Died in the Wool!

How practised is the web we weave
When we unpick our EU sleeve*
To the task we bend our heads
The twists and turns break many threads.

It's a muddle this new skein of wool
We try to get it straight and pull
To flatten out those awkward tangles
But knots are legion – endless wrangles!

So many loose ends, where to start?
We tug the fraying ends apart
These early setbacks cause us grief
We have no ministerial brief.

How to design a pattern new
When the raw material just won't do?
Like the old adage - it is clear
No silk purse comes from this sow's ear!

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

*BREXIT

BREXIT - Exit!

Clause 50 signed in Walpole's gaze
Was our first P.M. amazed?
Our fate is sealed come what May
A step change is enforced today.

Neville Chamberlain's «piece of paper»
A flourish - then a mad-cap caper
Can a trace of ink on papyrus
Really change the likes of us?

For an Island thriving on free trade
More custom tariffs, I'm afraid
Not to mention barrels of red tape
I'm puzzled – there is much at stake...

The «Consequences» game begins
And at the end of it – who wins?
Has Europe spread a bit too far
And tarnished Britain's guiding star?

What a media frenzy and mixed press!
Marine le Pen will make us stressed
Our way with challenges is strewn
The dust will settle none too soon!

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

Blossoming!

The dawn chorus greets me from the wood
I fling the curtains open – good
No street lamp glow, but early sun
Yes, winter shadows on the run!

More neighbours stop and have a chat
The village gets its ambiance back
A few young bulbs on window sills
Nature in her new clothes thrills!

Wow! Frothy blossoms on the trees
And here and there soupçons of leaves
More light filters to the soil
Where tiny green shoots now uncoil.

Occasionally, I see a smile
On passers-by; it's been a while
Since we have felt warmth on our faces
But now the pulse of new life races.

This change of season brings a wave
Of optimism – our souls bathe
In the thought that summer days draw near
How I love this time of year!

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

Thomas - Climbs Aboard!

Alas, the days of steam are gone
But the lure of big trains lingers on
Thomas gazes round wide-eyed
Down the platform he has spied

A life-size version of his toy
Whose automatic doors deploy
He cannot wait to climb aboard
It's waiting there to be explored!

Most passengers just sit and read
As this big beast picks up speed
Its diesel engine makes no noise
Not so young Thomas who enjoys

The scenic view along the track
A taste perhaps of the Outback
As the silver bird glides on its way
Thomas lives his dream today!

(c) Poet in the Woods 2017

Midnight Musings

Late at night with birds asleep
Only shadows from the street lamps keep
A vigil in our cobbled street
Time to think - and thoughts to tweet.

Snippets of news on CNN
Trump due in Brussels; Really? When?*
The chance to put the world to rights ...
I ponder on this week's harsh sights:

Westminster guardians of the Realm
Shocked but unbowed at the helm
The crazed attempt near Antwerp's Meir
Of a driver bent on causing fear...

Such attacks and actions unprovoked
By those intent on killing folk
Are becoming sadly commonplace
What's happening to the human race?

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

*D.T. in Brussels of 25th May, 2017



Westminster Palace - perhaps deliberately out of focus?



The Meir - Antwerp's largest shopping street

Positive Thoughts

The injured and those who have lost
In last year's bomb attacks, a friend
Or family member, count the cost
Will this suffering never end?

But the human spirit soars aloft
Blame and hatred cast aside
The feelings they express are soft
In contrast to their bumpy ride...

Awareness tempers their ordeal
They see the world with outlook new
The lessons learnt are harsh but real
Positive thoughts now get them through.

Minutiae have quite lost appeal
How others see them, cuts no ice
Their values have been honed like steel
Perception won at roll of dice...

The perpetrators who believed
Their Holy War was justified
Have no reward but death received
Or will spend their lives «inside»...

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

Brussels terrorist attacks: 22nd March, 2016

22nd March - First Anniversary

Already one whole year ago
Interruption in the traffic flow
A bomb upon the Maelbeek track
Commuters suffer an attack!

Not far away the Airport quakes
The terrorists have upped the stakes
Innocent passengers in line
Will not make their flights this time ...

