"Look everybody, it's snowing!"
Everyone turned and looked round
And a solitary flake
Nature's mistake
Made its lonely, cold way to the ground
©cih17, 22:07, 30.11.17
starcline - less a blog, more a derailed train of thought
About Me
- clinestar
- Part time poet, full time librarian, student of the delights of milk chocolate. Likes books, milk, paddling, poetry, scribbling, chocolate, notebooks, sea, piers. Not necessarily in that order. All work copyright cih.
You see what you expect
He was there
Every year
Without fail
Wouldn't let his "little ones" down
His grin the red daub of a crayon
His face the white mask of a clown
No-one questioned
When he smiled
So tenderly
Why his "little ones"
Endured years of therapy
©cih17, 23:25, 29.11.17
Every year
Without fail
Wouldn't let his "little ones" down
His grin the red daub of a crayon
His face the white mask of a clown
No-one questioned
When he smiled
So tenderly
Why his "little ones"
Endured years of therapy
©cih17, 23:25, 29.11.17
The Hollow
There was an emptiness today
Not because you weren't there
But because you were
And I no longer feel that way
©cih17, 22:25, 28.11.17
Not because you weren't there
But because you were
And I no longer feel that way
©cih17, 22:25, 28.11.17
London day air*
Pigeons walk
People talk
on mobiles
Voices raised
Commuters scurry
In permanent hurry
Seemingly perpetually dazed
©cih17, 22:03, 27.11.17
*(nod to Londonderry Air)
People talk
on mobiles
Voices raised
Commuters scurry
In permanent hurry
Seemingly perpetually dazed
©cih17, 22:03, 27.11.17
*(nod to Londonderry Air)
Tablet
Small rectangle by the bed
Waiting, with the glass
Ready for that moment
When insomnia is too much
The body in the bed
shifts, changes position
An arm reaches out
Grabs for that comfort
The screen blinks on
©cih17, 25.11.17
Waiting, with the glass
Ready for that moment
When insomnia is too much
The body in the bed
shifts, changes position
An arm reaches out
Grabs for that comfort
The screen blinks on
©cih17, 25.11.17
Preparation is key
Bronzed, toned, and buffed within an inch of perfection
She'd waited months for her moment of certain success
Dieted, exercised herself trimmer and slimmer
Just to fit in that Little Black Dress
©cih17, 21:19, 24.11.17
She'd waited months for her moment of certain success
Dieted, exercised herself trimmer and slimmer
Just to fit in that Little Black Dress
©cih17, 21:19, 24.11.17
Cycle of life
Lights blot out the darkness
and silence never comes
The noise of a town
That never shuts down
The peace of the country
A town starts to encroach
The building site harvest
is constant reproach
©cih17, 23:15, 23.11.17
and silence never comes
The noise of a town
That never shuts down
The peace of the country
A town starts to encroach
The building site harvest
is constant reproach
©cih17, 23:15, 23.11.17
Ouch
My recommendation for the day
Advice you should follow without fail
Don't violently kick the end of your bed
If you don't want to break your toenail
©cih17, 22:32, 23.11.17
Advice you should follow without fail
Don't violently kick the end of your bed
If you don't want to break your toenail
©cih17, 22:32, 23.11.17
Tinsel
The time for excitement is well underway
Shops dazzling with tinsel and a well planned display
Each vying to get you to break out the plastic
Spend, spend spend!
You buy, buy, buy
Then have to get a loan until next payday
©cih17, 22:19, 22.11.17
Shops dazzling with tinsel and a well planned display
Each vying to get you to break out the plastic
Spend, spend spend!
You buy, buy, buy
Then have to get a loan until next payday
©cih17, 22:19, 22.11.17
Single man seeks purrfection
The more dates I've been on
(Over a number of years)
I've discovered this scintillating fact
An increasing number of (sane?) single men
Are the doting owners of a cat
In retrospect
I could be wrong
The cats
have been in charge
all along
©cih17, 22:03, 21.11.17
(Over a number of years)
I've discovered this scintillating fact
An increasing number of (sane?) single men
Are the doting owners of a cat
In retrospect
I could be wrong
The cats
have been in charge
all along
©cih17, 22:03, 21.11.17
Retro clubnight
Noise entrances
Drunken dances
Clutching glasses
Groping asses
©cih17, 21:32, 19.11.17
Drunken dances
Clutching glasses
Groping asses
©cih17, 21:32, 19.11.17
Cold morning
Icy feet make hesitant contact
with more frigid air
Refrigerator room temperature
©cih17, 19.11.17
with more frigid air
Refrigerator room temperature
©cih17, 19.11.17
Antisocial media
Perfectly poised pictures posted
Reconfigured rough reality
A jigsaw life
Assembled for social media
Using filters
Until you look (feel?) better
©cih17, 16:49, 18.11.17
Reconfigured rough reality
A jigsaw life
Assembled for social media
Using filters
Until you look (feel?) better
©cih17, 16:49, 18.11.17
Journey to the (celluloid) stars
Hyped to within an inch of its celluloid
Life
You wait with anticipation.
