I have been a poet since I wrote my first poem when I was 7 about a hedgehog ( I got a C, personally I think the teacher was not wanting something so hard hitting and being a forerunner for an ecological trend!!). It was a bit too advanced and out there for the teachers of 1979, but I have kept writing. Here are my poems and stories which some are a reflection of my life thus far. I should give a warning about depression and drug abuse themes, as I have complex PTSD and also I am a clean opiate addict for over 9 years. There are some quite nice poems about love and some weird ones too.
The stories I often write have a certain dystopian feel to them as unfortunately they reflect how society is at the moment. Currently I am half way through a Creative Writing degree with the vague hope of one day teaching poetry and telling my stories for a living (as long as I can kill this imposter syndrome!). Anyway I digress and here is the eponymous poem which started this all off.
Hedgehog
I wish I was a hedgehog for a day
I would curl up into a ball in dismay
Then I would say
Can this race take over the world
With metal bars
And stupid cars
Well I will live my own life
And not give it like a present
I would like to say huge thanks to my family, fellow students at the Open University and also the great folk at Swarthmore College. (They have a great and passionate creative writing group)
Contact me at blue sky @daveashleypoet.bsky.social‬