Networking For Wallflowers ‹ NU People Magazine

Networking For Wallflowers ‹ NU People Magazine

Networking For Wallflowers ‹ NU People Magazine

Networking For Wallflowers ‹ NU People Magazine

Fire of Life

I am the fire of life!

fuelling your passion,

bringing into being new life

white heat driving your spirit on

when life seems cold and unreasonable.

Bask in the light of my fire,

I call her 'sun'

a bold gesture to show

that you and I are one.

I am the fire of life!

these yellowy black flames kindle your human passion

your envy, lust, drive, indignation fill me with pride

they are my progeny

planted there by the light of love

reflected in your eyes.

Oh divine power of life-giving fire

I love that I live within you

sustain you until

the fire of your life

is extinguished, snuffed out

until the soul of your life

seeks a new host

to burn brightly as the evening star.

I am the fire of life!

raging flames round the funeral husk of you

purifying your burning embers

heating and loving you 

as you surrender this life

to delicate ashes, 

burning white

beautiful embers of life

lived in fire

I am the fire of life!

Copyright Suzy Rigg 2013

Today

Today is a new day of delivery

conversations, debate, negotiation

you will feel the need to speak, to be heard

fight for reason and justice

in a place chock full of indecision and despair

but!

at the end of the day

know this..

when you speak I listen,

even when you don't speak, I listen

when you hurt, I feel

we are not working towards the main prize

WE ARE the main prize!

what is more real than this?

Copyright S Rigg

The dVerse Anthology: Voices of Comtemporary World Poetry

I'm so happy to announce that a poet friend has published his anthology, a celebration of work from writers around the world. Some of us are known to each other and others are strangers but for their shared love of the poetic word. It was a brave and ambitious project and I'm thrilled to say that two of my poems are featured. One is the first poem in the anthology...! "The Poet Cad"  To say "Thank you " to Frank Watson, whose idea this collection was, only hints at the excitement I feel.

 

"From America to Nigeria, Germany to Malaysia, and all around the world. One voice in the dark joins another, then another. Soon there is a chorus of voices and the night comes alive. No two voices are the same and each adds depth to the song. Soon it spreads and people in the next town are singing, then in the next country, and then in all the continents of the world. Different languages where the words don’t sound the same, but the heart unites as one. The song is not just the one you hear, but the one that plays “connect the dots” along the veins in your arm—as you inhale and—join in.

 

Explore the world of contemporary poetry through the eyes and words of over ninety poets from around the world. Drawn primarily from the poets contributing to dVersePoets.com, The dVerse Anthology features the unique voices and styles of poets as they delve into topics as varied as love, family, travel, conflict, loss, and much more. Take a peek and see what the poets have to offer about the pulse of life in modern society."

 

Here's how you can buy this wonderful collection...

 

Paperback & Kindle Availability:

The dVerse Anthology: Voices of Contemporary World Poetry (Amazon US)
The dVerse Anthology: Voices of Contemporary World Poetry (Amazon UK)
The dVerse Anthology: Voices of Contemporary World Poetry (Amazon France)
The dVerse Anthology: Voices of Contemporary World Poetry (Amazon Germany)
The dVerse Anthology: Voices of Contemporary World Poetry (Amazon Spain)
The dVerse Anthology: Voices of Contemporary World Poetry (Amazon Italy)

As for me, the words either do or don't do but don't try couldn't be more pertinent. Da do, do do.

 

Happy reading! 

 

 

Suzy Rigg

Signs Unseen

There is a study in synchronicity
where your thoughts read mine
my feelings mirror yours
jumping across space and time
loving acts, sublime
no need for sounds just thoughts
in the vale of wondrous dreams.







