The Big Buddha House

30 Saturday Nov 2013

Posted by Worldly Winds in Buddhism, Humour, Poetry

Tags

Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, Buddha, Buddhism, Buddhist retreat, Dharma, enlightenment, humour, meditation, poetry, UK poet, Uk poetry, Yorkshire poet

Day eight in the Big Buddha House,

and all is well.

There’s jam on my toast,

and my drink is swell;

and even the rota,

says I’m free ‘til the bell.

Sat on the cushion,

meditation’s not pushin’

my buttons today,

all is calm for a change,

Mental weather is clement,

and nothing to lament,

in the Big Buddha House today.

Prostration – not frustratin’

and the bruise on my knee,

nearly gone thankfully,

and the muscles in my tum’

no longer undone;

I can launch with abandon,

then horizontal to standin’ –

not bad for an old bird like me!

Then the talks – they inspire,

and my mind is on fire,

with ideas and with thoughts,

with a passion they course,

and my heart it does swell,

and I’m leaning as well,

Yes! These things they call ethics,

are quite deep and complex,

let’s leave it at that, just for now…

Oh – the food is sublime,

as I sit down to dine.

Delia is surpassed!

Skilful cooks make repast,

and the smells in the steam,

am I sensing Tajine,

in the Big Buddha House today?

And then there’s our dorm,

floor two, number one,

where sisters in Dharma,

sleep safe, warm, and calm;

and I have to confess

though my bed is a mess,

and my corner’s a state,

we three, are good mates,

in our cosy warm dorm –

floor two, number one.

Day eight in the Big Buddha House,

and all is well.

There’s jam on my toast,

and my drink is swell;

and even the rota,

says I’m free ‘til the bell.

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

Raven, with her hood down, meditating. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Perfect Breakfast

30 Saturday Nov 2013

Posted by Worldly Winds in Buddhism, Humour, Poetry

≈ 19 Comments

Tags

Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, Buddhism, enlightenment, habits, humour, meditation, poetry, tea, UK poet, Uk poetry, writing, Yorkshire poet

My tea is too hot,

my tea is too cold,

my tea is too sweet,

the milk is too old.

The toast is too burnt,

it’s not brown enough,

I wanted white bread,

Oh no… not the crust!

I can’t find my jam,

the banana’s got spots,

there is no fruit knife,

the apple’s got rot!

The porridge is lumpy,

I can taste tahini,

I’ve added some milk,

and now it’s too creamy!

I’ve lost my spot,

someone else is sat there,

I wanted to sit,

in my favourite chair.

I’m trapped in a corner,

I’m sat in a draft,

I’m too near the door,

Oh! All this is daft!

I should just be grateful,

that I’m here today,

living and breathing,

the middle way.

it’s ten twenty four,

we meditate in a bit,

I stand at the door,

now where shall I sit?

This cushion’s too high,

this cushion’s too low,

this cushion’s too lumpy,

and on it goes…

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

English: I took this picture. Grilled cheese sandwich with white bread, American cheese, and tomato soup. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Change

30 Saturday Nov 2013

Posted by Worldly Winds in Buddhism, Poetry

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, Buddha, Buddhism, change, enlightenment, ethics, meditation, poetry, UK poet, Uk poetry, writing, Yorkshire poet

Will I be changed when I go home?

Physiologically within my anatomy,

the square root of all, as follicles fall,

and even my skin, the body I’m in,

will all have aged, showing signs of decay,

the reminders that say, time is passing away.

And what of my mind, what will I find,

when I peer inside, mental chatter subsided?

Still waters run deep, has the ethical seeped,

within my being, all knowing all seeing?

Will the sky like mind be more refined?

And what of my words, will they be kindly heard?

Will they help and caress, not causing me stress?

No longer frivolous, talking of trivial stuff,

but gentle with harmony, causin’ no harm today,

encouraging and pure, where less is more.

Will I be changed when I go? I sincerely hope so.

All these ethics abound, turned my brain upside down,

which connects to my heart, from which I can start,

more subtle and deeper, universal teacher.

I can put into practice, no delusion or malice,

all the things I have learned for which my heart yearns,

and Yes! – I am changing.

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

Gerber Daisy With Raindrops (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dorothy

13 Wednesday Nov 2013

Posted by Worldly Winds in Childhood Memories, Poetry

≈ 22 Comments

Tags

Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, chickenpox, childhood, Christmas Eve, loss, love, memories, memory, Mother, Mum, poetry, Polka dot, UK poet, Uk poetry, Yorkshire poet

They called you ‘big Dot’,

and I was ‘little Dot’,

you hated that.

Remember when,

on Christmas Eve,

chickenpox struck

with great malaise?

Granddad came to visit me,

and how he laughed,

and how he teased,

‘spotty Dotty’, he would say.

Remember the day, he came to play,

in his best green polka dot shirt?

‘Who’s spotty now?’

I shouted out loud.

You hit me,

it hurt.

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

Sybarites

28 Monday Oct 2013

Posted by Worldly Winds in Grief, Heartbreak, Longing & Waiting, Loss, Muse, Poetry

≈ 20 Comments

Tags

Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, anonimity, cry, heartbreak, longing, loss, moon, muse, poetry, stars, Sybarite, teardrops, UK poet, Uk poetry, Yorkshire poet

Veiled in anonymity,

hidden from the world to see,

living out my life I’m never known.

