Author: Charlie Alford

I like to think I'm a story teller. I love stories. I believe the world is filled with stories just waiting to be told and learned. I enjoy travelling down the road less travelled, with my iPhone and journal in each hand. Here you'll find all my poetic musings... Enjoy!
Posted in Life

words

Posted on by Charlie Alford

venomous words are hard to clean
darkness taints a perfect blue sky
the photograph smudged and ruined
as the strong stench of yesterday
pulls on the chains of resentment
as her world crashes with a thud
her soul melts in the acid rain.
she made daisy chains in the park
on a pleasant suburban day
dreaming of all her tomorrows
while tomorrow lingers in the dark
wondering, how did she get here?
Hi de ho! Old friend, old neighbour
the dividing fence was her home
the promise of stability
with endless woods for her to roam
but the trap of good impressions
lit the snowball of red anger
corrupting her soul, she wants out
she wants sunshine in her picture
she wants the suburban postcard
the venomous words cannot beat her
the venomous words will not defeat her
she will scribble her daisy chains
on her suburban photograph

Inspired by the nursery rhyme ‘sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me’

Posted in Life, Writing

What will your legacy be?

Posted on by Charlie Alford

What will your legacy be?
Someone fetch me a cup of tea
Vacant eyes in a photograph
a smile with potential to laugh
the voice quiet and unheard
the writer speaks not a word
hidden behind hazel eyes
an ocean of silent cries
make your mark on the page
own your part on the stage
you’re the lead in your story
reach for your inner glory
stretch it to the sky like a tree
what will your legacy be?

Posted in Australia, Life, Loss

Put Out Your Bats

Posted on by Charlie Alford

Things happen.

You just don’t think they are going to happen

but they do.

A fallen hero

things happen

but then they get better

but sometimes they don’t.

I saw red bold letters

I saw yesterday on replay

I felt the sun shining

I heard clouds on the bay

Flags fell

Wishes made

Prayers barely answered

hope fell into shade

Darkness cast shadows,

against the light of humanity

but breathes of love

in the veins of a global community

roared across oceans

to the place I call home.

Streets lined with cricket bats

wherever I roam.

I didn’t know you

I only knew of you

I feel the pain of losing you

because I feel the grief left by you

Things happen

Nonsensical things happen

and we all keep asking

why did it happen to you?

—

Written for Phil Hughes & Cricketing Community. I can’t say I ever followed cricket or know much of the team but what happened last week I felt in my heart just like the rest of the world. It’s just so shocking and I still can’t believe it.  I had to write something.

#putoutyourbats

Posted in Writing

sleep

Posted on by Charlie Alford

she could smell the rain
It tasted like pancakes on Wednesday
the world darkened under a silver moon
Journeying into never ever land
The curtains closing
The purple haze over the city
Outside her window
Words bid her farewell
Lying still her mind runs
Tales of tomorrow
As if it were yesterday
The cyber girl of the dark
Illuminates through twilight
It’s what day?

Posted in Life

Live the Journey

Posted on by Charlie Alford

Originally posted for 365 Days of Creating Charlie:

Dwelling inside is my inner Alice

perplexed by the choices she has to make

the Cheshire cat, his words mean no malice

but enigmatic words are hard to take.

If the destination is unknowing

than the direction doesn’t matter

when the moments in between are flowing

that is when your road begins to scatter.

So, take a jump down the white rabbits hole

stop for tea with the Hatter and the Hare

scribble and sketch all over your life scroll

for life is outside society’s square.

To be here – is the greatest game you’ll play

another decision, take it your way.

Posted in Life

Poem for Mental Health Week

Posted on by Charlie Alford

Inspired by Mental Health Week that is sweeping across Australia.

Empty

like a glass of wine

on a Friday night

spinning happily

wonderland

spices and chilli

stings shivering nerves

casacade of goosebumps

the real world screams

from all directions

piano keys at her temples

bass at her heart

eyes like lead

oh, a paper-weight of a head

Downton’s Daisy, is

devilishly clever

a marionette under the wrong master

she doesn’t know what to do

society says she will not do

in her family tree of servitude.

That story stops there

hack and halve and hack again

dreams submerge reality

or is the other way around?

She is tired.

She is empty.

She breaks her down

to build her up.

She is the builder.

Posted in Life, Writing

Despicable You

Posted on by Charlie Alford

Despicable You

Trolling about the place

your radar must be broken

your mind wanders

far in the wrong direction

your twisted pleasures

scratches against my life

like nails on a chalkboard

turning my sunshine to rain

your words taste like milk

that has been left out alone

the government warned us

about the Internet

now bonding with humans

face to face

sends dancing endorphins

but are frozen shocked

by disillusioned speech

the brown eyed pot belly

sprawled across the chair

sends shudders down my spine

there’s just something not right

chuntering over there

the office clock ticks away

but I’m trapped in creepy moments

of seductive despicability

but it doesn’t work on me

my disdain pauses your conversing

the innocent shrivelled shrugging

shows a lifetime of rehearsing

to me you are a real life Gru

vile and wicked; twisted you.