Guest Writer Spot

Welcome to my Guest Writer Spot. It’s the first time this week’s guest has appeared on my blog (aside from a couple of brilliant story challenge entries). It’s my pleasure to introduce Lynn Chapman.  If you’d like to be included in my guest writer slot, please get in touch: estherchilton@gmail.com. Poems can be up to 60 lines and prose 2000 words. If you’d like to add a short bio and photo, then great.

Here’s a little bit about Lynn:

My name is Lynn Chapman. I’m 61-years-old and live in Kent. I have always loved writing, but life seemed to get in the way of me taking it any further than jotting down a few ideas whenever I could find the time. I’d written a crime novel years ago but put it away and forgot about it. 

At the beginning of 2023, I decided to re-start my course with the Writer’s Bureau and (thankfully) Esther became my tutor. Since then I’ve never looked back. I’ve had letters, photographs and articles published and I’m currently halfway through finishing my novel, that Esther is editing and proofreading.

I also love photography, travelling and I play bass guitar in a covers band, playing music across all genres. I’m also a proud crazy cat lady!

Lynn has written a powerful poem. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did:

The Cruel Sea

The vast blue waters, they take us to places

adventures beyond our wildest dreams.

Cruising along, we gasp at the sunrise,

our perfect holiday, or so it may seem.


We may be blessed and see pods of whales

who have come to the surface to play.

The sea is their home, should we leave them alone?

How dare we intrude on their day.


Marine life is contented beneath the waves,

sharks, dolphins, and much more.

Sharing their home with submarines and ships

polluting the water, on their way to war.


A sense of mystery fills an enquiring mind

but what could we be looking for?

The Malaysian flight, or the Flor De La Mar?

Three million shipwrecks on the ocean floor?


A most dangerous workplace, the deep blue sea,

the seafarers – we should honour the brave.

Two-thousand lives are lost each year

deep down in a watery grave.


The cruel sea holds a wealth of secrets

As we peep from the safety of the shore.

Most will remain prisoners of the sea

lost in blackness forever more.


13 responses to “Guest Writer Spot”

  1. squirreljan Avatar
    squirreljan

    Wonderful poem, Lynn. I could read it over and over (and have!). Janice

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Hi Janice,

      Thank you. I’m pleased you enjoyed my poem.

      Liked by 2 people

  2. Rhyming poems are my favourite. This tells a story in a few short verses. It opens up visions in your mind.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Thank you, Dave. I prefer rhyming poems too.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. There”s just something about them, isn’t there. It aids the rhythm and flow.

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Good luck with the crime novel Lynn which is my genre of choice and the one I have used for my novel.

    Your poem puts me in mind of the seals we are getting in our local river and lakes, there are two that seem to have taken up residence in Peterborough’s rowing lake. They are very approachable and seem quite tame, mind you I wouldn’t try to take a fish off them.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Thank you, Phil. Yes it’s by far my favourite genre too.

      I have just gone onto your page and subscribed to your blog. I’m in the process of creating a blog on WordPress, but it’s very much in it’s infancy.

      That’s lovely you have seals, they are wonderful creatures, but I agree you wouldn’t want to steal their dinner!

      Liked by 2 people

  4. nikidaly70 Avatar
    nikidaly70

    Lovely imagery.

    Liked by 4 people

  5. An excellent poem portraying the positives and negatives of the sea.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Thank you for your comment, Darlene. It captures just that so well.

      Liked by 2 people

  6. Thank you, Darlene for your comments. Much appreciated.

    Liked by 3 people

  7. Lynn, your vivid words capture the sea and the many forms of life who pass though it.
    Congratulations on taking the step back into writing. Good luck with the novel.

    Liked by 2 people

Leave a reply to Esther Chilton Cancel reply

Discover more from Esther Chilton

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading