Tuesday, 8 July 2025

Mini Jardin Extraordinaire!

This façade garden greets your eye

Unexpected – don’t walk by!

Admire its shelves of tended flowers

Its owner must have spent long hours!

 

Step back, look closely, there’s a gnome

Proudly guarding this cute home!

While dog, cat, squirrel, butterfly,

All peep out at passers-by!

 

Such artistry put on display

Gives us pleasure every day

Inviting nature to our street

Where friendly neighbours meet and greet!

 

Green-fingered loveliness in sight

This blaze of colour – heart’s delight!

Each day I notice something more …

That’s what I love about Boitsfort!


(c) Poet in the woods 2025


Sunday, 6 July 2025

Boitsfort's Meditation Garden

An arch of trees hides well-worn gate

But what a place to meditate!

Inside, some chickens greet my eyes

By clumps of nettles, buzzing flies…

 

The greenhouse has seen better days

Though plants in scattered pots amaze;

Tools lie unused by water butt

Near winding path where weeds get stuck!

 

Fun veg or flowers? Who’s to know?

Cautious steps to dell below

Ripples now and then disturb

Pond and waving willowherb…

 

Upturned barrel, rough-hewn bench

Nature’s mix-and-match bush fence

A hidden gem at Boitsfort’s heart

Where local gardeners make their mark!

 

Here kids can safely spend their time;

In nooks and crannies, they can climb

While those of more sedate years sit

Share stories, meditate – or knit!


(c) Poet in the woods 2025


Note: this "potager collectif" began in 2013.

Saturday, 5 July 2025

Musing at Breakfast

I wake up, peer out - phew, it's hot!

I’m still here – my friends are not

They’re off in droves - by plane or car

To Greece, or Spain or somewhere far!

 

Brussels buzzes, dry and warm;

Tourists in the Grand’Place swarm

Admiring our Baroque main square

Indulging in an ice-cold beer…

 

Fierce sun for pralines is bad news

But over ‘frites’ we all enthuse

Not cheap, I grant you, but delish

And yes, they can be served with fish!

 

Little pleasures, it is clear

Perhaps that’s why I love it here;

In compact, zigzagged cobbled streets

'Tis true - the heart of Europe beats!

 

I stumble down my dusty stairs

Housework beckons, but who cares?

It’s Saturday and I have time

Hence this modest little rhyme!


(c) Poet in the woods 2025




Thursday, 3 July 2025

Vanished Charm in Vilvoorde!

On Vilvoorde border there now lies

In quiet courtyard, a surprise!

Vast mural art – bold vibrant splashes

Van Moer scene evoked in dashes!

 

French artist from the Oise, divines

An ancient mill from gentler times

When this waterway had charm

And wealthy patrons loved the calm…

 

With the New World, increased trade

Brussels merchants had it made

Along its banks warehousing thrived;

Rural scenes like this soon died …

 

CERES, metals, fruit and veg

Now flourish on the canal’s edge

With noisy trucks in endless flow …

But it wasn’t always so…

 

Brussels history is vast;

Today’s street art recalls rich past;

Take a step back and admire

Brussels under Spanish power!


(c) Poet in the woods 2025



the completed mural - on 2 walls



Original painting by Jean-Baptiste Van Moer (1819-1884)   
entitled: "Magasin près du Moulin Saint-Michel".

 


Nadège Dauvergne at work - (96 Chaussée de Buda)

Monday, 30 June 2025

Framed for Auntie!

This composition poised, untried

Positioned neatly, just inside

An ornate frame, front-facing view

Shows Isabella’s grin is new!

 

Dame Nature knows a thing or two

As growing up is hard to do;

To get adult teeth, we’re wired

It’s just patience that’s required!

 

The Pillow Fairy knows the score

That front gap wasn’t there before

But tooth replacement does take time

And occasions this short rhyme.

 

Thomas, very much the man,

Has passed this stage and so he can

Look kindly on her gappy smile

Less photogenic – for a while…


(c) Poet in the woods 2025



 

Sunday, 29 June 2025

Smurfmania!

What is dear Brussels coming to?

Peyo’s people born bright blue

Now known as Smurfs - are on parade!

Rihanna (Smurfette) has it made!

 

Down Mont des Arts police abound

Loudspeakers blare pulsating sound

While barricades halt tourist flow;

STIB buses don’t know where to go!

 

Smurf mini-cars parked on stone step

Round giant mushroom crowds collect;

A wide screen gives a bird’s eye view

Whichever way you look, it's blue!

 

The Manneken is not best pleased

His face now hidden when he pees

Swaddled in blue fuzz for hours

In Smurf costume he perspires!

 

King Albert stoic, on his horse

Observes this scene, par for the course

Surrealist to the nth degree:

Smurf debut film is a must see!


(c) Poet in the woods 2025



The Smurfs were created and introduced as a series of comic characters by the Belgian comics artist Peyo (the pen name of Pierre Culliford) in 1958, wherein they were known as Les Schtroumpfs.


King Albert on the Mont des Arts

Thursday, 26 June 2025

Summer - Delayed?

Heatwaves forecast? I see rain …

Petals to be swept again

From my terrace puddle-filled

Grey skies leave me under-thrilled!

 

Off the radar, friends seek sun;

Sales up next – but who wIll run

To see what bargains they can find?

This ‘fast’ fashion blows my mind!

 

Tempting offers with a catch!

Summer trains are mix and match

Hoping to reduce the queue

More trains to the coast in view.

 

The glut of soft fruit is a lure

Great vitamins we all can share

While meat is chopped in little bits

For barbecues and roasting pits!

 

I observe this frenzy and I sigh

How quickly June has flown on by;

Heatwaves? All stays dripping wet

Has summer really started yet?


(c) Poet in the woods 2025