Future Days + Homecoming Poem + Glass and Sphere (Photo)
The 6th prompt from Growing Poetry’s Advent calendar 2019 requires that I start every line with “tell yourself” Future Days Tell yourself now as you face the winterTell yourself now with your cheeks all aglowTell yourself of comforts found in the snowTell yourself the truth is you don’t need her Tell yourself now with your ... Future Days + Homecoming Poem + Glass and Sphere (Photo)
Black News 
The 6th prompt from Growing Poetry’s Advent calendar 2019 requires that I start every line with “tell yourself”
Future Days
Tell yourself now as you face the winter
Tell yourself now with your cheeks all aglow
Tell yourself of comforts found in the snow
Tell yourself the truth is you don’t need her
Tell yourself now with your cheeks all aglow
Tell yourself now she’s her mothers daughter
Tell yourself now the days will get shorter
Tell yourself now the words that you know
Tell yourself now she’s her mothers daughter
Tell yourself now of late fireside chatter
Tell yourself now of things that don’t matter
Tell yourself now of feasts and the slaughter
Tell yourself now of late fireside chatter
Tell yourself now there’s ice on the water
Tell yourself now the frost is yet fraughter
Tell yourself now that spring will come latter
Tell yourself now that’s ice on the water
Tell yourself now its too thin here abouts
Tell yourself now of your worries and doubts
Tell yourself now you’re not going under
Tell yourself now to sit close to the fire
Tell yourself now with your cheeks all aglow
Tell yourself now the whys wherefores and how
Tell yourself now and don’t be a liar
Tell yourself now as you face the winter
Tell yourself now with your cheeks all aglow
Tell yourself of comfort found in the snow
Tell yourself the truth is you don’t need her
Richard Downes
10th November 2020
(From the Winter series)
Once upon a time Rashmi and Subir adopted Lila. This is celebrated annually with a homecoming event. Rashmi’s facebook photo of Lila with cake and candle inspired this
Homecoming Poem
mother
this is a day
for you to celebrate
with cakes and candles and much love
your child
came home
arrived just fine
in time to laugh and cry
raising smiles and tears in return
equal
Richard Downes
2nd January 2021
(From the 100 Meters series)
