End Game - in Flames!

As this troubled year draws to a close
So much has changed; I think of those
Who can no longer share our lives …
Such sadness when the devil drives …

Phaeton’s chariot ignites
Drought-ridden Gippsland – smoke-filled sights
Highways closed, more homes at risk
Year ending has a fatal twist…

Booze-fuelled swimmers risk their days
Off crowded beaches; burning rays
Wreak havoc with skin unprotected
More melanomas are detected …

Dehydrated, many laze and roast
So helicopters roam the coast
Heat warnings should not be ignored;
Alas, more deaths are now deplored.

This year the heat waves top the chart
In “cool” Tasmania flare-ups start
As yachtsmen enter Hobart’s bay
They observe a natural fire display!

Storms in Kimberley, Top End;
Are these extremes a brand new trend?
Australia smoulders in the sun …
Is this the shape of things to come?

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

Worth - a Mention!

Bemused - the mercury still climbs
Dissolving any hope of rhymes
With curtains drawn and fans full blast
Exhausting - every little task…

Smoke haze cloaks our southern skies
To venture outside is not wise
Though the ‘garbos’ have gone past today
So Christmas Past is cleared away…

Deep orange skies glow through the night
While bush fires rage, there’s no respite
Australia – land of vast dimensions
Is most concerned by climate tensions …

I think of those no longer young
Who have to cope – it is not fun
With no rainfall forecast yet
Heat exhaustion stays a threat …

Good news! The Red Cross checks on Mum
A vital lifeline, one-to-one
A cheery voice rings up each day
And learns that she is still O.K!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

Australia - A Quick Cameo

Most streets are empty – it is hot
Harsh sunlight causes fruit to rot
Bush fires rage round Cudlee Creek
With Woodside threatened as we speak …

A python by a Queensland pool
Twice bites a little boy, pre-school
Four deadly metres in the grass …
Each step you take may be your last!

Nation of suburbs, city sprawl,
Huge landmass with not much at all
Few rivers, barren plains, big sky
Sunsets that memories untie …

Pasturelands where lives are tough
As for water – there is not enough
The ’Ten-Pound POM’ days are long gone
First Nation voices now grow strong.

Australia Fair stands on its own
Not only whites can call it home
It wears a multi-cultured coat
Though the Queen still beams from dollar note!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

For Isabella - at Two!

Did I hear the flap of angel wings?
A December baby magic brings
A flurry of feathers in the nest
And behold the noble stork’s new guest!

Thomas, who ruled the roost, wide-eyed
Had in a flash to step aside
As Isabella, cute, serene
Took the stage and stole the scene!

Small perhaps, but called to play
A host of different roles each day:
Parents and Grandmas were so proud:
Not to mention Thomas – he was wowed!

As for Auntie, who lives far away,
What joy to mention on this day
When two candles flicker on her cake
That she’s on hand to celebrate!

Isabella’s feisty, knows her mind!
Thomas feels her coming up behind
Ambition burns deep in her heart
Could it be at two, I see the spark?

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

Killer Winds!

All ears attuned to radio
A battery-operated flow
Bushfire hot spots – lightning strike
The Lofty Ranges are alight!

Areas closed off, north of State
In the Riverlands it is too late
Vast swathes of vines lie in firepath
CFS teams rush in – short-staffed.

Dry branches flare up and implode
Lives are lost on midnight road
South Australia heroes – volunteers
Unpaid and brave, forget their fears

And lay their lives upon the line
As communities are hit – big time
Meanwhile, the P.M. takes a break
A decision seen as a mistake…

Snapshot of catastrophic scene:
It’s hotter than it’s ever been
Evacuation plans are dire:
Stay put or flee as flames leap higher!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019



CFS = Country Fire Service

Inferno - Australian-style

The weather map ‘Down Under’ glows
With shades of orange, red and mauves
As heat increases as we speak
Threatening record highs this week.

Bush fires rage out of control
Flames and high winds take their toll
Hot spots take on a new meaning
Wrath of Fire God in ‘The Dreaming’.

