Belated Women’s Day

Hello Poetry Lovers

Now this is a bit belated but I’ve penned a poem for International Women’s Day last Tuesday. Angrier than I thought it would be, I stuck with it anyway

Especially as this is a frustration a lot of us have to bear. Anyway read on;

Woman’s work….

Washing load done by half past ten

Only to watch it pile up again 

filthy tea towels in the machine

I need to recycle my magazines 

Who tell me what I could achieve

Why do they all sound so naïve?!

The floor cleaned yesterday now dirty 

And they all wonder why I get shirty 

Speaking of shirts, there’s ironing to be done 

And clothes stained relentlessly by my Son

I’ll clean the stinky fridge out very soon, 

Wondering when I can sit in the living room 

I remind myself to change the sheets 

I think I’ll go out and get some sweets

And 20 Rothmans and alcoholic drink 

That’s the list for today, I think. 

H Moulson 2022

Now, how many of us feel like this? Hands up! Oh yes, lots of hands raised there

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

Beauty Spot…

Hello Poetry Lovers

Well, today I’ve killed two birds with one stone (I must think of a better expression!).

Not only have I revelled in my favourite subject of beauty, but I’ve also written my first duplex poem. I expect that phone to start ringing any moment.

So, welcome to the Beauty Spot where we kick off with lovely poet Trisha Broomfield’s poignant and wistful piece, followed by my duplex. Trisha’s tells us so much more, so we’ll start with her beautiful lament;

I greet the day

make up the face I used to be

searching for a younger me

I brush my greying hair,

eyes that have seen more

than they should

stare back.

I dress in the clothes I used to wear

search for my younger body

it’s no longer there.

Trisha Broomfield 2022

Wasn’t that just beautiful?! A lot of us can identify with that, that youth that we all took for granted. Super piece, Trisha, thank you so much. Now fasten your seatbelts, this is my attempt at a beauty duplex;

My red lipstick has creased 

My Revlon panstick deceased 

Why has my mascara deceased?

And my runny lip pot overflows! 

And I swear I’ve only had a few go’s

On my dwindling Madeleine Mono’s

Overrated, I find them monotonous  

And much too thin to the touch 

Love Mary Quant’s silky touch

Her Lipsticks are velvet as such

velvet sheen and unique gloss

Brush my lips like candy floss

Why have mine all ceased ?

My red lipstick has creased 

Heather Moulson 2022

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

Archetypes..

Hello Poetry Lovers

Well, your poetry detective has come up trumps once again. I’ve discovered the Didactic Poem.

I also thought what a hoot it would be if I wrote one about the archetypes in the Tarot card pack. Until I discovered there were 78 of them!

So, I’ve written about 7 – putting in an archetype of my own – in a didactic form. I really love this form, it gives the poet so much freedom. Anyway do read on; 

Lover

Kiss as many boys as you can

Even when they’ve got bum fluff

And burp the word Bollocks   

Smoker

Smoke as much as you can 

Especially someone else’s fags

Take a puff at every opportunity 

Fool

Get off with every single boy in sight

And tell them you love them  

they’ll pay for you to get in the cinema 

Outlaw

Nick everything that you can

Fags, drink and certainly lipstick

Stealing makes you big and clever 

Jester

Swear as much as possible 

Tell as many crude jokes as you can  

Make the air go completely blue 

 Explorer

Go to every disco you can find 

Do every Funky Chicken routine

Even though you’ll be doing it alone 

Bystander

Always blame someone else 

Then run off to the wings 

And snigger quietly 

H Moulson 2022

Wasn’t that a hoot?! Try one yourself and send it in…

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

Zejel III

Hello Poetry Lovers

Welcome back to the wonderful Zejel poetry form. We now have another take on the Zejel by the talented poet, Sharron Green.

I love this, so natural and beautifully descriptive and sums up the things a poet goes through. Especially in the small hours. Thank you so much, Sharron. Great piece. Now read on;

Spanish Lullaby

At this hour silence rings
Peels of peace like ivy clings
Cloaked in fleecy angel’s wings

Time to put myself to bed
Rest my bones, reset my head
But I’m on my phone instead
Scrolling, tapping things

Need to drag myself away
But this poem has its way
Wants to be let out today
‘fore the first bird sings

So this is my first zejel
It’s not great but what the hell
They’re informal – can you tell?
How my tiredness stings.

@rhymes _n_roses

Wasn’t that just terrific, such a lovely and honest piece about the poetry journey we go through. Well, it certainly paid off, Sharron. Well done.

Thank you so much for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back with more poetry capers real soon……

The Tritina

Hello Poetry Lovers

So, the Poetry Detective comes up with yet another intriguing poetry form – the Tritina.

It’s a mini sestina and half the size. Three lines and three stanzas and a last line, as opposed to the hefty six stanzas of the Sestina. My heart sinks when a sestina is read out, they’re so weighty.

However, the little sister, Tritina is much more fun. I’ve written one about my Mother’s fridge. It’s given me the creeps somewhat, I suppose it reminded me of being in her kitchen just after she died (don’t go there!).

Do read on……..

Tritina 

Inside my mother’s fridge was beetroot

On a cracked and stained old plate

The door was buttermilked with age

The discoloured door showed its age

And the pungency of the beetroot

stained scarlet the once young plate

once a shiny and engraved plate

Before the brutality of beetroot

menacingly darkened it with age 

The beetroot on a plate that hankered for a certain age. 

H Moulson 2022

I hope you liked that one, PL’s. Now is that creepy, or is it just me? Who knows?! Anyway, do try a Tritina, there’s much more room to move in those rather than its big sister.

Thank you for tuning in, Poetry Lovers. We’ll be back with more related antics soon…..

Cat Zejel

Hello Poetry Lovers

We’re back to the wonderful Zejel form. Lovely poet Trisha Broomfield

(Here’s a glamorous picture of her ) has written a wonderful cat zejel. My two favourites rolled into one!

A fun and clever piece, Trisha. Thank you so much, keep them coming

do read on;

Cat Zejel

The cat is learning saxophone

I say we’ll leave him well alone

he thinks he will become well known

he’s tried his paw at writing tunes

he has a pal, an owl who croons

they aim their efforts at full moons

they share a certain lack of tone

he’s started acting like a star

and splashing out he’s bought a car

he is convinced he’ll travel far

at least the noise will stop, can’t moan

his wardrobe’s full of sequined suits,

a range of silver glitter boots

his pal the owl practices hoots

is that his agent on the phone?

Wasn’t that delightful?! A lovely touching piece, and it’s made me look at Dobby with suspicion! Although I haven’t seen an owl around lately. Thank you again, Trisha, terrific piece.

Thank you for tuning in, PL’s, we’ll be back with more zejel delights real soon…..

 © TB

Clerihew II

Hello Poetry Lovers

I’m back with my current pash, the Clerihew. Now my dear talented friends have come up with wonderful ones. So, thank you Trisha Broomfield and Sharron Green. These are a clever delight.

Now, do read on, we’ll start with the lovely Trisha’s;

Trisha’s Clerihew

I wish I’d known dear Samuel Pepys

We’d compare our diaries,  and inadequate sleeps

It’s not ghosts or ghouls that disturb our nights

But young male cats getting into fights. 

Trisha Broomfield 2022

Now for the wonderful Sharron’s;

Sharron’s Clerihew

Adele is back – Hip Hip Hooray!

But won’t be going to LA

She said the set did not look great

‘Go easy on me’ fans can wait

Sharron Green rhymes_n_roses 2022

Weren’t they wonderful?! Thank you so much, you clever poets, please keep them coming. What a fun form of poetry.

