End-of-August Meditation

What would happen if our inner voice

Fulfilled a wish, and it was choice?

World politics has gone astray

And changes rock the USA …

 

Fake News leads to wishful thinking

As Common Sense, our boat, is sinking...

The God of Wrath indeed holds sway

And sweeps more certainties away.

 

I wonder, do you catch my drift?

I play with metaphors and sift

What I see from what I know;

Life’s a game of chess, played slow.

 

Most humans worry, sit on fence;

‘I’m not involved’ - is their defence

But all of us a role must play

The immensity blows me away …

(c) Poet in the woods 2025

Ostend to Nieuwpoort on the Kusttram!

We’d met at Ostend station under doubtful sun

Where it had seemed a fun idea to take a coastal run;

Harsh seemed the chattering aboard to non-West Flanders ear

My friend found it awkward – and she comes from here!

 

The Kusttram was quite crowded, hordes of trippers forced to stand;

This multi-stop to Nieuwpoort held views of windswept sand;

The dunes, like mini pyramids, showed signs of some decay

Detritus dropped on pavements  - whipped up and blown away!

 

The tram meanders down the coast from Knokke to De Panne

In terms of views, it’s a delight, so catch it if you can!

With thirteen towns to visit, there’s plenty to explore

So why not munch a waffle as you walk across the shore?

 

People stroll along the digue (or dyke if you prefer)

The wind is always bracing; it messes up permed hair!

This weekday in late August meant a cloudburst and sunshine;

We dined in style behind thick glass; with memories to rhyme!

(c) Poet in the woods 2025

Kusttram

Nieuwpoort Marina

Every Dog must have His Day!

Man’s Best Friend, his loyal hound

Who greets his master with a bound

And wagging tail, when he comes home

Deserves a special day – his own.

 

I see on Internet this date*

When Doggy Lovers celebrate

Their faithful Fidos with a treat;

It’s of World Dog Day I speak!

 

As I live by forest glade

Canines of all breeds parade

Past kitchen window every day;

Man and beast form live display!

 

Intent upon their daily task

To answer call of nature fast,

Up steep hill they come and go

In rain or shine, hail, wind or snow …

 

At times they bark, so I look out;

Determined owners must wield clout

Obliged to keep them on tight rein:

A case of who leads who – again!

(c) Poet in the woods 2025

* 26th August

Loneliness - Solitude - Enlightenment!

 When you lose your love, who made you laugh,

Who shared your life, your “other” half

You felt bereft, chilled to the bone

A gaping hole yawned in your home.

 

And whether you wished it, or no

The shades of sorrow brought you low;

No helping hand to share the chores

You began to miss his flaws …

 

But solitude means time to think

While you this bitter chalice drink;

Time to delve deep in yourself

As you shelter on your shelf.

 

Over months or years or more

You realise life means to explore

And develop personal dreams

Enlightenment in profound streams!

 

One chapter in your life is closed

But don’t despair; be one of those

Who now walks in pastures new

Learning at last to be – YOU!

(c) Poet in the woods 2025

Idle Thoughts

You know you can’t turn back the clock;

Old photos prove that you are not

That smooth-faced chick that used to rock

To Beatles strains;

But hey, we know more than we did

Of prejudices we hope we’re rid

And Illusions held fast as a kid;

Youth had no pains…

 

We’ve progressed in so many ways

Surviving adolescent phase

With a brand-new trail to blaze

Shown style and verve!

Not all dreams have made the cut

Perhaps we’ve been down on our luck

But also such good bargains struck:

It just takes nerve!

 

With time at last to meditate

On this world in parlous state,

We wonder what will be our fate;

All seems unknown;

So, treasure each and every day

Fill it up as best we may

Before wild winds blow us away

And take us home …

(c) Poet in the woods 2025

Dents in our Belief System?

Die-hard, entrenched beliefs decay

Uncertainties now plague our day.

Don’t rock the boat! Don’t make a fuss!

What’s in God’s mind to treat us thus?

 

Constant vigilance is key

As on-line means we’re never free

From surveillance or phone chat;

The “Good Old Days” saw none of that!

 

Does ageing mean that we harp back

To childhood? Was all white or black?

Or were our minds just unaware

Of life’s dangers everywhere?

 

So many on-line posts proclaim

Bygone days as “right as rain”;

It’s eighty years since Hitler’s War -

Is life not better than before?

