Category — Poetry

Found this quote on  a great blog – I like it a lot.

Ink runs from the corners of my mouth.
There is no happiness like mine.
I have been eating poetry.”
Mark Strand.

Calm are the seas we travel now,
the sail is down
how tranquil is the ocean,
we drift past the deserted islands
with their scattered palms and
fallen coconuts,
we lay on the deck, with bronzed
skin and salty mouths
calm are our seas,
the soft magnolia smell of warm breezes
whispers through our hair
all is blue, placid and serene,
I am here with you, for once
essential as the mainstay
Calm are our Seas…

Photo: Personal Oil Painting – somewhere special in Oman.

* N.B. See Comments for Dedication.
@ Copyright Susie Hemingway 2009

I’ve never made a fancy cake
a malt loaf is really me
I can make a lovely cuppa
so I can always have Assam tea,
I can rustle-up a chicken pie
with the shortest crust you’ll ever find
with a tasty bit of gravy too
but I never make tiramisu,
or even glorious meringues that rise
in heavenly peaks that reach the skies!
I’d rather have a drop of gin
and write a little ditty,
I’m getting on a bit you see
but I really don’t need your pity.
I truly like to dance and sing
with music playing in my ears
a duster in my hand,
like I was seventeen again
as I listen to rock-bands!

I like the music blaring out
put on my heels and gad about,
It gets the work done double quick,
then a drop of Gordon’s does the trick.
Pies,Poetry and a pint of Gin
my life’s complete, I dream within
of Para-gliding in sunny climes
but to be quite honest I haven’t time.
I’m busy selecting the brightest hues
of brand new hair colours,
and when I stand in queues
I love to listen to the latest chat,
of pretty girls who admire my hats!
I love to spray the testers too,
such fun to smell like a famous star
with Chanel and Gucci, I’ll go real far…

Never mind the ‘leccy bill, would
love new lipstick, better than pills!
Ah! this ones, the one for me
scarlet red, smooth as can be
will make me feel like twenty three,
Pies, Poetry and a Pint of Gin
to dance down street, new life within.
I spend the days reviewing years
I like to write and think a lot
not much one ,for knitting socks
nor for mowing or removing weeds,
I think I’ll  move overseas!
and sit all day with skirt to knees                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             in deck-chair on sand and feet in sea
with wrinkled face and cigar for me.
I can dance all night in Latin clubs
with swarthy handsome younger coves,
then come home at dawn for a cup of tea,
perhaps… I can learn to water ski?

but really I think I’d rather have…
Pies, Poetry and a Pint of Gin !

Copyright @ Susie Hemingway 2009

Excerpt from United Press London:
Your poem ” Life Is Fragile – Love Is Not” has been recognized as one of the best poems this year and to mark this fact we wish to publish it to a new book called “Whispers On A Breeze a showcase of the best work of a group of Poets. This book will be ready for publishing soon can be ordered at all good bookshops.

You may read “Life Is Fragile- Love Is Not” here.

All Rights Reserved @ May 2009

It seems to be like yesterday
this time I spent with you,
inscribed within my heart
rust gold and cobalt blues,
unfurled in beauty of this desert place
in infinite dunes that stretched for always
like endless domes diorama,
asking me to look forever not relinquish,
requesting me to see your life.

The warm winds of the Rub’ Al Khali
blew gently with your love,
like a sacrament anointed
within the centre of my mind,
awash my heart no clemency
the secrets of your soul,
in whirlpools of the desert
that stole my heart as easily
as the lushness of sepia light.

We ran, and fell upon those sands
while ‘drowning’ in the heat,
It seems to be like yesterday
the sands beneath my feet,
it seems to be like always
in this bejewelled world of yours
it seems to be forever
the love from you that pours.

My heart stayed in the desert
and this time I spent with you,

this time I spent with you…

*Rub’ al Khali Arabic الربع الخالي‎), which translates as Empty Quarter in English is one of the largest sand deserts in the world, encompassing most of the southern third of the Arabian Peninsula, including southern Saudi Arabia, areas of Oman and the United Arab Emirates. It can be cruel but it is breathtaking!

Copyright @ August 2009

The faces staring out you see

a legacy from the past

linked by love it seems to me

a marriage that will last,

this primed, set and ordered way

made this for Miriam, a special day.

The ladies all in hats so fine

brought in boxes and decked in time,

dripping with flowers, covered in lace

see how the little boys know their place.

Brush your hair, pomade at will,

shine your shoes, bring Grandpa’s pills!

Sparkling jewels on collars and cuffs

has Aunt Maud brought her muff?

our handsome pair have walked the aisle

a special breakfast in a while,

but now we must look our best

for Hubert’s ‘heaven’ in nineteen eleven.

Don’t forget your gloves or cane,

dear God, don’t let there be more rain!

bring the chairs for we must pose,

young Jimmy please to wipe your nose.

Are we ready in our places,

a little stern, for happy faces!

Poof and Bang! the camera goes

who’d have thought the world would know…

All rights reserved with no reproduction of Photo.

Copyright @ August 2009.

With special thanks to Ged Tucker for the 1911 Family Photo

and also to Janey  Johnson for the restoration of this wonderful Photo.

In dreams I make you well again

in the velvet of the night

you run with me in endless flight,

far away in thoughts of long ago

we run on beaches sailing to

deserted islands, strong were the arms

that pulled the boat ashore.,

in dreams I see you there once more.

In dreams I make you well again

your long limbs brown and strong

the warm breezes puff at our skin

we swim in blue waters

you touching my nose and cheeks

the droplets of crystal waters

dry with salty streaks,

In dreams the picture never alters

In dreams  I see you there once more.

