Maggie Watson's Blog, page 9

Rocks and Hard Places

(written May 2025)

Hard places provide no sustenance.
I must find a rock.
One with jagged edges so I can bleed.
In a hard place, I could place a soft pillow to rest.
That would not test me.
In comfort or safety, no lesson I learn.
Upon rocks, I often slip and slide.
I am not afraid.
I know I will not die.
The rocks sharpen my senses by chiselling my focus.
How else can I become the best version of myself?

Copyright © 2025 Ephemeral Encounters
All Rights Reserved

Review of Ephemeral Encounters (Her Book of Words)

Editor’s Pick : “Ephemeral Encounters (Her Book of Words): A Collection of Poetry” by Maggie Watson

Thank you so much Mich for this wonderful review!

As most of you know, I have been on hiatus for a couple of weeks.

You might also know there have been two earthquakes in Crete recently.

I slept through the first one, and had arrived home on the day the second one occurred.

I pray that these are not a precursor to a bigger more damaging one.

My body does not travel well ( a four and a half hour flight is long haul for me).

I arrived at Edinburgh Airport at 2am last Thursday and still had to make my way to East Lothian after that.

As is normal with someone who has CFS I am now “crashing” and extremely tired and in pain.

Please bear with me if I don’t seem so “on the ball” or engaged as I usually am!

NORMAL SERVICE WILL RESUME SOON.

R&R

Hi Everyone

I hope you are all well.

As you know , I am on hiatus atm.

I have not even popped on for a peek.

My muse is in another part of the world too obviously as I am struggling to write anything.

If I have missed any notifications or comnents , I do apologise.

I won’t be home until the early hours of the 22nd.

It usually takes me a few days to recover from the flight.

Leaving a few pictures of Crete here (with comments off again)

Will see you all soon.

Maggie x

On Hiatus

I have closed off the comments on this post because most of you know I am going on holiday anyway.

This post is really for anyone that does not know.

I will be away from 7/5 until 21/5.

As always, thank you for being here and your wonderful support.

I will see you when I get back.

Maggie

x

Thank you so much Grace Estevez

I am beyond grateful to Grace for her wonderful review of Pieces of Me and the lovely poem she wrote!

You can read Grace’s review here

Powerful Book

If you have not read any of Grace’s beautiful poetry I suggest you head over to her blog https://graceofthesun.com/

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS BOUGHT A COPY OF THIS BOOK AND REVIEWED IT!

IT IS AN IMPORTANT BOOK IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DOMESTIC ABUSE!

I will make this my last post now before I fly off on Tuesday.

As always, thank you for being part of my journey and your wonderful support.

I will see you all when I get back

x

*My poor wee brain is fried (too much excitement )

I have my dates all mixed up!

I fly on 7th which is Wednesday DOH

I am usually as sharp as a tack

Spillwords Publication of the Month

I would like to give a huge round of applause to Mike Utley for winning Author of the Month, he is so deserving!

From the bottom of my heart, I would like to say thank you to Dagmara K and her editing team at Spillwords for publishing this poem and then nominating it for Publication of the Month.

I would like to thank you all for taking the time to vote.

I am humbled beyond words.

IT HAS BEEN A WEEK IN A GOOD WAY.

I am not a drinker, so there will be no champagne, lol!

It is my birthday next week and I am leaving on the 7th for a two week holiday.

I am not as organised as I should be, so I am going get my skates on tomorrow and I will be back online at the weekend,

Thank you all again for your wonderful support, love and kindness.

Grey Skies Never Last

written in response to Sadje’s #WDYS

A shadow cuts through the grass, spoiling my view.
A mirror of the past, you.
In your hand is a bouquet.
You thrust the blackened Lillies into my hand
while feigning an apology.
I stumble back with revulsion.
Is this an apparition or perhaps a mirage?
As I close my eyes.
I feel drops of rain on my face as it begins to rain.
Suddenly, everything becomes clear.
Grey skies never last, and you were never here.

Copyright © 2025 Ephemeral Encounters
All Rights Reserved

Gentle Reminder

My good friend and amazingly talented writer Michael Utley has been nominated for Author of the Month at Spillwords.

If you are not familiar with his writing, I urge you to visit his blog https://silentpariah.com/

I have been nominated for Publication of the Month.

Both Mike and myself would be extremely grateful if you could spare a minute to vote.

You can do so here

Vote

Voting closes on 29/4 .

From both of us, thank you in advance!

Caged Birds

(written April 2025)

Ignoring the wisdom garnered from suffering,
caged birds set free often embark
on Flights of Fancy when released.
Unaccustomed to the freedom of
open skies, they spread their wings
with reckless abandon.
Caged birds only learn to fly again after they burn.
Years spent in darkness distort once keen eyes.
Blurred vision seeks affectation.
Caged birds must find the fire that ignites their soul.
In those flames, it is safe to come undone.
Every phoenix that rises from the ashes
was once a slave with chains.
Now, they soar without the need for applause.

Copyright © 2025 Maggie Watson All Rights Reserved

Spillwords Nomination for Publication of the Month

Anyone who has read Pieces of Me knows my history, so I will not bore you by going over it again. Suffice to say, a decade ago I never envisaged my life as it is now.

Hot on the heels of Cindy Georgakas’s wonderful review, I woke to find that my poem The Forest has been nominated for publication of the month by Spillwords.

I am beyond grateful to Dagmara K and her editing team for considering my writing for such an honour.

I would be humbled if you would consider voting for me.

You can do so here.

Vote

Thank you from my heart to each and every one of you here that has supported me on this incredible journey so far!

Best wishes to Michael Utley for his nomination !

The Forest

NEVER GIVE UP AND NEVER STOP BELIEVING!