Poetry – Page 19 – M J Mallon YA Author and Poet

1st Halloween Poetry Contest from Writer’s Treasure Chest and more!!!

No, this isn’t an invitation to a Halloween party on my blog, not quite! Tee hee nearly fooled you didn’t I?

But it is a celebration of sorts, a Happy Halloween, and a bunch of stuff and nonsense that I’d like to share with you. So keep on reading – there are details about a couple of Halloween parties at the end of this post!!!

It’s also to let you know that I will be going on a blogging break in early November and to wish you a Happy Halloween.

Now here come’s the exciting part, I’ve got a secret to share with you.

I just love secrets don’t you?

I’m taking the plunge and entering the 1st Halloween-Poem Contest

on ‘Writer’s Treasure Chest’.

My poem:

The Alternative All Hallows’ Eve Bash!

It’s all Hallow’s Eve time for the party to begin,

Witches, vampires, spooks and demons of the night,

Come and join in this annual spectacular delight,

Bring your entry ticket, a glut of gruesome grisliness.

No glowing Jack O’Lanterns are permitted here,

No pretty Halloween plump pumpkins,

Our team of half dead bouncers search for sweets,

Ejecting sickly sweet cheerfulness with ferocious frowns.

Vampires savour red goblets of the purist human blood,

Witches devour human brains a spicy savoury delicacy,

Ghostly ghouls can’t ingest or digest. Oh what a shame!

Instead the smell of rotten candles fills their one time bellies.

Demons sit together in a clique,

They consume a spirit that no one dares to seek,

Their poker hot glances burn into your soul,

No one dares to join them, its too Lucifer hot!

The party’s over way too soon there is clearing up to do,

The kindly ghosts are left to pick up,

They wail boo hoo,

A ghost’s ghoulish life is over before it has begun!

The demon’s faces’ crease in a smouldering, bittersweet, smirk,

The vampires lick their lips, breaking into a blood-curdling smile,

And the witches cackle with ripples of raucous relish,

While Beelzebub bouncers pick up the ghosts and shake ‘em for fun.

Next year’s party committee is set!

A year from now a Hallibaloo of a Halloween bash is on its way!

Don’t forget, don’t be late!

Creepy Cameras at the ready, Blood, Cold, Shiver, Fire, Flash!

Here’s the details:

Every author and poet are invited to participate and deliver a “Halloween-Poem” to my email address: aurorajean.alexander@aol.com, together with their picture.

There are a few rules to follow:
1.Your poem needs a Halloween theme.
2.Your poem needs a minimum of 99 words.
3.Your poem has to be delivered to my email address until Halloween, October 31, 2015, 9 pm Eastern Time.
4.Please avoid violence, bad language, and sexual content within the poems. It would be disqualified.

More about the contest and how to enter here: https://aurorajalexander.wordpress.com/2015/10/20/1st-halloween-poem-contest/

The Next Bloggers Bash is set for 11 June 2016 – I went to this year’s Bloggers Bash in August, so a bit of a poetic joke there! Not saying all of us bloggers are a bunch of witches, and devils, but ……. somehow the idea just grabbed me!!

Before I forget there are some Halloween parties going on today, a couple of bloggers are having a share your posts kind of parties today, lovely idea.

The lovely Suzie Speaks has written an excellent post about how to host a blog party: http://suzie81speaks.com/2015/10/27/how-to-host-a-blog-party/

and extended her invitation to you to join her in her Halloween Blog party: http://suzie81speaks.com/2015/10/31/halloween-blog-party/

Also there is an invitation to join in a Witch’s tea party at author Kirsten Weiss’s ParaYourNormal blog: https://parayournormal.wordpress.com/2015/10/31/witchs-teablog-party-2/

What fun, I think I’ll go as a …………. witch!! I have a very fetching red velvet witch’s hat.. and a red and black dress, or perhaps a black one, decisions, decisions…… plus some blood red lipstick perhaps?

Oh, and in case you missed my run down on all my Halloween activities, here’s the link to that.

There is something for everyone, photography, quotes, stories, haiku, poetry, book reviews, you name it: https://atomic-temporary-67364188.wpcomstaging.com/2015/10/31/happy-halloween-2/

Just recently I went to see Wicked at the Apollo Theatre in London, it was fantastic! I’d go as the Wicked Witch but I don’t have enough green face paint so best to keep things simple!!

Hope you like my poem, do comment I’d love to hear your views.

Have a very Happy Halloween, from your friendly good witch Marje!

Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

Ronovan Writes Haiku Poetry Prompt Challenge # 64 Tide and Flesh

I’m joining this week’s haiku prompt challenge from Ron, the prompt words Tide and Flesh just seemed to be made for me as I’m doing Halloween type/scary posts leading up to 31st October.

Here’s a few of my recent activities:

I’ve been joining the #red eye scary read along, from Stripes Publishing, more about that on my previous post: https://atomic-temporary-67364188.wpcomstaging.com/2015/09/30/read-eye-readalong-frozen-charlotte/

and I’ve written a Halloween themed short story for #BlogBattle too:

https://atomic-temporary-67364188.wpcomstaging.com/2015/09/29/blog-battle-blood-moon-a-rip-of-a-ride/

So let’s talk haiku, I’ve written several this week, five in total. You see I like spooky things, even though spooky things scare me!!

The Red Tide

The red tide flows in

It decimates the shoreline

Flesh flows scattering

Vampires Outlive Us

Vampires outlive us

Life drifts and flows on the tide

Flesh decays with time

Ghosts Harbour Grudges

Ghosts harbour grudges

With no flesh to look pretty

Tide drifts ghosts do too

Wily Witches

Wily Witches Spells

Make their old flesh young and firm

Charms cast on the tide

The Blood Moon

The blood moon settles

High above tide’s jewelled throne

A red shadow glows

Link to Ronovan’s Blog, do check it out, he has an awesome blog:

https://ronovanwrites.wordpress.com/

Hope my haiku didn’t give you the shivers!! What do you like to do to get in the mood for Halloween? I’ve been watching vampire diaries!!

Bye for now,

Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

Ronovan Writes Weekly Haiku Challenge #62 Start & Hot

RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #62 Start&Hot

Isn’t this pretty? Really like this prompt photo Ron, very nice indeed. Love the orange leaves against the grey – very striking.

This week’s prompt words for Ron’s Weekly Haiku Challenge are Start and Hot, and boy did these two words give me trouble, I just wasn’t feeling it. My haiku engine wasn’t starting, it was at a dead stand still believe me. In fact it protested like an old uncharged car battery on a freezing cold snowy day. I was stumped and practically gave up. You nearly had me throwing in the towel Ron, but I kept on at it, played with words, and fiddled about until I came up with these two haikus: Hot Rave Drug Murder and Tsunami of Tears. Not particularly cheerful haiku this week, I’m sorry to say, but at least I get full marks for being determined!!

Hot Rave Drug Murder

A cliff hanger start

The final chapter shocker

Hot Rave Drug Murder

It reads as:

A cliffhanger start the final chapter shocker.

The final chapter shocker hot rave drug murder

Then after muddling through that first haiku I came up with this:

Tsunami of Tears

Start running, death calls

Hot, still sand surrenders souls

Tsunami of tears

It reads as:

Start running death calls hot still sand surrenders souls.

Hot still sand surrenders souls tsunami of tears.

Here’s the link to Ronovan Writes Challenge: https://ronovanwrites.wordpress.com/2015/09/14/ronovanwrites-weekly-haiku-poetry-prompt-challenge-62-start-hot/

Hope you like this weeks haiku. I kind of looked a bit shocked like my Bitstrips cartoon character when I finally worked it out!

Do leave a comment I’d love to hear from you.

Bye for now.

Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

Ronovan Writes Haiku Challenge #61 Tears and Wine

Hey guess what it’s time for Ron’s Haiku Prompt Challenge, and the prompt words this week are wine and tears. Interesting combination…. Yes tears often follow wine. They could be tears of happiness at a celebration. A wedding perhaps, or a birth of a baby. But sometimes unhappy tears follow wine too. Sometimes things can happen on a night out, a lost wallet, or a phone perhaps? Too much alcohol is often the reason! Or in some cases a lost wallet, and a phone. I heard a story about this recently and apparently a very kind person came to this youngster’s rescue and gave her money for a taxi home. Now isn’t that a wonderfully uplifting story? It just convinces me that the spirit of human kindness is still alive and well.