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

The Clerihew

Hello Poetry Lovers

Friday already! I thought I’d give us something to mull over over the weekend.

Adelaide favourite and recently featured poet, Tony Josolyne has introduced me to this wonderful Clerihew poetry form.

Thank you for that, Tony. I’ve sketched another picture of you here, with a Dick Tracy element

This is Tony’s wonderful piece. Although this was news a few weeks ago, it’s still very relevant to the madness that’s going on at this moment;

Goodbye! Goodbye! Allegra Strattan


no more to put her party hat on


her publicised mock interview


has led her to this clerihew

T Josolyne 2021

Wasn’t that just wonderful and clever?! Now, here’s my amateurish attempt;

Warhol Clerihew

I wanted a date with Andy Warhol

Certain he’d be bright and colourful

But they said he was cheap and tight

And would never help me in a fight 

Dobby Moulson 2021

So, I couldn’t resist looking up its origins, and I see it was invented by Edmund Clerihew Bentley at the age of 16! I adored this one;

Sir Christopher Wren


Said, “I am going to dine with some men.


If anyone calls


Say I am designing St. Paul’s.”[1]

E. clerihew Bentley 1905

Wasn’t that fascinating ?! I can see you all writing these clerihews now. I know Dobby’s getting scribbling (after she comes off Zoom)

Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back with more poetry shenanigans real soon……



ZEJEL POEM

Hello Poetry Lovers

Good to be back after a somewhat rocky week.

Now, knocking about with my old friend, Instagram, I discovered the Zejel poetry form. Looked terrific fun so I thought I’d share one with you.

This is an old Spanish form, and the first stanza starts with a tercet, the other 3 consist of 4 lines. Afraid I discarded the syallables but they are usually 8 in each line. What a rebel!

It puts me in mind of the Kyrelle form, but see what you think;

Worries

I put on a new lipstick 

But I find it too thick 

I’ll never look slick 

It’s gloss I need, not matt

This one makes me look fat

I have to look for the cat 

I think she’s been sick 

My face powder is too pale

I just bought it in a sale 

I’ll chuck it without fail 

I can take my pick 

The lights start to dim 

I can smell something grim

I’d better get out the Vim

The clock has a menacing tick

Wasn’t that just fun?! Try one yourselves and show me

Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back for more poetry party tricks real soon

Romantic Triolets

Hello Poetry Lovers

Are we settling nicely into 2022 now? Or like me, you’re treading with caution?

I’ve gone back to the world of the Triolet form, if only to feature this beautiful piece from the genuis talented poet Connaire Kensit

Dobby and I are huge fans of Connaire’s work, and my heart was particularly captured by this beautiful triolet. This will be followed by a more ruthless poet’s work, but will not be in the same class. I’m warning you now! Read on;

True Life Romance

The truth is exciting;

Romance is prosaic.

Though not always delighting,

The truth is exciting.

No fictional writing

Can match life’s mosaic.

The truth is, “Exciting

Romance” is prosaic.

C. Kensit 2021

Wasn’t that beautiful, such clever and vivid words. Thank you, Connaire. Lovely piece.

The following triolets are more bitter-sweet but they seem to fall into this subject. More failed romances really.

Read on..

Tap Routine 

You told me I had kaleidoscope eyes

In between tap dancing classes

How was I to know it was all lies?!

You told me I had kaleidoscope eyes 

But it was all a clever disguise 

You just liked to make passes

You told me I had kaleidoscope eyes

In between tap dancing classes 

D Moulson 2022

Husband Triolet

My husband would never give you the eye

He’s not that sort of chap

What you’ve heard is a complete lie

My husband would never give you the eye

He swore to me he’d rather die 

It’s just all a big mishap 

My husband would never give you the eye

He’s not that sort of chap 

Traditional 1974

Wasn’t that fun?! Thank you again to the lovely poet and cat lover, Connaire. Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. Stay tuned for some more poetry antics real soon…