When Rain is Welcome!

Drought-ridden Belgium? Surely not?

This thudding rainfall hits the spot,

As over two months have gone by

With heatwaves rocketing sky high!

 

My plants perk up, quite overjoyed

But navvy workers are annoyed;

Asphalting means re-routed bus;*

All done, we hope, for the school rush …

 

Just days ago - a burning sun ...

My hand-held fan was Number One

With bottled water in my bag;

I wish right now hot tea I had!

 

A wise Greek** centuries ago

Worked this out and so we know

Life is awkward to arrange

As our sole certainty is – change!

Poet in the woods 2026

* or buses (N° 17 and 95) as road surfacing work is carried out at Place Wiener for a week.

** Heraclitus of Ephesus (active circa 500 BCE), said that change is the only constant. While the exact modern phrase is a paraphrase, it summarizes his core teaching that the universe exists in a perpetual state of flux.

An Incident on the Track

Let’s take a train to see a friend!

No crowds, no queues, so I expend

A modest sum with “Senior Plus”;

It should take less time than a bus!

 

“S” class – nothing untoward

Means stopping train; I climb aboard;

Except, and this is nothing new,

"Track incident”  bars our way through!

 

A crackling Tannoy fills the air...

How long to wait? It isn’t clear…

“Moensberg” station looks deserted

Does this mean we’ll be diverted?

 

The passengers, and we are few,

Grumble, as all Belgians do!

This is indeed a “stopping” train!

At last, we pick up speed again.

Guess what? We  halt a second time:

More scenic views in bright sunshine!

Irritation, resignation...

Post  Linkebeek, next rural station.

My friend awaits, in bright red dress;

But I alight, so end of stress!

Down leafy lanes we make our way

Amused, perhaps by this delay!

(c) Poet in the woods 2026

Quaint Rhode-St. Génèse station

 

All Records Broken!

Summer this year wears new guises:

Heatwave Number Three surprises!

The Belgian Fens* combust and blaze

Mass exodus in black cloud haze…

 

We like it warm, but not this hot!

Smart aircon cafés hit the spot;

The start perhaps of a new trend?

Streets deserted – long weekend …

 

Rain is promised, but I tread

On pavements apt to fry an egg!

Large water bottle is a must;

Even weeds die - dry as dust…

 

Uccle**– weather records tumble;

Meanwhile, no sign of a rumble;

So, hot and bothered now are we

As the skies remain cloud-free …

(c) Poet in the woods 2026

* Les Fagnes, Eastern Belgium - over 3000 hectares destroyed since 14th August

** Belgium's weather Observatory

Highest temperature ever recorded! 41.8°C : 107.2°F

Great Awe In August!

The birds are silent; there’s a pause;

As thousands gather out of doors

Eager to observe the sky

And see the valiant moon glide by.

 

‘Inconstant orb!’, so said the Bard*,

Curse making women’s lives so hard!

Source of wonder, hope and dreams …

Which acts today as strong sun screen!

 

“Protect your eyes!”, broadcasters shout;

Queues quickly form and stocks run out

As special lenses fly off shelves;

Punters must safeguard themselves …

 

Spain is the hot spot for best views

Today’s** eclipse is headline news

Observers gather on high ground

Bathed in atmosphere profound…

 

Wars and politics be damned!

All eyes on the heavens scanned

For just an hour – life put on hold

Suspended in an arc of gold!

(c) Poet in the woods 2026

* In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, written c 1594-6

**  on 12th August, 2026

Shake-up for Columbian Coffee?

Columbian coffee gets the shakes:

7.4 on Richter takes

The local populace by surprise

Crumbling buildings and high-rise…

 

Sharp tremors felt in Panama

And in Ecuador so far!

Nature’s rage can’t be curtailed

In an instant, lives derailed!

 

It’s true we live in shaky times;

I hear today the death toll climbs*

So many - taken unawares

The nervous voice of local mayors…

 

We humans think we know the score

But Tectonic Plates know more!

We’re helpless to avoid our fate

Each day, new troubles fill our plate!

(c) Poet in the woods 2026

* 132 deaths reported on 11th August, 2026

Western Columbia - coffee plantation area

Screen Idlers!

How often have you heard it told:

It’s a challenge – growing old?

We take our lives for granted, then

Health issues crowd in– bye, bye zen!

 

Long-term friends still keep in touch:

So, WhatsApp /Email – thanks so much!

But nothing beats a face-to-face

Though health concerns slow down life’s race …

 

I marvel how we’ve lived so far

Born under post-war lucky star

With full employment, family joys

Before A.I. our peace destroys!

 

We savour memories of youth

When life seemed simpler, less uncouth

When photographs were ours alone

And no one tried to scam our phone.

 

But life is NOW and burn-out reigns

Stupid adverts jerk our chains

Via flickering small screens of blue:

Has “1984” come true?

(c) Poet in the woods 2026

Golden Moments?

Clouds gather but there’s still no rain

Sleeveless T-shirts worn again!

I declutter, dust and cook

Decamping cobwebs from their nook!

But life is so much more than chores;

Time to have a stroll outdoors

Where this drought has taken hold

I notice tree leaves tinged with gold…

 

Rue Neuve puts Autumn styles on view

But those who go inside are few;

Who wants new sweaters in this heat?

While ice cream sales go down a treat!

 

Burglaries and fires make news;

Are Brussels streets still safe, I muse …

But tourists swarm here in great hordes

Enjoying what Belgium affords!

(c) Poet in the woods 2026