Poetry and Creative Writing for All

Colin Ormston

	Colin Ormston won our Top 5 Poems of the Month Online Competition - July 2006

I began writing folk songs in my late teens, one of them recorded by "The Pendlefolk" in the 1960's. After that, somehow, I lost the inclination to write. In retrospect it was probably a combination of too little quality time and a lack of truly inspirational surroundings. In 1990 I retired early and with my wife, Joyce, moved to a small hamlet in rural France, beautiful surroundings but still too little time as all our energies were poured into renovating our farmstead.

Then just three months ago, I began writing again. France and, in particular, the Limousin region can be so inspiring - little wonder when you consider that Claude Monet was born here and that, even now, it is a favourite haunt for impressionist painters.

My favourite themes are love poetry and humour, both subjects which touch all of our lives. I cannot contrive poems, they have to come from the heart and are often borne from long-past memories and experiences.
Without reliving those moments in my mind, I cannot write, so the process is usually very personal and often quite an emotional journey. It's these moments, usually in the early hours of the morning, when the words just flow off the pen and quite often the first version of the poem is finished in under an hour. I then review it in the cold light of day and make minor adjustments, but never lose sight of the feelings which inspired it.

I'm also something of a traditionalist. There is something especially
enchanting and meaningful about rhyming poetry which cannot be captured in any other way - its the only form of poetry which causes my spine to tingle!

The Remnants of a Dream

I hear you quietly whisper, your presence fills the air.
I can almost reach and touch you, run my fingers through your hair.
The moonlight through the window illuminates your face,
A portrait of tranquility, a still mirage of grace.

Your eyes hold an attraction, impossible to fight
You draw my spirit in like a moth to candlelight.
The present melts away as the spell is gently cast
Carrying me with you through a doorway to the past.

I see a couple holding hands, oblivious to the world,
Looking deep into a future yet to be unfurled.
Hearts full of innocence, of selfless love and care,
Planning every footstep of a lifetime they will share.

They turn to one another, fix the moment in their mind,
Their faces moving closer, leaving consciousness behind.
What follows is unselfish, two souls becoming one,
Sharing love to last a lifetime in a perfect union.

They lie together silently, their inner thoughts entwined.
A harmony of body, a harmony of mind.
All captured in a memory, forever framed in time,
You and I together, Pierrot and Columbine.

Then the image darkens, a threatening shadow nears,
And out of the ensuing gloom, a preying figure peers.
Possession written on his face,  desire within his eyes,
He waits his moment, makes his move, the love within you dies.

A crushing blow descends and breaks the spirit deep within.
The emptiness engulfs me and I know I cannot win.
My wings of hope are broken, left flightless by the scars
No longer will we soar and touch the faces of the stars.

The shadow has a hold on you and draws your gaze away,
Lures you with the promises that one day will betray
The trust so clearly written on every facet of your face,
And consign it to eternity when another takes your place.

I cradle your rejected form, embrace within my mind
A vision of what might have been had fortune been more kind.
A despairing mist surrounds us and I hold you close as one
Who knows that everything is lost and once more you are gone.

I reach into the darkness, stare into the abyss
Searching for your spirit, the reassurance of your kiss.
But time has stolen you away and cast our worlds apart,
And all that now remains of you is buried in my heart.

I awaken from a troubled sleep and the remnants of a dream
Fade like melting snowflakes as they touch a gentle stream.
The images that ruled the night surrender to the day,
Dissolve into a memory, then gradually decay.

But still I hear you whisper, your presence fills the air.
I can almost reach and touch you,  run my fingers through your hair.
Knowing that when night returns your eyes will once more call
Across the barren shores of time from your picture on the wall. 

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One Word

One love throughout a lifetime kept
a hope alive when naught was left.
One fragile chance that by some good
our paths would lead where we once stood.
One thought to re-enact the scene
and say the words I really mean.
One pain reminds me every day
once only do we pass this way.
One memory throughout endures,
and with its presence now ensures
One word I will always recall,
forever etched upon my soul.
One desperate plea, one tearful sigh,
a final glance, and then – "goodbye".

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The Thunderstorm of Love

It's a thief, it breaks down the bastions of your heart and steals away all rational thought
Picks the pockets of your soul, drinks all emotion, leaves it empty and distraught.
Peels back each layer of defence learned from previous mistakes
And draws you subtly closer, closer, with the promises it makes.
You follow blindly, entrusting this impostor with your heart
And with callous indifference it takes your life apart.
It finds each weakened crevice and with a lever born of doubt
Opens up each fissure, forcing trust and caring out.
Once each fragile bond is broken and its purpose is complete
Life fractures and collapses, the heart accepts defeat.
Then it leaves as quickly as it came, but will return one day
Though what it brings this time is less than what it took away.
The head shouts "No, no more!" But like a piercing arrow against a velvet glove
The shout becomes a whisper, no match for the thunderstorm of love.

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Loves Lesson

A faded photograph alone portrays
The memories of those very special days.
When future's road stretched out into the sun
And the tapestry of life had only just begun.
The day life's boulevard was torn in two,
One path took me, the other path took you.
Although I never understood, now I've come to know.
Selfish is to keep, but love is - letting someone go.

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To Joyce

The hour hand moves relentlessly, times endless rivers flow.
Each year rings in the changes as the seasons come and go.
Spring was another lifetime, summer waves goodbye
Autumn makes its entrance in the blinking of an eye.

We survived each raging hurricane, shared each gentle breeze
Embraced the heat of summer, overcame the winter freeze.
On the path of lifes adventure, whenever danger neared
You drew me closer to you 'till the threat had disappeared.

You are my protector who keeps me safe, inside,
From the sand which shifts beneath my feet with every ebbing tide.
You're the air which keeps me breathing, the shawl that keeps me warm
And protects me with safe harbour, my lighthouse in the storm.

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The Hopeless Astronomer

He peered into the moonlit sky
With a telescope and one good eye.
"I see no stars", he quietly said,
Then used the other eye instead.

But all that greeted him was black,
Nothing bright was shining back.
Then remembered that these things depend
On taking the cap off the other end.

He stared into the powerful lens
And saw a flock of startled hens.
Not knowing that the 'scope had dropped,
Moved gently downwards 'till it stopped.

He watched as hordes of comets flashed
Across his vision, oh so fast,
Then realised with some dismay
He was pointing at the motorway.

The moon loomed large within his view
Though with a distinctly orange hue
Because the telescopes line of sight
Had strayed onto a neon light.

He pointed up, began to gaze.
Two blinking orbs shone through the haze.
"Dual Stars" he began to say,
The barn owl frowned then turned away.

Orions Belt was worth a look
Though it didn't appear as in the book.
Two eyes peered back and looked bemused,
The Jersey cow was not amused.

He scoured the skies throughout the night,
Not one celestial body bright.
Then suddenly with a cry of glee,
"My neighbour in her lingerie!"

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Submission Guidelines: Poems of no more than 30 lines in length each will be considered.