© Suzy Rigg 2013

New Year's Light

Softening twilight
of year’s end
eyes trained firmly ahead
no thought of what, could or might
as flashing rays
of new year’s light
melt the snow
of a year grown old
into pools
of brand new hope








Copyright 2012 Suzy Rigg

Daily Grind or Black Something

The daily grind is there for that

to pulverize your soul

with meditation prayer and rest

you will regain your whole

Working in a job you love, 

feels not like work at all

this, my friend is where to aim

to fulfill your life's true role

Making money makes you rich

but does not give you peace

in time my friend, you must let go 

to feel your SELF release

The more you earn, the more you spend

is no contrary notion

the act of earning just gears you up

for more, and intense spending

Review your life, take stock,stop now!

to feel where you are going

while bricks and banks are piling up

sweet beauty is past you flowing

The international language spake today

it seems is simply money, 

but love, compassion honesty 

take charge in their abundance

There is no scarcity in these things

they're free, just deep within us.

Copyright Suzy Rigg 2012

Elephant Highway

listen to ‘Elephant Highway’ on Audioboo

Unbalanced carts spilled sun ripe fruit

on the dust strewn road

splitting colours, splashing seed

to meet the market dawn.

Spindly children tried to run

alongside heavy traps

some were strong and long of limb

and barely caught their breath.

Bicycles too, took their own road

and weaved their wheels about

the death they cheated,

although in jest, made

villagers shout out loud.

The noise grew low

for something strong

had taken up this path

a silver grey bull elephant

was on this very route!

Without a sound

the track was cleared

of children, wheels and fruit

whilst 'mister majestic' walked

~ in no par-tic-u-lar hurry ~

Without a backward glance.

Copyright Suzy Rigg 2012

This poem was inspired by the artwork of Borg de Nobel, browse her wonderous artwork here: http://borgeous.wordpress.com courtesy of the ever innovative dVerse Poets crew: http://dversepoets.com/

Showgirl

She watched them falling through the bus window,

in slow motion like dandelions from a giant upended field

crimson leaves curled and fell, swaying side to side

forming a variegated rouge brown carpet.

The mother and child on the park bench, people on the bus

delicate pensioners, everyone stilled in rapt appreciation

of her rainbow shower, aware this magnificent show 

was for a limited time only.

Wordlessly, relentlessly, with a glamourous last russet hurrah

she tidied away for a more barren and sinister act to follow

her generosity and voluptuousness 

casting lingering relaxed and happy shadows 

As she finally revealed herself naked

everyone’s thought was the same:

"she never fails to put on a show
yet each one thrills as if for the first time."

Copyright Suzy R 2012

A turning circle

             i
Shiny men lined up

jostling for her attention

she knocked them all down

             ii

together they'd walked life's path 

humming a familiar tune 

laughing, loving,living  

gone too soon

             iii

Inching and ebbing

her beating heart lost power

leaving golden sparks.



Copyright Suzy Rigg 2012

Fossil

We could be fossils, you and I

pressed flat after centuries 

of lying inert in the rock.

Curious that the tiny hermit crab

the roman centurion
the colossal dinosaur

would share the same fate:

To be peered at, fondled 
by some scholarly archaeologist.

Consider the sweet relief

of our fossilised friends:

hermit crab - free from food chain dramas
soldier -  shielded from the blistering rays of midday sun

dinosaur - not anxious about anything big

like being wiped off the planet.

Roll up, roll up for fossil school!

A snapshot of life, in death.

Copyright Suzy R 2012

Mourning Song

For one so alive

it is hard to believe, you are gone.

Like the melody of a much-loved song

your refrain lives on.
Suspended in the twilight 'tween light and death
straddling in vain ‘twix dark and life

straining to be understood but

simply wanting to be somewhere else, entirely... 

Since you’ve gone, the days have stretched

into wafered sheets of gold leaf; 

memories of you hold a shining sting

oh came back - please!

I promise to bind you in the loving threads

of whispered eternity.


Copyright Suzy Rigg 2012

Looking at the date, I wrote this one before mum passed away.
Much of our knowledge or 'knowing' is buried deep in our subconscious minds; poetry is one of the ways I access this hidden part of me. 

Fallen Leaves

Autumn breeze plucks leaves from trees

that touch the ground so gently

leaving branches pining, asking

why have the leaves ceased to sway?

Kindly soil so richly deep

envelopes falling leaves to sleep

waltzered slowly round and round

before they touch the waiting ground

Children kicking crinkly leaves

beneath benevolent aged trees

while winter's gentle setting sun

breathes heat of autumn peace.

