Hello everyone, I’m Laurie known as The Psychy Poet due to an expansive career in mental health. Thus the “psychy” is short for psychiatry! Anyway enough of that I am going to do an introduction to poetry, a definition, thoughts expressed to me about it and my “style”. As the saying now goes “in no particular order”.
Poetry, as described by Gray is “thoughts that breath and words that burn”! Well certainly I agree and in my style written across romance, humour, reflection & tragedy that encapsulates all of our lives, I tend to write when emoted by humour, anger etc, so in my books I nail my thoughts and poems down in everyday, down to earth language. My three published books all have the four sections as mentioned above, romance, humour, reflection and tragedy.
There is some contention amongst poets, readers and people in general as to how poetry should be presented, non rhyming or rhyming for example ,and in a regimented format or free flowing. Personally I believe poetry is whatever we like or want it to be and in any style. As I write in what is consider “traditional” and a rhyming, regular presentation, I am somewhat biased. However unlike some “poetic snobs” I appreciate all poetry but do struggle if it is somewhat “airy fairy waffle poo” that has no meaning or direction. Ho ho, say what you mean!!!
My style has been kindly described as “terrific parable like stories” , one such comment coming from The Writers Forum no less! Anyway I have included three of my poems, why I wrote them and a bit about them. Please enjoy!
Poem One “Aspects and Feelings”………
This poem is quite “short and punchy” as it was especially written for the
Introduction of my first book Poetic Views of Life, thus needed to be brief and
to the point. The poem really leads to my four sections in my books with a
comment on each and perhaps a simple message to recognise the world about
us and to take part.
Poem Two “Someone Says Goodbye”…….
This poem is one of my favourites and although really a tragedy it proposes
hope too. I wrote it nearly two years ago on witnessing a dear friend dying
in her fifties from cancer, and being with her at her passing. It is also in my
first book, and I read it on video for an article, so has a place in my heart for
several reasons. The repeated verse lines are intended as a sort of tolling bell
ringing out how “quick we can be gone”. As I said it has a promotion for our
hope too.
Poem Three “Feeling Special”………..
To lighten the mood from the previous poem this one is a romantic and only
written 5 months ago thus features in my 3rd book Reviews of Life in Verse
published on October 16th this year. Amongst many kind compliments I have
about this poem, (ho ho and many others of course!), I find it amusing when
some folks say “aaagghh that’s lovely and “YOU” wrote it !!!! ??????), which
as I said, I take as a sort of “rhetorical compliment” as I am apparently known
for my “lively sense of humour”, which seems to wrongly conclude & suggest
that I can’t write anything else but humour. I sincerely hope my work refutes
this, especially as some of my senior peers say I am extremely fortunate to be
able to write “so expansively across a wide spectrum of subjects”………..
Watch this space then and make up your mind, but mostly, please enjoy!
Aspects and Feelings
Life’s wonder is all around us
However near or far we look,
So I have made poetic observations
And put them in a book.
Romance will touch and thrill us,
Tragedy can make us cry
While humour lifts our spirits,
Reflection questions why?
Everyone has needs and feelings
Should they run off and retire,
But knowing views of others
Just may switch on and inspire!
Someone Says Goodbye
See how quick we can be gone
And the world will blink and carry on,
Another soul out the exit door
Whilst we wonder what life is for.
But there must be more for us than this
A racing heart and a loving kiss,
All our struggles and an uphill climb
Take our words and makes them mime.
Mothers, fathers, siblings and friends
We are all these before our ends,
But what of this when we are to go
What will change and who will know?
See how quick we can be gone
And the world will blink and carry on,
So we may learn how hard they try
When someone has to say goodbye.
Laughing, crying, bitter sweet years
That give us joy, or shed our tears,
And looking back from an ageing eye
Condemning those that would not try,
To ever give, or leave their mark
On a wasted life without a spark,
As for them it was all much too hard
They passed on by, never played a card.
See how quick we can be gone
And the world will blink and carry on,
With daily tasks that must be done
Or problems causing us to run.
But wait, a lesson will be taught
From those who died, but valiant fought,
To spend more time with those that care
Not granted! Who said life was fair?
So as we hear their struggling breath
As they slide towards impending death,
See how quick we can be gone
And the world might blink and carry on.
But some things can make life worthwhile
Just leave a little of your style,
To sprinkle out and upward fly
When our turn comes to say goodbye.
Feeling Special
When we’re together I am somewhere
But lost and nowhere when I’m alone,
For with you I can skip and cartwheel
Though if apart my heart’s a stone!
So secretly I’ll be your personal ghost
All around, watching with my stare,
I am the out breath, when in you breathe
And I’m the wind that blows your hair.
Thus note the trembling at your sleeve
And feel the itch you cannot scratch,
Because I’m the warm light that shines
Like darkness lit by a match!
When we’re together I am somewhere
But lost and nowhere when I’m alone,
For with you I can skip and cartwheel
Though if apart my heart’s a stone!
Should you feel sensation at your blouse
Or some finite movement at your skirt,
And heartbeats move to unfelt rhythm
It’s just me protecting you from hurt.
Be not afraid when you see a shadow
Or feel a touch, moth like at the ear,
It’s just my presence come to love you
And ensure safe passages you steer!
So have no fear of the world around you
Even lightning strikes from above,
For you’re safe within an armour
Fashioned by my spirits love.