Actors emote -
and yet, in the cinema,
Popcorn spattered,
You sit there
Remote
Not adrift in the fantasy world
But aware
of the booming soundtrack
Your vision restricted
and you turn round and glare
at the owner
of the knee
In your seat's back
©cih17, 22:58, 17.11.17
Life
You wait with anticipation.
Actors emote -
and yet, in the cinema,
Popcorn spattered,
You sit there
Remote
Not adrift in the fantasy world
But aware
of the booming soundtrack
Your vision restricted
and you turn round and glare
at the owner
of the knee
In your seat's back
©cih17, 22:58, 17.11.17
Service with a snarl
Yes the restaurant may be busy
and you've been on your feet all day
But the customer wants some food
Wants to order, eat, and pay
©cih17, 16.11.17
and you've been on your feet all day
But the customer wants some food
Wants to order, eat, and pay
©cih17, 16.11.17
[Insert name of pop star here]
The piercing shriek pains me
and I flinch, look round
and see pre-teen smiles on brace-ridden teeth.
I think, not for the first time,
I'm too old for this.
I stand and watch today's popstar crush
Strutting his less than manly stuff
and try to ignore the cries of woe
When I announce to young gig goers
It's time for us to go
©cih17, 23:56, 15.11.17
and I flinch, look round
and see pre-teen smiles on brace-ridden teeth.
I think, not for the first time,
I'm too old for this.
I stand and watch today's popstar crush
Strutting his less than manly stuff
and try to ignore the cries of woe
When I announce to young gig goers
It's time for us to go
©cih17, 23:56, 15.11.17
Ignorant
I got the message
In gossip whispers
Understood
What you wouldn't say
©cih17, 10:38, 14.11.17
In gossip whispers
Understood
What you wouldn't say
©cih17, 10:38, 14.11.17
School dates
Kiss chase was a game for school days
(Not somewhere I want to return)
But in these days of Tinder and dating apps
Maybe there's something there
That we could learn
©cih17, 13.11.17
(Not somewhere I want to return)
But in these days of Tinder and dating apps
Maybe there's something there
That we could learn
©cih17, 13.11.17
Mind the gap
Maybe caring for others will fill the space
Once reserved for a partner's face
©cih17, 12.11.17
Once reserved for a partner's face
©cih17, 12.11.17
Remembrance
The poppies dance
Over fields once bathed in blood
Drowned in mud
The poppies dance
The poppies dance
Where once was battle's violence
Birdsong, silence
The poppies dance
©cih17, 23:10, 11.11.17
Over fields once bathed in blood
Drowned in mud
The poppies dance
The poppies dance
Where once was battle's violence
Birdsong, silence
The poppies dance
©cih17, 23:10, 11.11.17
Seasonal song
All the signs of November are here
Christmas lights in the Market Square
Tinsel garlands, baubles in the mall
and coffee chains selling gingerbread latte
But still, it's not yet
"the most wonderful time of the year"
©cih17, 10.11.17
(quotation by Eddie Pola and George Wyle)
Christmas lights in the Market Square
Tinsel garlands, baubles in the mall
and coffee chains selling gingerbread latte
But still, it's not yet
"the most wonderful time of the year"
©cih17, 10.11.17
(quotation by Eddie Pola and George Wyle)
Mermaid music
The dreams threatened to drag her under
Hooked her on a tight nylon thread
of things that could be and should be
Ideas that swam round in her head
Indecisive, she watched them glide round her
Made no attempt to grab on to a thought
And as her alarm's siren call started wailing
Once again mundane Monday had her caught.
