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C. Oulens

@owlnsquirrels1111.bsky.social

1.6K followers 1.2K following 5.1K posts

Poet, thinker, dreamer, scribbler… in ascending order differently logical . . . I sense, I feel, I write . . . Winner, 3rd Annual Poe-it Like Poe Poetry Contest 2025 by sixdegreesofpoe @owlnsquirrels1111 on Threads

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C. Oulens @owlnsquirrels1111.bsky.social · 5d

For #PoemsAbout #Mannequin
a little rushed up piece… but didn’t want to skip another week.
For hosts @alanparrywriter.co.uk @thebrokenspine.co.uk
Looking forward to reading all the fabulous pieces.
#Oulens #blueskypoets #blueskypoetry
#poetrycommunity #poems #poetry

Mannequins That Wear Menace
- C. Oulens

Mannequins of designer dreams
High on pedestals
Rightly placed
so they can look down upon
from their vantage point
my wayward flab

I’m not bothered I don’t mind
I don’t stare back at them
They may have a right to frown
(though they’d rather die than do that
for fear of fine lines and crow feet)
They seem harmless anyway

They’ve worked hard for
that chiselled shape
I on the contrary have not
earned their wardrobes
neither through god’s flawed design
nor through my own efforts

And believe it or not
though I may not
openly (shh) admit (after all,
who says they love sour grapes!)
I’d happily accept a designer bod
if it was sent to me gift-wrapped

But I’m wary of those
other types—those beheaded
mannequins walking in
silicon heads—dubiously thin
Transplants
on toughened lards

swaggering on the weight of
factory-churned or limited edition
designer dreams—smirking with
sly menace at my artisan
spindle hums or at unravelling
of my wayward spins

That’s when I wonder if
I should don a Snow White-
in-Black cape and crack
some minor magique mirrors
tuning up some elfin cackles
pinched (shh again) from friends

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C. Oulens @owlnsquirrels1111.bsky.social · 8h

Oh, this is so good… knocks a punch! … and bringing Ruth suddenly was quite a surprise… still could relate as your other piece still fresh in memory. Sorry I missed reading this beautiful piece coz you posted later…. 👏👏💫

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C. Oulens @owlnsquirrels1111.bsky.social · 8h

Many thanks! Appreciate your noticing that. 🙏🫶💫

C. Oulens @owlnsquirrels1111.bsky.social · 9h

Thank you so much for the repost and also for this enlightening response. Much appreciated. 🙏😊💫

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C. Oulens @owlnsquirrels1111.bsky.social · 9h

Thank you so much! 🙏😊🫶

C. Oulens @owlnsquirrels1111.bsky.social · 9h

Congratulations!

C. Oulens @owlnsquirrels1111.bsky.social · 9h

the colour
of our #ashes I found
was red
when I inked our story
on this un-
clippable page

#vss365 #ash #Oulens
#haiku #senryu #tanka
#blueskypoets #blueskypoetry
#poetrycommunity #poems #poetry

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Reposted by C. Oulens

Trombalazana @trombalazana.bsky.social · 2d

Her mask never hides the flames sparking from her eyes. She is a master of broken dreams, a connoisseur of the bittersweet, seeing beauty in decay and the allure of the abyss. She taught me to find solace in shadows and embrace the pervasive melancholy.

#FoxProse her mask never hides #trombalazana

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Reposted by C. Oulens

ƒred ƒorge 🦋 @fred-forge.bsky.social · 1d

#The.Murmurings.Of.My.Soul

“I don't care about the best, i only want what's good„

#ƒred-ƒorge

Fine art illustration source : U.A.G.

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C. Oulens @owlnsquirrels1111.bsky.social · 9h

Thanks for the repost 🙏💫
@marcialynnpaul.bsky.social
@readingraindoe.bsky.social
@fizzytwizler.bsky.social

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C. Oulens @owlnsquirrels1111.bsky.social · 9h

Thanks for the repost 🙏💫

@inkmine.bsky.social

C. Oulens @owlnsquirrels1111.bsky.social · 9h

Thanks for the repost 🙏💫
@neopoiesis.bsky.social
@inkmine.bsky.social

Reposted by C. Oulens

Thomas L. Vaultonburg @wolftwinthomas.bsky.social · 2d

October's Harvest Moon is a real Thriller this year. This is page 64 of @tregallery.com and my 2024 book Moonscape. Available at www.wolftwin.com
#haiku #poetry #october #supermoon #harvestmoon #halloween #illustration #poetry

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Reposted by C. Oulens

Peter Devonald @pdevonald.bsky.social · 16h

Huge thanks to the poets and the Post Community News GM - especially the editors Amanda and Mel - for this selection of short poetry in the Post newspapers - Manchester Post, Stockport Post and many more!

@postcommunitynews.bsky.social #postcommunitynewsgm #poetry

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Reposted by C. Oulens

David @haikubycrane.bsky.social · 2d

just shadows long in
our fleeting existences,
enjoying the sun

#haiku #life #nature
#abouttheauthor

I snapped this photo of me & my shadow with my walking stick. Earlier, I was reading about Oedipus meeting the Sphinx at the crossroads & correctly answering the riddle of, "what walks on four feet in the morning, two in the afternoon and three at night?" That led to this haiku.

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C. Oulens @owlnsquirrels1111.bsky.social · 10h

You’re most welcome! 💫🫶

C. Oulens @owlnsquirrels1111.bsky.social · 10h

Most welcome! 💫😊

C. Oulens @owlnsquirrels1111.bsky.social · 10h

Thank you so much! 🙏😊

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C. Oulens @owlnsquirrels1111.bsky.social · 10h

Most welcome! 😊💫🫶

C. Oulens @owlnsquirrels1111.bsky.social · 10h

Thank you so much! Appreciate the share. 🙏😊

C. Oulens @owlnsquirrels1111.bsky.social · 10h

Thank you so much! 🙏😊

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C. Oulens @owlnsquirrels1111.bsky.social · 10h

Thank you! It was a great podcast. Loved the collection and discussion. 🙏😊

C. Oulens @owlnsquirrels1111.bsky.social · 2d

You’re welcome.
And thanks so much for this very caring and heart-warming message. Greatly valued.
🙏🫶🫠💫

C. Oulens @owlnsquirrels1111.bsky.social · 2d

I wanted a re-read with fresh mind before commenting. I love the metaphor layers and towards the latter part, after “why are you here?”… the guilt. Some lovely phrases too. Very slant and elegant. 💫🥀

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C. Oulens @owlnsquirrels1111.bsky.social · 2d

You’re welcome!

Reposted by C. Oulens

James Fine Art @jamesfineart.bsky.social · 3d

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