Puddles, Pagers and Politics!

It’s time once more to pen new thoughts

And paint the world with all its warts*

As exploding pagers hit the news

And debates across the States confuse...

 

There’s Portugal - engulfed by flames

Central Europe – where it rains

So floods endanger myriad homes;

What a cataclysm of unknowns!

 

We should tread carefully, pay more heed;

Man’s life is in his hands, we read

But as I search for seeds of hope,

I dangle from a much-frayed rope!

(c) Poet in the woods 2024

* What Oliver Cromwell purportedly said in the 17th century when sitting for his portrait : "Paint me, warts and all!"

  

Happiness - Brief Encounters!

Who reads my stuff? I’d like to know;

It’s like life - with ebb and flow;

Some days many find my page

As my little thoughts engage …

 

Some news event means I am read

As I hit the nail upon the head!

My readers like a poet’s take:

An alternate piece of cake!

 

Our world’s in turmoil; Man’s neglect

Means storms* do more than make us wet;

They flood our senses and make way

For front page horror scenes each day!

 

The sun shines, though it’s cooling down

Autumn, with its burnished crown,

Means darker evenings by the fire

Where my poems may inspire.

 

But who you are and what you do,

Puzzles me – perhaps you’re new …

Your stopping by my blog means much

As somehow, briefly, we’re in touch!

(c) Poet in the woods 2024

* News flash: Romania, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, southern Germany, and parts of Austria have all been hit by heavy rainfall (Storm Boris) in recent days, with up to 45cm falling in some parts causing devastating floods in many parts of the region.

Celia Johnson in the 1945 film "Brief Encounter"

Posturing ...

From many quarters come loud cries

Out in the open – no disguise

Is nuclear winter on its way?

Tenterhooks are back in play!

 

Chat-chat and jaw-jaw down in Prague

Resolve nothing; we’re ill-starred

The atmosphere is getting tense;

Against such folly – no defence.

 

Since Nagasaki brought War’s end

In high drama, Nations tend

To rattle sabres, scream and shout

And let reservists fight it out…

 

Satan’s weapon primed - in check

But mass destruction stays a threat!

As Fall-Out – real and metaphor

Could be a step too far - and more …

Poet in the woods 2022

The Spring Tide

Easter, for those whose means afford
Means a mini-break, a trip abroad
I'm impressed how my friends get around
To locations with a magic sound.

Like Honfleur, fabled Prague, Deauville
In search of sun or culture thrill
An escapade that's carefully planned
Three stolen days in foreign land.

Though days are chill, the sun now shines
Spring is late but showing signs
Of coming to the fore at last
As Brussels tourists hurry past

Down cobbled streets with chocolate wares
The Grand'place fills with foreign stares
Ah, people love a change of scene
As Europe wakes up, dons spring green!

(c) Poet in the woods 2015

View of Deauville, France

MauerFall!

They could talk of nothing else today
But the date the Wall was swept away
Harsh symbol of the long Cold War;
It was meant to stand for evermore.

Watchtowers around the clock were manned
Over this floodlit, no man's land
Government exodus to Bonn
Berlin, split in two, looked on.

The Prague Spring crushed by Soviet tanks
Fomented rebellion in the ranks
The Super Powers stood their ground
As no Entente could be found.

Cracks in The System were contained
The Soviet Bloc, though weak, remained.
Then Hungary took a giant stride
Giving exit on the Austrian side.

A gateway opened to the West
It turned into a litmus test
A cry for freedom had been heard
Europe waited, no one stirred...

With hindsight, looking back, we know
The winds of change began to blow
Beleaguered East Berlin awaits
With bated breath by guarded gates.

So what happened on November 9
Back in 1989
Seemed incredible, untrue;
Streams of people flooded through

To West Berlin in glare of lights
It was the most surreal of nights;
Through lack of orders? Intuition?
The Wall now seemed an intermission.

The guards allowed the people through
Many climbed to get a view
Of East and West, of grey and blue
Euphoria was born anew.

What happened back in Eighty-Nine
Belongs firmly to another time
But those who watched events unfold
Desire their story to be told.

(c) Poet in the woods 2014



It stood for 10,316 days and fell on 9th November, 1989.

Expanding Horizons - May 1st, 2004

The first of May. Another day?
But no - we go
From 15 to 25 at one go.
The Union opens up its gates
To ex Iron Curtain States.
The world is turned upon its head
These politicians make their bed
It's now too late to change the sheets
Let's hope new partners' sleep is sweet.
Fireworks, hot air balloons, parades
What's done is done and memory fades
We've half of Cyprus - is that wise?
Hungary and Latvia - no surprise.
And valiant Malta with George Cross;
Slovakia's also won the toss.
Catholic Poland, Lithuania
Still on the list - Romania*.
The Czech Republic: "Welcome Prague!"
Say Ljubljana - it is hard.
Slovenia, you're not on your own-ia
We must not forget Estonia.
That wraps it up - but what a laugh
I make it twenty-four and a half!

(c) Poet in the woods 2013

* Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU on Jan 1st, 2007.

BREXIT! Great Britain left the EU on January 1st, 2021