03 Wednesday Apr 2013
Tags
Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, Buddha, Dharma, meditation, poetry, rupa, teaching, UK poet, Yorkshire poet
I have the Buddha on my back,
he’s quite an affable chap,
with a candle and a cloth,
and a purpose,
I set off…
© Backpack Buddha 03.04.2013
by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm
02 Tuesday Apr 2013
Posted in Poetry
She walks in beauty,
like the night,
rollers in,
and hair a sight.
Face pale green,
a beauty pack,
eyebrows plucked,
and then drawn back.
Pyjamas pink,
and winceyette,
such a look,
you won’t forget.
She walks in slippers,
polka dot,
and thermal socks,
hot to trot!
A classic beauty?
you decide…
(Frankenstein
refused this bride!)
© She Walks in Beauty 02.04.2013
by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm
29 Friday Mar 2013
Posted in Poetry, Publications
Tags
Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, anthology, poetry, Tipping Sheep, Tipping Sheep (the right way), UK poet, Yorkshire poet
It is finally here!!
Here is your opportunity to buy my first anthology – Tipping Sheep (the right way)
It is as ‘cheap as chips’ – well… as cheap as an Easter Egg – Go on treat yourself!!
(The Kindle version is still in progress – I will paste the links for the e-book version soon.)
‘Tipping Sheep (the right way)’ is the first anthology from new author Alexandra Carr-Malcolm. This is an intriguing compilation of poems, spanning over a ten year period of collected works. ‘Tipping Sheep’ will take you on a journey of highs and lows, exploring life, death, and many aspects of the human predicament. From the depths of ‘Bittersweet’ despair, to the humour of ‘Tipping Sheep’ and the musing of ‘Knitting Couplets’. Alex has a unique style of word play and cadence within the lines woven with wit and wisdom.
Click on the links below to take you to the page where you can purchase a copy 🙂
27 Wednesday Mar 2013
Posted in Death, Heartbreak, Poetry
Tags
Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, anger, bruises, death, domestic abuse, domestic violence, dreams, heartbreak, loss, marriage, poetry, UK poet, violets, Yorkshire poet
His pint glass half empty,
he’s nursing the blues;
always bitter, never mild,
flat cap and scuffed shoes.
She hoovers the house,
with stars in her hair,
sings to her muse,
thanks god he’s not there.
As he sits in the pub,
nursing his woes,
the footy is lost,
as the last whistle blows.
In her Primarni dress,
she scrubs hard the floor,
heart in her mouth,
dreads the key in the door.
He shuffles on home,
with her heart in his boots,
a belly of beer,
and a loin full of fruit.
She accepts his gift,
with the grace of a Queen,
a necklace of violets,
blacks, blues, and greens.
He broods and he dreams,
cultivating his grudge;
she’s stolen his youth,
this old, plain, drudge.
She lies stock-still
as the stars in the air.
He can no longer hurt,
what is no longer there.
© Violets 27.03.2013
by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm
English: Violets by the coast path This year seems to have been particularly good for violets. This is part of a bank also scattered with lesser celandine. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
26 Tuesday Mar 2013
Posted in Death, Grief, Heartbreak, Loss, Poetry
Tags
Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, commemoration, in memoriam, natural order, remembering, remembrance, UK poet, Yorkshire poet
Dedicated to those gone, too soon and too young –
Always in our hearts…
How can it be?
When it is not natural.
Not this way,
from the blind side.
How can it be?
Order?
When it is out of order,
out of the ordinary,
extra ordinary.
You oxymoron,
natural order.
How can it be?
© Natural Order 07.11.2012
By Alexandra Carr-Malcolm
Findlay’s spirit (Photo credit: beccaplusmolly)
23 Saturday Mar 2013
Posted in Poetry, Publications
New publication coming soon….
Watch this space for further details and links…
22 Friday Mar 2013
Posted in Death, Deep Stuff!, Grief, Poetry
Tags
Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, Chanel, death, dreams, haunted, memories, Mother, nightime, poetry, UK poet, Yorkshire poet
This is the final piece from the poetry workshop. The final piece was inspired by Maitreyabandhu’s ‘The Bond’
The idea was to give a feel of anticipation of an impending visit, and use Maitreyabandhu’s closing phrase of, ‘Just the air’, within the poem.
Just the Air
All is still…
and I am present,
caught between two worlds,
just the air as our witness,
and a pillow of dreams
as darkest night unfurls.
I smell your sickly lily scent,
of cigarettes and light Chanel.
Why do you come?
What do you want?
Forgiveness or
remembrance,
from your little girl?
You left in anger
not once, but twice.
So why return
in darkest night,
when you’ve been gone,
these eight years long?
© Just the Air 22.03.2013
by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm
English: Moon (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
21 Thursday Mar 2013
Posted in Buddhism, Deep Stuff!, Poetry
Tags
Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, Alice Oswald, breath, Buddhism, enlightenment, Germination, meditation, rebirth, Seed, spiritual death, spiritual growth, spiritual rebirth, transformation, UK poet, vision, Yorkshire poet
The penultimate piece was inspired by Alice Oswald‘s, ‘A Winged Seed’. The idea was to write a piece based on the idea of a seed, or a spore, travelling, or germinating.
Enlightening Seeds
Sitting, just sitting…
waiting for illumination.
There is nothing
more that I can do,
other than…
sitting, sitting, waiting
for my head to crack open
in a cacophony of life,
shattered and broken,
to all that I am.
No longer
sitting,
but waiting,
waiting for that explosion of growth,
to rip forth and pull me from mundanity,
and thrust me upon the world;
as what?
I know not,
so I will sit,
and wait,
upon this breath,
of fresh air.
© Enlightening Seeds 21.03.2013
by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm
A germinated seedling (Eranthis hyemalis) emerges from the ground (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
19 Tuesday Mar 2013
Posted in Buddhism, Death, Deep Stuff!, Poetry
Tags
Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, Archaic Torso of Apollo, breath, Buddhism, death, Don Paterson, poetry, Rilke, spiritual death, UK poet, Vajrasattva, Yorkshire poet
The second piece was based on, ‘Archaic Torso of Apollo’ after Rilke, translated by Don Paterson.
The idea was to include the line, ‘Now change your life’ either at the end or somewhere in the body of the poem.
Here was my attempt.
Now Change Your Life
I smell you in my dreams.
Elusive, exclusive,
to all realms,
but what of it?
Stoic indifference,
tantric magnificence,
eyes tantalise,
and plead,
“Now change your life”
before death slams the door
on opportunities scorned,
and breath is spent,
like a match.
© Now Change Your Life 19.03.2013
by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm
Rainer Maria Rilke (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
18 Monday Mar 2013
Posted in Buddhism, Daily life, Poetry
Tags
Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, Buddhist retreat, Dharma, Kindle, packing, poetry, reading, retreat, Uk poetry, writing, Yorkshire poet
The next few poems were written on a poetry day. The first poem is inspired from R.S.V.P. by Beverley Nadin. The task was to write a list of items that we packed to take on our last retreat, and then include some of them in a poem. This was my attempt 🙂
Three books,
one red, one blue, one black,
Poetry, Dharma and Drama.
A pencil and pen,
backed up with a spare,
(thank God for my Kindle!)
and a brush for my hair.
My potions and pills,
(no nightie with frills)
Just good solid thermals!
Pyjamas and socks
squashed in a bag,
and no need for locks,
as I’m escaping to freedom;
leave humdrum at home.
I’m longing for space,
and a room of one’s own.
©Three Books 10.03.2013
by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm
Bell, Virginia Woolf (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Worldly Winds 