~The H Word~ by Hazel Urquhart
"Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood" ~ T.S. Eliot
This sunrise will not be the last.
See its dragon-breath set afire
the horizon and morning sky.
Pull back the curtains. Don’t leave
this room in endless shade, lacking air.
Swallow the coffee. Feel its slow burn
bring you back to life. Don’t let this
be the last thing you remember.
Feel the dog’s satin-soft ear
against your cheek, his gentle
breath of sleep reminding you
to inhale inhale inhale
for one more day.
~The H Word~
I bought the cream from the counter
promising flawless. It didn’t work
so I blamed myself, believed my flaws
way beyond any fix. It was quite the trick.
It’s not just cream that deceives us
with its false, empty promises.
A myriad of goods designed to make
us feel less, flawed, unworthy.
We think if only we could fix
that part of us they say we should.
If only we could be the same
as those they deem more beautiful.
It’s all a lie, a swindle, there was never
anything wrong with us. In time we
learn to understand and begin to love
all that they told us we should not.
~The H Word~
Someone nearby
has lit their fire.
Smoke smudges
the edges of everything.
In the garden
green hues muted,
my view, dream-like.
Streamers of rain
dampen, leaves shine,
pools gather in celebration.
The window a vision
as I sit and wonder
about life that has happened
and all that is to come.
~The H Word~
The passing glare of headlights
Is interrupted, through the side
Window flames lick the horizon
Like dragon’s breath has set alight
That perfect point where land meets sky
And it is beauty, breath-taking,
Enough to make you want to stop
And pay attention. A new day is dawning.
You should celebrate, do something
Significant, mark the moment,
But you have work to go to, so you drive
On, reluctant, take one last glance
In the rear-view mirror as the sky
Explodes in crimson colour, hues
Which seem to scream murder
As you round another corner
And flee the scene.
~The H Word~
This night, I lay worry down,
slip out of stress, let it pool
behind. The hush of sleep
from little ones, gentle breaths,
pillowed heads dream of magic,
spells weave weblike until spun
hope, silk-thin, compels belief
from all of us.
~The H Word~
We wait together, you and I
as night falls, light dies, extinguished
day’s death never grieves us
illuminated in moon’s torchlight
we navigate night’s crippling darkness
find shelter in its blank canvas
and feast on fear, you and I
swallow bitter disappointment until
satisfied enough to try again.
~The H Word~
How much more can we possibly take?
Before this life we have built will come
tumbling down. Our homes made with love,
gentle hands, how can they withstand
all that’s expected of us? Our collective
stress evident on every street, in the faces
of strangers and those that we love. The
crumbling has already begun. Dust clouds
around our feet as we trudge through the rubble
of collapsing society. Trying to pretend everything
is okay. When nothing is okay or ever will be again
any time soon, or so it feels. Yet, we hope.
For hope is all we have, that kindness and
compassion will win through in the end.
I hope for you now. For me, for all of us
existing day by day, week by week, wondering
How much worse can things possibly get?
Knowing only too well what the answer could be
and gripped by fear of what comes next.
~The H Word~
The gatekeepers are working overtime,
again. They’ve polished their swords
with blood, sweat and tears collected
from those they deem less than themselves.
They’ve upgraded the locks, see how
they capture the light. Let them stand
for attention, guard all they can.
No-one wants to gain entry
to a poisoned domain.
~The H Word~
Used to being on the outside
looking in observing all who
seem to fit with no difficulty
how I wish it were me just
once to feel like I belonged
not bystander or onlooker or
never truly part of it maybe
my time will come or maybe
it won’t so for now you will
find me on the edge waiting
patiently for a sign it is okay
to come inside and join you.
~The H Word~
curtains shiver blinds applaud
breeze pirouettes inside the house
cooling sun begins their descent
likes to drag it out this time of year
I think they’d stay all night if they could
I think we’d let them if they would
although moon would take offence
waiting all day to make an appearance
and oh! how we welcome them
the minute sun dips below the horizon
we worship their pale companion
it’s a wonder sun comes back at all
how the poets bleed for the muse
in the sky even the stars are struck
with envy let sun take their time
let them linger a moment longer
for soon all will turn to the moon
as they have all the pulling power.
~The H Word~
~The H Word~ by Hazel Urquhart 