Hubris - Nemesis?

«Remember Man, thou art but dust!»
How can we parry this hard thrust?
Proud, we thought ourselves superior
Conceit lives on in every era!

But no one can survive forever
Remember - not all make old leather
And hubris, as the Greek Gods knew
Made fools of humans – me and you...

Illusions still our safety net
Invincible we think – and yet
As we have seen, the bubble's burst
A new Pandora's box – or worse...

The message permeates our skin
All can be vectors* – this is grim
Our lives on others may depend
Self-distancing more than a trend ...

To pull together we are trying
The God of Selfishness lies dying
But when this time of trial is past
Will we think differently at last?

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

* of the COVID virus

Pink and White Gems!

Our pace is slowed, while Nature romps
Primeval forces need no prompts
Behold in nearby woodland glade
Lenten's finest Spring parade!
Signs of revival - the sun's out
While we, still cold, «cast ne'er a clout»;

My windowbox to my surprise
Fills with parsley, mint and chives...
A potted jasmine - a friend's gift
Sat on my windowsill adrift
Asleep all winter and neglected
Now in the sunshine re-connected!

I catch a waft of sweet perfume
As its graceful tendrils come in bloom.
While rosy pink on neighbour's bower
Some hyacinths burst into flower
I wonder if my neighbour sees
This fragile, febrile, magic frieze?

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

A Hellish Thought?

We realise, now we can't go out,
What our lives are all about
We miss our family and friends
And all the special time one spends

Sharing time and anecdote
These actions keep our dreams afloat
We feel stronger when we share
Knowing that our friends are near.

But now this virus, minuscule
Has banished all the kids from school;
We understand this word 'confined'
And it plays havoc with our mind.

Our frailty is manifest
To keep safe we stay in our nest
While birds soon fledge and roam the skies
Cheering us with joyful cries ...

They've no constraints, they travel light
Oblivious to human plight
While people, faced with fewer choices,
Listen to their inner voices...

Huge wake-up call – and no mistake
Pollution puts our lives at stake
First the planet, now ourselves:
«L'Enfer, c'est les Autres»* – Sartre tells ...

(c) Poet in the woods 2020



* Existentialist play "Huis Clos" by Jean-Paul Sartre (1944)
Known as "In Camera" in the English version.

A Really Deep Clean

The oven sparkles, windows too
The kitchen paintwork shines anew
Many cleaning products do their stuff
With elbow grease, the going's tough!

But hey, as I wipe cupboards clean
I reflect how lazy I have been
Out and about, not often home;
The things we do when all alone...

So it's T.L.C. in my domain
I brush débris from my blocked drain
And give my indoor plants a spray
Watch how their leaves bounce back – Hurray!

Through terrace windows bright and clear
I see tree greening now appear
Ruthlessly dead twigs are trimmed
So healthy branches catch the wind.

We moved to summer time last night
But Arctic winds still have a bite
Brave neighbours pass by in my street ...
But my kitchen beckons – I must eat!

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

The Art of Letting Go

There's nothing like a good spring clean
De-cluttering - a whole new scene:
Old files, bank statements, tax return
Will make a great big bonfire burn!

Unloved clothes, no longer worn
Which, past their best, now look forlorn
Overwhelm my wardrobe space;
Let others give them pride of place.

Old scarves and shoes no longer thrill
Books I've not read – never will
Some objets d'art just entice dust
Time to liquidate - or bust!

Each item had a role to play
But that was long ago; today
I look them in the eye then throw ...
My 'Petits Riens' bags overflow.

I want my house to breathe again
Minimalism my new game
I hope to make another's day
With treasures that I give away!

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

As Numbers Rise ...

Friends are great – they keep in touch
Their genuine concern means much
Some click on line and «wave» hello
As in these times it's good to show

Our caring, often hidden, side
For many it is a rough ride.
Weddings cannot now take place
But funerals are a special case ...

Plans to move house put on hold,
No tickets for events are sold
But neighbours rally round on line
And offer help for free – big time!

The death toll in the USA
Has risen once again today!
How tragic not all follow rules
The wise, from windows, spot such fools ...

In silent streets the birds are king
I see them swoop – they're on the wing
While ants, emboldened by the sun,
Make ready meals for more than one!

In this wider web we're caught
One third of the world is fraught;
As we face a future still unknown
More heed the message: «Stay at Home!»

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

Lock-Down - Week 2!

I watch the sunlight in the street
There are voices – people want to meet
Perhaps they bring a dog in tow
As into our back woods they go.

The terrace door is open wide
I've just put both my chairs outside
I'd like to sit and read a book
But this is still a chilly nook.

