Quiet Verses Poems written in stillness and wonders
From the Archive:
This poem is an ekphrastic response to a digital painting created by the artist, Nathan May. It was written as an unpublished paper, the text remains, and with some revisions, the poem itself remains one of my favourite light-hearted pieces.
NF May “The Last Knight” (n.d.)
The Last Knight
When the full moon dips its head among those clouds the speck of shattered lights reveals who you are. Suddenly, everything around you is black and only your shadow flies across the moon.
Why did you turn your head away from the light? Is it sadness from a broken heart, from the world of suffering, or the pain of a shattered dream?
There are some things real about you.
Your weather-beaten face
bears the endless burning
of the ferocious sun.
Your rugged skin and deep wrinkles
hold the memories that time refused to erase.
You’re tired and weary, ignoring the wind that freezes every fibre of your being.
Are you waiting for something worth holding on to? Is it a miracle that will never come?
You seem almost invisible, yet you are in plain sight on a parched landscape.
A nameless mysterious soul– an ancient and medieval kind.
Perhaps you came here to beg for shelter, for food, a drink of water, a warm place to sleep.
The stench of dried sweat clinging to your robe is like an old faithful friend keeping you warm.
You bob your head down to hide your face from the lights.
No one should see you. No one knows who you are, or what you become.
Your long beard grizzled with white and grey, cradles your broad masculine jaws. You stand in a vast and fabled soil– spiritless, frazzled, and gaunt.
But here, the artist in front of this canvas
perfected a hand stroke that brought you to life.
Perhaps, it is the young artist’s high spirit
and his dream of chivalry that brings you here.
You are the last Knight. He wants you to live again to fight your war.
You won the toughest battles so, what are you fighting for this time?
Who are you?
Are you the boy who drew the blade from the earth the immortal king, worthy of the crown?
Did you return
to win back what was once yours?
Have you healed the wounds
of betrayal and sins?
The dark and barbaric wars under your feet were swiftly blown away by the restless wind.
And– Did you know, The empyrean kingdom of Camelot had perished many thousands of years ago,
Your Highness.
–Ninagracia
Till next time.
Cheers!
Source:
May, N. (2021). CWG200 Writing Poetry [Unpublished Paper] Curtin University.
Many people, including me, wonder whether AI-generated content is authentic.
I still remember the 2023 news when critics claimed that artificial intelligence systems were stealing people’s intellectual property. The feud between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) led to a five-month writers’ strike, with writers arguing that studios should not use AI to replace their jobs, cut costs or improve efficiency, or to compromise writers’ compensation and credits. One issue that concerns writers is that AI could soon write Hollywood films or stream shows.
The issues at that time seemed insignificant to me. In reality, the world of artificial intelligence is here to stay. The future of creative writing faces a new kind of robust technology: a machine or intelligent being that could rapidly carry out a task or multiple tasks, rendering writers’ skills outdated or unwanted. It is snowballing and becoming popular for creating content and images. Some AI-generated content includes blogs, marketing materials, articles, and product descriptions. It is a whole new frontier of creative writing.
Computer technology has developed sophisticated machines that can generate pieces of writing that were normally produced through mental processes shaped by experience, beliefs, learning, and reasoning. Our appreciation for the values in creative composition remains essential in the modernistic new world by helping produce unique story ideas or create evocative visuals that align with traditional artistic principles. These intelligent machines would be excellent supportive sidekicks for me. But I still believe that I would benefit more from working with a mentor or a coach, which would help me move to a new tier in the writing industry. My experiences with failures, and trial and error can give me wisdom and awareness, allowing me to grow personally and learn how to flap my wings and fly.
So, does our creativity have value in the generative world? Yes, absolutely! It may look slightly different moving forward, but Generative AI will take us in new directions. According to techtarget.com, AI lacks the emotional intelligence to craft a story and the common sense of human behaviour. In addition, AI tools cannot create fresh ideas because they rely on existing web content and data, such as assisting in developing a story and characters, creating a captivating plot, and crafting a satisfying conclusion. In a generative world, the structure and the way the story is written are preserved, even though the generative tool adds a layer of innovation and variety to the creative process. It’s a blend of classic storytelling principles and cutting-edge technology. Ultimately, we must continue to read through and review AI-generated content for quality
May, N. (2023, November 6). Creating generative value: Does our creativity have value in the generative world?[Republished from aworkinprogressauthor]. Ninagracia. https://ninagracia.com
Welcome to A Smile in Rhyme—a collection of gentle, rhythmic poems inspired by everyday life. Here, peaceful moments meet musical flow, and simple experiences become bright, lyrical reflections—always with a hint of warmth and a smile. Settle in, take your time, and enjoy the rhythm.