But my advice would be – enjoy your night out but make sure you are sober enough that you can get home safely, so here’s a haiku with that in mind:

Lost and Alone Tears

Wine drinker’s advice

Deceptive nightclub fun high

Empty wallet tears

Once you are back home safe and sound why not have something sweet to end the evening? As long as your stomach is up to it! Otherwise you might be wise to settle for an alka seltzer. To make it a bit different I’d thought a deconstructed cheesecake might be the perfect choice, or if not, a wine glass full of sweet heart lollipops:

Tears of Sweetest Joy

Produce dessert wine

Deconstruct a cheesecake dear

Tears of sweetest joy

Ping back Link https://ronovanwrites.wordpress.com/2015/09/07/ronovanwrites-weekly-haiku-poetry-prompt-challenge-61-tears-wine/

Thanks for stopping by Kyrosmagica. I do hope that you like my haiku this week, and that I don’t sound too preachy. I worry about all those youngsters getting back home safely at night.

Hope you like my new comic me, I’ve had fun doing these, it’s uncanny how it kind of looks like me! My pal Colleen at Silver Threading http://silverthreading.com/ has been giving me lots of tips, she’s an expert on these Bitstrips cartoons. Thank you so much Colleen.

Bye for now.

Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

Ronovan Writes Weekly Haiku Poetry Prompt Challenge #60 Bridge and Move

I’ve been out of the loop of Haiku challenges for a while as I’ve been up in Edinburgh looking after my mum after her operation. Luckily she’s as fit as a fiddle and bouncing back to health at a miraculous pace. She’s a regular churchgoer and apparently the congregation pray for those who are ill or in hospital, and in her case it seems to have worked, quite amazing, not much pain, just a bit tired as if she’s had a serious case of man flu or something.

So in between helping my mum out I managed to have a bit of a holiday in Edinburgh, taking in the delights of the Edinburgh International Festival, and the Book Festival too, you may have seen some of my recent blog posts.

Now that I’m back in Cambridge, I’m happy to be joining in this week with Ron’s weekly haiku challenge, here’s the link if you’d like to take part: https://ronovanwrites.wordpress.com/2015/08/31/ronovanwrites-weekly-haiku-poetry-prompt-challenge-60-bridge-move/

The prompt words this week are bridge and move.

My first haiku is about my experience on the train coming home from Edinburgh. I was sitting opposite a Chinese lady and her son. She was obviously hungry as she rummaged in her bag and pulled out a large chocolate cheesecake, (it looked like it served four people,) and sat there and ate the majority of it all by herself. Her son nibbled on a chocolate and in a short while finished off the last remaining crumbs of that cheesecake before polishing off a packet of crisps. This amused me no end. I know that Chinese people love their food, (my mum’s from Malaysia so I know this without a shadow of a doubt,) but I always thought they prefer savoury to sweet so this astonished me. In fact they were very entertaining to listen to, the lady started telling the people sitting next to her about all her travels in the Far East, so I got my eavesdropping ears on, (an absolute must if you have any aspirations to be a writer,) and had a jolly old-time. It ended up being a very interesting journey home.

So this haiku is an eves-dropping thank you for the Chinese lady on the train, and a celebration of her eating so much chocolate cheesecake in one sitting! I hope she likes cats, didn’t have an upset tummy afterwards, and will forgive me for being such a nosey parker.

Isn’t this picture cute?

A Sweet Bridge Too Far

Moving train journey

Kitty! Choc cheesecake delight

A sweet bridge too far?

And the next one, which I have entitled We’re Finished Lover, well I don’t know where this one came from!

Oh I tell I lie, whilst I was up in Edinburgh at the Book Festival I saw a little haiku book that caught my eye, it’s called Haiku for The Single Girl by Beth Griffenhagen, with wonderful illustrations by Cynthia Vehslage Meyers (Illustrator) so it inspired me to write this haiku:

We’re Finished Lover

Move an inch baby

Don’t dare cross that bridge sweetheart

We’re finished lover

Hope you enjoy my couple of haiku offerings this week. Haiku always make me smile, I hope they make you smile too.

Bye for now.

Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

Ronovan Writes Weekly Haiku Poetry Prompt Challenge # 57

Ronovan Writes #Weekly #Haiku#PoetryPrompt# Challenge#57 Bust & Must

This week’s prompt words for Ron’s Ronovan Writes Weekly Haiku Poetry Prompt Challenge are bust and must.

There are several meanings for the word bust so I thought I’d explore them and have a bit of fun!

The two prompt words brought to mind my piano teacher, God rest her soul. I feel a bit mean about this one, she was a lovely chatty lady with one very abundant distinguishing feature. But, she was a good sport and an excellent piano teacher so, I trust she wouldn’t mind if I start off with joke to make you smile.

