I sent out a challenge for those on my mailing list to send me a single word topic they’d like me to write a poem to and decided to write all the poems in the challenge within 24 hours… here’s the result. The first challenge, was for the word ‘Mountain’, to which I replied that I already had a published poem with this title in my poetry book Not Just Anything published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
The next challenge sent to me was from Marla, for the word ‘Donna’. The poem I’ve written to it is about my earlier fixation with the girl in the mirror, which as a faceblind person, I thought was another person until my 20s.

Here is is …

‘DONNA’ – Copyright Donna Williams Dec 2007

Don-na, I whispered, to the girl in the glass
No reply from the mirror as she watched the world pass
Perhaps its a secret she’s keeping from me
That connection with name which might set Donna free.

But a rose by any other name…
perhaps that’s as true
That you might well be me, that I might well be you
That the name of itself is no self, just a name
That selfhood is a feeling
I could love just the same

and from Kathy E I got the word ‘Insects‘

so here’s my poem to your topic

‘INSECTS’ – Copyright Donna Williams Dec 2007

Leaf me,
Be
Foreign awe on legs
You were a world
Hands like mountains
Voice of thunder
Scared of me, you wimp
I curled so tight
You were a God
And for a moment
Time stopped, for us both.

And from Kay, I got the challenge to write a poem about ‘Labyrinth‘

So here it is:

‘Labyrinth’ – Copyright Donna Williams Dec 2007

Love the labyrinth
turns and twists
corners change the route again
seeking depth along that way
the fleeting glance becomes the gaze
an unseen fire burns unseen
and draws the sleeper into dream
the end result, you feel it near
but found, your lover says, alas
what are YOU doing here?

and from Bernie I have ‘Relationship‘

so here goes.

‘Relationship’ – Copyright Donna Williams Dec 2007

You watch and wait,
I hesitate
your one step forward,
mine two back
the solitary nests alone
and watches only through the crack.
Is that nice?
Would you like more?
Just let me in, you ask this son,
there is a warmth which which can’t unfreeze
a cosy sole relationship, of one.

from Devlyn came the poetry challenge of the word ‘candle‘

so, Devlyn, here’s my poem.

‘Candle’ – Copyright Donna Williams Dec 2007

Velvet wings beating

The lights went out

As you flew into a flame.

and from JB I got the poetry challenge of the word ‘Change‘

So, JB, here’s my poem called ‘Change’

‘Change’ – Copyright Donna Williams Dec 2007

Change, you blessing

Change, you curse

Bad cop, good cop

Which is worse?

Watch me spin, watch me run

Maybe I could touch the sun

Or control the tidal ocean

Would I wish for more stagnation?

Change, you show my sanctuary

Was but a prison made by me

And so, throw caution to the wind

For change has proved a worthy friend.

This next poetry challenge was sent to me by Kathy Lissner Grant for the word ‘Cold‘

So Kathy, here’s my poem called ‘Cold’:

‘Cold’ – Copyright Donna Williams Dec 2007

Did madness call in soothing tones?

Did it call you down the telephone?

Did it drive you to leave me alone

That once upon a gothic dream?

How selfish of me, to complain

As you were dying in the rain

Your soul there drowning in your tears

Siding with your darkest fears

Guess all was fair in love and madness

And to hell with my own dance with sadness

I was strong, huh? I was bold?

And so, you left me, in the cold.

Well folks, that’s it for my 24 hrs

Clock just struck midnight.

Hope you enjoyed the poems

Thanks so much to the wonderful challengers for their topics.

If you’ve enjoyed my poetry you can find more over on my site or in my poetry book, Not Just Anything, published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

But wait… there’s more…

It struck midnight, sure, but I hadn’t started the first one until after lunch yesterday, so this one has just snuck in.

It’s this years silly Christmas poem. Enjoy

A Christmas Poem: copyright Donna Williams 2007

Joey ate the cup cakes and is bouncing off the wall
Jenny stripped her clothes of and has ran off down the hall
Jimmy liked the pieces of his now demolished toy
Jane’s exploring mania as self manufactured joy.

Josh enjoyed the ribbon and has cast aside the gift
Jasper’s glued upon the sofa and may never shift
Johann’s licking batteries which give a funny jolt
A guest has left the door unlocked, and Jack’s about to bolt.

Jeremy is hanging out with his reflection in the mirror
Jasmine’s now won’t touch the food as beetroot’s in the dinner
Johnny ate the recipe and now you have to guess
Jacob’s wearing decorations, so now the tree has less.

Jeffrey’s left a smelly gift for all upon the wall
Jordan’s washed your cashmere sweater, making it size small
Joanie’s cleaned the rugs of lint, she’s chewing it right now
Jet would say he loved you if he could only work out how.

Merry Christmas all

Warmly,
Donna Williams

author, artist, composer, screenwriter

http://www.donnawilliams.net