Tag: writing

Posted in England, Writing

Keep Calm and Carry On

Posted on by Charlie Alford

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Her lion heart is beating true

inhaling buckets of vindaloo

hearing the drums, seeing bright red

taste of fresh grass – battles ahead

Failure is the tide coming in

sail the ’66 bandwagon

1 of 19, the news said,

the empire is certainly dead.

Her little red mane knows the score

generations have seen it before.

Are they all just cream-crackered?

Lost, alone, completely battered?

No – because the pride roars loudly

dancing Nobby’s dance – hopefully.

We may have misguided hope

pride of St. George others can’t scope

even when their mighty paws

graze the grass like kitty claws

she WILL put the ball in the net

and put on a show you won’t forget!

Once this small cub ran through the town

painted red: oh, what a clown

screaming “Viva L’Angleterre”

the solid cup would soon be theirs.

Sigh, Keep Calm and Carry On

is the soul of this nations song.

Inspiration:

My new ‘Keep Calm & Carry On’ Mug

Englands losses in the first round.

Baddiel & Skinner ‘It’s Coming Home’ – England’s 1996 football anthem.

 

Posted in Life

Anniversary of Me

Posted on by Charlie Alford

Anniversary of Me – A work in progress

16.6.1985 –                  

 

The makings of summer began for them

early Fathers Day, 1985

and they said hello to their first daughter.

The sounds waves of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’

brought goosebumps to his faded green tattoos

as he met her little brown eyes, gazing.

Soft olive clay ready to be moulded

her mentor, a ginger cat named Garfield

she learnt to love pasta and hate Mondays.

The years have passed like the ticks of a clock

nonsensical counting from birth to death

pausing to celebrate, commemorate.

Little pastel soldiers stand in a line

as a wave of fire sets their heads alight

and the incessant chanting begins.

Twenty-Nine years – she has seen fire and rain

climbed high mountains and sailed along rivers

travelling this long colourful rainbow.

Posted in Life, Time

When I was a little girl…

Posted on by Charlie Alford

When I was a little girl I would wander

through ancient woods and historic villages

admiration, reverence, longing to know

wishing, praying I could travel through time

with a yearning of how we got here.

Now, I flick through records and photographs

curious wonderment in my brown eyes

watching the branches stretch into history

stories of miners and farm labourers.

It really was another world.

If I was born in Victorian England

I might be a maid in the houses of Chelsea

or a farmers daughter without a trade

trying my hardest to simply exist.

Just another face in the crowd.

As the lines falter through time’s trees

mysteries remain; never to be resolved.

Ancestors circling around the globe

India, Australia, Wales and home

bequeathing a nomadic legend.

Inspired by one of my favourite television shows Who Do You Think You Are? and my passion for researching my ancestry.

Posted in Life, Writing

The Inbetween.

Posted on by Charlie Alford

 

Every day – opening and closing;

hours spent shutting out this world

caught up in her own in between.

Trapped in repetitive imagery

paralysed by the same expressions

she escapes into Narnia.

Opens her world of black ravens

whistling over an ocean breeze

a melody of her young soul.

Every day – opening and closing

Eyes anchor the in-betweens.

Todays poem inspired by Pooky’s Poetry Prompt 34 – Doors

Posted in Australia

Unplugged

Posted on by Charlie Alford

My iPad is a portal to reality

connecting, exploring, talking

I am the writer of this world

Lost in – Who? What? Where?

 I just had to unplug.

Food processors are evil

itchy little finger – torture

stands to attention in plaster

my delicious cupcakes altered

I can taste the tears on my face

my nerves screaming

the smell of failure lingering.

Later, Winter – she plucked me

from a rather fake Autumn

evolution of Australian weather

“Sautumn” turned to “Wautumn”

just like the flip of a switch.

I said it would happen.

Unplugged from my reality

Now, Unplugged from humanity

exiled to the same four walls

sniffling, coughing, mostly sleeping

reading Allegiant.

As the great machine of Melbourne

operates without me.

Soon – I will be back within my faction

fuelled by coffee and bagels

iPad is plugged in and ready to go

another week begins – tomorrow.

Due to little-finger-related technical difficulties I’ve found writing (even typing!) difficult so I took the opportunity to step away from my daily writings/musings to reconnect with the real world around me. Mother Nature, had different plans I was struck with a cold and ordered to rest. So I’ve been sleeping, reading, and resting for days now with a barely a word spoken to another human being. I wonder if the world has changed while I’ve been away… 😉

Posted in Life

Thoughts of an enigmatic spectator

Posted on by Charlie Alford

She is an enigmatic spectator

perplexed by this impossible game.

Never knowing when the bell will toll.

Never knowing when darkness will fall.

She wants. She wants to be… here.

She is an enigmatic spectator.

Pretending to know what she’s doing

expectant of something to happen

clutching to the tails of reality

afraid of letting go

and falling into oblivion.

She is an enigmatic spectator.

This global animation is a party

and she dreams of her place in the light.

She is a story destined for the stars

living and learning

hoping – this dance never ends.

She is an enigmatic spectator. 

Posted in Australia

Rhyme and Reason: Why give the taxman more money?

Posted on by Charlie Alford

 

Storm clouds gather around this sky scraper

why must every day feel like a battle

all we’re asking – is look at the papers

there is more to it than just tattle.

 

Have you dreamt of sailing around the world?

Or buying a cottage out on the bay?

Or creating as your golden years twirled?

Living out your life – free- day to day?

 

Monkey Man would have you chained to your desk

trapped and imprisoned in the daily grind

ol’ weary travellers will have no rest

till they reach fifty years – having served time.

 

Why give all your money to the taxman?

Wealthy – he’s like the mouse that got the cheese.

Why wait till later? Why not make a plan?

Earn some money now not lose it on fees.

 

Monkey man is not going to help you

he’ll have you work till your six feet under

So pull it together, let it accrue

it is your future; not that Mans plunder.

 

***

Prompt: Pooky’s Poetry Prompt 19 – Rhyme and Reason 

 

Posted in Australia

St. Kilda Pier

Posted on by Charlie Alford

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Pausing above the breakwater

on the edge of St. Kilda Pier

capture a father and daughter

tangled in photography gear.

Her pink scarf dances in the breeze

as her world falls behind the trees.

In the shadows with bells and chimes

she stops being guarded by time.

Enchanted by the soft whistles

emerging from the creaking boats.

Posts, etched in sailors initials

tells the stories of life afloat.

Raptures of little blue penguins

Modeling for their human friends

nestle themselves in the deep rocks

quiet and safe along the docks.