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.
Whatever
.
Whatever
Whatever we do
let’s do something
let’s not be the ones
who do nothing
though things may
be wrapped in darkness
and sheep’s clothing
let’s keep looking
let’s keep finding
feeling with our hands
listening for the hidden
revealing the mystery
moving intuitively
and doing whatever something
comes to mind, body, heart
perhaps a movement
maybe a sound
possibly a work of art
refusing to let
darkness win the day
refusing to lay down
and do nothing
.
Let’s put them all together
our offerings of something
and hold them as
a shield and a banner
to overcome
whatever lies ahead
.
By Carys Owen

Scenario (i) & (ii)
At first, I thought it was like this:


But soon I realised it’s more like this:


In solidarity with the people of Ukraine. And keeping the people of Yemen, Syria and all other war torn nations front of mind. Carys Owen
Where is the Love
.
Today all I hear is
‘If you’re not with us
you’re against us’
but where is the love?
where is the humanity?
the kindness
the Human-kindness?
that ties
and unites us
with the momentum
to move us beyond
disagreements and
difference
.
Having thus far survived
the great pandemic
of our times
why are we so bent
on being right
that we won’t listen
to each other
hear each other
and enact our
mighty
Super Power
of Love?
.
By Carys Owen

‘Heart Song’ (Block Print) by Carys Owen
Tree Dance
.
Hey Tree
will you dance
with me ?
reveal your story
of how you grew
in this round about
mysterious way
made of folds
and pleats
wrapped like
ribbons of time
around thin air
holding great energy
in stillness
.

.
Hey Tree
it’s easy to believe
you once danced
on these cliffs
mirroring waves
~ ripples and curves
taking the shape
of a body
and mind ~
grain-like muscles
and outstretched limbs
moving gracefully
through space
and time
.

.
Hey Tree
will you dance with me?
sing your name
above the surf
a reminder that
this is enough
this moment
this aeon
as the ocean booms
I trace your bark
full of years
etched with stories
and we spin
into the blue
.

.
Hey Tree
how does it feel
to be anchored in place
witnessing tides
listening to whales
blown by the wind
as you grow
careful and slow
sequestering carbon
harbouring energy?
.
~ are you saving it
for a rainy day
for one final
emphatic display?
or a time when it feels safe
to be yourself again?
move with the rhythms
of the Earth again
let loose your roots
cast your spell
with a shake of leaves
and choreograph
your own
harmonious dance
of life
.
By Carys Owen
.

Tree- Ucluelet BC (Photos by Carys Owen)
Thin Skinned
.
They told me
don’t be thin skinned
you need to toughen up
not take things to heart
.
But how will the feelings
get out
or in?
.
How will I know
I’m alive
be myself
love completely
show compassion
empathize?
.
It sounds like the advice
of a frightened soul
or someone who’s been told
that emotions are enemies
to be contained
or shunned
to save the energy
of burden sharing
of gathering someone in
of maybe feeling things
~I mean really feeling things~
for the first time
.
They told me
don’t be thin skinned
you need to toughen up
not take things to heart
.
But how will the feelings
get out
or in?
.
By Carys Owen

Respair
.
Repair
Revive
Rewrite
Recover
.
Receive
Repeat
Remake
Rethink
.
Revolve
Reinvent
Reimagine
Rediscover
.
Reunite
Rekindle
Relax
Reclaim
.
Reconfirm
Recreate
Revisit
Reconsider
.
Remember
Reset
Reconnect
Restore
.
Regain
Refresh
Reinforce
Replay
.
Rebuild
Revitalize
Resolve
Respair
.
REPEAT
.
By Carys Owen
.
Respair is fresh hope; a recovery from despair
(from an article by Susie Dent)

Don’t Buy
.
Don’t buy the sparkle
the fake snow
the glitter globe
.
Don’t buy the shiny new
the latest phone
the ‘must have thing’
.
Don’t buy the hype
the ramped up hopes
the excess of desire
.
Don’t buy
the un-buyable
the love, the friendship
the laughter, the joy
.
Give it all away
freely and wildly
and feel it return
in soft unspoken ways
in surprising, unplanned acts
in ordinary kindness
on more than just one day
.
By Carys Owen

Pleat
.
Fold back time
like a pleat
in a blanket
shifting sunlight
to morning
and hauling evening
ever closer
.
Living the same hour over
a luxury to savour
a bonus hour to play with
or sleep seamlessly through
.
Time to think of hibernation
slow things down
turn up the heat
read a book
bake some bread
learn to knit
walk the dog
.
Fold back time
like a pleat
in a blanket
to a simpler way
of being satisfied
unconcerned with trappings
or looks
.
Waking with the sun
embracing the day
.
By Carys Owen

Naming
.
Hey Trees
I don’t know your names
I’ve been walking here for years
enjoying your shade
breathing in your exhalations
feeling the contours of your bark
loving the green
loving the green
but I don’t know your names
.
Hey trees
I used to know your names
but somewhere on the path
I let them go in favour of
drinking in your beauty
feasting on your exquisite forms
breathing in your exhalations
loving the green
loving the green
I used to know your names
.
Hey trees
I brought a friend with me today
we tried to recall your names
and think you might be hemlock
and you are definitely cedar
we quibbled over Oregon grape
and salal which I always confuse
we breathed in your exhalations
we loved the green
we loved the green
we tried to recall your names
.
Hey trees
will you teach me your names?
in the rustle of your leaves
the whisper of sap rising
the wind in your branches
the brush of needles as I pass
the runes engraved in bark
the kiss of your exhalations
the lovely green
the lovely green
will you teach me your names?
.
by Carys Owen

Scoop
.
Scoop up the happiness
from each special moment
gather it gently
pull it in close
let it wash through you
brightening the greyness
.
Take in the medicine
knowing you are worthy
this is the sunshine
you have been waiting for
this is the love you can
reach for on lonely days
this is the place you create
for your tender heart
.
Scoop up the happiness
let it run through your fingers
feel the weight
and the lightness
watch it come
watch it go
.
Store the warmth
in the safe house
of your bones
.
By Carys Owen