In dreams I make you well again

to walk the sands with me

you standing tall, with eyes so clear

from El Salam  unto the sea,

to see the lighthouse in the bay

for you to breathe that salty air

for you to brush my long fair hair,

In dreams I see you there once more.

In dreams I make you well again

in the quiet velvet of the night

the smile that changed my life

from dusk until the light,

in dreams you dance with me

on islands in deep blue seas

close your eyes and dream with me

see those najoods that stand like waves

see those golden seas of sand

see the place you held my hand…

*  ‘najoods  – Sand Dunes

* El Salem – Favourite Hotel 

@ Copyright 2007

Information on Multiple Myeloma can be found on www.myeloma.org.uk     Helpline 0800 980 3332.

More Poems Of Love on http://www.susiehemingway.blogspot.com  -Views 9238 @ 25.7.09

It was never a choice was it?
it sneaked in and through
along and around,
this nasty wicked ‘beast’ that coursed
along the channels of our lives
it tangled and tried to spoil,
bent, broke, quietened and flawed
it tried to rob, steal if you may,
inflict, damage and take away,
it encumbered, hampered, distressed
and sapped,
this dark encroacher that went too far.
Still, it did not spoil or mar
love twixt us two
this fight…without choice.

All Rights Reserved @ July 2009
*This poem is dedicated to all Multiple Myeloma Sufferers and their Carers.

See twinkling eyes that dull with pain

eyes once bright as fire flames!

we juggle pills to make it wane

with every day I cry for you,

moving now is hard to do

limbs get stuck, refusing to

unbend and move, as graceful should,

“I wish I could untangle you”

Dreams that see you run again

walk the miles that never end

play the games that lovers do

dance forever just us two,

this once strong man

who laughs with me

now has morphine in his tea

instead of  ‘bubbles’ in a glass

thinking of the days gone past…

Still we can dance  if  very slow

so legs don’t stumble, I’ll

not let you go, put on

the music hold me tight

and yes, it still feels  very right,

we’ll play the soft and gentle songs

the ones you love, we’ll float along

I’ll watch your singing eyes

and wish I could, until I die,

“I wish I could untangle you”

“I wish…I could untangle you.”

Copyright @ 2007

First written 2007   :but the sentiment is just the same.

“I wish…”

I can hear him sleeping

I can hear the storm

it’s fierce ebony clouds

scudding, the yellow flashes

spend themselves against

my window pane.

Trees crashed, branches fell

and my heart no longer knew it’s way.

Still he slept, his

gentle breathing at odds with the

violence that shook my soul,

can you hear the storm?

is it inside your realm

is it beyond your pain

is it beyond mine.

The sky lit and intruded

into my domain,

it’s clear shadows against my walls

a dark mark against my heart.

Wake and listen

do not enter that sphere

no, stay and sleep

quieten my province.

Stay and sleep…

*A Care-givers Poem.

Copyright @ 2007

“The Waiting Game” a new poem by Susie Hemingway is on: http://www.susiehemingway.blogspot.com

How beautiful this Summer day the colour of the flowers,

to match my mood, I’d like today,  rain and thunder all the way.

The snow and hail they could come, and even lightning too,

If I could take your pain away a hurricane would do.

How beautiful this Summer day, with not a cloud in sight

and there you are again in bed, putting up a fight.

The sun is blazing down the rays, and when you turn and smile,

I’ll keep you with me  and that gaze, and never miss the flowers

and if you think I love you less, I’ll long for summer showers.

How beautiful this Summer day the stillness of it all,

the sky is brilliant almost red!  you smile at me and rest your head.

So does it matter the flowers are out does it matter that their blue!

if I could take your pain away, then this is what I’ll do.

For then the rays, the lovely sun, the flowers each and everyone,

I’ll keep you and that lovely gaze then this will be my Summer day.

@ Copyright 2006

How glorious the gardens

each and and everyone,

how extravagant and bursting forth

with riot of perennial fun,

we wandered down the sunlit lanes

on this our lovely ‘open day’

the splendid evergreens and rose-beds  wide

to narrow scented lavender surprise,

walkways of the greenest hues

from red, to yellows and to blues,

the pinks so soft upon your eyes

geraniums  potted on one side.

Hellebores in groups of six

herbaceous borders in pretty mix,

cabbages, onions and chickens too!

fruits and herbs in stunning views

delphiniums lush in velvet blue

sturdy potatoes in their pots!

leeks , carrots and shallots.

Water features to cool and trickle

fish ponds, rock gardens and plants that tickle!

Many pots and nursery beds

perfumed scented that turn your head.

Arbour’s, enchanting ‘rose cascades’

Ah! what a wondrous pleasant day.

What a wondrous pleasant day…

All Rights Reserved @ June 2009

Soft jade green and mellow amber
are the colours of these days,
soft green like finest cashmere
I’d wish to wear in special ways,
liquid amber of runny butterscotch
poured gently smooth on silky creams
calm like soothing sax at midnight
seems to be the current scene,
days unfold like gentle ripples, lapping
clear against the shore and you
as peaceful as the morning vista
that glistens across land we adore.

Calm and peaceful for a while
like soft vowels in lovers breath,
warm and sweet like feather touch
a pause infinite and needed
Oh! so very much…
Then days that came like brightly coloured
Peacock that arrived in view,
we sat together admiring beauty
no ‘grey life’ was meant for you!
Colours shimmering a Midas touch,
treasures of the purest nature
“thank you Lord” this means so much.

Soft jade green and mellow amber
are the colours of these days,
then turquoise blues of dazzling splendour
arrived for us along the way
like prismatic rainbow over Maui
or amber sunsets falling West
just as clear as morning dew
with glistening eyes – I drink this view.

All Rights Reserved @ June 2009.
Photo taken by Susie Hemingway
( The Peacock visted for three days )