Winter Memories

Wool on wool on wool.
Mittens made from my father’s socks; holes cut out for thumbs.
Pixie hats made from old jumpers – so so embarrassing!
Scarves tightly wound round neck and waist,
Everything we wore was wool, and so so itchy.

Cold on cold on cold.
Frost on the windows behind thick curtains,
Waiting for pictures to be made.
Coats over blankets and eiderdowns to cover us.
And hot bricks rag-wrapped to take to bed – anything to keep us warm!

Fire on fire on fire.
Cleaning the grate and laying the fire – these are the jobs that we hate,
But stoking and poking the coals makes flames – toasting our bread and our knees
Huddle and cuddle round the fire, hot drinks in our hands.
Cocoa is all we desire.

by Dinah, Margaret, Joan, Doreen, Lily, Constance, Chris and Betty

Oxford Options Poetry Group

This is the first poem that the group wrote. It followed on from a previous session where we just brainstormed the theme of summer – taking one memory and letting it lead on to the next.

Garden on a Summers Day

A summer scent of grass clippings,
The earthy smell of freshly turned soil,
Lavender clippings in a vase.
The sounds of birds and bees rustling in the trees,
Little blue butterflies gliding through the air – buddleia bound.
The daffodils of spring are gone,
Now the summer has arrived – full of colour and fragrant roses
The garden is tranquil;
We are relaxing in the shade on the soft green grass,
Yellow flowers against the clear blue sky,
Chrysanthemums, asters, dahlias, geraniums, snapdragons and daisies
Tall lilies and gladioli-waving in the breeze
But all things must pass so a sad goodbye to a beautiful summer,
And a warm hello to a fruitful autumn.

By Doreen, Lily, Olive, Constance, Bridget, Margaret, Joan, Dani, Roger and Helen

This next one was a surprise. It did not start out as a Rap, but that is the way it ended up.

Autumn Rap

You can’t put your washing out to dry.
You can’t put your washing –
You can’t put your washing –
You can’t put your washing out to dry.

Guess that I will have to bake a pie.
Damsons, pears, elderflower wine,
Crab apple jelly, chutney’s fine.
Polish the conkers, make them shine.

Days getting darker, clocks going back.
“Please put a penny in the old man’s hat”
Smoke curls up from the chimney stack,
Bats in the bonfire – how about that!

Sparklers, Catherine wheels, rockets fly.
Don’t forget to dress the guy,
Trousers, waistcoat, shirt and tie.
Now the fireworks light up the sky.

Back to the house for food and wine.
Back to the house –
Back to the house –
Back to the house for food and wine!

By Doreen, Joan, Chris, Dinah, Margaret, Olive, Roger and Helen

29 Caramel

Brown egg laying bird,
not just a chicken but a
personality.

28 – close to you

Let me lose chaos

and discover tranquility

in your company

27

If you have the will
to see me just as I am
I’ll show you the world.

Rememberance

At the service today
we remembered you in our own way.
And there, in that one place,
with so many who knew your face;
your smile; and your grace.
It was clear that much love lay
in hearts for you today

 

26 – hold me

In your nakedness

you speak with beauty and power.

Your words enfold me

 

25 – Missing

Within is turmoil.
Without calm serenity.
Without sums it up.

24 – confusion

Inside looking out,
try to make sense of the world.
Should I just look in?

23 – the robin

watching a robin,
curious about the world,
such a small noble bird