Poetry: You see me in the winter

You see me in the winter

You see me in the winter

when the trees have lost their leaves,

when the gaps are wide and gaping,

bitter’s visage twisted mean.

You see me in the winter

when nobody else comes by,

when the drifts of icy sorrow

reflect the slippery slate of sky.

When I’m six degrees below,

this lonely separation,

and my body sinks still further

as it’s buried dark in snow.

When the cold plunges deep

but you try to understand,

as it touches aching bones

you proffer a kindred hand.

When breath fogs white,

and the edges fuzz and splinter,

at least the stranger in the mirror knows,

you see me in the winter.

Words and photograph by Jess Sturman-Coombs

Poetry

Window Vane

Frost dusted rooftops

blur the edges

and smoke signals from the sun.

Ear to the ground,

Spring rides in,

hear her hooves, an impatient thrum

#writingcommunity, what’s outside your window?

Writing Prompt

#writingcommmunity, I made this one up at Tesco. It was cold!

Describe an ice cube in exactly 50 words. Go!

Here’s my attempt!

Writing Prompt

Ok, #writingcommmunity, today’s #writing #challenge, if you choose to accept. Have you ever listened to or watched people talk? They might be on the train, out for dinner, waiting to do the mundane, rainy pick-up from school. It’s fascinating. Often people will say one thing and do another. Or say something in order to achieve some ulterior motive – to impress, to intimidate, to boast. We can learn a lot from behaviour and dialogue, from people watching, so do it as much as you are able. Recognising and mimicking what people say and how they say it it enables us to more confidently harness the phenomenon in order to use as layering in our own writing, adding depth to characters and intrigue to story.

Here goes:

‘I’ve been dying to meet you’.

Introduce #setting and #character through #dialogue and behaviour alone (250 words at least). Go!

Writing Prompt

Okay, #writingcommunity, this task is all about practicing those brutal #editing skills. The result can be pretty #poetic and it’s a nice way to capture those special moments. Maybe you could frame it because it will have a unique significance and meaning to you! Perhaps pair it with a picture, or write one for someone else, as a gift.

Here’s your task:

Here’s my response, step by step:

Writing Prompt

#writingcommunity, a #writingprompt for the natural soul. You are a lone leaf on a tree, what are you thinking? Think forwards and backwards, think continuum that stretch every which way. Does a leaf know time? Does it know it differently? How would you describe yourself? Remember you’re a leaf, so how might a leaf describe itself and how would it know – would it feel rather than see? #write what comes and DON’T be tempted to use the words ‘leaf’, ‘leaves’ or ‘tree’ if you can think of another way. After all, words and labels are human constructs, right?

If I get a chance to complete this I’ll post below! Enjoy and feel free to share. I’d love to know if you’ve done it!

Writing Prompt!

#writingcommunity, here’s a #writing challenge for you:

Look at the palm of your hand. It’s a world. Look closer, describe the terrain and follow a character as they traverse it. What are the hurdles, the sounds, what do your fingers represent? In 150 words push the boundaries, enjoy and feel free to share!

Here’s mine:

10.25, Monday 29th September

Dear Journal,

The weather appears to be turning; it’s still warm, clement even, but it feels cooler than last week. The rivers continue to run blue, swollen and bulging against their banks. There are thousands of them, a network and many times I have found myself mesmerised, submerged by the whoosh; the flow. The map marks out sweeping routes carved by time rather than foot, reminding me this is a land nobody else has travelled. This is my journey, alone. It took me some time to get used to the spongy, pulsating surface beneath my feet. I admit that at first I was fearful, that I was being followed, the faint drum of a horse’s gallop. But it never gained on me, whatever it was, it wasn’t chasing. Now, by night, rather than fill me with dread, it reassures and soothes. I dream that I’m home.

Writing Prompt!

Okay, #writingcommunity, a #writing challenge for you:

If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, why did it fall in the first place? Describe the moments before it fell in 150 words.

Here’s mine:

“I Do”

Sixty-two years, four months, five days, thirty-three minutes and twenty-one seconds after she knelt, bare skin against soft dirt, and tipped fruit and ashes from her palm into the hole, dug with fingers alone, wedding band caked, it felt the ripple in the fabric; tugging the woven threads that were created between them the day she carved a place where roots could grow, droplets of muddy water streaked with grey quelling dehydration, the opportunity to push upwards towards light, each carrying the soul of another. Far away, her eyes closed, her heart stilled, her breathing too, and the sound of splintering cracked through the darkness, crying out painful splinters of solemn news. Roots pulled tight, bands snapped, one-by-one, letting go of the earth to which they had all been anchored. At last the three fell together, released from the physical world, scattering shiny bronze acorns in their wake.

Writing Prompt!

#writingcommunity, a #writing challenge for you! Find a blade of grass (imagine it if necessary). Use all 5 senses to find 5 interesting words to describe it and another word that you associate with each of those 5 words. What have you got?

Here’s mine:

‘Grass’

Long Sundays

Silky coats

Fresh pressed

Bitter resentment

Whispering secrets

SO many meanings!

With thanks to a blade of grass from my garden!

You should all now be warmed up and ready to #write! Happy writing 🙂