As November wanes ...

November dies in wind and mist

Though sometimes falling leaves are kissed

By ragged rays of autumn shine

Pre-Christmas shoppers out – big time!

 

The wars continue – peace talks stale

Hong Kong fireball* leaves black trail

Floods* in Thailand’s south claim lives …

But Hope, amazingly, survives…

 

Mismanagement, neglect, or Fate?

Disasters still accumulate

On-line news beeps in our phones

No privacy – just think of drones…

 

Conspicuous consumption peak

As Black Friday lasts all week!

I opt out – I forego mainstream

I watch the leaves fall and I dream …

(c) Poet in the woods 2025

* Both events happened on 26th November, 2025 with extensive loss of life ... 150 people died in Hong Kong.

A Mixed Palette of News

Let’s think back; in the last few days

We have sweltered in heat haze

Riedlingen train crash – three souls dead

Cambodia/Thailand border – red!

 

Food trucks arrive on Gaza strip

Trump’s trade tariffs take a dip

Satirist Tom Lehrer’s passed

Ozzie Osbourne’s breathed his last…

 

True, friends on holiday, have fun

But for the rest of us, it’s rum

Now heavy rain cleans Monday’s slate

So, what have we to celebrate? 

(c) Poet in the woods 2025

Notes: 27th July: S.W. Germany: Riedlingen train crash caused by overflowing sewage shaft which caused a landslide. 41 people injured.

Tom Lehrer brilliant US satirist, famous in 1950s-1960s (1928 - 26th July, 2025)

John Michael Osbourne, known as Ozzie, leader singer of heavy metal group "Black Sabbath" (1948 - 22nd July, 2025)

Lunch Date in Ixelles

I met up with good friend this week

We dined on spicy Thai - a treat!

We’ve knocked around for many years

And share a love for writing spheres.

 

Discussions ranged from this to that

During our long lunchtime chat

But illness and the loss of friends

Became a theme that never ends…

 

Despite the wan sun through the glass

We tripped down dark lanes of the past …

Recalling how life used to be

In Brussels back in Eighty-Three…

 

Alas, we cannot stop the clock;

We wonder when our lives will stop …

Meanwhile, what joy we still can meet

From time to time; yes, life is sweet!

(c) Poet in the woods 2025

* with V.E.

Animal Messengers

Weird and wonderful, our world delights
In giving us surprising sights
Social media spins the dice
Nature makes us all think twice!

Awareness dawns when we're at home
How Nature comes into its own
With no vast ships or streams of cars
To scare them off, our wildlife stars!

Take the week that's just begun:
A host of animals have fun
Through Adelaide jumps a kangeroo
In Brussels - foxes roam anew!

And as no cruise ships mar the scene
Venice once more is serene
Instead of waves, a gentle swish
The lagoon now sports a jellyfish!

The fog and smog, polluted pall
Caused by India's city sprawl
Has vanished like an ugly dream
Himalyas in the sunshine gleam!

In Thailand with the tourists banned
Baby turtles roam the strand
For twenty years they kept away
What joy to see them back today!

Birdsong replaces honking cars
At night we now can see the stars
Nature tells us «what is what»
But can we halt the ticking clock?

(c) Poet in the woods 2020



Venice



Beach in Thailand