SNAKE!!!

It's early Spring...

The weather's really warming up, flowers are blooming, my feet aren't cold on the wooden floors any more, the cats are sunning themselves outside wherever they can....

Then there's the end of hybernation for all the snakes! Last Thursday night there was a 3 metre python in our neighbour's front yard, within a few metres of ours. I don't hate snakes, but I'm scared of them. I'm very understanding of how challenging it must be for animals caught up in suburbia, trying to survive and procreate without getting killed by us humans. But when there's one right in our area that I know can kill my kitties, or our chickens, or strangle me from behind whilst watching TV, or dislocate its jaw and swallow me whole as I'm in a deep slumber... (Cue: gloomy undertone of nervous music in background to create dread and suspense.) Yep. My imagination runs away from me. Even the little lizards can't make a move in the rustling leaves of our garden beds without me going all girly and "eeky" thinking it's the KILLER PYTHON WITH FANGS OF STEEL. It reminded me of a lyrical poem I wrote not that long about snakeskin. It's 'lyrical' because in my mind when I recite it there's a very clear, blockbuster movie style, backing track......

Snake skin, lying in my way

Drying under hot sun, messing up my day.

It lies there like a beacon, reminding me that pain

Is all about the misery and nothing left to gain.

It’s a…

Snake skin, its owner has moved out

Fucking little creature, how dare you shed your doubt.

You leave me here with your past

Rotting on the ground,

Like the past is nothing, no lessons to be found.

It’s a…

Snake skin, its owner's far from here.

Leaving skin to rot, and me with all my fear.

I'm pretty big on metaphors or symbols, so writing this poem not only highlighted a certain anxiety in me about snakes but also about life and worrying as much as I can about the 'what ifs'. We all do that, I think. But when it becomes all consuming it can leave you rather detached from what is going on around you now. I have spent a lot of time living in the future or deep in the past. I now realise that I have much to offer the present. Now. And I have much to gain from slowing down and appreciating the joys and stimulation that frequently surround me.

At this moment, the sun is getting close to setting, so it's all large and orange and beautifully glowing over the town my house is perched up the hill from. The window to my playroom is open and birds are chirping in all their different tunes. Hubby has just pulled up in the car, having finished his working day. We're having felafels for dinner. Yummm... Such wonderful, pleasant thoughts.

Love, warmth & light,

Dayle

Journalling with Poetry

Welcome to my first ever blog. I'm Dayle Morrison, a "Crafty Creatrix" from way back.

I thought I'd start with one of my poems. I've started writing them as a way to journal about my life. This first poem is one I wrote about the neighbour's dogs barking. Over the road are two dogs that bark a lot! They were driving me crazy, as I was doing lots of work at home with looming deadlines. Basically, I took the 'lemons' and turned them into lemonade. Here it is...

The Soprano & the Baritone
The song of one & many,
Is sung unto the world,
As the sun & moon they dance around the singers.
Soprano takes the stage,
And sings a soulful sort of song,
Her worldliness admired amongst beginners.
She eyes across the airy space,
A lovely baritone,
His look is of a well groomed dignitary.
He sings to answer her sweet call,
Her call of 'will you join me?',
The glance they share is only momentary.
She lifts her head, he raises his,
They aim to outer space,
A harmony to clear the sultry air.
And in this tune their souls are one,
They rise and fall together,
To tell the world that they are everywhere.

So, there you go. I turned two annoying dogs into a delicate little poem. Creativity can be a powerful tool for overcoming stress. It can make you laugh, distract you, comfort you, and embrace you as you escape from life's stresses. Life's still there, but it feels a lot further away for a while.

Hugs,
Dayle