Observations in Mid-January

Turbulence in many places,

Ethics are put through their paces;

Riots, bushfires, floods are clues

To what is making today’s news.

 

We learn of Nuuk* in frozen north …

Talk of invasion and so forth;

All this has a disquieting ring

What changes will this new year bring?

 

Great Ocean Road – torrential rains

Bushfires rage – huge livestock claims

Caravans get washed away!

New “Anti-Hate” laws cause dismay.

 

Mid-summer so all schools are closed

Kids’ antics keep Mums on their toes

Sunhats and suncream still a must…

Native gardens dry as dust!

 

This Southern world needs different norms:

Glaring sun then sudden storms;

It’s tough to know just what to wear

Bright colours though, are everywhere!

(c) Poet in the woods 2026

* The capital of Greenland which belongs to Denmark

Colourful crowds at the annual Tamworth Music Festival

Frederik's Mermaid!

Crown Prince of Denmark travelled far;

To visit Sydney on The Rocks;

A chance encounter in a bar

And for a moment, his heart stops!

 

Olympic Games had set the scene

The world had flown in to take part

For Tassie Mary, to be queen

Was unimagined at the start.

 

Yet Fate moves in mysterious ways;

The “Slip Inn” now can celebrate

 Dashing Frederik’s new phase;

Here was was the site of their first date.

 

Her Hobart childhood left behind

She now resides in royal style

The Danes towards her have been kind:

Most famous Aussie – by a mile!

 

The modest pawn takes the Queen’s* place

In terms of chess - a winning stroke

Post abdication, change of pace ...

Regina Mary is bespoke!

(c) Poet in the woods 2024

* Queen Margrethe, mother of Frederik, abdicated on 14.1.2024

R.I.P. Prince Philip (1921-2021)

Nearly a century sublime!

A chapter ends at ninety-nine

He is no more, the Queen’s best friend

Her rock on whom she could depend …

 

Handsome Philip, Prince of Greece

Soulmate, much loved, now at peace

The ‘Palace bubble’ in dismay

Mirrors Windsor stones in grey…

 

A long life, lived out to the full

Philip would accept no bull;

Fine sportsman, who to new heights soared

With his “Duke of Edinburgh” Award.

 

Unsettled start to royalty

From balmy Corfu, forced to flee

Unsettled childhood, tough Scots school*

Naval Philip was no fool!

 

Post-war wedding, coronation

TV presenter to the Nation,

The Environment his keen concern

A leitmotif son Charles would learn.

 

Intrepid traveller, on the go,

Who always wanted more to know;

No diplomat, he liked to tease

But put those whom he met at ease…

 

Linguist, artist, engineer

Excelling in the polo sphere;

His crown of laurels he downplays

Lithe and fit till his last days…

The Nation now mourns with the Queen

As she reflects on what has been …

A Windsor chapel funeral planned

As social gatherings are banned.

 

But Philip never courted fuss

In many ways like one of us;

His actions enhanced countless lives;

His presence round the Queen survives…

(c) Poet in the woods 2021

* Gordonstoun School, Elgin, Scotland

10.6.1921 - 9.4.2021

Stocking Up!

Forget all thought of Christmas travel!

For Tier-4 Brits, their plans unravel

Most at home obliged to stay;

Dame Virus takes no holiday!

 

It’s tough; we grumble, face huge fines

In more ways than one – bleak times …

Mutating COVID won’t relent

So, Channel crossings blocked in Kent!

 

Belgium, Denmark, France and Spain

All repeat a grim refrain:

“You’re not welcome!”; we’re aghast

This blanket ban extends so fast…

 

As for BREXIT babble, it annoys;

Taxes on incoming toys?

We’re living in a real-life soap;

With daily dramas, how to cope?

 

A casual glance at TV news:

Both sides of the Channel – queues!

In brief, a bureaucratic maze:

So, will stocks last these Christmas days?

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

Isabella - our LIttle Mermaid

Isabella, seen here from behind:
The «Little Mermaid» springs to mind
Written by that famous Dane
Hans Christian Andersen by name.

No fairy princess our sweet miss
Who's never happier than this
Parading in a guise brand new
Her feet unseen, her tail on view.

The house is small but well affords
Space enough to tread the boards
Behold, she strikes a regal pose
What a crowd pleaser – and it shows!

Too young, we hope, to understand
The lock-down strictures now in hand
She takes her #stayhome time as read
Enjoying 'make believe' instead!