Mass destruction at a stroke
Unlucky buildings wreathed in smoke
Lifelines cut – heat unforgiving
Though summer now is just beginning…

‘Red Centre’ is no idle word
Scorching North winds their loins gird
Branding landscapes as they pass
Torching trees and blackening grass.

The blazing sun makes fun of Man
Cancer threatens summer tan
This heat, though vital, can be harsh
Dante’s inferno comes to pass…

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

Whakaari Island Eruption

White island, stark, with rocky scree
Where cruise ships stop in sapphire sea
To observe its crags and rough terrain
Wrought by forces under strain…

An outcrop ragged, wild and bleak
Where questing tourists come each week
To clamber over and admire;
No more – these trails now breathe fire!

New Zealand, rarely in the news
Save when this ring of fireworks spews
From deepest crater gas and smoke
Extinguishing life at a stroke.

There was no warning – no alarm
No impending fear of harm
But Mother Nature’s mood swings mean
She is indeed a drama queen.

Death is swift and burns are deep
Locals vigils quietly keep;
Some bodies found, flown back with care
While mourners wait – in media glare…

Death in paradise – no TV show
Think Pompeii’s pyroclastic flow;
Man thinks he knows what he’s about
But in fine, Nature has more clout!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

Views from the Eurostar

On frosted fields, long shadows lie
The sun hangs low down in the sky
A golden glow through barren trees
As Dawn, now well advanced, proceeds.

Commuter traffic wends its way
In constant stream down motorway
A tractor reaps new cabbage crop
Then “Lille Europe” in France – short stop.

Flat land, pylon-crossed, white barns
Scattered every which way, farms
Poly tunnels, pallet stacks
Expanses scarred by mystery tracks…

In morning mist the background blurs
Though through the haze the sun appears
The Eurostar begins to slow
‘’Calais-Frethun’’ halts our flow.

Another train, sleek, bold and long
Hurtles past us; then we’re on
Our way beneath the small divide
BREXIT looms – it’s dark outside…

High-rise barricades in Kent
But the Island Link was so well meant;
St. Pancreas – in late morning light
Source of John Betjeman’s delight!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

A Grimm Fairytale?

No snow yet but an icy chill
The planet spins, is never still
Tsunamis, terrorists, bushfire,
All warnings of a future dire...

Scaremongering is not my thing
But the warning bell now starts to ring
It may seem faint and far away
But it's getting louder every day.

What of Nostradamus* long ago
Whose predictions seem so à propos?
Plants and wildlife on the wane
Man surely bears part of the blame?

As we hurtle to the brink
Of chaos, let us stop and think;
If we don't take action now
Who'll be left to wield the plough?

I.T. has its limitations
What we need is «Action Stations!»
The music slows – end of joyride
We must join forces to survive.

Easier said than done, of course
Legislation must be put in force
Our cushy lives come at a price
Now all must make a sacrifice ...

(c) Poet in the woods

*Born Michel de Nostredame 1503-1566

By Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm - printed 1812

An Evocative Hat Trick

Not all hat tricks bring us joy
Not are they sports-linked; a news ploy
Is in some weird way to join dots;
But this unlikely trio stops

Us in our tracks; how can it be
Not one star falls and burns, but three
On a single dark, November day
Miller, James and Rhodes all pass away?

Gone - Jonathan Miller's sparkling wit
So British theatre takes a hit
Chef Gary Rhodes fades in Dubai
His menus henceforth pie-in-sky ...

Sharp Vivian Leopold, known as Clive
Whose repartee spread fast worldwide
Putting Aussie culture on the map,
Bows out at Eighty - with corked hat...

While sudden losses sadden hearts;
Raw talent such as here imparts
Fond tastebud mem'ries or wry smile
So guess what – they live on a while!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019



Clive James (Australian Broadcaster) Gary Rhodes (Celebrity Chef)



Jonathan Miller ( Playwriter and critic)

A Meditation on Black Friday

Can one celebrate at my age?
I think, as I put pen to page:
Been there, got the T-shirt too;
So, somewhat blasé, what's to do?

