
    as of late

    soaring the night air for their prey
    they are fastidious but wouldn’t you know it
    that, incredible, incredible
    is the moment when they capture
    the hearts and minds
    of the passing toy soldiers beneath them

    in their boxes the dolls smile smile smile
    there’s much to be absorbed from their dials
    but beneath the facets
    the facades
    not much, in a while.

    lacking the ability to be whole
    hearts empty as a vacuous vessel
    veering this way and that to scoop up
    as many airless dreams
    as one can pursue and slew.
    (21/11/21)
    Copyright © 2021 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.

    Photo by Tengyart on Unsplash

    Previous Post: i wish – 20/11/21

    LAUREN M. HANCOCK POETRY AND PROSE

  • Poem: i wish – 20/11/21

    Poem: i wish – 20/11/21

    i wish i wish
    to be seen for who I haven’t been before
    a need to be admired for who I am becoming and more
    not by others, no,
    but by myself, for who I am, who I am now,
    a genuine self-satisfaction for my hard work
    my development my resilience my growth

    it’s as though
    I wandered the nights for hours and years
    in the undergrowth
    dampened spirits, lingering hope
    every chance seemed uplifting, crazy,
    the freshest answer to myself,
    solutions to breathe,
    but devastation only met me,
    befell me and thus,
    from success I would fall away,
    I would flee.

    unbeknownst to me,
    my desires to be, to breathe,
    to have every need felt heard seen
    thwarted by the very process
    desperately employed
    highlighted
    underscored
    outlined
    incorrect methods and knowledge half-researched
    poorly spelled poorly cast
    the magic was never truly there
    because in my heart,
    I didn’t understand… me.

    i look back,
    I think of her every day and every night
    that little wild girl who just wanted the answers
    to be loved in life
    to have another hold her
    and share their hopes, nights and dreams
    not knowing what I know now
    I have to enjoy my days for me.
    life is so precious, believe,
    every second to understand that I must appreciate,
    feel and be.
    (19/11/21)   
    Copyright © 2021 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.

    Photo by freestocks on Unsplash

    Previous Poem: bed of starlight – 19/11/21

    Lauren M. Hancock Poetry and Prose

  • Poem: bed of starlight – 19/11/21

    Poem: bed of starlight – 19/11/21

    look at the glowing
    a bed of starlight before me
    burning in its fluidity
    already passed but beauty present to see
    to experience,
    whilst being.

    what is this luck that I feel
    whilst basking beneath the starry warmth and the
    shine of their moon
    his smile is knowing
    as though he’s telling me soon soon
    but soon, for what?

    my heart tells me to beseech
    but my mind instructs me to wait
    contemplate, contemplate
    there’s no level of censure in my ability
    to remain here, concentrate
    on the future, away from the past,
    beneath the rolling blanket at half-mast
    part past eleven crawling seconds to midnight
    to last to pass

    I throw my head back and sing to the forlorn sun
    hidden behind the tapestry of the night
    awaiting the stars’ closing time
    so she can again shine soon
    and so can I
    with the brightness,
    effervescence I’ve found within
    because, being sprightly has its benefits
    thinking positively yields its merits

    I yodel into the night as though I’m calling
    for something lost –
    perhaps I am, perhaps I am,

    at least I’ve found my newest self,
    pleasure to be gained,
    my spirit, oh, how she soars,
    the world is patient, waiting for her,
    bright spark, to fully explore.
    (19/11/21)
    Copyright © 2021 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.

    Photo by Jeremy Thomas on Unsplash

    Previous Post: running free – 18/11/21

    Lauren M. Hancock Poetry and Prose

  • Poem: running free – 18/11/21

    Poem: running free – 18/11/21

    running free
    it’s what I need breathe feel
    the wind battering my face
    as I take on new beliefs
    knowing internally what this will cause
    what type of effect
    no denial in me
    shedding skin
    cocooning complete
    what is done
    done done done.


    I can no longer hold
    that false bravado
    satisfied feeling
    eyes rolling to the ceiling
    knowing knowing
    now what’s better for me
    and what must remain attached
    with caution
    running free running free
    delicate contractions,
    prized so desired actions.

    Copyright © 2021 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.

    Photo by Aditya Saxena on Unsplash

    Previous Post: Poem/spoken word – be yourself – 17/11/21

    Lauren M. Hancock Poetry and Prose

  • Poem/Spoken Word: be yourself – 17/11/21

    Poem/Spoken Word: be yourself – 17/11/21

    they told me, be yourself
    there’s only one of you
    nobody as unique as this self
    I didn’t believe them
    I kept trying to be different
    to change me
    to be more beautiful or clever or wise as I could be
    better than the others
    better than me
    better than I could ever be
    a better version of myself
    but I was never good enough for me –
    how could I be right for anyone, everyone else
    when I wasn’t even pleased with
    what I could see?

    the constant ache of needing to upgrade
    this or that
    change that facet
    smash this mirror
    piece together the image
    the mosaic the picture
    until shattered became commonplace
    and right
    and I became resistant to whatever mode
    or method I tried to employ
    to better myself
    selfless? I don’t think so.
    Not at all.

    But driven to be more positive now
    certain things don’t matter as much to me
    as the more important things
    such as being happy
    joyous
    gracious grateful
    loving
    a better, bigger person
    not just skimming the surface
    delve beneath the layers and find
    what truly matters

    I think I’m finding myself
    I think I’ve found what is important
    and I will grasp onto it with jovial contentedness
    and enriched hope
    that there is no illusion to find
    to discover
    to disclose
    it’s simple –
    being in the throes isn’t necessarily what is insinuated.

    it’s a matter of speaking
    it’s a method of being
    it’s my manner of living
    to be incredibly doting and aware of the sacrifices
    given for me
    to enable me to have even been here to
    enjoy life as it is or wasn’t or will be
    the gift of even being able to traverse these journeys
    I’ve gone on.
    and I’ll continue living and exploring this dream
    reimagining life for all it can be.
    (17/11/21)
    Copyright © 2021 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.

    Previous Post: living fate – 16/11/21

    Lauren M. Hancock Poetry and Prose