The news at midday brings more gloom
It's no fun cooped up in a room
But public parks in many places
Are empty – disappointed faces...

Shadows shorten more each day
The spring, though crisp, is on its way
Birdsong, not exhausts, I hear
There's less pollution in the air!

When will it end? What have we done?
Chats on the radio are fun
As experts give their points of view
But no one really knows what's true!

New Zealand will boycott the Games
And now the sporting world complains
Tokyo - put on the spot
Yields to pressure and calls stop!

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

The Virus aims High!

Friends get in touch by mail or phone
What joy for those stuck home alone.
But fined – for reading in the park?
Our choices now are rather stark...

The days seem long when we've no work
Temptations of all kinds now lurk
In the recesses of our mind
What fridge goodies can we find?

No cinema - new films are free
So a home séance it must be
On sofa cushions we relax
With chocolate, beer or maybe cats.

A cuckoo broke my dreams today
Then binmen took my trash away
I think as lives are put on hold
Some jobs are worth their weight in gold!

Now headline news on BBC
Prince Charles, who is our king-to-be,
Has caught corona, not the crown
His PR job has let him down...

And Greta Thunberg – activist
Thinks she too is on the list;
More tests are promised, vaccines too
Will Summer come before we're through?

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

Back to Grass Roots?

The things you read on Internet!
Female vanity is upset
All beauty salons now are closed
And no chance to buy spring clothes.

It's 'make and mend' or do without;
We've lots of pots and creams no doubt
But do we use them? Maybe time
To sort them out, not go on line.

In bathroom cupboards treasures lie
How many perfumes did we buy?
Some items may be past 'use date'
So their survival doesn't rate...

Shampoos are useful but hair dye
May not be something you've put by
Ladies! you must wait awhile;
The soigné look is out of style!

In a few weeks roots will show
Hat wearing is the way to go
But while we're locked down in our «cage»
Only mirrors show our age!

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

Home Truths

These Virus stats are quite a strain;
We seek authentic views
So we trust the TV once again
For all our daily news.

Many now are worry-guts
They feel that Man is cursed
We're all being hoicked out of our ruts
And what's more - it gets worse!

But there is good as well as bad
Some spin-offs can prove fun
You can slow down, just a tad
And nip out – for a run.

Or, better still, just disconnect
And try some meditation
Or clean; where does that dust collect?
Do you need an invitation?

We're way out of our comfort zone
Our world has gone awry
So let's find joy in our own home
We can do it, if we try!

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

All in the Same Boat?

In straitened times, we're in, not out
Our pace is slowed, unless we flout
The strict new edicts just in place
And creep out to enjoy green space!

Police patrol the springtime streets
No fraternising when one meets
Our neighbours, we must play it cool
And keep our distance – it's the rule!

Instead, we think about our friends
And wonder how they tie loose ends;
Are they safe and still OK?
Such caring e-mails make their day!

But those we love deserve much more;
A skype or phone call will ensure
We hear, and maybe see them, too
We're grateful this is not taboo!

In this maelstrom we are tossed
Our boat may be upset and lost
Man has rubbed the Planet sore
So now we're shaken to the core...

Tough lesson - yet we all must learn;
Is this the point of no return?
Those who survive must mend their ways
The rest will sink beneath the waves ...

(c) Poet in the woods 2020



The Ship of Fools - Heironymous Bosch (1500)

Lock-Down - Day Five!

Gosh! Many FB friends on line
A flood of virtual links – big time
This Virus puts Hope in the shade
We're curious and yes, afraid ...

More restrictions come in force
All walks in parks now banned of course.
The sudden sunshine taunts our plight
With blossom and spring green in sight!

The local stable doors are bolted
All Sunday horse rides have been halted;
Birds swoop and chirrup loud and clear
For them there is love-in-the-air.

In cramped conditions families live
Small children fret as parents give
To them not always their attention,
Juggling care and work breeds tension...

Mothers' Day UK – subdued
The elderly can't see their brood
Emails and phone calls do their best
As visits run risk of arrest!

Worldwide this Virus havoc wreaks
This 'lock down' may go on for weeks
Our new 'normal' is untried
With challenges on every side...

The Church has now put God on line
The Louvre - on screen for the first time!
Musicians, faced by gigs postponed,
Now make videos on their own.

As fitness centres close their doors
We have to work out on lounge floors;
At 8 p.m. we show support
By cheering those whose lives are fraught.

Doctors and nurses stay on call
As cases peak; when will they fall?
Dwindling supplies of masks and gown ...
We heed the News and hunker down ...

