Put the Brakes on!

July in Belgium brings a lull
A dip or slump or mid-year pause
We take a breather, old thoughts cull
And spread our dusty wings outdoors.

The world is silent for a while
We take a step back, look around
Our hectic lives are such a trial
We live full speed and “in the round”.

But who can switch off mobile phone
And leave the TV screen a blank?
On-line even when at home
For films and shopping and Home Bank...

This constant pressure, all man-made
Goal-oriented, drives us mad
We've lost our way; I feel afraid
Where's the peace we all once had?

(c) Poet in the woods 2015

R.I.P. Suzy Falk (1922-2015)

I did not know this lady well
But as an actress, she was swell
With a warm and friendly face
Skilled in the art of comic pace
She moved with ease upon the stage
From a very early age.

“Godmother” to a friend of mine*
We used to meet from time to time
And though I never knew her young
She told us her life had begun
In Germany before the War
Happy once; it all turned raw...

Her acting helped her to survive
Her spirit very much alive
Brussels then became her home
Soon in the theatre she was known
An actress with a heart of gold;
A wealth of stories she has told!

At the ripe old age of ninety-two
Her bright star now fades from our view
As on the radio today
I learn that she has passed away**;
Suzy Falk - one of a kind!
You leave so many friends behind...

(c) Poet in the woods 2015


*  Christine S.

**6th July 2015

The Poet's Prerogative?

What's in a name? Well, Shakespeare said
"A rose by any other ..." has street cred;
Our onus is to spell correctly
So meanings will shine through – directly.

But poets have their rule of thumb
A licence which lifelong can run
It gives them carte blanche when they write;
New spellings sometimes will alight

From their train of thought at speed
Perplexing those who choose to read
Between the lines a clever pun;
Misspelling foreign words is fun!

Take Schadenfreude, Deutsches Wort:
Joy when another's life is fraught
In the context of this July heat
Schattenfreude's hard to beat.

This playful vein is quickly tapped
A “joy in shadows” seems more apt
As we swelter under torrid skies;
How the poet loves to get a rise!

The Heat is not for All

Good news at last! In mid July
A burning sun means we might fry
Even in these Northern reaches
Time to lie on sandy beaches...

The school run over, now's the time
To depart, en masse, for sunny clime
In family car, or coach or plane
Leaving Belgium is the aim!

Influx of tourists – all amazed
To experience Brussels in heat haze
Or in an air-con cinema
A cheaper version of pool spa!

Concerts in leafy parks enjoy
Gatherings of the hoi polloi
Beer flows in gallons (oops, in litres!)
Income flows in parking meters!

The tempo changes in the heat
More smiles burgeon in the street
Summer sales may cause stress
But warmth equates to needing less.

Yet summer can be a bumpy ride
For those who have to stay inside
Constrained by illness or old age
To endure, cooped up, this sultry phase...

(c) Poet in the woods 2015

Grexit?

What “Common Market”, you may say
This post-war dream has gone astray
Though “Pax Romana” is maintained
In financial terms, we're strained.

The Euro seems a good idea
Exchange rates are so yesteryear
With porous borders, we migrate
To find work in another State.

New legislation Europe-wide
Sovereignty is pushed aside
The Brits, as always, not best pleased
Payback options always seized.

The Benelux, small and compact
Remains determinedly on track
Its heart in Brussels still beats strong;
Now Spain and Greece have joined the throng.

In dribs and drabs more countries join
Most accept the Euro coin
The currency that made us “one”
Brings with it problems – we're undone.

Debts mount up; can't be re-paid
Many Southern countries I'm afraid
Have bitten off what they can't chew
Now Grexit threatens – what's to do?

(c) Poet in the woods 2015

Brussels Summit - July 12th, 2015

A Sultry Weekend

The city’s empty – roads are clear
The parking’s free - what do I care?
As my friends have headed out of town
Replaced by tourists milling round.

The sky looks threatening – will it rain?
Scattering blossoms down the drain
And make the granite cobbles shine
As we run for shelter one more time?

Although the offices are shut
The restaurants will make their cut
As many quit those cultural paths
For a meal or drink in nearby bars.

The country sells its glorious past
Its works of art leave one aghast
Its villages picturesque and neat
Have surprising views in every street.

But as I gaze at leaden skies
I think of the Belgian compromise
We promote our history with great flair
We’ve more than most – now is that fair?

There's really so much you can do
Museums to visit, kayaks to crew
It’s almost an earthly paradise
Sun and heat make life here nice!

(c) Poet in the woods 2015



Kayaking down the Lesse river

Hot Sales!

Good news at last – we reach July;
A burning sun means we might fry
Even in these Northern reaches
It's time to head for sandy beaches.

Thirsty plants must be protected
Summer hats and creams selected
The sun - our enemy and friend
Skin cancer is a growing trend...

The summer sales now tempt us out
Some smashing bargains, I've no doubt
In air-conditioned malls, it's true
Pity I've other things to do!

Why all this rush in burning heat
To queue in sticky, down town street?
The sky today's a peerless blue
How long before clouds block our view?

(c) Poet in the woods 2015