 

Huge improvements in health care,

Electric cars and smog-free air!

Yet sales of junk food now increase;

Elusive still, world hopes for peace …

(c) Poet in the woods 2025

Under the Clouds

What shall I write about today?

Terence Stamp* has passed away

A heartthrob of our younger years;

Meanwhile, Alaska** heightens fears.

 

Scattered snippets found on line

Which catch our eye from time to time

As fires*** rage in distant lands

And throw a spanner in our plans.

 

That’s it, you see, the Great Unknown:

Real life beyond our mobile phone

Which gives complacency a shake

With hurricane and strong earthquake.

 

We yearn for peace but invoke war

We try to even up the score…

High level meetings to take place

Where Doves and Hawks come face to face ...

(c) Poet in the woods 2025

* Terence Stamp (1938 - 17/8/25) who starred in Billy Budd, The Collector and several Pasolini films in the 1960s  - not to mention The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert ...

** Chosen for summit between DJT and VP

*** in Portugal, Spain, Greece and B.C. Canada

Fatal Attraction?

I’m sometimes asked how I’m inspired:

A famous singer has retired?*

Does climate change new fears evoke

Or those in power rock our boat?

 

I glean ideas from daily news

Learn from friends why they enthuse

Or find on Internet new theme

On which my muse can feast and dream.

 

I latch onto the ‘here and now’:

Ideas burgeon (God knows how);

I try to capture fleeting thought

 As every ode has lifespan short!

 

As for books, the title’s key

A pun, I find, will often be

Somewhat of a mild temptation

Sealed with clever punctuation!!

 

No charge, no adverts, just pert prose;

So, thanks for being one of those

Who passes by from time to time

And finds amusement in my rhyme!

(c) Poet in the woods 2025

* e.g. Julio Inglesias  - Spanish singer (born 1943)

 

A Fishy Tale!

Dry summer, lack of rain – quick spark

However caused, leaves landscape stark

The fault of climate change, or worse

 With great demands on Public Purse.

 

Mild sun, no mists, Brussels is fine

But fires elsewhere flare up big time;

This B.C.* one no fault of man

Let’s see how the story ran…

 

An osprey dropped its fresh-caught fish

On voltage wire and watched it fizz

This caused a short and then a flame

The bird flew off – escaping blame…

 

The fish, well-cooked, without a sound

Its death unmourned, plunged to the ground

Unaware it caused a fire

Whose consequences would be dire…

(c) Poet in the woods 2025

* A bird dropping a fish onto a power line caused a brush fire in British Columbia, Canada. The fire, which was relatively small, was sparked by the fish, which had been dropped by an osprey, making contact with the power lines. The resulting embers ignited dry grass below. The fire department confirmed the osprey sustained no injuries. 

On Generation Z

Now the Individual is key

Leaves have fallen from life's tree!

No fun encounters on the bus

Eye contact fixed on screens, not us!

 

Dear Belgium’s motto seems waylaid

Its “Strength in Unity”* betrayed;

As Generation Z advances

Each forced to cope and take his chances …

 

In many ways we’ve gone off track

So, Amy’s plaintive “Back to Black”**

Expresses in poetic form

A disconnect - fond memories torn…

 

What happened to old “Common Sense”

Who ought to come to our defence?

Each paddles his canoe alone

More friends reduced to mobile phone.

 

Unless I am much mistaken

A backward step has now been taken,

Is this selfish streak forever?

We’re stronger when we pull together…

(c) Poet in the woods 2025

* L'Union fait la Force, Eindracht Macht Macht

** Amy Winehouse's song: 'Back to Black" came out in 2006

Mood Swings

In the puddles on my terrace, clouds reflected;

August with a wave of rain infected

Which dents my hopes for sun on this new day

How brave can I be, when skies are grey?

 

So, I wonder how it is with YOU, out there

When you pull open curtains, do you stare

At this misty veil which means less heat

And desist from wearing sandals on your feet?

 

The happy hordes down south soak up the sun

Braving traffic chaos for beach fun

While those of us who stay to earn our crust

Cope with rainy days because we must!

 

That temperatures affect our mood is true

Emotions roller-coaster our lives through

Variety is the spice of life they say

But how much still sparks joy in hearts today?

(c) Poet in the woods 2025