Life's breakneck pace speeds up some more!
I am breathless yet explore
Brand new pathways – but I dread
In some respects, what lies ahead...

This world's in turmoil, nothing's sure;
Social media likes to claw
From the depths of every mind
Fears and worries undefined.

Must great questions stay taboo?
And so I ask – as you must too
Why are we here if not to share
Life's burdens and show that we care?

The rest is dross; Black Friday sales:
A mad rush to rip clothes from rails
And snap up objects we don't need;
What's with this fad to sponsor Greed?

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

The Conversion - in Abeyance

It is quiet and peaceful, the wind blows
Skittering leaves are in the throes
Of a last mad fling before they die
Against a backcloth of grisaille...

The house, meanwhile, still looks forlorn
With the blue tarpaulin ripped and worn
While propped-up garage doors in grey
Keep nosy passers-by at bay!

Black netting hides the new facade
Though a window looks across the yard
November now is nearly done
But the finish date has overrun ...

Planks and sacks lie strewn outside
But who knows where the workmen hide?
Of their Polish truck no sign
So peace and quiet are once more mine ...

The drains are dug, the road relaid
Yet once again all is delayed
Perhaps this building site is hexed?
I wonder what will happen next ...


(c) Poet in the woods 2019

God Forbid!

God of Jealousy, God of Greed,
God of One-Upmanship? We need
Other Gods to shed their light ...
Though the God of Chaos does alright!

The God of Politics survives
Sending tremors through our lives...
But the God of Patience ain't enough
And the God of Kindness finds it tough.

How these False Gods love to row!
So Mount Olympus trembles now
As Fair Play, Truth and Common Sense
Fail to come to our defence.

Does the God of Media think us fools?
The Law's an Ass – we break the rules
The Old Gods, whom we much admired
Have, it seems to me, retired!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

Poetic Eldorado!

I am amused; my blog now flies
Around the world! A great surprise!
My thoughts in poems touch your hearts
Like Cupid with his myriad darts!

It seems, though I was quite unknown,
My little poems liked to roam
To many places I've not been;
Thanks Internet! I've come on stream!

Is it word-of-mouth, or just plain chance?
These mystery readers so enhance
My days by looking at my odes;
I play with language, using codes

And puns, and can't resist critique;
Now many pop by every week!
And then, what joy! When least expected,
You leave comments – I've connected!

South America, where I've not been,
Often links up to my screen
And the Middle East has found my blog
So this poet is one happy bod!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

Brits on a Knife Edge ...

Who can we now admire and trust?
Our current leaders' cut-and-thrust
Convinces very few of us
Which way to turn
It's now who tells the greatest lies
The NHS needs funds and tries
To voice complaint but - no surprise -
Reaction – none!

Well known shops can't meet their loans
More buildings, but no starter homes
BREXIT causes widespread moans
It's got to stop!
The Government hangs onto life;
Election fever causes strife
And TV propaganda's rife;
We're laughing stock!

We hurtle on a downward curve
While lacklustre MPs serve
Their own agenda – it's absurd
The Web pulls taut!
Youth voters are the ones who care
Decisions must be very clear
December 12th will soon be here
So time is short ...

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

Acqua Alta in Venice

Priceless treasures water-logged
San Marco Square mudstrewn and clogged
While gondolas bob on the waves
And tourists look on, stunned, amazed ...

Yet Acqua Alta comes and goes
Venice, no stranger to high flows
Keeps precious tomes on upper floors
While water swirls round tourist stores.

The lion of St. Mark observes
The Square - now fit for ducks, not birds!
This delta, once rich Island State
Was a trading nation in full spate.

Where the Doge, like Croesus, garnered gold
And merchants silks and spices sold
Till Magellan's sea route to the East
Made wealth to Portugal increase...

An UNESCO city now beset
By hoards of tourists, hopes unmet
Unable to stroll down main street
Without the challenge of wet feet!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

Silliness Overload!

