At the House of European History

In leafy glade by duck-filled pool

A Museum!* Once smart dental school;

In imposing, Nineteen-Thirties chic …

Here Europe’s stories thrive and kick!

 

You reach it up a cobbled way

(Though lunchtime joggers barred my way);

What a fascinating peep inside:

Strong social themes sharp-cut and dried!

 

It’s vast - with stairs and corridors;

Fun facts await us on all floors:

We played a Generation Game;

Opinions voiced showed pride and pain…

 

Each culture validates its view:

Background and era weigh in too;

Our prisms form the way we think:

Our humanity the link...

 

In a select group, with a friend

For lunchtime tour; a happy blend

Of old and young and in-between;

In short, our European dream!

(c) Poet in the woods 2026

* at 135 Rue Belliard in Parc Léopold - built 1934-5

Wardrobe Worries?

Should we to memories kow-tow?

Pre-loved clothes are clutter now…

Gifts from friends no use somehow

It all piles up;

Keep for a rainy day? No good!

Clothes, too tight to wear, we should

Donate to friends - because they would

With ease close up!

 

We’re richer than we used to be;

But buying garments seems to me

A weak excuse for shopping spree …

Do we need more?

Yet “Make and Mend” is so old hat;

Sew on a button? Who does that?

We just go out and buy more tat

Stop!  Less is more …

 

Wardrobes bursting at the seams;

What to wear?  The stuff of dreams

A daily tough decision means

We’re never sure;

Have we forgotten to take stock

Who remembers what they’ve got?

Must we always go and shop?

Caveat emptor!

(c) Poet in the woods 2026

Internet photo - not my wardrobe!

Our-Lady-of-the-Heavens Chapel

Nothing ever stays the same;

Our modest chapel down the lane

In sprucewood artfully designed,

Has for the Faithful served its time.

 

“Our-Lady-of-the-Heavens”* lies

In Boitsfort - by a gentle rise;

Nearby, the ‘All Saints stream’ ** would flow;

In green valley - lost below…

 

Its congregation is no more;

Since Fifty-Six, they formed a core

Of locals – many now demised;

It ended up desacralized***.

 

Its fragile status made it dire;

In Seventy-Six, it lost its spire;

No more the heart of village buzz

It lost its purpose, as time does!

 

Now, workmen occupy the site;

An upper floor will soon delight

A group of special people who

Are looking for Day Centre new!

 

A pilot scheme**** which may surprise;

The Commune backs this enterprise;

Far cry perhaps from sacred heart;

But twenty souls have brand-new start!

(c) Poet in the woods 2026

* La Chapelle de Notre-Dame, Reine des Cieux

*** in 2023

****An initiative of the ATIPI asbl (Atelier Inclusif Pilote)

** Heiligenborre 14-16

Taking a Moment ...

We cannot always shout “Hooray!”

As niggles creep in, ruin our day;

Something wrongly put away

And we are lost!

Too busy, we forgot to phone;

A wealth of chores await - we groan!

We can’t do everything alone…

We count the cost…

 

Something breaks, can’t be replaced;

We’re pulled up short by rancid taste

Of expired food in fridge – more waste;

Bad start to day …

We fail to run, so miss our bus;

That trusty trowel shows signs of rust;

Daily pressures mount on us

Nerves start to fray…

 

Then one glance reveals warm sun

Plants seem so joyful, every one;

September’s pageant has begun

And I’m alive!

How is it with you all - out there?

Please make time to stop and stare

A moment’s respite, free-from-care

Helps us survive!

(c) Poet in the woods 2026

Does Size Matter?

Eckert IV beats ‘Mercator’!*

Where have I heard this name before?

On new world map all eyes train:

Africa - made great again!

 

With this scale-up, Greenland shrinks;

Most vote in favour; U.S. thinks

That its landmass is down-sized;

A lonely ‘no’ voice; who’s surprised?

 

Let us get land in proportion:

Mercator’s world map caused distortion

So, the U.N. Powers decreed**

This new version fills a need!

 

In what way will our views change?

A smaller Canada is strange;

Why does its Neighbour make a fuss?

As there’s still room for all of us!

 

(c) Poet in the woods 2026 

* Gerardus Mercator was a Flemish geographer, cosmographer and cartographer. He is most renowned for creating the 1569 world map based on a new projection which represented sailing courses of constant bearing as straight lines.

** On September 4th, 2026

Nearly a Disaster!

A simple purchase*, bought by card

(As counting coins out can be hard)!

In a quiet shop at end of day

With all things “couture” on display.

 

At nearly six**, I had a date

With a friend to celebrate;

My mind distracted, Heaven knows

We all have silly days like those…

 

I took my purchase, grabbed the bill

Dropping bank card by the till…

Too late I tipped out bag and purse …

No card to be seen – a first!

 

Quick email to the sewing shop;

Happiness – my card they’d got!

Reunited joyfully once more

My heartfelt thanks to friendly store!

(c) Poet in the woods 2026

*  For the curious - a needle threader!

** just before closing time

 Chaussée d'Ixelles 143

Entente Moins Cordiale?

Long-stitch embroidery unrolled

King Harold’s stitched-up death is told

1066 is long ago

But Hastings changed the world we know.

 

French became the Saxons’ tongue

‘Twas, indeed, adroitly done;

William-the-Bastard seized the throne

And all things French became well known…

 

We bear the consequences still!

But BREXIT was a bitter pill

We swallowed - due to flagrant hype;

Can Bayeux’s artwork make things right?

 

Across the channel Macron comes…

He meets King Charles; are they now chums?

Museum visit – moments shared;

New Entente Cordiale* declared?

 

Fly-in-the-ointment: Number Ten

In the shadow of Big Ben

Larry-the-Cat keeps well away

Unimpressed by this display!

(c) Poet in the woods 2026

* The first one was signed on April 8th, 1904 (under Edward VII) between France and Great Britain to organise colonial interests.

11th century Bayeux Tapestry

Larry - Chief Mouser to N° 10 Downing Street since 2011