
Senryu Laughter of a child Warming hearts of those who hear its delightful sound Copyright © 2021 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing All Rights Reserved
Senryu Laughter of a child Warming hearts of those who hear its delightful sound Copyright © 2021 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing All Rights Reserved
She saw herself again as a child and wept the same tears The horror of that day Carved in the mind Deep, open wounds that will never heal Still Haunting Residing within her like a parasite Eating away at her core Her so called surprise gift was that of domestic sexual abuse from someone trusted A father figure A family member A manipulator A maniac A thief who stole her life Robbed her of dignity Demanding her silence Here at this very place Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing © In response to Sadje’s What do you See photo challenge Word Prompts Domestic - RDP Maniac - FOWC A word beginning with CH - Stream of Consciousness Saturday
As the sun casts its long shadows
and the eventual darkness threatens
I wipe the tear from your face
and hold you close to me
Taking on your pain so you,
my child, suffer no more
Your wellbeing my utmost concern
Protecting you from the bad dreams
that will surely come this night
Yes, the demons are always there
Unseen, invisible to the eye
Lurking in the hidden crevices
of your young mind
Thriving on your fear
But tonight they will not reach you
It is fortuitous that I am here
with you and I fear nothing
Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing ©
Word Prompts
Wellbeing - WotD
Fortuitous - RDP
Shadow - FOWC
My child
from long before I saw you
I loved you
we were contiguous
attached biologically
and therefore emotionally
We will always be connected
No matter where
on this earth we will be
I will feel your joy
and also, your pain
Your blood coursing in my veins
The one thing in my life
of which I am proud
giving life to you
So you could
spread your wings
and do amazing things
When I am gone
Who will light your shadows?
If I could, then I would
I’ll go wherever you will go
Way up high or down low
I’ll go wherever you will go
Christine Bolton – Poetry for Healing ©
Image by Gisela Merkuur from Pixabay
Gospel Isosceles is hosting D'Verse Poetics and has asked us
to share a song that has brought us to tears, and write a poem
about it. I have chosen a song called "Wherever You Will Go" by The Calling. It reminds me of my son when he was a teenager and how, as a parent, I wanted to protect him, always. I cry whenever I hear it. In the last stanza of my poem I have used some words from the song.
Below is the video. I hope you enjoy it.
If the moon did ever
fall from the sky
or the sun remained
hidden from view
I would still love you
as sure as your eyes are blue
If the stars
disappeared one night
never to return
Or the oceans dried up
I would still love you
my little buttercup
If the trees caught fire
or the flowers dropped
all their petals and lay
dying in the dirt
I would still love you
More than ice cream dessert
If the birds
ever stopped flying
and the animals
one day began to sing
I would still love you
More than anything
If the sand
suddenly melted
Or the rain
fell sideways one day
I would still love you
Come what may
If I battled an army
for your sheer delight
Or stopped a bullet
at the speed of light
I would still love you
You are my one delight
If I fought a tiger
Or stepped in front of a train
It would be for you
My precious child
I will love you forever
I am completely beguiled
Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing ©
Fall from the Sky
Delight
Battle
May
A fearless warrior
Alone in her plight
Fighting for their existence
No one to help her and the child
Determined to go the distance
She walked through fire
but was not burnt by it
She circled her wagons
With her never ending fury
She slayed the dragons
She would fight tigers
For she was a mother
Crossing her you cannot afford
For the life of her daughter
She would fall on her sword
Christine Bolton – Poetry for Healing ©
In response to: Reena’s Exploration Challenge Week #48
Using the line She walked through fire but was not burnt by it
When I was eight
Things were not so great
Life gave me such a kick
I grew up pretty quick
A child expecting a present
Instead was delivered unpleasant
My parents started fighting
Just the beginning of writing
That was clearly on the wall
Witnessing the nightly brawl
My father was an unhappy man
My mother trying the best she can
The combination explosive
Their relationship corrosive
Living life under cumulus clouds
Feeling like the dead covered in shrouds
I learned to fake
Even though my heart would ache
Every ounce of pain
They delivered without refrain
Hurting each other mercilessly
Only to be regretted remorsefully
Suffering the pain as a mortal
Damage to the psyche immortal
Communication with each other
Was really like no other
I was the chosen intermediary
Carrying their messages diligently
The peacekeeper of the house
Keeping family secrets quiet as a mouse
Too clever for my young age
I became the family sage
Learning the art of improvise
Trying to get parents to compromise
It was a huge burden to carry
Acting as their emissary
On the shoulders of someone so young
At eight years old this was no fun
They were unable to make decisions
There were only divisions
A merry go round of hostility
I finally had enough servility
If I had any potential
Then escape was essential
Breaking loose of that scene
When I was eighteen
Christine Bolton
Word Prompts of the day:
Faces in the sky
Look ominous to a child
Who imagines fear
Christine Bolton – Poetry for Healing ©
My name is Christine
And I am a gallivanter
As a child growing up in England a million years ago, everyone used to book their annual vacation immediately after Christmas. At the back of each newspaper and magazine there were countless advertisements for holidays abroad. You would fill in a little section of the ad with your name and address and send it with a stamped and self addressed envelope. In a few weeks you’d receive a big glossy catalogue! When I was 7 or 8 years old I used to save my pocket money and buy stamps and envelopes so I could send away for all these fabulous free books on exotic places all over the world. My mother couldn’t understand my fascination and she thought my expectations were very lofty about wanting to see the world.
It never left me though and I became addicted to gallivanting! I am fortunate in that I chose a travel industry career in sales and marketing. I worked for travel agents, a major airline and then fine hotels, ending up in private country clubs. Always working with people either planning a trip, actually traveling, or at their final destination. Of course my choices helped tremendously with the financial side of things and I was lucky enough to gallivant all over the world for next to nothing. I even ended up living overseas! I had the opportunity to follow my dream and I am a better person for it. Traveling is an eduction by itself and it teaches you to be more accepting of everyone.
Someone said once, “Show me the child at 7 and I will show you the man” (Or woman!). He was right!
Dream
I wish I could travel
To the ends of the earth
So dreamed the child
Perhaps to Cairo or Perth
Learning different languages
Colorful Bazaars
Mystical places
Why not reach for the stars
Hang on to your dreams
Keep them close to your heart
Sometimes they are all you have
While you map the chart
The world is your oyster
It presents you with a pearl
Enjoy the wanderlust
And give it a whirl
What you envisage
Usually comes true
Keep dreaming on young thing
One day you’ll be saying adieu
Christine Bolton
I’m a little late with this submission but it’s such a great word!
Gallivant Word of the (Yester)Day