I look around, I can't believe
This silliness – it makes me grieve
Hologrammes of long-dead stars?
Virtual Reality now mars

Our lives; perceptions count for truth:
Brit elector-queues at polling booth!
Wars continue, greed destroys
For many people, simple joys ..

Hardworking farmers are ill-paid
Sex scandals – royals on parade
Carbon footprints still run deep
Politicians quibble – I could weep...

But Cynicism is not new
In Ancient Greece they knew it too
Man seeks gain for his own ends
And humans, sheep-like, don't buck trends!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

Diogenes of Sinope - 4th century BC

A Sweet Moment!

On holiday – away from home
Indulgences are not unknown;
The family, keen to explore,
Stands spellbound in a candy store.

A dream come true - with chocolate bars
And wrapped-up toffees in glass jars
Trays on shelves with bright delights
Think sugar-rush - no sleep at nights!

An Aladdin's cave for tiny tots
For Thomas – this shop fairly rocks!
Those crinkly packages entice
Will their insides be as nice?

But what to choose? What will Dad buy,
Thinks Isabella, perched up high...
With temptation too hard to ignore,
Mum captures this scene by the door...

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

Bollards to All That!

It's rarely quiet in my street;
First the new house (not complete)
With bricks, wheelbarrows and cement
And lorryload of men, intent

On plastering the inside walls
Installing switches, lights and doors ...
Meanwhile, at daybreak, a new team
Armed with pickaxes, now seem

Engaged upon a brand new task;
Their noisy thumping makes me ask
What have they now come here to do?
A row of bollards spring in view!

Discourteous parking has caused angst;
Our cul-de-sac's too narrow, thanks!
So now, when this truck drives away
Drivers can't nip by and stay...

This is a move which I applaud
The Commune listened – we have scored!
Our kerbstones will be free of wheels
It's people power – how good that feels!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

Off the Charts!

The things one hears on daily news!
Life's arcane foibles oft amuse
Let's take a sample from this week
I pull the curtain back and peep:

Our noble Queen now bans all fur
No soft and silky touch on her!
Claiming environmental need,
Dutch motorways reduce their speed.

While Democrats across the Pond
Force Trump towards 'Slough of Despond';
Impeachment looms; what role Ukraine ...
Will Hillary now run again?

Weird, wonderful and plain bizarre:
Belgians - the happiest by far -
So a European poll proclaims ...
Is the Almighty playing games?

Bushfires crisp the Queenland coast
High winds fan flames and Aussies roast ...
While Brits now find themselves flood-prone
Washed up by BREXIT – and alone!

Should we laugh, fight, protest, scream or cry?
Armageddon in the wings, stands by.
The future seems a tad too dark;
We search in vain for Noah's Ark!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

Yellow Jackets in Boitsfort!

The spiral staircase leads the way
I mount it almost every day
This morning on the tiled floor
A hectacomb – dead wasps galore!

My house is old, with wooden eaves
And built quite close to woodland trees.
But in this cold with windows closed
How they got in, no one knows...

In nooks and crannies they lie crushed
I sweep them out with pan and brush
And flush them down the upstairs loo
It's sad, but what else can I do?

Post breakfast – one flies overhead;
Wielding a slipper at its head
I try to swipe with hardened heart
But this yellow jacket is too smart...

This 'fait accompli' infestation
Means Nature needs no invitation
To set up home within my walls;
The term 'my little nest' appalls!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

a.k.a. Yellow Vests

On Loss ...

On this of all days, I reflect
On those whose hugs I cannot get
Because, and this is humans' fate,
They've gone ahead to Pearly Gate ...

Or maybe, they are far away
Life intervenes - they cannot stay;
Whatever - both are just as bad
For millions this day is sad...

There's talk of poppies, soldiers dead
Insane world conflicts media-led
A myriad lost souls in despair:
War widows mourning men not there ...

Or kids who'll never share with Dad
The happiness they should have had
Because the war machine destroys
All hope of peaceful family joys.

Two World Wars, yet still we fight
For flags and glory – is this right?
Why can't we get our act together?
Must peace be on the «never-never»?

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

 

Armistice Day - 11th November

Lesson Unlearned?

This Sunday as our heads bend low
Parades of soldiers mass below
Their youth and hopes untimely lost ...
While we remain to count the cost.

Proud generation of ideals
Now buried deep in Flanders fields
The «War to end all Wars» was mined;
Why is politics so blind?

The inter-war years – fragile peace
The bubble swelled and then released
Its rancour on the sons of those
Who, bright-eyed, once wore khaki clothes.

Is this the Lesson we can't learn?
When will this tide of hatred turn?
Those beyond our gaze look down ...
What price glory and renown?

Each precious life needs love and care
But many did not live to share
This wondrous world and all its joys
The last they heard was battle noise ...

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

Double Happiness!

Time passes and this family grows
We wonder if wee Haydn knows
That suddenly, he'll have to share
As Ethan and twin Blake are here!

A double dose of infant joy
These little creatures, pink and coy
Have swelled this family to five
So many legs and arms to writhe!

David - Patriarch indeed
And Hoa, loving Mum, will need
Some time to plan a schedule new
Two-for-one means lots to do!

To a topsy-turvy world they come
Pre-Christmas gifts for Dad and Mum
As excitement reaches fever pitch
There is no greater joy than this!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019



Born 6.11.2019 - Brussels

and now (2024), aged 5!

Where are the 'Real' People?

We hurtle onwards, no respite,
At rocket-speed – we hold on tight
We've hardly time to catch our breath
Is life a whirlwind unto death?

I put my foot out – where's the brake?
This constant worry when we wake
What drama will we face today?
What provocation comes my way?

Like you, more human warmth I search
As more friends now fall off their perch
Old and new merge into one;
The phone rings – more work to be done ...

Retirement is an awkward phase
There seems no pattern to my days
The assumption is I've time to spare
But only when my friends aren't there!

The constant lure of Internet
Impersonal and demanding, yet
Real people seem thin on the ground
So our soul suffering is profound ...

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

The Perplexed Poet

Has all been said? I feel bereft;
What intriguing subjects still are left
On which I can indulge my muse?
All around - conflicting news...

We're all so busy; family ties
Or hectic deadlines fill our lives
The nights draw in; at end of day
Much easier to hide away

In cosy bolt holes, than go out
Our energy reduced to nowt!
So it's a joy when friends drop by
And share a moment on the fly...

A phone call, unexpected, brings
News of all kinds when it rings
Be it joyful, weird or sad;
Being 'in touch' makes me glad.

As each day dawns and I go out
I wonder what life's all about
We rush, haphazard through our lives
The path before us – a surprise!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

BREXIT Day - Plus One!

The day dawns slowly, crisp and cool
A holiday, so there's no school
The roads are peaceful, there's less noise
November this year starts with poise.

Non-BREXIT Day has disappeared
No ugly red-tape beast has reared
Its threatened head; we're off the hook
Meanwhile, new deadlines start to cook!

I check - and yes, still Twenty-Eight
Countries sharing Europe's fate
We come and go just as we please
Crossing the Channel - still a breeze!

Brave 'Brits-Abroad' sigh with relief;
We cling triumphant to our reef
And enjoy the perks our Union brings
Despite its roundabouts and swings.

But the troubled Isle grows sick and mired
So Parliament must be retired
It's soon «All change!» for Red and Blue
Post elections, what will Britain do?

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

31st October 2019 - deadline past

Behind the Painted Mask!

This Halloween sees new confusion ...
«Nos chères têtes blondes» in bright profusion!
Amid dark cloaks and pointy hats
Ghouls, skeletons and witches' cats,

That kids delight in this October,
A new disguise, a bold make-over:
The «Boris»* mask now tops the polls
As British parents seek new goals

With exasperation at its height
A touch of ridicule just might
Break the evil BREXIT spell ...
Any witch way – who can tell?

