Several years ago I gathered my courage and showed a selection of my poetry to a local ‘Writer in Residence’. The most powerful message he gave me was to continue writing with my ‘ordinary words’, as I called them. Since then I have been on a journey to continue writing using ordinary words, which come from the heart.
I live in two worlds
separated by vast waters
~ half a lifetime in each ~
my heart shared
between
touchstones
.
Here on an island
wild and rugged
where I walk the beach
daily and traverse
forests to reach
home
.
There on an island
with my daughter
~ a windswept beach
and a bus ride home
to Zoom with my son
her brother
.
Our orbits
sometimes align
but mostly I am resigned
to drift happily between
two worlds
oceans apart
.
By Carys Owen
Written for a prompt about place and space by d’Verse Poetics
It’s not in the history
nor is it in the yet to come
it’s not in it’s melody
nor in the shape it holds
.
This friendship
is a rare and wondrous thing
that sits right here
in the breaths
we take
and listens
whole-heartedly
.
By Carys Owen
.
This quadrille about friendship was written to include a line from a blogger friend’s poem…it ended up being inspired by his whole poem! Thanks Bjorn Rudberg !
Any dVerse poets who wish to use a line from one of my poems are welcome to do so, please credit me and link back to my poem- cheers!
This kiss has travelled miles
kept safe in a pocket
wrapped in silk
it has journeyed oceans
and rocky trails
burning a hole
through days
impatient to be planted
on my lover’s lips
.
this kiss
.
and
.
this kiss
.
and
.
this
.
kiss
.
By Carys Owen
.
A ‘golden oldie’ from my book ‘Into the Ordinary’ for
She sits on my feet
these days
needful of touch
no words
just love
.
We equal each other
breathing together
sharing a pulse
best friends
for a lifetime
.
Hard to imagine
another way
as we amble
through days
hearts like diamonds
.
By Carys Owen
Yesterday an eagle
flew overhead
trailing a slender
branch from her
talons
.
Signalling spring
time to think about
nests and eggs
time to fall
in love
.
Time to watch
life grow
time to
bask in the sun
and be thankful
.
By Carys Owen
‘Tidy your room’, his Mum said,
the same Mum who loved to leave
a trail of evidence behind her
as she travelled through childhood
.
A book she read, a sketch half done
some Lego and an apple core
a sock, some Pokemon cards
a rainbow of pens
‘Tidy your room every day’ I urged
‘no matter how tired you are’
.
Forgetting that I was the one
who accepted praise for
an immaculate room until
my Mum thought to look
under the bed
.
I wonder if my mother’s mother
suffered the same tribulations,
fearing for the state
of civilization?
.
In their defense
these busy souls have no time
to fold their clothes and put them away
when there are books to get lost in
daydreams to dream
skateboards to ride
games to invent
hideouts to build
snacks to concoct
and music to play
.
By Carys Owen
.
Based on the prompt of incorporating a specific piece of advice into a poem-
‘At the end of each day fold your clothes and put them away, no matter how tired you are.’
d’Verse Poet’s Pub
It crept up on me, unexpected
~ the wonder of grandmotherhood ~
‘I’ll call you Bibi’ he said
and off we went
never stopping
never looking back
forging ahead into
adventure and discovery
learning each other’s faces on Zoom
finding out about galaxies
whales, dinosaurs, trees
new species, curious facts
~ did you know sea otters have pockets?
writing poetry together
one
word
at
a
time
recognizing that cheeky grin
warning of mischief
meeting in this world
where we can hug and laugh
running across the field
a football between us
‘Yes, please call me Bibi’
I reply
breathlessly
.
By Carys Owen
Snow falls from
his fingertips
creating a blizzard
of fresh powder
as he shakes hands
with winter
.
He dives right in
with the wonder
of his eleven years
unable to believe
the lightness of crystals
the chill of ice on lips
the shiver of meltwater
the freedom of falling
over and over
leaving his imprint
~ now a dance
frozen in time ~
.
His laughter rings
in crisp air
and all the
winter dreams
he dreamt
are coming true
.
By Carys Owen
(i)
Across the water
I see a canoe
travelling onward
skimming the waves
it is mine to fill
with the ones I love
my children, their children
we paddle together
present, content
it helps me make sense
of the distance between us
.
(ii)
Walking in a gallery
on a trip to Tofino
we bathe in the imagery
take imaginary journeys
and my grandson
chooses a card to
carry home across the sea
to frame and remember
this family togetherness
~ it is a canoe
filled with ancestors
.
By Carys Owen
It came in
a white van
overnight delivery
.
I set up my webcam
check my smile
settle my mind
clear my throat
and hit record
.
‘Good morning
followers, the
latest version
has arrived at
my doorstep!
I’m so excited
to unbox it
with youɉ۪
.
I slide the
box-cutter through
packing tape
unfold the flaps
and start peeling
back layers of
bubble-wrap
.
‘Ah…here it is
…nestled in its own
custom container,
shiny and new
…it looks even
better than
the last iteration-
.
2023 is here!
.
Glowing with potential
sleek and streamlined
promises of possibilities
the label reads:
,
“ Every second
a moment to be,
a chance to exist,
to put down roots
or fly away “
.
Please like or
share my video
and click on
the link below
to review this
newly released
Limited Edition
2023 ’
.
happynewyear.com
.
by Carys Owen
Carys Owen Poetry 