Blog Spot

What a dilemma - do I go to my tutorial in Birmingham even though I'm not meant to sit down for too long, or do I stay at home and look after my back and miss out on all the words of wisdom about The Cherry Orchard? I think I'll risk going as I need some good marks this year! I've finally started Advanced Creative Writing with the OU as well and so the creative juices are starting to trickle. It sounds good as we'll learn how to write for stage, radio and TV as well as the usual!

Very impressed by two friends this week - one fellow student who is being pro-active and getting herself to quite a few Warwick Words workshops, and another who was second in the Warwick Poet Laureate competition and got to read her poem out in the great hall of Warwick Castle at the opening of Warwick Words! I am hoping to find inspiration from these two rather that an inferiority complex! I have, for the first time ever, submitted a piece of writing to a competition - yay! Wont hold my breath though!

Blog Spot

So one would think that being off work for nearly 4 weeks would result in at least some semblance of productivity. Alas not. I have in fact spent many hours doing nothing much on Facebook, and a lot more watching 24. Somehow this seemed like a good option. No course work has been done either, despite the fantastic opportunity to get ahead of myself, especially considering that I'm doing two courses this year, the result of which determines my final degree grade. Oh well. Maybe next week.

Red Rhododendrons

Entrance to Ardtornish Gardens; long
gravel driveway flanked on either side by red
rhododendrons guarding the house, a trickle of unease.

Tall turrets, watching windows, reminiscent of
another house, forgotten tale from years ago, my
foreboding as vivid as the red rhododendrons.

Distant images; red rages, eyes raw from crying, a gunshot –
blood spilt in the boathouse. Looming danger flames
in my mind, and fear licks my spine as I pass through the
red rhododendrons.

Girl Trouble

Blondes have more fun and red-heads are trouble.
Fat girls are easy to pull: they’re grateful.
Thin girls are anorexic, footballers’
wives or Posh Spice wanabees. Gold diggers.
Ugly girls have no personality.
Beautiful girls are empty-headed.
Dumb blondes, fiery red-heads, fat slags, stick thin,
hit with the ugly stick, beautiful bimbo.

People aren’t so sexist now, chauvinism
is being brought down, stereotypes are
dying out. We’re not sexist, or ageist,
Women just don’t age as well. Judging by
Appearance? Never! Those days are dead -
when have you heard these passing comments said?

Something Missing

Walking down the street, watching.
Looking in strangers’ eyes, searching
for something familiar in the face of another,
unspoken connection, glimmering recognition.
Day after day, watching, looking, searching.

Lying sleepless, taught and tense,
ears waiting to hear the telephone ring.
Listening in darkness to silence. Sleeping, to
dream that dreams can be real.
Night after night, waiting, listening, dreaming.

Waking with sick hope and dread,
praying as parcels fall on the floor. Seeking
distant postmarks or unknown writing;
blind faith in believing it might be this time.
Year after year, praying, seeking, believing.

Wondering if fate will cross our paths,
if you’re out there, looking for me.
If, some day, my prince will arrive. Until then,
day after day, night after night, year after year,
I’m searching, dreaming, seeking a father.

Blog Spot

Ah ha! I have discovered some other poems that I wrote at the beginning of the year, so I can now add them and save myself the trouble of composing anything new!

Blog Spot

Some lovely people have sent me emails and facebook posts, commenting on my blog - thank you! One recommendation was to add some information about why I decided to write the pieces, which I think is a good idea as it gives some context, so that is what I shall do! I've also been looking at The Writers' and Artists' Yearbook which is quite inspiring, so I will hopefully be writing more now!

I am looking forward to starting my two final Open University courses soon - 20th Century Literature: texts and debates, and Advanced Creative Writing...next step is to apply to do teacher training for my sins. So, primary or secondary - any ideas???????