Lauren M. Hancock Poetry and Prose

Tag: love

  • Poem: Rose – 07/08/21

    Poem: Rose – 07/08/21

    What we are and what we feel are
    two different concepts,
    notions I need to feel,
    I watch from within as thoughts build and layers
    harden then peel
    like ancient flakes of house paint decorating
    that life we accepted and treasured within,
    I know through deep understanding
    that each flake tells a story,
    it’s witnessed so much of life
    to be felt, heard, and seen.

    What I feel is a blossoming,
    a wafting rose developing,
    from a tiny elaborate bud into
    much,
    much more,
    complexities created,
    so much in store,

    her fragrance is intoxicating,
    I do not yearn for anything but her
    in the morning,
    a pin-pricking, her warning,
    to be gentle with her,
    patience never stalling.

    A petal drops –
    by goodness, what a shame,
    her story is unfolding,
    but losing beauty? –
    should the ache in my heart refrain?
    Because it is with dying that she is
    breathing life,
    to live is to expire,
    but to experience is proof of internal fire.

    And her flames are astounding,
    she’s alive, so vivid now,
    effervescent, glowing
    the flakes of paint fall into an inferno,
    fuelling her understanding
    that to live is to capture and incinerate
    what the world deems as beauty,
    there’s much more to her presence,
    behind there is more than a duty,
    it’s a requirement fulfilled morally.

    And it is with experience that she
    continues to grow,
    her form is not lopped,
    stunted growth,
    to entertain others with her vision,
    with her dangerous thorns
    as protection,
    for her wonder in the morning
    and beyond,
    we think, we feel,
    we consider what she does,
    what notions there are to accept,
    as necessary?

    Sometimes it’s required that our awareness
    is measured,
    and our hearts, oh, our hearts,
    must begin to beat harder,
    no option for slowing,
    no option for stalling,
    they should continue to beat fiercely,
    uncontrollably.

    © 2021 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.
    Photo by Meghan Schiereck on Unsplash


    Previous Post: Distance – 06/08/21

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  • Poem: Perfect Imperfections – 24/07/21

    Poem: Perfect Imperfections – 24/07/21

    Desperation doesn’t dance in my lair no more,
    ancient lands where false paradise laid in store,
    I drag my feet, trail my hair,
    catch myself in a transient mirror,
    I stare, lower gaze, then bravely rise,
    continue to stare some more.

    It’s difficult to gaze into ‘imperfections’
    that make myself me,
    my mind calls out with interjections,
    telling myself I’m exactly the way God intended
    me to be,
    self-acceptance,
    understanding,
    it slowly grows like soft moss within,
    flourishing,
    lush,
    promising,
    plush and ever-green.

    The sadness that used to plague,
    the desire, the want, to always change,
    the need to shrink, slim,
    now I raise a hand craftily,
    cock one hip,
    I am cheeky,
    for I know the secret here,
    I became more within,
    image doesn’t always have to fuel
    internal fires,
    in fact,
    focusing out the outer can fuel
    a dangerous inferno,
    an unwanted din.

    It is what is within that counts,
    am I happy with how I’m feeling,
    that matters most,
    am I confident,
    can I take my world in my stride,
    get up upon that rhetoric in life,
    and ride, ride, windswept, breathless,
    in control,
    ride?

    With maturity came preservation,
    with preservation came self-understanding,
    comprehension, direction,
    I know what truths I am sowing,
    even without the drive to direct in just one direction,
    I know, I know that my heart and mind
    are peaceful together,
    they’re becoming a solved puzzle of
    correct interaction.

    My soul doesn’t call out for acceptance,
    no longer calls out for
    painfully obvious acknowledgement,
    I don’t need the eyes to
    view what I already know,
    that my presence is enough,
    I am enough within this world.

    My heart, once a prison,
    is a cage thrown open,
    the dove is free for escaping,
    but she remains,
    treasured,
    adored,
    she is amazing,
    her own form of perfection,
    in short, she makes it.  

    © 2021 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.
    Photo by Fuu J on Unsplash

    Previous Post: ‘Luminous’ – 22/07/21

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  • Poem: Away Without Leave – 18/07/21

    Poem: Away Without Leave – 18/07/21

    I am currently away without leave,
    taken steps to walk from progress
    so I can be there, to care
    for the ones I used to revolt against,
    those who love me with every inch
    no matter past sadness,
    but pray tell I do digress,
    I need to be here,
    not unavailable, but present,
    my presence used to be far, far less.

