For days we battled valiantly
The siege was long
Then victory was ours
But now
The world has set itself to rights
Entropy
we are confused…
we are confused
a government celebrates
its lack of achievement
bubbles blown on the wind
to burst in moments
we are confused
first it was time to party
like it was 1945
then we could drive around
to test our eyes
we are confused
they imply we could move
closer and closer
but will two feet
lead to six feet under?
we are confused
do we want laughter, beer and songs
and the clink of cash?
Is the rest silence?
the rain falls soft
the rain falls soft and heavy
on the sun-dried earth
and the plants begin to sing
Zelazowa Wola
a pianist plays in an empty room
sunlight streams in
Chopin’s music streams out
across cyber-space
through the window I glimpse
two children playing
in the garden
of Zelazowa Wola
June 9 2020 a live-streamed piano recital during the coronavirus lockdown.
We visited Chopin’s birthplace at Zelazowa Wola in June 2017.
2020 visions
Life has slowed down to
an idealised vision
of mediterranean life style
with no bustle or crowds.
Between daily tasks
taking longer –
watering plants becomes a meditation
making cakes or making meals
hanging washing on a sunlit line
to dry in minutes
The daily rituals of coffee break
under a sunshade
among wild flowers and birdfeeders
a walk around the village
crossing roads
giving others space
smiling and calling hello
waving to small children.
Then anger at the world’s news
the sheer pigheadedness of that
so-called government
mangled numbers.
The press conference
of an adviser who broke the rules
and goes unscathed…
Police brutality in the US
a president whose words
deliver more chaos than leadership
Crowded beach scenes
mounting litter dropped by
uncaring individuals
Neighbouring countries
are more responsible than mine.
I would not have thought this possible
before 2016
Democracy is cracked
MPs chained to a tumbril
rush headlong towards
uncountable riches for a few
who disregard the reality of most.
Eugenics becomes the secret mainstream.
My country – is this thee?
Pioneer woman in my head
In my head lives a pioneer woman
in a rough log cabin in the woods
baking from scratch
making, mending
digging, planting, reaping.
She thinks we have it easy
locked down in our homes
no wood to chop
no water to fetch.
We keep in touch with distant friends
money still works
shops have food
and we have our cars
sitting silent mostly.
once upon (6) France 2019
we drive east –
break for coffee
(instant, water from a flask
sacrilege in France…)
in a car park
near the river Saulx
on the waterside path
is a butterfly
with purple sheen
as it opens its wings
a man walks his dog
stops to chat
about the river’s treachery
when in spate
most years someone drowns,
today it looks so calm,
Inviting…
Permitted exercise
A small happening today made me smile
mother walks with toddler
looking for teddies and painted pebbles
in our window
a yellow cut-out teddy waves
and behind it I dance
around coffee time
we dance each morning
to the strains of China Crisis
The child looks from the gate
I wave and carry on
three times I wave
the music stops
I open the door and say hi
and the child and I dance
at a distance.
Travel in Europe 2019
Here are a few snapshots from last year’s wonderful holiday. Part 1. five short poems, almost haikus, but not quite – from England, Belgium, France. Many more to follow.
No 1.
once upon a lifetime ago,
yet only
last summer
*
we drove north
and sailed overnight
to Zeebrugge
*
drove on
through Belgium, France and Germany
and felt at home and free
*
No 2
Theux, dusty roadworks
heatwave, summer of 19
cycling into town
*
we eat Belgian chips
at a street table
the evening cools
*
no 3
forty kilometres
riding up a thousand feet
right up to the dam
*
we left the roadway
for a track, then sidetracked
through bramble and bracken
*
pause-café, picnic
homewards down a long hill slope
shower, food and rest
*
No 4
*
border-free to France
staying with a longtime friend
food weather company
*
walks, bike rides, drawing
cathedral, old streets, cafes
vine-embroidered hills
*
eating pastries
in her tree sheltered garden
while the heat played on
*
No 5
*
World Cup matches
US team defeated
both England and France
*
two days later
in a dusty French village
we stopped for a drink
*
in a biker’s bar
Stars and Stripes, Route 66
we swallowed our pride
*
with a smile and lemonade
April fools…
What new pranks will the gods play
this coming all fools’ day?
.
Will they let us dream
that the stream
of normal life flows on
gently ripples in the sun
the floods have receded
our gardens are seeded
winds quieten to a breeze
singing in the leafy trees
birds’ eggs in the nest
sweet refreshing rest
When we are lulled
and our senses are dulled
will they tighten the string
like an overwrought spring
and pull back their bow arm
to let loose some new harm?
poedoodles 