Recognise

 I wrote this poem very recently, 19 September 2026, based on a feeling that always haunts me.  The feeling like I have lost a very important part of myself, but can't quite identify where I lost this piece of myself.  I remember being another version of myself, but the experiences and knocks of life have erased these parts of myself and they now sit in my mind like a piece of dusty furniture in the corner of a room, that carry sentimental value, but is of no real use.  I feel that there are many people that can relate to this feeling.  The image was a prompt on social media.  Upon research, it appears to be a stylised modification to the final scene of 'The Matrix', which I feel is ironically appropriate, considering the poem was written without this context.  Enjoy.

Snails

 I wrote this poem in the summer of 2025, however the concept had been in my mind for a year or so already.  On my morning runs, I used to notice, how at the crack of dawn, snails used to migrate from one side of a path to another.  I also observed the many crushed bodies of these little critters in their trek to cross the path.  From this emerged the 'dawn death-march of the snail'.  This is one of my favourite poems and I hope others enjoy the beauty and thought given to something so menial.  The photograph was taken by my friend, Joy, on a morning run when she last visited in Spring 2026.

Heartbreaking

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I wrote this poem about 3 weeks ago when my daughter and her first long-time boyfriend broke up. She was…still is, devastated and it allowed me to reflect on that pain from many decades ago when I had my heart broken. It’s big.  The image was saved on my camera roll from social media for a while, just waiting for the correct poem to come along.  I think it was created by Crisco Art, according to my research.

Thalassophile

I wrote this poem whilst on holiday in Southbourne, Dorset after I read somewhere that when starved of our senses (as humans) in a sensory deprivation chamber, the loudest thing that remains is our own thoughts.  Now, as an overthinker, this was quite alarming, as my mind is already extremely loud, even with all my senses working at full tilt.  It got me wondering if this may be the opposite then for overthinkers - perhaps our minds become still.  For me, a thalassophile (someone who feels an inescapable need to be and live by the sea; it's the unconditional love of the ocean - come rain or shine) the ocean has always created this calm for me - my sensory deprivation tank.  The art is by Benjamin Viulet - called 'The War Within'.

Path of Totality

I wrote this poem shortly after viewing the eclipse whilst on holiday in Southbourne. I was absolutely blown away by the spectacle that unfolded along the highcliff that day (August 12 2026). People flocked to the spot, setting up tents, picnics, camping chairs, music and used any means necessary to view the rare beauty of the 94% total eclipse. They used, colanders, cereal boxes, welder’s masks and foil…but one thing that they could not use was their phones, due to the sheer power of the sun. The event was a stunning phenomenon and one I will remember forever. But the more beautiful event was that the world stopped for a moment to just take in the absolute unexplainable might and beauty of nature. That’s what I hoped to capture in this poem.

Immortality

 I wrote this poem 05 August 2026 - the idea formed in my head when I was thinking back on a conversation I had with an ex-GCSE student who was remarkably bright.  When I asked what he was going to do with his life, he responded that he wanted to find the secret to immortality.  Now as an English teacher - the literary alarm bells ring, of the unchecked ambition of tragic heroes like Wiktor Frankenstein and Macbeth.  My thoughts, on this however, are set out in the poem.  I feel that immortality is a reality, if only we can see the wood for the trees (so to speak).  The picture I decided to pair with my poem is by an artist named Crisco Art - called 'Red Balloon'.  I liked the passing of the balloon as symbol of immortality.

Nothingman

By Angela Churchill.

Another poem inspired by an Instagram prompt to write a poem inspired by an image in 2026.  When I saw this image, I immediately thought about the loneliness of old age and how often the elderly are forgotten, as they hang onto their memories for as long as time allows.  It makes my feel sad.