Words by A Wensley

A writer's demons (After a performance of 'Christabel Released' - by Ralph Hoyte) There once a weary writer free Found solace by an old oak tree, She found within its outstretched branch An air of grace to write carte blanche. Her poetry encroached, did sin her,  A mind trapped fast fly-like in amber. He found her in a state of flux A mazed dear maid now there's the crux. Her neck was bent o'er like a snake It fair did make the knight a-quake! But wake her from her trance did he,  Here starts this tale of poetry... Her pen is sharper than his sword She knows no fear, is untoward, She casts a spell on his dear heart, Deeper than home-made apple-tart. He walks on clouds he floats upon Not knowing when love will be gone. The moon it shone down yonder vale And moved her from beyond her pale, Of cheek she blushed to see him ride Chestnut his steed against the tide, But lo the comet streameth cometh! Universe collideth someth! Saddled up the writer's bosom heaved,  He...

Advocacy If you ever hear me Advocating For Autistic accommodations,  Know genuinely that this is Necessary, Empowering especially,  For self-confidence, vitality A thriving-mind mentality. Don't label this as defensiveness, Or ‘soft parenting’, let's not regress, For ‘Labels’ both shield AND PUSH progress, I too say no to ‘excuses’ But it's hard, so hard, to 'do the right thing', Parental-guilt’s at large, not parental-slacking, Fighting, freezing, flight, appeasing, All takes it's toll, life’s more than breathing. Advocacy, arguably and appropriately, Debilitatingly? No, socially, educationally, Is giving Autists wings to soar; I know excusing or defending ways Would only serve to clip them more! I advocate for her, for sure - For She is not a flightless bird, And I am not an ostrich. A Wensley 16/10/2025

Held, with love I’m wearing my strapless dress today The one you bought me as a skirt, Free from the self-constraints of bras  And the uniformity of past Seasons, Free from the Motherly idylls Imposed on me by a world of others, Free from the servitude  To ‘you should be this’ And ‘you should be that'. It's September  And a cheer-up of long-tailed tits fly overhead, Pausing awhile to converse Amongst the branches above me; Amongst the heady scent Of the fragrant-flowering hedge I cut back yesterday, Freeing the footpath for primary-schoolers and prams, In the magenta hareem trousers That you bought me. My sky-blue painted fence  Reflects the Autumn sunshine Back onto my unmasked face. Here I rest,  Waiting for a sign, a look of love; To be noticed for the me That resides here free - Yet longing to be held. A robin alights from the hanging tray Of our bird feeder, He too is free yet seeking nourishment. I sit here, calm in the reassurance   Of knowing,...

The Spirit of (False) Autumn Autumn arrived this morning, too early; A ghost-glance shiver-slip of a woman Wrapped in a crisp crumpled-leaf cloak, The drought of dry spells visible in her sun-scorched skin. She walks silently through the hedgerows Summer's late-born Sister casting shadows over seed heads, Rendering their future fertility futile. Product of the burning-turning skies She is grey, haggard as an Ash in dieback, She looks through me, haunted, The promise of colour we so often seek, Nay EXPECT of true Autumn,  Stands falsely before me, drained of all joy, Her Amazon-box-like existence a scorching of brown, Life-eaten, beaten. I turn in my doorway to send her away, But wait! I watch as a rogue gust of wind tousles her reddening hair like a lover, Teasles reach out to brush her, And, beneath the folds of her receding green skirt I see her scarlet calves, Dripping with blood, from burnished brambles - She lives! Quick, give her water, drink dear friend, drink! Autumn arrive...

  For Leah and Sam On Your Wedding Day 16th August 2025 Feel it as the beat fades in, The beat is ‘Praise You’ - Fat Boy Slim… 🎶Beat beat beat-beat beeeeat… Beat beat beat-beat beeeeat… Beat beat beat-beat beeeeat… Beat beat-beat-beat-beat-beat beeeeat🎶 One day two souls found their right track And found there was no turning back. Two hearts which danced To ‘Praise You’ beats… 🎶Beat beat beat-beat beeeeat… Beat beat beat-beat beeeeat… Beat beat beat-beat beeeeat… Beat beat-beat-beat-beat-beat beeeeat🎶 Today we Praise You Like we should! You, like us,  A pre-COVID couple, Found each other And formed a ‘bubble’; Kept your distance,  For your health, And found that love  Was your true wealth. 🎶Beat beat beat-beat beeeeat… Beat beat beat-beat beeeeat… Beat beat beat-beat beeeeat… Beat beat-beat-beat-beat-beat beeeeat🎶 Today we Praise You Like we should! Your souls have danced Every day since, Living together In Exeter bliss. Ivy’s joined you Along the way, She alwa...

Precious presence moments I can feel a light penetrating through The cracks in my consciousness, Illuminating me like soul-fuel. Observing them from within - The light-givers, torch-bearers, spirit-healers, I can feel the crackle as they stoke my fires of resilience. In our Power we hold a mirror up to the world  So that everyone may see their presence in us.  But do we hold it there for long enough? They say seeing is believing... So we must find that strength To shine and keep shining...without distraction... Through those self-same cracks, We reciprocate the light that's given to us to share, We stoke the fires in others, Feed the global healing, Until the all-consuming darkness is no longer in Power, The whole world over.  A Wensley  02.08.2025 Inspired by the guest speakers at HappyFest, Hideaway Camping last weekend 🔥