Read Poetry From Seeds Of Inspiration
POET IS SEEDED FIRST
A seed of inspiration has led to Della Perry winning a national poetry competition.
Della wrote the poem especially for the competition run by poetry publishers United Press.
She collects £100 for winning the competition and she also has her poem published in the forthcoming anthology of verse “Seeds of Inspiration” and receives a free copy of the book.
“The poem was inspired by an old woman who lived down the street from me when I was young,” she explained. “We formed a relationship after my father died. This woman was like a grandmother to me, she taught me how to cook and garden, but mostly she helped me to grow as a person and deal with the loss of my father. She was my inspiration.”
“We asked for poems on the theme of Seeds of Inspiration,” said Peter Quinn of United Press which ran the competition. “Della’s poem Grandma’s Garden was picked as winner from over 2,000 entries from all over the UK, we thought it fit the theme beautifully. ”
“I’ve always loved writing, jotting my thoughts and dreams down in diaries and such, but I started writing with regularity when I started working at Dingle Community Primary School. I enjoy writing poems and stories for the children, it makes me happy to see them enjoying literature as much as I do.”
Della is married to Darren and has two sons, Ian (16) and Sean (11).
You can read Della's winning entry below:
GRANDMA’S GARDEN
In the beginning Grandma scattered seeds,
Within the moist, ploughed soil of my young mind,
Pips, grains, that would germinate with love and inspiration into revelations and ideas.
Grandma had a bed of motivation, she watered it every day,
She fed it with knowledge and questions, come what may.
Grandma nurtured stimulation, used it for the canes to steady the growth,
She planted enthusiasm beside the yield of my youth.
As I grew older, new buds would appear, Grandma would feed them when she was near.
But grandmas must fade, like a summer’s bloom,
There is always that time,
But she taught me not to worry
That all would be fine.
Just before she withered, and sadly died,
Grandma spoke in a tone of underlying pride:
A beautiful flower is what you will be
Standing proud, smart, elegant, planted by me.
Della Perry, Kingswinford, West Midlands
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You can read more poems from Seeds Of Inspiration below...
TO TEACH A MAN
To teach a man
who does not want to be taught
who refuses to accept your teaching
who is ignorant of what has been taught
who is not aware of his need for teaching
who does not practice what has been taught
who is not interested in the subject of the teaching
who does not make an effort to review what is taught
is a very complex and difficult process indeed.
To such a man, the world will do the teaching
to help change his ways as only experience has taught
Pauline Okposi
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IF I HAD WINGS
If I had wings I would
Fly to the moon, because I would get a better
View of the stars.
If I had wings I would
Fly to the sun, when I am cold
So I will get warm.
If I had wings I would
Fly around the world and land
On the country I have always
Wanted to go to.
If I had wings I would
Bounce on the clouds because
I have always wanted a trampoline
And I won’t have to pay.
If I had wings I would
Fly away when someone is
Making me do something I
Don’t want to do.
If I had wings I would
Fly to different places because
I get tired of walking or going in a car.
Ebun Opata
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THE DANDELION
Fair flower with your gracious birth
Children blow your curly head
With lips that purse their wind
Of breath; to para-glide your seed.
No flower that were common bred.
No flower proud, ever came.
So perfect to its common need
A crown that wears a golden head.
Where brooks and streams reflect your
Dreams, you colonise your meadow
Land; and petal perfect forms a star
To shine on Earth another sun.
Philip Cranswick
Philip Cranswick said: “I’ve been married to Alice for 53 years. We were childhood sweethearts; this is where poetry comes in, through love and romance. I was employed at the British Steel Corporation but am now retired. In our local heritage of steel, I supported a production by writing a poem. The end product was staged at the local Civic Theatre in Rotherham.”
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MY COMFORT ZONE
I once had a comfort zone
That made me feel secure
But one day that comfort zone
Became uncomfortably obscure.
I longed so much to step outside
To achieve my very best
But I was trapped inside my zone
I could not face the test.
