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 you…’
.
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
Today it snowed
layer upon layer
hour upon hour
so I stayed home
let the flakes
do their thing
dancing on air
as they are wont to do
.
I sank into
the luxury
of slow
wrapped in the
silence only
snow brings
.
My day passed
like a good dream
soft edges
and feelings of ease
.
As afternoon waned
the phone chirped
to tell me
that my neighbours
were heading to town
in their SUV
and did I need anything?
It’s the kind of offer
I’d make to them
a circular kindness
we care to share
.
The glow of this
spontaneous gift
lasted into the evening
a final piece to
complete my day
.
Happy on my own
and even happier
to be thought of
.
By Carys Owen
.
Bear tracks
fresh and clear
like cookie crumbs
on the forest floor
we know he is there
so we call to him
let him know we are here
sharing his evening air
.
We never see him
but we sense his ambling gait
we never smell him
but conjure up the muskiness
we never hear him
but his snorts skirt our thoughts
.
We fall into calmness
imagining his quest
for secrecy and berries
among the trees and ferns
wearing the evening
like a cloak
.
By Carys Owen
.
Footnote– I read this poem at a poetry
evening on Monday then on
Tuesday morning I saw a bear cross
the road just ahead of me- the
only one I’ve seen this year.
Did he/she hear me?
Frog came visiting
croaked her wisdom
reminders of
beauty and freedom
.
sang a song
of becoming
taking on a new form
perfect and delicate
.
told a tale
green and gold
of rainy days
and hidden pools
of sunshine
warming tired skin
.
of knowing
how to begin again
.
Frog came visiting
.
By Carys Owen
.
.
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
Carys Owen Poetry 