(c) Poet in the woods 2020



Le Manège Du Possible, in Boitsfort

Drawing Conclusions ...

A poem's a cartoon in brief lines
It draws you in and soon defines
A single thought, idea or theme
A picture formed by words, not seen

By eyes, but in the heart or mind
It has the innate power to find
Those dark recesses, hidden deep
And wake your very soul from sleep.

It can be poignant, 'in-your-face'
And cause your drowsy heart to race
Or just a comment on the news
A wry attack on trenchant views.

Its charm lies in its concise form
Its life is short, so it must spawn
In just a few words your attention:
Limericks – a loved convention!

Maybe, like Wordsworth's daffodils,
It leaves a memory that thrills
Encapsulating through the ages
A scene that once again engages ...

Dante, Goethe, Shakespeare, Frost*
Lord Tennyson - left lines unlost;
Dream-catchers serve the poet's art
As feelings filter through the heart...

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

*US Poet Robert Frost (1874-1963)

Lock-Down - Day Three!

If we only think of «Number One»
Then 'Hell-in-a-handcart' – here we come
Without a thought for others' plight
We might turn their days to night!

We've never had such healthy lives
And such indulgent lifestyles, guys
But now our way is much less clear
Behaviour such as this breeds Fear...

Mass get-togethers, sponsored sport
Huge budgets – all crash; we are caught
In a steep spiral of self-doubt
Behold what chaos brings about!

While many are confined at home
Bored, frustrated and alone
Others work all hours God sends
To help our virus-stricken friends ...

But a common purpose starts to grow
As Governments their claws now show
Restricting all but vital flows;
While Mother Nature laughs - she knows

This 'idleness' means less pollution
For fish and birds a revolution
Canals in Venice purify
In locked-down China – more blue sky.

Millennials see their carefree ways
As harmful in this shut-down phase
As the crafty Virus gains a hold
And not all victims now are old...

Merkel has addressed her Nation
With rules – this is no invitation!
Keeping well apart is key
Else in a while, where will we be?

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

Lock-Down in Belgium began on 18.3.2020



German Chancellor Angela Merkel addressing the nation ...

Shopping in a Time of Crisis!

A quiet stroll, around midday,
When hordes of workers stay away
In my quiet, almost rural, spot
Just right for a Delhaize shop!

I'd heard the news of shelves unfilled
Of masked cashiers who manned the tills
Of «paper products»* out of stock ...
But hey, I must go out and shop!

Red tape on floor – each to his space
The tannoy crackles – we must race ...
Is this some mad game? Beat the Clock?
I checked my list, I had to shop:

Fruit and veg in bright profusion
No talking with the staff – intrusion!
Not even neighbours' eyes can lock
Too bad – for all of us must shop!

My urgent needs were very few;
At the check-out – not a queue
«No cash! Just bank cards!» Please, don't mock
For now, folks, this is how we shop!

Title possibly inspired by "Love in the Time of Cholera" by Mexican author Gabriel Garcia Marquez who also wrote "A Hundred Years of Solitude" ...

* Toilet paper!

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

Clearing the Decks!

Hard graft today – my terrace calls
For a mammoth clean-up; Nature stalls
As my flower pots are caked with grime
And sun-burnt leaves, well past their prime!

Under terrace decking I must sweep
So I need my elbow grease this week
I wield my stalwart broom, held tight
As an ant invasion comes in sight!

So mint and parsley stems can sprout
Tenacious weeds must be pulled out
Though it's too cold to plant new seeds
I trowel the earth to help it breathe.

The green bin fills with twigs and moss
Which seems to form against the frost;
Last year's plantings are defiled
Although this winter has been mild ...

My trees in pots shoot forth spring green
Once dormant, Nature comes on stream
Stuck here at home, I now have time
To admire God's handiwork – and mine!

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

Europe Seesaws ...

To prevent ourselves from going daft
In this «climate», let us laugh.
Cartoon jokes proliferate
Our funny bones rejoice - it's great!

The Brits miss BREXIT and they moan
That jobless, they must stay at home
Auctioned Loo rolls? There's a glut
But hey, our food stores do not shut.

Belgium's Government sworn in!
What miracles these times now bring.
Elections postponed – avoid queues
Ballet and Opera - streaming views!

Cancellations mean all rendezvous
Are 'whited out' – we watch the news
Surrealist attitudes on line
As fake and fact now intertwine!

The lock-down leaves the French undaunted
Macron will fine those who flaunt it
Merkel's borders are now closed
What will happen next? Who knows?

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

Isabella - on the Catwalk?