There is always something to celebrate each month. April highlights a variety of global events aimed at raising awareness. The National Couple Appreciation Month encourages taking time to cherish romance and companionship. Similarly, on April 18, couples observe Husband Appreciation Day through simple gestures. But why celebrate twice when we can both celebrate these occasions together?
On the other hand, if you’re in a relationship and wondering where all the romance has gone, and you’re no longer enjoying each other’s company, relax and have a bit of fun in a light-hearted and enjoyable way, just for a laugh.
Originally written as a university assignment, this poem has been revisited and reworked with extra cheek and playful spirit, and just a hint of mischief. It delivers a humorous list of complaints–some petty, some exaggerated, all recognisable to anyone who has loved long enough to be annoyed. Despite its dramatic title, it’s all in good fun–mostly. Not to be taken seriously or meant to offend anyone, but–ouch!! Sorry if we hurt your feelings.
I Want a Divorce
From the series: A Smile in Rhyme
Here’s a list of many things collected over the years with you Thirty years I’ve worn this ring—and still, you’ve got no clue. You’ll be pleased (so don’t be pissed), I’ve trimmed the harshest bits So, let’s just kiss and say goodbye before you read mylist:
For a start—whenever you eat, there’s a tuneful little moan The crunch of crispy fries rings out in quite a piercing tone. That juicy steak? A roaring sound—you’re in a world of your own Are you choking, passing wind—or putting on a show?
Your playful baby talk is sweet—but also irritating You pick your nose and flick your hands—completely nauseating! And when you fart, it sounds as though a bomb is detonating Your snore? A rolling thunderstorm—relentless, aggravating.
Tell me, am I seeing things—I sometimes count you two Your jeans are feeling tighter now, ease up on beer and stew. You’ve grown a little softer—yes, I’m talking about you, And all those trips you make to the loo—I’ve noticed those things too.
And if you try to read my mind, don’t hover near my face, Unless you’ve brushed your teeth—or rinsed with something with a taste. I saved the “lust” for last—my final, winning case But now it’s gone completely—please, give that whine a rest.
It’s not me—it’s truly you, so now we say goodbye, Don’t be shy, and please don’t cry—have chai, my honey-pie.
Thanks for reading! Did this poem make you sincerely smile? If you’ve ever silently judged someone’s snore or a “tuneful moan, “you’re in good company”.
Exploring the universal theme of the human condition
BOUNDARIES
Some doors we close easily. Others, we leave open, even if they pull us away from our work. How do we learn which to close? Regardless of the answer, it can be tough for certain personalities.
Someone told me that to protect their peace, they are setting boundaries with friends and family. I found this straightforwardness quite harsh, awkward, and very unsettling. If I were to respond, I’d say, “It’s terrible because it’s empowering, and it pushes people away.” However, these invisible lines that regulate our emotional and psychological health help create a sense of safety and balance in our daily lives without undermining someone else’s humanity. Without boundaries and always being available can sometimes lead others to believe that our time and energy are limitless. Setting boundaries is healthy, but for some of us, it can feel unfamiliar, uncomfortable, and even hard to choose the right ethical course.
What are boundaries, really? Essentially, they are the limits and values we set around ourselves. The idea of boundaries suddenly appeared, and everyone started talking about it. The word ‘boundaries’ initially began being used in clinical contexts during the post-pandemic mental health crises to encourage self-protection and emotional independence. Regrettably, in workplaces that value constant availability, setting boundaries is essential to safeguard against chronic stress, exhaustion, and the pressure to overwork. Now, ‘boundaries’ have become part of our everyday conversations. You’ll hear it in podcasts, social media posts, and even during casual chats over a cuppa. The message is straightforward: We have to set boundaries, protect and stand by them. Healthy individuals have boundaries, and strong individuals sustain them. I have listened to these chats with interest, but also with a bit of unease. I do not disagree with the idea, but for many, establishing boundaries does not come naturally. For some of us, saying “not now,” “no,” or “I can’t” feels more like turning someone away at the door.
I’ve always taken on the role of the listener. When someone calls, I answer. When someone needs to talk, I stop what I’m doing and make space. I don’t rush to give advice; I listen. Sometimes it’s exhausting. Sometimes it pulls me away from the task I planned to finish. But there’s something truly human about that exchange, a reminder that we all carry unseen burdens and sometimes need to share them with others. However, there’s a cost to being generous and always available. Our creative work can’t thrive on fragments of attention or from waiting patiently. Once we lose our focus, it’s not easy to regain. So, when does being available turn into a quiet delay of one’s own calling? When does kindness start to compete with the tasks we believe we are supposed to do? People who are used to unlimited access to someone often see boundaries as a form of rejection. So, maybe — just maybe—boundaries are necessary in a world that often asks for too much. But we should also recognise that for some of us — me, you, and others—learning to set them isn’t just a technique. It’s an internal negotiation between generosity and self-preservation—between wanting to be there for others and recognising that our time, too, is limited.
