FebulousFebruary 2025: Lost and Found

Three total gems from three great writers Janet Jones, Kendra Houseman and last and most definitely not least, Val Johnson

back to back to finish FebulousFebruary 2025 in style!

Earworm

So I have an earworm playing in my head most days,

Maybe from something on the radio or a song playing in shop, background noise as I aimlessly wander the aisles.

It’s funny because last night on a tv show there was a person in a supermarket desperately searching for a product, it got me to thinking about times and people I have done just that with, argued about which product, whether we have enough money, who will push the cart, who likes a leisurely shop, who wants to just get on with it and get home, car piled up with bags or once upon a time wrists turning read with the dig of the plastic bag handles. I remember lovers and friends through shopping experiences, some hate it some dawdle along the aisles in aimless misery, others excited possibilities of a new product to cook, clean, or create with. I randomly met up with an older woman I had not seen for years once, such a joy like it’s the new neighbourhood corner where people pass by somewhere in every country every day. So in my writing I have managed to dislodge that particular earworm and now I’m a bit sad because I can’t quite remember what it was..probably it will be back one of these days.

Janet Jones, Brighton 

                  

**************

Gaslighting yourself 

When you belive your own lies 

Hear your own sighs

So hard in victim mode 

That you don’t realise 

Your gaslighting yourself 

And then the usual nonsense 

It’s you not me 

Plain to see

What could I do? 

The problem was you 

Because how can it be me?

What… you want me to take accountability? 

Half hearted reflection 

Poor me rejection 

Back hand apology

And some double Dutch psychology 

When actually 

The truth B

Is that it’s time to take some responsibility

The lessons are learned 

The fingers are burnt 

Morally driven choices 

Downed out by frustrated voices 

And we move on

Of course we do 

But trust me 

This time it was 100% you

Kendra Houseman, Kent

                    *************

Deep sea solace

 “Throwing handfuls of pebbles in showers of sparks under the starlit sky” Derek Jarman

 

The huge white face of the snow moon 

Hung there in the still black velvet of the sky

 

Throw a pebble in the brine, she said

For every pain that cut your heart

And the calm of the ocean will heal you 

 

We gathered stones then, 

And cast them high into the air,

Watching the sparks that flew as they fell.

 

The bigger ones, the mother stones, 

We held in our hands and threw them

Far into the waiting sea

 

My eyes stung with salt tears

As the aches of my life

Flew with them to sink in the deep

 

And the gleaming disc of the winter moon

Watched kindly from the still black velvet of the sky

 

Val Johnson, Herne Bay