July and August 2026 Creativity

I didn't write or paint a huge amount in July and August because the heat wave took up too much of my capacity just to cope. But here are the poems I did write and I'm pleased to say 4 are being published in various poetry books so that's something to celebrate.

I have been teaching myself how to paint with watercolours which is very relaxing, but I'll share those in a separate post later this month. So instead of those I have shared 9 of my dozens of bird paintings, just to brighten up the post and make you smile.

I hope you enjoy my creativity; if you do, then you might like to subscribe to my monthly newsletter by clicking this link https://www.llmcalling.com/about-5

Brave?

There are days when my bravery is invisible

Discarded

Abandoned

Dismantled

Vanishing beyond all trace

Leaving behind a puddle of pain

Fed by tears of frustration and strain

On these days my worth feels depleted

Non existent

Crumbling away beneath my wheels

As my efforts are defeated

Leaving behind a shell of who I used to be

Covered with post-it notes of apologies

I'm sorry I can no longer be me

It is on those days I hang onto the only truth I know for sure

That tomorrow is another day

That I will survive in my own way

...

I wear this hat upon my head at a jaunty angle

Even though nothing is jaunty about life right now

It gives me hope, this hat of mine

That one day, as I'm passing the time

Even if it's on an awful day

I might find a better way

To live and love and even thrive

Thankful just to be alive

I keep tight hold of this secret hope

That one day someone will take note

Of this extraordinarily jaunty hat

And stop and ask me "why is that?"

Then I'll chat a while to explain

It'll be such a satisfying refrain

Until that day I'll put on my hat

And smile at those who pass where I'm sat

...

Gathering online

Loneliness evaporates

Until zoom crashes

Tech imitating sickness

Takes the proverbial piss

...

You've got a friend in me

No matter how you choose to be

Even if you're down

Or, wear a frown

Have no energy?

You can spend time with me

Friendship doesn't have limited capacity

You've always got a friend in me

...

Echoes of dark thoughts

Vanish in woodland splendour

My mind's eye finds rest

...

Sat on rainbow bridge

Welcoming pets who leave us

Animal Angels

...

My toes in the sand

Cry with unrequited touch

Moonburn promises

...

Buried beneath grief

Uncountable grains of love

Long for your last touch

...

Silver dragons burn

Imperceptible details

Lace tapestries gleam

...

Becoming myself

Despite challenges ahead

August heatwave hell

August heatwave hell

Eased by breathing deep within

Warm lavender fields

...

Fluorescent lights blind

From within dove grey dark minds

Dazzling. Dismantling

Journeys on roads to nowhere

Imagination guides us

...

From dawn to dusk

Velvet dawn colours

Unfold themselves carefully

Shaking off the night

As dusk approaches

Origami patterns burst

In volcanic hues

...

Greed is destroying all that's good in this world

From the bread basket of Ukraine to the Palestinian fold

Yet all we ever do is sit and silently watch

Hoping that others will improve even a notch

Yes they might arrest us if we sit and protest

But surely it's worth the risk of arrest

We can't just sit by and hope someone will act

Then congratulate their action after the fact

It's time to make peace, to save this planet of ours

Before all we leave our grandkids are dictating powers

...

The moon nightly repeats that I am good enough

Yet my spirit aches with shifting sands of memory

Echoes of summers past evoke long lost lessons

Reverberating in the lengthening shadows of dusk

Whispers on the warm winds of generational change

Linger on lines of learning that weave lifelong

I forget to fade as frequently as was foretold

Instead becoming the only me that I could ever be

Blooming within brambles and blackberries

Never hardening my heart but softening the impact on my soul

…

Knock knock knocking on heavens door

Discovering flaws never found before

Creating a perfect nut and seed store

Then taking to the skies to freely soar

These are the days that we all adore

When no one counts or keeps the score

Woodpecker's have a wonderful rapport

Heaven is a place on earth to explore

…

As the sun shines bright in skies of blue

Tiny daisies discover life anew

Through grasses reaching terrific height

Everything feels pure and bright

Birds sing cheerfully, far and near

Worries leave, there's no more fear

Gentle breezes begin to play

Chasing storm clouds far away

Inquisitive bugs go crawling by

Butterflies flutter across the sky

Smiles are shared with those you meet

Life is simple, days are sweet

All our troubles pale and fade

As we cool within the precious shade

On days like this the world is art

As nature gently fills my heart

...

As bright stars twinkle

Settled beneath velvet skies

We find somnium

Sleepless nights resign

Healed by the full moon silence

Somnium soothes souls

...

A rest a day helps you work and play

At least that's the idea anyway

But it's definitely not the long covid way

Mostly I'm resting all of every the day

...

Bird song welcomes dawn

Intoxicating notes climb

Weary bodies rise

...

Let worries take flight

Float like ashes in the wind

Breathe, release, repeat

Breathe, release, repeat

Discover the oasis

Deep within yourself

...

