Candlestick Press has produced several gorgeous poetry anthologies since 2008. Pamphlets designed to be gifted, carried around and cherished for years to come. For always-emerging writers like myself, their themed callouts are great opportunities to gain experience and build confidence.

One of the most recent ones was “kindness”. Although my entry wasn’t selected, I was pleased by how I worked with the constraints of the competition – no more than 16 lines of 10 words at most – while injecting a spritely rhythm along the way. It’s my hop, skip and jump of an appeal to the world. Pass it on…

You can buy the collection here.

Mary & Elizabeth (1929) by Käthe Kollwitz. To learn more about his extraordinary artist, click on the image and listen to Katy Hessel in conversation with Dorothy Price, a specialist in German Expressionism, Weimar Culture and Black British Art

DON’T TAKE MY KINDNESS FOR WEAKNESS (SHE SAID)

Or I’ll close up and turn away, all ruthless instead

Ever watched frowns become smiles, light piercing the shutter

Give thought to another, you’ll make their heart flutter

It matters, you know, doing something for nothing

What you can, when you can, forget who’s deserving

Make the tea or coffee, do someone a favour

Hold the door open, flatter a stranger … I dare ya

Offer a smile for no reason

Bring in the season of less getting even

It’s like living by giving till the giving is receiving

Start a chain reaction – ka-boom! – seeing is believing

Kindness is the currency that never loses its value

Can’t afford to spend it? You can’t afford not to!

This gift is best shared right out of the blue

See good in others? Now there’s good in you too