d’verse – Page 2 – Hues of Hankinson

Shades of 50.

It is done, my fiftieth birthday year finally gone

Kicked the ass out of that, had a bit of fun

Moved house and home,

And now it is done.

Heartaches and happiness all in one.

What a year, glad to move on to 51.

this is a bit cheesy but all I could muster for this week’s Quadrille at d’Verse. I celebrated my fiftieth birthday in hospital and it has been a roller-coaster of a year and I think some of the biggest dips were in the last week, so I was a bit quiet….So tomorrow I start a new day, and a new year… and I will be 51.

I miss my Ellen though and would love to have her home with me. XXXX

What am I?

A nagging doubt

As my footsteps dulcet echo across the darkened dismal cobbles of a dreary street

Dutiful.

A whisper of solace

As our lives we share, and you weep and ache with despair

Comforter.

A cacophony of cheeriness

As we stride with gusto into growing uncertainty

Supporter.

A melancholy melody of metamorphosis

As I struggle to flutter and fly, reaching for the stars in the sky and knowing that I

wore the mask of the chameleon.

A rich and colourful cadenza of congeniality

As I reminisce and retreat

Into my own colourless void.

This if for poetics at d’Verse.

The image was labelled for reuse and was in the public domain- wikimedia-

By Nic McPhee from Morris, MN, USA (Corn and sunflower (butterfly is optional)) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons

Haunted House.

Creaky floors and creaky doors

The haunted house hears me

Creeping along the staircase

Hoping the ghostly ghouls won’t see.

Suddenly the silence shatters

Nerves are torn in tiny tatters

A deathly scream is all that matters

I think it is time to flee.

For d’Verse.….. where creak was the prompt, I had already written two quadrilles today but neither of them fitted the prompt….so this was the result.

Image available in public domain House Cemetry-haunted house- By darksouls1 [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons

Autumn mists

We had to take Emily to a very early morning television shoot, she was being an extra. It gave us the chance to make the most of Tatton Park and the autumn leaves before the trees are rendered naked by Ophelia. She became unexpectedly very ill and we rushed home and she was admitted to hospital. I had to come home and leave her there.

She phoned all awry and crying this morning and as I rushed to get to her I looked back towards the sea and saw the most amazing misty haze, and it was the calm before the storm, going into town the River Lune was like a looking glass. They have kept her in again and the wind is billowing and blowing.

Calm before the storm

Sea mists rise and hazy hues

Leaves flutter and fall.

©Alison Jean Hankinson

This is for d’Verse. Haibun Monday.

In peaceful sleep.

With patient love he watched her as she slept

She who had held him close to breast as child

Deep within his chest his aching heart wept.

Whilst she appeared contented in her dreams and smiled

As though her fears and troubles were finally reconciled

For soon the relentless punishing pain would be gone

Yet in his memory-this moment of love would linger on.

©Alison Jean Hankinson

This is for d’Verse where we were asked to write in Chaucerian stanza. First time I have done this.

The final slumber….

I am not sure I got the meter right.

The image is my Grandmother and her eldest son Frank.

A fridge too far….

Lashings of blueberry conserve

Rain lashing on the window pane.

Luscious sumptuous late summer fruits

Raspberries fresh from the cane.

Limes lingering for mocktails

Sauvignon blanc chilling on ice.

Swede broccoli and carrot

For roast lamb supper tonight.

Leftovers for lunchtime tomorrow

No fresh salad but mushrooms galore,

As the weather signals the move to autumn

It is Hot Chocolate with whipped cream we adore.

©Alison Jean Hankinson.

This is for d’Verse poetics where we were encouraged to consider the contents of our fridge….it took a while and was almost a fridge too far….hence the title….

The rain did lash the window panes today, the River Lune was very fast flowing with what looked like whole trees heading out to sea….crumpet weather…I did stop and have a Hot Chocolate on the way home from the University.

Hope is all there is……

Hope- a fountain

In the desert of despair.

Hope- a shooting star

In a sky of troubles.

Hope- a safe harbour

In a tempestuous storm.

Hope- a heartbeat missed

When you realise you are home

When everything is broken,

Hope is all there is.

©Alison Jean Hankinson.

For d’verse quadrille.

The anchor is to represent hope. The flowers and other images are where I find glimpses of hope.

Things have felt quite broken recently and it is hope that keeps us walking forward through turbulent times. “Walk on with hope in your heart and you will never walk alone.”

Gerry and the Pacemakers- Walk on

Kaos

Butterfly jitterbug

Scantily across the mildewed road

Sordid sounds of rank and file

Perturbed the air

Candyfloss tears

Mistaken identities

Purriri moth in damson tree.

When the wind blows cold

I shall wear my purple hat

Forgive me.

This is for d’Verse.….mmmm have no idea if this is right…

The image is from flickr by Pamela Kelly.

Serenade to a misspent youth…..

Pink organza dress

A sea of roses in her hair

Undercurrent of sensual sorceress.

Scents of love promised

Followed by adrenalin rush.

Temptress divine

A moment of indiscretion

That claimed you as mine.

Followed by a tsunami of regret

And a lifetime of commitment.

Image:

Raimundo-de-Madrazo-y-Garreta

Aline with Flowers, Free to use for non commercial use.

I have decided to submit this poem for d’Verse open link night. I wrote it at the weekend. It took me a while to find an image that I liked, and I actually discovered a lot of images by Garreta that I liked, so that was a bonus.

Summer sleeps…

Hibernating hedgehogs

Slumbering squirrels

Luscious leaves crunch beneath my feet

As autumn prevails

Ochre turns to burgundy

Mist upon the hills

Children wrapped up snuggly

To keep them safe from seasonal chills.

This is for d’Verse meeting at the bar… is the season where many creatures are going to sleep for the winter- the trees were amazing today-but I only had my cellphone to get photos with…. I wanted to feel justified in my choice of burgundy….