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 ...