A Meditation Under Blue Skies

Cool July now ebbs away

The sky is pale-blue herringbone

Wisteria – cut back today;

I hope - but no one rings my phone…

 

So, time to meditate a while,

As a hiatus calms our soul

This modern life is one long trial;

Peace of mind should be our goal…

 

But no - we’re busy all the time!

Panic stations! Deadlines missed…

When we’d prefer a gin-and-lime,

A beach view and our face sun-kissed…

 

“Material girl”*: that haunting song

When Madonna ruled sound waves

In global warming times seems wrong

As lean and green are the new raves!

 

Mass exodus on cheap-rate flights

For some now seems to lose appeal;

How can we put our world to rights?

Who can still discern what’s real?

(c) Poet in the woods 2023

*1985

Gulf Stream Blues

It’s the uncertainty that hurts

Concerns on climate, wildfire* spurts

As livelihoods go up in smoke …

Our abnormal lives - remote.

 

The thing is, we cannot escape

Perhaps Man’s actions just tempt Fate?

Will the Gulf Stream change its course

As melting icebergs show their force?

 

I am no harbinger of doom

But is clear new dangers loom

So, Man must get his act together

Curtail perhaps our flights for pleasure?

 

No one Nation holds the key

But there are rocks ahead, I see;

As more celebrities depart

So many memories grow dark …

 

We squander energy and food

We’re selfish – but we must collude

 ‘Strength in unity’** seems trite

But Belgium’s motto gets it right!

* In Rhodes, Sicily, etc.

** L'Union fait la Force/Eendracht maakt macht

(c) Poet in the woods 2023

Rhodes - New Greek Tragedy!

Mid-summer, but despite the joys

Of beaches, booze and party noise,

Sees dolce far niente take flight

As wildfires ravage day and night!

 

An uneven battle, not the first,

As parched trees into flames soon burst…

Firefighters bravely face the blaze

But hotspots spring up in the haze...

 

Plastered on our TV screens

Rhodes, that Grecian Isle of Dreams,

Where smoke envelops vast hotels

And fear in tourist quarters swells.

 

A heat dome hovers overhead

Crackling embers quickly spread;

‘Be careful what you wish for ‘seems

A mantra which leads to extremes!

Dame Nature smirks - she holds the key!

So, how hot do we want to be?

Dear little Belgium, cool, rain-soaked

This year truly gets my vote!

(c) Poet in the woods 2023

A Century - Not Out!

What can I say? I’m blown away

My Mum  - a hundred years - today!

Her century has turned to gold

Mary’s story should be told!

 

In Kenya she saw light of day

When the Empire still held sway,

But that is back in distant past

Which perhaps long shadows cast…

 

Among the coffee trees she grew;

In wartime she was dressed in blue;

Then made a cosy home for us

Born after the last wartime bus!

 

Australia let the good times roll

As a warm climate was her goal

Here family members and dear friends

Encouraged her to try new trends.

 

Her UK life seems far away

No family now lives there today;

Words fail me but I am so proud

To say: “I love my Mum!” out loud!

(c) Poet in the woods 2023

Mum at one hundred years old!

Kenya Coffee Plantation

R.I.P. Jane Birkin (1946-2023)

With her willow shape, dishevelled hair

Antonioni saw Jane's flair,

Her minor role as nude was seen

In “Blow Up”* on the Sixties screen…

 

Skip, hop and jump then move to France

With her accented French, new chance

A star encounter on the set

Of “Slogan”**; she and Serge connect!

 

“Je t’aime … moi, non plus” soon shocks

Censored - sell-outs in the shops!

Tumultuous - her life makes news:

Three loves, three daughters, France’s Muse!

 

England holds her for short while

A bit part in “Death on the Nile”***

But France had long become her home;

Macron’s “Adieu” has Gallic tone …

(c) Poet in the woods 2023

*  1967

**  1969

*** 1978

Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg

A Snapshot of Ath

Bold Burbant tower, stone-built, stout

Hid right behind the square, had clout.

This rare survivor of the past

In many ways long shadows cast!

 

It kept its enemies at bay

With Flanders fifteen leagues away!

It dominates the summer sky

With modern cinema nearby.

 

Ath skyline highlights two church spires:

While St Martin's peals the hours

St. Julian's stares at empty space:

Of erstwhile Giants’ house* – no trace!

 

Canal** works led to a surprise:

A Gallo-Roman vicus*** thrived

Within a stone’s throw of old Ath:

Jewellery, coins, trade, ships  - all that!

 

An unassuming Hainault town

With just these few sites of renown

Un-touristy and slow of pace

But with a warm and friendly face.

(c) Poet in the woods 2023

* New museum planned for 2024

** known as the Blaton canal -  built c. 1865

**  discovered in 1975

The Burbant Tower built by Baudouin IV circa 1166

Ducasse d'Ath

A Word of Gratitude!

I don’t know why I feel inspired

With many friends away

But scribbling little ditties

Helps to enhance my day!

 

I never know who reads my stuff

Or how they find my blog

But some of you I know get hooked

To judge by visits logged!

 

So, maybe in these barmy days

When Wimbledon is news

And the Tour de France grinds on

My poetry gets views!

 

Each time you scan these lines, I’m chuffed

You make this poet glad

Thank you all for dipping in

It proves I’m not a fad!

(c) Poet in the woods 2023

Coping with the Heat!

It’s all been said, I’m at a loss

As on-line posts are often dross

So, I think of those who now down tools

And splash around in swimming pools …

 

For once, dear Belgium broils in sun

Its parks and gardens next to none

Still green – no drought has been declared

But how have all our plant pots fared?

 

Constant watering is key

As soil dries up – like you and me;

You wear a wide-brimmed hat, I trust …

And bottled water is a must!

 

This heatwave keeps us on our toes

At last, we can wear lighter clothes

But it’s a challenge so, we learn

To slather sunscreen or we burn!

(c) Poet in the woods 2023

Thoughts on the Meaning of Life

Let’s take a moment to reflect

Why we’re here - our raison d’être

Weird thoughts crowd in, we  clutch at straws

This scares us and our tension soars…

 

Is subscribing to the God of Greed

The unique way to succeed?

All minds are blank slates at birth

Why make others doubt their worth?

 

As U.S. Founding Fathers state

The ‘pursuit of happiness’ sounds great;

But life is fake when lived on-line

Devious Smart phones steal our time!

 

We hate to switch off and lose out,

Our inner voice, suppressed, lacks clout

Humanity drains from our soul

As A.I. cannot hug, console …

 

The Ancients* knew a thing or two …

It’s how we live that makes life true

Kindness, caring and true friends

Outweigh by far financial trends …

(c) Poet in the woods 2023

* i.e. Greek, Roman, Chinese and Indian philosophers ...

July Jollity!

This topsy-turvy world’s a mess,

French riots causing such distress;

Injustice causes blood to boil

Our peace of mind – in deep turmoil…

 

What good news can I share today

With so many friends away?

There’s talk of travel strikes again

So, should we trust a British train?

 

July in Belgium has great perks:

Cheap train travel really works!

Here, culture always reigns supreme,

For this tourist guide – a dream!

 

I work while others take their ease

My bilingual tours a breeze

As now, with sunshine guaranteed,

Tourists bring me up to speed!

 

Festivities, parades and sales

Wallonia’s picturesque bike trails;

Perhaps canoe trips down the Lesse?

All are ways of trumping stress!

(c) Poet in the woods 2023

Canoeing down the Lesse near Dinant