Anti-Social Media

August 24, 2017May 23, 2018 / sophierharrington / 2 Comments

Picture perfect,

It may well look

But the cover won’t reveal the book.

Smiling faces,

A snapshot in time

All create the illusion online.

Apply a filter,

Live video stream

Could slightly boost your self-esteem.

Sugar-coated,

Triumphs only

Prove to the world you’re not lonely.

How many likes?

How many friends?

Follow life through a warped lens.

Broadcast perfection,

Don’t look too close

Careful not to overdose.

Screen shot of

Inspirational quote

Did you see what she wrote?

Keyboard warrior,

Cyber troll

Try not to really show your soul.

Mundane chores,

Everyday reality

They’re not things you’re going to see.

Turn off the computer,

Put down the phone

Or you may well find you’re all alone.

One Life

July 8, 2017July 10, 2017 / sophierharrington / Leave a comment

This is it.

There’s no practice run

No waiting game

For anyone.

This is it.

Make it good

Live for now

As you said you would.

This is it.

Enjoy this day

Make memories

And time to play.

This is it.

You can’t restart

Learn from mistakes

Be true to your heart.

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Diamonds

April 4, 2017May 8, 2018 / sophierharrington / 3 Comments

Like unmined diamonds
Their feelings lay buried.
Their dazzling beauty, concealed.
Suppressed but perfectly preserved.
Unchartered, undisturbed.
Unexplored.

And it would take an explosion
To erupt their true exquisiteness,
The enchantment of these jewels
Would be unsurpassed, unparalleled;
But neither held the catalyst.
Neither would light the touch paper.

So there the rough diamonds lay.
Pure and magnificent.
Unhandled by human touch.
Unscrutinised, they held their enduring beauty.
Unfathomable enigma.
For all eternity.

A poem from an old teenage years notebook.

Seize the Day

March 28, 2017May 23, 2018 / sophierharrington / 7 Comments

Cherish every opportunity
And tell them how you feel
Regrets are such bitter torment
Punishment if you don’t make
Each chance count.

Don’t let another day go by
Impermanency demands you live
Every day as if it’s your last.
Mortality is our reality.

Need to savour life? Also read Slow Down.

BMX Brother

March 11, 2017August 24, 2017 / sophierharrington / 2 Comments

Bombing down the leafy snicket
Clinging to my brother’s back.
He was late back from cricket
Now he’s cycling like a maniac.

Mum asked him to take me
To the Brownie hut.
He quickly gulped down tea
And a jammy doughnut.

I’m balanced on the BMX stunt pegs
He saved up for his back wheels.
My dress bunched between my legs
So it won’t catch sending me head over heels.

The sun is winking through the trees
As we zoom down the alley.
I can feel the spring breeze
While he pedals madly.

My calves keep catching on the tyre
But I don’t make a noise.
Even though it feels like fire
I want to be one of the boys.

I won’t be a cry-baby
I ignore the no cycling sign.
As we whizz past a lady
I’m on cloud nine.

I love having a big brother
Who can do this.
He’s not like any other
And I’m his little sis.

The Journey of Life

March 9, 2017July 15, 2017 / sophierharrington / Leave a comment

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There may not be a plan
But if you’re lucky, you will encounter
A journey through time and space,
A unique ride to be marvelled.
It will be bitter and sweet.
It won’t be easy.

Moments to cherish and despise
But each step, every breath, is your own.
Each decision, ultimately lays with you.
There will be agonising trials out of your control.
You will make painful mistakes.
Learn from them.

On this ride, open your eyes, heart and soul.
Gasp at the beauty of the world.
Wonder at its magnitude.
Love fiercely. Savour it. Grasp it.
You will experience bitter disappointment.
Make sure you move on.

At times your adventure will be intense.
Exquisite. Excruciating.
Harrowing loss will almost break you,
Intoxication will try to dominate you.
Make sure you enjoy the ordinary.
Grasp contentment.

Relish the unexpected.
Eye contact that makes your insides flip
A delicious leap of anticipation.
Appreciate the seasons, sunsets, leaves,
Beauty is all around you.
Inhale it every day.

Growing old is a gift, not a chore.
Be grateful for it.
Always be kind.
We all need compassion.
Together we can make tears of joy
Outnumber tears of sadness.

© Sophie Harrington (2017)

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