Poetry and Creative Writing for All

Angelita Redfern

When I came to live & joined my husband here in England in 1992 from the Philippines, I suffered from a culture shock which I think will be the effect of immigrating in a different country, so I decided to find the easiest way how to confront this sort of anxiety, especially if the people around me and my new family tried to helped me to adopt into my new way of life.

I became more aware of my surroundings, more enthusiastic with all things around me. I was fascinated by the snowfall, because I 've never seen actual snow in my life before I came to England, so I decided to expressed what I saw and felt through writing. In 1997, I went to a Creative writing course in our local library, met a lot of people with the same enthusiastic feeling as I do. I sent for a few short stories to different publishers, but my stories were not good enough to be published because most of them were sent back , so I pursued more. My enthusiasm doesn't stop there, because by the year 1998- 2000 I entered Gateshead College and studied Creative Writing , English Language & English Literature. During my college days, I met a fellow student whose written work was already been published by Forward Press, who also recommended me about sending my poetry to Forward Press, and there I was, I sent off my first poem and was accepted for an Anthology, 'Choices' ( a poem I intended for a short story someday if I can finish it.) Next, is the 'River', wherein this time brings a lot of good and bad memories, for both me and my husband. I 've also sent some of my poems to a different publication and one of them was accepted to be printed, called ' First Flight' ( my very first aeroplane experience). Few more poems were published afterwards, including ' Love & Principles', 'The Clock's Ticking' and ' Lady in Black'.

Some of the poems I wrote revealed my true experiences. It also revealed the places I have seen that enhanced my imaginary perception, and indulge me the optimistic idea to write about it.

I love reading books that was written by famous writers; William Blake, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, JRR Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Roald Dahl, William Shakespeare, Agatha Christie, Julian May, Rudyard Kipling , Alexander Gray and more to be mentioned. They became my inspiration when I am trying to write short stories or poetry because their written works enhanced my imagination.

I am so glad to be accepted as one of the Five Winners for the Online- Competition for the poem 'Vanity'. Hopefully, it will bring remarkable thoughts to anyone who reads it. I have Included more of my favourite poems which might interest our readers of this website and finds it enjoyable.

Best Regards to all,

Mrs A. Redfern ( Angelita)

Vanity

Life caress the beauty of its own,
Bound to be discreet with perfection,
And how can be avoided by distortion,
A mind that conceals only self preservation.

Guarding oneself, protecting, admiring,
And admiring the creation of oneself, daring,
Not, to waste time and fell behind, moving,
A world that put oneself into a pedestal, living

Into the highest of all, with deception,
That ones heartbeat with most appreciation
Everyone loves and adores, & with great action,
Oneself fulfil great satisfaction.

Its been so hard, oneself is in vain,
The way of life so perfect with pain,
Pain in heart to reveal the truth, & its insane
Pretending to be better in the eyes of all humane.

Looking into oneself, today, tomorrow, and days to come,
Is bearable by those in limelight, though time,
Is short and indeed become,
The famous people and adores by all.

Now.... oneself retire and vain banished,
Pretensions, imitations, deceptions, all banished,
Banished indeed, though shall increase ,
Clean concience, without vain, with good human life, at least!

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Choices

She dances the song of life,
shows her hidden love,
thought man’s love create wonders

One bindlove they soon arranged
filled with natures life,
and soon had two baby dolls.

Desire ease from his changed heart,
covered oily land
where money pays sweated shirt.

The flower blooms in her heart,
tempted love smiles,
but woman needs care and love.

A newfound love she regret,
truth reveal she lied,
If child cries in nine months time.

Life and wealth take back with him,
two years sweat was short,
longing for the love he left.

Feel of guilt she thought within,
hope of life don’t care,
Natures life she then refuse.

Honesty she taught her girls
honest love rewards,
by Him, who judge as well-being.

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First Flight

I heard a sound,
getting louder and louder;
Could this be normal, I asked myself?
Felt a strange and unusual feeling,
getting lifted from the ground,like a feather from the land,
higher, higher, higher,
Closed my eyes, and thought of something,
The laughter and joy which I will miss from my native land, and
the courage I will need,
to face a foreign land,
Will beyond my own imagination,
I forced my mind to shut for a while,
No, I cannot, my mind said not,
I opened my eyes, and looked outside,
surrounded by clouds,
and surprised my eyes,
A man smiled, and said, " Alright?"
"Yes", I said and "Thanks indeed."

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In Derwent Walk

Sounds to be a nice day for a walk,
This quiet place in Derwent walk,
Many people try to jog & talk,
And, try to restore their health to avoid the stroke.

This is what I did when I was told,
My blood pressure’s too high, so keep it hold,
Until it drops to one thirty degrees as told,
Or I will remain at my doctor’s surgery until get old.

Now, now I am free, and won at last,
Defeat the stroke when I did the must,
Exercise, jogging, running, even I am covered with dust,
Quite remarkable when I did, at last

Derwent walk will be a good place,
To spend your day, no matter what day,
Walking alone no one will say,
As long as you promise you’ll not spoil your stay.

There’s a breezy wind in Derwent walk,
Trees, swing their leaves pretending to talk,
And share their joy, while people look,
Fascinating, tantalising, while our eyes were hooked,

Now, time for me to say goodbye,
But neither you or I,
Not happy to say our last goodbye,
For we both knew, goodbye is just a lie.

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A Song

Words behind, were unexplainable,
to those undesirable,
Refuse point blank
And become unbearable.

Words behind, were incredible,
and absolutely remarkable,
for those who understands, the real meaning
gives them the pleasure with a true feeling.

Original or copied, both incredible,
With its rhythm gives them a good measure,
A beat that lifted our heart,
And let lovers fulfil their vows.

Words used unknown to us,
Gives us time to think about,
Rather silly if we didn’t
We’ll end up catching the wind.

Lyrics are important,
The words used, behind the song,
It's a pity, if we can't hear,
A song that should reveal.

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River

On a dark stormy night,
Wind blowing harshly in my ears,
Howling furiously,
Cold in the wind, shakes me,
Oh! What a miserable night,
Beside the water's edge,
Wait! I saw a glimpse of;
I am certain it is moving,
Perhaps I should be careful,
Check once more, and look around,
Nothing there,
It's only the River.

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