A Poem for Keith

My Yoga laughter friend keeps asking..."When are you going to write a poem about laughter Natalie?"
So this is for Keith

Feeling out of kilter
A little under par
In need of a little pick me up
I wandered into Spar

I glanced at all the medicines
In boxes on the shelf
Examining the purchases
Well, it was serve yourself

In brightly coloured boxes
I spotted something strange
Amongst the more familiar drugs
Were an unfamiliar range

One box was labelled Titter
Another said Guffaw
A Chuckle and a Giggle
I chose to buy all four

I took the lot and very soon
Was feeling ten feet tall
Proof that laughter really is
The best medicine of all

Come live in my heart

Come live in my heart
You'll see I have the rooms
Come live in my heart
You'll see where my love blooms
Come live in my heart

What times we both will share
Come live in my heart
Come quickly if you dare
Come live in my heart
I'll hold you dear
Come live in my heart
Be safe from fear
Come live in my heart
And I'll take care
Come live in my heart
Be always there

 

Home

I read the poem Home by Edgar Albert Guest and then the children I was working with wrote their own poems about what makes their house a home. This poem was voted as the best by the class of children and painted onto canvas. It is on display in Maryport Library, Cumbria.

Sea Fever

This poem was constructed from the words in the poem, 'Sea Fever'
The children chopped up all the words to the poem and then stuck them down to create a new poem.
The children them painted the poem onto canvas to create this beautiful piece of artwork.

Cumbrian Fairy Day

Fairy Day

In the sculpture valley
At High Head, Ivegill
Magical Mel is waiting
Your wishes to fulfil
Frogs in the car park
Fish in the pond
Colourful, wonderful windmills
Magic, wavy wands

Sparkly face painting
Yummy sweet stall
Peppa Pig wandering
See fairy dust fall
Gnomes in the river
Drama in a tent
Activities for everyone
A magical event

Instruments of music
Colourful and loud
Fairy wands and fairy wings
Sparkly wands stand proud
A day full of sunshine
Wishes on a tree
A fairy singing on the bridge
And a poetry pixie

Thank you Freya, Taylor, Ava, Amelia and their accompanying adults for helping the Pixie Poet write this poem for Magical Mel

 

 

Illustrated Poetry Canvases

 

A selection of my poems on canvas

Why not have a go yourself ?

 

 

Magazine Poems

Magazine Poetry
All you need is a magazine and glue. Scissors are optional because a different effect can be achieved with careful tearing.
Flick through a magazine looking for a picture that interests you and use the picture as your page. Cut out words and phrases to create a poem and stick directly on to the picture.

Not waving but drowning

Interpretation of Stevie Smith's Not Waving, But Drowning

Circles of Life

The circles of life

Lotus

Love putting words and art together

Red Flag

Sometimes the warning signs are subtle. A change in behaviour or habits, a look or an unease. We are so busy in the fast-paced modern world that we need to look out for those subtle signs that tell us our loved ones may be sinking.

 

Red flag

You should have seen my red flag flying
For I was never subtle in my discourse
You should have seen the warning signs
For I was never subtle with my remorse
You should have seen my ship was sinking
For I was never subtle with my curse
You should have seen my red flag flying
For I was never subtle with my verse

Coming Home

Some relationships are just so intense that one can overdose on emotion. One party pushes too far and the relationship becomes under strain or even breaks. If an understanding can be found much can be learned and the relationship can recover and be even stronger,

Coming Home

 
I tried to squeeze the life-drops
From your heart
I pushed so hard, so needy from the start
This dance of souls, no touch but ever close
Breathing you in, I overdosed
And though the distance seems too great to close
No one can ever tell how winds might blow
If I survive the journey home to you
Perhaps we can begin the dance anew.

 

Creativity

Creativity sets humans apart!

Passion, beauty, poetry
What will your contribution be?
Will you be an artist and paint clouds in the sky?
Or frame the golden sunset to catch the mortal eye?
Will you comfort travellers to find their way back home?
Will you play sweet music or contribute a poem?
Will you feed the hungry or mend the sick and lame?
Will you entertain the masses with the beauty of the game?
Will you stand on side lines or dive in with both feet?
Will you feel the rhythm of a passionate heart beat?
When you knock upon death's door
Seeking heaven's care
I hope that you've done something good
That you'll feel proud to share

Advice for Life

There are many poems that give advice, rules to live by and this is my attempt. If only we could all manage to follow these simple statements...

Positive Thinking

In life allow your heart to seek out love
And count your failures as gifts from above
Breathe in the truth, don’t dance amongst the lies
Lose empty thoughts so you can hear the wise
Support the weak and triumph over wrong
Never pass up the chance to share your song
Conquer fears and spend your days in the sun
Heal the pain of others with compassion
Take the time for your dreams to weave a spell
Seek success then spend your good fortune well

Bus Ride

One sunny day when we were kids, my friend and I took a bus ride. We had no idea where it was going...somewhere in the countryside. When we got to the end of the route we were miles away from home and not sure where so there was nothing to do but just come home. I was thinking about that trip the other day. We were brave to set out on an adventure but not brave enough to get off and explore. Sometimes we have to get off the bus,

Bus Ride

 
I took a bus
Not knowing where it was headed
I settled down for the ride
It climbed out of the town
And headed into the countryside
I admired the view
It stopped
And people got off
And people got on.
I smiled at them
But never spoke
The bus driver looked at me
Through his mirror
And people got on
And people got off
The bus pulled into a layby
All the people got off
I stayed on the bus
The bus driver waited
“Are you getting off?”
He said.
“I don’t know? Where are we?”
“The last stop”
I stayed on the bus
Knowing where it was headed
I settled down for the ride
It wound through the countryside
And back into the town
I admired the view
It stopped
And people got off
And people got on.
I smiled at them
But never spoke
The bus driver looked at me
Through his mirror
And people got on
And people got off
The bus pulled into town.
All the people got off
The bus driver waited
“Are you getting off?”
He said.
So I got off.

 

Natalie Burns

Another Painting

Short and sweet but to the point I think!

Website address

This link is to my website where you can see the work I do in schools.

My Website

Poetry Painting

 

 

I sometimes put my poems on canvas using acrylics. This poem is about allowing oneself to be vulnerable. It talks about falling apart and yet the painting is in the style of Mondrian. At any moment the blocks feel like they could topple, just like many people.