Heather Moulson

Happy (ish) New Year

Happy New Year, Poetry Lovers.

Are we embracing 2022? Or shying away from it, fearing yet another blow from Lockdown? There seems to be tremendously mixed and tentative feelings about this very new year .

So, to counteract this trepidation, I have posted two pieces on the New Year.

The first you will see is pretty miserable but may remind us of New Year celebrations best forgotten.

The second is a much more positive piece, with optimism from that lovely talented poet, Trisha Broomfield. She cleverly sums up how we should be feeling

New Year Lament

Nylon underwear beneath

Effervescent clothes

Worn for a New Year but

Yearning for midnight and

Escape from false exuberance

Aching to undress and get

Ready for bed

H Moulson 2021

Now this is Trisha’s, far more profound;

New Year Acrostic

Never underestimate

Every person’s desire to

Will in a new and better

Year than the one before

Each one of us wishes to see sunshine

And smiles, to hear heart-warming words.

Return to the past? Why would you?

Limerick Corner

Happy New Year, Poetry Lovers

I am falling in love with limericks, so when the lovely poet Trisha Broomfield penned this great piece, I had to share it with you all.

A great start to 2022. Thank you, Trisha, very witty and clever and most of all – cat related. An excellent mix. Do read on, you will all love it too;

Trisha’s Limerick

There was a cool poet called Trish

who had quite a penchant for fish

but up popped the cat

an end to all that

now each meal is an aubergine dish.

Wasn’t that just wonderful?! Do have a go yourselves, I’d love to see yours too. Thank you again, Trisha.

Well, PL’s, all I can say is Happy New Year to you, and lets hope 2022 is a good one!

Eye Limerick

Hello PL’s

As most of you know, I had a cataract procedure recently. The right eye now feels as if it has gravel in it, due to the eye drops, they say.

So I was feeling quite down about it all. Not only did I have to endure that odd Clockwork Orange type procedure, I had to walk the 2 miles to Roehampton hospital due to roadworks.

So when the lovely poet and friend, Sharron Green gave me this limerick, things really lit up. Read on and you’ll see what I mean. Thank you so much, Sharron. I’ll treasure this;

There was a great poet called Heather
Whose humour was light as a feather
She had an eye op
So her sight would be top
And she could bring more folks together

rhymes_n_roses 2021

Wasn’t that terrific?! I would love to do a clever limerick like that! A New Year’s resolution maybe? Thank you again, Sharron

The following collage is Dobby caring for me after my operation. I know I’m going to pay dearly for this.

Thank you for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back with more antics real soon…

Bitter sweet Yuletide

Hello Poetry Lovers

I thought I’d get one more seasonal piece in before Christmas Day.

Inspired by Trisha and Sharron’s pieces, I thought I’d try and get the wonderful detail those talented poets do. I also thought I’d try this structure – what fun!

Anyway, read on;

Christmas always reminds me of ;

The coal fire

Burnt sausage rolls

Mince pies

The turkey in the oven at 7 am

Carry on films

On the telly

I got a wooden jigsaw puzzle one year

Normally

I hate them

Bore me stiff

I was too old for the big wooden pieces

Loved it

Anyway

Christmas dinner was anti-climatic

Dry turkey

Brussel sprouts

Crackers loud

Only the trifle was worth having

Lemonade

Sometimes

A dark Boxing Day afternoon

Holiday adverts

All presents

Opened

Parents and brother hungover

Why do

We bother?

H Moulson 2021

So, PL’s, what can I really say? Except a very Happy Christmas to everyone and thank you all for tuning in this past year.

Seasons Greetings part II

Hello Poetry Lovers

Christmas draws nearer, and I have another seasonal treat to show you. This is by the lovely and clever poet, Sharron Green

I particularly liked this one because it emphasises the splendour of the season while bringing up relevant issues. I thought this was a very clever and engaging piece.

Thank you so much, Sharron, and congratulations on winning the University of Surrey’s Poetry competition. Do read on;

Christmas Countdown

Clusters of crystals glitter the rose buds

Tinsel the treetops in lullaby lanes

Snow flakes have drifted, sledging through soap suds

Terrible torture to chubby chilblains

Down in the village, homes are bedecked now

Fairy lights garland each garden and roof

Santas on sleighs and Rudolphs project how

Each wants a visitor, this is their proof

Children have scribbled and drawn their desires

Hence all the Black Friday bargains to wrap

Chaos of gifts strewn beside roaring fires

Toxic news turns all plans made to crap

Seems that each day there’s diminishing cheer

Watching the list of do’s and don’ts grow

Twenty-one tapers, eyes turn to next year.

We’ll make the best of this Christmas though.

Rhymes_n_Roses 2021

Thank you again, Sharron and keep them coming please. Wasn’t that a wonderful piece?! It really reflected our current climate.

Stay tuned, PL’s for more seasonal antics real soon…

Seasons Greetings

Hello Poetry Lovers

I guess it’s time to get seasonal and still keep my obsession with food. However, this particular food we will all be obsessed about.

Yes, a lovely poem from Trisha Broomfield about those traditional mince pies and the nostalgia and memories they evoke. Rosy yet painful at times.

