Words by A Wensley

A poem from the Jawbone workshop I attended yesterday on the prompt Peter provided of 'What's in your heart?' - did you know we have 30,000 independent neural cells in our hearts? Thinking from the heart is a real thing! I later found this heart shaped rock on the beach... What's in your heart? My heart is a vessel  For feeling Everything; A world full of woes and love. Like a blender it mixes emotional juices Which I pour into Everything. Sometimes I feel so liquidised, Others lumpy, Others smooth, And at other times like someone has unplugged me. My heart is a vessel  From which I pour Emotions into Everything, Or not; Sometimes my vessels feel empty Devoid of feeling, It's then that I have to replenish  They say you can't pour from an empty cup. You fill me, nature, love, You fill me right up - Until the flow increases And I can speak again Of hearts and juices. Keep beating. Keep beating. Keep beating. A Wensley 25.10.2025

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