December - through a Northern Lens

Bare trees, cold winds and blue-grey skies
This is Belgium – no surprise
Last minute shopping, wrapped-up warm
Around the seafood, punters swarm ...

Champagne and snacky things to eat
Ice-cream concoctions (over-sweet!)
How Belgians love the festive touch
But maybe do indulge – too much...

Europe in the cold and wet
With family linked by internet
In South Australia's torrid sun
Provides a different kind of fun.

Friends and colleagues, warm mulled wine
Guided tours (I'm here this time!)
The central heating turned up high
A frosty, cold but star-lit sky.

No mangoes or dips in the sea
No sun cream needed – lucky me!
Instead thick jacket, gloves and boots
Recalling childhood's Northern roots!

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

A Greater Gift

The gifts lay wrapped around the tree
Post Christmas day – how can that be?
Such self-control, subdued restraint
Yet no one voices a complaint ...

Cute Isabella, one week old
Their precious gift, outweighing gold
Takes up their every waking hour
And exercises her lung power!

Picture, if you will, the scene,
The family starts a new routine
Granny and Thomas form a bond
As he sleeps over, growing fond

Of loving Granny's constant care
While Mum and Dad hold their pearl rare
A breast-fed babe they know is best
But right now – what they need is rest!

So Christmas this year passes by
With their normal lifestyle all awry
Isabella her sweet time must take
Hence present opening has to wait!

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

Born 21st December, 2017

2018 - a Watershed

Post Boxing Day, it's cold and damp
Dark shadows round my bedroom lamp;
We've turned the corner of the year
And say goodbye to Christmas cheer.

I contemplate the year gone by
And in this early morning try
To spin through thoughts since last December
What a mixed bag to remember!

Horrors interspersed with joys
How politics our world destroys
How little things keep us in touch
And how, despite it all, we clutch

At straws and hope for better things
We wonder what the new year brings.
Some special friends have passed away;
But there is light amid the grey

As life is good in the fast lane
A dear friend plans to wed again
For another, a wee babe is due
Before cold January is through...

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

Isabella - at One Day Old!

Rippled excitement in the air
Anticipation – it's all there
A new babe human warmth imparts
And brings a glow to all our hearts.

So fragile, delicate and cute
Sweet marvel in a birthday suit
The culmination of all joys
A tiny soul emitting noise!

At one-day-old brought safely home
The first page of a lifelong tome
Dark-haired, a contrast to big bro
Who kisses her and wants to know

When she'll be old enough to play
As they live in tandem from today!
Isabella with her eyes closed tight
Will keep her secrets for tonight.

While Granny takes good care of him
Thomas stares and takes it in
Hark! The Herald Angels sing!
This Christmas has a special ring ...

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

Isabella: born 21st December, 2017

Isabella - our December Babe!

9 months – a miracle is wrought
Dreams and hopes have all been caught
In this precious being, fast asleep
With pearl-pink toes and dancing feet.

The day dawns on a family blessed
With a little cherub in the nest
Adorable in every way;
What will big brother Thomas say?

Isabella! What a joyful ring!
In time for Christmas, she will bring
A sense of wonder to the feast;
In love already with my niece!

(c) Poet in the woods 2017



Born 21st December, 2017

The Run-up to Christmas ...

We search for turkey and the trimmings
Attend some joyful carol singings
Pen messages to friends abroad
And spend more than we can afford!

The garish decor in the shops
The buying spree until one drops
Primeval urge to light the dark
And kindle friendship's loyal spark.

Hectic travel, kids in tow
Traffic chaos: (strikes or snow?)
Bright parcels wrapped, we meet and greet
And share some calorific treat

Around a decorated tree
By crackling fire, mulled wine or tea;
As adults wish on their mince pies
Joy shines, we hope, in children's eyes ...

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

The Demise of the Telegram

Last Dinosaur, the Telegram?
Now classified as «also ran»
Outdated, reckoned obsolete
Gone the rush of postman's feet ...

Purveyor of good news or bad
Contained in phrases few, it had
An impact which was hard to guess
A source of joy or deep distress.

Announcement of a train or birth
Or dear departed from the earth
Its advent always caused a stir
Excitement rippled in the air ...

The pace of life is quicker now
Electronics link us up – and how
Belgium's Telegram, revered, admired
Has now been gracefully retired...

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

In 1846 Belgium's first telegram was sent from Brussels to Antwerp!

Isabella - in the Wings!

Already Thomas made his wish
By asking for a little Sis*
Mum, Dad and Granny know the score
In no time now they will be four!

She lies there, hidden from our view
What she looks like, we've no clue
A tiny creature in the making
Soon the waters will be breaking...

The miracle of every day
Taken for granted as some say
Is a marvel we can't comprehend
But nine months' waiting soon will end*.

Anticipation is the key
The room prepared, where she'll soon be
A babe at Christmas surely means
Tangible magic born of dreams.

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

*Born 21st December, 2017

* see also: http://poetinthewoods.blogspot.be/2017/08/intuitive-thomas.html

An Alternative Christmas

The talk is all of Christmas food
Indulgence in a festive mood
Meals with family members planned
Catch-up moments, all feuds banned.

Descent of Rellies from afar
Who bore you stiff and raid the bar
Bearing gifts without much thought
No wonder many are distraught...

This hype infests our very soul
Such stress is costly, takes its toll
On those days when we don't toil
Such tensions bring us to the boil!

This Christmas I am on my own
With family contact just by 'phone
Few gifts to buy, great books to read
So I can take things at my speed...