Piano Teacher

Must navigate around her

Ample bust on keys

Expressions with the word bust in them –

He bust his sweet ass

To make a forever perch

Love must always last

Oh, and let’s not forget artists mannequins:

Such a fine red hat

A mannequin bust display

Must have gold necklace

or:

Holiday must see

Clear blue skies sand sculpture bust

Amazing delight

Unfortunately the other day I broke my lovely tea caddy, I was a bit upset about this, but I suppose on the bright side it gives me an excuse to buy a new one! Or who knows maybe a magical tea cup? I need one of these at the moment, my kitchen renovation is still going on, when will it ever end? Magic wand please come to my rescue!

Bust my china cup

My only magical brew

Must get a new one.

Here’s the link to Ronovan Writes Haiku Challenges:

https://ronovanwrites.wordpress.com/2015/08/10/ronovanwrites-weekly-haiku-poetry-prompt-challenge-57-bust-must/

Hope you liked this week’s dose of several haiku, I seem to have got a bit carried away, boy this haiku gets a bit addictive!

I’d love to hear from you please don’t be shy do leave a comment.

Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

Ronovan Writes #Weekly Haiku Poetry Prompt Challenge # 56 Luck And Hope

RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #56 Luck&Hope

This week’s prompt words from Ron are Luck and Hope. Wow what positive and inspiring words, I have a feeling I’m going to enjoy writing this week’s haiku. Luck and hope sound pretty good from my perspective as I have just heard that my friend’s daughter is doing well in hospital, I wrote my previous haiku, no. #55 when I was still very worried about her so it’s good to know that she will soon be at home. Bless her, she’s such a fighter, such a lovely lass, I have so much admiration for her.

So Luck and Hope, this haiku started off on a serious note, as my friend’s daughter has been in a lot of pain so here’s my first Get Well haiku to hope that her pain will soon be a distant memory:

Get Well Soon

Luck will have its day

Hope’s sweetest hug will triumph

And pain will depart

Now let’s rouse this Get Well message with a bit of Hakuna Matataing.

My mind works in mysterious ways!

I reckon The Lion King was on my mind after chatting online with Erika at BookVentureland https://errka220.wordpress.com/ about our fondness for this great Disney movie.

If you’ve forgotten the lyrics, shame on you!

Here’s a link to remind you: http://www.metrolyrics.com/hakuna-matata-lyrics-lion-king.html

So here goes, LET’S HAKUNA MATATA, adding a touch of cheeky haiku luck and hope to the awesomeness of this song.

Let’s Hakuna Matata

A blessing of hope

Let’s Hakuna Matata

Lucky Worry Free !

I’m ending on another humorous note, it was bound to happen after all that Hakuna Matataing.

This one could be humorous if you win at gambling I suppose, but it might be serious if you lose…… So don’t try this Haiku at home folks, not unless you’re willing to part with your hard earned money!

Lucky Dice

Hope’s a Gambler’s friend

Pink champagne and caviar

Roll my lucky dice!

Here’s the link to Ronovan Writes Haiku Challenges: https://ronovanwrites.wordpress.com/category/haiku-prompt-challenge/

Hope you liked this week’s triple dose of haiku. Oh I’m buzzing with all that Hakuna Matataing….

I’d love to hear from you please don’t be shy do leave a comment.

Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

Ronovan Writes #Weekly # Haiku #Poetry Prompt# Challenge # 55

So what’s Ronovan got tucked up his sleeve this week? The prompt words Five and Thrive are a rhyming pair these two words suggest youthfulness, and doing well – all in all a very positive way to go.

Maya Angelou’s wonderful quote and Ron’s prompt words bring to mind thoughts about a daughter of a family friend of mine who has been through multiple operations dating back to when she was just a baby. She’s such a brave girl, in all the time I’ve known her she has never complained about what she has had to go through. Sophie is now sweet sixteen, and an inspiration to us all, her positivity is truly a credit to her and her family. This first haiku is a special get well wish for this lovely lass who is currently in hospital after undergoing surgery. We wish her the very best, a speedy recovery and much fun and laughter in her life, she truly deserves it. xx

For Sophie

You’re five times braver

This haiku is for you

Thrive reach that summit

I’m certain you’ll thrive

Your five special qualities

Will always shine through

Positivity,

Braveness, strength of character,

Your love of life too.

(The final three lines aren’t using the prompt words

but they just seemed to fit so well……………)

So, with this positivity in mind let’s find five fun things to do:

Five Special Things

Five amazing tips

To thrive, eat, smile, laugh, create,

Be adventurous

Words good or bad, are my very own!

