I wanted to share something I’ve discovered, while completing two first drafts of novels and a memoir which has had a bunch of re-writes/edits, and beta readers. 4-5 years ago, I never ever thought I’d have accomplished any of this. I could never see anything through, always flitting from idea to idea, only writing when…
Category: writing
Poem: Church (the body as nature)
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10cY_5XT3oI Divinity is here today I breathe it in And exhale everything that came before Sweat running down my body like rain Forgiving me Hands like sunflowers Bowing their heads in worship Ancient earthen roots soften Seeking wisdom from the soil Soaking it up like nurture The moon-sick tide ebbs and flows through…
Updated: Poetry reading, 2nd of July
Drum roll, please! I have quite spontaneously decided to take the plunge and do a poetry reading. And my rather fabulous mother, Fanny Parow Knill, will be accompanying me on the harp. Featured work will be some of the poetry I have posted here previously, plus some brand new stuff. In July we will be…
WFTH Jan/Feb: Speed of light
Write from the heart has now become a quarterly competition rather than a (bi) monthly one, which is understandable given the amount of time it must take to organise, let alone read and rate all entries, on top of actually having to do work which pays the bills. The good news is that you therefore…
Poem: Spring
This is one of the few poems I wrote pre-2020 and one of the even fewer that I feel still holds up after I’ve gotten more into reading and writing poetry over the past year. So, before it’s too late to post a seasonal poem (we had summer here for a few days just now),…
WFTH December: Stranger Than Fiction
December’s theme for Write from the Heart was “2020 year in review”. A lot can be said about the year 2020, but it definitely gave us some fuel for our creative fires… And while I have your attention, January’s comp has been extended to include February too, so you still have time to submit your…
WFTH November II: Outside
My second entry for November’s “freedom” theme, on the lighter side of things: Outside Outside there’s a fresh breeze, or so you imagine. You can see the rustle of leaves and the ruffled feathers on birds clinging to branches. But you can’t touch. You can’t feel the wind. Only imagine. It has been like this…
WFTH November I: Tether
November’s theme for Write from the Heart was “freedom”. In November I also submitted two entries, and this one was shortlisted: Tether Some days it was taut, like a violin string tightened to its breaking point. Put a bow to it and you’d hear a discordant screech, then the telltale snap. Other days it was…
WFTH October II: It’s Me
My second entry for Write from the Heart’s October comp, with the theme memories. An exercise in dialogue (and nothing but). The charity for October was for Alzheimer’s. It’s Me “No, gran, it’s me, Susie.”“When you were little, your father and I bought you that pink bike, do you remember? You would get up early…
WFTH October I: It’s Later Than You Think
In October I submitted two entries to Write From the Heart with the theme “memories”, this one was shortlisted: It’s later than you think A crunch of gravel and frozen leaves underfoot. Breath turns to smoke, rises up and disappears. A thought chases after, but it evaporates too. A sip of hot cocoa spreads warmth…
Too much time, and too little. 