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carol falaki

Email: carolfalaki@hotmail.co.uk

Homepage: carol falaki

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Last blog entry: 11 days ago

Profile updated: Mon, 3 Nov 2008 12:42:27 pm

Write Out Loud Profile: http://www.writeoutloud.net/poets/carolfalaki

Write Out Loud Blog: http://www.writeoutloud.net/blogs/carolfalaki

Biography

Carol Falaki
Wirral

A retired midwife, I now work in health research and write for pleasure. Poetry is a way of getting to know myself.

Samples

First Love
I remember when
But that was then
Now my goal is this
Not a step in a romantic dance
not a Salsa, nor a lover’s embrace
or a dream of what may come,
but you my darling.
Take a chance
One step
I’ll hold you,
Another, go on
My love walks out in nappies
And I am his mum
............
Worn

Worn, like the shores of a thousand reasons
Like the coat of a hundred seasons
Or the grass on the trodden footpath
Of countless errands
Past the bark of a busy tree
Home to small creatures
Eaten by relentless birds
And stripped by squirrels
While crouching in a rain drenched corner of monotony
By the fence supported with a growth of clinging ivy

To a house with tired windows
In skin exposed to weather
On shoes of thinning leather
And a thread-bare heal spudded sock
Steps wearily on a rug
Host to a moth and all its young
To clear the stains from a mug
With a tired saggy sponge and watch
As a tea-tear glides down and stains the motif
Best mum in the world
.......

The Shoe: China 2008

The ground moved and I ran
Shocked rock rained
Earth crushed earth,
And groaned with the agony of creaking bones
The rupture of structure
The buildings breaking
Crashing, pushing, crowding
I ran, and I was lost
My fleeing finished, I am left behind
Half buried and blind
Here in rubble, wrecked and hopeless
Lost and footless
Forgotten in the agony of reality
In a mother’s desperate cry
And left
To wonder why
.....

A Plea: Burma 2008

Compassion before power
This is the time, to
Quit your ivory tower
Show mercy and shine
.....

News

If you close your eyes
And close them you must
What else can you do?
The sound is of a tap on the head of a nail
With a sure hammer
No bang, not a thud
But the oozing thought
Of blood
Creeps through the barrier
Of lidded eyes
Through the inner ear
Mindful, you know
The hostage was shot
Dead

...............

.........

Unplanned

She knew it would come
As you and I know
As all in waiting know
Waiting
For the how and when
For the where
Unexpected and unwanted
Feared and avoided
Or overdue and welcome
She fell
Closed her eyes
Surrendered
And slept without fear or anticipation
Beneath my living hands I held her feet
Life left quietly
A Peaceful passing

............

I found you
I was excited
I relinquish
Yesterday’s dream for today’s hesitation
And hope for tomorrow

...........

All poems are copyright of the originating author. Permission must be obtained before using or performing others' poems.

Last blog entry

Eclipse

Posted on Monday 10th November 2008 11:52 pm

Eclipse

The railway carried us away

On trains by day,

On trains by night

Away

To descend onto a God-forsaken stage

In hell

In the line to the left

You need no bed, nor shelter

In the line to the right

You will run with a sack on your back

Until you can’t go on

Until

In naked fear

Your dignity stripped

All contact from before, lost

You are forgotten

Outside of the imagination

Of those who might care

For now

While you assemble

In the chamber

For a shower

Of gas

Just a number

Like your brother

Who has passed

Outside the stinking wall

Where almost all

Are corpses

Stacked and burned in the open air

There is no room in the crematorium

And those not yet dead

Are turned on the fire

And the rank smoke rises

To eclipse a sun

That shines brightly

Beyond the pyre

Above a disconnected world

Carol Falaki

Previous: Rosa Parks

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Comments

David Franks

Fri 18th Jul 2008 10:12

Just enjoyed some of your verses, Carol.

Tomás Ó Cárthaigh

Wed 16th Jul 2008 15:31

I love the Burma poem... the sad thing is is that they will Always go for power before people... much like our own I guess... only more brutal...

Antonionioni

Sun 29th Jun 2008 22:21

Thanks for the tip about 14x14, Carol - it's only just reached me for some reason! Hope you're ok.

Zuzanna Musial

Sun 18th May 2008 05:28

Dear Carol

I am extremely pleased with the latest news about your beautiful Baby Boy. That is a blessing and Gift for you. Big baby boy. I want to party on your behalf...Smiling real big...:)
Thank you for sharing your joy with me. I read this and my happiness and joy was with you.
CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHEST!!

With all my love ...Zuzanna

Zuzanna Musial

Wed 30th Apr 2008 23:23

Dear Carol

I am thinking of you and will keep you in my prayers. I am sure all will be fine my friend in poetry. Trust the Lord.

With my best wishes!
Zuzanna

Zuzanna Musial

Wed 20th Feb 2008 01:22

Hello Carol ~ All your poems are very creative. You have a vivid imagination and fantastic mind that creates all sorts of writes. Did enjoy the futuristic poem the Year "2020"-Creative vivid and tasty with all those Cyber fruits etc...

"The gift

Spread your arms to catch the wind
Keep the rain in the skies
Absorb sunlight through palms open
To air unhindered
And sweep the moon on its side
Fill it with pity
Set it free
Let it fall to earth
Accepted,
The gift of experience"

THE GIFT"' - It is somehow my favourite.

Fabulous Poetess you are!!
It is great pleasure to read your words.
Sorry for the loss of your little four legged friend.
I love animals and my favourite are dogs and horses. They really are good friends of a man.

Thank you for visiting with me on my page.
Warm Regards,
Zuzanna

Sophie McKeand

Sun 17th Feb 2008 12:03

Hi Carol,

these are really great poems! Wow... I particularly love the bit in 'neighbours'
"Waiting in bunches
Like grapes"
what a great line... it brings to mind so many strong images from very few words, which i am always a big fan of.
All of your poems have a very easy flow to them which is actually really hard to achieve (i have learnt that one!)
i look forward to reading more of your work..
cheers

Pete Crompton

Fri 15th Feb 2008 20:04

this is great stuff.

I really love this part of 'in sleep'

On grubby skin
A bedpost leg
A rotten peg
A spring un-sprung
A mattress wrong
A sheet undone
A little one

when I read this selection of poems I was quickly taken in had to read all.

as Julien says, very tightly written, tricky thing to do.

original and bitter sweet
I see the influence of being a mid-wife, how this must open your eyes and spirit to sometimes the tragedy but more importantly the fantastic things in life

I think that a career as a mid wife must give you such a huge platform of experiences from which to draw some very emotionally writing.

I find myself intrigued and I don't know why, and I find that intriguing in itself.

I feel strange as I spent a while on a photo assignment in Billinge Maternity Hospital, and more recently Southport. I think I found the room in which I was born. The very first view, the very first wall upon which I gazed.

you have inspired me to go write a poem.
I have the urge and its always the emotion that drives me.

Your collection of poetry is inspiring.

thanks

carol falaki

Thu 14th Feb 2008 16:20

Thanks Julian
Where's the Wirral ode show poets?

julian

Thu 14th Feb 2008 13:56

Carol, fantastic poetry. 'Unplanned. is very moving, tightly written, spare and compassionate.
'I found you' is almost a Haiku in encompassing so much detail in so few syllables.
If you are Wirrall based you might consider reading your stuff out loud at the wirrall Ode Show Poets. I am sure they would love to hear such lovely verse.
Julian

carol falaki

Tue 12th Feb 2008 21:14

Thanks Moxy, I just saw this and have done a bit of adding and editing, You saw it too soon.
Love back from your sister

Moxy Casimir

Tue 12th Feb 2008 20:58

Hi there, Carol. These are terrific.
Love from your sister,

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