Words by A Wensley

The farm that Jack built Once upon a time  There was a farmer called Jack, He had fields full of wheat And milk-producing Daisies. He ploughed the land, Furrowed his brow, Soiled his wellies, And turned over little profit. Jack had a child Who he taught well To plant for the future And reap the rewards of good produce. Then one day Daisy was put up for sale, For beans. The tax man loomed, booming - "Where is the goose who lays the golden eggs?" And "where's my breakfast?!" A Wensley  21.11.2024

 On Council Business 'Consultation', the word jars With those who've always worked so hard To watch their colleagues on Teams marred Suffering at the fate of cards, Dealt a blow Cold as snow Governments come and Governments go Money trickles in so slow "What a bloody shit show!"* [Collective gasp, though we're on mute] Silence that colleague on the call! (The Piper's piped, too late for flute). She does not speak for one and all Respect and kindness please play ball. Tis true the messenger should not be shot As the auctioneer strikes down our lot, The public purse is wearing thin Too many potholes need a skim Too many hearts need care from sin Too many mouths need food within, When will this end and sense begin? A Wensley 24.10.2024 *This actually happened today on our Teams call - on the day the staff consultation on Council redundancies was announced https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cje02527g24o 

 Flutter I've turned my sofa, Now it's time. Time to catch the Autumn light While it still shines. Face open doors, hear the robins  While they sing. Dance with courting butterflies On the wing. Flutter. Like my heart does now, As you walk up my path... I've turned my sofa, Now it's time. A Wensley 7.10.2024

Realisation I knew in that moment, As I closed the car door That I was closing the door On the old me The one who takes the crap And makes it better. I knew in that moment, As you drove away That you had a journey to make That could only be made By the person Sitting behind the wheel. I had faith in that moment In the universe's strength To make Whatever needed to happen Happen For both of us. We were given that moment To pause and reflect. To calm from your anger, To rise from my perceived injustice, And find the path Of true togetherness. So as I reflect on that moment, 12 days ago, I realise that in staying silent I broke the cycle, Of you run, I rescue Of you lead, I follow. In that moment I had expected more from you Than to be considered weak, crazy A bad parent For asking you to stop... It was an unrealistic expectation From a heart so soft. Because in that moment That is what you saw. Because in that moment You did not see what had gone before The way she struggled with he...

Created during a Jawbone Workshop from the exercise prompt - "a conversation with 'found' nature": 😉  And all is green And all is green. I step through, beneath, the ivy-covered bough; A portal,  Which arcs, framing the changing,  Uncertain skies above me - Mayflies dance, guide me  As my legs brush through long, untouched grasses, freeing them, Glistening wings shimmering the magic words: "This way...this way...you are safe here". They lead me to a bench Where countless stories have been told, Crafted, layered,  Like ordered slats of consciousness, Tales now committed to lichen, Whispering "come, sit, you are safe here". I open my mouth and  At the point where the words release themselves from my lips, Lichen forms, Reaching out to touch the air, As I tell my own story to the micro-lives  of this mystical glade. You lichen, are the embodiment of recovery,  The bench, humanity, Decaying wood returning to the woodland From whence we were felled. I...

Poem 2 from my 'Home Soil' workshop with poet Olivia Douglass last week, was produced in response to an exercise which asked us to recall 3 phrases that reminded us of where we come from, and use them as the starting point for each stanza.  My mind took me to a dark place, but I went with it and read this to the group, feeling brave. So, as I share it with you now please note it comes with a trigger warning - alcohol/abuse. Please scroll on if you are affected by these issues. ------------------------------ At home in public houses "Let's pop in 'ere for one" Dad says, familiarly, To the car-load, our family, behind him. I watch the pub sign swaying to and fro Like something from a Western, or a drunk, Ominously threatening my sanity, A repetition of too many weekends out on Exmoor Gone before. "Where be to?" Dad gestures to go inside, So-called 'Adults', parents and grandparents,  'guardians' leading the way - To bar-stools and bar s...

Four Hardy Poets Four hardy poets this November day, Set off through Bincombe, waterproofed, yay! The Autumn leaves aglow with amber Spurred them forth, no keener ramblers Ever, oh ever, did I see, I see Oh ever did I see! Beneath an arch, a portal-zone, They hiked with gusto, creaks and groans Did hear they from the wood surrounds, But fear they not the muddy ground Oh yes, oh yes, the squelchy-squelch Oh yes, the squelchy-squelch! Traversing ancient boundary lines Our poets puffed up the incline, Crossing roads, through sessile oak Waterproofs dripping, so-so-soak￾ing wet, ‘ing wet, ‘ing wet, ‘ing wet, Oh yes, it were so wet! Two roads converged in our walk-wood Two of us took less-travelled, good! In search of Lady's Spring we went But on arrival she was spent! Oh yes, dear lady, lady well, Oh dear, oh well oh well! Combe to combe Coco did bounce, Scruffling leaves, a squirrel, pounce! Onwards upwards to Dowsborough Fort But not today, we thought we ought - To march more quickly...