Such senseless actions – all confused
Shock! Horror! Items on the News
Communication lines get crossed
Vital messages are lost...

A nearby hotel* does its best
To help the victims, hurt, distressed
A repeat of Paris in the air ...
The city, shocked, is in despair.

The death toll mounts but who's to blame?
It's clear life here won't be the same
Security is now more tight
Patrolling soldiers stay in sight ...

Rising costs and rising fears
Recovery from this takes years
So spare a thought for those who've died
And the badly injured - who survived!

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

* Hotel Thon



35 deaths, including 3 terrorists and over 300 injured ...

World Poetry Day!

World poetry day!* That makes me think
How inspiration takes a drink
In a trough filled choc-à-bloc with thought,
Words and feelings neatly caught

In the web that makes up who we are;
Impressions gleaned from near and far
Odd expressions, quirky views
Or something heard on morning news.

It's like a haybarn lying still
The words all jumbled up until
A spark will set my muse alight;
Pictures in my head ignite.

Our saving grace the metaphor
A useful trick where less is more
The mundane has another side
A hidden meaning steps outside!

I've said it many times before
The poet's role is to explore
The arcane workings of the mind
And try to capture the Divine.

(c) Poet in the woods 2017



* Every year on March 21, UNESCO celebrates World Poetry Day. Adopted in 1999, the occasion honours poets and pays tribute to expanding linguistic variety and sharing oral traditions through poetic forms. Poetry is believed to have originated thousands of years ago and has been kept alive through oral and written forms.

R.I.P. Chuck Berry (1926-2017)

Chuck Berry - ninety - now departs ...
Think «Johnny B. Goode» which topped the charts
How we danced and sang with «Maybellene»
What an icon of the music scene!

«Roll over Beethoven» hit the spot
A classical twist to modern pop
Charismatic Chuck launched his career
With «Rock and Roll Music» loud and clear!

A Libran from St. Louis way:
Brushed with the Law, was put away...
But the Sixties saw this all forgotten
As Berry got us all a-rockin'!

Records in millions were sold
Chuck, like Midas, turned to gold
With «No particular Place to go»
In time the whole world came to know

The genius of this pioneer
Foot-tapping, catchy, in-your-ear ...
A space now yawns where he has been
But his music lives on – ever green!

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

Died 18th March, 2017

The Dutch Vote

Dutch Barn, Dutch Auction, Double-Dutch
All these expressions have a twist
What of the fine Dutch wife to touch?
A bolster you perhaps have missed!

With interest I contemplate
This stalwart country's cultural lore
Some words are used in pristine state:
«Apartheid» stays in fashion, hoor!

The «Dutch Treat» is no treat at all
«Dutch Courage» brings booze into play;
But «Going Dutch» in voting hall
Sends those Extremists on their way!

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

Winding Down

The weekend looms but all is still
One lone bird on my window sill
My terrace is a sorry sight
I'll need a day to get it right.

The radio buzzes as I clean;
Domestic Goddess ain't my scene
But needs must when the devil drives
Wow, my orchid still survives!

Spring's on its way - the dust must go
But my enthusiasm's low
Determined though to make a start
I roll my sleeves up and take heart.

Big tidy-up; I put away
Items that have gone astray
And bring downstairs my lighter coat
Though scarves stay handy for my throat!

Feast or Famine - that's my way
Six hours guiding yesterday;
No pressure now so I stay home
Spring cleaning till I hear the phone!

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

What is Truth?

It happens often when on line
Some lurid 'post' attracts my eye
A quiz invites me to waste time
Taunting me my skills to try.

How many fall right in this trap
And seem amazed at their high score
What hidden knowledge do they tap?
Myself, I think that less is more!

Are these set - morale to boost?
To think we know more than we do?
Ignorance comes home to roost
My trivia quotient is shot through!

The world moves forward at such speed
Those who learned from books are old
The internet creates a need
Which younger generations hold

To find out answers straight away
Though a quick foray on the Web
Yes, the Trivia quiz is fun to play
Though reference books are far from dead!

