A Poem a Day: Smashed - A poem about the insecurity of youth (+ a bonus poem about my cat)

During the month of July, I have challenged myself to write a poem a day. This is a little taste of what I have come up with so far and maybe it will inspire you to try your own Poem-a-Day challenge!

SMASHED

Smoke on her breath

I see her kiss

Drink in her hand

His on her hips

She moves

In time with the tune

The lights are dim

Only them in the room

And the heat of their bodies

They search and find

Something exciting

In the other of their kind

In this moment

They mean something

To someone

Can they stop hunting

For what will make them

Feel seen

And important

She dreams

Her night shortened

As he leaves

Her heartbreak recorded

In the pictures of her smiles

Before she met him

Her friends don't realise

That her hope grew dim

When he left

And made her feel

Like he guessed

Which one would be easy

Yes, it was her

Who was dreaming

Of meaning

Something

To someone

But he took

A small piece

Of her

When he fled

And she cried

That night

Alone in her bed

Because why

Should she try

When this is all

She gets

Used up

Spat out

Drink up

Pass out

This is what

Life is all about

For now

Because it hurts less

To put on a dress

And open her legs

Than to open her heart

And bleed

Maybe I'd have better results if I took the lid off?

Okay, so I am keeping up with my poem a day challenge, but some of them are deep and meaningful, while others... are not. Here's one about my cat:

CAT

Small furry friend

Asleep by my side

No stress for you

Oh, what a life!

Lift up your leg

And lick your black fur

You don't give a fuck

I pat you, you purr

Let's see what other gems I can come up with lol.

I am enjoying the challenge and am hope that some of what I am writing will make it's way into a poetry book of its own. Make sure you're signed up to my mailing list if you want to stay informed about this project and when it becomes available.

Much love,

Marley x

P.S. I already have two novels, four novellas, and a gift book available over on Amazon. Check them out HERE.

Love for Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo is my favourite artist. I love her work, her use of colour, her iconic face and unconventional beauty, and I love her story and attitude to life. So, here is a blog post dedicated to my love for Frida Kahlo.

Just call me Marley Kahlo... or maybe Frida Betts lol

My middle name is Frida.

It comes from a relative, not the painter, but it's still a link with the legend and a moniker that I feel proud to have.

Unfortunately, that is where the similarities end lol.

Name

I just found out that Frida's name is actually spelled 'Frieda', she just dropped the 'e' at some point. At least that is what I read last night in my Frida Kahlo book by Claudia Bauer. I picked up this book from my library last week; it has many beautiful pictures. I do recommend it. It is more about Frida's life than art though. Maybe her life through her art, but it doesn't go much into the art side of the art.

Life

Frida had a tough life.

She nearly died at 18 in a traumatic bus/tram accident, was pierced by a handrail and broke many, many bones. This accident caused her to become bedridden for a long time and it was in her bed that she started to paint. Before the accident, she was on track to become a doctor, but after, she was no longer able to. Because she was bedridden, the only thing she could see to paint was herself, with the help of a large mirror affixed to the canopy of her bed.

So, she began to paint herself.

Frida's husband cheated on her. A lot. Including with her sister. She also had multiple miscarriages and lots of ongoing health issues that caused her a lot of pain. I mean, this woman was dealt a rough hand. But, she didn't wallow in self-pity or give up, she found a way to do things that she enjoyed and was passionate about, and she fought hard to succeed despite all of the adversity.

Despite all of the pain and trauma that is evident in so much of her artwork, she is known for being a happy and positive person. She decided to wear clothes that made her feel happy, and she did things her own way, regardless of any external pressures.

Frida is my hero. She is strong, resilient, powerful, brave, and oh so talented!

Art

I enjoy painting but I am no artist. I don't really know anything about art. But I do know that I love Frida's paintings.

I love her brutal honesty.

Her paintings are like the most intimate of diary entries exposed for the world to see, she lays herself bare (sometimes quite literally) filled with hidden messages and innuendo.

She is real, and I value realness more than anything. I crave connection, and Frida's paintings hand you an intimate connection with her on a silver platter.

She doesn't look away.

"Frida Kahlo Rivera's work is a coloured ribbon wrapped around a bomb." - Andre Breton (French Poet).

I love this dress. So does Roger the purple sloth/monkey

Frida

Frida was smart. She cared about politics and wasn't just all talk; she got involved. She was funny and headstrong. She celebrated her Mexican heritage. She hung out with people like Piet Mondrian, Henri Matisse, and Pablo Picasso.

She is just so bloody interesting!

I am honestly so inspired by this incredible woman who has had such a massive influence on art, culture, and women all over the world.

Viva la vita, Frida.

Much love,

Marley x

P.S. As well as dressing up like Frida in my spare time, I also write books. They have nothing to do with Frida Kahlo, other than being my own attempt at expressing myself creatively. You can find out more HERE.

16 Things to Love About Winter

I often say that I hate winter, but I don't really. I just hate being cold. There are lots of things I love about winter. Let's discuss them so that we can learn to love this chilly season and get through it together.

Hello, Mrs Potato Head

16 Things to love about winter:

1. Dragon breath! - It's still fun to huff out some hot breath in the cold air and watch the cloud appear. I can't help but tell my kids to "look!" every time lol.

2. Oodies - My current obsession and the only thing that seems to be able to keep me warm. They now have onesies, which are added to my wishlist for next winter.

3. Weighted blankets - A weighted blanket on top of a warm, cozy Oodie is like a big, warm hug that I never want to leave.

4. Bonfires - One of the most enjoyable special winter events.

5. Marshmallows - Toasted over a bonfire or melting in a hot drink. Either way, they are special wintery, pillowy, sugary, gooey treats of deliciousness.

6. Winter meals - Easy slow cooker dinners (I have a large piece of silverside in mine right now), hot soup and fresh, warm, homemade bread with lashings of melted butter. Mmm.

7. Indoor fireplaces - C'mon, there really is nothing better than a hot choccy and a good book while curled up in front of the fire. Preferably with some delicious snacks. I honestly could spend hours just staring into the flames.

8. Washing dishes - This is a weird one. Bit when it's cold, I often volunteer to do the dishes to warm my hands up in the hot water. Nobody likes doing the dishes when the weather is warm.

9. Bed - Being in bed and sleeping in is so much sweeter when it's cold and miserable outside.

10. Heat bags - Our microwave gets a workout in winter having to constantly heat up each of our heat bags which leave red blotches on whichever part of our bodies we press them up against. As hot as I can stand, please.

11. Candles - Fire and winter just go together.

12. Scarves, gloves and beanies - Some beanies make my head look like a giant potato, but others can make me feel a bit cute or give us all a chance to show our team colours (Go Blues!).

13. Hot choccies - Okay, I confess, I love my hot choccies all year round, but they're even sweeter when it's cold.

14. Movie nights/nights in - The whole family under blankets with big bowls of popcorn. Perfect!

15. Bed socks and slippers - All the layers and all the fuzzy, cozy goodness.

16. Frost - Admittedly not good if you have to get in your car and drive, but it is always extra cozy when you are inside in your fuzzies in front of the heater, sipping on your morning coffee, while looking out your window upon a blanket of white grass.
    

It's easy to romanticise winter... when you're warm lol.

What do you love most about winter?

Love,

Marley x

P.S. You can read about some pretty rad sounding hippie bonfires and bedtime hot choccies in my book, The Silver Shepherd. Check out my books HERE xx