Words by A Wensley

For Hatty I witnessed your emergence that day; Your long red curls framing your beaming smile As laughter broke like a West Bay wave across your face, Leaving in it's wake the chrysalis of your dormancy. What exquisite butterflies we have become, dear Hatty! Fly beautiful one, fly. A Wensley 25.06.2025 🦋

This poem was created during a Jawbone 'Write to speak' workshop in Bridport on the 22nd June 2025. It came about when we were asked to complete a prompt sheet 'Being honest with you' - filling in all our honest thoughts against the prompt words listed, as per the list below. Rather than one word answers to each or whole sentences independent of each other, mine naturally flowed as a piece of poetry in its own right - I read it out with emotion, volume in the parts which resonated with the spirit of the piece and clearly in the way I'd punctuated it for dramatic effect. It goes like this: I AM...                  Me . I AM NOT ...            You . I CAN...                  speak but I CANNOT...            always be heard. I WILL...                frustrate you but I WON'T .....

Best Wishes Birthdays are full of best wishes: "Happiest of days", Big smiles and bouquets, If you're lucky, relax and just laze... Just a craze? Just a day in the year? A day to spread cheer? Sit back, have a beer? Celebrate another year?! While somebody else does the dishes. Yes birthdays are full of best wishes; Gifts can be hits or near misses, A day out together with kisses, A meal - meat, veggie or fishes? And a big cake, with candles, of course! Make a wish, now you're older you see  That the best things in life are all free: Time spent with the family, Words said with heart-felt vocabulary, Real happiness isn't posed - "cheese" like a photo. Memorable moments don't come from being 'on time', (Just like all lines of poems don't have to rhyme), Birthdays, on whatever days, are divine, It's not in the wrapping, the sparkle or shine, It's in the being thought about, For your day,  That counts. Love - breathe it in, breathe it ...

For Laurie & Jemma On the occasion of your wedding day 31st May 2025 Laurie: "With this ring I thee wed, Words of love here smiled and said, Giving thanks for one another, My loving Wife, a soul-mate, Mother." Jemma: "With this ring I thee wed, Words of love here smiled and said, Giving thanks for our true joy, A loving Father to our beautiful boy." Chris: "Standing here, now by your side, Loving son, now Groom and blushing Bride, A glow of pride transcends my face, You too a beauty, our dearest Grace." Laurie and Jemma: "Our hands are joined forever thus, Together stronger and in trust, Let the world now feel this love, Sent truly, from up above." And as they walk, applause rings out, No happier day, without a doubt! Confetti falls and tears are wept, Love's life-force, the strongest yet. With love, A Wensley

Peacetime The beaches we walk on are silent once more, A gentle sound washes us, waves against shore, Peacetime prevails in our hearts after war, Bloodlines extinguished still bleed at our core. Hang up the bunting, Dance with your friends, Peacetime prevails now, Let's make amends. But across the land mass of Europe bombs fall, This peacetime it seems is not here for us all, Humanitarian aid, mouths open, they call, Hungry and homeless, too weak to stand tall. Hang up the bunting, Dance with your friends, Peacetime prevails now, Let's make amends. So lucky are we to be able to walk, On beaches not bloodied, with freedom to talk, Street parties, full tables with food, knives and forks, Joy in our peacetime crumbles, just like the chalk... Hang up the bunting, Dance with your friends, Peacetime prevails now, Let's make amends. ...The white cliffs of Dover are pitted with scars From those soldiers and sailors and our hollow hurrahs, As we send 'home' the boat weary, b...

Ode to an English Bluebell Slender in your nature, bow, Delicate your blooms, Lilac veils transitioning To lighter shades and hues. Curvaceous curl your petals, That dance in Spring's light breeze, Bells oh bells ring out my blues Oh bright sweet-scented days! A Wensley 28.04.2025