    I have relearned the role of
    family amid this chaos,
    upsets, Life’s bad news,
    over years together when my
    desire to stay home faltered,
    when I needed to be
    belligerent to others,
    now those days have all but
    faded away,
    love grown and nurtured,
    here I am,
    I will stay,
    give back
    for it’s the least
    I can do,
    promise their needs will be
    attended to,
    it’s not about my former
    wreckages now.

    Gently, I will lace the new
    understanding of family
    and closeness and inherent need
    and trust,
    being here, breathing there,
    even in silence
    company is a must,
    spread my opening wings around
    their hearts,
    stop the chance of bruising
    through my chrysalis,
    boy, am I wondering
    will this ever be enough,
    as repayment?
    This tender notion of love versus love.

    I am away without leave,
    I have taken the time,
    a step away from requirements,
    daily life now starts to sway,
    we are in our vortex where
    time learns to stand still,
    and we can appreciate one another’s
    company again,
    adoringly drink our fill.
    For, time is fleeting,
    Life seems to know that drill.

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

    Previous Post: ‘Seasonal Affective’ – 17/07/21

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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: Tall Stars – 08/07/21

    Poem: Tall Stars – 08/07/21

    Closing time,
    the curtains shut,
    enough of this pantomime;
    we’ve watched smouldering stars.

    Time and time again
    we’ve viewed crashes and burns,
    from deep evening
    into the precious morn.

    As surely as they’ve arisen,
    they began spectacularly falling,
    stories resplendent,
    some unusually stalling,

    highlights of the millennium,
    highlights of the times,
    wonder not at their endings –
    significant pages finally calling.

    And duration of life
    seems longer
    the more we linger,
    beckon, tempt
    the stories further,
    coax forth –
    encouraging hands and fingers.

    Stars, tell your tales,
    share your stories in full,
    otherwise relinquish your memories
    to the handsome, awaiting Moon.

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

    Previous Post: ‘Sing My Melodies’ – 07/07/21

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  • Poem: First Time – 26/06/21

    Poem: First Time – 26/06/21

    The very first moment
    I leant in for your kiss,
    I’d been waiting most of the morning,
    watching your careful moving lips.

    With bliss abounding,
    I had spoken with abandon,
    so ecstatic I was to be in your presence,

    and seated next to you,
    my heart raced,
    my breath held,
    bated,
    surely you could see,
    feel the rich desperation,
    my need,
    for your touch,
    underscored by your
    vermillion crease.

    You were hesitant,
    for unknown reasons
    I watched your body stiffen,
    unsure it seemed you were,
    to accept excitable desire
    toward you,
    perhaps fearful of such nearness.

    With a quick peck on
    billowy cushions,
    disappointed somewhat,
    I retracted,
    dejected,
    it swims through my innards,
    a scourge,
    fresh disease,
    I could not wipe
    the sadness from
    my shuttered eyelids,
    was ‘playfully shy’
    your process?

    I protest with these lips,
    beseech you to
    explain away your fears,
    attempts to allay mine
    of not being enough,
    of being too eager,
    too excitable,
    too weird,
    is my pressuring too rough,
    am I not the girl you wanted,
    am I not the presence desired,
    if not,
    annihilate this morning,
    embarrassment bleeding,
    as your stuttering excuses start…

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

    Previous Post: ‘Whispers’ – 24/06/21

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  • Poem: This Time of the Morning – 21/06/21

    Poem: This Time of the Morning – 21/06/21

    Sudden apprehension as
    I stand at your earthly shell,
    instant regret as I knock,
    ring all bells,
    the nervous demeanour as I
    seek more of you within,
    knocking, rap, who is there?
    Could you become a
    future next of kin?

    Barrelling waves of desire
    as I dredge courage,
    haunting hour,
    expel from me
    what keeps me meek –
    hunting woman, be brave,
    elders have told me.

    But, you will not budge,
    protected, curled,
    defensive ball,
    like a slater-bug you could be rolled
    in any which direction one would
    want you to go,
    but healing you choose
    to be,
    eyes closed,
    breath shallow,
    yet thoughts so heavy,
    I can imagine tired eyes,
    red, raw and bleary.

