Huffin and Puffin

You know when you hear that huff
it’s time to run,
and as gracefully as a swan you slide out the door and disappear.
You hear the huffin and puffin getting nearer,
and like a panicked chicken you look for a way out.
But you’re cornered.
And the potoo’s mouth opens like a vacuum
and huffs all over you.
And in self defense or madness
you huff at them back,
as a mimicking parrot, in hopes
the storm won’t come your way.
But this angers them more and
with eagle eyes, they swoop
and breathe hot air all over you.
You stand upright dishevelled
like an owl caught in a tempest
and turn your head 180 degrees.
Then the huffins done and the puffin
walks away quite happily.
“Twit twoo” you say, staring vacantly,
feeling as heavy as an ostrich
and as unfortunate as a dodo.

Laura Berry (Napowrimo Day 15 – 2024)

The Fourth Realm of Life

When we can walk, talk, make and do.
When we can think reason and remember.
When we can feel emotion and understand it too.
Then what is the fourth realm of life?
Maybe it is what is right and wrong,
developing a moral compass,
using the three realms before us gone
to launch us above the clouds.
To bring back a star from heaven
and plant it on the Earth.
And watch it grow into a wonder leaven
of love, the divine and goodness.

Laura Berry (Napowrimo Day 4 – 2024)

Sea of Grief

If every drop in the ocean was a humans tear,
every boat would be supported by grief
bobbing and weaving through the salted waves.
Being swept to new lands through heart felt release
on soul cleansing glorious tides of joy and pain.
The vastness of water reminds me
how much emotion is in the hearts of humanity.
Here the sea welcomes the tears freely
no need to hide them, lets ride them to freedom.
The droplets of humility arc over the surfers
a glimpse through the eyes filmy lens,
a glass tunnel found in a brave moment,
cutting through waves of grief.
While the divers swim to its heart and explore
every living thing no matter how ugly or beautiful.
They get to know grief inside and out with wonder.
While most of us gaze at the surface and feel daunted
by the endless view,
but water always makes space for life.
The sea of grief is a powerful movement to love.
The sun glints upon each precious tear
as they ripple in the dawns welcome
where all hearts are held.

Laura Berry

Gratitude Poems

I have always been an optimistic person for others but a pessimistic person towards myself. Finding all the things to complain about, berating myself as not good enough rather than celebrating any small achievements I make. It has been a long journey but gratitude and learning how to be grateful (yes I had to learn) has been such a changer here. And poetry has really helped me get there.

A good friend once said to me “for once I would like to hear you say , I did this project and it kinda failed but at least I tried! Rather than berate yourself all the time.” I was very addicted to feeling pessimistic. And I think it is an emotional addiction.

But then I decided to start writing gratitude poems, being grateful for a leaf, a smile etc. And slowly I started to feel happier about myself too. I still do it sometimes (go on a downer) but when I can, i pull out a pen and write a gratitude poem. It gets me back to the right place, to face and walk forward with some gratitude rather than avoid the discomfort of stepping Forward by choosing hopelessness and self abuse.

It also adds a bigger love for the earth and all on it, including ourselves. The cup is empty but look at all that space for good to fill it. Then start filling it. For me with one poem at a time. Hope this helps someone.

Laura Berry

Poetry Floats

Poetry is a thought
suspended in silence.
A feeling from the heart
that hangs in the air.
You can walk through
or listen.
There is no need to reply,
unless you want to hang
your own poem in the sky.
A sacred space
that invites reflection
in a moment of solitude.
It opens a door
into its own dimension.
A holier place
without noise or distraction.
A place where you can hear
the soft whispers of your soul.

Laura Berry

An Index of Snails

Swirlies – Yellow to orange and black spiral shells, slide on a slant like they carry the weight of a galaxy on their back and the prettiest of them all.

Big Brown – The most common, impressive in girth and wholesome. The faster of the kinds, due to their immensive size, easily seen, except in the dark.

Cone Shell – These usually live in the water, carrying mini Eiffel towers on their heads. They have sharp points so be careful to not get pricked, however, they are quite tiny.

All Red – A subcategory of swirlies but hotter, their sexy cousin.

Flatties – A flat shell like a record held upright on its edge. Their acrobalance is to be admired, though you may need a magnifying glass to see it.

Road Runners – Can be any pattern or subcategory but when you turn around they are gone.

Activists – The ones that stop still in the middle of your path and will not move for anything. There isn´t any green there and they can be any category. They make you dance around them.

Plant Kissers – They will leave one tiny hole in a leaf and move on, you will never see them again. No one knows what they look like but they may make you blush.

The Homeless – These have no shells, no one knows where they put them but when you see an empty shell it may be theirs. Some have turned black from bitterness.

Rimmers – These go round and round rims of pots, they are usually big browns or small browns but they look like they are having fun.

Skydivers – These drop out of trees, maybe tired of taking so long to get somewhere, thrill seekers, maybe the craziest of the bunch but you have to admire their courage.

Laura Berry (Napowrimo Day 28 – 2023)

The Cowslip of Memories

It used to be found in the meadows
amongst poppies and daisies.
It´s a symbol of a time when
cows leapt around the fields
like dainty ballerinas.
And rabbits felt safe
to extend soft ears
above the flowers,
where the bees and the sun
sung the song of life.
But now it´s a different hour.
The only cowslips i see
are planted in front of me,
in the walled in garden.
And i hope that they spread
to the nearby fields,
that their petals become wings
and take flight on the breeze,
and land at the knees
of thirsty children
dreaming of life.

Laura Berry (Napowrimo Day 27 – 2023)

What we are Worthy of

Space, boundaries, choices,
support, peace and soft voices.
Caring, value, kindness,
gentleness, respect, mindfulness.
Abundance, happiness, truth,
food, warmth and a roof.
Understanding, friendship and trust,
success, security, being enough.
To be of service, our passions, gifts,
emotion, sensitivity, a lift.
Growth, spirituality and good health,
with love the greatest of our wealth.

Laura Berry (Napowrimo Day 7 – 2023)

Journey of a Miracle

Cluttered sight unable to see past eyelashes
until vision clears and the dam is seen and moved.
Murky water moving with the only purpose to reach somewhere greater,
the tides turn and churn the mud into salt.
A bud that awaits a bloom of beauty yet seen,
a sunrise on the horizon, the hope of a promised land.
A discordant bird clicking and clacking until a melody is found and shared,
the random notes, now rearranged
make perfect sense.
A solution that comes unexpectedly,
seemingly out of nowhere
but following the journey, it was always going to happen.

Laura Berry (Napowrimo Day 2 – 2023)

The Little Book of Surrender

This is a collection of 42 poems and can also be read for free in the PDF´s Page on this blog.

What i loved about writing this book and reading it over the last few days is it has a soft feel to it, i felt more open to life and experiences and emotions after reading through it.

Often i write books to help myself as well and write what i need to hear to get better. I feel this is my best book so far as it did do what i intended it to do.

If anyone does read the book i would love to know your experiences with the poems, how you felt and thought after.

The paperback will only be available at lulu, so that i can bring the cost down for all of you. (Global distribution means putting the price up way too high for everyone.)

https://www.lulu.com/shop/laura-berry/the-little-book-of-surrender/paperback/product-vz9p56.html?q=&page=1&pageSize=4

The original Cover

As always if you want to support me, i have a donations page where you can get details and also you can purchase the book as well. Thank you to those that have donated this year! I have had a couple and you know who you are! Thank you for believing in me.