Heard in the Breeze /Red Wine
by Isabella Laithwaite
University of Lancaster
Isabella Laithwaite is an undergraduate student, currently studying English Literature and Creative Writing at Lancaster University. Isabella loves to write using elegant language, which is inspired by her favourite classical authors. Isabella loves to communicate her stories through poetry by exploring many emotional topics that many readers can relate to, as well as creating stories that can also shock and unsettle. Isabella is also a writer for her university’s newspaper, ‘The Lancaster Tab’, where she writes features and news articles. Isabelle is also a singer and songwriter, which aids in her ability to write creatively.
Heard in the Breeze
Breezy air swims past my shins,
Tickling my skin,
Evoking patterns of goosebumps
that create sentences in braille of my thoughts.
The stream beside me
runs parallel,
To the towering ferns,
That cast peculiar shadows over
the land.
Nature is beautiful,
That much is clear,
But,
It is always beautiful in the obvious way.
You must feel.
She is showing beauty,
But also,
Speaking beauty.
Words through the wind,
Language through the sky,
Actions through the trees,
Thoughts through the flowers.
When no one will listen,
When no one will let you speak
Turn to Her,
Because,
You’ll always be heard in the breeze.
Red Wine
I circle my finger around the ridge of my glass,
watching the red sea of alcohol lay peacefully in its confines,
I ponder to myself,
that this thin wall of transparency is the only thing separating the skin of my palm from the
blood-red wine,
funny, isn’t it?
I always drink red wine on occasions,
and tonight was a special occasion,
“To us!” I say, raising my glass high up in the air,
I stare at the wine reflecting in the light,
the lighter parts of crimson at the top,
and the darker shades at the bottom.
Funny, isn’t it?
It is our anniversary,
five years go by so quickly without even knowing,
“Happy Anniversary my dear”.
Five years ago today, in this dining room,
I murdered you.
You laid cold in your own red wine.
Funny, isn’t it?
Interview with an Author
1. What pieces inspired you to start writing poetry?
I was inspired to start writing poetry after reading the works of William Wordsworth and classical literature, bringing back the lost arts of writing elegantly and writing on timeless topics. I was also inspired to write small, powerful poems through some work of Rupi Kaur's 'milk and honey' poetry collection.
2. What theme do you find yourself constantly writing about in your work?
I find myself mainly writing about love, however, not so much the clichè type, but more the parts of love that are difficult to face and hurt us.
3. What do you think are important elements in thought provoking poems?
I think that being within what you are writing about (for example, nature) gives the best perspectives for both writers and readers alike. I prefer, when I am writing about Mother Nature, to be sitting outside and listening to the sounds of wildlife around me to provide inspiration and ideas as to what I want to write about. If I am talking about something I haven't experienced, I either go to someone I know who has or I watch movies and look at photos to find myself immersed in the topic.
4. What role do you think poetry has on our society today?
I feel poetry needs to have more of an effect on our society than it currently does, as it provides so much for everyone, no matter who you are. Poetry is the literature that can be loved by everyone, even if you don't like books or reading.