Where words fail, friendship speaks in silence

Never rushing in, where a pause is perfection

Where gossips whisper, truth attempts to invade

Beckoning summer breezes to refresh the betrayed

Where prayers are presented in tears and pain

Hope is ignited again and again

Where peace is unknown, unseen and unsaid

We must not ignore, but bring love instead

...

After experiencing every room in the museum of love

We select the most fragile of souvenirs, eternity

...

Museum of love

Evokes laughter and tears

Rooms full of feelings

From sadness to cheers

Gardens of touch

Chambers of dreams

Cornered whispers

Bubbling streams

Souvenirs catch the sunlight

Glimmering so fine

Moments become forever

Love so divine

...

Unfolded pages reveal ancient love stories, echoes awaken untouched hearts

...

Guilt fades with the sun

Momentary interludes

Rest in redemption

Quiet interludes

Peaceful moments filled with love

Redemption's sweet pause

...

Stopped in my tracks by exhaustion

Is this a full stop or a colon?

Even the sweetest nectar can't recharge

This battery that's determined to discharge

I'll rest here bracketed, waiting for punctuation

Dealing with exclamation is a daily frustration

...

A little shoe too small to wear

An empty crib still standing there

A whispered name we'll never say

A promise missing every day

A flicker stilled, a dream undone

Our days of fun have not begun

A silent room, a heavy space

I wish that you had won this race

...

Life's gentle wisdom

Simple blessings beyond sight

Nature's great beauty

Bright morning sun

Warming sad hearts with kind words

Life's gentle wisdom

Quote Prompt : Paulo Coelho

“The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them.” -from 'The Alchemist

...

Lemonade sweetens

Bitter broken promises

Stand bright on your light

...

Embrace true freedom

Leave behind imprisoned ways

Extricate yourself

Gently ease away from pain

Arching vines will raise you up

…

You may celebrate the blessings of long hot summer days

With the thermometer rising and a permanent heat haze

But here in my body I’m boiling at my core

Even drinking water is becoming a chore

My body’s forgotten how to cool itself down

All I can muster are a groan and a frown

So forgive me for rolling my eyes at your joy

It’s all I can muster as my blood starts to cloy

...

Promises

People whisper soft and low

Sharing private things they know

Outward signs of what's to be

Unlock a secret, set us free

In our hearts we hold them dear

As we trust each other thru the year

Each one kept without a sound

Solid ground where love is found

...

Larkspur standing tall

Visited by butterflies

Bumble bees ascend

...

Childhood memories

Quilts conjure lost fragrances

Sand between my toes

...

My eyes are dumb

My eyes won't speak, they cannot see

The world outside is blurred to me

But in my mind, the picture's bright

Of sun, stars and morning light

I feel the breeze upon my face

And know the world, its time and place

Each gentle touch and whispered sound

Beauty waiting to be found

Though sight is lost my spirit flies

It paints the world behind my eyes

...

Paper boats wonder

Deserted beaches beckon

Wanderlust sets sail

Dreams wain as dead calm descends

Sleep travels every onward

...

Sandcastles

Lives built independently are merely temporary

They may appear strong and firm, but wobble like jelly

We can project into the world that "everything's fine"

But like sandcastles built below the water line

Our foundations are uncertain, weak, unstable

That's why we gather round the communal table

As a tribe, supporting one another

We can build on rock, stronger together

...

It's all water under the bridge

That day you left, a storm took hold

My world turned grey, story of old

Tears fell like rain in a constant stream

Lost in a dark and lonely dream

They say time heals and hurt will fade

Promises whispered of paths relaid

They tell of a new, optimistic land

It's water under the bridge, you understand

But still, the ache keeps lingering near

An echo of love only I can hear

Though seasons change and days go by

I wish I never had to say goodbye

The sun may shine, the world may spin

But these loving feelings deep within

Are impossible to wash completely clean

"Water under the bridge" carries hopes unseen

...

Just call me angel of the morning

With cerulean tides that cradle dreams

Diamond girl, you sure do shine like stars

Your beauty brushed by wild huckleberry beams

Wishing you well beneath azure skies

Where whispers dance in the softest glow

Neptune's whisper blooms and sighs above

In your peaceful depths where secrets flow

Oh Neptune, keeper of the twilight sea

A vast expanse where mysteries entwine

The currents hum a lover’s lullaby

Lost sailors search for voices so divine

So let us drift through sapphire fields unknown,

Where every wave displays a love we’ve sown

...

It's just warming up

Reaching higher temperatures

Never imagined

It's not a blessing

Not a gift from holidays

It's nearly the end

Yet let's be clear

The start impacted others

Many years ago

You just never heard

Or bothered to take notice

You were still ok

Now you're in dismay

Hoping it's just a cycle

No permanent change

Your head in the sand

Baking but not relearning

No chance of changing

Even for your grandkids

I mean you will be long gone

So why would you care

How bad can it get?

They can start over again

It's just warming up!!

...

As long days bake hard

Summer rain refreshes hearts

Cooling heated words