As a leopard cannot change it’s spots
I cannot change, no matter what
I am that I am and was
I am a sea of hope
Wave of salvation
Breathing new life
To your dreams
Follow
Me.
Alison’s response to Vivian’s opening of the nonet.
This was for Jilly’s challenge- Casting Bricks to Attract Jade.
The first part of the nonet was from Vivian and this is my completion…
Butterfly jitterbug
Scantily across the mildewed road
Sordid sounds of rank and file
Perturbed the air
Candyfloss tears
Mistaken identities
Purriri moth in damson tree.
When the wind blows cold
I shall wear my purple hat
Forgive me.
© Alison Jean Hankinson
This is for d’Verse.….mmmm have no idea if this is right…
The image is from flickr by Pamela Kelly.
Pink organza dress
A sea of roses in her hair
Undercurrent of sensual sorceress.
Scents of love promised
Followed by adrenalin rush.
Temptress divine
A moment of indiscretion
That claimed you as mine.
Followed by a tsunami of regret
And a lifetime of commitment.
© Alison Jean Hankinson
Image:
Aline with Flowers, Free to use for non commercial use.
I have decided to submit this poem for d’Verse open link night. I wrote it at the weekend. It took me a while to find an image that I liked, and I actually discovered a lot of images by Garreta that I liked, so that was a bonus.
Volcanic igneous gemstone
Black, brave and beautiful shards of midnight glass
Give me peace and calm and inner light, reflect the moonlight.
Snowflake obsidian
Talisman around my neck,
As passion ignites my fury and the truth cannot be silenced.
Protect and purify
Cleanse my soul in the darkness of this night
Reflect the majesty of a thousand warriors.
Pele Goddess of fire
Watch over me, give me strength to fight
Let me vanquish the evil voices that speak to me
From the belly of the volcano.
©Alison Jean Hankinson
This was for d’Verse and is about snowflake obsidian which is one of the gemstones associated with my birth sign Scorpio- there are six in total- beryl, apache tear, aquamarine, coral, obsidian, and topaz. Snowflake Obsidian, is a stone associated with Scorpio in Ayurvedic astrology. It is a beautiful colour, and is seen as a talisman. I have always been drawn to truth, this is a Scorpion characteristic, but also something that came to me through my name. Alice is of teutonic origin and means “the wise counsellor, or the truthful one.” I think Alison came from Alice.
The image is in the public domain for reuse and was taken from Flickr.
Winter
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Christmas Carols ringing in my ears.
The fug of the snug
Stench of sweat and old men.
Scent of Old Spice wafts across the bar
And the unmistakable
Aroma of clan pipe tobacco
Lingers in the air.
©Alison Jean Hankinson
This is for d’Verse quadrille.
The photo is actually of my Dad’s dad, (My Grandad).
Shall we sit a while,
Watching the sun go down over yonder?
Shall we share our bravest thoughts and dreams
Express in silent contemplation
Our sense of wonder?
Shall we watch the night unfold
Hold hands and watch the day grow old,
Pause a while, dream a little, share a smile
Knowing that the stars meanwhile
will always serve as a reminder
Of the love we shared?
©Alison Jean Hankinson
This is for d’Verse where Bjorn has challenged us to write a poem of only questions…my first effort was very questionable….this is my second….
Early morning indigestion
Motorway congestion
Students fully of germs and bugs
Too much work and brain fug
Brow burns
Streaming snot
Sore throat
Head hot
Wake up feeling dreadful
First cold of the season
Grateful it is weekend
And I don’t have to pretend or reason
With unruly students, pesky pests,
Procrastinators, sharp-cornered desks
Eager beavers and teacher pleasers.
Sat in bed instead with TV and Maltesers.
Pass the tissues, please. XXX
©Alison Jean Hankinson
Fire burns at back of throat
I’ve got the lot
Still, as a mouse
If I breathe silently no-one will hear
No –one will be aware
That I live in fear
In this moment.
Tick tock tick tock
Pitter patter pitter patter
Boom boom boom boom
Pitter patter pitter patter
Tick tock tick tock
In this moment
I hear, taste and smell fear
Of my anguish no-one is aware
I breathe silently so no-one will hear
I stay still as a mouse
Frozen in anxiety.
©Alison Jean Hankinson
Fear’s icy tendrils caress the nape of my neck
I see the mangled wreckage up ahead
Acrid smoke spewing from the burnt-out shell
That was your car.
Carnage.
Plastic bags strewn across the carriageway carelessly.
Empty nest, neglected summer,
Loneliness brandished in the scorched tyre treads.
Relief washes over me
I am waterfall to babbling brook
Phoenix from the ashes-you live on
We have a second chance to ignite and burn brightly.
©Alison Jean Hankinson
This is for d’Verse where metaphor is the challenge.
