She smiles.
She laughs.
She dances.

He watches.
He longs.
He desires.

I love the taste
of strawberries
sweet and intense
like your kiss on
a hot summer day

I adore the colour
of strawberries
deep and strong
like your arms
around my waist

I enjoy the texture
of strawberries
firm and yet gentle
like your hands
on my skin

I am fed up
talking to you
he angrily says
and begins
to walk faster

she sadly smiles
and tries to keep up
with him
hoping that one day
he will understand
how much
she cares for him

red light
green light
blue light

yellow light
orange light
white light

my favorite light:
moonlight

happy
smiling
you

walking towards you
sunshine warmth and tenderness
there is hope for me

looking at the moon
gentle darkness and some light
a sense of calmness

You say
you make sacrifices
so that I can be successful

I say
I am successful
Despite your sacrifices

Two perspectives but one truth

You tell me
That he has asked you
To marry him

Do you know
That he has asked me
The same question
Twenty years ago

“you have not”
she looks at me surprised

“I have”
is my reply

“but you are just not the type of person
who writes poems”
she exclaims

doubts
darkness
fear

she sits
on the chair
exhausted
and wonders
if one day
she will have
the strength
and courage
to walk away
and leave him
behind

yellow and red leaves
misty mornings greeting me
quiet is my mind

thoughtful
playful
love

I look at you.
You look at me.
I see your smile.
You my response

I do not speak.
Neither do you.
Yet we both know
Silence means trust.

you urge me
to let go of my fears
to be myself  and
live my dreams

I wonder
if you would still love me
if I really was myself
and not just your idea of myself

I want to live
in a real castle
I want to drive
a big and fast car
I want to eat
chocolate all day
I want a prince
to kiss me
and make me his princess
the little girl seighs
closes her eyes
and falls asleep

up
down
yo-yo

I wanted to show you
The wooden pews of the
Sixteenth century church
But the gate was closed

I wanted to admire with you
The magic of the white minster
With its delicate carvings
But you had no sense for it

I wanted to watch with you
The river slowly passing by
And never being the same again
But you lost your patience

I knew then that I had to go

we planned to meet
but were both too busy
and could not find
a convenient time

now we are in lockdown
and I do not know
when we are allowed
to meet again

I am sad and wonder
if it was wise
to choose being busy
over seeing a friend

flowers and chocolates
dinner in candlelit room
happiness and love

I am leaving you
he says

She looks at him
and smiles

rain
fog
november

they say
there is somebody
out there
who really deserves me
but they do not tell me
how to find him

She screams at me:
You are such an egoist!
You are not thinking of others
and their feelings!
You are disappointing us all!
We did not expect this from you!
I now need to protect my family.
Do not come to visit us.

I wonder what I have done
to get so severely punished?

Maybe it was my decision
no longer to follow
other people’s expectations
and to finally live my own life.

cats
wool
fun

late at night
and cold
sitting up in bed
awake
loud and doubtful
thoughts

You always said
That I could not write
But now that you have left me
My words are flowing

hot air and no wind
burning sunshine everywhere
there is no escape

lines
circles
entanglement

be my valentine
he says with a smile
gives me a red rose
takes my hand
and begins to walk

I am surprised
but I do not resist
and walk happily
next to him
full of anticipation

I have never looked at you
through the eyes
of a woman before

Having done it now
I regret it
as I have realised
that you can never
be mine

night
sleep
healing

sitting at the desk
writing poetry again
smiling and relaxed

pumpkins
chestnuts
autumn

she sits
on the bench
quietly
so that nobody
can see
her despair
as she wonders
if she still has the strength
to pick herself up
after yet another
disappointing
failure

weekend means me time
reading, painting and hot baths
fun and joy and play

How you read my poems
tells me more about you
than reading my poems
can tell you about me.

she looks at
the vivid sunset
and realises
that him leaving her
was a good outcome

shrines
cherry blossoms
Japan

The birds are singing
The sky is blue
The sun is golden
When I am with you

I sing
I dance
I smile

I dream
I hope
I try

shapes, lines and textures
yellow, blue and red brush strokes
happiness for me

My mother sold the house
and with it all the suffering
of days gone by.

Soon nobody will remember
those who
once lived there.

Should I be sad?
Should I be happy?

lavender
cinnamon
home

waiting
listening
hoping

friends
laughter
joy

I always thought
I knew who I was
but not being able
to leave the house
gives me the space
to discover myself

you have to listen
she says
patiently listen
and then
you will learn