In this bubbling cauldron of despair
The British people now «play fair»;
Once heads were put upon a spike
But now they will parade at night!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

* Boris Johnson - British P.M. 2016-2022 and ?

Taking a Back Seat

Does the autumn chill bring on the blues?
This lack of sunshine is bad news
The change of hour, one night's more sleep
Then timing chaos through the week!

Huge adjustments must be done
The price to pay for fading sun
As Commune trucks clear mounds of leaves
And Halloween rolls up its sleeves...

Witches, ghosts and goblin sprite
Flicker in the candlelight
It's 'trick or treat' time once again
A ritual small kids explain.

The year grows tired and old and slow
The morning nip makes faces glow;
We rummage for our gloves and scarves
And mulled wine tempts us into bars...

Mid-season brings no rush for sales
Conspicuous consumption pales
Spoiled and jaded, we «make do»
As darkness mutes our «derring do» ...

It's a time to pause, take stock and muse
And brace ourselves for more bad news
Which features daily on the Net
So time to switch off – and forget!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

Asphyxiated!

A travelling fridge with men inside
And women too, all of whom died
A van with foreign number plates
A youthful driver, scared, who states

That help is now to no avail;
What prompted these poor souls to sail
In cramped conditions, in the dark
Where survival chances were so stark?

These perilous crossings now increase:
Vans, ferries, customs checks, police
Huge costs in lives, high danger risks
Is modern life reduced to this?

War zones, cruel tyrants, loss of hope
Desperation clings to last-chance rope
Such an exodus in peace time shocks;
More abject horror at our docks ...

(c) Poet in the woods 2019




SKY NEWS Headline: "39 Essex Lorry Deaths" 25.10.2019 The victims were Vietnamese.

The Unsigned Letter ...

Smoke screens, wool pulled over eyes,
Each day in Britain a surprise
Three years have flown but who can tell
If this saga will end well?

Letters, one unsigned*, are sent ...
Can the E.U. gauge intent?
Has Wunderkind now shot his bolt?
Should we leave - or call a halt?

Let's cast a look at the world stage
Hot spots cause death, fierce wars are waged;
Injustice, poverty and debt
Old balances of trade upset.

Yet Britain plays at «Wait and See»
So our Parliament has ceased to be
A place where one can air clear views;
Why can't they let the people choose?

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

* By Boris Johnson, British P.M. (on BREXIT)

A Snapshot of Liège

When you think of Liège, you see the Meuse
Or Van Buren's steep ascent occurs
Prince-Bishops' palace, Market Square
And a Cathedral – that's not there!

Abbeys, Convents, Catering School
The Perron and its history cruel
Sculptured fountains by Delcour
Hors-Château mansions to explore.

Poor Liège, so often pulled apart
See the Archeoforum at its heart
Archbishop Lambert lives again
A shopping arcade bears his name!

Le Carré, once an almost isle
Now thrives with nightlife, student style
Fine Opera house with colonnades
No memory now of Viking raids...

Industrial heartland, coal mine slump
The Coronmeuse now bears the brunt
Much shabby housing, seen from boat
Its Renaissance grandeur seems remote.

Yet Grand Curtius is the place to go
Vast range of artefacts on show;
The baptismal font - surviving gem
And masterpiece from way-back-when ...

The ancient Butchers' Hall delights
With leaflets on historic sites
Congresses, Fairs and La Batte fray
Home to waffles, beer and Jules Maigret!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019



"Montagne-de-Buren"



Guiding round the 12th c. baptismal font - St. Bartholomew's Church

Last Ditch Deal?

Like a battlefield, the lines are drawn
The game's afoot in early dawn
E.U. meetings, last ditch jumped
Brussels and Boris – who has trumped?

The House of Commons must decide
To cast off or perhaps abide
By the twists and turns of this new deal;
We ask ourselves, 'Is all this real?'

What will happen? Who can say?
This might be a momentous day;
Fishermen and farmers pause
So much depends on Commons' scores ...

