Isabella in the Nativity Play

In the razzmatazz of Christmas time
Forget mad shopping done on line
It's back to basics, the school play
With the Holy Trio on display:

Three wise men (assorted sizes);
Who will bear the Star that rises?
Cute angels - all with tinsel wings
And a useful choir that sings.

But the shepherds play a vital role
They see the Star, are on a roll
In this year's flock – a special treat
Isabella - cast as fluffy sheep!

(c) Poet in the woods 2018

Continuum ...

At this time, fourteen years ago,
I was apprehensive, feeling low
The chilliness was in my heart
My Love was ill, we soon would part.

All summer there had been small clues
Then his doctor voiced the news
The dreaded 'C' had gone too far
His T-cells, weakened, could not spar ...

Against a backcloth of despair
He was taken into care
An ambulance drove to our door
Our neighbours wanted to know more ...

But I, bereft, could not face life
Without this man, a saddened wife;
Inexorably the days flew by
In anxious visits; I would try

Some precious hours with him to spend
But was not with him at the end;
In one month all my joy departed
Leaving me quite broken-hearted...

But now I look back on this time
And make my peace with this short rhyme
'Cos this is life, we all drift through
Life continues – we must too ...

(c) Poet in the woods 2018

BREXIT or Never on a Sunday

Recession looms – more rise and fall
How the BREXIT talks appall
New Brussels summit; one too many?
Roundtables cost a pretty penny ...

As we jumped off the Euro-train;
This chassé-croisé is a strain
Controls at borders, more red tape
It really is so hard to take.

Confusion reigns, that much is clear
What happens now in March next year?
The business world is up in arms
In many sectors – red alarms.

Keep fishing rights? Yes to free trade
Gibraltar tiptoes, I'm afraid
The E.U. poised upon the brink:
Shall we float or shall we sink?

Politics – that tricky game
In different guises still the same
Has the love affair with Europe died?
What if the Referendum lied?

(c) Poet in the woods 2018

An Experience!

We all surged forward through the door
To join more crowds in busy store
The barricades (roadworks again)
Made queuing lengthy – and a pain...

The buzz was deafeningly loud
At all the stands a frantic crowd
Whose grabbing hands upset displays
The result? Clothes in a hopeless maze.

My friend, determined, strode ahead
Found jeans she wanted; I was led
To the check-outs – there were five
I thought of busy bees in hive...

Alas, despite my iron will
I grabbed some items near the till;
Black Friday bargains, dare I say
Shucks, I bought more than food today!

This 'shop-until-you-drop' – big spend
Makes discounts somehow a new trend
But what of those who make these clothes?
The High Street rarely thinks of those...

I name no names, but fast and cheap
Is how fashion goes this week
Profits pared down to the bone;
Perhaps I should have stayed at home!

(c) Poet in the woods 2018

To Flirt or Not to Flirt?

People watching is such fun
Most, lost in their bubbles, come
Into my vision unawares
We briefly share our lives – with stares ...

Although discreet, I take a chance
And momentarily sneak a glance
At those who cross my path en ville:
A chance encounter is a thrill!

Most, of course, don't meet my gaze
The damned phone dominates their days;
Are they chatting to their friends,
Or talking business? It depends ...

The printed word is all but gone
A few, engrossed in books, read on
Some have a fractious child in tow
But most are busy, on the go.

It's rare indeed to catch the eye
Of those around us; should I try?
Social media is too much!
What happened to the human touch?

(c) Poet in the woods 2018

The Treachery of Translation

The E.U. buzzes every day
Adapting speeches that convey
From a vast and never-ending pile
Linguistic nuances of style.

Mass Eurobabble, Eurospeak ...
Let's take the BREXIT Deal this week:
500* pages to convert
A monumental task of work!

No doubt about it – this is Art
A talent culture can impart;
A wayward comma, mis-used word
Could make the end result – absurd!

But the real challenge comes with verse
Artful wording makes it worse
As metaphors are honed with skill
Their double-meanings never still.

In another tongue the rhyme is lost
Or the meaning kept, but at a cost.
Translations take on a new guise
Resulting in - a compromise!

(c) Poet in the woods 2018

* 585 pages to be exact!

Over a Cuppa!

What nicer than a cup of tea
That you, dear friend, can share with me?
While we wait for it to brew
We chat together, me and you.

There's no theme we can't discuss:
Why politics is so much fuss
The cost of living – sharp tax hikes
Should we abandon cars for bikes?

Emotions, some new family drama
The re-election of Obama
The grim futility of war
Refugees, the urban poor.

Meanwhile, our tea is piping hot
We pour it gently from the pot
And enjoy its calming, warm delight
Contemplating the world's plight...

Humans suffer, plagued with doubt;
How will the BREXIT deal work out?
What tricks has Nature up its sleeves?
Time perhaps to read - tea leaves ...

(c) Poet in the woods 2018