©cih17, 22:15, 08.11.17
Hooked her on a tight nylon thread
of things that could be and should be
Ideas that swam round in her head
Indecisive, she watched them glide round her
Made no attempt to grab on to a thought
And as her alarm's siren call started wailing
Once again mundane Monday had her caught.
©cih17, 22:15, 08.11.17
Too soon
The machine bleeps and beeps, uncaring
As you lie there, sleeping still
You look tiny, ethereal, fragile
Clinging on to your life by sheer will
©cih17, 23:08, 07.11.17
As you lie there, sleeping still
You look tiny, ethereal, fragile
Clinging on to your life by sheer will
©cih17, 23:08, 07.11.17
Ice, ice, baby*
Wearing socks in bed
Is neither romantic
Nor aesthetically pleasing
But it's more pleasant for your partner
When your feet are notoriously freezing
©cih17, 05.11.2017
*(thanks to Vanilla Ice who probably wasn't thinking about this in his song)
Is neither romantic
Nor aesthetically pleasing
But it's more pleasant for your partner
When your feet are notoriously freezing
©cih17, 05.11.2017
*(thanks to Vanilla Ice who probably wasn't thinking about this in his song)
Ratio
People pay a pittance for a paper poppy while warlords waste their wealth on weapons
©cih17, 22:05, 04.11.17
©cih17, 22:05, 04.11.17
Housebuying
You gave up the semblance of a kind of a social life
Hoarded life savings
and..
wait
Yet you only achieve
a part/part share of a shoebox
and a mortgage you can't pay off
until you reincarnate
©cih17, 23:14, 02.11.17
Hoarded life savings
and..
wait
Yet you only achieve
a part/part share of a shoebox
and a mortgage you can't pay off
until you reincarnate
©cih17, 23:14, 02.11.17
The Language of Flowers
Anxiety writ large on her face
As time ticked away at the bar
No sign of her dinner date
Traffic jam? Caught at work?
Simply late?
She'd waited alone for two hours
When he turned up, bearing sad garage flowers
Postscript
She didn't listen to his explanations
Just asked for water for the wilting carnations
©cih17, 01.11.17
As time ticked away at the bar
No sign of her dinner date
Traffic jam? Caught at work?
Simply late?
She'd waited alone for two hours
When he turned up, bearing sad garage flowers
Postscript
She didn't listen to his explanations
Just asked for water for the wilting carnations
©cih17, 01.11.17
NaNoWriMo 2017
It's nearly November and that can only mean one thing.
Well actually it can mean several things, but as I'm not planning on growing facial hair for Movember, for the purposes of this poetry blog it means only one thing.
NaNoWriMo.
As on previous years, I shall be aiming to write a poem a day for the month.
So let us (or let me, at least) proceed...
Well actually it can mean several things, but as I'm not planning on growing facial hair for Movember, for the purposes of this poetry blog it means only one thing.
NaNoWriMo.
As on previous years, I shall be aiming to write a poem a day for the month.
So let us (or let me, at least) proceed...
Dating apps
No need to wait until Hallowe'en
When you can be ghosted
Any time
Online
©cih17, 10:11, 29.09.17
When you can be ghosted
Any time
Online
©cih17, 10:11, 29.09.17
Fixing problems
What did you think
When well meaning, we
Came to 'fix' a problem
We created in your country
You were influenced by us
Dissatisfied by us
And steeped in Western created misery
You need our paltry charity
©cih17, 28.09.17
When well meaning, we
Came to 'fix' a problem
We created in your country
You were influenced by us
Dissatisfied by us
And steeped in Western created misery
You need our paltry charity
©cih17, 28.09.17
GSOH
I've a good sense of humour he said
Stated it proudly on his profile
But their date was stilted and awkward
And none of her jokes made him smile
She asked about favourite comedians
The top five that guaranteed him a laugh
He looked at her with obvious bewilderment
Then said, 'Please don't be daft...'
'You have to take your humour seriously
Go to comedy nights at a club
Don't try and spread jokes willy nilly,
make quips or have a laugh down the pub.'
.....
They ate their meal in silence
She stared at her empty plate
No punchline saved them
Or their awkward date
©cih17, 22:35, 01.09.17
Stated it proudly on his profile
But their date was stilted and awkward
And none of her jokes made him smile
She asked about favourite comedians
The top five that guaranteed him a laugh
He looked at her with obvious bewilderment
Then said, 'Please don't be daft...'
