The Echoes poetry competition to celebrate Write Out Loud's 20th anniversary is now open.  Judged by Neil Astley.

Competition closes in 7 days, 20 hours. Get details and Enter.

Recent Comments

Mike McPeek on Running With Dogs
12 hours ago

David RL Moore on Aubade-esque
13 hours ago

Graham Sherwood on Aubade-esque
13 hours ago

David RL Moore on Aubade-esque
13 hours ago

David RL Moore on liberty
14 hours ago

Landi Cruz on liberty
14 hours ago

David RL Moore on Aubade-esque
18 hours ago

David RL Moore on liberty
20 hours ago

AirlogRigsMaria on Psycho
22 hours ago

Simon Zonenblick on Snail Shells - Similes
1 day ago

HOLLOW HALLS

She drags tired heels

across a tainted floor,

poise slightly bowed

and her back is sore.

She holds on her face

a cold marble stare,

a hard life engraved

upon cheeks once so fair.

 

Her faulting movements,

once graceful; divine,

her aching limbs now

with guile, defy

her final performance

on this dark empty stage,

memories fleeting

of a much better age...

Read and leave comments (0)

AGESTARLETSTAGELIGHTSFAMEFORTUNEENDSTORMYREFLECTIONDRUGSILLNESSregrets

THE BENCH

 

There’s a bench in the park where an old couple sit

holding hands and laughing as the children play and flit

about on the swings and slides with boundless joy,

inciting memories of when they were girl and boy.

The antics of the kids so full of life and carefree bliss,

their lives laid out before them on paths that time would kiss.

 

They’ve been sitting on that bench for ...

Read and leave comments (2)

LIFEDEATHTIMEAGELOSSCHILDRENGENERATIONSHAPPINESSJOYLAUGHTERSMILES

DREAMS OF A LIFE

As a new day dawns and I open my eyes

I look upon a world in painless surprise.

A smile creeps across my hopeful face

as I lie in bed, my comfy place.

 

A tentative move; a testing stretch but

then comes a cough and my face is etched

with pain, like a stalker in darkened streets

as I grudgingly rise to my unsteady feet.

 

Reaching to grab at the windowsill and

hold...

Read and leave comments (2)

illnessagebreathlesssleep

This site uses only functional cookies that are essential to the operation of the site. We do not use cookies related to advertising or tracking. By continuing to browse, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

Find out more Hide this message