A film in Eighty-Nine was made;
For love, the mermaid her legs gave
To enchant forever with her voice;
Isabella needn't make this choice!

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

A World Poet?

The Internet keeps a full log
So every time I'm on my blog
I see people are on line;
This is happiness – big time!

Who's looking at my blog right now?
I've had Mozambique and Curaçao
Ghana, Germany, Japan,
China, Russia, Kazakhstan

Oman, Jamaica, Singapore,
Denmark, Chile, Ecuador
Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan
Israel, Egypt, Switzerland

Morocco, Ukraine and Slovenia,
Latvia, Laos, Greece and Kenya
Barbados, Belgium, Venezuela,
El Salvador, Brazil, Australia

Jordan, Iraq and Kuwait
United Arab Emirates
Belize, Spain, Sweden, Myanmar
Finland, Fiji, Panama

Malta, Norway, Argentina
Paraguay and Costa Rica
Zimbabwe, Zambia, USA
Peru, Tunisia, the UK

Malawi, Ireland, Macedonia
Turkey, France, Macao, Mongolia,
S.A., Sri Lanka, Netherlands
India, Seychelles and Thailand

Mexico, Philippines, Albania
Italy, Syria, Romania
Canada, Jersey, Hungary,
Bangladesh and Burundi

Vietnam, Palestine, Hong Kong
Saudi Arabia, Lebanon
And many others I've left out
Bad rhyming patterns, I've no doubt...

(c) Poet in the woods 2016

Note: September 2025 - 162 countries to date

The Viking Spirit

On this day, June the 8th, they came
The date was 793
Every schoolchild knows their name
Blonde invaders from the sea.

In Lindisfarne they put ashore
On distant, windswept coast
They slaughtered all the monks they saw
Shattering Holy Host.

Soon raids were frequent; their long boats
With dragon-headed prow
Brought warriors keen on cutting throats;
Cries of rape and pillage now.

They destroyed but brought their culture too
Their “Jarvik” is now York
Towns with “by” and “ton” accrue
“Geordie” is Danish talk...

A threat for several hundred years
Far from their icy fjords,
Vikings conjured up deep fears
In the homes of Saxon lords.

Scandinavia's prosperous these days
Regulations rule, not raids
But to “go berserk” is still a phrase
That recalls those violent ways.

(c) Poet in the woods 2015

A Snapshot of Copenhagen

Wreathed in mists, grey skies and rain
Copenhagen's face is plain
A constant hum of crawling cars
Flickering traffic lights and bars.

The Danes, I'm told, enjoy their booze;
The Central Station, tiled, is huge
With wooden panelling and beams
Commuters saunter by in streams.

Out in the suburbs: Lego blocks
Few seem to think «outside the box»
My mental snapshot of the scene:
Safe, conservative and clean.

This far north, the days are short
A cold wind blows across the Port
The Mermaid gazes out to sea
Pertly posed, hair flowing free.

Nearby are statues – poppy-clad
A Churchill bust, a Fallen Lad
Grim reminders of the War;
A crumbling castle on the shore...

Fair-haired, good looking Viking stock
Part of Europe's melting pot
A friendly, family-loving race;
Of warring forebears – not a trace...

(c) Poet in the woods 2014

At Zaventem Airport

«The heart of Europe» - Zaventem
Airport with building works pro. tem.
Garish shops on every floor
To find the right gate is a chore.

Automatic check-in - fine!
But then we had to stand in line
Like flocks of sheep penned in by rails;
Passport clearance now entails

Boots, belts and coats put into trays
Their removal causes more delays.
Gels are allowed – in small amounts
But if you overstock – they pounce!

Of course security is key
Today my trip is hassle-free!
I make my way to distant gate
Too early - so I have to wait.

With time to kill, I watch the flow
Of passengers who come and go.
Copenhagen may be cold and wet
But warm as well – as I'll be met!

(c) Poet in the woods 2014

The Helsingor Dane

The Great Dane Shakespeare wrote about
Whose monologues proclaimed his doubt
About his father's odd demise
Have led to many actors' rise

To fame as they declaimed on stage
The mental anguish that did rage
In young Hamlet's tortured brain;
Ophelia, poor love, went insane.

A tragedy in several acts
A playwright's toying with the facts
Battles, murder, floating dagger
A hero with mendacious swagger.

The play within a play was cruel
A cup of poison, deadly duel
The state of Denmark indeed rotten
Yet Hamlet lives on – not forgotten!

(c) Poet in the woods 2014