    Heavenly is the state to reach,
    blessed be,
    enveloped, no more defences,
    arms carrying,
    a protector I can, I will be,

    if only you’ll open the door,
    allow me in to see,
    together, let’s introspect,
    find the solutions which
    will presently free.

    This time of the morning has always been
    good for me.

    © 2021 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.
    Photo from Pixabay at Pexels.com

    Previous Post: ‘On a Journey’ – 20/06/21

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  • Prose: Enriched Time – 07/06/21

    Prose: Enriched Time – 07/06/21

    Time stands still when you’re not around, my focus drags itself to the crowd, where watching, waiting, anticipating, my eyes will fall upon you sometime soon, somehow, your heated breath for me is calling.

    I feel an absence growing within my soul; a piece breaking unity, how can I be more forthcoming? I do not dream of you because in my world you’re yet to exist, a faceless being yet priceless, knowing, hope of circumstances growing.

    The fullness of who we are separately, individually, and who we are accumulatively, benefiting our spirits, like blinking fairy lights they brighten everybody’s way. Just to the side though, that light-bespeckled path, time stands still as the crowd now parts, my breath catches like a hook in a gutted fish.

    You’re not who I thought you’d be, somehow a complete stranger, lacking in familiarity. But take my arm, our Almost-Forever now, together we have advanced, become good. I know life could be further enriched with you, somehow I know this to be truth.

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

    Previous Post: ‘Soar’ – 06/06/21

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  • Prose: Bells Will Chime – 23/05/21

    Prose: Bells Will Chime – 23/05/21

    All the bells in the world could not aptly signal your arrival. Announcing your presence, your appearance should be heralded with angels, voices forever forthcoming, and the beauty in your eyes, blue buttons, will always precede that glimmering, shining smile which sends dances of delight in my heart to occur, and sparkle within my own eyes.

    Flights of light fancy chime through my soul as I ask myself – is this the beginning of a future forever told? An amazing sunset in the distance reminds me that ebbs and flows are set and when this occurs, our spirits will dance so lively, effervescent and ultimately together and ours.

    Your smile delights and encompasses my heart, sends pleasant chills, a sign you may be a true counterpart, there’s nothing alien about this – this firm sense of bliss, come hither, come closer, upon my cheek, lay a gentle kiss.

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

    Previous Post: ‘The Fool’ – 22/05/21

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  • Poem: I Will Not Write About Love – 18/05/21

    Poem: I Will Not Write About Love – 18/05/21

    I will not write about love
    for I am not in it –
    surely, yes, I have
    experienced it,

    but as though an introductory,
    sweeping strum of a harp,
    I won’t allow myself to fall
    into a moment,
    until it is right to do so;

    I’m like an anacrusis awaiting that
    conductor’s sign,
    the downbeat for the melody to start.

    Tiresome, yes?
    Am I waiting, awaiting?
    Will time cause me to fall apart? –

    I’m not yielding to an urge,
    I am not capitulating,
    I have no requirements to search for affection,
    why put myself in the way of
    judgement and expectations?
     
    Dejection, rejection?
    No, I do not fear these,
    but for some,
    they’re surely breaking the ability
    for true connections,
    halting their ability to reach out
    with ease.

    Here, I sit on the fence,
    staring down,
    undecided yet,
    and I know I won’t allow myself
    to fall,
    until it is right to do so again,

    I don’t need the sweetness of
    words from either a woman or a man,
    don’t need the positive growth that
    an alliance could provide, would or can,

    I am loving my life the way it is,
    I won’t be swayed by society’s requirements
    that I must couple up to be.

    Perpetually existing,
    do they think I have no end in sight?
    While I live and I learn,
    do they think my early evenings translate to
    quiet depressive nights?
     
    That being single means bunkering down
    unsatisfied, until the morning light,
    where I can receive my endorphins through
    pounding the pavement,
    where satisfaction and happiness
    are experienced again,
    they are within grasp,
    within sight.

    I don’t need love to be whole,
    don’t need it to feel ‘right’,
    I can exist by myself,
    being independent is no longer a plight,

    to be alone can be bliss,
    I’ll take the peaceful solitude
    as it is,
    and so I’ll continue to grow,
    and fastidiously enjoy all that life brings.  

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

    Previous Post: ‘Speaking with sweetness’ – 17/05/21

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