In my home was a special book
The Bible became my best friend
Daily I prayed and prayed to God
To bring my loneliness to an end.
But miraculously I was inspired
As I read excerpts from that book
It encouraged me to venture out
It gave me strength to take a look.
Bravely I took one step outside
Then a few more down the street
I felt like I was on cloud nine
With my newly found feet
So when you ever feel like this
There’s no need to feel alone
Just talk and walk with God I say
He’s your truest comfort zone.
Elaine S Wilson
Born in Wisbech, Elaine Wilson has interests including reading, writing, cooking and the internet. “I started writing in 2004, I wanted to fulfil my lifetime ambition of becoming a writer,” she explained. “I would describe my style as inspirational, and people from around the globe influence my work.” Elaine has written 80 poems and has had two published. She has also written two short stories.
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ORGANIC MOMENTS
The light bulb goes on in an organic moment
A special time of electrical movement
Something feels special shining from within
Then the organic moment just begins
At that very point, when it feels right
Peace with the mind, makes it alright
No amount of debating or de-fabricating
Will settle the dust, peace is always a must
Things then just evolve to a natural resolve
An organic moment when things are insolvent
Stepping to the side, when the waves are high
Learning not to ride, to let it just subside
The feelers will travel and escape to divaricate
Every organic moment shows it’s never too late
Never mis-interpret, the values always present
Life becomes a pleasure in the organic moment
Be true to the core and just watch the wealth
Of travel and teaching, creating good health
Life then evolves and naturally constructs
The organic moments evolve, all it takes is trust
Jan Pearson
Born in Carlisle, Jan Pearson has interests including golf, cookery, singing/songwriting, acting and writing. “Writers like JK Rowling, Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter influence my work, and I would describe my style as in the moment and from the heart,” she said. Jan is married to Alan and has one son, Danny. Her worst nightmare is being without a pen and paper. “I would most like to be JK Rowling for a day on the set of Harry Potter,” she said. "I saw her interview on Oprah and I felt completely inspired, she is a legend.”
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FRIEND OF MINE
You stood there smiling, chatting away
Another minute wasted on a missing day,
Always strong, solid, down-to-earth.
Never more than a laugh or comforting words
Kindly friend of mine
Never distant from my mind.
Every moment precious every second kept dear
Passing glance, shared worries, moments or fears.
Nothing too much, too hard to confide
Except revealing true feelings inside
Kindly friend of mine
Who inspired me to shine.
Keeping high spirits your smile remained
For you, for me your strength couldn’t be fazed.
Helping me through hardest, darkest days
Even when your life was steeped in despair
Still you managed to laugh and be there
Until you left, lost now with passing time.
Kindly friend of mine
Forever on my mind.
Martine Gafney
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IT’S JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS
Who can I blame for why I’m ill?
Is it my fault, or is it God’s will?
Is it in place to seal my fate?
This breakdown of my natural state.
I shouldn’t complain, get angry or moan.
I shouldn’t once think that it’s just me on my own.
For I know there are others and in comparison, much worse,
Who battle with illness, condition or curse.
Illness makes you realise what’s important to you.
For me, it’s my family and the things that they do.
They are there when I need them, through bad days and strife.
They choose to stand by me and stay in my life.
So thank you all, I’d be lost without you.
If you were not here, I would have no wish to pull through.
So when I face the next needle that stings,
I’ll think of you all and say,
It’s just one of those things.
Andrew Lamb
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DARKENED DAYS
I am indeed what I will state,
A matter of opinion or indeed debate,
That I am indeed what I state,
Not a lover and I do like to hate.
I hate the world and I hate this life,
I have not been designed just to be a master’s wife.
It is not me, and nor should it be,
That I stare through these eyes but still I cannot see.
But love is blind; this I can tell,
Because I can’t see anything but the darkness of hell.
Of living in fear and constant surprise,
That one day soon, I will meet my demise.