Our pert piece after singing Psalms
Runs, all ecstatic, to Mum's arms
It's Sunday, so she's smartly dressed
Putting her new shoes to the test!

Our Isabella loves her clothes;
Will she soon be one of those
Whose mini-wardrobe soon will fill
With lots of outfits – each a thrill?

A 'touch of class' has our blonde Miss!
How Thomas loves his little Sis
Though what he wears is no big deal
So Isabella can scene steal!

So poised, so sharp and so assured
In terms of fashion she has scored
Each joyful moment snapped by Mum;
Soon down the catwalk she will come!

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

An infectious Thought!

More border closures, lights go out
Our lifestyle wobbles, seems in doubt ...
The whole world has become infectious
We can't meet but you can text us.

An adage springs to mind and teases:
«Coughs and sneezes spread diseases»
The service industry dismayed:
Food and drinks with friends delayed.

Restaurants forced to close their doors
But hey, the local «fritkot» scores...
Supermarkets lead the way
So it's cook-your-own or take-away.

Spring festivals are put on hold
Tickets for the flicks – unsold
Wartime scenes in time of peace:
As sales of alcohol increase!

But joy of joys! There's much good news
Pollution drops, we get clear views
Has common sense at last prevailed?
Our lives may be a while curtailed

But as we hunker down at home
And lead our lives via mobile phone
We find time to «reset our clocks»
The mantra «less-is-more» now rocks!

(c) Poet in the woods 202O

Living-With-Self

Time is elastic – it expands
To find work for our idle hands
So now that we are blessed with more
Think more avenues to explore!

From balconies, Italians sing
Nature walks now seem the thing
I expect you guess where I am leaning
Time to start on your spring cleaning...

The joy of sorting clothes and books,
And clearing dust from winter nooks
Not to mention making food at home
Beats chatting on one's mobile phone.

A parent with schoolkids may find
Teaching will excite their mind
And hey, new family bonds may form
When stepping out beyond «the norm».

Our non-stop lives are put on hold;
What new adventures will unfold?
Till April comes with bright spring rays
We're in a 'live-with-self' new phase ...

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

Closing Down ...

Football fixtures: play in doubt
Cinemas and schools stay out
Folklore processions can't take place
Adelaide cancels Grand Prix race.

Non-essentials such as lunch with friends,
Have been put off; it never ends
More closures mean finances dive
Will small businesses survive?

Jobs on the line in tourist trade
Most planes are empty, I'm afraid
Airlines hold tight to their 'slots'
As life, as we once knew it, rots ...

We stay indoors, get housework done
Is teaching kids at home that fun?
We're forced to take stock and reflect
Or strengthen links through Internet...

It's the elderly I pity most
With just their carers at their post
Banned family visits in this lull
Mean their days are deadly dull ...

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

The Madness Continues!

A panacea for all our ills?
No, not a cupboard full of pills
Logic flies to our defence
What we need is common sense!

Fear, unseen but all pervading,
Colours minds with dull grey shading
Field days for the gutter Press,
Social media and the rest ...

So with schools and factories shut
The Economy gets a leaner cut
While we enjoy much cleaner air
And time to work out why we're here!

Our sense of humour has full rein
As being serious is a strain
Stress levels neatly cut in half
By zany jokes that make us laugh.

'Pandemic' is the buzz word now
How much Angst will nerves allow?
Atlantic flights to be curtailed;
Has the human race derailed?

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

Good News - No Deaths!*

Let's talk of drains, blocked or free-flowing
How they function – there's no knowing
They flush away all human waste
And leave our loos and sinks clean-faced...

We take our City's health for granted;
Then a Virus seed is planted
So up go sales of gels and soap
As for human touch – remote...

No deaths in Belgium yet awhile
We haven't closed our schools – so smile!
Fragile grandmas spared child care
As coughs and splutters may lurk near.

Small kids, young adults seem immune
For the elderly - another tune
No draconian measures, we stay zen
The economy still works – pro tem!

For the Press, however, this is News!
In Brussels – more conflicting views
Health is not a language matter
So, what's the Truth amid the chatter?

(c) Poet in the woods 2020



* Footnote: on this day 11.3.2020 - the first 3 deaths in Belgium
(all elderly people) were recorded ...

On Panic Buying!

Can you buy panic? I'm not sure
But we hear it happens in each store
Loo rolls, food tins by the ton
You'd think a World War had begun!

Stocks and shares dip, markets quake
Who will now a school trip make?
The Virus smirks and stalks unchecked
In smart disguise we can't detect ...

