Poems by Brain Pebble Poet
I started writing poetry one morning in the April 2021 lockdown. I was really angry about Piers Morgan’s comments about Megan Markel. As a mixed raced woman growing up in Britain in the 1970’s, and then moving to Africa in the early 1980’s, I’ve had my fair share of racist comments. His tipped me over the edge, it was the causal racism and misogyny that did it. At that moment, a friend sent me a poem by Hollie McNish and I thought “I’m going to write a poem” and I did. My first poem was “It’s OK You’re A Coconut” and I haven’t stopped writing since. Here are some poems that remind me of reasons to be cheerful. The first poem “The Fall” is about when I fell off the sea wall (recently) trying to catch a rocket in an impromptu game on the beach. My partner, Dave, drew the picture for me. A reminder that we can all fall trying to catch the rocket but we can still reach for the stars!
The Fall
I fell.
Not a small fall.
I was that child face planting
on the pavement.
I picked myself up,
cycled home
with gravel in my knee,
laughing at my stupidity.
The beauty in the moment
made me forget it hurt.
A moment in a game
where I was young again.
Just before I leapt
I saw the scene in front of me.
Friends and family calling out.
Me poised, ready, taking flight.
I Have
Beyond what I want,
I have what I need,
I’ll let go and swim with the tide.
Now I have nothing,
I’ve nothing to lose,
no distracting myself.
Friends with my emotional ADHD.
Shutting my eyes,
arms open wide,
I spin.
Like a whirling Sufi.
Accepting what is,
brings me fully awake.
alone,
transformed to content.
Teacher
I know you’re dying
and so do you.
It doesn’t stop you living.
More precious for it,
the lesson that you’re giving.
With lazy disregard,
you let death walk along.
As muscle dissolves to skeleton
what once was easy,
isn’t.
Your humble joy in living,
shows me how it’s done.
No pleading to the mortal’s clock,
when there’s living to be done.
All That’s Left
If all that’s left of me is kindness
then there’s nothing more to do.
Although a work in progress,
I’ll happily see it through.
It’s what gets me up each morning,
the kindness of the day.
Though sometimes I need reminding
not everyone gets today.
I may not get it right,
that makes it sweeter when I do.
For when the critic inside me shouts
I’ll learn to love her too.
Embrace the parts of me
I battle with.
Put down my arms
make peace.
Let kindness in again
so others can feel her too.
Gail Fawcett - Brain Pebble Poet
@brainpebblepoet
If you enjoyed this piece, you might also like Clay and This World, My Love