Love knows no boundaries; how do I know?
Because I can’t seem to find the strength to just get up and go.
Out of his life and start somewhere new,
Where the grass would be greener and the sky, a new blue.
This shouldn’t go on, and I should refrain,
From thinking that I am the cause of this pain.
But why should I listen to all of his lies?
He is only what others say, nothing more than, a man of disguise.
Stuart Porter
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COLOURS OF MY LOVE
If I could paint your portrait
I would choose such colours wisely
To match your beauty so divine
Because I love you truly
For your eyes I would choose
A shade of blue
And cream for your complexion
With light tan brown to match your hair
And pale green for your shoes
I would choose colours of the rainbow
To match your patterned dress
With red to match the rose in your hair
And the necklace adorning your neck
All this my love, I would do for you
Because you mean so much
And I will love you forever
Until the end of time
Jim Carlin
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CATCHING THE MOMENT
Nothing can ever compare
with that special spark.
Whoever would dare
to deny the thrill
and unexpected moment
when inspiration
touched our day.
Maybe by talent or skill,
perhaps simply a natural gift,
definitely beyond our expectation,
and bringing us a pleasurable lift.
Margaret Ann Wheatley
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WATER
Water everywhere,
Involving everything,
So powerful, a mind of its own,
Behaving beyond our understanding.
Wanted water, needed water,
For sowing, germinating, growing.
Water of life for drinking,
Water of death for drowning, sinking.
When boiling, changes form to steam,
To ice in the making of ice cream.
Water for real,
Waters of inspiration,
Poetic, artistic, surreal,
Taps in suspended animation
Pouring from no apparent source
Imaginary meandering rivers
Capriciously changing their whimsical course.
Water for solemn burial at sea,
Water for that welcome cup of tea.
Geoffrey Martin
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ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN
All dogs go to heaven,
the ones who were tattered and abused,
are now at peace, no more pain,
to them death was a relief.
All dogs go to heaven,
the ones who were loved,
now look down from above,
at their owners,
to them death was a sad parting,
hoping to meet again.
All dogs go to heaven,
the ones who were unloved,
put down ‘cause they didn’t get a chance
to show what they were worth,
now in the angels’ arms,
their death was a waste.
Samantha Forde
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CHASING THE WIND
Do you ever feel that you’re chasing the wind
And never reaching where you wish to go?
Do you ever feel you have lost the opportunity?
You have tried too late those seeds to sow
Don’t give up those winds may subside
And just become a gentle breeze
And then, instead of chasing the wind
You will still flutter along with the leaves
Violetta Jean Ferguson
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THE INSPIRATION OF MAN
Since the beginning of time, man has been inspired by the world around him.
He has created works of art from the resources that surround him.
An artist poised above his palette - with a seeing eye,
Can create a masterpiece from the earth, the sea and the sky.
A sculptor can shape some rough-hewn stone into a statue of great beauty,
To grace a garden or stately home and finish its effect completely.
Man has built bridges, ships and roads to enable travel to other lands,
He invented aircraft so that man could fly, and that was just part of his plans.
For over the years he has achieved many things that we greatly value,
That have enriched our lives and given us much knowledge too.
So without seeds of inspiration man would never have fulfilled his desire,
To invent and build, to paint and fly - all those things that we acclaim with pride.
Jan Imeson
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JUST A TINY SEED
I don’t feel too inspired
I’m feeling rather tired
I feel that I’m not wired
To anything
So there’s not much inspiration
No poetry creation
No sense of wild elation
About anything
Then I saw a tiny seed
It was only from a weed
But to grow it had a need
Like anything
I thought what Jesus said
His words ran through my head
That faith this size, he said
Moves anything
The seed grows to a plan
Our faith grows through that man
So through the Lord we can
Do anything
Valerie Burch
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CHAT
I set out to make up for my delay,
that let the fate separate our worlds,
without a farewell. I felt I would be a success.
