Lauren M. Hancock Poetry and Prose

Tag: personal development

  • Poem: Flushed Magnolias – 28/07/21

    Poem: Flushed Magnolias – 28/07/21

    the strength within is something which
    must be seen,
    peel away those layers,
    let us view within,
    the armour, so thickly wrought,
    over years of abuse and mockery,
    self-taught, self-taught.

    darling, it’s time to make that move,
    inhabit a better place,
    wipe away your gloom,
    shine bright unto another day
    and then the next,
    your armour always protects,
    come what may.

    I know, I know, sweetheart,
    that at times it hurts,
    recalling that past behaviour,
    sour-filled words,
    you didn’t speak kindly to yourself,
    you spoke down to your ego,
    denigrated your heart,
    and at times, you tore yourself apart,

    but now, you can reach forth,
    aim for the stars,
    show that strength within that
    came with truth, experience,
    and the strongest of arms.

    know this, darling,
    my sweetheart,
    the yearning
    for more, from life,
    from your world,
    the pain is done,
     
    watch as your kingdom will come,
    truth be told the errors of self-talk
    will come undone,
    and your language will become fluent
    with self-love.

    it’s time to breathe freely,
    no encumbered breaths,
    infant-milky scent,
    from innocence you have grown,
    and into more, a strong woman
    you have become,

    in fact, shed that armour,
    for its strength has become a
    part of you,
    there’s no need for chainmail
    or steel layers
    when life’s become more peaceful,
    beautiful,
    more spiritual
    than a vase of flushed magnolias.

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

    Previous Post: ‘Rows of Rosies’ – 26/07/21

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  • Prose: Blame – ‘A Reason for why you’re not wrong’ – 07/06/21

    Prose: Blame – ‘A Reason for why you’re not wrong’ – 07/06/21

    I’ll admit it. It’s human nature; I’ve been known to gear my poor decisions, my poor judgements onto others, to events, to differing reasons – blame, blame anyone else but myself, I’ve been there, haven’t you? At these times, couldn’t I have acknowledged that voice I hushed inside that we all occasionally stifle away, desperately want to hide, which wants to scream, “You, you are wrong, surely you can admit it this time?”

    But it’s about keeping oneself proud, and not embarrassed or ashamed, so we adamantly decide that the best way, what should be most apparent, is the employment of personal denial, and here we are, set for a rocky ride. What’s important to us in that moment Is the conception of what seems ‘right’, a cover-up, a disguising, a denial of integrity, in the hopes that parlaying responsibility will displace the need for discipline, the requirement to make truth seen not only by others, but revealed and mirrored by themselves, or personally, me!

    Blame is the cesspool of human existence, puts irresponsibility on show for the world to see. The day that we decide to forgo blame and commence admitting mistakes and errors, gleaning, revealing responsibility, this is the moment of truthful honesty. When we open ourselves up and stop allowing the negativities of blame to cover and then consume us, this will allow the world to truly see, to witness, our truest nature, human goodness, righteous intentions, and most importantly, integrity.

    © 2021 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.
    Image from cottonbro on Pexels.

    Previous Post: ‘Soar’ – 06/06/21

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  • Poem: Changes – 04/02/21

    Poem: Changes – 04/02/21

    I liked the way the pain was numbed, 
    as though an anaesthetist injected me, 
    cruel jab to be kind, 
    no feelings of any style, 
    was it easier to not feel those emotions of old, 
    none to be felt, seen, or held?

    I became empty, 
    days monotonous, nothing to look forward to, 
    that become pain in itself, 
    the knowing that the unknowing promised all the much
    the same, 
    nothing forthcoming, 
    no southerly, northerly direction, 
    east and west hadn’t heard of me either. 

    Memories would be brought back in excruciating and extracted style, 
    reminiscing upon the joys with emotions of sorrow and hurt, 
    devastation and longing, 
    but the truth is, 
    there was nothing to salvage from that path, that view. 

    Once so empty, 
    now feeling so full, 
    my heart swells, 
    it blossoms, 
    my path here was arduous but I made it, 
    a tentative shaky-cornered smile appears, 
    and I’m suddenly feeling so blessed to have made it through
    the storm and the cyclones and the hurricanes, 
    and everything that the gods could have thrown at me, 
    this moment I righteously own.

    © 2021 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.
    Photo by Virgil Cayasa on Unsplash 

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  • Poem: The Mirror: In-Between and Afar – 23/06/20

    Poem: The Mirror: In-Between and Afar – 23/06/20

    I drag out my colours,
many hues to
create a show,
 
A popularity contest?
Or a forceful appearance?
How will the audience react?
Perhaps I already know.
 
I begin to create,
build the underpainting,
of the basics
of that face,
 
that wide-eyed,
mildly shocked expression
that shows she’s 
realised something,
or that some fact has her
strangely amazed.
 
Painstakingly – no!
Haphazardly yes!
Do I slap on her colours,
her pigments,

she’s really shaping up
to be a
beautiful one, you see,
tinges of 
hot then cool colours; 
convergence.
 
Borne of chaos,
borne of haste,
her hues shimmer,
her tones scintillate,
 
they really create that
visual realm
where we are
taken on a journey –
her journey –
but where did she travel?

No one knows but me.

Because as I look in the mirror
to reference the
painterly revelation
of my personality,
its travel, 
my development
here upon this Earth,
 
I smile to myself,
for the chaos has settled,
inner beauty and outward wonder
in my life have appeared,
they have shown their faces
at last.
 
Now the shades begin
to seamlessly blend,
coagulation of tints,
colours melt,
warming trends,
 
the appreciation in this
character’s eyes
for her world
is plain for all
to see.
 
Relaxed shoulders and posture,
thankful, ever grateful,
for the ability of self-development
and the ability to finally feel
so free.
 
From a frenzied presence
to a gracious, determined being,
for life’s progression and lessons
I thank my lucky stars,

I adore how life
has allowed much growth so far,
and my eyes,
those painterly eyes,
are staring right back at me,

no longer hollow or aching,
widened or shocked
but knowing,

understanding what’s beyond for
her and myself,
in the future,
in our Afar,

our qualities, our realities,
our emotional experiences,
this is the priceless wealth
of the land of In-between,
melded, we finally are.

© 2020 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved.
Photo: myself 
Soundcloud background music: 
Music: Memory - AShamaluevMusic. 
Music Link: https://youtu.be/5D3JTidH59g

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