'You have to take your humour seriously
Go to comedy nights at a club
Don't try and spread jokes willy nilly,
make quips or have a laugh down the pub.'
.....
They ate their meal in silence
She stared at her empty plate
No punchline saved them
Or their awkward date
©cih17, 22:35, 01.09.17
Lie Detector
Families with a private shame
Exposing the Gordian knot
For five minutes of fame
©cih17, 17:37, 01.09.17
Exposing the Gordian knot
For five minutes of fame
©cih17, 17:37, 01.09.17
Pure jeanius
To the sound of Marvin Gaye
Nick Kamen stood there buff
white boxers on display
...a generation fell in love
©cih17, 09.08.17
Nick Kamen stood there buff
white boxers on display
...a generation fell in love
©cih17, 09.08.17
Birthday treat
Happy Birthday to you
In the nursing home
She sits, alone
Cocooned each day by her thoughts
Happy Birthday to you
The noises surrounding
her, ever loud din
and malodorous air fight for control
Happy Birthday to you
She sits, but won't wait
Mistress of her fate
Escape plan clutched in her fist
Happy Birthday to you
When the family arrive
(It's a very long drive)
She's off in a stupor...drunk
©cih17, 09.08.17
In the nursing home
She sits, alone
Cocooned each day by her thoughts
Happy Birthday to you
The noises surrounding
her, ever loud din
and malodorous air fight for control
Happy Birthday to you
She sits, but won't wait
Mistress of her fate
Escape plan clutched in her fist
Happy Birthday to you
When the family arrive
(It's a very long drive)
She's off in a stupor...drunk
©cih17, 09.08.17
Ipsissimis verbis
Words can hurt as violently
As fists and knives and guns
When warrior-poets wield accurately
Their vitriol-fuelled puns
And argument hewn melodies
Sung by drunken indie bands
Become anthems for angst ridden students
Marching through the tax heavy lands
©cih17, 22:48, 06.08.17
As fists and knives and guns
When warrior-poets wield accurately
Their vitriol-fuelled puns
And argument hewn melodies
Sung by drunken indie bands
Become anthems for angst ridden students
Marching through the tax heavy lands
©cih17, 22:48, 06.08.17
Animal Magnetism
With tales of seduction
You sought reaction
Though magnets attract
You repulsed
©cih17, 22:37, 06.08.17
You sought reaction
Though magnets attract
You repulsed
©cih17, 22:37, 06.08.17
Imperfect
And all that time you spoke of your 'wonderful' lovelife
The women, the men, that you'd loved and adored
You made yourself into the hero of your story
But every true hero has to be flawed
©cih17, 31.07.17
The women, the men, that you'd loved and adored
You made yourself into the hero of your story
But every true hero has to be flawed
©cih17, 31.07.17
Rainbows
If the grass is always greener in someone else's field
You should take off those rose-tinted glasses
and see what's actually revealed
©cih17, 22:14, 05.07.17
You should take off those rose-tinted glasses
and see what's actually revealed
©cih17, 22:14, 05.07.17
Weighty Issue
If you didn't want me when I was fat
Why should I want you
now that I'm not?
©cih17, 13:18, 03.07.17
Why should I want you
now that I'm not?