This island nation in North Sea
Relies on free trade - it is key!
Are we 'in' Europe, or without?
Forgive me, but there's room for doubt!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

A Bleak Week?

I seek bold subjects that inspire
But the 'muddles' in our world are dire:
Border quarrels, Middle East,
Oppressed people, what price peace?

A long-lost colony* now fights,
Against the odds, for human rights
And those demonstrations round the globe
As many fear life will implode ...

Are DNA tests really sound?
No cure for cancer has been found
I.T. rules - more jobs will go
Work morale? At all-time low.

Drones can spy on us big time
We face an avalanche of crime
MSF now forced to leave
Where they're needed most; I grieve.

Today's youth caught at pristine age
Would rather with their phones engage!
Life as we knew it - on the blink?
It seems we totter on the brink ...

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

* Hong Kong

Modern Loneliness

Dictators, wars, I.T. confusion
Fear makes joy a wild illusion
Incompetence now seems the key
As Common Sense has ceased to be...

Weird money: 'libra' and 'bit coin'
Seem so far-fetched, should I join?
So much that once was real, is fake
Does 'Instagram' new friendships make?

Re politics: don't make me laugh
So much reported now is daft
And the BREXIT saga limps along
A big mistake – or am I wrong?

I-phone, Smart phone, Internet
How far from 'real' life can we get?
Computer screens promote new trends;
Lost in the turmoil - off-line friends...

These lonely souls are everywhere:
Like the old and ill, they crave real care
Ignored, forgotten, not «on line»
Let not the human psyche pine ...

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

Spam! Spam! Spam!

Once 'spam' was meat from unknown source
Due to wartime shortages of course
But now it's cloaked in meaning new
For messages of doubtful hue.

Computer programmes now decide
Which mails to show and which to hide
Spam Folders often overflow
With info we don't want to know.

All well and good, I hear you say,
No secretaries exist today
I only want to read real mail;
But what if all these systems fail?

You wait for news – it does not come
A vital date, a tidy sum
Or new address from a dear friend ...
Have you done something to offend?

This fast pace of life is flawed
So check just where your 'spam' is stored
Was that email misdirected?
A quick look and you're reconnected!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

OK, the title does owe something to "Monty Python's Flying Circus" :-)

Isabella has Words!

Isabella, on a roll, now speaks!
Quite clearly - not just sighs and squeaks
She's testing out her vocal chords;
It's early days but she has scored!

Why cry when you can say the word?
Victorian tots were seen not heard
But my sweet niece now nods her head
And fires off 'Yes!' and 'No!' instead.

It's fun - she brings her parents joy
She's found her voice; Exciting toy!
What a vibrant learning curve to sail
As she hits each new word on the nail!

I think - how complex is the brain
It works it all out without strain
She listens; imitates with ease
And links up sounds to things she sees.

So far, it's «Mummy», «yes» and «no»
And 'milk', but soon more words will flow
The main thing is she's got the knack
It won't be long till she talks back!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

On "APP-iness"

In terms of meet-ups, making friends
And finding partners, Brussels spends
An honorable time on line
Its social networks all entwine.

The City rides high in twelfth place
In terms of «finding love», hearts race
Much virtual linking up is done
Before the «real McCoy» is won!

So Brussels is the place to be
For lonely hearts keen on a spree!
Newcomers quickly find their feet
As Smart phones offer «'meet' and 'greet'

Through many websites, but beware
Scams may lurk, so have a care
When first encounters are on line
How do we know who's there, each time?

Here 'screening' works well as a pun
As we look for App-iness and fun
So much is fake, best to be wise
Before we lay claim to new guys!!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

Contentment - in October

Trying to find a theme that's new
Is challenging; my thoughts accrue
As I look back on a full week
Blighted by more BREXIT bleat!

Blustery winds begin to blow
Guided tours now slickly flow
Proofreading textbooks makes me wise
My fingers dip in many pies!

Don't know what being idle means
Baking muffins, sewing jeans
A catch-up with a friend or two
Fun coffee bliss – the way to go!

