Poetry by Bridget Arregger
Things To Do Every Day (first published in Graffiti 2012)
Every day I shall paint a picture
Composition, contrast, colour, impact
Head, hand, heart
Every day I shall read a poem
For love of sounds
Hidden meanings, lasting thoughts
Every day I shall dance
Pounding my feet, whirling, leaping
Stretching my muscles
Lifting my soul
Every day I shall sing a song
Practise scales and arpeggios
For sheer joy
Knowing I will annoy my neighbours
And my cats will try to comfort me
Every day I shall walk in the garden
Talk to flowers
Plant something new
Move weeds to better places
Train over enthusiastic climbers
Where they suffocate slow shy shoots
Every day I will write
A story, poem, play
With words, people, places, plots,
Secrets.
They wait inside my head
Like an angel in stone
For this sculptor to find them.
Which Diagnosis? or Clarity Begins at Home
If my house strikes you as dirty
Pity me
For I am lonely and depressed
And don’t know what to do
If my house strikes you as clean
Pity me
For I am lonely and depressed
And don’t know what else to do
If my house strikes you as dirty
Envy me
For I am happy and fulfilled
And have other things to do
If my house strikes you as clean
Envy me
For I am happy and fulfilled
And have someone in to ‘do’.
If my house strikes you as dirty
Rouse me
For I am dull and slow
And can’t get into a routine
If my house strikes you as clean
Rouse me
For I am dull and slow
And can’t get out of my routine
If my house strikes you as dirty
Soothe me
For I am tense and agitated
Running round in useless circles
If my house strikes you as clean
Soothe me
For I am tense and agitated
Running round in needless circles
If my home strikes you as friendly
Come on in.
Somewhere Else Writers Group 