Home – My National Poetry Day Inspiration

Ruth Weal — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 22:55:00 +0000

If you read my previous post then you’ll be aware that it’s National Poetry Day in the UK today and that I didn’t have a poem in my collection that was specifically “Home” inspired, which was the theme for this year.

I thought that maybe, just maybe, if the muses were smiling down upon me I might just be able to come up with something – and what do you know, the muses were bountiful in bestowing their inspiration and the poem below is my homage to the day. I hope you enjoy it, I certainly enjoyed writing it and I’m pretty pleased with how it turned out. I’ve entered it into the Waterstones Facebook Page competition along with my poem from my earlier post Vacant Heart to Rent, so we’ll see how I do!

May poetry lift your heart and illuminate your soul when all around you reality is dragging us down and putting out all our lights!

Wealie x

HOME

Home is me right here, right now with you

Home is the mundane that I know through and through
Home is the knowledge that your love is true

Home is the smile that buoys me when I fear I shall sink
Home is the flush of love that stains your cheek pink

Home is the tears you cannot cry and don’t know why
Home is your secret, soft, sibilant sigh

Home is the memories I hold close through the years
Home is the way you hold me and dispel all my fears

Home is not a place, an entity or psychological concept
Home is the way you held me as I fitfully slept

Home is wherever I feel loved and remember with fondness
Home is friendship feely given that keeps away the loneliness

Home is the humdrum run of my life
Home is the way you stand between me and strife

Home is the warmth that comforts through the long winter night
Home is rounding the corner and you’re coming into sight

Home is the sweetest kiss transporting me to bliss
Home is the loved ones I’ve long lost and will ever miss

Home is the thought of the joy you bring
Home is the first ray of sun and the blossoming spring

Home is the slightest touch that conveys so much
Home is the way my hand you clutch

Home is wherever my heart feels warm
Home is where I’m always drawn

Home is where my soul can breathe
Home is where in troubled times my spirit flees

Home is me right here, right now with you
Home is knowing you feel it too

Ruth Weal
07 October 2010 11.41 pm
Copyright R.Weal 2010 ©

Written for the 2010 National Poetry Day – UK where the theme was “Home”.

Celebrating National Poetry Day!

Ruth Weal — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 14:21:37 +0000

It’s National Poetry Day in the UK today and the theme is “Home”. I’m sure there are a lot of people out there with a guilty love of poetry. I often see a book of poetry on people’s bookshelves, even when they claim not to be a fan. I’m a big believer that poetry doesn’t have to be flowery and always about love. It’s an excellent medium to explore your reactions and feelings towards the life within and around you. So in honour of National Poetry Day why not dust off that volume of poetry and read the one that made you buy it.

If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous then you’ll be pleased to know that there are a lot of activities happening across the country, but you can also get involved on-line too – especially good news for poetic souls across the globe! The National Poetry Day team are inviting you to share a few lines of your favourite poems in your status updates on Facebook or your Twitter Tweets. The Waterstones Facebook Page is inviting you to share your own “Home” inspired poetry on it’s wall and will be awarding a little prize for the most fun/creative/imaginative poem posted before midnight tonight. At the Inpress website they have a competition for your “Home” inspire poetic creations, the prize is an Inpress magazine subscription.

Battered Heart - Copyright R.Weal 2008

So in the spirit of the day I though I’d put a “home-ish” inspired poem, as I don’t have one about home…yet. I may well have a bit of inspiration today and will add another post with the poem should the muses feel generous.

Along with the poem is an accompanying pic that partially inspired it. Having just purchased a macro lens I decided to practise on some miscellaneous objects in my study, one of which was a rather battered looking novelty heart pen that was rocking some nice textures ripe for a macro lens.

The pic turned out very nice, even if I do say so myself and a conversation that took place with a friend together wove the seeds of inspiration into the germ of an idea that became “Vacant Heart to Rent”.

VACANT HEART TO RENT

Come in, Come in
It’s cold outside
The owner I hear
Once looked upon it with great pride

I’m told by neighbours
She’s very gracious
Look around
You’ll see
It’s very spacious

A bit weatherworn to be sure
And I’ll admit
The lock’s a little stiff
On the front door

It just needs
A little care and attention
No!
The previous tenant
was never mentioned

A little dusty and unused
Still a small echo
Of when it was abused

Take a walk
Feel that solid ground
There’s plenty of space to move around

All the pictures torn down
The walls are bare
As I said
It just needs
A little tender love and care

A few leaks and cracks
Where it was broken
No
I’m afraid the owner and I
Haven’t personally spoken

The rent’s not cheap
I certainly agree
But the potential is magnificent
Don’t you see?

A vacant heart
Is just so sad
But as a starting point
This one’s not so bad

So that’s my contribution right now, maybe more later. If you want to find out more and get involved with National Poetry Day check out these on-line portals: