Swan

a

sleek
elegant swan       
    with a      
long
 long
  neck
seen
afar
across
                            the lake                     gliding
                          gently over the  surface 
                            while orange feet paddle
                             like pistons, out of sight
                             lord of the waterways
                      a stunning creature, great joy 
                 to see, they pair for life, loyal and regal 
               for all to watch!
                                       
                                 (C) Lissie Bull 2025

         

 

Garden Music

Gentle lyrical notes

dancing through the flowers

skipping over green grass

in and out of sunshine

filling my garden with sound

(c) Lissie Bull 2025

 

                                                                                  

Old Soldier            

the pounding of my heart, deep within my chest
wow I`m still alive, and know that I`ve been blessed
had a difficult time, been through the wars
tough decisions to make,  had to settle some scores
seen some horrific things, more than I would want
nightmares run through my head, they will always haunt
looked death in the face, but I stand before you now
many wounds need healing, not sure how
all I want is some down time and to chill
for where there`s a way, there`s always a will
reached the end of the line, no more to roam
this old soldier`s signing off, time to go home!!

© Lis Bull 2025

 

Sunshine in a Flower

flash of yellow seen in sunlight

large soft petals hides its heart

pinned together with a green cap

nature paints amazing art

these bright and cheerful flowers

symbolizes adoration and loyalty

bringing life to bees and birds

 and a splash of joy and longevity

(c) Lissie's Poems 2025

photo from Thornbury Camera Club

Great Cormorant

Standing proud above the lake surface

perched on a moss covered branch

wings held high in the sunshine

drying off after diving for its prey

look close a spy its beauty

light reflects off its black feathers

beak turned towards the sky

tail fanned wide for all to see

regal, majestic, yet held in fear

this Cormorant is King!

(c) Lissie's Poems 2025

 

Swirling Life

swirling oceans live within my soul

churning, crashing, raging waters

waves tipped with white foaming froth

crashing waves upon the shoreline

strange ebb and flow of my life

chaotic turmoil with each surge

a continuous motion all around

stormy darkness from gathering clouds

not knowing which direction should I turn

raising my voice high in disbelief

let this swirling ocean take me now!

(C) Lissie`s Poems 2025 

 

  

 There`s a bully on our lake

he looks very handsome

elegant in his white plumage

gliding across the surface

ruffled feathers to look bigger

while his mate sits on her nest

everyday he guards over her

not even a goose gets close!

(C) Lissie`s Poems 2025

 

Easter is this weekend

There will be plenty of chocolate eggs and chocolate bunnies to sharing around or sneak off to nibble away in secret.  I remember as a child, our eggs were placed on top of the piano and we were only allowed a portion of an eggs each day (if we were good!)  It always felt like a precious moment when our dad give us some of our chocolate eggs, like a chocolate trophy for behaving nicely.

Chocolate Trophies

Chocolate bunnies and Easter eggs

filling the store shelves and our heads

brightly coloured and so inviting

these excitingly awesome spreads

there`s different surprises to behold

eyes open wide with a promise of fun

what will be inside these sweet eggs

kids can`t wait for the day to come

and on the morning they rush down stairs

to find their trophies of the day

with cardboard boxes all discarded

it`s chocolate heaven all the way.!

(c) Lissie Bull 2025

 

Easter

The Easter bunny is hopping through

hiding chocolate eggs for me and you

with bright coloured wrappers I can see

hidden in the garden for you and me

© Lissie Poems 2025

  

Can't Sleep !!

Even though, over the past few nights, I've had very little rest and my head is throbbing through tiredness,  I still can not sleep.

My daily routine is out of place. Early to wake for no apparent reason and too awake to head to bed but still I can not sleep !

I find myself stuck in this no man's land of awakeness …. a zombie .... it would appear ! 

I work through my chores and help my children with the troubles, yet, still I can not sleep.

As I dose in front of the television, I feel its time for me to slumber. So up the stairs I climb, only to lay in bed for hours as rest eludes me.  Wishing I could go to sleep.

So as I lie cosy in my bed, I pray that I can drift off and join dream world, thus escaping the stress of all that's been going on. Please may I gently slip into sleep.

In my bed I lay, waiting patiently  for my sleep. I wish with all my heart for sleep to take a hold of me, I need my sleep !!

(C)  Lissie`s Poems 2025

 

Fish Eye

Through the darkness

light is spied ahead

murky object comes into view

a watery scene meets the eye

what lies within half seen

come take a peek and watch

a mystery will unfold

creatures glide past you

catching a glimpse of colour

from deep within this world.

