End of April Meditation

It’s almost May, a wan sun shines

But its power of heat declines

My terrace, cleaned up, looking bright

Harbours seedlings out of sight.

 

I hope they’ll soon be on parade;

For now, they nestle in the shade

Dame Nature plays a waiting game;

Is climate change in part to blame?

 

Our world is torn with so much strife

Time to meditate on life…

Why do factions go to war?

To even up imagined score?

 

It starts with kids whose tempers flare;

They quickly learn life isn’t fair

But the quest for power burns

Result: diminishing returns.

 

Darfur, Ukraine and now Khartoum

All hit the headlines at High Noon

Such horrors never seem to die …

But plants bring hope to springtime sky …

(c) Poet in the woods 2023

Scotland in Brussels!

Now, whom shall I guide today

Or will the rain keep guests at bay?

Clouds are Belgium’s well-known trait

So, to Saint Rita* we must pray.

 

The cobbles help absorb the flow

But with umbrellas guides must go

As they weave legends with quaint facts

To keep their audiences on track!

 

Five “lads” from Scotland in one group

Plied me with questions and would stoop

To making witty repartee …

Trying to catch me out – you see.

 

But this time, she-must-be-obeyed

The plans of mice and men** delayed

As St. Andrew’s flag was carved in stone

A sign perhaps of Home Sweet Home?

 

Sablon, Marolles and Villers Street;

A cannonball***– great French defeat!

All rounded off with beers and frites;

A nicer group I’ve yet to meet!

(c) Poet in the woods 2023

Minerva statue in the Sablon - erected by Thomas Bruce in 1751

* Rita di Cascia (1381-1457) Roman Catholic patron saint of desperate causes

** Rabbie Burns (1759-1796)

*** In Villers Street - above a doorway

Bye Bye Possums!

Melbourne’s favourite housewife

Icon of Australian life

His “Edna Everage” surpasses

Observing us through pink-tinged glasses!

 

Rarely seen in suit and tie

And at 89, still spry

We learn he’s taken his last bow;

So, life ain’t the same – somehow…

 

Down Under – far away yet near

Barry Humphries’ unique sphere

Where warmth and humour brought him fans

From so many foreign lands.

 

Outrageous with wardrobe attached

His “Les Patterson” unmatched

His humour King and Consort charmed;

Alas - his wit henceforth becalmed…

(c) Poet in the woods 2023

Barry Humphries: 17.2.1934 - 22.4.2023

The Crowning Glory of Isabella!

Isabella turns her face,

Her flaxen hair now grows apace

Almost reaching to her waist

In silken flow;

Unruly, wispy, fly-away

It has to be controlled each day

So, in one long plait it will stay

Neat with a bow.

 

With something of a graceful deer

Fleet of foot with golden hair

She likes us all to know she’s there

As each day starts;

Attending school means new routine;

With look of innocence serene

Those tumbling locks can form a screen:

She’ll soon break hearts!

(c) Poet in the woods 2023

Hide and Seek!

Nature is what Oz does best;

Amazing birdlife - rich bequest!

Whose endless eucalyptus trees

Stand sentinels in hot North breeze.

 

Wildlife limbers up and flies

On every walkway a surprise

As stinging ant and poisonous snake

Or desert dingo - lie in wait…

 

Daddy’s project is inspired;

With enthusiasm fired

My little ones, who grow apace

Observe “the Outback” from safe place.

 

The hide - a rough-cut TV screen

In Nature’s palette, mottled green

Shows multi-fauna at full size

Observed, unseen, by four young eyes!

 

Binoculars finite the mix;

Proud and happy Dad in pics

With Thomas, quite the assured lad,

And Isabella, horse-boot clad!

(c) Poet in the woods  2023

In the hide at Worrabinda Reserve, South Australia

On Tupperware

Once purposed as a party theme

Tupperware* - that post-war dream!

Is a housewife-staple that still tries

To keep its place in packed-lunch lives.

 

Its bright containers, strengthened lid

Still serve as loyally as they did

But post-COVID, the brand’s ailing

With its profit margins failing…

 

Stacked on shelves, put out to grass …

Perhaps these days its vogue has passed;

I still use mine, perhaps you too

But - who wants to buy them new?

(c) Poet in the woods 2023

*Founded in 1946 by chemist Earl Tupper in South Grafton, Massachusetts, USA

May I Have a Word?

I’m not promoting photos

Which I glean from internet

They’re just to add some colour

To the thoughts that I typeset.

 

As we all lead such busy lives

No time to stop and stare

The poet throws ideas about

Which may disturb the air.

 

A point of view, an odd event

Another way of seeing;

Frequent evasion the intent

Complex each human being!

 

Home-spun philosopher, perhaps

Who steps outside routine

With playful dose of irony

So, we switch off and dream...

(c) Poet in the woods 2023

An Easter Meditation

Mixed feelings on this Easter Day…

Dear friends and family far away

In different time zones who will meet

To celebrate with chocolate treat!

 

Egg hunt joys on emerald lawn

Lambs and bunnies newly born

Hyacinths and freesia sprays

Sunbeams piercing morning haze…

 

On-line news worldwide, is dark

Religion just a tiny spark;

 Pope Francis hails massed Easter crowds

With all the strength his age allows…

 

Yet walks past hedgerows still delight:

Blue scillas and gold aconite

Greet us on this April day

Bright palettes overshadow grey!

 

Time to sit back and take stock:

Dame Nature has not lost the plot;

Emboldened in the sun’s warm rays

Her floral largesse can amaze!

(c) Poet in the woods 2023

Going Down the Aisle!

When we think of war, we think Ukraine

But supermarkets feel the strain

As Amazon invades their space

And war-on-prices soon takes place.

 

Will promotions and smart offers

Manage to replenish coffers?

Small retailers feel squeezed out

As “big players”* wield more clout.

 

Engaging shoppers down the aisles:

A game-changer with wry smiles

As mass distribution - on-line sales

A change in tactics now entails.

 

Staff and running costs are high

Analysts check what we buy

Big Brother checks our shopping cart

Behaviour patterns – a new art!

 

As our cost-of-living rises

Food, a vital need, surprises

Many curtail what they buy

Demand now under-strips supply! 

(c) Poet in the woods 2023

* Delhaize, Carrefour, etc...

An April Smattering

A grisly cloud our sky anoints

April this year disappoints

Headline news in wild display

Assorted titbits on display:

 

Finland seeks NATO’s embrace

As Europe has a troubled face

Pope Francis breathless, caught a chill

But on Palm Sunday preaches still!

 

Banking wobbles with Swiss banks

Deregulation gets no thanks.

But Brussels features Bankys’ art

In Rue de Laeken, a fun start!

 

The STIB will soon increase its flow;

Bus and tram - the way to go?

 New budget of “austerity” …

More concerns for you – and me!

(c) Poet in the woods 2023

Flags of Finland and NATO

Banksy Museum in 28, Rue de Laeken, Brussels