Feeling that I don’t belong;

you all sing a different song,

quietly I slip on by unseen.

As the moon its teardrops cry,

each a star lights up the sky,

as it hears my heartbreak every night.

One day though I will belong,

you will hear my siren’s song,

ring throughout the universe unbound.

Until then I’m here to stay,

writing with my words I play,

poets sybarite will haunt my heart.

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

Picture credit – unknown – if you are the owner and wish for the picture to be removed please contact me, likewise if you are the owner and wish to be credited, please provide details and I will happily add the credit.

WoMan Flu

21 Monday Oct 2013

Posted by Worldly Winds in Daily life, Humour, Poetry

≈ 35 Comments

Tags

Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, Common cold, head cold, hot toddy, humour, Influenza, Olbas Oil, poetry, UK poet, Uk poetry, Vicks, Yorkshire poet

Just to let everyone know – my woman flu has finally cleared up! I just thought I’d share this silly poem for fun – thank you for all the well wishes 🙂

A poet with a head cold

is not so good to see

fuelled by Olbas and by Vicks

tissues to fell a tree

Cannot think of words to write

has lost their sense of meter

rhymes won’t work and sPeLing’s gone

it could be writ much neater

My brain’s contracted that’s 4 sure

and poems just turn out grotty

So I’ll just snuggle in my bed

and knock back ten hot toddies

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

Image of a container of Vicks VapoRub (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Off The Shelf Festival – Sheffield

12 Saturday Oct 2013

Posted by Worldly Winds in Poetry, Poetry readings / Events

≈ 16 Comments

Tags

Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, Arts, Literature, poetry, Sheffield, Sheffield Winter Garden, South Yorkshire, UK poet, Uk poetry, writing, Yorkshire poet

Please feel free to come along to the event if you are in Sheffield. I will be reading some of my poetry towards the end of the day (2.45pm ish). So please come along and say hello! I have had a shower and I am wearing my lucky socks, so it should be a good day!!

This year Word Life and Now Then will be hosting the opening event of Off The Shelf Festival Of Words at the Winter Gardens. FREE ENTRY.
Featuring;

Open Mic as below.

There will be a handful of slots open to people who walk up on the day. First come, first served.

11.30– 12.15

Donna Jones
Julian Dobson
Jude Calvert-Toulmin
Dan Whitaker
James Giddings
Davy Charles
Ian Macgill

12.45-1.30

Imogen Cassels
Kieran Mathers
Vera Fibisian
Karl Riordan
Ben Dorey
Mark Doyle
Tim Plant
Liz Searle

2-2.45

Ian Macgill
Tony Goodwin
Addie Abbott
Kate Garrett
Gemma Perkins
Ben Taylor
Alexandra Carr-Malcolm
Adele Geraghty
David Turner

Poetry Films.

We’ve been happy to have commissioned the making of almost 30 short films of Sheffield based poets reading their work. From last year’s project ’21 poets for Sheffield’ to this years ‘Distant Lands – The Steel Trail’, we’ll be playing the work of some of our local poets and a few other favourites as well. If you’d like to suggest some please post suggestions on the wall.

Writing Games

We’re going to be running an open running workshop throughout the day which people are encouraged to contribute too. From the collective story (write a line, pass it on) to more specific exercises, there will be space for you to pick up a pen and start writing.

Featured Guests.

We’re also going to be featuring a few of the leading poets from the local scene and a few from further afield.

Also if anyone would like to sell books/leave flyers for other projects there will be a table manned

English: Sheffield Winter Gardens, Sheffield, England. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Smiley

22 Sunday Sep 2013

Posted by Worldly Winds in Childhood Memories, Love, Poetry

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, love, poetry, smiley, smiley face, UK poet, Uk poetry, Yorkshire poet

Misty, milky, windowpane,

I draw your face,

and write your name,

an upturned smile,

two eyes as dots,

it’s been a while,

I love you lots!

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

English: A smiley face (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Secrets

20 Friday Sep 2013

Posted by Worldly Winds in Poetry

≈ 14 Comments

Tags

Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, poetry, secret, secrets, UK poet, Uk poetry, Yorkshire poet

I have a secret

that you’ll never know

I’ll take to my grave

when hell’s covered in snow

I’ll never tell

not even my friend

I’ll keep it with me

to the bitter end

I know you may ask

well what could it be

it may drive you mad

cat’s curiosity

I have a secret

that you’ll never know

I’ll take to my grave

when hell’s covered in snow

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

Photo credit : unknown – if this is your picture and would like it removed, or credited, please do not hesitate to contact me

Galahad

18 Wednesday Sep 2013

Posted by Worldly Winds in Heartbreak, Humour, Love, Poetry

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, Clark Kent, humour, John Wayne, Lady Godiva, loss, love, poetry, UK poet, Uk poetry, Yorkshire poet

I was your kooky girl

you were my Clark Kent

we blazed a trail

through Eden’s Vale

everywhere we went

We rode into the sunset

like Godiva and John Wayne

you in your Vauxhall Corsa

no gallant knight on horse

I never saw you again

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

Lady Godiva by John Collier, c. 1897, Herbert Art Gallery and Museum (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Worldly Winds

~ It's not easy being me!

Tag Archives: poetry

The Big Buddha House

The Perfect Breakfast

Change

Dorothy

Sybarites

WoMan Flu

Off The Shelf Festival – Sheffield

Smiley

Secrets

Galahad

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