Welcome to April?s Poetry and Prose roundup. The weather?s getting warmer, the days are getting longer and spring is in the air! Admittedly, as I write this, the sun is hidden behind a bank of clouds and my view is largely obliterated by drizzle? but I?m optimistic that it won?t last! By the time I?ve finished typing this I?m certain the sun will be beaming down.
Many of you were filled with a similar optimism in your poetry and prose this month ? the promise of spring brings that out in us, I think. Leigh from Headspace Perspective wrote a wonderful poem about renewal which summed up my feelings for the season perfectly, as did Lisa?s Life with this lovely piece. My co-editor Victoria has had some bad news recently but I loved her determination and optimism in this poem, while Carol at Virtually All sorts made me feel like I was standing in the garden, basking in the sun?s rays.
Spring feels like the ideal time for aspirations too, and I felt full of those reading Teacup Toria?s wonderful piece about hopes and dreams! Similarly, Jo from Fifty-something Fruitcake?s beautiful poem ?For Aria? about stars and fireworks had me thinking about what we hope for our children?s futures, as did Mum Turned Moms?s lovely poem, ?Mighty?. Pempi?s Palace made me smile with a captivating little piece, and Nicole from The Brightness Of These Days expressed many similar feelings in a poem about what ?getting ahead? should really mean ? being yourself, trying hard and being happy.
Happiness was also the main theme of Emma from MS Calling?s poem about parents? evening ? Emma expressed that there are some things more important than targets and tests. Education is a subject close to many of our hearts at the moment ? I experienced a flood of support when I wrote about my feelings on it, and teacher and parent Luisa from Teaching Tiny Minds wrote a poem on the subject that blew me away!
From education in early life, to needs at the end of life, this month your creativity ran the full gamut. I was deeply affected by this poem from Louise at Touchline Dad & Mother in the Middle about an elderly person wanting to remain in their own home, and likewise, by Cara at Oh We Do?, who wrote a powerful poem about dementia. Becky at Diary of a Fat Bottomed Girl is going through a tough time herself and her reflective piece, ?My heart broke for a stranger?, about an elderly man alone in hospital was very moving too.
March was host this year to a very early Easter so there was no way I was going to get through this roundup without a mention of chocolate! I really enjoyed Right Royal Mother?s version of Easter egg hunt clues that the Duchess of Cambridge might use (with mention of moet and tennis courts!) and Life, Love and Dirty Dishes also made me giggle with her ode to chocolate. And talking of giggles ? this poem by Striking Mum is a great read (and it?s nicely honest too) and Kyles at Pickles and Pords had me in stitches with a piece entitled ?Cranky Pants? ? I definitely possess some!
As expected, with Mothers? Day last month, I also read plenty of fabulous pieces on motherhood. I loved Mumzilla?s touching poem for a friend?s child and Dawn at Rhyming With Wine brought tears to my eyes with a poem for a mum-to-be that was funny, accurate and moving. Beta Mummy wrote a hilarious illustrated piece comparing ?alpha? and ?beta? mums, and I loved this poem by Anna Ghislena celebrating all the things we mums can do!
I hope you enjoy reading these! If you write creative pieces of your own that you?d like to feature in next month?s roundup, feel free to contact my co-editor Victoria at Verily Victoria Vocalises. If you?re thinking of taking your writing to the next level, do read this post by Marija Smits. Marija runs her own press and talks candidly about how it feels to edit and publish an anthology which also includes a piece of her own writing ? it?s very insightful! Oh, and do remember Victoria?s linky ?Prose For Thought? and my linky ?What I?m Writing? for sharing creative work and thoughts on creative process ? we?d love to have you join in!
Well, you?ll never believe it, but the sun HAS come out as I?ve been writing this! So as I head outside to enjoy it, I?ll leave you with a little illustrated limerick of my own. Maybe you?ll be able to relate?
About Maddy Bennett
Maddy lives on a windy hillside in beautiful Northumberland with her husband and three young children. Between school runs (and when the toddler can be distracted with a biscuit) she writes flash fiction, short stories and poetry, much of which you can find on her blog Writing Bubble. From there, she also hosts ‚What I’m Writing‘, a supportive linky for writers, poets and bloggers. She has a particular fondness for limericks ? the sillier the better ? and has been published by Iron Press. She is currently writing picture books and (very slowly) working on her first novel.