~The H Word~ by Hazel Urquhart
"Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood" ~ T.S. Eliot
Have you ever watched footage
of a building being demolished?
The speed at which it falls.
How quickly it becomes nothing
more than dust and rubble.
Yet in its creation, the building
up from foundations, that takes
time, effort and consideration.
It’s the same with people.
Take time to elevate
rather than detonate.
Your words have more power
than you know.
~The H Word~
My well had run dry;
arid, barren, producing
nothing but dust
that would fill up my head
and then settle for less
but I’m learning,
to be kinder and stop
long enough to consider
what’s important to me.
I’ve refilled. Ideas run free
even if I can’t catch them all
my bucket’s ready and waiting.
I’m prepared,
and now making amends,
the process never ends,
it’s perpetual, eternal,
enlightened survival.
I now keep up with myself,
so I can be my best self
in the best possible way.
~The H Word~
#NaPoWriMo2020 #Day23
Captured in sunlight
her lucent complexion
reflects natural beauty;
luminous scintillation.
Reveals without shame
everything and nothing.
Frame grabs attention
confidence pulls you in
kind eyes reassure
curiosity invited.
It feels almost intrusive,
a digital confrontation
but she meets it head on
her gaze never wavers
an enigmatic self-portrait
declares this is me.
Silent affirmation speaks
straight from the soul.
I see a woman, unveiling
how it looks to be loved
from within, most of all.
A celebration.
#NaPoWriMo2020 #Day20
#NaPoWriMo2020 #Day19
A chaotic cacophony
constantly whines
like an analogue TV
just off the channel —
enough to drive
you insane.
Tempers are taut
like tightrope wires
waiting to trip up
and garrote anyone
who’s up for
a fight.
I’ve already gone
ten rounds today.
I’m doing my best
to stay out the way.
Privacy’s now obsolete
when there’s no place
to go, no way to be
alone, without question,
“What you doing?”
I’m doing my best
to stay out the way.
I’ve had enough
for today.
#NaPoWriMo2020 #Day7
Firstly, apologies to anyone who thinks this is going to be an inspirational post about what wonderful, creative things you can do during lock-down.
Whilst I’m in awe of those who are learning new skills, adhering to a carefully thought out schedule and generally excelling at life, that simply isn’t me.
Today, my achievement is that I woke up at 9 am. You may be thinking, oh, did you want to have a long lie? Sorry, let me explain. Today I wanted to wake up at 9 am because for the past four days I haven’t been able to get out of bed before midday.
Let me put this into context. I’m a mother of two; one is 9 and the other is 18. I’m married. I have responsibilities. I am in my second year of a university degree course. However, I also struggle with my mental health.
I guess the point of this post is to show that everyone’s goals are going to be different right now. This is a weird and messed up situation. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. Set personal goals and celebrate achieving them. Know that what you are doing is good enough.
Tomorrow, I might add something else, I might not. If I can get up at 9 am for two days running, I’ll be happy with that.
Whatever you achieve today, no matter how small, I admire your strength. If you feel you haven’t achieved what you planned, there’s always tomorrow. I admire your courage to keep trying.
You’re one of a kind, each and every one of you. Please be kind to yourself.
Stay safe, everyone!
H x
A proper giggle
making time
stand still ~
a joyous sound,
perfect reminder
of healing powers
simply from hearing
another’s happiness.
May we never forget.
#NaPoWriMo2020 #Day3
We live in a time where being online is a such huge part of life. For some, this will have increased tenfold over the past few weeks, as we try to keep up to date with what’s going on and stay in contact with those we cannot see face to face. I, for one, have never been more grateful for the internet.
The poem I’m sharing today, I wrote about one of the negative aspects of online interaction — keyboard warriors. Those who love nothing more than to spout hateful comments to get a reaction. Many of us have encountered them, whether it’s been directed towards us personally or towards someone we follow, it’s never a positive experience.
We each have our own way of dealing with them. For me, I try to take away the thing they crave the most — attention, but sometimes that can be hard to do.
War of Words
Wicked warriors
brandishing words
like daggers — sharpened
and barbed to pierce
the thickest of skins,
aimed to destroy from within.
Insults and slights
dolled up to the nines
yet, each dipped in poison
to hurt and divide.
It’s up to you to decide,
respond or ignore?
Give attention they crave,
or decide it isn’t your war.
You could attack them
with kindness. Choose
your words carefully.
Your weapon of choice?
Compassionate humanity.
Or wear honour like armour ―
polished and bright
enough to deflect
those weaponised
words of spite.
There are no winners
in war, only survivors.
Ask yourself, honestly,
is this a battle
worth fighting?
I think I’m failing,
floundering around
in this farce
of a situation
that’s turned life
into a dystopian nightmare.
I think I’m failing,
my once favourite
fiction, designed to
frighten and capture
imagination, is too
real to me, now.
I think I’m failing,
I’m frantic and fearful
of being utterly incapable
of being everything
they expect me
to be.
I think I’m failing,
as I don’t understand
how best to separate
myself, so they
can all have the pieces
they need.
I know I’m failing,
in this impossible attempt
to be everything
at once, when simply
one is enough,
for now.
~The H Word~
#NaPoWriMo2020 #Day1
~The H Word~ by Hazel Urquhart 