Quarantined liners lie off shores
Their cramped conditions right for spores
Hand washing now is a «must do»
But surely, this is nothing new?

Wow! Fear of the Unknown is rife
A kiss might well affect your life
For the young this can be tough
Are bows and curtseys quite enough?

There's no clause in insurance claims
To cover epidemic strains
Act of God or accident?
Who interprets what is meant?

Conclusion: we are in the throes
Of something nobody quite knows:
A weird and worrying new trend ...
So when, we ask, will it all end?

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

Thomas Makes Connections

Life's a puzzle full of pieces;
How it all fits never ceases
To activate our inner brain
As patterns rarely stay the same.

This jigsaw, multi-coloured, neat
Appears at first sight quite complete
Here Thomas, deep in thought, admires
His handiwork; he never tires

Of gazing down in concentration
On the engine and the station.
His love of trains in every form
A clear motif since he was born.

A simple jigsaw, fast to solve
But soon young Thomas will evolve
As birth is like a jigsaw box
Whose pile of pieces interlocks...

The family forms our cornerstone
The centre section all our own
We mix and match, discard and play
Life's pieces as they come our way.

But Thomas knows no metaphor
He's just achieved a perfect score
How proud he is - he's done it right
So let us share in his delight!

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

Spinning Off Course?

There is nothing I would rather do
On this day when no sun peeps through
And rain clouds make my outlook blue
Than get more sleep!
Work ethics rule, so I must find
A challenge to fire up my mind
Or a hobby of some kind -
More hoops to leap!

In the Western world we try
To keep busy-busy till we die
But is this concept pie-in-sky?
Who made this rule?
In the East they often meditate
Or stare before an empty plate
As fasting feeds their mental state
A conflict dual ...

Our spirit suffers, takes back seat
Our souls, quite starved, beat a retreat
What a load of gobbledygook we tweet
Like spinning top!
Acquisitions, prestige - all are vain
Impressing others seems insane
And damn it, our kids do the same ...
We've lost the plot!

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

Scaremongering?

Like a row of dominoes we fall
As Corona's progress reaches all
More countries, hitherto untouched,
Succumb in their turn to its clutch ...

In Italy all schools are closed
For how long? Nobody quite knows
The tourist industry declines;
This epidemic undermines

All walks of life; whence comes this threat?
Thank God it's safe on Internet!
Football games «behind closed doors»
Without supporters, silent scores ...

War memories bestir themselves
Panic buying – empty shelves
No masks or hand gel to be had
Fear stalks unhindered – life is sad ...

The Black Death happened long ago*
Its devastation brought us low
But it died a death and we bounced back...
So, where are we along this track?

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

* mid-14th century ...

On Plastic Oceans

Huge swathes of plastic sully seas
They float in swirls, rocked by harsh breeze
The guilt is ours; of that, no doubt
Our wanton ways have found us out!

This debris turns dream isles* to trash;
To clear pollution needs hard cash
As shifting currents bring onshore
Abandoned waste from ocean floor ...

That Man has lost the plot, is clear
Our only home, this «Giant Sphere»
That feeds and loves us, now is ailing
You could say all is not plain sailing!

Wasteful, selfish, «me-first» teems
So the Common Good no longer means
An altruistic sense of worth
Greed wins - and losing out is - Earth!

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

*i.e. The Seychelles

Going It Alone

When you live alone, the choice is yours
Your life is not reduced to chores
Your agenda fills up with fun things
And it's for you when the phone rings!

Food shopping – just pick what you like
A different menu every night?
Into the small hours you can read
Indulgence - in all forms - your creed!

At first sight this life seems ideal
But loneliness is a big deal
You struggle to keep in the flow
No one's to hand when you feel low...

At weekends friends have family ties
Most lives are hectic – no surprise
Such is the pace of life today
Dear friends move on or pass away...

Phones help us to communicate
Poor substitute for loving mate
Precious links are great - but rare
Deep down we all just want to share ...

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

Seen in the Bedroom

Isabella stares in fascination
While Thomas reads - deep concentration
The art of reading such a joy
Yes, Thomas is a happy boy...

She loves the pictures, likes to chat
But words are squiggles where's she's at!
So there they lie in perfect peace
This harmony perhaps short lease...

At two, she's learning how to share
Making friendships at childcare
While Thomas, serious at six,
Finds books and numbers give him kicks.

The house is small, they're oft indoors
While Mum and Granny do the chores
Though sometimes, when it's not too hot
They run around on garden plot.

So as cute photos come my way
I feel inspired, as on this day
My «Auntie-ness» comes to the fore
As my little ones their lives explore!

(c) Poet in the Woods 2020