St. Clement's Church - Boitsfort

You come across it on a rise

An 11^th century surprise;

Romanesque, modest, alone

This church has scarcely a grave stone…

 

You climb towards it from Place Keym;

It bears an unfamiliar name:

Saint Clement’s – loyal Pope of Rome

Who was by Trajan overthrown…

 

First century: strife and confusion

Persistent Roman persecution;

Imprisoned, banned from speaking out

With other Christians, suffered drought…

 

His miracle? He found a source

A blessed, hidden under course!

In sacred texts an anchor shows

His martyrdom in Grecian flows…

 

Today, this church has aspect sad

In scaffolding its tower is clad;

But workmen’s vans parked in the drive

Convince me that it will survive!

(c) Poet in the woods 2026

Boitsfort

 

St. Clement, tied to an anchor, being thrown from a ship

Day Out in De Panne!

De Panne via the Ostend train

Coastal forecast: wind, no rain;

Graffiti scrawled by railway track

Dingy houses, back-to-back…

 

At Midi station, eager horde

Climb on, with mobile phones absorbed;

Weeds dominate this railway line

But verdant tendrils hide the grime...

 

Farms, fields and barns soon past us run

Scenic pleasure in the sun

While cranes and factories display

The Flemish ethic, bold but grey.

 

Greenhouses, some with broken panes,

Compete with polytunnel lanes;

This flat landscape marked by spires

As in olden times, inspires!

 

A myriad bridges punctuate

The line, while wind farms now rotate;

A pity - as they spoil the view

But needs for energy accrue!

 

These robot giants herald Ghent

Where we change, time quickly spent;

Onwards to the coastal plain

A pause in Bruges: tourists de-train!

 

At last, as North Sea comes in sight

White seagulls greet us with delight;

Ostend in happy face today;

But the Kusttram soon whisks us away!

Through the dunes behold De Panne

An hour’s bumbling ride on tram

Where Leopold first stepped ashore

And Royals lived throughout World War.*

 

Strolling families on the digue …

Less touristy with time to breathe

We wine and dine in quiet seclusion

Away from stress and in collusion!

(c) Poet in the woods 2026

* 1914-18

King Leopold I Monument in De Panne (1958)

 

April takes Flight!

April, hesitant, still shivers

But nonetheless green shoots delivers,

Seedlings, dandelions and weeds

Fight for space with new beech leaves.

 

How I love this time of year

When mists soon lift and skies are clear

Hedgerows burgeon and bird cries

With insects of all kinds, surprise.

 

Just now I glimpsed a butterfly

On purple buddleia nearby;

Its life, though short, graceful and free

I pause, this miracle to see…

 

The morning news affords no joy

Just spoon-fed to us hoi polloi

Broadcasts by those in-the-know

Continue, but the going’s slow!

 

The off-switch beckons – I obey!

These nature walks re-boost my day;

The warm rays of the sun delight

And set my trembling Muse alight!

(c) Poet in the woods 2026

An Appreciative Audience!

Near Vandervelde there’s a “do”

Stained glass windows – light shines through;

European singers take their places

Keen to be put through their paces!

 

Our brightly-garbed songbirds are poised

To intone Renaissance joys!

The conductor is inspired

Like Aristide Briand attired;

 

Classical Mozart to the fore

Then Mendelssohn – with German score;

“Ave Maria” - world première:

Soprano ignites atmosphere!

 

‘Rose’ and ‘Seal Lullaby’ impart

Warm reactions in our heart;

With Spanish pianist on the keys …

This repertoire was sure to please!

(c) Poet in the woods 2026

* Church Notre-Dame de l'Assomption near to metro Vandervelde

**   The International Chorale of Brussels sang songs  "From Ancient to Modern"

Conductor Matthew Carver wore a red scarf over a black coat ...

Thoughts on the Strait and Narrow!

What’s life without a mobile phone?

Perhaps a friend when we’re alone?

While real life happens undetected

So, are we genuinely connected?

 

A brand-new generation thrives

On this gadget, as their lives

Are caught up in this modern dream

Colluding on this on-line screen…

 

But in the big, bad world outside

Occur events most want to hide;

To cope, pills come to their defence

As the stark stakes are intense.

 

Common sense is thrust aside

The voice of reason is denied,

As those who peer o’er parapet

Soon opprobrium collect…

 

Freedom of speech is curtailed

The world economy derailed;

In many ways, we’re all at sea …

I drone on, letting thoughts roam free … 

(c) Poet in the woods 2026

In Memory of a Fellow Writer ...

It’s when those younger than you, die …

You’re stopped dead in your tracks, and cry:

“What happened? Surely this can’t be?”

For same-age friends – a tragedy …

 

Time does not stop for those in power …

Or those whose I.Q. can inspire,

Or those well-known or run-of-mill;

The ticking clock is never still …

 

The Fates who snip our lifelong thread

Stand poised with scissors, straight ahead

We cannot see them - but beware

We intimate their presence near …

 

Immortality’s the creed of youth

And by those long-in-the-tooth;

We humans brush such thoughts aside

As life, we feel, is a long ride!

 

This week a much-loved, childhood friend

Whom we hoped the Fates would tend,

Slipped from our gaze despite our prayers

Beset no more by mortal cares…

 

Memories into focus come …

Why did he have to be The One?

He meant the world to near and dear;

How sad his absence leaves us here …

 

Admired, intelligent and smart

Since way back when he’s been a part

Of the creative spark we shared;

I hope he knows how much we cared … 

Poet in the woods 2026

For B.M.

Stumped by a Tree?

In the car park of Calypso* pool

Which I walk though as a rule

A sight surreal caught my eye:

“But this is not a tree!” ** quoth I!

 

Its branches clambered on red brick

Reminiscent of Magritte …

But painted white, not in 3D

A winter emblem – quite leaf-free…

 

The early rush hour slowly passed;

Parents dropped off school kids fast;

Their voices had a lively ring

All eager for the chance to swim!

 

In lilac bushes down the street

The sound of chattering is sweet;

But is this bold artwork observed?

Its branches, though broad, tempt no bird!

(c) Poet in the woods 2026

* (In Boitsfort) For the curious: Calypso ('she who conceals') was a nymph who lived on the island of Ogygia, where, according to Homer's Odyssey, she detained Odysseus for seven years against his will.

** To paraphrase René Magritte: "This is not a pipe!"