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Worldly Winds

Tag Archives: Yorkshire poet

Jazz Mum

24 Monday Aug 2020

Posted by Worldly Winds in Poetry, Wolf at the Door

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, Alexandra Carr-Malcolm Jazz Mum, Alexandra Carr-Malcolm poetry, Jazz Mum, poetry, Yorkshire poet

Jazz Mum

 

Faith, hope, and charity

love is not free

I dream of a piano

playing jazz by the sea

the snow on the apple

the lady bug eight

a circle

a tear

a flat-line

Sunset

 

Staves in a melody

butterfly bass

caught on a fish-hook

Can’t remember your face

hiraeth is calling

a song on a breeze

red balloons falling

Aphrodite from Greece

 

Jazz Mum by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm 22.08.2020

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Slán Abhaile

11 Sunday Nov 2018

Posted by Worldly Winds in Buddhism, Death, Deep Stuff!, Grief, Heartbreak, Love, Poetry

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Alex Carr-Malcolm poet, Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, Bhante, poetry, Sangharakshita, Slan Abhaile, Worldly Winds poetry, Yorkshire poet

Yesterday I attended the funeral of my Buddhist teacher Urgyen Sangharakshita along with over 1200 other Buddhists. It was a beautiful, poignant, moving ceremony. I have never experienced anything as immense in my lifetime. Despite the heavy downpour of rain, the birds still sang, and the wind played in the autumn trees. By the time the procession to the burial ground took place, the sun came out and lifted the heavy skies.

I cannot adequately put into words my gratitude to Bhante. I met him twice, once at a shared meal at the Sheffield Buddhist Centre, and later in Birmingham (2011). He guided  and inspired my Buddhist practice, and encouraged me to take my writing seriously. Without his guidance and teachings I doubt I would be where I am today.

How do I say thank you, and how do I say goodbye? I started to write this poem on the way down to the funeral and finished it on the way back. This poem relates to the loss of significant people in my life – Safe Home Bhante Urgyen Sangharaksita, go well.

20181110_155143~2

Slán Abhaile

 

How do I say goodbye?

When I am living at the speed of life,

the eggshells I am walking on

pricking at my soul.

Remote and inaccessible,

with drawbridge raised to love,

how do I say goodbye?

The Trinity and Trilogy

conjoined in parse asymmetry,

seem so insignificant.

 

How do I say goodbye?

 

Slán Abhaile by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

10.11.18

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Another Year Older

25 Thursday Oct 2018

Posted by Worldly Winds in Poetry

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Alex Carr-Malcolm poet, Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, Birthday, Worldly Winds poetry, Yorkshire poet

I came home from work to find this gargantuan balloon! I’ve never had a birthday balloon before, this has made me smile 😀 I’ve also had a fab present of a new techy gadget, hopefully this will help me keep this blog updated on a more regular basis!!!

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Parris

30 Friday Mar 2018

Posted by Worldly Winds in Poetry, Publications

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Alex Carr-Malcolm poet, Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, Alexandra Carr-Malcolm Parris, Irish mythology, Parris, Philip Lynott, poetry, Yorkshire poet

Hello!

After a few delays, it is finally here!

Parris – This is my third anthology. This collection of poems is based on mythology, and inspired by the life of Philip Parris Lynott. His music and poetry have inspired me from my teenage years. Some of the proceeds will be donated to the Roisín Dubh Trust

Copies are available directly from me, please message me if you would like details. Alternatively you can purchase a copy from Amazon

Screenshot_20180313-194637.jpg

Parrisback

 

Parrisbox

 

 

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Soldier On

28 Sunday Aug 2016

Posted by Worldly Winds in Daily life, Poetry

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Alex Carr-Malcolm poet, Alex Carr-Malcolm poetry, Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, humour, man flu, poetry, soldier on, summer cold, writing, Yorkshire poet

Oh dear… I seem to have a summer cold! How does that happen? Only one thing for it – A Duvet Day! I thought I would share this golden oldie, it always makes me smile!

go-on-without-me-kitten-humor-demotivational-posters-1325286199-e1328375882666

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Farewell cruel world,

I’m leaving you,

it’s not a cold,

I’ve got the ‘flu.

 

It may well be,

my final breath,

my nose is red,

I feel like death.

 

Please don’t mourn,

when I am gone,

go on without me…

soldier on!

 

© Soldier On…  03.11.2012

By Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

Photo Credit : http://9laughs.com/go-on-without-me/

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Coasting

12 Friday Aug 2016

Posted by Worldly Winds in childhood, Poetry

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

Alex Carr-Malcolm poet, Alex Carr-Malcolm poetry, Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, childhood, Mablethorpe, paddling, seaside, Skegness, sunburn, Yorkshire poet

Beach3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

East coast seaside

Miner’s Camp holiday

Knotted handkerchief

White bandana, surrender,

Vanilla seared skin

Kodak snap photo

Analogue embarrassment

Posterity, keep-sake?

Mother’s amusement.

