Counting Down to Christmas

As the world counts down through Advent,

Youngsters squeal in their delight,

Of a Christmas that is merry

Decorations shining bright.

They hear the postman knocking

And rush to ope’ the door;

Cardboard boxes keep arriving,

Mum says, they’re for her Christmas chores.

But the cards come through the letterbox,

Lovely pictures oh so pretty.

With snow scenes and red Santas,

Some nativities; some just witty.

And the tree sits in the corner,

With lights that twinkle all the day

And there’s a joyful Christmas angel

Saying that Christmas is on the way.

And as Christmas itself gets closer,

To the Eve of Christmas Day

They listen to the carols

From the church across the way.

Then leaving out their stockings,

With some sherry for Santa too,

They climb into their cosy beds,

Hoping Santa can fit down the flue!

And they dream of the sleigh that is flying,

Across the pale moon tonight

And of Rudolph who leads it onward

Through time and space in flight.

Hoping morning will bring all they asked for

But if not, then that’s all right,

For a loving family gathering

Will make up for it ’til Twelfth Night.

Photo and poem copyright Englepip©

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In the Fall

In the Fall
Everything falls earthward
It should be a time of

Desolation
Despair
Disillusionment

At Summer’s end.

But Autumn leaves
Turning to their brightest
Most gloriously
Inventive
Artistic
Enthusiastic
Sublime embrace
Of life.

In death
Nature shines
Puts on her
Royal robes
And parades
Across the land
Dancing in the wind,
In glory.

And why?

Because she knows
This is just the beginning
That after a winter retreat
There will be new life
New beginnings.

This is not death at all
This is life conquering death
Looking for tomorrow.


Poem and photo copyright Englepip ©

Daily Prompt: Gabby Young Trio

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The Gabby Young Trio at the Midsummer Festival at the Royal Academy of Arts 2014

Surrounded by art

Of the great and good

The musical trio

With instruments stood.

Not the stuck up and haughty

But winsome and naughty

Playing music, rock-folksy with jazz.

The girls  decked with flowers

Their dresses so pretty

A guitarist both

Bearded and tall.

And as they play

With energy boundless

We find ourselves

Tapping away.

Their tunes

Captivating 

Almost hypnotising

We smile as we welcome

This treat.

For this great occasion

Is one huge alloy

Art, sculpture and music

Concurrent.

Was there e’r such an evening

Of beauty and laughter

Of dancing and singing

The gallery ringing

To tunes which

Express so much love.

I wrote this poem in celebration of a wonderful evening at The Royal Academy of Art Midsummer Festival in 2014. The exhibition each year, takes work from emerging and established artists and gives them a chance to showcase their work. In 2014 they had a wonderful party for which I won some tickets. It was an very memorable evening and for me this trio was the icing on the cake. I believe Gabby Young went on to form a group Gabby Young and other Animals but I don’t think they are currently performing.

Here is a link to more about the group. Click here.

Words and photo copyright Englepip©

Daily Prompt: Captivating

Daily Prompt: Out there

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The wind whistles around the entrance to the cave

And a dull day brings rain, beating against the rocks

And swishing inwards, pock-marking the sandy entrance.

The swell rises and the spray adds to the dampness

Out there.

 

Out there are monsters of the deep, curling cunning tentacles

Around the unsuspecting prey.

Out there are the sharks, patrolling the shoreline for a tasty meal

Homing in on splashing and signs of distress.

Out there are the jellyfish, floating like ghosts

Just beneath the surface, tentacles ready.

 

But also ….

 

There are sea-lions clapping their flippers

Lying  as though sunbathing, even in a squall,

Resting at ease in the undulations of the waves.

There are sea-singing whales,  splashing in the ocean

Blowing great fountains and spurts high into the air

Where they play.

And there are the dolphins, racing and leaping and

Laughing in the surf which beats the shore.

 

In here it is warmer.

In here is protected from the elements

From life.

In here is washed up detritus

Excrement of seagulls and skeletons of bats.

 

I can see from my cavity in the rock wall

All manner of life: I can observe others living.

Maybe if the sun shines, I should emerge

And risk dipping my foot in the ocean of life

Maybe I should take a short swim

And see what life brings.

 

 

This is a symbolic poem as well as a description of what it is like to be in a dry cave above the swelling ocean. We all have choices in our lives. Some find a safe hide away, ‘a cavity in the rock face of life’  if you will, from which they are frightened to emerge. It seems safe but is impoverished in what it offers as an experience of life. Out there, there is fear no doubt, but there is also laughter, joy and beauty. We cannot, in my opinion, live life to the full without a little risk taking and sampling other things. I believe we should get out there and enjoy and marvel at the good in the world, rather than live in fear and experience nothing.

Words and photos copyright Englepip©

via Daily Prompt: Cavity