Ghostly they dance the night sky
screech their moonlit song
scour a city for overfed waste as
tides turn for another million years
©️ Liz Mackenzie
creative writing
Front Runner
Today, at my creative writing group, we did a short writing exercise whereby the person next to you gave you a word (any word) and you had to write no more than 50 words, starting with “I love you” and incorporating the given word. All a bit valentine’s day, thought I; I don’t ‘do’ valentines day but, ever game for a writing challenge, here is my offering with thanks to Elizabeth for a lovely word.
Front Runner
I love you snowdrop, you peek out when
all is grey and Christmas is over.
You’re a front runner
the prelude to Spring
You don’t announce your arrival with
a fanfare, just shyly say, “hi”.
You are my hope
my dare to dream defender
I love you snowdrop
© Liz Mackenzie
Photograph taken at Hodsock Priory Snowdrop Walk on 17 February 2019
Aberdeen in ten words
Aberdeen
Grampian landscape
granite glint in sunlit shards.
city, seashore, home
©️ Liz Mackenzie
Things I have left behind
I have left behind the
spring in my step
clambering over rocks
the triumph of hilltops
I have left behind questions
not worth an answer
niggles and annoyances
and petty people
I have left behind memories
that don’t belong in today
and clutter my brain
like too many papers
I have left behind vanity
that made me mind
what people thought
become more me
© Liz Mackenzie
Boxing Day
A tongue in cheek poem for Boxing Day.
Bubble squeaking with pigs in blankets
Over- indulgence leaving some
Xanthic (or yellowish if you will)
Invite friends for silly games
Nod off during yet more Christmas films
Go for a walk, brisk and bright
Doze again to TV repeats
And smile at yesterday’s snapshots
Yule, Christmas, Noel and New Year beckons…
©️ Liz Mackenzie
To see you one more time
The good thing about being part of a creative writing group is the challenge to write ‘on the spot’. For me, this gives the chance to go with whatever first comes to mind within a specific theme. Today’s challenge was to write something starting with, “All I want for Christmas …”. I did go with my first thought but couldn’t read it out; too raw. I can, however, post it here.
All I want for Christmas is to see mum once more, and for last Christmas not to have been … the last. Would she speak with dementia wit after Christmas lunch with her party hat on and her plate empty? “What are you doing for Christmas, dear?”
Cheers, mum x
©️ Liz Mackenzie
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