 

© Skegness 27.06.16

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

Beach2

Beach

 

 

 

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Cinnabar Wings

18 Monday Apr 2016

Posted by Worldly Winds in NaPoWriMo 2016, Poetry

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

Alex Carr-Malcolm poet, Alex Carr-Malcolm poetry, Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, Cinnabar Wings, napowrimo, NaPoWriMo 2016, NaPoWriMo16, poetry, writing, Yorkshire poet

Cinnabar Wings

 

cinnabar wings

beating out

arrhythmic love

on a petrified heart

factional soul mates

behemoth burns

a cloying shadow

silhouetting souls

reflected, distorted

moth to the flame

 

© Cinnabar Wings 28.06.2013

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

logo-napowrimo quill

 

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Circle Dance

17 Sunday Apr 2016

Posted by Worldly Winds in NaPoWriMo 2016, Poetry

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Alex Carr-Malcolm poet, Alex Carr-Malcolm poetry, Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, Circle Dance, napowrimo, NaPoWriMo 2016, NaPoWriMo16, poetry, writing, Yorkshire poet

Circle Dance

 

Tell me why we dance the round

fingertips touching

feet on the ground.

This sweet wine tastes

of bitter allows

mother’s ruin,

sloes and arrows.

We spin around

and you leave me reeling,

the Judas kiss

was still deceiving.

I pledged to you

a barbed ring oath,

life shot me down

and stole your troth.

 

© Circle Dance  October 2014

By Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

 

logo-napowrimo quill

 

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The Hula-Hoop of Hindrance

12 Tuesday Apr 2016

Posted by Worldly Winds in Humour, NaPoWriMo 2016, Poetry

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

Alex Carr-Malcolm poet, Alex Carr-Malcolm poetry, Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, Buddhism, hula-hoop, humour, napowrimo, NaPoWriMo 2016, NaPoWriMo16, poetry, The hula-hoop of hindrance, Yorkshire poet

Hello dear friends – well it has been a testing couple of weeks – hefty car repair bill, washing machine repairs, cancelled appointments, a funeral, and now I think I am coming down with a lurgy!

This is an old poem, but it always makes me smile. I wrote it on retreat and it is a metaphor for being inhibited and restricted by our habits. I hope it makes you smile too 🙂

Hula-Hooping

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Hula-Hoop of Hindrance

 

I saw it in the playground,

when I was only three,

the hula-hoop of hindrance,

resting by a tree.

 

It was pretty, pink, and sparkly,

with unicorns and glitter,

it even had, ‘go faster’ stripes,

so I could hula quicker.

 

I put it ‘round my tiny waist,

and hula’d round the yard,

little did I realise,

that it would make life hard.

 

I learned to love my hula-hoop,

though I was only four,

when I went to bed at night,

I’d leave it by the door.

 

I realised when I was five

(and also at aged six)

that I had been quite naïve

my hula habit fixed.

 

This went on – my dearest friends,

throughout my adult life,

attachment to my hula-hoop,

caused me so much strife.

 

When cooking in the kitchen,

and trying to eat my dinner,

my hula hoop got in the way,

and I just grew much thinner.

 

and when I met my boyfriend,

I’d hula-hoop for joy,

but holding hands whilst hula-ing,

well… the romance is destroyed.

 

Showering or getting dressed,

at work, at home, at play,

my pretty, sparkly hula-hoop,

was always in the way.

 

When I went upon retreat,

there was no problem there;

for there were many hula hoops,

that we could swap and share!

 

Then, Maitripala gave a talk,

about the hula habit,

if we can see the gateway….

the freedom’s there, so grab it!!

 

The moral of this story,

is not too clear to see,

but if you choose a skipping rope,

you can set yourself free.

 

One day I hope my hula-hoop,

will rest against that tree,

and if you choose to have a go,

it’s going, gratis, free!!

 

© The Hula-Hoop of Hindrance 17.06.2014

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

 

logo-napowrimo quill

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Finding The Silent Ones

10 Sunday Apr 2016

Posted by Worldly Winds in Buddhism, NaPoWriMo 2016, Poetry

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

Alex Carr-Malcolm poet, Alex Carr-Malcolm poetry, Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, Buddhism, finding the silent ones, napowrimo, NaPoWriMo 2016, NaPoWriMo16, poetry, UK poet, writing, Yorkshire poet

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I wrote the poem below whilst on a retreat called ‘The Mythic Context’. It is a metaphor for seeking – it could be seeking happiness, seeking wisdom or seeking where we fit into the universe. This is one of my favourite poems. The sequel is in my latest anthology ‘Counting Magpies – Limited Edition’ and is titled ‘No Bell’. If you would like a copy please contact me direct 🙂

 

Finding the Silent Ones

 

I will scour the darkest forest

and glide through mango groves

searching for the silent ones

who travel the same road

 

I will fight the fiercest oceans

and plunge to deepest depths

searching for the silent ones

who sing with silent breath

 

I will trek across the deserts

leaving no grain of sand unturned

searching for the silent ones

for whom my heart doeth yearn

 

I will scale the highest mountain

and dwell within dark caves

searching for the silent ones

whom I hope to find some day

 

I will raft the rabid rapids

and abseil from peak to floor

searching for the silent ones

whom they say exist no more

 

I will comb the Sunkist beaches

and skim the silvery surf

searching for the silent ones

rumoured to roam this earth

 

I will search the church and chapels

and cathedral spires and tombs

searching for the silent ones

whom dwell in catacombs

 

I will tiptoe to the shrine room

and bow with folded hands

and here I’ll find the silent ones

my kith, my kin, my clan.

 

© Finding the Silent Ones  16.06.2014

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

logo-napowrimo quill

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