One night I dreamed I was able to telephone her,
and to my great surprise, to find her out in upper part
of that divine realm of the Universe. My intent
was to invite her to a bouquet
and her 50th birthday to celebrate. She was glad
and recommended Kensington Palace as the best place.
At the event spontaneously I took command and suggested:
Let’s raise our glasses to your achievements to date,
In Heaven and on Earth. The Princess of Wales
giggled away. Cheers! She exclaimed.
To reciprocate she said, Let’s toast your successes as well, with a glass of champagne.
I thanked. She explained,
Your metaphor that life is a dance is conquering the world.
Even Lady Heather McCartney danced in New York on one leg.
Lucy Carrington
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SEEDS
It could be a word
cast like a pearl,
teasing a shell
tossed in the swirl
of life’s sea.
Or, something so bright
so beholden to see
no other would witness
a spirit set free.
There in the darkness
of an ordinary day,
a small spark of greatness
enlightens the way
for someone like me.
Aphra Marshall
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LUST IS TO WANT AS LOVE IS TO NEED
Lust is to want as love is to need,
wanting for nothing for happiness to succeed.
Your scent, your touch, every movement taken
will forever be remembered, and never forsaken.
Wondering, waiting for all that will pass,
hoping and dreaming that the moment will last.
For all that I treasure, all that I love,
will someday be another’s dream, whilst I smile from above.
Hayley Chancellor
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WHILST EATING
Whilst eating in a restaurant,
Enjoying a hearty meal
Background chattering of customers throng,
In one’s brain an ideal meal,
Quick a pencil, an idea for a song,
It’s got a good feel,
Quick write it on the table napkin.
Inspire seeds, creative work begins.
Inspiration can come in most unexpected places.
Seeds of expectation are sown years before,
From the past, a face,
One once saw.
Landscape that makes one’s heart race.
Nature’s great wild adore outdoors.
A well-known loved place.
Vibrations makes one’s pulse race.
Bryan Clarke
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CLEARING A SPACE
Sometimes a problem just won’t go away
Wriggling and writhing, becoming enmeshed,
Taking over my thoughts day after day
Like the proverbial thorn in my flesh.
The more I struggle the harder it gets,
The answer is always just out of reach.
So far away it could be in Tibet,
Send inspiration, I plead and beseech.
Time to get tough, I finally decide,
Put on my wellies and old dungarees.
Ready for action, there’s fresh air outside
That will clear my head whilst down on my knees.
Tugging and grubbing I tackle the weeds,
Discarding all on the compost heap,
Clearing a space to encourage the seeds
Of new thoughts and flowers whose shoots I will reap.
Worries forgotten I sit back relaxed,
Detritus and clutter all have gone.
A solution takes root in my mind at last;
Inspiration has come - a job well done.
Edith Anderson
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ADMIRE AND WONDER
Countless years of creation
Knowledge and technology an inspiration
Shake off shadows of the night
Awake to luscious orchard sight
Oft bad apple strife
Learn from mistakes for the good life
Across wondrous golden glow
A breath of beauty doth blow
Don’t allow evil drag kindness away from thee
With temptation of cider-wine under gravity tree
Orchard of nice apples a rare treat
Delicious for sweet lips to meet
Seeds of creative stimulation
When hate turns to adulation
God-given empathy of celestial yonder
Look to skies, admire and wonder
David K Maxwell
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TRANSFORMATION
Imagine a patch of ground,
Relieved of thistles and weeds.
Dug and raked for stones,
Now plant out some seeds.
Not all the same,
But one of this and that.
Wild flowers or tame,
Or some chewed by the cat.
Fill the patch to bursting,
Cover lightly with some earth,
Then with the watering-can,
Give a gentle chance of birth.
Keep them all protected,
From harsh winds and too much rain,
And wait to see them open up,
With green shoots once again.
What could be more inspiring,
With so little work expended,
To witness the transformation,
In the way that God intended?
Ann McNair
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