Burn-out? Work stress? No, not for me
Age tells, and I would rather be
Warm, at home, in cosy nook
Curled up with hot drink and a book!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

A Disconnect ...

Life's constant challenges are tough,
It seems we never have enough
Time - to step back and replay
Our experiences each day.

This hyper-life takes many forms:
Deadlines, non-stop office storms,
Promises that must be kept
Mails that flood in from the Net...

We run fast, yet stay on the spot
Hurdles, unexpected, trot
Into our vision; we must leap
The pressure's on; Damn, more lost sleep!

Time was when we could watch the clouds
Sit on a bench, away from crowds
And give our troubled souls some rest;
All gone, we're riddled through with stress!

Our eyes transfixed upon our phone
What irony, we're all alone
Social media now is boss
And vital human contact lost ...

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

Soul Families

A lunchtime chat with thoughtful friend*;
Deep subjects came up for review
How mindfulness and daydreams lend
To jaded palettes colours new.

Our mind records what we don't see
Sometimes the shock is quite intense
We log this as telepathy
Or could it be - coincidence?

A new word learnt and it appears
On posters, book or magazine
We think of friend not seen for years
And there she is - on mobile screen!

So commonplace, yet have you thought
How souls inhabit other spheres
Beyond the reach of this world fraught
With pettiness and mundane cares?

«Old souls» may join us on our way
We all know «déjà vu» is strong
Reborn from past lives, back today
Post mortem singing a new song...

Soul families exist out there
On red alert they feel our pain
They understand us and they care
In subtle ways our minds they train ...

Brief insights then the curtain falls
As our busy lives do not allow
This «otherness» which so enthralls
To tear us from the here and now ...

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

* Nickie, from Ireland.

The Swedish Maiden's Crusade

The talk is all of climate change
As glaciers melt from mountain range
Sea levels rise and tempers too
This is global – what's to do?

Schoolgirl Greta Thunberg flaunts
Accepted wisdom, as she taunts -
For their inaction - Parliament;
Lone voice at first with deep intent!

A personal crusade, now world wide
Indifference brusquely pushed aside
Mass demonstrations, angry voices
Politicians must make choices!

Storms, forest fires, floods and drought
And yet the jury is still out
Nature's balance is disturbed
Has the tipping point occurred?

Scientists oft have aired their views
Reported faintly in the news
That Man's own actions are to blame
Death knell, by another name?

Scaremongering or media hype?
What if the girl-with-plaits is right?
Youth points a finger, bold, distraught;
Actions on all sides are sought!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

On Loneliness

Man and his world: a complex deal
Perception varies, how we feel
When faced with trauma, shock, despair
Or aching pain – souls need repair...

Take loneliness – a common theme
When we stop to let our minds daydream
We realise that we're quite alone
So we fumble for that damned smartphone ...

We lose ourselves in Facebook posts
Our friends have lives that seem to coast
Along the way, excitements new
And lots of friends – while we feel blue...

Though Autumn in her best attire
Sets the burnished leaves on fire
And blue skies beckon us outside
To see the world – we stay inside ...

In company we hide our fears
But when alone out come the tears
As some days we are at a loss
We see much in our lives as dross...

Are we still real, or are we led
By thoughts that we on screen have read?
One cure for this malaise I know:
«Meet-ups» are the way to go!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

The Conversion - Heat and Light!

Two trucks spill out new tools and gear
Disruption the whole day I fear
Vibrations felt on kitchen floor
As sand dunes burgeon by front door.

Outside my window in the street
Near sacks of gravel and concrete,
A band of workmen now collect
My cobblestones - once more upset!

All morning I am out of reach
Returning to this sandy «beach»;
Where electric wires and gas pipes hide
Under the rubble just outside.

One workman labours, red in face
As he tamps the sand back into place
Much over this small site is fought
Shades of wartime trench distraught...

Amid the thuds, a whirring drill
Bringing connections up the hill
I hear it said it's one day's task
Its completion cannot come too fast!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019