The challenge with boundaries should include those of us who hesitate, not because we lack the strength to uphold them, but because we deeply value connection without losing the parts of ourselves that make us generous. It is another skill that some of us need to learn gradually.
Setting a boundary doesn’t have to involve building a wall. We don’t need rigid barriers, just a few “gentle fences to shield our garden”. It may mean asking for some time, finishing a task before answering the phone, or trusting that a friendship can survive a postponed chat.
I am learning–gradually and bit by bit–that protecting my time doesn’t lessen my kindness. It might even help to preserve it. And like any new habit, it feels awkward at first.
Music offers solace, love, passion, and a sense of belonging with someone where connection feels natural and calming. With Valentine’s Day drawing near, music can make any moment feel more romantic and meaningful.
When it comes to love and romance, soul music enhances intimacy and creates the perfect atmosphere. Its slow tempo encourages a sensual, relaxed, and intimate setting. The lyrics linger, poetic and heartfelt. Some lyrics don’t just pass through us-they stay with you, not because they are loud or dramatic, but because they feel genuine. It expresses deep affection, strengthening the bonds between couples and sparking shared memories.
I’ve been listening to soul music to bring me some joy, peace, and contentment, and I find myself drawn to phrases about love growing in places lit by gentle and borrowed spaces. This line suggests that love doesn’t thrive on grand declarations but grows from borrowed everyday moments, shared memories, past tenderness, and even vulnerability. There are phrases about stories needing a place, where they are held gently—not hidden but kept safely, and the soft corners of the heart, where we keep what matters most—where emotions don’t ask to be explained but only understood.
Valentine’s Day has a way of stirring everything, and soul music doesn’t rush the feeling. It allows you to breathe, relax, and reflect, filling a void without pretending it isn’t there.
I’ll be playing my music again, but here are a few that match your Valentine’s Day vibe:
Al Green: “Let’s Stay Together” (gentle, not showy—pure warmth)
Bill Withers: “Just the Two of Us” (gentle hope without pressure)
It is the beginning of the working week in 2026. Some of us are still feeling tired and lazy.
Some are busy making plans and believing that something good might happen this year. Of course, it’s New Year – a fresh idea, new hope, and a new start.
We all seek a fresh start. That’s what the new year signifies for us all. It signals a new beginning — a chance to restart and improve.
The holiday season is a welcome break for us all, but for others, it can disrupt their daily routine.
There is only a one-week gap between Christmas and New Year, yet it felt like a long holiday.
We allowed ourselves to indulge in all the things we’d never do in our usual daily routines. We drank too much alcohol. We ate junk food, heaps of chocolate, cakes, and sweets, stayed up late at night, and the list could go on and on.
Then, we all must face reality. Going back to work and picking up where we left off is tough. It’s hard to return to our desks, once cluttered with notes and papers, where we never turned off all our electronic devices. We’ve lost our momentum with writing. No matter how much we shake our heads, nothing comes out—no words or ideas.
It’s tough when we are still feeling nostalgic about our holiday and wishing it had never finished.
It’s hard, too, when all we can think about is checking our social media for photos and messages from friends and family.
There were good laughs and memorable moments we shared with them. We reminisced about those times when we acted crazy, ridiculous, and funny, and it was perfectly okay with them. Wiping that smile off our faces was hard because that was the only time we let ourselves go and be vulnerable.
And that should have been sufficient.
Instead, we couldn’t get them out of our heads. We run out of steam and grow weary in front of that bright screen on our computer. Our minds are like film reels showing flashbacks of the best Christmas break we had.
Our daily writing routine will gradually return. We may already have thought of a better way to make our working schedules more manageable. Our writing should always find a place in our busy calendar. It will take a little time, but whatever we do, make sure it doesn’t take us that long.
We had our breaks, our time out from the daily grind in our lives.
So, it’s time to head back to work; otherwise, we will never write again.
In a few hours, 2025 will come to a close. Some of us go through the usual rituals of reflecting on our achievements, setbacks, and regrets. We don’t just look back; we consider the lessons we’ve learned, the habits, and the beliefs that no longer serve us.
As we wait for the dust to settle and the year comes to a close, I softly bid farewell to 2025, without drama or resentment. I find myself looking back not with urgency but to recognise what it taught me, what I got wrong or messed up, what I got right, and what I experienced.
Dear 2025
You didn’t arrive with fireworks or a dramatic shift. Instead, you fitted into the background of our everyday life, quietly through familiar routines, sharing meals, having small chats, and the presence of family. At that time, it seemed ordinary, but as I stand on the brink of a new year, I understand your purpose. You came without shouting your lessons, which were hidden in its stillness. You taught me a lesson about being patient, about learning to wait for things to open up without force, because growth is sometimes about staying, enduring, and being at ease where you are.
