An Epiphany 2025

It isn’t every day I write;

How can I when the sun burns bright

And blue skies beckon me outdoors

Or keep me busy – doing chores…

 

This year sees Seoul up in arms

And drought affecting Aussie farms;

While Jimmy Carter lies in state

And mourners his life venerate.

 

We wonder what this new year brings

With Donald waiting in the wings

 And Gaza still prone to attack;

World politics stays on the rack.

 

I don’t pretend the know the score;

Old Christmas trees lie on the floor

But Epiphany shows saddened face

As festive frolics slow their pace...

(c)  Poet in the woods 2025

 Jimmy Carter - 39th US President

The State of Play on December 28th

The pavement where the leaves collect

And bins are lined up, is now wet

While bushfires rage out of control

And for deaths at sea, bells toll…

 

The Sydney-Hobart annual race

Which on Boxing Day takes place

Has been by sadness underscored:

Two yachtsmen lost - swept overboard…

 

Though sport takes lion’s share of news

In South Korea – conflicting views

Impeachment cries have now begun:

Its leaders topple - one by one…

 

Domestic violence crimes are rife

Road crashes lead to loss of life …

High cost of living, sales galore

Australia is this – and more!

(c) Poet in the woods 2024

The Fatal Flight

Enola Gay* its weapon shed
On this day: 80,000 dead
The Empire of the Rising Sun
Crushed at last, like beaten Hun.

6th of August Forty-Five
Left marks on many still alive ...
A second bomb**, a tip-toed peace
Though this was only of short lease...

The Cold War kept us on our toes
As Man is ever bellicose.
Korea, Vietnam, genocide
Names we'd so much rather hide.

Still overshadowed by this threat;
On this day we recollect
Haunted, saddened Hiroshima ...
The Atom Bomb - a tough redeemer.

The Fall-Out (in more ways than one)
Is much more deadly than the gun...

(c) Poet in the woods 2020


*The Enola Gay is a Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber, named after Enola Gay Tibbets, the mother of the pilot, Colonel Paul Tibbets. 

** the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan on 9.8.45





Hiroshima, Japan 1945

Clinging On

How hard to find a subject new
I cast my net out for a clue
What event will catch my eye?
The Olympics* hurtle swiftly by.

But sadly, sport is not my bag
What fun with football's to be had?
I might as well declare my hand
With politics my flame is fanned!

Donald and Russians in the news
Maelstrom of conflicting views
More gun violence in a school
Prayers and not a change of rule.

South Africa where Zuma's** reign
Is over – sunshine after rain?
Corruption everywhere is rife
And the plight of migrants – what price life?

Whom can we look to and admire?
High hopes crushed, dragged in the mire
Have we reached the end of tethered rope?
Pandora's box holds one gift – hope ...

(c) Poet in the woods 2018

* Winter Olympics at Pyongyang, South Korea: 9-25 Feb, 2018

Jacob Zuma resigned as President of South Africa on 15th Feb, 2018