Thursday 30 April 2020

NaPoWriMo Day 30: April (with snakes in her hair)

Hi, I’ve been writing a poem a day for NaPoWriMo on napowrimo.net and sadly this is the last day. It’s been great as it got me writing every day and I’m a massive procrastinator (ie. lazy bastardos)! I’m very grateful to the lady who runs it. It inspired me to sign up to some online classes too. So here is my poem for NaPoWriMo Day 30. I went out with a romantic one. Ahhh. Cheers.

For Day 30, the prompt was to write about something that returns.

This is the prompt for the April 30 poem:
I’d like to challenge you to write a poem about something that returns. For, just as the swallows come back to Capistrano each year, NaPoWriMo and GloPoWriMo will ride again!


April (with snakes in her hair)

April breezed in as the seasons turned,
Carrying a red suitcase in one hand,
Her face hidden by snake hair curling,
Dark as her eyes and her humour.

From where she came I never knew.
She never said and I never asked.
The bruises on her face told a story
But it was one I never sought to read.

She treasured a pack of Tarot cards,
Illustrated with mystical dragons,
Reading them daily in the mornings
Sitting cross-legged on my tiled floor.

Loud and brash, her laughter filled
The house like water running through,
Her moods as changeable as the wind,
Clashing like her mis-matched clothes.

I knew it was time for her to go before
She told me. It was written in the cards,
She said, and she had to heed the call.
No matter what her heart argued.

It’s been six weeks, my calendar tells me,
And summer is drifting into autumn.
The trees are changing and the wind is shifting,
And I know it’s carrying her back to me.

Copyright Vickie Johnstone, April 30, 2020

Wednesday 29 April 2020

NaPoWriMo Day 29: Black cat crossing

Hi, I’m doing NaPoWriMo on napowrimo.net. The challenge is to write a poem a day in April.  

For Day 29, the prompt was to write about your household pet.

This is the prompt for the April 29 poem:
Today, I challenge you to write a paean to the stalwart hero of your household: your pet. Sing high your praises and tell the tale of Kitty McFluffleface’s ascension of Mt. Couch. Let us hear how your intrepid doggo bravely answers the call to adventure whenever the leash jingles.


Black cat crossing (for Devvy)

Black like nightshade,
In panther stealth mode,
He strides the garden path
To his favourite bush,
His pale green eyes lit
Lanterns in the dark.

Early morning or night
Are his favourite outings,
For if he hears a soul
He’s back in like lightning.

Walking one stiff leg
From a past encounter,
He wags his tail like a dog
When in a happy mood.

He likes his nose stroked,
But if you catch him unawares
Or do it a touch too long,
He’ll tell you with a little nip.

This black cat is always starving,
Making out he’s never been fed.
If you walk by his food cupboard,
He’ll be there with paws begging,
Promising to be your best friend
If you feed him again and again…

He likes to sit by the window
Watching the world go by.
But if you’d rather watch TV than
Him he’ll simply block your way.

Seeing things that we cannot,
He guards the end of your bed,
Keeping out ghouls and ghosties
And things that go bump in the night.

Head leaning forwards, he nods off
In Sphinx pose. Open your eyes,
You’ll find him checking you’re okay.
When he’s finally dreaming, he snores
Little hurumphs that soon balloon
Into elephant-size trumpets.

Copyright Vickie Johnstone, April 29, 2020 


Bonus poem:

Cat bum

My cat’s bum is alive today, 
It keeps on doing poops.
He’s the oochy coochy poopy machine
And your winnings come in scoops. 

Chance your luck on the fluffy tail,
Pull it down and watch him go.
He’s the oochy coochy poopy machine,
Making gifts for friend or foe.