What price accuracy today?
Is 'Cut and Paste' work error-free?
We «sticklers» spot gaffes right away
Genuine research is key!

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

Title: famous quote from Pilate ...

Clause 50 - at Gunpoint!

Europe of the twenty-eight
May soon lose some real estate
Across the Channel trouble brews
«Clause 50» now makes headline news!

Only 52% rejoice
At the outcome of this choice
But what of the other 48?
3 million Scots are still irate...

Over the Border should they vote?
A referendum seems remote
Could the Kingdom split apart
And challenging new problems spark?

Ted Heath brought the Brits on board;
(A move De Gaulle would have deplored
But it seems the General was not wrong!)
A divided Britain is not strong...

A quandary for Theresa May!
Should we go or should we stay?
Waiting makes the problem bigger
Will she, won't she pull the trigger?

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

Article 50. 1. Any Member State may decide to withdraw from the Union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements. ... A Member State which decides to withdraw shall notify the European Council of its intention.

The Twittersphere

Be brief, be sharp, stay on the ball
Let your hashtags say it all
Abbreviations catch the eye
Prime your arrow – let it fly!

Your target audience is wide
Politicians now take pride
In «going viral» with their news
Gossip or scandal – what's to lose?

Misinformation can be dire
As fast-primed darts sometimes misfire
But now that news is Twitter-led
It's Action Stations on the Web!

It's the way to go - so I join in
To cut a dash - it's sink or swim!
@poetinthewoods will find
My inspirations all in rhyme!

(c) Poet in the woods 2017



Twitter founded 21st March, 2006.

To You, My Readers!

Inspiration strikes and likes to tease!
It's a puzzle to me what will please
In terms of topic, news or place
Will it bring a smile to someone's face?

I can't be funny all the time
Things happen – accidents and crime
Some date in history seen anew
Or the quirky things that people do.

Politics is such fair game
But let's not mention any name!
Weird trends we've never seen before
Science theories to explore.

Celeb lifestyles, apt quotations
Horrors - causing palpitations
I shuck each oyster for a pearl
And give my daily thoughts a whirl.

Like ripples on a deep blue pond
Some poems reach out far beyond
My wildest dreams – I'm deeply blessed
You, my Readers, are THE BEST!

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

R.I.P. The Herald of Free Enterprise

The Herald of Free Enterprise
30 years ago* – huge loss of lives
From Zeebrugge harbour off the shore
Someone did not check the door...

Innocent lives in mortal peril
Engulfed - as water found its level...
Sad negligence – a «minor» slip
Spelt disaster for this ferry-ship.

A ceremony held today
For the 1-9-3 who passed away
Their lives cut short that fatal eve;
So many families still grieve ...

Worst peacetime maritime disaster
Huge headache for the Harbour Master
Surpassed in tragic loss and panic
By only one ship – the Titanic!

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

*On March 6th, 1987.

Fake News?

It all depends what YOU believe
The Media has tricks up its sleeve
The buzz which causes this day's drama:
Was Trump phone-tapped by Obama?

Meanwhile, the Russians bide their time
More politics dragged in the slime
Does the Press report the news
Or just repeat fictitious views?

Journalists should check their sources
But CIA and the Armed Forces
Are faced with situations new
Does the Helmsman's voice ring true?

We've challenges enough, God knows
Recall the Emperor* – with no clothes!
And the tiny child whose voice rang out ...
Who speaks the truth and who has clout?

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

*Hans Christian Andersen ...

For Grandparents' Day

You never know what you will learn!
Life's a book – each day you turn
Its myriad pages and discover
Some fascinating fact or other.

Today – an email unexpected
Promoting e-cards - was selected
For those of us who've reached an age
When grandkids swarm across the stage!

I've many friends who have this joy:
They dote on wee kids who annoy
And charm us all in equal measure
Cute, precocious, human treasure ...

Grandparents beam, admire, condone
Their charges, never left alone
And help them make their own sweet way
Through complicated life today.

Perhaps they suddenly recall
Their memories when they were small
Their jaded palettes are refreshed
Hearts warmed with new eggs in the nest!

(c) Poet in the woods 2017