Destiny is this week’s Poet of the Week for the W3 Poetry Prompt #105. Destiny’s prompt is to Compose a free verse poem of no more than 12 lines on the theme of ‘belonging’.
Click here for the full guidelines
Destiny’s prompt guidelines
Compose a free verse poem of no more than 12 lines on the theme of ‘belonging’.
Each of us interprets this word uniquely, and its significance may evolve throughout various stages of our lives. Feel free to delve into your personal reflections and follow where your thoughts take you.
Personally, I quite like the way Frank puts it:
This walk is not about what belongs to him, her, or me. It’s not about possessions. It’s about acceptance, connection, fellowship, affinity, association, community, and integration – to be included – to feel a sense of belonging.
- Note: You’re not obligated to adhere to any particular interpretation; feel free to explore and share your own thoughts, understanding, and sense of ‘belonging’.
This prompt made me realise that ‘belongings’ has so many meanings. I wrote one poem, Belongings… then I wrote another one, Possessions… then I wrote a third poem, They Say I Belong in a Loony Bin. They are all 12-lines in free verse.
Belongings is the first poem I wrote to Destiny’s prompt.
Belongings
I belong to everyone and no one,
And everyone and no one belongs to me,
I belong beneath the sun.
The sun shines down upon the sea.
I belong to something great,
But nothing is what I do.
I long to sit in an easy chair
But that’s not good for you.
We have belongings that we choose,
Belongings belong to who knows whose?
Belongings,
Are things we lose.
Lesley Scoble, May 2024
I wasn’t satisfied, so I wrote another twelve lines, Possessions. There are so many different angles to ‘belonging’.
Possessions
“Oi! Give it back!
That belongs to me.”
“Oh, alright Jack,
but, it’s mine.”
“No, it’s not, Bert.”
“Yes, it is.”
“Not it’s not.”
“Yes, it is.”
“Bert, I never knew you liked to thieve.”
“I cannot thieve what’s mine!”
“I cannot believe you’d tea leave it,”
“Okay, Jack. Have it back!—it’s fine.”
~
Lesley Scoble, May 2024
Finally, I wrote, They Say I belong in a Loony Bin.
They Say I Belong in a Loony Bin
Some say I’m lazy,
(Hey, that’s crazy!)
And some say I am quite mad,
which is sad (and of course, I’m not)
If they say that, then they’re wrong.
Some say, She’s batty as a bat!
And to my chagrin—
some say I belong in a loony bin,
Can you believe that?
They say I’m off my rocker and I’m stark staring bonkers.
Anyway, I can’t hang around all day and chat,
I’m off out now to play a game of conkers.
~
Lesley Scoble, May 2024
I’m still not satisfied, but I’m not writing any more (I’m too busy playing conkers:) All that remains is for me to say is thank you, Destiny, for your inspiring prompt for the W3 Poetry Prompt #105. Please forgive me if I’ve infringed the rules by writing more than one poem. I’m afraid your prompt led me down many paths.
My grateful thanks, as always, to David, The Skeptics Kaddish, for hosting.
Lesley lives in the City of London Square Mile. An artist, actor and sculptor (her first ceramic sculpture won the V&A inspired by… Award). Scenic artist & book illustrator, playwright, (her musical play, Rapscallion performed in inner city schools and theatre school); TV dancer; Animator and illustrator for TV production. Set up Pinecone Studios Ltd and IIMSI Ltd drama and filmmaking workshops in London – producing award-winning films made by children.
LesleyScoble.com 
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