Forget long queues and frantic pace
A meal plus just one friendly face!
The poet smiles with inner glow
Time to chill out – way to go!

A Plethora of Seasonal Parties!

Despite the darkness, some bright sights
The Christmas party round delights
Smiling faces, warm mulled wine
Goodies on display – big time!

Indulgence is the way to go
To diet seems a shame, let's glow!
The year's been fraught, much on-line news
Seems to purvey sad, bad views.

There are moments - this is one, I feel
When meeting people seems so real
A chat with colleagues, friends, old flames
Equality for all – first names!

Office parties all this week
A time for fun – forget the bleak
«In the worst of times, the best of times»
(As Dickens said); hear doorbell chimes!

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

From "A Tale of Two Cities".

The Worst is Not Over!

Roadworks continue – in the snow
Slush and piles of bricks lie low
Scattered bin bags in huge drift
We're stranded, cold without a lift...

You'd think we'd not seen snow before!
We're caught out, helpless, on the raw.
STIB's buses vanish without trace
Sparse tracks dissect the frozen waste.

Beware all tunnels – they are closed
Delays add to commuter woes
Some trucks keel over on their side
But skiers have an easy ride.

Dripping roofs today - with sleet
An annoying wind and chilly feet
But tread with care - the sun is low
Black ice threatens – take it slow!

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

Snowed In!

Snow crystals, snowflakes - thick snowstorm,
Snow shoes, snow ploughs, early dawn
Pristine roads, cars buried deep
We're blanketed while fast asleep.

Tall, febrile pine trees flecked with frost
A touch of Christmas – at no cost!
Red-tiled houses whited out
Winter's touch is all about!

These whirls and flurries patterns make
Like icing on a wedding cake
Trees outlined in Indian ink
A morphing puddle - an ice rink ...

Snow sprinkles last week turned to slush
A premonition warning us
Of the blizzard yet to come
A weekend wonderland for some.

Chaos on the rush hour roads
Weather website overloads
Dame Nature sleeps but is not dead
Look! Swooping birds fly overhead!

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

What will Santa bring Thomas?

His playgroup sports a Christmas Tree
A festive touch that all can see
A gift in hand, perched on a chair
Thomas has a bemused stare.

With a «Ho! Ho!» hood upon his head
Too young to grow a beard, instead
It's commerce more than Faith that trends
Oz tackiness of Christmas spends!

But a greater gift is now in store
Not in a stable born on straw
But a baby sister on her way
Who might appear – on Christmas Day!*

Though apple of his parents' eye
Thomas soon must needs stand by
I wonder how this guy will feel
When he sees the baby's crib for real?

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

* Isabella was born on 21st December, 2017

On a Dark Morning

Daylight stolen from our eyes
Muffled clouds and misty skies
Winter grasps us tight and squeezes
I put my nose out – and it freezes...

Despite the cold, some nights are clear
Stars above the trees seem near
The wind brings colour to our cheeks
The voice of Old Man Winter creaks...

The alarm clock rings, it is still dark
Nature sleeps but Man must start
His hectic routine; is it right
To energise when it is night?

The woodland creatures now lie low
They wisely hibernate in snow;
The outdoor chill cuts like a knife
But I set forth - for such is life!

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

R.I.P. Johnny Hallyday (1943-2017)

Sad news today – we can't forget
L'Elvis français, Jean-Philippe Smet
The Sixties rocker, leather clad
What a 'bête de scène', that lad!
A phenomenon in tight blue jeans
Who taught the French just what it means
To live out fast, exciting dreams!

This shooting star of music pop
Kept generations on the hop
With TV, films and concert tours.
But none escape Dame Nature's laws...
Though his time's run out – at seventy-four
His albums bring him back once more ...
And many out there cry: «Encore!»

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

Died 6th December 2017

Bordering on the Ridiculous

The Irish make the going hard;
The Border crossing is ill-starred
The Emerald Isle has made its choice
There is no single «BREXIT» voice.

Talks rumble on, sands trickle through
Time's on the run but what's to do?
New power bases rise and fall
If all else fails – the crystal ball!

The body politic perplexed
We wonder what will happen next...
Financial markets feel the brunt
Perhaps it's just a media stunt?

And can the Brits «go it alone»
Abandoning the Eurozone?
Full separation ... I don't think
With the Eurotunnel a fixed link!

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

At the Plaisirs d'Hiver

Despite a sprinkling of light snow
There's a constant to-and-fro
Roadworks be damned, no parking spaces
But Brussels boasts great saving graces!

We reach the back end of the year
With dark cold evenings, without cheer;
But behold a host of Christmas stalls
Whose lights intimidate snowfalls!

The city's son-et-lumière beguiles
The Grand'Place wreathed in coloured tiles
Reflections caught in window panes
Smeared watercolours when it rains...

The Ardennes tree, Wallonia's best
A magic touch that crowns the rest
While Gothic spire in mauve and red
Dominates from overhead.

Well-wrapped tourists stop and stare
Then selfies flash: «Hey, I was there!»
Before they vanish in the mist
For a welcome mulled wine tryst!

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

Thomas - One Month Short

With style, fine artistry and flair
So all who are invited stare
Iced cake in blue with trains on track
Just for Thomas – that's a fact.

A celebration full of joy
Where tiny tots would soon destroy
This creation sugar sweet
With chocolate filling – such a treat!

With another babe* well on its way
Due round about his own birthday
His parents let the limelight shine
Alone on Thomas one more time.

One month short of full four years
With «Happy Birthday» in his ears
Thomas takes all in good part
And melts once more his Auntie's heart!

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

*His sister Isabella was born on 21.12.2017