©cih17, 13:18, 03.07.17
Cambridge in summer
Graduates in gowns
Clutch orange Sainsbury's bags
Tourists taking selfies
Need proof they were there
Images on Instagram
'Likes' but no-one cares
©cih17, 01.07.17
Clutch orange Sainsbury's bags
Tourists taking selfies
Need proof they were there
Images on Instagram
'Likes' but no-one cares
©cih17, 01.07.17
Stabbing
Knives are out
Metaphorical
Political
Ultimately pointlessly
All fight each other
Indefensible
Insensible
Better armed foes
Attack the undefended
©cih17, 24.06.17
Metaphorical
Political
Ultimately pointlessly
All fight each other
Indefensible
Insensible
Better armed foes
Attack the undefended
©cih17, 24.06.17
Barbed Wire Queen
It's good that I'm a cynic -
else, each time I'm let down
I'd get upset and miserable -
would cry, might pout, could frown
Instead of which I smile
(A false one, but convincing)
Then I get busy with the razor wire
and add another line of fencing
©cih17, 23.06.17
else, each time I'm let down
I'd get upset and miserable -
would cry, might pout, could frown
Instead of which I smile
(A false one, but convincing)
Then I get busy with the razor wire
and add another line of fencing
©cih17, 23.06.17
That's all folks
I’m not here to entertain you
When your friends don’t have time
Someone who’ll reply to your texts
And laugh at your ‘witty’ lines
Not someone to wait in limbo
Until you have a spare half hour
Not a princess stuck in a castle
You’re no knight -
and I’m not locked in a tower
©cih17, 22.06.17
(in memory of LibraryBoy)
When your friends don’t have time
Someone who’ll reply to your texts
And laugh at your ‘witty’ lines
Not someone to wait in limbo
Until you have a spare half hour
Not a princess stuck in a castle
You’re no knight -
and I’m not locked in a tower
©cih17, 22.06.17
(in memory of LibraryBoy)
Manchester
She looks out at a world
Unfurled, turning and
Burning with hatred
and releases a pink balloon
©cih17, June 2017
Unfurled, turning and
Burning with hatred
and releases a pink balloon
©cih17, June 2017
No Chemistry
Two things occur
As I sit, cross, frustrated
by you, the most recent
of men who I've dated
Who rejected me on my lack of allure
Did you kiss me so often
Just to make sure?
©cih17, 7:56, 08.03.17
As I sit, cross, frustrated
by you, the most recent
of men who I've dated
Who rejected me on my lack of allure
Did you kiss me so often
Just to make sure?
©cih17, 7:56, 08.03.17
Screenstar
On paper he looked perfect
On Whatsapp, sounded great
But that heady hopeful feeling
Didn’t survive the second date
©cih17, 21/02/17
On Whatsapp, sounded great
But that heady hopeful feeling
Didn’t survive the second date
©cih17, 21/02/17
The Date
"The staff know me here."
You say with a grin
and hold the door
So I can walk in
A waitress greets us
A rictus snarl on her face
and shows us some seats
where tables jostle for space
Ordering my food for me
can be gentlemanly and nice
but please ask what I want first
- just a word of advice
I had started to wonder
Why they hate you here
but it doesn't take long
for the cracks to appear
“No cordon bleu here!”
You patronise staff
I feel my smile fix
as you joke and you laugh
Your handling of chopsticks
Far more expert than mine
So yes, I used cutlery -
I like to eat, when I dine
I look at the food
At our waitress’s face
And hope if she spat
It was just in your place
Meal finally over
I leave our waitress some change
It wasn’t her fault
That you were acting deranged
And I realise, just then,
At her pitying smile
That she too was your date
For an interminable while
©cih17, February 2017
You say with a grin
and hold the door
So I can walk in
A waitress greets us
A rictus snarl on her face
and shows us some seats
where tables jostle for space
Ordering my food for me
can be gentlemanly and nice
but please ask what I want first
- just a word of advice
I had started to wonder
Why they hate you here
but it doesn't take long
for the cracks to appear
“No cordon bleu here!”
You patronise staff
I feel my smile fix
as you joke and you laugh
Your handling of chopsticks
Far more expert than mine
So yes, I used cutlery -
I like to eat, when I dine
I look at the food
At our waitress’s face
And hope if she spat
It was just in your place
Meal finally over
I leave our waitress some change
It wasn’t her fault
That you were acting deranged
And I realise, just then,
At her pitying smile
That she too was your date
For an interminable while
©cih17, February 2017
Land of the free
The President steals adopted birthrights
and builds fear-filled walls around a people
Tortured and terrified
by policies he's creating
©cih17, January 2017
and builds fear-filled walls around a people
Tortured and terrified
by policies he's creating
©cih17, January 2017
How to end a date..
My recommendation is this
(If you truly won't see them again)
Don't go for a goodbye kiss
It might cause confusion or pain
And though it's better not to be rude
However British you may be
A handshake is never appropriate
(unless at the Ritz, having afternoon tea)
(dedicated to my 26/01/17 date who shook hands to say goodbye)
©cih17, 26/01/17
(If you truly won't see them again)
Don't go for a goodbye kiss
It might cause confusion or pain
And though it's better not to be rude
However British you may be
A handshake is never appropriate
(unless at the Ritz, having afternoon tea)
(dedicated to my 26/01/17 date who shook hands to say goodbye)
©cih17, 26/01/17
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