If you’d like to take part in Ronovan Writes Weekly Haiku Poetry Prompt Challenge here’s the link: https://ronovanwrites.wordpress.com/2015/07/27/ronovanwrites-weekly-haiku-poetry-prompt-challenge-55-five-thrive/

Hope you liked this week’s Haiku. Do leave a comment I’d love to hear from you.

Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

RonovanWrites Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt Challenge Review 54

Can you believe it? I’m this week’s Serious Haiku choice, now that’s a wonderful surprise. Marjorie of Kyrosmagica: Anxiety and Pet Hugs. Seriousness from our resident Humorist. @Marjorie_Mallon

Vashti Quiroz-Vega of The Writer Next Door is the humour choice this week with: Po-Po.

Check out all the wonderful Haiku entries.

RonovanWrites Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt Challenge Review 54.

Ronovan Writes Weekly Haiku Poetry Prompt Challenge #54 Free and Think

RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #54 Free&Think

This week’s prompt words for Ron’s Weekly Haiku Challenge are Free and Think.

Here’s the link to Ronovan’s blog to join in the challenge: https://ronovanwrites.wordpress.com/2015/07/20/ronovanwrites-weekly-haiku-poetry-prompt-challenge-54-free-think/

Both of my Haiku this week are more serious in nature, this is a bit unusual for me but somehow the prompt words seemed to lead me down a more thoughtful path. Of the two Haiku the second one is more light-hearted.

The following Haiku are especially for anyone who is or has ever experienced the overpowering symptoms of anxiety. This is much more common than you would ever believe possible, it seems that this fast paced world that we now live in is the perfect breeding grown for anxiety symptoms.

Anxiety

Free my racing pulse

No thought but relentless fear

Anxiety bites

My second Haiku is inspired by AAT, whatever could that be?

Read all about it after this haiku, a much needed hug for all sufferers getting through another day, living with the crippling effects of anxiety.

Pet Hugs

Cruel thought assailant

Anxiety wires your brain

Pet hugs free event

Words good or bad, are my very own!

At my daughter’s University, they had this special event, dogs where brought into campus for students to help counter stress relief. A hug a dog day or something like that! The official term is Animal Assisted Therapy or AAT for short. Which also happens to be the abbreviation for Accounting technicians, I know which of the two I prefer!

What a great idea, not the accounting I hasten to add. I’d rather hug a cat or dog than add up a row of figures any day of the week, and I should know I used to be a book-keeper many years ago!

Here’s a link to find out more about Animal Assisted Therapy:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal-assisted_therapy

Let’s not go without mentioning a new development regarding our cat friends, CAT CAFE’S!

I’ve just found out there’s one in Edinburgh, which I must go and visit.

It’s called Maison de Moggy and it’s in Stockbridge: http://catcafes.co.uk/uk-cat-cafes/maison-de-moggy/

I’m planning to go up in August, but the trip will be a stressful one as my mum is going into hospital for an operation. She loves cats so maybe when she’s feeling up to it, I’ll take her for a bit of R & R to the cat café.

For more cat cafés in the UK and abroad visit: http://catcafes.co.uk/

There’s a shed load of benefits attributed to owning a cat or a dog. Here’s the ones that spring readily to mind: great for reducing your blood pressure, making you more active (taking your dog for a walk,) widening your social network with other dog/cat owners, staving of loneliness, and reducing stress!

No wonder so many writers have a dog or a cat. I’m missing out…… My pet free way of unwinding is going to Tai Chi or doing a bit of Yoga, and having a bubble bath and a glass of wine does wonders for me too….

So whether it’s hugging a human friend or a dog or cat, it’s all so very good for you.

Check out Val Boyko’s wonderful blog which is full of tips to nourish and restore you: http://findyourmiddleground.com/2015/06/22/stressed-quick-tips-to-nourish-and-restore/

Please do comment, I love to hear from you. Have you a dog or a cat? Or an unusual pet? Have you any tips about reducing stress?

Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

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A Sweet Bridge Too Far

Moving train journey

Kitty! Choc cheesecake delight

A sweet bridge too far?

We’re Finished Lover

Move an inch baby

Don’t dare cross that bridge sweetheart

We’re finished lover

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Get Well Soon

Luck will have its day

Hope’s sweetest hug will triumph

And pain will depart

Let’s Hakuna Matata

A blessing of hope

Let’s Hakuna Matata

Lucky Worry Free !

Lucky Dice

Hope’s a Gambler’s friend

Pink champagne and caviar

Roll my lucky dice!

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