Juggling the News

I never know who reads my stuff;

These quirky thoughts, straight off-the-cuff

Just try to bring light to your day

As on-line news is often grey.

 

Politics, or rule by some,

Means looking down a smoking gun

While days and days of torrid heat

Mean a sea breeze is a treat!

 

Five millionaires get lost below.*...

Glastonbury’s famed rock show

Vibrates with life as Elton John**

Still wows his audience with song!

 

We plough through niggles that annoy …

It’s peaks and troughs, despair and joy;

Let’s try to make sense of the bits

In life’s jigsaw – pick and mix!

(c) Poet in the woods 2023

* Implosion of the OceanGate Titan Submersible on Journey to the Titanic on 18th June, 2023

** aka Reginald Dwight

A Casual Comment ...

Against a backcloth of bright sun

Talk of vacations has begun!

Social friends get back in touch;

News filters in – of such-and-such…

 

We all make networks of our own

Though far apart, we’re not alone

But we’ve lost links that others keep

From long ago, when life was sweet…

 

Updated by a mutual friend

A name, a photo starts a trend

Once leading lights, now out of view;

Health issues plague retirees too…

 

Our memory banks are soon imploded

A wealth of saddened thoughts uploaded …

Our friendship chain has new weak link …

Yes, life is short – gone in a blink …

(c) Poet in the woods 2023

A Snapshot of Singapore

Discovered by the Portuguese

Near Malaya’s rubber trees

Singapore, this island nation,

A-buzz with Asian syncopation!

 

Sir Stamford Raffles’ trading post

Where now the Merlion acts as host

Once by the Japanese invaded…

Where the spice of life is traded!

 

Indians, Chinese and Malay

Enjoy prosperity today;

With GDP on lofty rung

What a long way it has come!

 

Bustling markets, Asia’s pride

Hub for travellers world-wide…

High-rise and high-tech, it can claim

 “Lion City” as its name!

(c) Poet in the woods 2023

The Merlion in Marina Bay, Singapore

Approaching Midsummer

Belgian skies promise surprises!

Storms are threatened; the wind rises,

But for now, fierce rays burn leaves

While soil, quite powder-dry, still grieves.

 

In this midsummer heat, we glow

And in bright, sleeveless dresses flow;

See trendy footwear, digits painted

As sun and pale skin get acquainted!

 

All punters welcome summer haze;

Friends and workmates fill cafés

Forgetting briefly the world’s woes;

Such ‘Living in the Moment’ shows!

 

Tourists swarm round scenic sites

As culture with good food delights

 Sun-blessed Brussels claims its own

Lucky me – it is my home!

(c) Poet in the woods 2023

Some Intimations of Mortality

More celebrities depart;

Some revered, close to my heart

With others who have made their name

In sport or Eighties TV game!

 

Screen idols, rock stars, commentators,

Humorous, late-night debaters

Men of State - at a vast age;

All exodus from the world stage.

 

To name but few: there’s Berlusconi

PM unique - the one-and-only

Whom Italy mourns in Milan

Known as the “Bunga Bunga” man!

 

Then Sixties’ actress Glenda J.

Whose roles in films blew us away

“Women in Love” to Hampstead seat:

Her volte-face is hard to beat!

 

Although their memory stays green

The flow is constant, it would seem

 As the sands run out as we advance;

A dizzy thought - long life is chance …

(c) Poet in the woods 2023

P.M. Silvio Berlusconi  (1936 - June 12th, 2023)

Actress Glenda Jackson (1936 - June 13th, 2023)

A Snapshot of Nieuwpoort

What joy! The yellow coastal tram

Comes into view by Ostend track

How very pleased today I am

To have the sunshine at my back!

 

In leisure mood along we glide

To Nieuwpoort where its yachts scream class

Past pillbox guard-posts, Raversijde,

The retreat of royals in times past.

 

Rolling dunes, high-rise hotels,

Joggers sweating in the sun

Swooping seagulls, bikers’ bells:

Sights and sounds of summer fun!

 

The scenic boardwalk wends for miles

Here cyclists swerve and fight for space;

While cranes and diggers insert piles

To save the beaches – a lost race?

 

In World War One – Yser retreat

Where sluices stopped the Huns' advance;

Restaurants and shopping street;

Sea breezes make red roses dance!

 

Ice creams to die for!  Lengthy queues

Benches by school kids soon taken

Vast artworks but by whom? No clues;

The stress of daily life – forsaken!

(c) Poet in the woods 2023

Nieuwpoort Marina

 King Albert 1 - Memorial

Nephew Tom's Cabin!

My “cabin” crew takes a short break

In bright sunlight; hats are worn

As under Aussie skies they bake

Hence wearing suncream is the norm.

 

Both photogenic, full of smiles

They know that Auntie beams with joy

When Mummy’s photos cross the miles

And give her moments to enjoy.

 

Their sense-of-self grows every day

Well-tutored now in school routine

But learning also comes through play;

The Great Outdoors - a happy scene!

 

Though warfare, climate change and drought

Are of great moment, they’re carefree

Too soon, alas, they’ll work things out;

I wonder what their views will be…

(c) Poet in the Woods 2023

Thomas and Isabella

Sun, Shadow and Wisteria!

My wild wisteria has invaded!

 But I like my terrace cool and shaded;

Its lacy shadows pattern tiles

Rococo liveliness beguiles!

 

The poet and leaf-art are friends

As Nature’s beauty now extends

In full sunshine to our gaze;

We stroll delighted in heat haze!

 

Computers have their role to play

Their presence crucial in our day

But nothing beats Dame Nature’s skill

Which gives our hearts and minds  a thrill!

(c) Poet in the woods 2023

Prediction Addiction!

Do you believe in horoscopes?

You really need to know the ropes

As the planets, moons and time of day

Can make (or break) each living day!

 

Consider these wild, changing times

(Great inspirations for my rhymes!);

I thought it might be fun to spy

What stars are shining in MY sky…

 

What planets rule our universe?

Does Lady Luck bring wealth or curse?

Think Tarot cards and crystal ball

Predictions keep us all in thrall!

 

Do we live on plotted course

Propelled by some deep-hidden force?

Or do we benefit from choice

Prompted by our inner voice?

 

Strong ethical doubts persist;

Perhaps there’s some point I have missed?

I click my horoscope on line

And live in hopes – time after time!

(c) Poet in the woods 2023

A Snapshot of Vilvoorde

This modest hamlet on the Senne,

A ford on Roman Road back when,

Once colonised by Nervian tribe

Has a history based on riverside.

 

Grimbergen Lord and Brabant Duke

Competed for this strong trade route;

Town privileges were soon awarded

Towers and city walls accorded.

 

Vast church – Our Lady of Good Hope

Dominated town and moat

‘Tuchthuis’* became the duke’s domain

Through-traffic brought much wealth and fame.

 

But the early cloth trade rose and fell

As the sluggish river lost its swell;

The Black Death and religious strife

Reduced it to a quiet life.

 

Repurposed castle then turned jail 

Famous on the Bible trail,

Where William Tyndale’s fine translation

With him faced sad deflagration**…

Rail transport brought it back on stream

Then Renault cars left vast “usine”!

Now neoclassic town hall signs

These clearly ‘back-in-business’ times.

 

Its moat - the Hanssens Park today;

A STIB bus*** takes you all the way!

Its main square offers food and wine;

Its past quite lost in mists of time …

 

(c) Poet in the woods 2023

*** N° 84

* The Tuchthuis, Vilvoorde

** in 1536

 Note: The Renault Assembly line was in Vilvoorde from 1931. When it closed down in 1997, it caused the loss of about 3,500 jobs.