A Burning Question

Brazil, vast country, in the news!
Drought crisis as it stands to lose
Swathes of rainforest to black ash
Winds, scarce resources, lack of cash ...

The Amazon in deep distress;
Caused by lightning strike, unless
Its origin is man-induced ...
Have pigeons now come to roost?

From outer space the scene looks dire
Our Planet's green lung is on fire
Scorched earth seen with naked eye
Acrid smoke where no birds fly ...

Engulfing flames leave blackened trail
Destruction on a massive scale
Beleagered wildlife on the run ...
A sign of yet worse things to come?

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

Isabella - Finding Nemo!

Bringing theatre to the young
By dressing up, is so much fun
A sense of self, a sense of space
And their imaginations race.

A «kindy» group on winter's day
Such happy faces on display
Stage presence means a flying start
Each kid revels in a part!

So «Finding Nemo» seems to be
The title of this odyssey
No clown fish here with shortened fin
But an endearing human twin ...

Engrossed in Disney cartoon phase
Star in a mini-costumed maze
Isabella, out front, steals the show;
Proud Auntie beams with inner glow!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

Isabella - Poised for Take-Off!

My cute niece dressed in navy blue
A sylph-like silhouette brand-new
What horizons hove in sight
As she looks on from dizzy height!

Isabella stands – or am I dreaming?
Now 'stand alone' takes on new meaning;
Unaided; Look - no hands connect
With bench or chair - right from the get!

Though Dad and Mum are out of sight
They hover, just in case she might
Misjudge her balance, arms akimbo
And try to take a step in limbo!

Though brief, she stands firm on her feet
It's a start; but she must meet
A harder challenge: her first step
A leap in the beyond, my pet!

At eighteen months, progress is swift
One step for womankind – a gift!
Perspectives widen on the move
As she abandons crawling groove.

Each of us must learn, be bold
It's not a case of being told
We take our time, some fast, some slow
Then suddenly – we're on the go!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

The Conversion - Under Cover

July brought diggers up the street
So deep trough and barriers complete
The vital link to sewer drains
For several days disorder reigns ...

Late August - 24 degrees
Blue skies and just a gentle breeze
The workmen's truck is parked outside
The garage doors are pushed aside...

An encounter takes place in the street
As architect and owner meet
No doubt the latest cut-and-thrust:
More chaos, awkward sounds and dust!

Its compact style a Boitsfort first
Though sow's ear will not make silk purse
I'm curious to watch it grow
Its inner workings not on show ...

Most slates and planks have disappeared
The road, now debris-free, is cleared
Brave neighbours claim the space to park
The moment the workmen depart!

Boitsfort is quaint and postcard-twee
Ideal for poets, such as me
I observe both Man's and God's creation
And revel in more inspiration!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

Indelible!

Given the pain of etching in
Once only sailors wrote on skin
The names of loved ones far away
An aide-mémoire for every day...

But now tattoos are all the rage
Its adepts can be any age
Both genders, any creed or race
This stylish fad is commonplace!

In coloured inks, both large and small
Whole body tattoos might appall
But designs are pricked out far and wide
Cute or potent – you decide!

Some are discreet and hid from view
In places only seen by you
While others cry out to be seen
Lurid, bold, bespoke, obscene...

Test of bravado, a mistake?
Removal's not a piece of cake
Another séance and more pain
But - you will never be the same!!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

Unsettling Thoughts

It all depends what you believe;
Religion has myths up its sleeve
15th August is the day
When the Church said Mary flew away

Into the heavens through the clouds
To the amazement of the crowds
Serenity writ on her face;
Yet the Bible has of this no trace...

With this legend well acquainted
This scene by many artists painted
In glowing shades of deepest blue
Evocative - but was it true?

«What is Truth?» bold Pilate said
When soldiers Jesus roughly led
Into his presence, soon to die;
Time to ponder – truth or lie?

(c) Poet in the woods 2019



1513 The Assumption by Jacopo Negretti (c.1480 – 1528), known as Palma il Vecchio,

The Value of Friends

We talk of friends, both near and far
And often wonder how they are
We plan to chat to them today
But somehow life gets in the way...

There are chores that simply must be done
Business takes up time – then some!
We're tired or hungry, need a rest
Or other problems manifest...

In short, time flies at such a rate
With so much piled upon our plate
That a brief note on the Net
Is often as far as we get.

So when we hear something's amiss
It's like a sharp tap on the wrist
We grab that phone and get in touch
Because our friendship means so much.

But why do we not give a bell
And ask for news when all is well?
Our lives a series of high noons
We only jump when crisis looms!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

The Conversion - Crazy Paving

Noise and clatter in my street!
A rumbling truck and heavy feet
As a team of workmen, orange-vests
Shunts out gravel, makes a mess...

Like ants they scramble down the road
And replace the cobbles from the load,
Aligning all the paving stones
While chatting to their boss on phones.

At seven it's an early start
But the sun is shining, it's not dark
No doubt their workload is quite tight
But it takes four men to put things right!

Amid the cracks, the bucket goes
Like grout, the swirl of concrete flows
Job done on the stroke of ten;
So peace and quiet again – till when?

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

An August Date Remembered ...

August fifth! Wow, shadows come
Thoughts and heat rolled into one
Years ago this was my day
A brand new dress, a small bouquet ...

Quaint Boitsfort town hall, small, extends
To just a small group, all best friends,
A Friday welcome up the stairs ...
A gendarme his sword proudly wears.

Two musicians play their pieces
As tension in the room increases
Soon an exchange of vows and rings
A status new – and other things!

But he who gave to me his name
Died long ago*; life's not the same,
I've moved on but don't forget;
Oh, happy times – tinged with regret ...

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

2019 - a silver wedding anniversary that was not to be ...

* In January, 2005.



Maison Communale de Watermael-Boitsfort, built 1866.

The Joy of Family

The joy of family never palls
Not all's plain sailing, there are squalls
But the joy of knowing one belongs
Remains the theme of many songs.

At one remove from life's fast pace
A photograph with happy face
Of Isabella perched with Gran
Brings joy in spades as nought else can!

These family photos bring us close;
I regularly receive a dose
Of niece and nephew – a cute pair
They make me wish that I were there!

Though the generation gap is wide
Isabella and Gran side by side
Reflect a very special bond
A moment captured, warm and fond.

At 96, Gran beams with pride
While Isabella turns aside
Caught once again in camera lens;
What an audience-pleaser, friends!

This cute, endearing cameo
Imparts a very special glow
So Auntie, who lives far away,
Can share this scene – it makes her day!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

August Thoughts

Julian or Gregorian:
Who says names are borin'?
We enter ancient Sextilis
The 6th month on the Roman list.

But then a quantum shift occurred
In 8 B.C. (or so I've heard)
Inserted was a month, nay two
Named after Caesar, as you do!

Julius gave us our July
A month when many of us try
To leave the rat race for the beach
But keep our mobiles within reach...

Augustus means revered, respected
But in sunny August he's neglected
We frolic blythly in the sun
The Emperor's influence is – none!

Pope Gregory* made the leap years true;
Most followed by 1752
To keep in sync with the sun's rays
We lost a full eleven days!

Strange how these thoughts invade my day
With all the Swiss on holiday**
August the first, a quiet time
But inspiration for this rhyme!

* Pope Gregory XIII in 1582
** Swiss National Holiday: 1st August

(c) Poet in the woods 2019