As November wanes ...

November dies in wind and mist

Though sometimes falling leaves are kissed

By ragged rays of autumn shine

Pre-Christmas shoppers out – big time!

 

The wars continue – peace talks stale

Hong Kong fireball* leaves black trail

Floods* in Thailand’s south claim lives …

But Hope, amazingly, survives…

 

Mismanagement, neglect, or Fate?

Disasters still accumulate

On-line news beeps in our phones

No privacy – just think of drones…

 

Conspicuous consumption peak

As Black Friday lasts all week!

I opt out – I forego mainstream

I watch the leaves fall and I dream …

(c) Poet in the woods 2025

* Both events happened on 26th November, 2025 with extensive loss of life ... 150 people died in Hong Kong.

Post-Travel Reflections

Could it be true what people say?

While it is fine to go away,

Explore fine cities, meet old friends

And get on board with fun, new trends,

 

It’s also great to come back home

And ponder quietly on one’s own …

Three months means nest in layers of dust

So, a big clean-up is a must!

 

But summer here with long warm days

Combined with jet-lag, cause a daze;

While all is buzzing in Grand-Place

Keen tourists now return – en masse!

 

Exciting times! We contemplate

The world’s uncertain, changing state:

With climate threats, Hong Kong debate,

The price of gas, Zelensky’s * fate…

 

Complacency gives way to fear;

Whichever way you look, it’s clear

That airline strikes and monkey pox

Still linger in Pandora’s box!

(c) Poet in the woods 2022

Pandora ...!

* President of Ukraine

Developments - Bad and Good!

Northern Ireland - headline news!

BREXIT evokes violent views:

Stones are thrown, bus set on fire

The frontier problem remains dire …

 

Hong Kong dissidents debate,

Should they plan to emigrate?

As Mamma China claims her chick

Will British passports do the trick?

 

I look outside; no sign of snow

Where did those April blizzards go?

Doubts on the vaccine still pervade …

While seedlings perk up and parade

 

In my terracotta pots

As opportunity now knocks!

Safe inside, kept in the warm

My Love-in-a-Mist is born!

(c) Poet in the woods 2021

A Glimpse of China

Gunpowder, paper, seismographs,

The art of tea, silk-woven crafts

Chinese culture can attest

Creative prowess at its best.

But what a country of extremes:

Whose one-child policy* now seems

Misguided; where are Chinese brides?

So much on its future rides …

 

I went there once, decades ago;

The Forbidden City proud to show

Vast Halls of Peace, Celestial Sky

Which so impressed my Western eye.

 

Imperialism - small, bound feet …

Wow! Hong-Kong stop where West-East meet;

Now chutzpah player on Internet

Tradition jostling with high-tech …

* One-child policy: 1979-2015

(c) Poet in the woods 2021

  

Roll Call on February 1st

The days roll by, a new month starts

February: short - with hearts!

Has much to promise, but with snow

Its entry in our lives is slow …

 

Youth unemployment, no vacations

Borders closed by many nations

In Myanmar* - a coup d’état;

Have Hong Kong protests gone too far?

 

With health now put in pride of place

The US shows a kinder face

Though early days, Hope spreads its wings

Fingers crossed for brighter things!

 

BREXIT and price hikes increase;

Bushfires in Oz, earthquakes out East …

Hidden somewhere is good news

But as yet, I find no clues!

(c) Poet in the woods 2021

* aka Burma

 

 

A Pair of Babes!

A blank sheet and a dull grey sky
What inspiration will trot by?
BREXIT and COVID don’t appeal
I must find something that is real…
 
Ah, now I have it, joy in spades!
Life continues in new waves
Two friends have shared great news this week
With new babe photos cute and sweet!
 
One friend in Hong Kong proud to say
She is a grand-mama today
In Canada her son and wife
Announce wee Imogen’s new life!
 
Then, near at home and wreathed in smiles
Princess Deva now beguiles
Her entourage and singer Mum;
Two gems will sparkle in the sun !
 
Events like these give life its meaning
May we hold on to our dreaming
Each new life - a brand new start
Breathing hope into our heart!

