Cobbled Streets and gray skies
The smell of roasted chestnuts
Rubbing my mittened hands for warmth
as it pours from the café and shop windows
like sunshine on a summer day
But London is muted, dark too soon
beneath dense clouds
The Christmas decorations shimmer bright
colors: reds, golds and brilliant greens
Silver tinsel glitter like iced stars
I want a hot scone slathered in triple-clotted
cream and strawberry jam

-cwp 11/09

i have an email pen pal who is in elementary
school, and in our exchanges, i like to write
impromptu poems for her. i really enjoy it,
actually, because when i started writing, i began
with poetry. back then, i worried over each word,
each turn of phrase, recited them aloud hundreds
of times. (true story, i got a speeding ticket driving
home from college because i was too preoccupied
reciting a poem i had recently written.)

this one, of course, is just on a lark,
whatever came to mind as i thought about
my annual upcoming trip back to my favorite
city, london. =) but without my pen pal friend,
i wouldn’t have bothered writing poetry again.
it’s been…over a decade! so i always enjoy
our exchanges.

one funny thing about my household is
that we never watch dvds. but on black friday,
i saw The Tudors were on sale (marked down $50 for
the two seasons) and i could not resist. i have
a serious love and fascination for that time period.
of course, i see these people as “characters” in
a story, and it truly is a case of stranger than fiction.
could you concoct anything that could be so
wild and passionate and crazy as that time period?

if i could choose to go back and spy on anyone,
it would be on anne boleyn and
henry 8 together. as much as i admire and love
elizabeth I, it’s her mother that fascinates me
completely. i’m nearing the part where things
turn for her, and we all know her fate. i’ve read
it so many times. but watching it is different.
i’m anxious for her.

last night

me : what if i had sweet pea and
everyone wasn’t happy about it. then i have
another sweet pea and you chop my head off.
can you imagine that?

hub : laughing.

it sounds ridiculous right? but that was
what life and death hinged on for anne,
her ability to make babies and to make male ones.
even up to princess diana’s time, the sentiment
was the same. despite so many women who have
reigned over england so well, i think there is a
collective sigh when a boy is born.

how different history would have been if anne
boleyn had a healthy baby boy. but i can’t
imagine england’s past without elizabeth I.
her path to the throne and reign over england
couldn’t have made a better story!

now i have a huge crush on jonathan rhys meyers.
i mean just look at him! he’s absolutely dynamic
on screen. the writing isn’t to die for nor does the
story stay completely true to history, but seeing it unfold
is utterly compelling. you wonder why so many
fantasy stories feature kings and queens and those
in power, because they’re forced to make choices
and decisions commoners would never have to–
ones that can change history.
what would you be like if you believed you were
chosen by god to rule a country?
honestly, i don’t think you could pay me enough. ha!

we’re off to england on wednesday.
very excited but also anxious, as i always am
when i travel such long distances with the bubs.
i hope you all have a wonderful holiday break.
i couldn’t have had a more stupendous amazing year.
it’s a huge learning curve as a debut author, but a
hell of a fantastic ride.

wishing you much joyful surprises
in 2010! =D /bootay shake!

it’s the last chance for you to win
an awesome debs goodie bag from the
feast of awesome. =D just comment
to enter!