Lovely detailed poem, Trisha, thank you so much. Do read on;

Mince Pie Time

I crumb butter into flour

the mixing bowl your old one

creamy patterned like an Aran sweater

elbows up, the kitchen counter too tall,

suddenly I am four again

crumbing Trex into Homepride

your own mother’s mixing bowl

elbows up, feet on a stool

the kitchen table too tall,

breadcrumbs of nearly shortcrust appear

and I don’t know how,

add an egg, cold water, just a touch.

It’s mince pie time again

but because I am four once more

I reach for the spoon

dollop red jam into cups of pale pastry.

Wasn’t that such a moving journey? Who didn’t get a lump in their throat, remembering their own mother’s baking these timeless things? With my own Mum it was more sausage rolls and when Christmas Eve comes round, I can still smell that baking aroma. Sigh!

Thanks so much for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be real soon with another seasonal piece

Grey Breakfast

Hello Poetry Lovers

Here we are once again on my favourite subject; Food. Inspired by Trisha Broomfield’s terrific breakfast poem last week, I just had to do one of my own. I didn’t mean it to end up like it did but I feel it’s worth a read anyway. See what you think;

Why is it that Sugar Puffs are so enticing ?

In adverts they explode out the pack – splat!

Over a laughing ladies’ pristine dining table

When I tried that at home, I got shouted at!

Mum is saving up her Embassy Coupons

To replace the old pan cooking my porridge

I really think she should get me a Sindy Doll

Because my only friend’s moving to Norwich

Doorstep toast emerges from under the grill

And my bloody brother has nicked the jam

I’ll be alone in the midst of the playground

And no-one seems to give a damn

I say goodbye to Lynn, shivering in her mac

Standing outside her former front door

A long lonely walk to school from now on

My mum simply asks what I’m crying for

H. Moulson 2021

Well, I hope that wasn’t too grim, PL’s. Not that festive I know, but I was fascinated with the breakfast idea and how many emotions we carry with that vital meal.

More importantly, it gave me a chance to get out my crayons!

Thank you for tuning in, I’ll come up with something festive then (possibly)……

Breakfast Corner

Hello Poetry Lovers

Well, it looks like my food fixation is here to stay. I’ve even included a photo of me in an IKEA kitchen!

However I would have been inspired by Trisha Broomfield’s lovely piece anyway. Simply titled Trisha’s Breakfast, these succinct words show us what a complex meal breakfast is these days. Great fun, I love it. Do read on ;

Trisha’s Breakfast

Breakfast isn’t always easy

porridge doesn’t hit the spot

eggs make me feel rather queasy

I’m up by seven on the dot

Toast is dull and rather flat

fruit too fresh and wide awake

kippers I’d give to the cat

too much by half this time of day

Avocado is a current choice

despite the miles that they fly

a shame they do not have a voice

I could choose sausages to fry

Pumpkin seeds and almonds I could try

to go vegan and respect the world

or get out early, go and buy

buttered croissants neatly curled

but despite my fast since supper time

what I need first thing you see

a biscuit, I know it doesn’t rhyme,

and a mug of good strong tea.

Wasn’t that just lovely?! Bless you, Trisha, thank you so much. Please keep them coming.

Thanks for tuning in, PL’s, till the next time…

More Short forms….

Hello Poetry Lovers

Here I am, back on food. I can’t leave it alone!

I just wanted to feature some more fascinating short forms I learnt in Sharron Green’s class recently.

As you can see, I have written a monorhyme – each line with 8 syllables, and the last word has to rhyme. I had fun with this one;

Food Monorhyme

Smoked salmon is good for the soul

Not fast food that just fills a hole

But when I eat a sushi roll

I dream of cake that makes me whole

Healthy salads, they are my goal

After I’ve eaten this egg roll

Wasn’t that fun? The Etheree that follows was even better. 10 syllables, then 9, then 8, etc and it can go either way. I built it up rather than diminished it. Do read on;

The Etheree

I said

You can’t have

My brand new phone

And who would you call?

No, not that awful girl

You must never play with her

She flirts and goes out with boys

wait until you are a grown woman

meanwhile I will tell her to go to Hell

Aren’t these forms fun, and interesting?!

I will have some more for you soon, PL’s. Meanwhile we will return shortly with even more food!!

Thank you to Sharron for her inspiration, and thank you for tuning in, Poetry Lovers

The Strambotto

Hello Poetry Lovers

I thought I’d keep to the food theme this week, though this one isn’t as seasonal as the lovely Trisha’s in the last post.

I recently took a course with the very talented and prolific Sharron Green on Short Forms in poetry, and thanks to her, I discovered the wonderful Strambotto – 8 lines, 11 syllables apiece, and it’s abababab.

This was not an easy one to do, but I struggled on. Do read the result….

Strambotto

I prepare for you a pasta spaghetti

Then I kneaded a delicious pizza pie

I would bring you only loved food for your belly

But your appetite is gone, you pass me by

I have prepared desserts with cream and jelly

And your hand absently strokes my thigh

Today I serve you garlic that is smelly

But tempted to serve poison so that you die

H Moulson 2021

Now please forgive the grim ending, PL’s, and I hope to God you’re not about to have your supper/breakfast/lunch/tea. But by that time, I was worn down by those 11 rhyming syllables and I could only think in a malevolent way.

Thanks for tuning in, Poetry Lovers, we’ll be back real soon……..