(C) Lissie Bull 2025

Seasons

The years just seem to flow

as season come and go

saw a tree in the park

as naked as its bark

snow and ice make it tough

for winter can be tough

life erupts in the spring

as the courting birds sing

luscious foliage is spied

summer`s here, white swans slide

autumn brings colours bright

a spectacular sight

now this tree in the park

is naked as its bark

the years just seem to flow

as seasons come and go

(C) Lissie`s Poems 2025

Little pet name poem

These are fun to write and a lovely personal gift 🐾

         

Archie
Active, fun loving and full of life
Races after his toys in the garden
Curious of scents in the countryside 
Happy go lucky, loyal and very friendly
Inquisitive, obedient, big part of the family
Enjoys his cuddles on the sofa 

(c) Lissie's Poems 2025

 

 Little Jay

our sweet little tuxedo cat

basking in afternoon sun

watching buzzing bumble bees

planning some mischievous fun

snoozing in the warmth of spring

ruffled fur tummy all exposed

tail gently twitching in the breeze

what do you dream of, as you doze

sleep on sweet little tuxedo cat

under skies of clear bright blue

follow your dreams without a care

in the knowledge that we all love you!

(C) Lissie`s Poems 2025

 Springtime, when Mother Nature wakes up!

Springtime

Apple blossom 
sweet smelling tulips
frog`s eggs in the pond
all signs that spring is here
bluebells and caterpillars
the gardens come to life
longer days and shorter nights
sitting out in the evening sun
listening to the bird calls
watching the cats play
relaxing in the sunshine
enjoying this spring time!

 (C) Lissie's Poems 2025

   

Lillesden School

Dark gothic buildings with fire escapes

stood looking over green luscious land

an educational establishment

found in the Garden of England

at the end of a long winding drive way

appearing there, so proud and so strong

turrets standing out against the skyline

there to remember, your whole life long

laughter was heard through the corridors

sounding like ghosts from a former time

pupils from everywhere through the years

when Lillesden was in it`s prime

eerie silence now found throughout the school

dust collecting on every surface

echoing footsteps on the wooden floors

empty rooms without any purpose

now that it`s stripped of all it`s glory

classrooms all choked with vegetation

even the lead from the roof has gone

is there nothing safe at this location

there`s one thing to be said for all this

Lillesden School was the best place to be

we may not have a school to visit

but we`ve memories and friends to see.

© Lissie`s Poems 2025

On Monday 31st March I was invited to give talk to Thornbury Camera Club

It was a lovely evening and I was made very welcome and everyone appeared to enjoy themselves and felt great to have some feedback on my poems that were inspired by images such as photography. I enjoyed looking at photographs taken by some of the club members, what a lovely variety there was to see too.  

This is the write up about the evening that was posted on the clubs website.

"Much as we may like pigeon holes, the arts do not exist in isolation.  Shakespeare`s plays have inspired poetry, painting and operas. Photography can inspire too. 

For this meeting, the Thornbury Camera Club welcomed poet Lis Bull to present "Lissie`s Poems".   Lis was led to poetry to cope with a personal loss.  Words helped her overcome her loss and have inspired her not only to continue to write but to use poetry and the process of writing to help other people who are going through emotional periods in their lives.

She described how poetry can provide an outlet for emotions. It can also create a distancing within which emotions such as anger can be better understood.

Much of Lissie's poetry has been inspired by photographs. Cats seem a particular favourite, though landscape of Orkney also provided a trigger for her words.  The club provided several images in advance to which she reacted. Lissie’s poems, made in response to the images from the club led to interesting discussions between members of the club.

Shakespeare inspired operas. In the interests of forgetting pigeon holes, perhaps, one day, one of our photographs will inspire Lis to write an opera too."

 

Tiny buds upon my little apple tree
signal to me that spring is here
small pale green leaves I spy
pink blossom soon to erupt
Mother Nature has woken up

painting my world with colour

from white snowdrops to tulips

soon bluebells and daisies too

warmer days to be enjoyed

it`s the season with wear a smile

(C) Lissie`s Poems 2025

   

 

World Autism Awareness Day

Thought I would share my experience of autism through two of my children.

Autism. 

Autism is not something to be feared

it`s a state of mind that has no limits

persons parked diagonally in their parking space

they see the world in a wonderful way

that we can never truly understand

they're very loving and full of grace.

Unique people with so much to give

that society rejects through misconceptions

it takes a little sense to find some common ground

the simple side of life, we can all learn from

they`re individuals that are fun to be with

intelligent, inquisitive, they always astound.

Trusting and sometimes easily led

body language is hard for them to follow

they just want to be like all the rest

life seems to have served them an unfair lot

that we know they don`t deserve to have

yet as a friend,  they are truly blessed.

Inspirational in every way

their love for life should motivate us

and we must strive to work well together

don`t ever let this harsh world put them down

problems can be resolved through talking

humanity must accept one another.

Spontaneous, loving, fun to be with

they don`t hold grudges or hate anyone

accepting them with joy,  as they're so bright

eye contact appears to be hard for them

but they seem to get around that with our help

we are all special in our own right.

Misunderstood, they battle on in life

it`s not hard to be polite and caring

they have a right to a decent existence

treat them with the respect they deserve

they are not monsters to be afraid of

go say "Hello",  don`t keep your distance !

© Lissie Bull 2020