Luna Magic

The Bard's “inconstant orb” draws near;
In mid-November, this pale sphere
Will reach its perigee* at last
An event that rarely comes to pass.

Elliptical - its orbit shape
Our silver moon will often take
Aeons before it looms in sight
Like a Christmas bauble in the night.

An illusion that it grows in size
Hovering above our eyes
Its limpid glow wakes poets' muse
Juliet and Romeo enthuse...

Once in a Blue Moon, it will come
Reflecting our life-giving sun
Just briefly over Trump's high towers
This lunar loveliness is ours...

(c) Poet in the woods 2016

* The Super Moon - 14th November, 2016

In Uncharted Territory

An avalanche has just occurred!
Europe in its core is stirred
Red, White and Blue have made their choice
America has a new voice.

Hillary concedes defeat;
The Clinton era in retreat
The People desperate for change
Have picked a guy who's out-of-range.

Not from the Military or Law
It's Politics where he must score,
A businessman with mixed success
Poised for the White House spot – no less!

Will D.C.'s bubble now be burst?
Trump claims he'll put the US first
Yet on this most auspicious day
World leaders bide their time – and pray …

(c) Poet in the woods 2016

Day of Judgement at the Polls

You may search for answers but more questions come
Grab frantically at straws - find there are none
The uncertainty felt in our bones is real
We stumble for the light; our senses reel.

The Election that takes place in Fifty States
Which we've followed and discussed in fierce debates
Only serves to prove we're on the brink
Of a dramatic change – what should we think?

As these lines appear upon my empty screen
It occurs to me to wonder if the Dream
Of a better, brighter world for one and all
Has on November 8th begun to pall...

Obama plays some sport, he's off the hook
The Candidates vote early and they look
Exhausted after this long campaign trail
With so much money spent – who now will fail?

(c) Poet in the woods 2016

November 9th - Trump wins the Presidency!

Politics - 2016

'Art of the possible' we learn
It's High Noon, folks - without the gun
In the run for office, tables turn
Ideals have lured in more than one.

Agendas groan with would-be goals
Damage limitation - smart
Out-reach to undecided souls
Tensions run high in each camp!

Politics - the game they play
With the finish line ahead at last
Think 'crash and burn' time either way
Whichever candidate runs past...

(c) Poet in the woods 2016

Politics is the Art of the Possible ...



Donald Trump (R) beats Hilary Clinton (D)

The Role of the Life Coach

When several coaches get together
(No trains involved in this endeavour!)
Each has a viewpoint quite unique
Tensions mount – each wants to speak

And tune into another's needs
Access anxieties - for fees
When reassurance, help, support
And encouragement are sought.

Psychology and a gentle touch
Good listening – maybe French or Dutch
As coaches don't know who will call
And this is Belgium after all!

The human brain besieged by stress
Was not invented to process
Excessive data; and sensation
On all sides leads to frustration...

These kindly folk help pave the way
To a less emotional display
But it's hard to pause, reflect, take stock
When our fragile egos take a knock...

So, how well do they do their task?
Much hands-on training makes them ask
Is this approach the way to go
As progress, when it comes, is slow...

(c) Poet in the woods 2016

At the U.L.B.

Networking runs through all our lives
But some link-ups are a surprise
Chance encounters open doors
And don't subscribe to logic laws!

Take Friday – in my role as guide
I took a small group deep inside
The bowels of Brussels to the drains
To explain what happens when it rains!

A cultural trip in many ways
Where rats scamp freely in the maze
Their scaly tails grip grimy walls
Their home-from-home has lethal spores!

With my group one hour I spend
“Can I have your card?” comes at the end;
“You're a guide AND poet! Is that right?”
Which explains my presence here tonight!

(c) Poet in the woods 2016

Introducing myself at the European Poetry and Literature Association conference
poetry reading evening - held at the U.L.B. (Université Libre de Bruxelles) on 29/10/16 - after meeting them at the Brussels Sewer Museum!

An Intellectual Black Hole?

Facebook quizzes are a blast:
“What was your job in centuries past?”
“What's your personality hue?
Is it yellow, red, green tinge or blue?”

“Which Disney character could you play?”
“Describe yourself in one word, pray!”
Each one a catchy, fake request
Yet who succumbs and takes the test?

In the busy lives that we all lead
These conundrums tend to slow our speed;
Trite answers that won't fool a child,
But where are the results stockpiled?

(c) Poet in the woods 2016