As I leave and finally say goodbye, I am not taking everything with me. I will go with gratitude for what you have offered, and for what you withheld, and quiet hope for what lies ahead. Some burdens have been carried long enough — they can now be laid down. What I will bring forward is gratitude for those ordinary days that quietly wove themselves into something steady and reassuring. For a year that asked little of me yet gave me space to breathe.
This isn’t a dramatic farewell, but a gentle closing of a chapter—an appreciation for a year that offered quiet grace instead. I move into what’s next, not reinvented, but softly realigned, lighter than before, and quietly hopeful.
I’m not starting over—just carrying on, a bit lighter and a little wiser.
The holidays are a time for laughter, warmth, and those little moments that make family life wonderfully chaotic. In this poem, I’ve captured the joy, the chaos, and the tenderness of these special days— from bumpy bus rides and overfed children going astray. I remembered that even before our holiday started, my parents were already arguing about one thing—food. The bus trip would be long, the stops brief, and according to Mum, hunger was simply not allowed.
Wishing you all a holiday season filled with laughter, love, and happy memories with friends and families.
Till next time
Reference:
May, N. (2021, August 10). A2 poetry portfolio and reflection: CWG100 creative writing, Curtin University [Unpublished paper]. Curtin University.
Some quotes and sayings help us see familiar things fresh, inspiring us to rethink, feel, and dream. These reflections are gentle reminders to live more fully, love more deeply, and listen more closely to the quiet wisdom within.
A perfect kiss happens when two hearts take control.
A perfect kiss is more than just a touch or passion; it is a promise, a whisper of souls, and two hearts connecting in mutual love, trust, and surrender.
Be the person you want to be.
You are the artist holding the brush, painting yourself with courage and shaping your destiny until the reflection you see is the one you have long dreamed of and the best version of yourself, instead of waiting for a change to happen.
Dance under the stars and enjoy the silence of the night.
Live the moment and cherish nature’s beauty, calmness, and simplicity. Let the night be your stage and the stars your audience, in the quiet darkness, twirling freely, unburdened and alive.
Don’t ask how long love will last, nor doubt if love is less.
Love is a living, breathing force—timeless, tender, and true, cherishing what exists now, without measure, and comparing its sparkle to the past.
Each step is worthwhile even though it takes a mile.
Every small step carries a dream, and each footprint marks your courage to keep moving, even when progress feels slow; every effort adds to a meaningful journey.
Give your life every reason to live.
Fill your days with joy and laughter, and your nights with wonder and peace. Embody it with purpose and passion. It’s a garden where you can savour the air and enjoy everything surrounding you.
Music eases the mind and puts all worries behind.
When music wraps around the heart, it whispers what words cannot—it comforts restless souls and helps weary thoughts find peace.
Take time to listen when someone’s heart is in misery.
The kindest gift we can offer someone is to listen and allow another heart to breathe its pain.
Think like you are the boss when sending your message across.
Let your words stand tall, not in pride but with self-assurance and clarity. What comes from conviction carries its own quiet power.
When two souls are united, a new journey begins.
Love is like a sunrise, bringing a new start beneath their mutual light. It’s a partnership between two people creating something together, sharing growth, discovery, and mutual transformation.
We all play a significant role in protecting our homes from disasters and imminent dangers by ensuring they are safe, clean, and beautiful. But what about our real home?
HE posted an ad — Urgent! — “For sale: The Blue Marble.” It is surprisingly cheap; it’s a steal, so be quick.
Take a tour of the Earth and drift through distant space. Its location is brilliant — the third rock from the sun. This fantastic planet is simple and elegant; It’s divine, it’s heavenly — only five billion years.
Do you see the clouds rolling across the bright, clear sky? The ocean is blue, like a soft, early-morning hue. The open land is vast and deeply mysterious; Like a naked soul, it dazzles and remains noble.
The vast continents are mountainous and mightier; Like a strange, distant lover, they’re farther and higher. The landscapes of the islands are deeply melodic; Like timeless classic music — perfect and exquisite.
The grand and picturesque streams flow into waterfalls, Dancing like ballerinas in rhythmic motion. Whilst the chilled, romantic rivers meander softly Beneath the sunset’s fiery red and orange glint.
The owner will sell to a conscientious buyer. The wealth is unlimited — a gift beyond measure. There are complex challenges for the new owner: To bring unity to future generations.
The tenants have lived here for a million years or more. A great number will come, and a great many will go. The Earth has endured through humanity’s ambition, But the tenants seem unconcerned — it isn’t kind, it’s torn.
The climate is changing, and Earth is getting hotter. It’s your home — it’s precious — it needs care and protection.
–Ninagracia
Till next time,
Cheers
References
Blue Marble – Image of the Earth from Apollo 17. (2007, November 30). NASA. https://www.nasa.gov
ninagracia.com 
