In Complete Refreshment

Ironically, a poem about finding refreshment and inspiration is proving hard to finish.

Thanks for stopping by though,

S

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A Quenching Read?

On this weeks' theme of "Refreshment", I was stuck. To me, refreshment is the taking of liquids to sate your thirst.  I've realised however, that as I am under the weather, and have been for some time now, it is affecting my writing in general.  So, after much panicking because my brain just doesn't want to co-operate when I want it to, I FINALLY managed to put this together.  Sincerest apologies for any dip in standards.


A drink? I'd be delighted .....!

Oh, for a drink to quench my thirst
Please say you have one to hand?
A nice cool squash in Wimbledon week
Quite fitting, it would be grand.

How about an Iced Tea in a tall glass?
A slice of lemon adorning the rim,
A straw to sip from - take your time,
Or perhaps upgrade to a cheeky Pimm's?

A Frappe? A Lassi? A Smoothie? A Pop?
Fizzing and tickling your nose,
A pure fruit juice for health benefits?
Replenishing vitamins I suppose.

Even better still, a cool water?
Surely the best bet by far?
But don't gulp it straight down -
You'll end up with a frown,
Hiccups are a pain in the a**e!!


My favourite tipples for refreshments purposes have to be Water (obviously, very healthy), or if I'm a little naughtier a lovely Fanta Lemon!! Mmmmmmm.

Favourite tipple for non-refreshment purposes?  Either coffee, or even better still, a lovely Vodka and Coke! That'll do nicely!  In fact, you'll see me enjoying one of the latter tonight at the No.5 Cafe, Cedar Square, Blackpool from 6pm where our Open Mic Night will begin.  This months theme is the Natural World.  I truly hope you'll join us! All are welcome, to read or just listen to others reading work they have composed.  You don't have to stick to the theme though if you want to come and read.  Hopefully see you there!

Thanks for reading my waffle once again.  ;-) x

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A Thirst

It has been a while since I jotted down anything which resembles a poem, and even longer since I managed to write anything I actually like. I feel thirsty - my mind dehydrated, shrivelling and shrinking. I imagine a slug caught on a salt trail - osmosis - the melting mess baking in English sun.

I know there are possible solutions - causes of action which may result in a different outcome - the "If you write all day you'll get into it, into your body, into your feelings, into your consciousness" ethos - but this always seems far easier to quote than to implement.

When you are really thirsty - in a literal sense - any palatable liquid will suffice. After long walks over Grizedale I've been delighted by the prospect of tent-warm bottled water - self-imposed coffee restriction (because of the expense) at Latitude has made the one-cup-a-day coffee the most satisfying I've tasted - a baobab fruit drink shack in the humid climes of The Eden Project's rainforest saw me downing a mysterious, milky concoction without a moment of suspicion or hesitation. In our Western society of convenience, thirst can be quickly quenched. But, while the dryness of tongue is easily resolved by a multitude of flavoured liquids, the rehydration of my mind seems to be a more complicated and less convenient process.

Reluctance - laziness - fear. That new pad of yellow paper with its fresh-start intention remains blank. The attempt to romanticise - digging out the old typewriter - fails to bring the love story it promised. Creativity and craft - plentiful on my bookshelves but suddenly empty once in my hands. A world which used to be rich with idea is now poor and quiet. A thirst that even the luxuries of Western society cannot quench.   

A Mortally Wounded Brigand Quenches His Thirst — Eugene Delacroix

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Hitting 'Refresh'

They say a change is as good as a rest, and I find change very refreshing. Yep, it it can be a little scary sometimes but there's nothing like a change in routine or scenery or even a major life change to shake up the mind and start to see things from a new perspective.

A lot of things have changed for me in the past couple of years. I can't say it's developed my skills as a writer but it's made me feel more able to do it. It's been a little traumatic at times, I won't lie. Divorce is pretty crappy. But sometimes these things need to happen to refresh the mind and put you in a new place.

From a writing perspective I think as many new experiences are necessary to help develop. For me writing isn't just about how well written the prose is, but having something to say, something new or in a new way. So with this in mind all the things that happen are being filed down to experience and I think about this in a positive way as it helps keep me going. It's a useful mindset and stops my head from entering the oven.

So. The odd click of 'refresh' on life is good. Too many times and it's just waiting for something to happen and becomes annoying. Think of the crappy times as material, as writerly experience and one day it may come in useful.

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Leaving Timmy down the well

Something Refreshing

Sitting sassy, make mine a lassi
Pass it fast, let it splash
Alabaster flash
Cat laps, getting fat
She's a terrible waitress



Inspired by Abdul's storytelling rhymes, I thought I'd write a little ditty and take the week's theme ever so literally.  It's all square windows from here on in (with grubby fingerprints on the glass). 

This week I have been taking my drinks cold, particularly tea.  As it hots up, I distract myself at work by finding new ways to quency my thirst.  So green tea, peppermint tea and licorice tea have all been made with a very small amount of hot water then topped up with ice cold water from the dispenser.  I think I find them more palatable that way.  The flavour seems more delicate when the tea is cold.

Yesterday, I inadvertently discovered lassi.  While ordering online from the takeaway, I clicked on the lassi to find out what it was.  I know I'm a lassi but didn't realise there was an edible version of the gentler (the greatest misnomer ever coined) sex.  Lassi is, I discovered, yoghurt and milk mixed together with optional flavouring.  So it's a smoothie.  Sort of.  I know this because I ordered it by accident while trying to find out what it was.  I found it delicious, Raven said it was disgusting, and I bought yoghurt today with the intention of drinking more of the stuff.  I expect to gain about 2 stone per month. 

This makes me realise that I had always focused on the 'fresh' part of 'refreshment' - as if refreshments were something light and airy, like dew or a gentle breeze.  Refreshment does, in fact include everything from caramel latte to deep fried Mars Bars. 

To recap:

Fresh: something new, different or recently created
Refresh: to reinvigorate, to renew or update
Refreshment: a light snack or drink, or to give fresh energy

I assume everyone else has these muddled definitions in their heads and it's not a(nother) sign of senility.  Someone tell me it's an integral part of poetics and not early onset Alzheimer's.  No, really.  I've drunk a lot of lassi.  And I'm not sure whether to call the RSPCA. 

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