Curiouser and Curiouser!

It’s a challenge every day I find

To titillate each reader’s mind

With whimsy, facts or politics;

Will my themes evoke blog ‘hits’?

 

 In vogue, reduced attention span

So, I must carve out, if I can,

A brief fragment of your time

With offbeat comment or pert rhyme.

 

Still more countries find my blog!

Forget A.I. – it’s mental slog

To find a titbit on the news

Or weird event, that may amuse…

 

I try to sift the truth from chaff

As so much ‘out there’ now is naff!

Could it be that I succeed?

Warm thanks for logging in to read!

(c) Poet in the woods 2026

Perhaps the title owes something to Alice and the Cheshire Cat ...

'

 

Angelic Verse?

She sits in a reflective mood

This little angel of our brood

My glasses perched on bridge of nose;

Perhaps an intellectual pose?

 

On her knees a notebook lies

She’s watched Auntie and she tries

To consider, pen in hand

The art of writing neatly scanned.

 

Sweet Isabella thinks it’s great

To play with words whose sounds relate;

An avid reader, she learns fast

Will she find rhyming a tough ask?

 

Believe it, or believe it not

She finds it fun to interlock

Jaunty words into a rhyme

At eight she does it, the first time!

 

Her theme? The family - that seems fair

A little ode to brother dear;

Though shaky, she has caught the spark

Which brings warm thrill to Auntie’s heart!

(c) Poet in the woods 2026

Whose Turn to Move?

Politics – like chessboard pieces

Where tension with each move increases;

The Board across the world extends;

It happens - friends and foes change ends…

 

Glued to news broadcasts every day

We marvel at bold stakes in play;

Fast moves may focus on new goals

For whom, we wonder, the bell tolls?

 

The field is wide, new partners join;

Poised to act on flip of coin?

The driving force – no loss of face

The unexpected – commonplace…

 

That life’s a tightrope – no surprise;

Chess is a tricky enterprise!

Too many pawns – a brace of kings…

We wait to see whose karma wins!

(c) Poet in the Woods 2026

Not Every Trip is Fun!

Please be careful where you tread

As tree roots under cobbles spread;

Maybe lampposts block your way

Or wet leaves hide a kerbstone grey!

 

Although the binmen come each week

Winds scatter debris in the street

Green compost bags*, too thin, can burst;

With contents spilt out – which is worse!

 

Drains blocked with cherry blossom flood

Heavy storms can wash out mud;

Be careful to lift up your feet

A fall can joie de vivre deplete!

 

Ten thousand steps a day? Good goal

As movement helps both heart and soul;

But those who stay glued to their phone

Risk perhaps a broken bone!

(c) Poet in the woods 2026

* Green bags are now collected once a fortnight.

All Hail to Gay Pride!

Hailstorm in May? Now, there's a thing!

Wisteria petals, nature’s 'bling',

Now lie scattered and forlorn …

A sorry, sodden mess at dawn!

 

Nature’s 'Ice Days' have gone by;

Today’s wan sun attempts to dry

My terrace; the process is slow,

But sturdy plants perk up and glow!

 

Meanwhile, the wind exerts a chill

I poke my nose out; it is still

Far too cold for month of May;

Our weather patterns here are fey!

 

On Saturday the STIB curtails

Many bus routes, 'Pride' prevails!

Where lively cohorts take a stand

And a vast parade is planned.

 

For thirty years on Brussels scene

With “inclusion” as its major theme,

Downtown Brussels will make way

For this ebullient display!

(c) Poet in the woods 2026

A Striking Day!

Guess what? Though birds are singing

And winds whisk clouds away,

A Workers’ Strike’s beginning

On this, the twelfth of May!

 

The source of irritation

(And yes, the word is tame!)

Has caused huge delegations

Their grievances to name!

 

Must teachers now work longer?

Should pensions be reduced?

Their anger ever stronger

As the State runs out of juice!

 

Fewer buses, ditto trams …

Unpicked-up bins – a pain …

Disruption of so many plans;

Yes, SNAFU rules again!

 

To get the balance right is tough

Yet complaints must be aired;

Will demonstrations be enough

To make the top brass scared?

(c) Poet in the woods 2026

In downtown Brussels

St. Clement's Church - Boitsfort

You come across it on a rise

An 11^th century surprise;

Romanesque, modest, alone

This church has scarcely a grave stone…

 

You climb towards it from Place Keym;

It bears an unfamiliar name:

Saint Clement’s – loyal Pope of Rome

Who was by Trajan overthrown…

 

First century: strife and confusion

Persistent Roman persecution;

Imprisoned, banned from speaking out

With other Christians, suffered drought…

 

His miracle? He found a source

A blessed, hidden under course!

In sacred texts an anchor shows

His martyrdom in Grecian flows…

 

Today, this church has aspect sad

In scaffolding its tower is clad;

But workmen’s vans parked in the drive

Convince me that it will survive!

(c) Poet in the woods 2026

Boitsfort

 

St. Clement, tied to an anchor, being thrown from a ship

Historical note:  He is traditionally recognized as the fourth Pope, succeeding Saint Peter, Saint Linus, and Saint Cletus. Clement is most famous for his First Epistle to the Corinthians, an influential early Christian document written to resolve disputes in the Corinthian church.