Buddha - a Case of Attitude

Old Buddha knew a thing or two;

When minds get cluttered (as they do),

High time to step aside and say

We need to filter thoughts away!

 

Too much ‘stuff’ destroys our peace;

As foreign wars will never cease,

We have to ask ourselves deep down

Why let world worries grind us down?

 

Beset by turmoil every day

Minutiae make emotions sway;

With much ‘out there’ beyond control,

We struggle to let good times roll!

 

Our influence may be but small 

When depression makes us stall,

But simple things we CAN decide:

Each rules his roost from the inside …

(c) Poet in the woods 2026

From Nepal to Norway ...

I’m flattered when you find my blog!

The Internet maintains a log

Of all the countries that alight

Perhaps, by chance, on what I write…

 

I keep a handle on world news

But carefully avoid strong views

As you must make up your own mind;

Poets do try to be kind.

 

But it is clear the world’s a mess!

Disasters of all types cause stress;

Witness flooding in Nepal*

Where Man can't take the blame at all!

 

Poor country, where the living’s hard;

Hapless souls now deeply scarred;

Survivors faced with mud display

As fragile homes are washed away…

 

Wars rage on – a truce is sought

But selfish interests lead to nought

Young lives, full of promise, die

While petrol prices leap sky-high!

Death comes to stars** and kings alike;

Norway’s King Harald** *died last night …

The world we loved and knew, departs

Before us now – a new game starts!

(c) Poet in the woods 2026

* Over 2000 deaths on night of 26-27.8.2026

** i.e. Dolly Parton aged 80, who died on 25.8.2026

*** King Harald V of Norway, aged 89, who died on 27.8.2026

He is succeeded by his son King Haakon VIII

November 4th - A Meditation

Another blank sheet glares at me

What does my crystal ball tell me?

The world is in a right old mess

The Middle East – turmoil and stress …

 

Did Nostradamus* tell us true?

His quatrains spoke of chaos too

Upheavals, unrest, maybe war

Predictions many still explore…

 

I am no harbinger of doom

But news streams into every room;

Today - harsh earthquake in Nepal

Causes more deaths to deplore …

 

It’s all too much; is there a way

To keep the God of Fear at bay?

Politicians’ lives are fraught

Has history no lessons taught?

 

We reach the back end of the year

Where glowing autumn colours cheer!

Dame Nature does her best to please

But can we see this wood for trees?

(c) Poet in the woods 2023

* French physician and reputed seer - Michel de Nostredame (1503-1566)