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

For Imogen and Deva ...

The Hidden Threat

Note for the diary: Leap Year Day
We travel hopefully and pray
That a cough or sniffle on the bus
Will not lead to the end of us!

Dire news of virus and bacteria
Now in New Zealand and Nigeria!
Events and travel plans curtailed
Italian tourism – derailed...

Schools close their doors – so what's to do?
Social happenings are shot through
Flights from Hong Kong put on hold
Tickets for football games - unsold.

Worldwide finance takes a hit
Quarantine slows the pace – a bit
But the pesky bug ignores all borders
A sudden strike and it's – last orders!

Politicians haven't got a clue
A threat that can't be seen – is new
Meanwhile, with stealth Corona travels
And unsuspecting lives unravels ...

(c) Poet in the woods 2020

A Bleak Week?

I seek bold subjects that inspire
But the 'muddles' in our world are dire:
Border quarrels, Middle East,
Oppressed people, what price peace?

A long-lost colony* now fights,
Against the odds, for human rights
And those demonstrations round the globe
As many fear life will implode ...

Are DNA tests really sound?
No cure for cancer has been found
I.T. rules - more jobs will go
Work morale? At all-time low.

Drones can spy on us big time
We face an avalanche of crime
MSF now forced to leave
Where they're needed most; I grieve.

Today's youth caught at pristine age
Would rather with their phones engage!
Life as we knew it - on the blink?
It seems we totter on the brink ...

(c) Poet in the woods 2019

* Hong Kong

A Pocketful of Bad News!

Albania pops up in world news
As earthquake* tremors vent their wrath
Singapore has smog-filled views
Fierce forest fires rage strong up North.

Blocked off - the airport in Hong Kong
To keep free thinkers out of reach;
We hear it's Thomas Cook's swan song**
Stranding tourists on the beach!

Elections leave Israel perplexed
And UK politics are grim
I dread what news I shall see next ...
I grab my towel and throw it in!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019



* Albania earthquake on 21st September, 2019 : 5.6 on the Richter scale

** Founded 1841 - now in administration - 22,000 jobs at risk worldwide

Losing our Grip?

We flounder - more bad news and worse
Should politics inspire my verse?
Wild nature has her role to play:
Storms wreak havoc Hong Kong way ...

Venezuela suffers from inflation
Yet its oil reserves top every nation
The migrant crisis – the world's worst?
Financially, the bubble's burst!

More rich and famous leave the scene:
Like Jean Piat* - famed for roles on screen ...
It's human nature - bad news sells
And disasters titillate brain cells...

Work and cell phones make us fraught
Must common courtesy be taught?
We complain in droves that we've no time
But then spend many hours on line ...

A friend said he could not recall
How he spent his time before
The advent of broadband P.C.
How many others think like he?

(c) Poet in the woods 2018



Typhoon Mangkhut, Hong Kong

* French actor - 1924-2018

Think Before You Post!

Facebook Readers – have a care
A wrong move and you start a scare!
Check before you share a post
Its truth may be an idle boast!

All reporting on the Net
Devoid of ethics, is a threat
Mascarading facts reach out
Disturbing audiences-with-clout!

Fake news permeates our screens
Purveying scandal, crushing dreams
Bright reputations torn to shreds;
Enraging countless thinking heads...

Misunderstandings rise and flow
Raw emotions come and go
Politicians and world leaders quake:
Sift wheat from chaff, for goodness' sake!

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

What Price Truth?

In this disconnected world, we fight
To understand what's real and fake
How do the Press know what to write
When vested interests are at stake?

What part do Ethics play today?
With constant deadlines to be met
Black and white soon turn to grey
The truth is difficult to get.

World «Freedom of the Press» today*
Yet in some places it is hard
To let the people have their say
Woe betide those caught off guard...

We admire those who defy dissent
Through social media or email
And refuse to toe-the-line – intent
On speaking out - for they risk jail!

Challenges beset the press
Whose raison d'être is sharing news
Truth suffers under such duress
What price the chance to air one's views?

(c) Poet in the woods 2017

* 3rd May