I hope you rest in perfect peace and your family find the strength 
to let peace into their hearts to fill the void where you used to stand.

For Martin, RIP.

Copyright Suzy R 2012

Swanly

Silently floating with oceanic calm
Watchful, vigilant, poised yet stern
Inscrutable eyes flashing violent charm
Gliding along the sun flushed lake.




Copyright Suzy R 2012

Lovelace

Love is

Eternal. One hundred and two years ago 
you were born when I was still stardust 

we loved each other

we didn’t need to be alive

for our love to ignite.

Before you found room in my womb
I loved you eternal stranger

you are a new light in my love

agonisingly familiar

although we have 
only just met.

The strands of love 
that join all of us 
to each other through 
generations of unknowing 

are unfathomably exciting

unimaginably frustrating.

Connections with others 
who you have known before you  
knew yourself, illuminate life

casting delicate
stitches ~of ~love 
that are eternal. 

Copyright Suzy R 2012

Prayer for Humanity

the news is becoming more violent
the truth is becoming more silent 
do it now, or do it never
we really need to join together 
the way of the future 
is love.






Copyright Suzy R 2012

Tritina for Clara

Clara liked to slip on her pyjamas of the palest pink

after a long day in court. She craved the sleep

that called her, from the four-poster bed, beckoning soft.

Refreshed from her sleep

she breakfasted on grapefruit, not ruby red, but pink

and brushed her hair until it was soft.

Dusting powder onto rosy cheeks so pink

pouting in the mirror as Chanel lipstick caressed lips so soft

she winked at her reflection, glad she’d had a good night’s sleep.

She drove off, all sweet, sleepy pinkness, in her black Mercedes SL.

Copyright Suzy R 2012

More props to the dVerse team http://dversepoets.com/2012/08/30/form-for-all-on-tritinas/ for setting such interesting poetic tasks. This poem is a tribute to the glorious poet Marie Ponsot.

Elephant Highway

Unbalanced carts spilled sun ripe fruit

on the dust strewn road

splitting colours, splashing seed

to meet the market dawn.

Spindly children tried to run

alongside heavy traps

some were strong and long of limb

and barely caught their breath.

Bicycles too, took their own road

and weaved their wheels about

the death they cheated,

although in jest, made

villagers shout out loud.

The noise grew low

for something strong

had taken up this path

a silver grey bull elephant

was on this very route!

Without a sound

the track was cleared

of children, wheels and fruit

whilst 'mister majestic' walked

~ in no par-tic-u-lar hurry ~

Without a backward glance.

Copyright Suzy R 2012

This poem was inspired by the artwork of Borg de Nobel, browse her wonderous artwork here: http://borgeous.wordpress.com courtesy of the ever innovative dVerse Poets crew: http://dversepoets.com/

Be gentle with me

Lovingly massaging unscented oil into baby’s velvet skin

Kneading, ironing out soft wrinkles

She felt dream-like, 

as if she were caressing herself-

hypnotised with love

paralysed with fear

this angelic babe

sweating slightly,

heavy limbed was

totally dependent on her.

An hour had passed,

sweet baby scent perfumed the air

her tears mingled with oil

she had no idea who

gave who more

comfort.

***

The corset hugged her baby-bump

She was almost hour-glass again

the uniform black pinstripe

white shirt, red gloss,

hair or nails ~ but not both

lent her insane confidence.

An hour had passed,

the meeting in 

the airless room

had over run.

Through polished glass

she spotted a group of mothers

casual, laughing, free;

her breasts tingled with milk

for her baby

at home.

 
Copyright Suzy R 2012

The debate rolls on about working mothers, or stay at home mothers: what's best for baby, what's best for mum or indeed the whole family. My view is it's rarely that cut and dried; the reasons to work or not are purely personal and are influenced by an alarming array of factors.
So, this poem is really saying there is pain, depression, guilt on both sides of the fence. Sometimes, what feels like the absolute best decision today, can feel like an anchor round your neck, the next. Women, be kind to each other ~ being a mother is at once the most challenging yet rewarding blessings known to 'man'!